Algerian army kills Mauritanian and Sahrawi gold miners  (Read more...)

Russia 2018 : Aziz Bouhaddouz apologizes to Moroccans for his own goal

Moroccan international player Aziz Bouhaddouz apologized to Moroccans after he mistakenly scored an own goal Friday at the Atlas Lions' opening game in the World Cup, says Le Matin. «It was a tough match for me and for all of us. We had a good start, but we did not play as we had planned. It's a bitter moment for me. Unfortunately, this happens in football. Today, it happened to me. I want to apologize to the team, the fans and the 35 million people in Morocco», the Nador-native

Fans are worried after Nordin Amrabat was slapped in the face by the Atlas Lions' physio

While playing against Iran on Morocco's opening game at the World Cup, Moroccan winger Nordin Amrabat was slapped by the Atlas Lions' physio after he felt dizzy. The 31-year-old international footballer was confused and dazed after he fell on the floor trying to keep the ball. Morocco's medical team rushed to check on Amrabat who was unable to stand still. I dont think this physio knew exactly what to do.... #WorldCupRussia2018 #WorldCup #Morocco #Iran #physio

Moroccan knife attacker given a life sentence in Finland

Abderrahman Bouanane, a Moroccan asylum seeker who killed two people and injured 8 others in a stabbing attack on August the 18th, 2017, in Finland was given a life sentence, says Associated Press on Friday. The man was convicted of two terror-related murders and eight attempted murders by the southern Finland district court. He was influenced by hatred and the heavy bombardments by the Western alliance in the Syria, reports the same source. The 22-year-old Moroccan arrived in Finland in

OCP to acquire 20% stake in Spain's Fertinagro

OCP Group of Morocco and Fertinagro Biotech, S.L. (Fertinagro), a Spanish company which manufactures and supplies a wide range of plant nutrition solutions, announced, Thursday, the signing of definitive agreements under which OCP would acquire 20% of Fertinagro by way of a capital increase. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, said a statement by OCP Group. It added that this transaction is in line with OCP’ strategy of focusing on

Morocco to celebrate Eid al-Fitr Friday

The Kingdom of Morocco is to celebrate Eid al-Fitr Friday, 15th of June, announced the Ministry of Islamic Affairs on Thursday. Moon-sighting has proven that today is the last day of Ramadan, says the same source.

Morocco wants to host the 2030 World Cup

After losing the right to host the 2026 World Cup, Morocco is to present its candidacy for the 2030 international tournament. The information was made public by Arabic-language newspaper TelQuel Arabi, citing the Minister of Youth and Sports Rachid Talbi Alami. According to the minister who is currently in Moscow, the decision followed the «instructions» of King Mohammed VI. Speaking to MAP news agency, he stated that Morocco conducted a transparent campaign to promote the 2026

Hirak : A Belgian-Moroccan national to stand trial in Nador

A Belgian-Moroccan national is to appear in court Thursday, 14th of June, in Nador for participating to Hirak rif, an uprising that took place in northern Morocco, reports EFE. The man is facing serious accusations such as undermining Morocco’s national security. The 36-year-old man was arrested last week by the Moroccan police at the border crossing located between the Spanish enclave Melilla and Nador. His lawyer, Mbarek Bouyerek, told EFE that his client will be tried for violating

2026 World Cup : Guinea and Lebanon deny having voted for the North American bid

In a surprising account, president of the Guinean football federation Antonio Souaré said that he did not vote for the North American bid, Wednesday 13th of June, in a FIFA congress held in Russia, reports Football 365. «I did not vote for the United bid», Souaré told French-speaking magazine Jeune Afrique. The official who was chosen as an ambassador for the Moroccan candidacy added : «There must be a mistake, perhaps a technical one». Antonio

2018 World Cup : SNRT acquires the broadcasting rights for 22 international sports events

Morocco public broadcaster Société nationale de radiodiffusion et de télévision (SNRT) has acquired the broadcasting rights for 22 international sports events held at the 2018 World Cup, said Arryadia TV Wednesday on twitter. The initiative comes as the state-owned television network concluded an agreement with beInSPORTS North Africa and the Middle East, a group of sports channels based in Doha that holds the rights to broadcast the competition in the

