Dutch-Moroccan ex-anti-terrorism official denies «spying for Morocco», seeks PM's testimony  (Read more...)

IMF : Morocco's economic growth to reach 4.8% in 2017

Morocco’s economy to grow in 2017 reaching 4.8 compared to 4.4% scored in the last 6 months, said the International Monetary Fund, an organization that fosters global monetary cooperation, secures financial stability, facilitates international trade, promotes high employment and sustainable economic growth, and reduces poverty around the world. In its latest biannual report on the world economic outlook published Tuesday in Washington, the Bretton Woods institution has also lowered its

A Moroccan national expelled from Italy for alleged links with Jihadists

The Italian authorities have expelled on Thursday 12th of October, a Moroccan national who is considered as a threat to the internal security of the state, said the Italian Ministry Interior in a statement, reported by EFE news agency. The Moroccan man is suspected of having links with people affiliated to the jihadist movement. The 43-year-old man was repatriated by plane from Milan Malpensa International Airport to Casablanca. According to the Ministry, the Moroccan national for whom an

Maroc Numeric Fund among the 50 Most Active Investors in the Arab World, according to Forbes ME

Forbes Middle East, an American business magazine operating in the Middle East, has issued this month a list that contains the 50 Most Active Investors in the Arab World, including North Africa and the Middle East. The ranking features, Maroc Numeric Fund, the first Moroccan firm specialized in seed, startup and growth capital investments, which was positioned 34th. According to the Magazine, the Moroccan company is a venture capitalist with an estimated investment of USD 5.4 million. It is

Tangier : Siemens Gamesa to inaugurate a wind turbine blade factory in Morocco

Siemens Gamesa, Spanish manufacturing company principally involved in the fabrication of wind turbines and the construction of wind farms, inaugurated on Wednesday, 11th of October, a new factory in Tangier, according to Medias 24. The event was chaired by Moroccan Minister of Industry, Investement, Trade and Digital Economy, Moulay Hafid Elalamy and Markus Tacke, President and CEO of Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy. The factory will be the first wind turbines manufacturer in Africa and the

Saad Lamjarred is no longer wearing an electronic ankle bracelet, according to his lawyer

Saad Lamjarrad is no longer wearing an electronic ankle bracelet, according to his lawyer, Eric Dupond-Moretti. Contacted by Huffpost Morocco, the French lawyer confirmed the information indicating that the Moroccan singer accused of «aggravated rape» and «voluntary violence», is now able to freely move in France. «Yes, it’s true, he is no longer wearing an electronic ankle bracelet», he said. Indeed, the singer was arrested on October the 26th, 2016

Spain : Morocco rejects the unilateral Catalan independence process

Morocco rejects the unilateral Catalan independence process and expresses its commitment to the sovereignty, national unity and territorial integrity of the kingdom of Spain, said a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. The unilateral process, announced yesterday, is irresponsible, unsustainable and a source of instability and division not only for Spain but to other neighboring European countries. The Kingdom of Morocco believes in the

UAE : A Moroccan woman finally secures citizenship for her son who was abandoned by his father

Samira Al Zaher, a 35-year-old Moroccan woman who has been living in the United Arab Emirates for 15 years, was struggling for nine years to earn citizenship for her son who was abondanded by his father. Thanks to the Crown Prince of Ajman, an emirate in the UAE, who intervened to help Samira. Her son was granted a Moroccan passport, according to the National, an Emirati online newspaper. In 2007, Sameera Al Zaher married an Egyptian man that she met in the United Arab Emirates, she gave birth

SDX Energy discovers natural gas in Morocco

SDX Energy, a British oil company operating in both Egypt and Morocco, announced on Wednesday October the 11th that it discovered natural gas at a development well located near the Sebou permit in Morocco, of which it holds a 75% interest, reports the firm today. The KSR-14 development well was dug to a total depth of 1830 meters, initial results exceeded pre-drilling estimate that work is underway to further assess the potential of the well. SDX believes that the well would be productive in

Malika Mezzane sentenced to two months in prison

The Rabat Court of First Instance sentenced on Tuesday, Malika Mezzane, an Amazigh poet, to two months in jail for threatening to slaughter Arabs, her lawyer, Mohamed Almo told EFE news agency. He explained that Mezzane, 57, was arrested on September the 17th and was charged for «threats and discrimination». «We will appeal against the sentence with the hope that she will be found innocent», Almo told the same source. For the record, the Amazigh poet posted

