Magharebia

Round 17 of Tunisia's top football tournament proceeded without major changes in the rankings. ES Sahel managed to close Club Africain's league lead to just two points, and Espérance remain in a comfortable third place.

Moroccan human rights activists launched a petition campaign to overturn the Moroccan criminal law punishing homosexuality. They also want the government to free several men imprisoned for participating in a gay wedding video posted on the internet.

The Tunisian journalists' union recently announced a plan, developed in co-operation with Morocco's press syndicate, to create a larger organisation to represent journalists from across North Africa.

The Ariana Library in Tunis is home to an exhibition on crime fiction through February 29th, offering the public a taste of Tunisian and Belgian classics in the genre. Attendees are treated to samples of popular works by writers and illustrators from both countries.

The United Nations conducted a forum last week in Casablanca to ensure that Arab parliaments have the resources necessary to implement reforms and new political laws. An additional objective of the UN initiative is to encourage women and young people to become involved in politics.

Three of Morocco's labour unions staged a protest on Tuesday to convince the government to reform the country's antiquated civil service regulations. Government leaders claim the rules have been updated in certain ways, but acknowledge that more work remains.

The prime ministers of Morocco and Tunisia met in Tunis last week to address bilateral, regional and international issues of mutual interest, including the development of the Arab Maghreb Union. The High Joint Committee session resulted in several new accords in the economic, social and cultural fields.

Now in its third week, the winter sale season in Tunisia is performing under expectations. To counter consumer worries about alleged seller fraud, vendors are expected to drop prices up to 80% in the coming days.

As months pass without rainfall in Algeria, farmers are facing a critical water crisis. The Algerian government is taking steps to counter the threat of drought by planning dams and pumping stations for irrigation water and opening Africa’s largest desalination plant.

The Moroccan Supreme Court recently ruled that journalist Mustapha Hormatallah would remain in prison, but the decision is being roundly condemned by international press freedom organisations.

Air Algérie has had a bumpy ride, but company and state officials agree that pilot pay incentives, new aircraft and a tourism partnership can help keep "Air Couscous" viable in the global economy.

In Morocco's first internet-related trial, a young engineer was convicted last week of posing as a royal prince while reportedly trying to meet women. Many Moroccan and foreign internet users leaped to the man's defence, calling the three-year prison sentence too severe.

Moroccan singer Meryem Belmir has accomplished a great deal in her short career. Fresh from winning the jury award at a song festival in Algiers in November, Belmir spoke to Magharebia about her success and her future plans.

From shoppers looking for bargains to merchants buying products for resale, many Tunisians have parlayed Libya’s proximity and low prices into a business opportunity. Half of all Tunisians who travel to other countries choose Libya, a new report indicates.

Tunisia’s Ministry of Culture announced this week that it would release a number of previously-censored books. They range from studies on human rights in the Maghreb and censorship in the Arab region to a political participation guide for women.

Investigations into a suspected terrorist network in Morocco led to the arrests of three senior political party officials, Morocco's interior ministry announced on Wednesday. The group, trained in part by Hezbollah, is believed to have links to al-Qaeda.

For three weeks, a fishing union strike has caused seafood shortages and high prices in Moroccan markets. Fishermen are now back on their boats, after reaching an agreement with the government Monday on their most urgent issue: the rising cost of diesel fuel.

With 200 drivers injured daily on Moroccan roads, the government has introduced a new safety plan. The revised Highway Code includes stiffer penalties on offenders, greater protection for pedestrians and improvements to road signs.

The Algerian government will take a census in April in order to gain a clearer picture of the economic needs of the population. Although the census results will be used for planning new national, regional and commune-level development programmes, many Algerians remain unclear about the process or its benefits.

Reforming the political process topped the agenda at a conference of Moroccan politicians this week. Party leaders acknowledged they have failed to properly address the needs of the younger generation and said changes are planned to get the public involved in politics.

A new charter to regulate satellite television networks adopted recently by Arab information ministers is under attack in the Maghreb. Critics see the measure as an attempt to censor Arab media and render political dissent impossible.

Given their role in recruiting extremists, Algerian mosques have long been subjected to government oversight. Now, with the emergence of a new security crisis, police are conducting an awareness campaign to minimise the possibility that young people might be recruited into terrorism.

The Algerian government disclosed an assassination attempt Saturday against FFS leader Karim Tabou. Security forces killed the alleged mastermind behind the suicide bombings last month against police stations in Thenia and Naciria.

Dozens of Algerians, including several women, remain jailed in Tunisia and Libya. Family members concerned about severe penalties and possible mistreatment are calling for the Algerian government to intervene to secure either their release or transfer to prisons back home.

After a large trade union strike affected the education, health and local government sectors, Prime Minister Abbas El Fassi vowed to hold regular meetings with unions and draft a new social charter. Union members have threatened future action if the government fails to honour promises of pay increases and legislative reforms.

