Magharebia

Rugby may soon be a new club sport in Algeria. A campaign is under way to promote the sport and establish enough local clubs to create a national federation and participate in international competitions.

The creation of an Arab coalition of municipalities against racism has paved the way for the launch of a global structure promoting tolerance at this week's Third World Forum on Human Rights.

At two anti-terrorism conferences in Tunis last week, Arab officials discussed improving co-operation to stem terrorists' recruitment capacity and disrupt their flow of money and support.

Just as Algerian farmers are dealing with this year's reduced harvest, they are now facing pressure from banks to repay some 37 billion dinars in loans. Without swift action by the lenders or the government, many farmers could soon face bankruptcy.

New figures from Morocco's employment ministry show a reduction in the overall unemployment rate. Minister Jamal Aghmani credits the government's integrated labour plan for the progress, but the country's many unemployed graduates remain unconvinced.

Since the official start of the summer season on June 1st, Algeria's "Delphine Plan" has mobilised more than 44,000 officers to ensure the safety of summer visitors.

The Mufti of Tunisia's recent fatwa on divorce has created a controversy. For many in this secular state, concerns mount that the religious directive may be perceived as superseding the civil code.

Morocco's Amazigh movement has raised its voice, demanding media fairness and emphasising the need to accelerate the twice-postponed launch of an Amazigh TV channel.

Hassan Hattab, former terrorist leader and founder of the GSPC, was recently identified as absent from Algerian prisoner rolls. Hattab turned himself in to authorities last year but has not yet been handed over to the justice system in a case that gets to the heart of the policy of national reconciliation.

When Algerian President Bouteflika re-shuffled his cabinet by replacing Prime Minister Abdelaziz Belkhadem with Ahmed Ouyahia, the public and the press were quick to posit theories as to his reason. Possibilities range from early strategising for the next presidential election to facilitating closer ties with the West.

The Algerian Minister for Maghreb and African Affairs has rejected suggestions that the AMU has been frozen. He says that the differences between Morocco and Algeria will not pose a threat to the future of a dream dating back 65 years.

In a series of reports released this week about Tunisia's criminal justice system, Amnesty International details alleged human rights abuses and charges the country with "misleading the world". The Tunisian government denied the claims by the NGO.

Trade ministers from Africa and Latin America met last week in Marrakesh to discuss the state of South-South trade. Despite recent advancements, trade between developing countries remains low.

In a guest lecture last weekend, French Minister of Justice Rachida Dati encouraged Casablanca students to fight ignorance and help build their country.

The owner and two employees of the mattress factory in Casablanca that caught fire in April, killing 55, have been sentenced to two and four years in prison for their involvement in the tragedy.

The results of the Tunisian Baccalaureate have been posted, with a pass rate of 49.62%. Successful students are celebrating their good news, which many learned for the first time via SMS.

Two men will be tried for allegedly broadcasting erroneous information about the recent violence in the Moroccan town of Sidi Ifni. The network's Rabat bureau chief and his principal source face heavy fines and up to a year in jail.

The bidding war among Algerian football clubs to sign next season's talent is in full swing. Contract offers are hitting "astronomical" sums as team presidents compete to get the winning line-up.

Tetouan is gearing up to host the first "Voix de femmes, voies du future" (Voices of women, paths to the future) festival from July 3rd-5th. The event will pay tribute to the courage, creativity and dedication of Moroccan women.

As Mauritania's 20,000 baccalaureate candidates prepare for their exams, they are coping with the added stress of a teachers' strike.

The six party leaders detained in the Belliraj terrorism case began a hunger strike in response to their treatment and the handling of the investigation and trial.

The members of Fnaïre were just starting the drive home from Fez after performing at the Sacred Music Festival when a terrible crash claimed the life of Hicham Belqas. Fans and colleagues remember the talented performer as a kind-hearted young man and passionate musician.

After a report showed Algeria's homeless population hit 31,000 last month, the government moved quickly to provide urgent psychological care to this marginalised sector of society.

Less than two-fifths of bac candidates passed the first session of exams in Morocco. The second round of testing for those with average scores between 8 and 10 is scheduled to begin July 1st.

Corrections professionals called upon Arab states at a conference in Tunis last week to improve their treatment of prisoners, and to develop a broader approach to the rehabilitation of convicted criminals.

Morocco's Consultative Council on Human Rights (CCDH) took Al Jarida Al Oula to court to prevent the new daily from publishing a series of statements made to the Equity and Reconciliation Commission.

