Magharebia

Desertification claims 10 million hectares worldwide every year, according to UN figures. At a meeting July 28th, African nations agreed to continue co-operating to save their remaining arable land.

Terrorists kill over a dozen soldiers in Tipaza, a region untouched by violence for two years.

Warmer relations with Algeria are a priority for Morocco, says King Mohammed VI, citing the need for open borders and a resolution of the Western Saharan question.

Algeria is stepping up co-operation with Mali on development projects to prevent Al-Qaeda terrorists from making inroads there.

The Moroccan government reshuffled its cabinet to include members of the Popular Movement and the Socialist Union of Popular Forces (USFP).

Two decades after her last concert at Carthage, Warda made a triumphant return. Thousands of delighted fans filled the ancient Roman theatre to sing along with her well-known hit ballads

The 2009 International Science Exhibition in Tunisia gathered 1,000 youth from 45 countries to share scientific and technological research and inventions, and encourage the participation of young people in scientific fields.

Convicted terrorist ringleader Abdelkader Belliraj received a life sentence from a Moroccan court. The long prison terms for six high profile co-defendants however, are generating the most controversy.

Fire has devastated large areas of Morocco's forests, affecting the livelihood of many families.

Tunisian lawmakers hope that a new law will harmonise Tunis’ legal framework with UN resolutions and treaties designed to freeze flows of money used to bankroll terrorism.

Rai music fans from all over Morocco attended Oujda's third rai festival to see their favourite stars perform live.

The Algerian government is implementing new measures to retain its scientific researchers. Some 1,500 scientists had already gone abroad due to less-than-ideal work conditions.

Morocco's interior ministry fired Marrakech wali Mounir Chraibi following protests from the Authenticity and Modernity Party. To many observers, the decision demonstrates the growing power of that party.

Tunisians struggle every year to afford a summer holiday. Although there are some incentives and "reasonable" offers, many vacationers still have to borrow money to enjoy a summer getaway.

African filmmakers gathered in the Moroccan city of Khouribga this July to celebrate the continent's cinematography.

Morocco's 9 million internet users are using the social networking tools Facebook and Twitter to reach out to people at home and overseas. Magharebia checks out the chorus of tweets.

The Moroccan information technology market continues to see double-figure growth as a result of the deregulation of the telecoms sector. Millions of the kingdom's residents now benefit from advances in media and communications technology.

The government offers reduced sentences to those who decide to pursue education from prison. Thousands have opted to take the offer since it was first presented in 2002.

About 25% of new clergy members in Morocco are women, thanks to a variety of training programmes and opportunities. Experts met in Skhirat this month to discuss the ideal role for female religious leaders in the kingdom.

Algeria concluded its spectacular Pan-African Festival with Cheb Khaled and Faudel concerts and a grand finale celebrating Myriam Makeba.

Algerian businesses say the new weekend system will give them more days to engage in international trade, while many citizens worry the change will upset their familiar routines.

In a letter published early this month, members of the Libyan Islamic Fighting Group declared their violent mission a failure. The group had long opposed the al-Qaeda strategies that target civilians.

African officials at a three-day education seminar agreed on the importance of education, vowing to prioritise it their national budgets.

Mauritanian students will learn their bac exam results next week. For some, the worry and wait is impinging on their summer vacation.

The baccalaureate exams are an important event in any student's career. For those who passed the test on their second attempt, dreams of the future can begin again.

PANAF 2009 featured 130 artists from all over Africa, who exhibited the best of their work in Algiers, to the delight of art aficionados.

In a dispute over wages and the proportion of foreign hires, pilots from Morocco's national airline staged a walkout over the week-end, in the height of summer travel.

Mauritanians elected Mohamed Ould Abdul Aziz as their post-coup president, but several rival candidates are questioning the legitimacy of the vote.

To boost women's role in the economy, Morocco is offering young female innovators financial and technical support at a new business development centre.

Gnawa fans were treated to a performance by Gaâda Diwan Béchar on Tuesday at the Panaf festival in Algiers. The group will perform in Tlemcen on August 5th-6th.

Despite the Moroccan government's Cap 2009 emergency plan to reduce the effects of the international economic crisis on the tourism sector, professionals are worried about the results of this year's summer season.

Mauritania's political squabbles have been replaced by a festive atmosphere in the run-up to the presidential elections, thanks to an unusual campaign strategy from the nine candidates.