Still reeling from Tunisia’s quarterfinal loss to Cameroon in CAN 2008 this month in Ghana, Tunisian Football Federation officials said they will not renew Roger Lemerre’s contract.

Morocco issued an updated package of family laws in 2004. In a recent justice ministry study, the law is shown to have had significant impact on the country's social development.

Many Tunisians have embraced the idea of dedicating a special day to honour romantic love. Music concerts, restaurant events and long lines outside gift shops mark Valentine’s Day in the capital city.

Danish security services announced on Tuesday that three men were arrested for alleged involvement in a plot to assassinate cartoonist Kurt Westergaard. The announcement opened up a second wave of debate over the 2005 scandal involving cartoons deemed anti-Islamic.

The last elections in Morocco swept 34 women from six political parties into Parliament. The new legislators now plan to work together, regardless of party differences, to advance women's issues and prove they can perform as well as the male MPs.

Businessmen from Algeria and Tunisia met Friday in Tunis to discuss ways to improve trade between the two countries. Among the subjects covered at the meeting was the proposed Tunisian-Algerian Free-Trade Zone, currently under review in both countries.

A new law passed by Tunisian legislators permits the government to choose who will be at the helm of institutions of higher education. Opponents worry the move will undermine the institutions' neutrality.

A new World Bank study of education in 14 Middle East and North African countries commends Tunisia for significant progress, but says other countries, including Morocco and Algeria, still adhere to an "outdated method of teaching".

Fearing that a constitutional amendment in Algeria allowing a third term for President Bouteflika would signal a return to a one-party political system, former MPs, activists, academics and journalists have launched a petition drive to block the measure.

During Lebanese superstar Haifa Wehbe's recent trip to Morocco, the singer worked with the Red Ribbon Charity to raise awareness about HIV/AIDS. She was also impressed by the devotion of a group of young fans.

Morocco, as a member of the Global Initiative to Combat Nuclear Terrorism, hosted a two-day seminar last week to boost links between communities tasked with combating terrorism and those responsible for tackling nuclear proliferation.

The Royal Moroccan Football Federation dismissed national team coach Henri Michel, blaming him for Morocco's early elimination from the African Cup of Nations. The federation is also feeling the heat from fans who say that to revive the national team, the FRMF must include men who understand football well.

The Algerian government announced Wednesday that security forces arrested or killed the remaining terrorists of the cell allegedly responsible for the December 11th attacks in Algiers.

Corruption in Morocco’s courts threatens to render Prime Minister Abbas Al Fassi’s reform plan ineffective. Civil society organisations are urging the government to work to eradicate corruption, in order to pave the way for reform.

The poor showing by the national football team at the African Cup of Nations prompted the Moroccan parliament to seek an explanation from Youth and Sports Minister Nawal El Moutawakil.

The Moroccan government plans a broad expansion of vocational education centres, job agencies and training partnerships with business professionals. The plan addresses the growing number of workers who do not fit the needs of the market and the problem of unemployment in the country.

Moroccan farmers have often been frustrated by delays in receiving state funds, but a subsidy system overhaul launched this month could mean the backlog will now be a "thing of the past".

Tunisia will be home to a new aviation components factory for France-based aerospace manufacturing firm Latécoère. The factory, which will build segments of Airbus aircraft, offers 1,000 jobs to skilled Tunisian workers.

The Moroccan government reports visitor numbers hit a record high of 7.4 million last year, putting the country well on its way toward the goal of 10 million tourists by 2010. The comprehensive strategy involves training tourism sector employees, increasing accommodations and optimising air travel.

The Algerian government has undertaken a new programme to regulate and monitor the sale and distribution of chemical fertilizers, used by farmers and terrorists alike. Farmers worry the changes may reduce crop yields.

Unemployed Moroccan graduates are keeping up their protest in a bid to be given public-sector jobs. After gathering outside the Istiqlal party headquarters, they were allowed to speak to a government committee, but for now, the situation remains unresolved.

Following a two-day meeting in Tunis, Arab interior ministers agreed to consider incitement to terrorism as a crime and to increase co-operation in the fight against terrorism.

Feeling the heat from disgruntled Moroccan football fans and journalists, national coach Henri Michel offered his take on the team’s dismal performance at the African Cup in Ghana and outlined future plans for the Atlas Lions.

Libyan member of al-Qaeda Abu Laith al-Libi was killed Tuesday during a strike on a terrorist compound in Pakistan. Al-Libi came to the world's attention late last year for his videotaped call for Libyans to join al-Qaeda.

A young police officer killed in Tuesday's attack on a Thenia police station is being recognised for his heroism in preventing the bomber from inflicting more casualties. Security measures implemented after the Algiers twin bombings have heightened alertness and led to several arrests, including suspects in the December attacks.