Magharebia

A new platform to promote and raise awareness about human rights has been launched in Morocco. The new plan focuses on incorporating the culture of human rights into education curricula and the minds of law enforcement and public service officers.

Moroccan filmmaker Hicham Lasri talks to Magharebia about working with Nabil Ayouch, and gives advice to young aspiring filmmakers.

The candidates that are running in Mauritania’s presidential elections kicked off their campaigns to win over voters, as the country forges a path towards democracy and peaceful rotation of power.

Tunisian artist Latifa Arfaoui launched her new album Maaloumat Akida in Tunis and announced an upcoming movie role in a film written by Ahlam Mosteghanemi.

A new mental health strategy in Morocco aims to integrate mental health care into medical practice. But the country is suffering from a shortage of psychiatrists and trained professionals.

Court cancels a conference called by the Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights, while internal disputes threaten the organisation.

A recent seminar in Tunis targeted the causes of violence and extremism among Maghreb youth.

The Algerian legislative elections will take place on May 17th. Many Algerian parties reacted favourably to the adherence to constitutional deadlines.

The 2007 Daba Association announces its plan to prepare voters for this year’s legislative elections

A play that deals with the roots of religious extremism and modern Tunisian history opened after months of delay. Critics and spectators have hailed the new play for its daring approach.

The winter sales season has begun in Tunisia. For many Tunisians, it offers an opportunity to buy clothing and household items that are expensive outside the sales season.

Tunisia and Libya inked several agreements to encourage trade and facilitate transportation between the two countries.

The new Maghreb Businessmen’s Union will be based in Algiers, and will work to stimulate economic integration and foreign investment.

Morocco has enlisted the help of a UN official to deal with prison education options in the country. Moroccan prisoners are offered the opportunity to learn a trade or continue their education.

The World Bank will help Algeria assess its governance, under the terms of a memorandum signed in Algiers with the national economic and social council.

Intellectuals, writers and publishers from various countries of the world and the Maghreb region converged on Casablanca for the 13th International Book Fair. Religious and children's books were the biggest draw.

Morocco released a draft plan to give the Western Sahara autonomy within the Moroccan state. However, the Polisario Front has rejected the plan, and insists on a popular referendum for self-determination.

At a conference last week, Tunisian filmmakers petitioned the government to implement penalties spelled out in the Protection of Authorship and Intellectual Property Law.

The African centre for study and research into terrorism opened the debate in Algiers on Wednesday about the links between religious extremism and terrorism. Experts attending the 3-day seminar discussed how easy it has become to slip from religious extremism into terrorism.

New quotas may have secured a victory for women that would have been otherwise impossible.

The GSPC claimed responsibility for seven bomb attacks that killed six people and injured 13 on Tuesday. According to Algerian media, the group used remotely detonated bomb attacks because of difficulty of recruitment.

Sometimes it is children who show adults how simple understanding between Israelis and Arabs can be. The documentary "Bridge Over the Wadi" reveals the ups and downs of a joint Arab-Israeli school project.

An invitation to an evening celebration, attending the concert of Egyptian artist Fadl Shaker, natural or artificial red roses -- many choices face Tunisians as they seek a way to satisfy their sweethearts on Valentine's Day.

Ministers and officials from the Arab Maghreb Union met in Rabat to discuss economic integration and the strengthening of the union.

To mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Tunisia and Canada, the Tunisian Ministry of Culture and the Embassy of Canada in Tunisia organised a musical performance for Canadian artist of Algerian origin Lynda Thalie at the Municipal Theatre in Tunis.

To promote internal tourism, the government is joining forces with travel agencies to develop packages that cater to the different needs and budgets of Moroccan tourists.

Moroccan AIDS activist Simo Ben Bachir plans to publish a calendar featuring Lebanese singer Haifa Wehbe to raise money for combating AIDS. Haifa will also be featured in an upcoming book.

A new bill to combat violence against women aims to provide them with protection and safe harbour. In addition to spousal violence, the bill targets sexual harassment and other forms of economic and social violence.

The Committee to Protect Journalists says that Tunisia saw no progress in press freedom, while Algeria and Morocco saw declines.

The 6th round of the France-Maghreb convention attracted officials and investors from France and the Maghreb.

A new cancer prevention campaign aims to reduce the preventable cases of the disease in the country. Cancer care is very expensive in Morocco, and many families cannot afford or reach treatment centres.

The recently announced visa regime for all Arabs travelling to Libya will not apply to Tunisians or Egyptians. The exemption is seen as part of Libyan measures to encourage economic integration by easing movement of travellers and lifting restrictions on the use of domestic currencies.

Moroccan painter Oum Keltoum Benkhada says she works on behalf of a universal message, through which she wants to spread the voice of peace and co-existence -- and cast aside all forms of extremism and conflict.

Government officials and representatives from the business sector met last week to discuss a new strategy to re-launch the country's industrial sector.

Morocco's national strategy to combat illegal drugs is reportedly paying off with fewer hectares being used to grow cannabis. However, officials are calling for international co-operation to curb drug trafficking.

Amid signals that Tripoli will not execute five Bulgarian nurses and Palestinian doctor sentenced to death in a controversial HIV case, a top al-Qaeda militant blasted the country's leadership Thursday for softening its line.

The council of Arab Interior ministers endorsed protocols to fight terrorism and illegal drug, and called on member countries to support police forces in Lebanon and Iraq.

Tunisian university researcher Mounir Bouassida talks to Magharebia about winning the 2006 prize for excellence in the field of geotechnical engineering and his plans to set up a geotechnical institute for Africa.

Algeria could join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) during the course of this year, according to the group of Algerian negotiators working towards WTO entry. Work is underway on a few hanging issues related to import-export standards and regulations.