Magharebia

Reigning Algerian football champions ES Setif and runners-up USMA confirmed their positions at the top of the table in the second day of play in the national championship Thursday (August 30th), while Mouloudia d’Alger lost at home to ASO Chlef.

Maguy Kakon heads the list of candidates representing the Social Centre Party (PCS) in Morocco's 2007 legislative elections. In an interview with Magharebia, the first Jewish woman to stand for election reveals her decisions and ambitions.

Tunisian football fans followed their national youth team’s participation in the South Korea Under-17 World Cup with passion. Despite disappointment at the team's 3-1 loss to France, many Tunisians expressed big hopes for the national team’s future.

Despite efforts to monitor and counter internet sites designed to recruit and train terrorists, sites continue to appear on the web, including those targeting female jihadists.

Moroccan political parties are united in their anti-terror rhetoric, but few of them have created any concrete plans to tackle the phenomenon.

Madani Mezrag, commander of the Islamic Salvation Army during the nineties, addressed a message to al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb, calling on them to disarm and promising a "political initiative" in their favour in the near future.

Tunisia's Association for the Defence of Secularism has been the subject of public debate since its creation in May 2007. Magharebia met with founding member Salah Zghidi recently and used the opportunity to voice a number of the Tunisian public's questions about the group and its goals.

Two political parties in Morocco have opted to refrain from participating in the coming legislative elections. Annahj Addimocrati and the Amazigh Democratic Party have decided the government has not yet achieved a satisfactory minimum level of fairness and transparency to warrant their participation.

With Moroccan voters becoming increasingly informed about political issues, the country's political parties must present more coherent strategies in order to gain popular support. A number of parties have announced their post-election plans, most of which focus on economic growth and unemployment.

Despite resistance from many voters, Morocco's political parties are hitting the streets to campaign for the September 7th elections. Some parties are recycling old methods and promises, while others are displaying a spirit of innovation.

Recent Algerian police figures indicate a significant rise in criminality among Algerian women. Police have called for research into the phenomenon and several civil society representatives provide their opinions.

Morocco's second elections under Mohammed VI are set for September 7th. They will be the nation's eighth legislative elections, building on decades of political progress and setbacks.

Top Algerian clubs ES Setif and Mouloudia won matches in the first round of the 46th First Division Championship, while JS Kabylie suffered a 1-0 defeat at the hands of USM Alger. Following a recent spate of player and coach transfers, the Algerian Football Federation reminded clubs that coaching contracts must tie trainers to their teams for a minimum of two years.

Morocco's High Authority for Audio-Visual Communication has spent weeks working with audio-visual operators to encourage balanced coverage of the September 7th legislative elections.

Fans of Lebanese singer Haifa Wehbe were disappointed after Agadir authorities cancelled her August 18th concert, citing security concerns. The cancellation sparked rumours that the singer was banned from singing in Morocco.

Algeria’s football team lost 2-0 to Brazil on Wednesday night at the Mosson stadium in Montpellier, in the south of France. Brazilian players were impressed with the Algerians' technical skills.

Tunisians have begun their preparations for Ramadan, ensuring they can provide all of their families' needs through the busy season. Ramadan coincides this year with the end of summer holidays, placing additional strain on family budgets. The government has boosted imports of key foodstuffs to guarantee availability at reasonable prices.

A recent agreement between the Moroccan government and a coalition of unemployed university graduates promises to resolve a dispute indicative of the country's greater problems in education and employment. The government will provide preferential treatment in entrance exams and additional training to the complainants, provided they cease their public protests.

West Africa and Western Europe are the destinations of choice for Moroccan IT exports, with sales in these regions totalling 246m dirhams, according to a recent study by the ICT Workers’ Association in Morocco (APEBI), funded by the World Bank Group's International Finance Corporation (IFC).

A general rise in the prices of consumer goods has unsettled Algerian households. Employers’ associations and trade unions have put forward proposals to halt the trend while the government has blamed external and internal factors for the hikes, which affect even fruit and vegetables.

Casa Music Festival Artistic Director and performing arts advocate Hicham Abkari spoke to Magharebia recently about the festival and its role in the civic culture of Casablanca.

French coach Henri Michel will return to coach Morocco's national football team, seven years after leaving the position amid criticisms for his performance and behaviour. The Moroccan public is divided over the announcement.

The pharmaceutical industry in Morocco has grown and improved in recent years. The World Health Organisation has even given it ratings on par with those in Europe. Nevertheless, industry leaders say Morocco needs to increase training and investment to become a truly global competitor.

Banned in 1998 after years of overfishing, coral fishing may soon resume in Algeria. A study recently concluded by a French group will help the government establish a more effective management plan to regulate fishing and protection of the important resource.

