Magharebia

The US National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, a NGO involved with political training, is holding a training programme for officials from the Rally for Culture and Democracy party engaged in the Kabylia election campaign.

An independent inquiry committee into the UN's Oil-for-Food programme has submitted its final report. It concludes that the regime of ousted dictator Saddam Hussein diverted $1.8 billion in illicit surcharges and kickbacks, while enriching itself with another $11 billion obtained via smuggling.

Tunisia enjoys plenty of sunshine, making it possible to promote solar energy solutions to basic energy and economic needs.

The Union of Algerian Workers (UGTA) and the Workers' Party (PT) are angry, after hearing a speech by the IMF mission chief in Algiers last week.

It is amazing how quickly blogs and bloggers have taken over North African cyberspace. Subjects discussed on blogs by young people range from the mundane to debates about religious and political controversies in the region.

The Algerian government intends to help every family obtain a computer by 2010, to narrow the digital gap between the country and the rest of the world. The project was made possible by the involvement of several banks that pledged to provide necessary loans, as well as hardware and software providers ready to meet customers' needs.

The National Co-ordination Committee for Abolishment of the Death Penalty is conducting a multi-faceted campaign against capital punishment, although the nation has not imposed a death sentence in ten years.

Algerian citizens wishing to travel to the United States no longer have to go to Tunisia to conduct administrative matters. The US embassy in Algiers has decided to re-open its consular department, ten years after security concerns prompted its closure.

A meeting in Washington between President George W. Bush and Palestinian counterpart Mahmoud Abbas concluded with Bush affirming Palestinian progress towards an independent state and praising Abbas for his commitment to a peaceful solution.

International aid from over 30 countries is pouring into Pakistan where the massive 8 October earthquake killed over 50,000 people and left over three million people homeless.

The rare confluence of Muslim, Jewish and Christian holy holidays during October and November this year is encouraging interfaith gatherings across the United States.

In a speech at the 5th annual iftar dinner at the White House, President George W. Bush thanked Muslims for their support during recent natural disasters, called on Americans to learn more about Islamic culture, and urged the world to reject terrorism.

For the eighth time in its history and the second consecutive time, Mouloudia of Algiers won the African handball Super Cup, defeating Club Africain of Tunisia on Monday (17 October). The success confirms MCA supremacy on the continent, though the eighth title was not an easy win.

The inability of job opportunities to keep up with a population that has quadrupled since 1950 remains a key problem in the Maghreb.

Iraqi voters defied calls for boycott and threats of violence to cast ballots on a new constitution put to referendum on Saturday (15 October). Election officials are counting mounds of ballots, hoping to give an unofficial tally by 20 October and a final announcement by 24 October.

On Wednesday (12 October) in Algiers, the Algerian Industry Development Group, initiated by Northrop Grumman, launched its assistance initiative to small- and medium-size companies. The first project aims to ensure training sessions for Algerian operators who wish to set up a business project or strengthen the management capacity of their existing companies.

Fella Ababsa -- daughter of great Algerian poet, musician and singer Abdelhamid Ababsa – is a singer whose rocky, melodious voice can seduce an audience. In a recent interview with Magharebia.com, she spoke of her influences and her work.

On Friday (7 October) in Granada, Spain, officials completed a discussion about developing an Arab-Islamic heritage data bank. Initiated by the Institute of the Arab World, the project's aim is to gather and preserve the Arab-Islamic legacy. Some scholars would like to see the inclusion of manuscripts from Timbuktu, Mali, one of the most important sites of Arab and Islamic history.

A visit to Morocco by Spanish Foreign Minister Miguel Angel Moratinos led to a call for an EU-Africa conference on illegal immigration, a sentiment the African Union supports. Morocco's handling of the repatriation of the sub-Saharan immigrants has been criticised by media in Spain and Senegal.

A review of cultural news from the Maghreb since 4 October.

Tunisia and Algeria were among the numerous nations and organisations around the world that responded quickly to assist India and Pakistan in the wake of a cataclysmic earthquake.

Closed since 1994, the land border between Algeria and Morocco remains the setting for traffic of all kinds, to the great benefit of those living along the border and the intense displeasure of politicians in both countries.

Algeria expects to supply its milk needs --3 billion litres per year -- by 2006. Last year, the bill for importing milk rose to more than $800m, according to figures supplied by Agriculture Minister Said Barkat.

Journalist and commentator Anwar Iqbal reflects on reactions to US President George W. Bush's speech defining the enemies he is fighting.

Algerian writer Aboubakr Zemal recently took out an ad offering the sale of his kidney as he can no longer afford rent and provide for his family. The sad economic situation of Algerian cultural figures, however, has not stopped writers from writing.

Tunisia will join Cameroon and Nigeria as the only African nations to qualify for three straight World Cup finals if it ties or defeats Morocco at home on Saturday (8 October).

Participants from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, Mauritania, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, and Malta reiterated their desire to encourage the use of existing legal instruments to establish an improved common approach to population migration, terrorist threats and narcotics trafficking at the 11th conference of Interior Ministers of Western Mediterranean Countries held Monday (3 October) in Rabat.

The rise in prices during the holy month of Ramadan is especially burdensome for people with low incomes in Algeria, prompting some organisations and companies to lend a helping hand.

The oud, a traditional instrument used throughout the Arab world, remains a popular part of the culture and music of North Africa.

For the fifth consecutive year, the Algerian government will continue to use $19 dollars as the reference price for a barrel of oil determining in its budget for 2006, an austere approach considering the rise in the price of oil.

A review of cultural news from the Maghreb since 28 September.

JS Kabylia defeated USM Algiers at home to surprisingly win the Algerian first-division football championship.

Algeria is hoping to use its uranium resources to develop nuclear energy over the next 15 years.

Mohamed Choukri (1935-2003) is one of North Africa's most controversial and widely read authors.

Ali Oumlil feels divergence is not a fragmentation or division; it is rather an alternative for tyranny under the cover of unity, when the latter is a mere cover to affect owning the truth and controlling authority.