Magharebia

Algeria is reorganising its healthcare system in order to cut the number of transfers abroad for treatment and to encourage people to use its own healthcare structures.

The Moroccan Women's Democratic Association is concerned about the slow pace of reform of the Nationality Code.

In an interview with Magharebia, Tunis MEPI office Director Peter Mulrean outlined his group's work in promoting freedom in the Middle East.

Cameroonian superstar Samuel Eto'o feels African clubs will perform well at the World Cup. Tunisia will be helped by the return of injured Hamed Namouchi -- while Angola, Ghana and Cote-d'Ivoire also continue with their preparations. In Egyptian news -- Al-Ahly completed its second undefeated season, Mido will return to the Roma club and Ahmed Hassan is moving to Turkey's Besiktas club.

Nicholas Negroponte, founder of the MIT Media Lab, unveiled a working prototype of the $100 laptop. The computer is part of a project to benefit children in developing countries, including the Maghreb.

The Tunisian Bar Association and the Ministry of Justice and Human Rights are at odds over a new draft law creating a Higher Institute of Lawyers. The association is upset that the ministry would have oversight over the institute, while the ministry feels it can improve legal education and make entry to the profession more egalitarian.

WAC Casablanca clinched its 11th Moroccan title three days before the end of the season by tying Raja Casablanca 1-1.

The crew of a Libyan ship killed a Tunisian sailor in the Mediterranean Sea last week by firing upon his vessel. Though Libya has not acknowledged the incident, strong political and economic ties between the two nations make negative consequences unlikely.

Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika appointed FLN leader Abdelaziz Belkhadem as the new prime minister, replacing Ahmed Ouyahia. The new government will reportedly aim to focus on social issues for the 2007 legislative elections.

Tunisian and British delegations are meeting in Aberdeen, Scotland, to discuss co-operation in the energy sector. The Tunisian delegation will also seek to take advantage of the concurrent All-Energy Exhibition. A foreign-financed oil refinery is being considered by the country to lower its dependence on costly foreign supplies.

JS Kabylie is favoured to win its first Algerian first-division football championship title Thursday.

A non-Muslim German architect won an open tender process to design a mosque in the German city of Cologne. Qantara.de interviewed the architect, who hoped the new design will help Cologne's Muslim community find greater acceptance.

US Deputy Secretary of State Robert Zoellick visited Tunisia to discuss bilateral ties and ask for the country's participation in a UN peacekeeping force in Darfur.

Arab journalists are launching an international campaign in the hopes of convincing their governments to allow greater press freedom.

Algerian complaints about the restrictive EU visa process were a hot topic at the first session of the Algeria-EU Association Council.

In the wake of an embargo being lifted, Libya is seeking to enhance itself economically. Government plans include helping citizens create companies, helping the poor, encouraging foreign investment to exploit natural resources, and developing tourism.

Algeria is taking numerous steps to eliminate hazardous waste such as reducing stockpiles, banning PCB-based products, setting up special funds, making polluters pay for their transgressions, recycling, and encouraging businesses to be more environmentally friendly.

Confronted by a rise in daily crime, Algeria is combating the scourge through a strategy of technological tools, augmenting the police force and legal changes.

Abderrahim Chkilit talks about adjusting to his new Raja Casablanca club, why he thinks his former club Maghreb Fassi underachieves and being a footballer's son.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said normalisation of diplomatic ties with Libya was in recognition of the nation's renunciation of terrorism and co-operation in the global war on terror.

The Algerian government is revising the law to protect its citizens' privacy by setting out harsh sentences for people who secretly take pictures of or record others without their knowledge.

The legality of confiscating driver's licenses continues to be a contentious issue in Morocco.

Algeria has one of the highest rates of road accidents in the world. Government efforts to alleviate the problem include harsher penalties, such as loss of driver's license for not wearing a seat belt or using a cell phone while driving.

Saad Eddin Al Othmani, secretary general of Morocco's moderate Islamic Party of Justice and Development, is visiting the United States to explain his party's platform and its ideas about political reform.

Algeria is engaging in negotiations with the principle creditors to its debts.

Algerian Lamine Ouaheb upset Moroccan Younes El Aynaoui to win the Tunis Open when crowd favourite El Aynaoui had to quit because of injury.

The 25th session of the Consultative Council on Human Rights that was held Saturday in Rabat was marked by the Interior Minister's declaration of support for the national plan to promote human rights in Morocco.

Born in 1942, Hamidou Ben Messaoud, also known as Amidou, is one of the few internationally-known Moroccan actors. A special tribute was paid to him during the fifth Marrakech International Film Festival in November 2005.

The baccalaureate (BAC) examinations are expected to take place 3 June in Algeria. About 560,000 candidates will be testing for a place at a university or other higher education institution.

Over the last few years, Tunisia has become the favoured destination for Algerian vacationers. The proximity of this country, the ease of access and cost are the main reasons behind the choice. While local tourism is also bringing in crowds, other destinations, especially Europe, have become too expensive and require the possession of a visa, which many people cannot be guaranteed to obtain.

The Zeralda hunting reserve has released a second batch of Barbary red deer into forests identified as being its natural habitat, particularly in the forested area of Akfadou, in Kabylia. Work to re-establish the animal, which was previously found throughout northern Africa, in its natural environment has been ongoing since 1995.

At an information day organised by the Town Hall in Casablanca, participants stressed the need to make the Casablanca Marina project a success.

Participants in the "Euro-Mediterranean Relations and Globalisation" seminar discussed the future of Euro-Mediterranean collaboration and its different processes.

Algeria, Mali and Niger carried out a large-scale consultation process to adopt a security co-operation policy to protect themselves against terrorism and all forms of criminal activity along their borders.

The celebration of World Press Freedom Day on Wednesday (3 May) served as a forum for Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika to announce measures to pardon journalists who had broken the law and received a final sentence.

Tourism in Algeria will be regenerated thanks to a privatisation programme affecting all state-run hotels, which are currently estimated to account for 73 of 1,004 lodgings. Algeria is clearly behind neighbours Morocco and Tunisia, who have a strong lead in terms of accommodation capacity and quality of service.

In its report released to the public at the end of April, the Democratic League for Women's Rights insisted that the family justice system become autonomous.

In Tunisia, government officials, heads of financial institutions, and unemployed people holding university degrees have been meeting every Wednesday for almost two months to discuss ideas and bring about opportunities to create enterprises run by young university graduates.

Last week, FIFA President Joseph Blatter inaugurated a youth centre in Morocco. Tunisia will stage an international tournament in preparation for the World Cup in Germany.