Features
Tunisia hosts digital learning conference
2008-08-29 The Tunisian city of Hammamet hosted more than 200 teachers and education professionals this week for a conference designed to bolster African educators' IT knowledge.Continue...
Bouteflika yet to decide on third term
2008-08-29 Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has long been expected to announce his intention to serve a third term in office, but in the absence of any public statements from the leader the opposition is beginning to heat up.Continue...
Moroccan TV viewers hope for improved Ramadan programming
2008-08-28 Throughout the month of Ramadan, Moroccans spend much of their time watching television. Network representatives have promised an improved season of programmes this year, but viewers remain sceptical.Continue...
Algerian government calls for national front against terrorism
2008-08-27 The Algerian government has apparently acknowledged links between the GSPC and al-Qaeda and called upon the public to form a national front against terrorism.Continue...
Algeria steps up border controls
2008-08-27 The Algerian government adopted a new law to step up border surveillance and improve communications between the customs authority and the gendarmerie.Continue...
Morocco abounds with entertaining and creative festivals
2008-08-27 As the number of festivals grows each year in Morocco, the Ministry of Culture is handing the reins of festival organisation and management over to civil society and regional authorities.Continue...
Morocco turns back the clock for Ramadan
2008-08-26 Morocco decided to end this summer's experiment with daylight saving time early, in order to accommodate Ramadan schedules for praying and fasting.Continue...
Tax on new cars causes Algerians concern
2008-08-26 Algerians say a new tax on new cars will hurt both dealers and middle class citizens, who will have to pay more for their vehicles.Continue...
Morocco to launch anti-corruption authority
2008-08-26 Moroccan politicians and civil society leaders welcomed the creation of a new anti-corruption authority in Morocco but cautioned against its affiliation to the government.Continue...
Tunisians receive Olympic hero Oussama Mellouli
2008-08-25 Olympic swimmer and gold medal winner Oussama Mellouli made a triumphant return home to Tunisia on Saturday, received by family and fans at Carthage Airport.Continue...
Algerians assess Beijing results
2008-08-25 With two medals – silver and bronze in judo – Algeria came in 65th on the medals table.Continue...
Lacklustre Olympics' performance raises concerns over Moroccan sports
2008-08-25 Morocco's poor showing at the Beijing Olympics Games is leading some sports fans, athletes and trainers in the Kingdom to question government support of sports training programmes.Continue...
Day 16: Morocco closes Beijing Games with silver medal
2008-08-24 Morocco was the only Maghreb country to compete on the 16th and final day of the Beijing Olympics. For fans back home, elite runner Jaouad Gharib's silver medal in the marathon event made the wait worthwhile.Continue...
Day 15: No medals for the Maghreb near Games' end
2008-08-24 Competitors from Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia saw their medal hopes dashed on Saturday as as more athletes were eliminated at the Beijing Games.Continue...
Al-Qaeda claims responsibility for latest Algeria attacks
2008-08-22 In a new message broadcast Thursday, al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb claimed responsibility for three recent attacks in Algeria that killed 68 people.Continue...
Moroccans worry about Ramadan, school expenses
2008-08-22 Anticipated increases in food prices during the month of Ramadan have Moroccans worried, particularly given the rise in the cost-of-living index since last year.Continue...
Day 14: Track events, taekwondo, offer last chance for Maghreb medals
2008-08-22 Morocco's hopes for a taekwondo medal are pinned to only one remaining athlete. Tunisia's last athlete in the martial art will compete on Saturday.Continue...
Renewed Sidi Ifni protests lead to police intervention
2008-08-21 Residents of Sidi Ifni and surrounding areas mounted a new protest this week against unemployment and underdevelopment in the region. When demonstrators attempted a new blockade of the city's port facilities, police stepped in to restore order.Continue...
Tunisians gripe about declining purchasing power
2008-08-21 As Tunisian families prepare for Ramadan food expenses and paying for children's back-to school needs, people are turning to sales and bank loans to get by.Continue...
Day 13: Algerian men, Moroccan women advance in athletics
2008-08-21 Two Moroccan women qualified for the 1500m finals, while two Algerian men moved ahead in the 800m event.Continue...
Twin bombings kill 11; former militant asks al-Qaeda to stop shedding Algerian blood
2008-08-20 Twin explosions in Bouira on Wednesday left eleven dead after another day of deadly terrorist attacks in Algeria. The bombings prompted former GSPC leader Hassan Hattab to call for an end to the bloodshed.Continue...
