Magharebia

Moroccan Driss Ghoufal travelled to Beirut to compete on "Who Will Win a Million?", but ended up being evacuated to Syria and eventually returning to his country empty handed.

The mix of Arab, Amazigh, French, and African culture in Morocco gives Australian novelist Sandy McCutcheon a great setting in which to work and live. He talks to Magharebia about his observations on the conditions of women and attitudes towards them in the country.

UAE property group EMAAR presented five major projects expected to radically change the face of Algiers to President Abdelaziz Bouteflika on 15 July.

North African countries are providing money and humanitarian aid to Lebanon. King Mohammed VI has called on the international community to intervene in the situation.

After a controversy lasting more than a year between various segments of civil society, the Tunisian Parliament ratified two bills benefiting working women and artists.

The subjects of freedom of the media and human rights were the primary focus in President Zinedine El Abidine Ben Ali's speech marking the 49th anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic.

Croation company Ingra is developing 11 Algerian marinas. Algeria hopes the new project will encourage business and leisure activities, as well as tourism, on the coast

Morocco's geography gives it great potential for ecotourism, a capability still largely untapped. But as the market gradually grows, some people are concerned about the environmental impact of visiting natural destinations.

Lebanon's parliamentary majority leader Saad Hariri visited Algiers on Sunday (23 July) to ask for President Abdelaziz Bouteflika's help in reaching a ceasefire in his country.

The Algerian Ministry of Culture is spending $8m on the Timgad Festival, which is being held in honour of Lebanon, and the Oran Rai Festival, will pay homage to the recently deprated Cheikha Rimitti.

Microsoft has announced the creation of a new information technology development organisation aimed exclusively at Morocco following the closure of the "Partner Academy".

Participants in the ninth Arab conference of officials in charge of combating terrorism affirmed, after two days of talks, the importance of establishing an Arab television channel, monitoring internet activity and promoting social and economic development.

Algeria and Libya have agreed to co-ordinate efforts in the fight against organised crime, including terrorism and drug trafficking. The two North African next-door neighbours are also continuing to work on the demarcation of their common border.

French-Algerian Zinedine Zidane and Italian Marco Materazzi both received suspensions and fines from FIFA after a disciplinary hearing was held in Zurich.

Hachemi Guerouabi, one of the great masters of châabi music, died on Monday (17 July) at Zeralda Hospital in Algiers.

The Lebanese community in Algeria is following the armed conflict between Hezbollah and the Israeli army with fear and trepidation. The community, many of whom remember the civil war, are shocked their country has plunged back into violence.

The numerous exhibits and activities at the second Casablanca Festival gives the city a chance to show off it cultural achievements and the charms of its Old City, as well as present a forum for culture from the rest of Morocco and abroad.

A recent boom in Algerian agriculture has led to fruit and vegetable surpluses. Algeria is now looking towards the international market to sell excess supplies.

French football star Zinedine Zidane is planning to return to his parents' homeland of Algeria upon invitation from President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. The player's family in Aguemoune told visiting Minister of Employment and Solidarity Jamel Ould Abbes they were touched by Bouteflika's expression of solidarity in the wake of Zidane's head-butting incident at the World Cup.

Every year, Ait-ben-haddou attracts thousands of tourists who want to see the site of some major films. The citadelle of Ait-ben-haddou boasts remarkable scenery and unique southern Moroccan architecture, which is being well-preserved because of its prominence. One of the most appealing aspects of the village is the people: seven families determined to preserve their heritage.

The African Development Bank has established a new department dedicated to water and sanitation issues in Africa effective in July.

Cultural tourism, which involves tourists visiting places to experience local cultures, is a growing worldwide phenomenon. Though having much to offer, the Maghreb has still not taken full advantage of its potential in the sector.

French-Algerian footballer Zinedine Zidane apologised to fans and explained the actions leading him to be thrown out of the World Cup final. Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika voiced the support of his country to the player. FIFA will investigate the incident.

The Moroccan government and the US Agency for International Development are working together to help Moroccans take advantage of the free trade agreement through initiatives such as shifting agriculture to more valuable products, implementing required legal and policy changes and promoting Moroccan businesses in the United States.

Arab aerospace experts devised plans to launch three satellites during a meeting in Algiers in late June.

A two-day conference on migration and development ended in Rabat on Tuesday. Proposed by Spain and Morocco, the first conference of its kind aimed to implement a plan based on Euro-African co-operation that will address the question of how to handle and prevent illegal immigration.

Aziz Zouhir, chairman of Tunisian football champion Esperance, has recently received the resignation of three club officials. He is accused of making unilateral decisions and misspending money.

The Algerian government reached an agreement with the General Union of Algerian Workers to increase the salaries of 1.5 million civil servants starting 1 July.

Tunisian Sports Minister Abdallah Kaabi spoke before Parliament in an attempt to calm the rancour over the football team's World Cup performance and defend the extension of coach Roger Lemerre's contract. Parliament also discussed legal changes to elect more sporting association members rather than have them nominated by the Ministry of Sports.

A new African Court on Human and People's Rights was launched last week at the end of a two-day African Union summit. Member states, AU organs, individuals, and NGOs can use the court to ask for rulings on any international treaty or law ratified by the state in question. Algeria and Tunisia are both AU members.

Algeria saw an unprecedented 51.15 per cent of baccalaureate candidates pass the examination this year. Girls accounted for almost 64 per cent of passers. Algeria has prepared for the growing number of students through construction projects and allowing online pre-registration for classes.

Some of the world's largest internet corporations foresee extensive growth in the Middle East and North Africa region. American companies Google and Microsoft have been learning about the area to get ready to enter the market.

Algerian interest in the World Cup is soaring because Zinedine Zidane, the son of an Algerian, has led France to the final. Algerians see the player, who is proud of his heritage, as one of their own.

The new Algiers International Airport opened on 5 July. The facility, which took over 20 years to finish, should initially service 2.3 million passengers annually and eventually 6 million passengers a year.

Outgoing US Ambassador to Tunisia William J. Hudson was joined by Tunisian Prime Minister Mohamed Ghannouchi and other dignitaries in a celebration of US Independence Day in Tunis. The ambassador spoke on the meaning of the holiday and US democracy in general.

Summer in Algeria is synonymous with holidays and celebrations. It is also the period when new hits land on shop shelves and Algerian record companies make their biggest profits. Traditional music is still the most popular, with new versions of some old favourites released every year by competing record labels.

American pop star Mariah Carey is holding two concerts in Tunis this month as part of her "Adventures of Mimi" summer tour. Organisers are busily preparing for and promoting one of the biggest music events ever held in the city.

Arab women lawyers met in Algiers to devise ways to advance women in the legal field and to gain equality in other aspects of Arab society.

Scorpion stings are a significant problem in Algeria, killing dozens of people every year. The civil protection agency and the National Committee for the Prevention of Scorpion Poisoning are conducting a second campaign to make people aware of the problem, the proper treatment in case of stings and how to limit the potential for stings.

Moroccan soccer fans are flocking to public spaces to watch World Cup matches live. As in Algeria, giant screens have been set up in large open spaces and cafes so fans can watch the action unfold.