Tourists and local residents were spared any injury in the attempted terrorist attack in Meknes on Monday (August 13th), but the actions of 30-year-old Hicham Doukkali have left many with uncomfortable questions. Doukkali, a married, state-employed professional is far from the typical profile of a suicide bomber.

Human rights and press organisations rejected a ruling issued Wednesday morning against journalists Abderrahim Ariri and Mustapha Hormatallah from al-Watan al-An.

A Dutch NGO has lent its support to foreign workers residing in its country who desire to undertake projects back home in their native countries. International Entrepreneurship provides a variety of services to help potential business-owners and investors navigate bureaucracy and secure financing for their endeavours.

Omar Bahraoui, Mayor of Rabat, was summoned by the public prosecutor on Monday (August 13th) and will appear on Thursday before the judge of Rabat's Municipal Court.

In opening matches played August 11th and 12th, Espérance lost 2-0 to Olympique Béja, Club Africain and Club Sportif Sfaxien tied and Etoile du Sahel, last season's title winners, scored a 4-0 victory against Zarzis.

Morocco and the Polisario Front failed to reach an agreement during talks held August 10-11 in New York, as the Moroccan delegation clung to its autonomy proposal and the Sahrawis continued to demand self-determination.

Star Academy Maghreb winner Hajar Adnane has been absent from the summer tour organised by the show's producers, leaving fans to wonder about the reasons. In a recent radio interview, Hajar broke her silence, describing why she has not appeared alongside her fellow contestants.

Zhor Chekkafi is Secretary-General of Morocco's Democratic Society Party (PSD). A new party, the PSD has received publicity for being the first Moroccan political party to be led by a woman. Chekkafi recently spoke to Magharebia about her organisation and her predictions for the upcoming legislative elections.

This year has marked a turning point in the telecoms market in Morocco, with the entry of new players Méditelecom and Wana. The country now has around two million landline subscribers, over 17 million mobile subscribers and 480,000 Internet subscribers.

The new Dar Al Mouwaten facilities provide citizens from the country's poorest areas with social assistance, meeting space, and training to help bring them in step with mainstream society.

A contest has been organised for children of the Mediterranean to share their visions of peace, based on the famous painting "Dove of Peace", by Pablo Picasso. Teens from ten countries will take part in the event, organised by the Peres Centre for Peace.

Native songstress Latifa Arfaoui returned to the Tunisian stage on August 6th, for a concert before a large audience at the 43rd Carthage International Festival.

Algerian authorities say faulty electoral lists may explain the low turnout for the May 17th elections. Some parties and many citizens say the explanation is an attempt by the government to lay blame on the people, rather than acknowledge that they have lost the public's confidence.

The International Carthage Festival honoured Tayeb Saddiki on August 3rd at an evening performance attended by a group of prominent Tunisian theatre personalities and famed Algerian actor Ahmed Agoumi.

Moroccan authorities confiscated recent issues of TelQuel and Nichane on allegations they disrespect the king and offend the sensibilities of Muslims.

Audiences at this year's 43rd Hammamet Festival were treated to a performance by classic Moroccan group Jil Jilala. The group has enjoyed great success for its fusion of traditional Moroccan melodies with modern rhythms, in a style reminiscent of Nass El Ghiwane.

The World Health Organisation has listed Morocco among 57 countries with an acute shortage of healthcare professionals. To overcome the shortage, the country has launched a new programme to train 3,300 doctors annually by 2020 instead of the current 900.

The Algerian wilaya of Tizi Ouzou is organising the second Arab-African cultural folk dance festival from July 29th to August 7th. Drawing upon talent and support from throughout Africa and the Arab world, the event seeks to create a new space for cultural expression.

Algeria's government is lowering tax rates in a bid to reduce the scale of the country's informal economy. The new measures target Algerian companies that do not declare their revenue.

The Ulema Council in Casablanca has begun undertaking innovative means of reaching out to Moroccans in a large, modernising city.

Events have taken a critical turn in Algeria's struggle against terror. On July 30th security forces killed the mastermind behind the attacks of April 11th and July 11th, while the leader of Zone 9 in the Salafist Group for Preaching and Combat (GSPC) has laid down his arms.

Tunisia's government provides a number of services and benefits to its citizens residing abroad, both to remind the expatriates of their national culture, and to thank them for the substantial remittances they send back to the homeland.

On the evening of July 29th, the 43rd Carthage International Festival featured Moroccan artists Karima Skalli and Abderrahim Souiri.

In a controversial ruling Tuesday (July 31st) the Boumerdès criminal court sentenced 28 property developers and other professionals to two years in prison for fraud and negligence in connection with the collapse of homes and apartments during a 2003 earthquake.

In the lead-up to Morocco's September elections, a new project has begun to educate and organise women to press forward with their agendas. The Social Movement for Equality and Citizenship's "Responsible Citizen Project" reiterates the common demands put forth by women, to compel voters to action.