Magharebia

In partnership with other Eastern Mediterranean countries, Morocco will begin work next year on a comprehensive programme to fight cancer, expand specialised care and ease the suffering of those afflicted.

Morocco’s prison system is overcrowded and fails to meet several local and international standards, an official report says.

The FLN maintained its dominance in Algeria's local assemblies, earning 30% of seats in the November 29th elections. Most parties declared the elections fair, despite minor breaches in polling stations across the country.

Politicians are hoping the torrential rain which has lashed Algeria over the past three days will end in time for polls to open in the country's local elections. Candidates and party organisers hope to avoid the same widespread voter apathy of the May 17th parliamentary elections, but the weather does not favour their plans.

Algeria's double elections began this morning, but government officials and party organisers fear bad weather may keep voters away. Initial figures released by the Ministry of the Interior indicate that only around 20% of voters had cast their ballots by early afternoon.

Round eight of the Moroccan league saw mediocre play in most matches and fewer goals—a total of only 12.

Despite Morocco’s aggressive promotion campaign and "spirited" presentation, the International Exhibitions Bureau picked Yeosu, South Korea over Tangier to host the 2012 World Expo.

Few women are among the candidates running in the local and regional elections on Thursday.

Club Africain shuts out Esperance in the tenth round, while leader ES Sahel trounces La Marsa and prepares for the Club World Cup in Japan.

The annual UNAIDS report has revealed an increase in Morocco's rate of HIV infection. To combat public attitudes surrounding the virus, health organisations plan a World AIDS Day march in Casablanca.

The campaign for the double election on November 29th came to an end at midnight Monday. Politicians hope they have done enough over the last three weeks to forestall voter apathy.

Voters in Algeria are proving ever harder to convince. As elections draw near, the public is divided and highly critical of the candidates standing.

Magharebia interviews Zeitouna University's Dr. Iqbal Gharbi about her call for "feminine islam".

As import costs climb, Algerian business leaders say the increased value of the euro against the US dollar is likely to have repercussions for the national economy. According to the energy minister, however, record oil prices are balancing out the loss in purchasing power and sheltering the country from rate fluctuations.

An educational plan in central Morocco will teach young people about gender equality and women’s rights.

Gulf investors, long active in Moroccan real estate and tourism, are looking to expand their interests. Morocco's political stability and flexible economic system should appeal to investors, Arab business leaders say.

Round seven of the Moroccan premier league saw a number of fierce matches but no changes at the top of the standings.

Despite government and civilian efforts to combat social problems, Morocco has a ways to go before it can put an end to poverty, illiteracy and unemployment.

In a letter to Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi, Moroccan developers protest the potential loss of building-sector tax breaks.

Arab media professionals came together in Tunis to pressure governments to implement tighter regulations on broadcast television in the region.

Algeria's Ministry of the Interior has executed a ban on the participation of radical Islamists in the country's upcoming local elections.

Human rights activists, meeting in Rabat, call for independent judicial systems for Arab countries.

Algeria's political parties are attempting to appeal to young voters with promises to address the causes of unemployment and illegal immigration.

Algerian Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem is calling on his party supporters to campaign for an amendment of the constitution to allow the re-election of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika in 2009.

With just days to go before the announcement of the winner, Morocco welcomed a delegation to assess the country's bid to host the 2012 World Expo.

With local elections approaching, Algeria's government and political parties are trading accusations of corruption and blame for a potential boycott.

After lacklustre voter turnout in May, Algeria's political parties have changed tactics to motivate the population to cast their ballots in the upcoming local elections.

At the conclusion of the UN-sponsored conference on terrorism in Tunisia on Saturday, participants stressed the need for education, cultural exchange and economic development in order to fight terrorism without posing a threat to human rights.

Leaders and experts from a number of international organisations have come together near Tunis this week to discuss preventive measures in the fight against terrorism.

To tackle the problem of shantytowns and a general housing shortage, Morocco has announced the construction of new affordable apartments for low-income families.

