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Algerian Former Police Chief Convicted of Money Laundering

Former police chief Abdelghani Hamel (AFP)
Former police chief Abdelghani Hamel (AFP)
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Algerian Former Police Chief Convicted of Money Laundering

Former police chief Abdelghani Hamel (AFP)
Former police chief Abdelghani Hamel (AFP)

Former police chief Major General Abdelghani Hamel was sentenced to four years in prison over money laundering charges.

During the trial in Blida Court, the Public Prosecution charged Hamel with “laundering money that a terrorist organization has benefited from”, and the misuse of police budget funds.

The investigations also revealed that Hamel was linked to extremist groups.

Former Algiers’ police chief Noureddine Berrashdi was also convicted in the same case.

Last May, Algiers’ misdemeanor court sentenced Hamel to 15 years in prison in a corruption case, as prosecutors pursued him on charges, including money laundering and illicit wealth.

Hamel and his family are accused of owning real estate and shops in coastal areas, and his three sons have been sentenced to several years in prison.

Hamel was one of the most prominent figures of the regime of former President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. He has been suggested to succeed Bouteflika who was unfit to rule due to illness.

Meanwhile, the leader of Rally for Culture and Democracy, Mohcine Belabbas, said that the gendarmerie informed him that he was wanted for interrogation on Sunday.

Algiers’ Attorney General issued a statement, stating that the gendarmerie launched an investigation into the death of a Moroccan citizen in a construction site of Belabbas’ house in the southern suburb of the capital.

Investigations have revealed the deceased was working without a permit. Circumstances of his death are still unknown.

The statement also confirmed that the project manager did not obtain the needed building permits, in violation of urban development regulations.

Legally, it is not possible to pursue Belabbas given his parliamentary immunity, but the Justice Minister can lift it if the prosecution proved he committed a crime.

Observers believe that Belabbas’ issues with the authorities began after he described the presidential elections which Abdelmajid Tebboune won, as a “coup”.

The Interior Ministry sent a letter to the Rally warning it against hosting periodic meetings of Democratic Alternative Forces, formed of five opposition parties, which is deemed illegal by the authorities.

Belabbas issued a statement saying the Ministry was asking the Rally to abandon its political activities, warning that it could dissolve the party otherwise. He claimed the correspondence was leaked by the Interior Ministry through the media arms of the "political police."

The government’s warnings are considered a violation of the constitution and the laws that rule political activity of any legitimate party, added Belabbas.

He added that Rally for Culture and Democracy is first and foremost an intellectual movement and a community project that thousands of Algerians believe in.

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Varieties

Deep-sea Fish Break the Mold with Novel Visual System

A close-up showing the shiny silver-green photophores (light organs) on the lower head of the deep-sea fish Maurolicus muelleri from the Red Sea, seen in this photograph released on February 11, 2026. Dr. Wen-Sung Chung/Handout via REUTERS
A close-up showing the shiny silver-green photophores (light organs) on the lower head of the deep-sea fish Maurolicus muelleri from the Red Sea, seen in this photograph released on February 11, 2026. Dr. Wen-Sung Chung/Handout via REUTERS
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Deep-sea Fish Break the Mold with Novel Visual System

A close-up showing the shiny silver-green photophores (light organs) on the lower head of the deep-sea fish Maurolicus muelleri from the Red Sea, seen in this photograph released on February 11, 2026. Dr. Wen-Sung Chung/Handout via REUTERS
A close-up showing the shiny silver-green photophores (light organs) on the lower head of the deep-sea fish Maurolicus muelleri from the Red Sea, seen in this photograph released on February 11, 2026. Dr. Wen-Sung Chung/Handout via REUTERS

For more than a century, biology textbooks have stated that vision among vertebrates - people included - is built from two clearly defined cell types: rods for processing dim light and cones for bright light and color. New research involving deep-sea fish shows this tidy division is, in reality, not so tidy.

Scientists have identified a new type of visual cell in deep-sea fish that blends the shape and form of rods with the molecular machinery and genes of cones. This hybrid type of cell, adapted for sight in gloomy light conditions, was found in larvae of three deep-sea fish species in the Red Sea, Reuters reported.

The species studied were: a hatchetfish, with the scientific name Maurolicus mucronatus; a lightfish, named Vinciguerria mabahiss; and a lanternfish, named Benthosema pterotum. The hatchetfish retained the hybrid cells throughout its life. The other two shifted to the usual rod-cone dichotomy in adulthood.

All three are small, with adults measuring roughly 1-3 inches (3-7 cm) long and the larvae much littler. They inhabit a marine realm of twilight conditions, with sunlight struggling to penetrate into the watery depths.

The vertebrate retina, a sensory membrane at the back of the eye that detects light and converts it into signals to the brain, possesses two main types of light-sensitive visual cells, called photoreceptors. They are named for their shape: rods and cones.

"The rods and cones slowly change position inside the retina when moving between dim and bright conditions, which is why our eyes take time to adjust when we flick on the light switch on our way to the restroom at night," said Lily Fogg, a postdoctoral researcher in marine biology at the University of Helsinki in Finland and lead author of the research published in the journal Science Advances.

