Moroccan students had to wait over a year to get a visa appointment to study in Germany

Students from Morocco, Cameroon and India had to wait over a year before getting a visa appointment to study in Germany, wrote DW, quoting a report on Thursday. The report compiled by the German Ministry of Education and Research suggests that international students wanting to pursue their studies in the European countries faced unusual delays in 2018. It also reports that most of these international students waited for eight months to apply for visa.  This report comes after the Greens

A Moroccan jailed in Portugal for recruiting terror fighters found dead in his cell

A Moroccan inmate held at a high-security jail in Portugal was found dead, Thursday, in his cell, Portugal Resident reports. The 65-year-old man, Abdesselam Tazi, who was sentenced to 12 years in prison for recruiting for Islamic State (ISIS), financing terrorism and falsifying documents, appears to have died from natural causes, the same source suggests. His body was taken for autopsy and internal inquiry has been launched within Monsanto, the prison where he was held. Tazi

Mouhcine Camel, this teacher who made of Essaouira’s streets an «English classroom»

In 2017, Mouhcine Camel launched a free initiative in one of the old alleys of the city of Essaouira. His project aims to teach languages, especially English, to young people.

Orange inaugurates its Middle East and Africa operational head office in Morocco

French multinational telecommunications corporation Orange announced, Wednesday, the inauguration of its Middle East and Africa operational head office in Morocco. The inauguration ceremony, held in Casablanca, was attended by Stéphane Richard, Chairman and CEO of Orange; Alioune Ndiaye, CEO Orange Middle East and Africa; the members of Orange’s Executive Committee and local officials, said the firm a press release. The new headquarters is located in Casablanca Finance City Tower

The Polisario slams Gambia for opening a consulate in Dakhla

The Polisario Front denounced in a statement released, Wednesday, the opening of a Gambian consulate in the city of Dakhla. The separatist movement described Gambia’s decision as «a flagrant violation of the Constitutive Act of the African Union and international decisions». This statement comes as Algeria released a similar statement denouncing the opening of the Gambian consulate, which was inaugurated on Tuesday. Last month, the Union of the

Policy reforms and tourism expected to support a pickup in growth of Morocco, World Bank says

Morocco’s growth is expected to reach 3.5% in 2020, according to the World Bank’s Global Economic Prospects. The report indicates that policy reforms and tourism to support a pickup growth in the Kingdom.

Royal Air Maroc to launch new Laayoune and Rabat flights

Morocco’s national carrier Royal Air Maroc (RAM) to launch in March new weekly flights linking the city of Laayoune to the country’s capital, the firm said in a press release sent to Yabiladi on Thursday. The two flights will be operated by Boeing 737-800s every Monday and Wednesday. Flights from Laayoune will be scheduled for 9:35 am and would arrive in Rabat at 11:10 am. Flights from Rabat to leave the city by 12 pm and arrive in Laayoune by 1:40 am. In the same press

Spain to reportedly fine two ecologists for trying to smuggle turtles back to Morocco

A Spanish ecologist, who heads a project of Ecologistas en Accion, is to reportedly be fined €20,700 by Spain’s tax agency for trying to return a group of Moorish black turtles (Testudo graeca) illegally brought into Spain from Morocco. According to Spanish newspaper Euro Weekly, the Spanish NGO Ecologistas en Accion had launched a program to return turtles smuggled into Spain from Morocco. To the Cadiz-based association denounced the sanction, claiming it is

Morocco’s Fehd Benchemsi, when Gnawa becomes Gnawest in Los Angeles  

To Moroccans, he is a renowned actor who starred in several Moroccan movies and series. Recently, Moroccan star Fehd Benchemsi moved to Los Angeles to give his acting career a new impetus in Hollywood and also reveal some of his other hidden talents. In LA, Benchemsi is all about the Gnawa music, playing Guembri, a three stringed skin-covered bass plucked lute used by the Gnawa people. He performs there as «Gnawest», marrying Gnawi songs with western music,

Moroccan cuisine, a melting pot of peoples and cultures [Interview]

Iconic Moroccan dishes reflect the history events that influenced Moroccans’ way of living. From Al Andalus to the Middle East, Morocco shares several secret recipes with other countries, including the Prophet’s favorite dish.