Star Academy banned in Algeria

Algeria's national TV channel has decided to take Star Academy, the Lebanese remake of France's show of the same name and the equivalent to American Idol, off the air. According the newspaper El Watan, this effort at banning the show was led by the president of the Islamist party MSP, Bouguerra Soltani, but ultimately was the initiative of President Bouteflika. The reason: the show was deemed "offensive to national identity and the values of our society."