Magharebia

Mauritanian students call the first day of bac exams "easy"; teachers say it is the last year to take the test under the old educational system.

Algeria has finally succeeded in its bid to secure the extradition of Abdelmoumen Khalifa, who stands accused of committing the country’s biggest-ever fraud. The decision has been the subject of much comment within Algeria.

A Casablanca court's 3.5 million-dirham defamation ruling in favour of Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi has triggered the resentment of journalists across Morocco.

Problems continue to plague the Tunisian journalists' union; Habib Chebbi's recent resignation may force the union to elect a new executive board.

Over 30 businesses participated in the two-day International Recruitment and Human Resources Fair in Algiers. Organisers also set up a virtual job fair on the internet.

Fatima Boujenah of the PAM became the youngest local council leader in Morocco, at just 21 years of age. Moroccans hope the unconventional appointment is evidence of broader political change.

Mauritanians are voicing anger over last week's brazen daytime murder of an American NGO worker. Politicians and citizens decry the assassination of someone who was "trying to help young people".

Fifteen Arab nations participated at a counter-terrorism conference this week in Tunisia. Delegates agreed that global co-operation is needed to fight a global crime.

A recent video by al-Qaeda spokesman Abu Yahya al-Libi prompted many Algerian analysts to reject the terrorist group's manipulation of Algerian history.

Thousands of rural area residents in Morocco have benefited from collaborative work between the Classic Rally of Morocco and the Happy Hour Association. The partnership helped many children return to school.

This year's Rabat Auteur Cinema Film Festival brings Arab stars Mahmoud Abdelaziz and Haifa Wehbe to the Moroccan capital. Twelve films from various countries will compete for honours.

A young Moroccan girl received the highest marks on this year's bac exams. Houda Abrarou tells Magharebia how she got there.

The Iranian government is addressing a large-scale political crisis prompted by the June 12th elections. Experts in the Maghreb point to the role of the internet in mobilising support for the opposition.

As the world's modern rhythms begin to reach Mauritanian shores, musicians are voicing concerns about the future of their traditional music.

The president of NGO Bayt Al Hikma speaks to Magharebia about her group's mission and the most important issues facing Moroccan society.

Government and tourism leaders in Morocco are working together to promote the industry in the face of a souring economy.

After dealing with the stress of the bac exams, Algerian students must wait until July 10th to learn their results.

The ministry of education released detailed statistics on test results, and presented a new version of the baccalaureate diploma that is more difficult to forge.

Morocco stands little chance of qualifying for the World Cup and Africa Cup after a draw on Saturday against Togo.

The Greens' stellar run continued in Zambia, where another big victory moved them a step closer towards realising all of Algeria's World Cup dreams.

Now that the baccalaureate exams are done, Tunisian students have something new to worry about: their results. Many will be glued to their mobiles to learn the answer via SMS.

Moroccan political upstart PAM swept the communal elections last week, surprising more established parties and forcing many long-time politicians to ask how it happened.

Negotiations between Morocco's political parties are in full swing, as leaders push to form coalitions at the local level. The outcome of these negotiations will determine the mayors and city councils of the nation's major cities.

The results of the first session are in: 87,000 students passed and nearly half of the candidates will sit for a second round.

Security experts from 53 African countries are meeting in Algiers to develop a continent-wide approach to fighting terrorism, organised crime and human trafficking.

Hundreds of falconers arrive in El Haouaria city every year to compete to find the fastest falcon.

Experts meet in Tunis to discuss a deteriorating level of Arabic language teaching and a decline in the use of Arabic in public space.

The number of swine flu cases in Morocco is up to 5, but health officials say screening measures at airports are working to stop the virus' spread.

Muslims around the world get caught every year in the politics of the lunar calendar. A recent seminar in Tunis drew Islamic scholars and scientific experts seeking to find common ground.

For five days, the Jazz au Chellah festival drew lovers of the free-form musical style to the Moroccan capital. Event organisers hope the event serves as a vehicle for dialogue between cultures.

With results of the first round expected on June 17th, some bac candidates hope for a second chance when the re-testing occurs in July.