"Holidays for all" brings joy to thousands of Moroccan children
2008-08-20 The "Holidays for All" summer camps for disadvantaged Moroccan children have been well received by the public and the government, which plans to expand the programme in the coming years.Continue...
Algeria's high bac success rate means more competition for university applicants
2008-08-20 Students across Algeria scored very well on their final exams in 2008, intensifying the competition for university admissions and popular majors.Continue...
Day 12: Athletics competitions may be last chance for Maghreb medals
2008-08-20 Further eliminations in boxing and taekwondo mean that Maghreb hopes for more medals are pinned to the region's fleet-footed runners.Continue...
Suicide attack leaves dozens dead at Algerian police academy
2008-08-19 A suicide bombing on Tuesday killed dozens of young military recruits. Some observers noted similarities to al Qaeda operations in Iraq.Continue...
Moroccans disappointed despite Benhassi's win
2008-08-19 Moroccan athlete Hasna Benhassi took third place in the women's 800m run on Monday, to win her country's first medal in this year's Olympic Games. Despite the victory, many fans are disappointed at Morocco's performance in Beijing.Continue...
Successful Carthage Festival comes to a close
2008-08-19 The 44th Carthage International Festival came to an end on Sunday. Reactions from organisers and fans have been positive, with large audiences turning out for a wide variety of Tunisian, Arab and Western music.Continue...
Day 11: Algeria out of boxing competition
2008-08-19 The eleventh day of the Beijing Games failed to bring more medal honours to the Maghreb, though chances still remain in athletics and taekwondo.Continue...
Mellouli gives Tunisia first Olympic gold medal in 40 years
2008-08-18 Swimmer Oussama Mellouli became the first Olympic gold medallist from Tunisia since 1968 on Sunday, beating Australia's Grant Hackett to win the men's 1,500m freestyle.Continue...
International geography conference in Tunis draws diverse group of attendees
2008-08-18 Organisers of an international geography conference held in Tunisia last week noted the heightened participation of Arab geographers.Continue...
Day 10: Moroccan runner Benhassi wins bronze in the women's 800m
2008-08-18 Day 10 of Olympic competition saw Morocco earn its first medal, a bronze in the women's 800m running race. Hasna Benhassi ran her season best, but was edged out by two runners from Kenya.Continue...
Day 9: Tunisian swimmer Mellouli wins Olympic gold
2008-08-17 Swimmer Oussama Mellouli made history in Beijing on Sunday by winning Tunisia's first gold medal in 40 years. Olympic medal aspirations remain alive for some other Maghreb athletes in athletics and boxing events.Continue...
Day 8: Maghreb boxers and runners advance
2008-08-17 Maghreb hopes on the eighth day of the Olympics were pinned on athletics and boxing events. Moroccan runner Hasna Benhassi pleased fans with her qualification to the 800m finals and Algerian featherweight boxer Abdelkader Chadi advanced to the quarter finals.Continue...
Morocco enhances safety on public beaches
2008-08-15 Moroccan beaches are safer to visit than ever before. Authorities have provided significant resources to guarantee safer bathing, including equipment for rescues at sea, first aid centres and well-trained lifeguards.Continue...
Tunisian students worry about housing
2008-08-15 Tunisia's government-owned dorms are too full to meet demand and private dorms are seen as too expensive. As the start of the academic year nears, students struggle to find lodging.Continue...
Day 7: Maghreb runners advance as athletics events begin
2008-08-15 Several Algerian, Moroccan and Tunisian runners qualified to the next rounds of the athletics competitions, which started Friday.Continue...
Algerian press thrilled with Benikhlef's silver medal
2008-08-14 Algerian judoka Amar Benikhlef won a silver medal on Wednesday—the second for his country at the Beijing Olympics. The win has created widespread excitement and affirmed the strength of Algeria's judo programme.Continue...
Moroccan runners aspire to carry on El Guerrouj's legend in Beijing
2008-08-14 Athletics has traditionally been Morocco's strongest event on the international scale. With all athletes apart from three boxers having been eliminated from other competitions, Moroccans have their medal hopes set on their athletics stars.Continue...
Day 6: No Maghreb medals, but boxers advance
2008-08-14 Maghreb boxers continue to prove themselves in Beijing, an Algerian swimmer posts a respectable finish in a tough heat and runners prepare for Track and Field events to begin.Continue...
Mauritanian junta assumes presidential powers amid opposition
2008-08-13 The military council that claims authority in Mauritania announced on Tuesday that General Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz assumed the powers of deposed President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdellahi.Continue...
Morocco tops Maghreb region in remittances
2008-08-13 Remittances from Moroccans have been on the rise. The government hopes more Moroccans overseas will invest in their country of origin.Continue...