"We found that, as larvae, these deep-sea fish mostly use a mix-and-match type of hybrid photoreceptor. These cells look like rods - long, cylindrical and optimized to catch as many light particles - photons - as possible. But they use the molecular machinery of cones, switching on genes usually found only in cones," Fogg said.

The researchers examined the retinas of fish larvae caught at depths from 65 to 650 feet (20 to 200 meters). In the type of dim environment they inhabit, rod and cone cells both are usually engaged in the vertebrate retina, but neither works very well. These fish display an evolutionary remedy.

"Our results challenge the longstanding idea that rods and cones are two fixed, clearly separated cell types. Instead, we show that photoreceptors can blend structural and molecular features in unexpected ways. This suggests that vertebrate visual systems are more flexible and evolutionarily adaptable than previously thought," Fogg said.

"It is a very cool finding that shows that biology does not fit neatly into boxes," said study senior author Fabio Cortesi, a marine biologist and neuroscientist at the University of Queensland in Australia. "I wouldn't be surprised if we find these cells are much more common across all vertebrates, including terrestrial species."

All three species emit bioluminescence using small light-emitting organs on their bodies, mostly located on the belly. They produce blue-green light that blends with the faint background light from the sun above. This strategy, called counterillumination, is a common form of camouflage in the deep sea to avoid predators.

"Small fish like these fuel the open ocean. They are plentiful and serve as food for many larger predatory fishes, including tuna and marlin, marine mammals such as dolphins and whales, and marine birds," Cortesi said.

These kinds of fish also engage in one of the biggest daily migrations in the animal kingdom. They swim near the surface at night to feed in plankton-rich waters, then return to the depths - 650 to 3,280 feet (200 to 1,000 meters) - during daytime to avoid predation.

"The deep sea remains a frontier for human exploration, a mystery box with the potential for significant discoveries," Cortesi said. "We should look after this habitat with the utmost care to make sure future generations can continue to marvel at its wonders."

Gulf

King Salman Directs Disbursement of over SAR3 Billion as Ramadan Assistance for Social Security Beneficiaries

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
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King Salman Directs Disbursement of over SAR3 Billion as Ramadan Assistance for Social Security Beneficiaries

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)
Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz. (SPA)

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, upon the recommendation of Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, has directed the disbursement of more than SAR3 billion in Ramadan assistance to social security beneficiaries, SPA reported.

The directive reflects the leadership’s commitment to addressing the needs of beneficiary families and ensuring their requirements are met during the holy month of Ramadan.

The generous assistance includes SAR1,000 for the head of each household and SAR500 for each dependent. The amounts are expected to be deposited directly into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts within the coming hours.

Minister of Human Resources and Social Development Ahmed Al-Rajhi expressed his gratitude and appreciation to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques and the Crown Prince for this generous gesture toward social security beneficiaries and for their continued attention to citizens’ needs during Ramadan.

Sports

Sports Investment Forum Allocates Third Day to Women's Empowerment to Promote Sustainable Investment in Women’s Sports

Sports Investment Forum Allocates Third Day to Women's Empowerment to Promote Sustainable Investment in Women’s Sports
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Sports Investment Forum Allocates Third Day to Women's Empowerment to Promote Sustainable Investment in Women’s Sports

Sports Investment Forum Allocates Third Day to Women's Empowerment to Promote Sustainable Investment in Women’s Sports

The Sports Investment Forum announced that the third day of its 2026 edition will be dedicated to empowering women in the sports sector, in partnership with Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University. The move reflects the forum’s commitment to supporting the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030 and enhancing the role of women in the sports industry and sports investment.

This allocation comes as part of the forum’s program, scheduled to take place from April 20 to 22, at The Ritz-Carlton, Riyadh. The third day will feature a series of strategic sessions and specialized workshops focused on sustainable investment in women’s sports, the empowerment of female leadership, the development of inclusive sports cities, and support for research and studies in women’s sports, SPA reported.

Forum organizers emphasized that the partnership with Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, recognized as the largest women’s university in the world, represents a model of integration between the academic and investment sectors. The partnership contributes to building a sustainable knowledge base that supports the growth of women’s sports and enhances investment opportunities at both local and international levels.

The dedicated day will address several strategic themes, including sustainable investment in women’s leagues and events, boosting scalable business models, empowering female leaders within federations, clubs, and sports institutions, and developing inclusive sports cities that ensure women’s participation in line with the highest international standards. It will also include the launch of research initiatives and academic partnerships to support future policies and strategies for the sector.

This approach aims to transform women’s empowerment in sports from a social framework into a sustainable investment and development pathway that enhances women’s contributions to the sports economy and reinforces Saudi Arabia’s position as a leading regional hub for advancing women’s sports.

The day is expected to attract prominent female leaders, decision-makers, investors, and local and international experts, in addition to the signing of several memoranda of understanding and joint initiatives supporting women’s empowerment in the sports sector.

The Sports Investment Forum reiterated that empowering women is a strategic pillar in developing the national sports ecosystem, contributing to economic growth objectives, enhancing quality of life, and building a more inclusive and sustainable sports community.