Russia 2018 : King Mohammed VI calls Renard and Benattia to encourage the Atlas Lions

King Mohammed VI held on Wednesday a phone conversation with the coach of the national football team Hervé Renard and team captain Mehdi Benattia, said a statement issued by the Royal Office. During this phone call, the King conveyed his and all the Moroccan people's wishes of full success for the national football team members and supervisors, ahead of Russia World Cup, it said. The sovereign reiterated on this occasion to the national team his full support and encouragements in this

Morocco to honor its promises even after losing the right to host the 2026 World Cup

The projects presented by the 2026 World Cup Committee to host the international tournament will be fulfilled, said Morocco bid Chairman Moulay Hafid Elalamy Wednesday in Moscow. According to a communiqué issued after FIFA revealed the voting results, the Kingdom is planning to honor its promises. «We have managed this candidacy in a spirit of fair play and we will continue on our path with the same spirit», said Elalamy. On the other hand, Moroccan Royal Football

2018 World Cup : The Spanish coach sacked two days before La Roja's opening game

The Spanish Football Federation has decided to sack Julien Lopetegui the manager of La Roja, a few days before its first World Cup match, reports France Football. The decision was announced, Tuesday, in a press conference, where the president of the federation said that Lopetegui will join Real Madrid as a coach. Luis Rubiales, the president of the Spanish federation, said he was «informed five minutes before Real issued a press release. We cannot accept that». He explained that

African Union and the Sahara : PJD MPs submit a written question to Nasser Bourita

Two weeks before the African Union 31st summit, hosted by Mauritania, MPs from the Justice and Development Party (PJD) submitted a written question to Nasser Bourita, referring to the measures the Foreign Minister intends to take to defend the Moroccan Sahara at the meeting. The MPs have urged Bourita to reveal the strategy his department is following to make the African Union adopt a more balanced stance on the territorial dispute. They have also warned against the report the Chairperson of

The World Bank grants Morocco $125 million to finance the Nour-Midelt complex

The World Bank has granted Morocco $125 million as additional support for the adoption of innovative solar technology, announced the organization on Monday 11th of June. The decision is to support Morocco’s national goal of developing its world-class solar and wind energy resources, to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and move toward a green energy future. The financing is to benefit the Nour-Midelt complex which is set to produce 52 percent of Morocco’s

Paris and Brussels to set up a ministerial four-party conference including Morocco

France and Belgium announced, on Monday in Paris, that they will establish a «Ministerial Four-Party Conference» including the Justice Ministers of their countries in addition to those of Spain and Morocco to give concrete substance to their governments' commitment and solidarity in the fight against Islamist terrorism. Determined to fight against terrorism and violent radicalization, France and Belgium have decided to establish a «Ministerial Four-Party Conference»

Protesting against Aziz Akhannouch : RNI calls the situation «suspicious and irresponsible»

Nearly four days after crowds protested against Minister of Agriculture Aziz Akhannouch, during a royal visit in Tangier, the National Rally of Independents which he heads issued a communiqué Monday denouncing what happened. Without referring to the viral video that showed people chanting «Akhannouch, go away», demanding that the minister and businessman quits his post, the party wrote that its press release «responds to the suspicious behavior». The same source

2026 World Cup : African voting federations urged to vote as a continent and back Morocco

Morocco and the North American bid leaders met on Monday, 11th of June, voters from five of FIFA’s six continental bodies, says Associated Press in a live article. The two bidders are expected to meet the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) on Tuesday, only one day ahead of the FIFA vote scheduled for the 13th of June in Moscow, Russia. According to the same source, 50 African voting federations are «being urged» to unify their decision and vote for

Rachid Benzine's Letters to Nour to be performed on June 27 in New York

Letters to Nour, a play by French-Moroccan political scientist Rachid Benzine, will be performed Wednesday, 27th of June, at the Instituto Cervantes of New York, indicates a poster sent to Yabiladi on Monday. The work of art narrates the account of a Muslim philosopher's letters to his daughter «Nour» who decided to join ISIS in Iraq. The event is organized by the Permanent Mission of France to the United Nations and the International Committee on Crime and Radicalization