Moroccan man on trial for threatening Spanish diplomats

In Spain, the National Court will begin the trial on Thursday of a Moroccan man accused of sending threatening emails last August to the Spanish consulate in Casablanca. According to the EFE news agency, the suspect was reacting to delays in processing his marriage paperwork. The Moroccan national allegedly threatened the civil registry officials at the Spanish consulate general in Morocco, calling them «criminals» and promising to «slit their throats», the report

Abraham Accords : Arab nations cut Israeli arms orders

The Israeli Ministry of Defense welcomed, on Monday, June 17, the «new record in 2023, for the third consecutive year, amounting to nearly double the value of exports compared to five years ago». In 2023, the value of exports reached $13 billion last year compared to $12.5 billion in 2022 and $11.4 billion in 2021. Between 2018 and 2020, this figure fluctuated between $7.5 and $8.5 billion, according to Israeli media.   In 2023, orders from Arab countries that signed the

Marhaba 2024 : Nearly 50,000 travelers crossed Spanish ports in 3 days

Nearly 50,000 travelers crossed through Andalusian ports during the first three days of Operation Strait Crossing (OPE), a significant increase of 90.7% compared to the same period in 2023. OPE, launched on June 13th on the Spanish side and coordinated with Morocco's Marhaba 2024 operation, facilitates travel across the Strait of Gibraltar during the peak summer season. Data from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, obtained by Europa Press, reveals a total of 49,946 travelers between June

At the UN, Algeria includes the Polisario in a debate on hate speech and extremism

Algiers once again advocated for the Polisario during a debate organized on Friday, June 14 at the Security Council, on the adoption, on June 14, 2023, of a resolution urging states to publicly condemn violence, hate speech, and extremism motivated by discrimination. Initially, the permanent representative of Algeria to the United Nations denounced «the barbaric aggression» and «the genocide and atrocities perpetrated in Gaza by the Israeli occupation against innocent

Corruption in the European Parliament : Belgium drops allegations of Morocco's involvement

After more than a year of investigation into alleged Moroccan interference in the European Parliament, «the Belgian justice has dropped the Moroccan aspect of the 'Qatargate' investigation», revealed on Saturday, June 15, the daily Le Soir. The newspaper claims that Brussels «left it to Rabat to judge its two nationals involved in the corruption and interference scandal in the European Parliament». Le Soir cites the names «of Abderrahim Atmoun, currently

Kenya : A close ally of Morocco running for the presidency of the African Union Commission

Raila Odinga, who lost in the Kenyan presidential elections in August 2022, now aims to lead the African Union Commission. Kenyan President William Ruto is supporting his former rival from the 2022 election for this position. Ruto has already secured Algeria's backing for Odinga's candidacy. «I have held discussion with President Tebboune, Algeria, on the sidelines of G7 meeting in Apulia, Italy, who has pledged support for Kenya's Africa Union -Commission chairmanship bid»,

Diaspo #342 : Moroccan surfer Lahoucine Tifert chases waves in Spain

A Moroccan surfing prodigy, Lahoucine Tifert, rose to national prominence but left the team in Portugal seeking better opportunities. Now 19 and living in Spain, he trains with the Spanish Surfing Federation with dreams of becoming a world champion and lifting his family out of poverty.

Sound Energy sells Morocco gas assets to Managem for $45.2 million

Sound Energy PLC, a UK-based gas company, announced the sale of its subsidiary, Sound Energy Morocco East, to Moroccan mining company Managem on Friday. The transaction, valued at $45.2 million according to Reuters, is seen as crucial for developing production in the eastern Morocco gas field known as Tendrara. Managem anticipates Tendrara to begin production next year, with an initial output of 100 million cubic meters annually. The company also expressed plans to further increase production

Morocco, US sign twinning agreement between police science labs

Morocco and the United States concluded a twinning agreement on Friday in Washington, D.C., linking the National Laboratory of Scientific Police under the General Directorate of National Security with the renowned Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in the United States, according to a press release from the Moroccan embassy in the US. The agreement was signed at the U.S. State Department in the presence of Assistant Secretary of State Mallory Stewart and Moroccan Ambassador Youssef Amrani.

Moroccans lead with 22.5% of Spain's naturalizations in 2023

Spain recorded a record number of naturalizations in 2023, with 240,208 individuals acquiring Spanish citizenship, according to data published by the National Statistics Institute (INE) on Friday. This figure represents a significant 32.3% increase compared to 2022 and marks the highest level since the INE began tracking these statistics in 2013 as reported by Spanish newspaper ABC. Moroccans constitute the largest group among new Spanish citizens, accounting for 22.5% of all naturalizations.