Football : South Korea loses to Morocco 3-1

Morocco is rejoiced with a 3-1 friendly win over South Korean in Biel, Switzerland, L’equipe reported on Tuesday. Oussama Tannane, an international football player who currently plays for La Liga club UD Las Palmas, managed to score twice for the Atlas Lions. Ismail El Haddad, a Moroccan footballer currently playing for Botola side Wydad Casablanca as a winger, added a third in the second half. Meanwhile, Tottenham forward, Son Heung-min scored for South Korea. The Moroccan national

Kenya : Raila Odinga, withdraws from October 26 poll re-run

Raila Odinga, a Kenyan politician who served as the 2nd Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013, has withdrawn from the re-run of the presidential elections, Al Jazeera reports today. The decision seen as unpredictable came following the September 1st ruling pronounced by the Supreme Court which annulled the August presidential poll. «Odinga and his National Super Alliance (NASA) had pledged not to take part in the vote re-run unless reforms were made to the Independent

The World Day Against the Death Penalty : The CMCPM insists on abolishing death penalty in Morocco

On the World Day against the Death Penalty, the Moroccan Coalition against the Death Penalty (CMCPM) called for the abolishment of death penalty in Morocco, the NGO said on Tuesday. In a communiqué sent to Yabiladi, the CMCPM believes that this is a new opportunity to «warn decision-makers against the consequences of death Penalty». The communiqué describes it as a «cruel, degrading punishment that hurts the human dignity». The coalition recalls

The Belgian Foreign Minister questioned about Francken’s statement against Morocco

The Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders was questioned at the Belgian Federal Parliament following a statement made by the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Theo Francken on human rights in Morocco. In a question addressed to Didier Reynders, Belgian MP Gwenaëlle Grovonius stressed that the declaration of Theo Francken «is not the first controversial statement he makes against Morocco and its nationals that add value to the Belgian society». She argued saying

AMDH supports the threatened and harassed Hirak lawyers

The headquarters of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights (AMDH) denounced on Tuesday the harassment of some lawyers who are members of the defense committee of the Hirak detainees. In a communiqué sent to Yabiladi, the NGO voiced its concerns regarding the issue discussed during one of its meetings on September the 30th. While congratulating these lawyers for «their valuable efforts to enforce law and justice and ensure that the conditions and standards of a fair trial are

France : King Mohammed VI saves small businesses in Betz

In Betz, a commune in the Oise department in northern France, King Mohammed VI’s visits are appreciated. The monarch, although very discreet, hires dozens of temporary workers to take care of gardens, kitchens, and electricity, reports the regional edition of France TV Info. «His priority is to make people work here, in all sectors,» says Angelique Vétu, a supermarket manager who delivers goods directly to the king’s mansion in the small village. On the other

Africa Security Forum : Experts gathered in Casablanca to discuss terror threats facing Africa

Terrorism remains one of the «first security challenges» facing the 21st century, in the North African region, the Middle East, as well as the rest of the world, said on Monday in Casablanca the Deputy Minister of Interior, Noureddine Boutayeb.   At the opening of the Africa Security Forum's 2017 edition, the minister said that «terrorist networks have reached an unprecedented level», adding that «the threat itself has become increasingly fluctuating and

Morocco’s embassy in Belgium reacts to the accusations of the Belgian Secretary of State

The Moroccan Embassy in Brussels denounced strongly the remarks made by the Belgian Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Theo Francken, who told Belgian media in an interview conducted on Saturday that Morocco is «among the countries where human rights are not respected». «The Embassy of Morocco in Belgium expresses its deep protest and deep indignation following the statements made by the Belgian Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Mr. Theo Francken»,

HCP : Economic growth expected to recover during the fourth quarter of 2017

The national economic growth is expected to improve to about 3.9 per cent compared to 1 per cent in the previous year, said the High Commission for Planning (HCP) in an report on the situation of the national economy. «The growth of non-agricultural activities will continue at + 2.7% in the 4th quarter with 13.5% increase in agricultural value added, the national economy is supposed to reach  3.9%, instead of 1% as reported last year,»said the HCP. Considering that world