Algeria's government pushes staples to subsidized markets to stave off Ramadan shortages

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Algeria's government has flooded newly opened markets selling subsidized goods with pantry staples to stave off shortages during Islam's holy month of Ramadan, when demand typically increases in Muslim-majority countries and prices tend to rise.

Authorities have moved to increase food and fuel imports and also limit exports, hoping to meet the demands of Algerians preparing nightly feasts as their families break the sunrise-to-sunset fasting during Ramadan.

The policies mark a reversal of the government’s longstanding practice of limiting imports to buoy local producers in the oil-rich North African nation with a struggling economy.

At one state subsidized market in the country's capital, Algiers, shopper Sofiane Ameri commended the government's strategy for reining in prices.

“Prices are lower here,” he said. "It’s about 20% (less).”

Prices of red meat fluctuated during the first week of Ramadan, which started earlier this month, but later stabilized. Others, including many fruits and vegetables, stayed steady through the first week and spiked in the second, raising concern among the public.

A woman walks past a butcher in a market near Algiers, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. As Muslim-majority countries reckon with increased demand throughout Islam's holy month of Ramadan, is trying to flood new markets with pantry staples to stave off shortages that can cause prices to rise. (AP Photo/Anis Belghoul)

With more than half of Ramadan behind them, officials are applauding their efforts to stabilize prices of products such as meat and avoid shortages.

“The availability of products in quantity and quality is a palpable reality across the country’s regions," Commerce Minister Tayeb Zitouni said on public radio this week. "With reasonable prices, I am sure that has a positive effect on the citizens’ purchasing power.”

But while grocery stores in Algiers and other cities and towns are well-stocked, residents of mountain regions have taken to social media with worries about whether the imports can get to their markets.

"If residents of Algiers are gorging themselves on affordable red meat from Brazil, we in Tizi Ouzou aren't seeing or tasting it," said a posting on a popular Facebook group.

Olive oil, white flour and semolina — key staples in this Mediterranean country — have stayed available so far through Ramadan.

But the price of potatoes has gradually risen, much like peppers, green beans, peas, oranges and strawberries.

A man stands by food bags in a market near Algiers, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. As Muslim-majority countries reckon with increased demand throughout Islam's holy month of Ramadan, is trying to flood new markets with pantry staples to stave off shortages that can cause prices to rise. (AP Photo/Anis Belghoul)

Customers shop at a market near Algiers, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. As Muslim-majority countries reckon with increased demand throughout Islam's holy month of Ramadan, is trying to flood new markets with pantry staples to stave off shortages that can cause prices to rise. (AP Photo/Anis Belghoul)

A woman walks past a shop at a market near Algiers, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. As Muslim-majority countries reckon with increased demand throughout Islam's holy month of Ramadan, is trying to flood new markets with pantry staples to stave off shortages that can cause prices to rise. (AP Photo/Anis Belghoul)

A man checks a bag in a market in Algiers, Tuesday, March 26, 2024. As Muslim-majority countries reckon with increased demand throughout Islam's holy month of Ramadan, is trying to flood new markets with pantry staples to stave off shortages that can cause prices to rise. (AP Photo/Anis Belghoul)

DEDHAM, Mass. (AP) — A highly anticipated trial involving a woman accused of striking her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV and leaving him for dead in a snowbank outside a home entered its ninth day on Friday in Massachusetts.

John O’Keefe died in the Boston suburb of Canton on Jan. 29, 2022.

The case has garnered national attention because the defense alleges that state and local law enforcement officials framed girlfriend Karen Read and allowed the real killer to go free.

A look at the facts and legal arguments:

Karen Read, 44, of Mansfield, Massachusetts, has been charged with second-degree murder, among other charges, in the death of John O’Keefe, 46. The 16-year police veteran was found unresponsive outside the home of a retired Boston police officer.

After a night out drinking at several bars, prosecutors say Read dropped O’Keefe off at a house party just after midnight. As she made a three-point turn, prosecutors say she struck O’Keefe before driving away. She returned hours later to find him in a snowbank.

Prosecutors are trying to show that Read’s actions were intentional. To do that, Norfolk Assistant District Attorney Adam Lally said evidence would show that the couple’s stormy relationship had begun to “sour” in the month before O’Keefe died and that the two got into arguments.

Read's lawyers have alleged there was a cover-up involving members of several law enforcement agencies. They say O’Keefe was beaten inside the home, bitten by a dog and then left outside.

The prosecution called the former homeowners on Friday to testify about events leading up to the discovery of O’Keefe.

Brian and Nicole Albert, a married couple who had lived in the Canton home until last year, testified that they gathered with relatives at a local bar the night of Jan. 28, 2022. They said they saw O’Keefe walk in with Read and sit near Nicole Albert's sister and husband.

They said people seemed to be having a good time. They did not speak to Read, but Nicole Albert said she didn't see any signs that Read was under the influence of alcohol. Brian Albert, a retired Boston police officer, said he knew who O'Keefe was and that their relationship was “cordial.”

Both Brian and Nicole Albert said their son was about to celebrate his birthday. As the bar was closing, family and friends gathered at the house to pay him a visit. It was snowing outside. They said O’Keefe and Read did not come to the house. The group had some drinks and the Alberts testified everyone left by 2 a.m. on Jan. 29 and they went to bed.

Between 6 a.m. and 6:30 a.m. on Jan. 29, Nicole Albert's sister, Jennifer McCabe, came bursting into the bedroom. She seemed hysterical and said, “He’s out in the snow. We found him out in the snow. We don’t know if he’s OK,” Nicole Albert recalled.

Albert said she responded, “What are you talking about?” and first thought that something had happened to a family member.

The Alberts described that they and family members were in a state of shock.

“It was an unbelievably chaotic morning,” Brian Albert said.

The couple talked to Lt. Michael Lank at their home. Brian Albert said he knew Lank, but not socially.

Earlier Friday, another family member, Julie Albert, was questioned by the defense about 67 phone conversations she had in 2022 between February and September with the sister of the lead investigator on the case, Trooper Michael Proctor. One call was on the day Read was arrested and three were when she was arraigned.

Julie Albert is married to Brian Albert's younger brother, Christopher. She also confirmed that she had Proctor's personal cellphone number and that the two had had a short phone conversation after she was interviewed by him on Feb. 10. She said she had his number from years ago.

Julie Albert also confirmed she gave Lank's personal cellphone number to McCabe.

Earlier in the week, the defense focused on Lank's relationship with Christopher Albert, a high school classmate.

Read’s defense team has focused heavily on connections between police and the Albert family. They are trying to argue that these relationships biased the investigation and blinded state and local law enforcement officials to the possibility that someone else killed O'Keefe.

Witness Brian Albert testifies during the trial of Karen Read at Norfolk County Superior Court, Friday, May 10, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)

Nicole Albert testifies during the trial of Karen Read at Norfolk County Superior Court, Friday, May 10, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)

Karen Read, left, sits with her attorney Alan Jackson while a photograph of 34 Fairview Road in Canton is displayed, the location where her boyfriend John O'Keefe's body was found, during her trial at Norfolk County Superior Court, Friday, May 10, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)

Karen Read, second from right, listens to testimony by witness Nicole Albert during Read's trial at Norfolk County Superior Court, Friday, May 10, 2024, in Dedham, Mass. Read, 44, is accused of running into her Boston police officer boyfriend with her SUV in the middle of a nor'easter and leaving him for dead after a night of heavy drinking. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, Pool)