Bassma Boussail lost the Star Academy LBC season 6 title to Saudi Arabia's Abdul Aziz on Friday, disappointing Moroccan fans and prompting allegations of voter bias against Maghreb contestants.

A controversial newcomer to Moroccan politics, the Authenticity and Modernity Party won the most seats in Friday's communal elections. Experts believe the results show that voters are regaining faith in politics.

More than 65 years after the end of Italy's presence in Libya, Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi visited Italy this week to mark a new beginning in relations.

Hundreds of complaints have been lodged ahead of the June 12th communal elections. The interior and justice ministries are looking into allegations of vote buying and use of violence.

Ministers from the Maghreb Union agreed to standardise their educational programmes and improve university standards. Students and teachers are hopeful this will lead towards greater co-operation in other fields.

On the eve of communal elections in Morocco, a shift by a major political party to the opposition camp is being viewed as a blow to the ruling bloc.

Mauritanian students took a mock bac exam to get a sense of what to expect later this month. As their children prepare to face the real exams, however, parents offer whatever help they can to reduce the stress.

With many Algerians feeling that university violence is on the rise, education officials hope to improve public safety on campus.

Despite efforts to include more women candidates, female representation in local elections is still lacking.

The field of information security is growing rapidly, as the risks and vulnerabilities of private data become more visible to the public. Experts say governments must use a global approach to address the problem.

Over 40,000 students are currently taking the bac exams in Algeria. Minister of Education Boubekeur Benbouzid said he expects the results to be "significant".

Three women lead the pack in pursuit of the top elected jobs in Anfa and the city of Casablanca. The parties – Istiqlal, the PJD, and the National Rally of Independents – have all named strong women candidates to the top of their general electoral lists.

The Fennecs had to beat Egypt to keep their World Cup dreams hopes alive. After Algeria delivered a decisive win over their long-time rivals, fans took to the streets in celebration. They're still at it.

The Moroccan national football team won one point after a goalless draw Sunday in their match against Cameroon. Morocco still hopes to qualify for the 2010 World Cup and Africa Cup of Nations.

Mauritanian politics have resumed a more normal course since the signing of an agreement last week in Dakar that lays out the way forward to presidential elections.

Tunisia and Morocco are moving forward with plans to ease currency exchanges, while the Union of Maghreb Banks is considering a region-wide credit card. Maghreb co-operation – at least in the financial sector – appears to be making progress.

The bac exam is going on until June 10th in Tunisia. Many students have been pleasantly surprised to see that the long-feared test is not all that bad.

The attack on a convoy accompanying two teachers on a mission to oversee middle school certificate exams has stunned Algerian teachers and students alike.

US President Barack Obama's address to Muslims left many in the Maghreb impressed, and others calling for concrete action to improve relations between the US and the Muslim world.

Political leaders and academics gathered in the Tunisian city of Kairouan to address how cross-cultural communication can curb global conflicts.

Maghreb and European states describe the act as savage and barbaric and vow to pursue the perpetrators.

US President Barack Obama addressed several issues that are sources of tension between the US and the Muslim world. He also said education and innovation will be the currency of the 21st century.

A recent move by the Libyan government to take over a number of private media enterprises leaves experts puzzled about the state's motives.

Days before Morocco's communal elections, voters and officials are asking whether aspiring local leaders should be required to meet educational standards before being allowed on the ballot.

The newly-reopened botanical garden in Algiers offers an educational programme to elementary schoolchildren in the capital to learn about the importance of protecting the environment.

Tunisian students will take the baccalaureate exams on Wednesday, following months of hard work to prepare for the seminal event. One student gives readers a firsthand account of how he lived through this stressful time.

Many more Moroccan students, especially girls, will sit the baccalaureate exams than in 2008. Officials are ready for the onslaught with new anti-cheating strategies.

For some Tunisian students, cheating appears to be the only way to satisfy all the demands of modern school curricula. Other students say they should spend more time studying than planning an easy way out of exams.

The 15th edition of the Fez Festival of World Sacred Music offers a spectacular programme.