Day 5: Algeria wins silver medal in judo, Moroccan boxer Arjaoui advances
2008-08-13 Algeria won its second medal of the games on Wednesday, this time a silver in heavyweight judo. Moroccan heavyweight boxer Mohammed Arjaoui qualified to the semi-finals.Continue...
Algeria ends foreign study grants for top bac performers
2008-08-12 In an effort to halt the brain drain in Algeria, President Abdelaziz Bouteflika has decided to end scholarships granted to top test-takers. The move has met with mixed reactions from Algerian universities.Continue...
EU to review Morocco-Spain tunnel project
2008-08-12 Morocco and Spain are working to finalise plans for a tunnel under the Strait of Gibraltar, to present to a joint EU-Moroccan commission in October. If successful, the tunnel would link Africa to Europe by rail.Continue...
Day 4: Mixed results for Maghreb boxing
2008-08-12 The fourth day of competition in Beijing yielded no medals for the Maghreb, but boxers Hicham Mesbahi of Morocco and Walid Cherif of Tunisia both secured wins to advance them into the next round.Continue...
Soraya Haddad earns first medal for Algeria
2008-08-11 Soraya Haddad of Algeria took the first medal for Algeria at the 2008 Olympic Games on Sunday, a bronze in judo. The medal was seen as a just reward for her commendable performance, given the intense competition from North Korea and China.Continue...
Tunisian public opinion divided over Mauritanian coup
2008-08-11 The Mauritanian military's recent takeover of the state has raised questions about democratic transition in Tunisia.Continue...
Day 2: Algeria makes history with judo medal, Tunisian swim star disappoints
2008-08-11 Algeria scored a sports landmark on the second day of the Olympic Games, when Soraya Haddad became the first-ever African woman to win an Olympic judo medal, while a Tunisian swimming sensation failed to qualify.Continue...
Day 3: Algeria's bronze medal hard act to follow
2008-08-11 Maghreb athletes had a largely disappointing Monday in Beijing, although Algeria's Driess Chaouki, Tunisia's Alaa Shili and Morocco's Driss Mousaid all moved ahead in their competitions.Continue...
New attack in Algeria as army cracks down on terrorists
2008-08-10 A suicide bomber attacked a coast guard post in Zemmouri on Saturday, leaving six dead and 18 injured in what many are calling retaliation against the government for its intensified anti-terror operations.Continue...
No medals for Maghreb Olympians on day one
2008-08-10 Olympic teams from the Maghreb made a good showing on Saturday, though none have secured medals.Continue...
Algerian Olympic delegation optimistic about medal chances
2008-08-10 On the eve of their quest for Olympic gold, Algerian athletes got a boost of confidence in Beijing from former medallists and President Bouteflika.Continue...
Coup in Mauritania spurs demonstrations, condemnation abroad
2008-08-08 The military council that seized power in Mauritania issued a statement a day after the coup promising a swift transition back to democratic government. Mauritanian opinion is divided amid international condemnation.Continue...
Moroccan judo champs to begin competition in Beijing
2008-08-08 The Moroccan judo team will begin their quest for medals in the Beijing Olympic Games on Saturday. The team has four athletes competing, each in different weight classes.Continue...
Al-Qaeda claims responsibility for recent bombings in Algeria
2008-08-07 Al-Qaeda Organisation in the Islamic Maghreb claimed responsibility for two recent suicide bombings in Lakhdaria and Tizi Ouzou. Algeria's Interior Ministry says it has identified the suicide bomber in the second attack.Continue...
Moroccan artists receive professional ID cards
2008-08-07 The first ID cards have been issued to artists in Morocco, in the latest official step the government has taken to improve and regulate the profession.Continue...
Mauritanian President Abdellahi ousted in military coup
2008-08-06 A military coup led by General Mohamed Ould Abdelaziz has ousted Mauritanian President Sidi Mohamed Ould Cheikh Abdellahi from power and created a Council of State to govern the country. Mauritanians are divided over the move, while the international community condemned the overthrow of democracy.Continue...
Facing unemployment, Moroccans in Spain return home
2008-08-06 A Spanish programme comes into effect next month that will use financial incentives to reduce the number of unemployed Moroccan immigrants in the country.Continue...
Assilah Festival looks at the alliances between civilisations
2008-08-06 To bridge differences and counter the "clash of civilisations" concept, Morocco's International Assilah Cultural Festival began Sunday under a unifying theme. This year, the 30-year-old event is called "The Alliance of Civilisations".Continue...
