Magharebia

The first experimental project for a local fibre optic network called Fibre to the Home has been launched in Algeria. The project is motivated by existing technology straining under the surge in information technology spread and the resulting bandwidth issues, as well as wanting to remove satellite dishes from flats. A major issue will be making the fibre optic technology more affordable.

Morocco has chosen to regionalise its health sector so all residents can have equal access to care. The initiative is welcomed with immense relief by professionals and the public alike. Potential obstacles are limited human resources and convincing doctors to go to rural areas.

The month of Ramadan is synonymous with consumption in Algeria, a fact major distributors seize upon with enticing advertisements.

In an interview with Magharebia, Arab media critic Khemias Khayati states his perceived weakness of Arab media, and how it handles women, youth and religion.

Sfaxien coach Mrad Mahjoub does not think a recent loss in the Tunisian championship will deter his team from winning in the ACL semi-final against the Orlando Pirates in Johannesburg this weekend.

The new 2007 Daba association is working to encourage young people and women in Morocco to take part in the 2007 elections as part of its efforts to revaluate political involvement in Morocco and to further develop democracy in the country.

The Algerian Ministry of Employment and National Solidarity will once again follow its annual tradition of handing out food baskets to needy families during Ramadan. Local governments, private individuals and companies such as Sonatrach will also be involved in charitable efforts.

Morocco has long been a country that values its religious diversity. While many Muslim countries reacted negatively to the Pope's recent remarks about Islam, Morocco's religious leaders called for dialogue – a long-standing tradition in the North African country.

A recently held seminar on corporate social responsibility in the Maghreb and the Mediterranean stressed the need for enterprises to exercise social responsibility towards employees and explored the role of syndicates in monitoring the application of labour laws.

Plans of the Algerian National Radio Company include launching a new international news station, digitising broadcasts, conducting a broadcasting training programme, creating new regional stations, improving broadcast quality and expanding its headquarters.

CAWTAR and UNIFEM recently conducted a training course to empower field workers seeking to stem violence against women. The goals of the course were to teach them about laws related to violence, encourage the documenting of violence and share experiences from different countries.

Algerian National Television Company CEO Hamraoui Habib Chawki talked about Ramadan programming during a September 16th press conference. The slogan will be "Algerianness, togetherness and diversity in a context of piety and tolerance".

A US delegation is holding a training workshop on drafting laws at the Algerian People's National Assembly.

A new public Moroccan sports channel called "Riyadiya" began broadcasting via satellite on 16 September. "Amazighiya", an Amazigh language channel, is expected to begin broadcasts between nine months and one year from now.

Tunisian Football Federation President Ali Labiadh said a FIFA demand to elect all members will be implemented at the next extraordinary general session.

Moroccan journalist and former University of California-Berkeley student Najilae Benmbarek has made a documentary on US troops' efforts in East Africa to stem terrorist recruiting. She has also produced a documentary about the Bosnian war.

Maroc Telecom is bringing Push-to-Talk capabilities to Moroccan mobile phone users for the first time. Other providers hesitated to offer the service because it hurts the SMS market, drains users' air time and requires a handset capable of supporting the service.

Algerians are preparing for the month of Ramadan, which sees households spend more money than usual. It is also a busy time for food businesses, which jack up their prices a week before the festivities begin.

Moroccans welcomed news of the arrest of senior officials, including the palace security chief, over drug trafficking in the north of the country. People feel the problem has tarnished the country and want to see efforts to eradicate the problem continue.

Moroccan Centre for People's Rights director Jamal Shahdi spoke with Magharebia about his group's efforts to educate people about citizenship and gender equality.

Many Moroccan parents prefer private schools because they feel the institutions offer more to their children and can give them a brighter future.

Most Moroccans condemn the 11 September attacks, noting they also face the spectre of terrorism.

The Morocco Foundation is teaming with Macy's to raise money for its "Schools Without Borders" programme. The programme will benefit four rural schools near Essaouira.

Many Tunisians feel the 11 September attacks hurt the cause of Arabs and Muslims by giving the West a false sense of what they represent and derailing efforts to build cultural bridges.

A growing number of Moroccan Internet surfers have become bloggers this year due to cheaper Internet access, the general availability of ADSL and the launch of a number of local blog platforms. Current developments in the already diverse Moroccan blogosphere include the creation of an Arabic-language blog platform and an Internet portal combining news, a subject directory and a blog platform.

Deregulation of the Moroccan telecom sector has led to great expansion of the Moroccan information technology and communication market, especially for Internet connections and mobile telephones.

Moroccan NGOS are heavily involved in teaching women, young and old, to read and write. They feel a sustained effort at the local level is the best means to overcome the problem.

Lebanese poet Salah Stétié writes in French, a practice followed by many North African authors as well. He does this because he believes the Arabic language is out of date. In an interview with Qantara.de, he appeals to Arab intellectuals to take an active role in modernising the Arabic language

Tunisia is preparing to hold a national conference next month on releasing government information. Tunisian journalists hope the event will lead to an enhanced ability to practice their profession.

Tunisian Education Minister Al-Sadiq al-Qarbi held a press conference highlighting preparations for the upcoming school year. He specifically mentioned purchases of information technology equipment, more English language instruction and financial assistance for needy students.

The Confederation of African Football unanimously chose Angola to host the 2010 African Cup of Nations, which is seen by many observers as an encouragement for the war-torn nation to pursue peace. Other bidders were chosen to host later editions of the event to ensure continuity and enhance marketing opportunities.

The International Federation of Journalists has established the Programme for Gender Equality in the Media with funding from the EU. Moroccan journalist Mounia Belafia, program co-ordinator for the Maghreb region, talks to Magharebia about the Moroccan press situation and her role as a rights activist.

What effect do images have on television viewers and what are their expectations of the media? Qantara.de discussed the questions with Arab media representatives Khaled Hroub (journalist), Nakhle El Hage (al-Arabiya) and Aktham Suliman (Al-Jazeera).

The Algerian Ministries of Education and Youth and Sports have decided to work together on a programme to re-establish physical education in schools. The agreement will make sports a part of the exams taken by students at age 16 and 18 and will make it a compulsory part of the school curriculum.

Belgian-Moroccan running champion Mohammed Mourhit discusses his past accomplishments, his decision to represent Belgium and his goals with Magharebia from Ifrane, where he is training for the New York Marathon.

The Algerian government is seeking to train more doctors in mental health and build new psychiatric hospitals to overcome limited resources in dealing with a growing problem in the nation.

Algeria is building an immense cyberpark in the Sidi Abdellah area to improve its information technology capabilities. The project is expected to be finished by the end of 2007.

The improving security situation in Algeria has led to enrolment in schools rising for the first time in five years. Schools are benefiting from new buildings and needy children receiving government subsidies.