Tunisia has made strides in improving the protection of human rights in the country, but many questions remain. Human Rights Watch seeks to tour prisons in Tunisia to verify the rights of prisoners are being respected.

Many Moroccan children are forced to work to supplement their parents' income. The Moroccan government is working to improve education and combat poverty to curb the phenomenon.

Artists and audiences from around the world are gathered in Fez for concerts, workshops and conferences emphasising peace, harmony and inter-faith dialogue at the fourteenth World Sacred Music Festival.

Arab leaders from Mediterranean nations convened Tuesday in Tripoli to discuss the French-led initiative to establish a Mediterranean Union. Opinions range from open support to complete rejection.

The police action to remove unemployed youths blocking the port of Sidi Ifni has captured the attention of Parliament, which established a select committee to sort through allegations of police misconduct.

Nearly 600,000 Algerian students are taking their baccalaureate exams this year. On the second day of the most important exams in the entire school curriculum, a page-numbering error in one paper caused a controversy.

An appeals court upheld 10 to 15-year prison sentences earlier this week for three minors convicted of involvement in the 2007 suicide bombings in Casablanca. Defense lawyers call the sentences "harsh" while others say they will serve as an example to young people.

Life in the Tunisian mining town of Redayef is returning to normal after recent clashes between protestors and police left a young man dead.

Accounts vary over what took place during clashes between protestors and police at the port of Sidi Ifni on Saturday. The government has described a legal operation to restore order, while several NGOs claim excessive police violence and rights abuses.

Moroccan immigrants gathered in Rabat to discuss emigration policies and strategies for involving expats in domestic politics.

Despite the involvement of human rights NGOs and Amazigh organisations, Moroccan authorities continue to reject the use of Amazigh names on official documents.

A conference in Fez to discuss the French-proposed Mediterranean union affirms Morocco's support for the project, which has yet to receive unanimous backing in the region.

Multiple casualties have been reported following back-to-back bombings at a train station east of Algiers on Sunday. Algerians condemned the attacks and called on the security authorities to deal firmly with the terrorists.

Morocco's employment ministry signed an agreement this week to further improve its reparations programmes for victims of human rights violations. Plans include expediting health insurance for 12,000 additional victims and expanding vocational training options.

Morocco's newest TV channel "Aflam" airs both national and international movies around the clock to foster a film culture and encourage cinema in the Kingdom.

Algeria's national professional theatre festival ended this week after bringing a rich and varied selection of stage plays to Algiers. Theatre fans welcomed the event as a show of Algeria's commitment to supporting the "Fourth Art".

From June 3rd through June 5th, Morocco conducted its annual round of bac exams. Now that it is finally over, students, teachers and parents react to this year's tests.

A steep rise in housing prices has Moroccans worried they will be unable to afford a home. The government announced efforts to address the problem, but citizens question the adequacy of the proposals and whether they will ever be implemented.

Two bomb attacks in the Algiers suburb of Bordj El Kiffan could have produced a greater number of casualties on Wednesday (June 4th), were it not for Algeria's heightened security alertness and counter-terrorism measures, experts say.

As part of Morocco's national celebration of its 1200-year history, the city of Casablanca called on Amazigh and Arab musicians to showcase the country's rich cultural heritage on one stage.

As Morocco announces a delay in the trial of Ennaama Asfari, Amnesty International says the case against the Sahrawi activist is politically motivated. A Moroccan human rights group counters that the charges are legitimate.

After enduring weeks of preparation, special classes, study sessions in cafés and anxious parents, Tunisian students will sit for the bac exam on June 4th.

Rai fans fortunate enough to attend this year's Mawazine festival in Morocco were treated to a concert by Algerian singer Cheb Bilal. In a recent interview, the singer spoke with Magharebia about his experience at the festival and about his philosophy on music as a vehicle for social change.

In response to rising prices across a number of goods and materials, the Moroccan government has announced a new initiative to help consumers and stabilise the budget.

EGSG became the last team Friday to compete in the Tunisian Cup semi-finals, where competition is expected to be fierce. Some teams among the top four are seeking payback for losing the Premier League title.

Despite being the world’s second-largest Francophone country with 25m French-speakers, Algeria is not a member of the International Francophone Organisation. That could change before the next OIF meeting, some international observers are speculating.

Public sector workers were not compensated for days on which they observed a strike. Labour unions have condemned this decision, which follows the failure of several rounds of negotiations with the government to produce an agreement on pay hikes.