Magharebia

In an effort to quell the high dropout rate for elementary school students, Morocco has begun paying bi-monthly stipends to poor families.

"Ni Putes Ni Soumises" does not meet Moroccan standards in dealing with sensitive issues related to women, the interior ministry said last week.

To help manufacturing sectors particularly hard hit by the world financial crisis, the Moroccan government agreed to provide economic assistance. The measures may not be perfect, but many see the effort as a good first step for some troubled industries.

Big names like Warda Al Jazairia, Samira Said and Kazem Al Saher will perform in this year’s Mawazine festival. Stevie Wonder is scheduled to perform the closing act.

Some young Moroccans hope to improve tolerance and spread an interest in politics with their bold new "youth parliament". Supporters say that for the body to be effective, it must be given real powers.

Morocco's microcredit industry seeks to expand its product range and boost loan opportunities in poor areas.

Algerian officials hope that American investment in the country leads to job creation and the transfer of technology.

Business executives and political leaders gathered in Tunis to mark the Arab Maghreb Union's 20th anniversary.

Under a new amendment to its penal code, Algeria will allows convicts sentenced to less than three years to substitute community service for prison time.

Maghreb road safety officials meet in Rabat to tackle the issue of traffic accidents. "Practical solutions to bring an end to this problem exist," said the president of Prévention Routière Internationale.

Moroccan authorities and private enterprises sign the National Pact for Industrial Emergence to boost the country's industry.

Tuareg rebels agreed to a cease-fire in northern Mali on Tuesday. Officials on both sides of the conflict see it as a concrete step towards lasting peace in the Kidal region.

American hip-hop band Vice Verse All Stars visited Mauritania last week to perform with local music bands. The experience was delightful, music fans said.

In the hopes of easing the bureaucratic hurdles involved in setting up small businesses, Morocco re-launched a more accessible Moukawalati programme.

Ministers and media representatives from Tunisia and Egypt met in Tunis this week to discuss ways to improve on-air Islamic discourse.

Tunisians are hesitant to profit from this year's national sales. Economic woes weigh heavily on workers, who are reluctant to overindulge in the lower prices.

A new association in Agadir will help women acquire vocational skills, literacy, and awareness about their rights, all while respecting local culture and customs.

The 15th International Book Fair under way in Casablanca highlights the importance of intercultural exchange between civilisations. Senegal is this year's guest of honour.

Club Africain scored their fifth consecutive win on Sunday, to end the round just three points shy of league leaders Esperance.

Valentine's Day passed in Tunisia with the growing enthusiasm typical in recent years. Although it isn't a traditional holiday in the country, many Tunisians enjoy the opportunity to celebrate love.

Terrorists aimed to maximise civilian and police casualties with two consecutive bomb explosions last Thursday in eastern Algeria. The attacks came hours after President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced his intention to run for a third term in the April 9th elections.

After months of speculation and controversial constitutional amendments in Algeria, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika finally announced his intention to run for re-election. While his supporters are energised, critics already doubt the upcoming poll's legitimacy.

Public and private institutions in Morocco partnered for a new safety handbook aimed at educating parents and teachers about the dangers of unsupervised online browsing.

Japanese car manufacturer Nissan announced its withdrawal from a project to build a plant in Tangier. Nissan's partner Renault said that its promises "still stand".

Officials discussed security and co-operation in the Sahel region at a meeting this week in Rabat.

The African Union's resolution imposing sanctions on Mauritania in response to the August 2008 coup has the support of some Tunisian officials and journalists.

The Moroccan government announced its plan to levy the wages of public service strikers in an attempt to curb the number of work stoppages. Labour unions are not deterred.

Members of Morocco's electronic press hope to establish their own national syndicate, but the existing journalists' union sees no need for online reporters to set up a separate entity.

Transparency Maroc's 2008 report indicates that despite counter-measures, corruption flourishes in Morocco.

The Islamist political movement in Algeria will not have a candidate for president in the upcoming elections, the first time it has happened since the advent of multi-party democracy.

The international financial crisis is already affecting the tourism sector in Morocco. Fewer tourists are expected to visit Morocco in 2009 compared to last year. But the sector can manage the downfall quickly, optimistic officials said.

Moroccan development association Tanmia.ma designed a new, easy-to-use teaching kit for children, to raise awareness about the dangers of illegal immigration.

Algerian football fans were treated to a shakeup this week, when ES Ben Aknoun beat USM Setif to advance to the quarter-finals of the Algeria Cup.

Algerian and Tunisian businessmen urged their countries to open additional venues for economic cooperation. Although an agreement was signed late last year, the size of bilateral trade is not up to ambitions.

Flooding and heavy snowfalls left several regions of Morocco devastated and affected hundreds of families. Government authorities are responding to the disaster.

Morocco is planning to ratify the Optional Protocol of the UN Convention against Torture. The CCDH organised a preparatory seminar in Rabat to address the question.

Nearly a week after a violent flare-up in Berriane in Algeria left two people dead, life is returning to normal. The government and local elders continue to work to address the causes of the conflict.

Emergency rooms in Tunisia are ill-equipped and lack human resources. The government hopes that new measures, including new ER units and more personnel, will improve services.

The Moroccan interior ministry ousted the mayor of Meknes as the latest in a series of dismissals over the last year. PJD officials question the ministry's motive, acting just ahead of the upcoming June 12th communal elections.

The National Union of Tunisian Journalists expressed outrage this week over recent government actions against Attariq Aljadid and Radio Kalima.

Some Mauritanians are still victimised by slavery, even though the government has passed laws to criminalise the practice.

Morocco plans to provide financial assistance to industrial sectors hit hard by the global economic crisis.

As Algeria comes closer to electing its next president, political parties are using a possible third term for President Bouteflika to influence voter turnout.

Algerian club ES Setif are now well ahead of their nearest D1 rivals, but their win over USMH came at a high price: injured fans, angry Harrichis and formal accusations from the referee.