Possessing diplomas but disillusioned by private sector job options, unemployed Moroccan graduates staged a protest at Istiqlal party offices on Monday.

Consanguineous marriage remains at a high level in Algeria. A recent survey indicates that despite the health risks to offspring, marriage between blood relatives remains very popular.

Seasonal influenza can be an inconvenience for many, but for small children and the elderly it can be a life-threatening danger. Although a vaccination against this type of infection is readily available and affordably priced, Algerians rarely receive it.

The Africa Partnership Forum convened in Algiers on Monday for a two-day meeting to discuss economic partnership and development.

ES Sahel continues to dominate the Tunisian Premier League tournament with 19 points, following the ninth round of play on November 11th.

The sixth round of tournament play puts FAR Rabat on top of the Moroccan Football Premier League with 13 points, while Kawkab Marrakech and KAC Kenitra deliver a crowd-pleaser tie.

African and European labour union activists gathered in Hammamet to pursue greater protection for immigrant workers in Europe.

The 12th Algiers International Book Fair, under the theme "Freedoms and the Imagination in Arab Culture", came to a close on Friday. Although many titles were barred from the event, attendees clearly favoured religious books during the 10-day event.

Morocco's proposed 2008 budget includes ambitious measures to improve education, housing and health care while enhancing the country's economic competitiveness.

Algeria's cinema industry is in decline, with few theatres still in operation. The Ministry of Culture is now trying to restore some of the lustre to Algeria's "seventh art".

A new programme aims to help Algerian women rejoin society after serving in prison.

Algeria places tighter controls on the importation and sale of new automobiles to improve consumer confidence and road safety.

The European Union pledged 28m additional euros in support of Moroccan reform programmes. The EU has already pledged to grant the country 654m euros until 2013 for these initiatives.

On the twentieth anniversary of his ascension to the presidency, Tunisian leader Zine El Abidine Ben Ali speaks about past successes and future reforms.

Interpol members convened in Morocco this week to discuss law enforcement efforts against organised crime, terrorism and other threats.

Twenty-three Algerian political parties have begun campaigning for the country's local elections to be held on November 29th.

FAR Rabat defeated Wydad Casablanca on penalty kicks to qualify for the Throne Cup finals, where they will play surprise finalists Rashad Bernoussi, who qualified for the first time in team history with a win over Kawkab Marrakech.

Auditions for pan-Arab televised singing contest Super Star were held in Morocco for the first time, on November 3rd and 4th in Casablanca. Six young Moroccans were selected to travel to Beirut, to participate in the programme which will begin in January 2008.

The Moroccan government has launched a new campaign to raise awareness of its new law against money laundering and other financial crimes.

A number of opposition parties convened in Tunis to discuss the 2009 presidential and legislative elections.

Courts across Algeria have begun hearing a new round of terrorism-related cases. Complications in the trials of Hassan Hattab and Abderrazzak Barra have raised questions about communications between the authorities and the judiciary.

Morocco recalled its ambassador to Spain to protest the planned visit of King Juan Carlos to Ceuta and Melilla. Spain, meanwhile, said the diplomatic crisis will not affect ties between the two countries.

In a recent audio recording, Ayman al-Zawahiri claimed that a Libyan group has joined al-Qaeda. He also called on Maghreb citizens to topple their regimes. Analysts in the region viewed the tape an attempt to shore up dwindling support following losses in Algeria.

Fifty three years after the start of Algeria's war of independence against the French, the holiday is losing its patriotic sway over Algerian youth, who feel their country should look ahead, rather than behind.

Resignations and criticism are rife in Algeria's parties as officials determine candidate lists for the November 29th local elections. Many Algerians fear this discontentment and struggle may negatively affect turnout.

Morocco's cabinet was confirmed last week despite opposition and trade union doubts regarding the new government's programme.

The Algerian government recently announced a programme to motivate more people to donate blood, and to boost the country's capacity to process existing blood donations.

Morocco's political parties have suffered a series of internal crises in the wake of record-low turnout in the country's September 7th legislative elections.