Magharebia

The Salon du Livre d'Alger (SILA) 2009, Algeria's international book fair, runs through November 6th and is drawing crowds of people who love the printed page.

Algerian authorities are promoting "flood awareness" in an effort to prevent disaster-related deaths and disease.

Mauritania's 4th National Film Week celebrates the country's Arabic, African and Berber cultural traditions.

Despite official data showing a dip in the nation's poverty rate, Morocco has announced a new strategic framework to tackle the problem.

Union leaders claim that despite ongoing dialogue, the Moroccan government is ignoring basic demands including wage increases and changes to the public-sector pay scale.

Aspiring stars lined up in Algiers and fought their way to a place in this year's Star Academy Maghreb competition.

A set of agreements inked last week in Rabat tightened ties between Morocco and Libya.

In the wake of last week's housing protests in the capital, the Algerian government has announced it will extend large low-interest loans to less-affluent people.

In elections held on Sunday, opposition candidates won a record-breaking 53 seats in Tunisia's Parliament.

Because many employers are looking for candidates with strong skills in spoken and written French, young Moroccans with limited language abilities are having difficulty finding work.

Former Algerian prison inmates will receive small loans to ease their re-integration into society and lower their chance of becoming repeat offenders.

The 6th round of the Moroccan Football Premier League saw little in the way of spectacular play, as draws and low scores were the rule.

The Algerian Start-Up Initiative will nurture up-and-coming firms in the new information and communications technology arena, according to government ministers.

Tunisian voters re-elected President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and reaffirmed the ruling party's parliamentary mandate.

Owing to a string of media crackdowns by the government, Morocco slipped to 127th place in RSF's 2009 press freedom rankings.

"Honest people will make only the promises they can meet," according to Ahmed Brahim, who is campaigning hard in the run-up to Tunisia's Sunday (October 25th) presidential election.

His critics call him a piece of "décor", but Ahmed Innoubli considers his run for president an opportunity to bring diversity to Tunisia's political scene.

The Algerian government is taking steps to cut the debts and restore the competitiveness of struggling state-owned companies.

As Tunisia's October 25th election approaches, President Ben Ali's near-certain re-election has ordinary people and party loyalists locked in debate.

Job opportunities and democratic reform top Tunisians' wish lists as the presidential and legislative elections draw near.

New government measures are in the works to cut the high unemployment rate among Algerian youth.

Hundreds of young performers and would-be stars gathered in Casablanca on Saturday in hopes of impressing judges and making it on Star Academy Maghreb.

Agadir recently hosted the Concert for Tolerance, which promotes peaceful co-existence. Local and international stars drew 200,000 spectators and reached a television audience of 30 million.

This week's visit to Algeria by the US deputy assistant secretary of defence for Africa highlights both countries' desire to strengthen ties and co-operate in combating terrorism.

The election of PAM's Mohammed Cheikh Biadillah as president of the House of Councillors has ruling coalition members concerned about unity during future votes.

With deaths from traffic accidents up by 7% this year, government officials are considering measures to replace buses and remove old and dangerous vehicles from the roads.

Tunisian presidential candidate Mohamed Bouchiha believes he brings new ideas to an election whose outcome is said by many to be a foregone conclusion.

FUS Rabat hand FAR a victory with a disastrous own goal, while Kawkab Marrakech roar back to defeat KAC Kenitra after being down 1-0 at the half.

The second Algiers International Comics Festival attracted young and old as the masterminds behind caricatures and graphic novels shared the secrets of their trade.

The Mediterranean Short Film Festival honours the work of filmmakers from 20 countries around the basin and encourages other cineastes to embrace the art form.

Legislators in Morocco are back at work, with strong debate ahead over critical bills that cover everything from the nation's finances to the Highway Code.

With an eye to improving the skills of graduates and boosting scientific research, the Algerian government has increased its funding for a range of university-level activities.

The youngest candidate in Tunisia's upcoming elections, Mona Weslati, is looking to give youth more chances to shape their country's future.

"Maroc Numeric 2013" aims to expand Internet access and hi-tech tool usage. It will also create 26,000 new jobs.

Just one week into Tunisia's presidential campaigns, voters are dealing with party withdrawals, allegations of suppression, problems differentiating between platforms and the widespread belief that the winner has already been decided.

Scholars from a variety of disciplines met in Tunis this week to discuss how religion can lead to a greater commitment to peace.

Moroccan officials are questioning the criteria used in a UN report that gave their country a less-than-stellar ranking in terms of human development.

Recent legislative action in Morocco indicates that the country is rallying to address the plight of senior citizens.

If the Tunis competition to become a "Star Academy Maghreb" finalist is any indication, young people are ready for a new season of talent and triumph.

Candidates in Tunisia's presidential and legislative elections are rallying supporters and distributing campaign materials this week.

A victory over Kenya brings the Carthage one win closer to a World Cup berth.

After their 3-1 win over Rwanda, Les Fennecs are looking ahead to the November showdown with Egypt.

Algeria has reduced its dependency on agricultural imports, thanks to a banner year in cereal production.

As part of a sweeping plan for reform, Morocco has signed agreements to fund nearly 12.6 billion dirhams' worth of improvements to higher education.

Young Arabs want streamlined media that meets their expectations, and participants in a Tunis seminar delved into how this media model might look.

The Algerian government will meet with union and business leaders to negotiate a higher monthly minimum salary for public sector workers.

The decision by Algiers' international book fair to move to a new location has generated a sharp rebuke from some of the country's large publishing houses.

Citing health fears, Tunisia urges citizens to postpone hajj travels for another year.

Algeria has modified measures to compensate victims of the "national tragedy" in the 1990s, and both analysts and recipients say national reconciliation is progressing as a result.

Algeria's auto dealers hope this month's International Car Show will jump-start business, especially by promoting sales to the crowds of youth awe-struck by new models

Teachers undertook a strike action on Monday to protest the detention of Gafsa activists jailed for demanding better working conditions.

Bloggers in Tunisia are mourning victims of flooding in the south of the country, while others are questioning health officials' preparedness to beat the H1N1 (swine flu) virus.

This year's Star Academy Maghreb will feature candidates selected by an internet audience, performances by local bands, and judging by international music stars.

CA win for the third consecutive game in extra time, while Espérance continue to command the league with a 3-0 win over EGSG.

The Halieutis Plan aims to boost Morocco's fishermen by creating new industrial clusters and managing fish stocks more professionally.

The Moroccan government faces protests after closing down the daily Ahkbar al-Yom for allegedly disrespecting the royal family and insulting the national flag.

A Moroccan film festival is giving prominence to women while re-invigorating the city's cinemas.

Leaders from ten Mediterranean countries pledge to improve digital education.

Management must be left to football professionals to raise the national side's level of play, according to former Atlas Lions coach Abdelkhalek Louzani.

A planned environmental charter will regulate the monitoring and recycling of waste in Morocco.

Algeria has made progress towards national reconciliation, according to government officials involved with the process.