Courts in Marrakech and Rabat have annulled results in several districts where complaints of voter fraud were filed. Many blame the political parties for fielding dishonest candidates.

Algerian singer Amazigh Kateb returns to perform before hundreds of fans in Algiers at the Pan-African Festival.

Tunisian singer Mahdi Amin brings together Maghreb singers to hold concerts in Tunisia, working towards unity in the region. If successful, the initiative will be an annual event.

An open letter sent by a Moroccan journalist to the king, asking for an overhaul of press freedoms in the country, receives support from journalists and bloggers alike.

After enduring years of religious fundamentalism, Algerians are now celebrating diversity at the second Pan-African Festival.

With improvements in online purchasing and payment services, as well as growth in travel booking and retail purchases, e-commerce in Morocco is expected to finish 2009 in a state of growth.

Hajj pilgrims in Algeria are concerned about news of increasing swine flu cases in Saudi Arabia. The Algerian government is taking precautions to ensure pilgrims' safety.

Tunisian singer Amel Mathlouthi writes and performs songs that tell a story. "I have chosen a path to send messages that carry examples and human values," she says.

The opening night of the Carthage International Festival was a hit; organisers recognised the life and achievements of one of Tunisia's finest poets in a stirring performance.

The Sidi Chiker World Meetings brought Sufis from 50 countries together in Marrakech on July 10th-12th. Participants discussed the creation of an international Sufi organisation.

The successful "Holidays for All" programme offers Moroccan children from low-income families a chance to get away for the summer season.

Reactions to the start of Tunisia's Hammamet International Festival were mixed, with many spectators disappointed by the play Manifesto Al Sorour.

Algerian students began getting an early glimpse of their baccalaureate results online at midnight, a full day ahead of the official enouncement from the ministry of education.

Morocco faces a lingering problem of underage girls forced to work as domestic servants. NGOs and government officials are joining forces to solve the crisis by proposing criminal liability.

Morocco's Youth Parliament has been struggling to come to life since it was first proposed last February. Moroccan Youth Forum officials launched a new movement this week to advocate for the parliament.

Morocco just implemented a minimum wage increase. Because it is a two-part process, many workers feel it's too little a change and too long a wait to see any real effect.

Mauritanians weigh the platforms of nine presidential candidates, a little more than a week before the polls open.

Women are underrepresented in the information and communication technology sector in the Arab world, which limits its ability to develop. Reasons frequently given are technological illiteracy or traditional mentalities.

The government begins consultations with child advocacy groups to develop a national strategy for combating the phenomenon of sexual abuse, which some believe is spreading in Morocco.

A successful pilot educational project with positive initial results has Moroccan officials looking to possibly roll it out across the country.

Forty years after holding the first Pan-African Festival, Algeria is once more putting on its African colours.

The Tunisian parliament passed a bill that will allow early retirement for public employees. Officials say the vacancies will help employ thousands of young university graduates.

The leaders of Morocco and the United States state their common goals regarding peace in the Middle East and resolution to the Western Sahara dispute.

Four years of legal manoeuvring on two continents ended Thursday for Cheb Mami. Fans now wonder whether the rai legend's career will survive five years in a French prison.

From Charles Aznavour and Warda in Carthage, to theatre spectacles in Hammamet and small classical music concerts, hundreds of summer festival season events offer something for every Tunisian taste.

The Moroccan ministry of energy wants to increase energy consumption efficiency in the country. Several measures are being implemented.

In an effort to resume the stalled Manhasset talks over the disputed Sahara territory, Christopher Ross will mediate an informal meeting between Morocco and the Polisario.

Music fans flock to Essaouira once again for the world-famous Gnaoua music festival.

Morocco is still ranked first among countries exporting cannabis resin, but a UN report shows that the area devoted to producing the drug is getting smaller.

A new programme will provide Moroccan imams with a foundation of knowledge intended to harmonise religious instruction and counter extremism in the kingdom.

Michael Jackson fans in the Maghreb countries share their sorrow with fans around the world. One newspaper reported the suicide of a grieving fan, and Magharebia found another who began a hunger strike when he heard the news.

Years after allegations of violence first arose, Cheb Mami will finally appear in a French court on Thursday. The Algerian media remains cautiously optimistic.

Four Moroccans, including three with Spanish citizenship, are in custody for allegedly planning to commit terrorist acts.