King Mohammed VI oversees Family Code reform: 100 proposed amendments under review  (Read more...)

ONCF : The company’s net profit reached 223 million Dirhams in 2016

ONCF, Morocco’s leading national railway operator has uplifted its net profit to 223 million Dirhams in 2016, 31% up compared to 2015, the company said in a statement reported by the North Africa Post. According to the same source, the amount of money taken by the state-owned company during the period between 2015 and 2016 has amounted 3.7 billion Dirhams with a 2.5 billion Dirhams profit and 273 million Dirhams of self-sustainability that reached 5.8% succeeding last year’s

Meeting International Mohammed VI d'Athlétisme de Rabat : Soufiane El Bekkali wins  a 3000 m race

The Moroccan athlete Soufiane El Bakkali won on Sunday the 3000 meters steeplechase at the Meeting International Mohammed VI d’Athlétisme organized in the prince Moulay Abdellah stadium in Rabat. El Bakkali crossed in 8. 05. 12/ 100th edging his Kenyan rivals Jairus Kipchoge Birech and Amos Kirui. While Olympic champion Conseslus Kipruto did not finish the race. At the end of the race, El Bakkali said he was «satisfied with the way he managed the race,» noting

Morocco hands over to Italy the stolen masterpiece painted by Guercino

Morocco handed over to Italy the 17th century masterpiece painted by Giovanni Francesco Barbieri known as Il Guerchin (1591-1666), stolen in 2014 from the San Vincenzo church in Modena, Italy, and found in Casablanca by the kingdom's authorities. This canvas (293 x 184.5 cm) estimated at 6 million euros was given back on Saturday to the police headquarters in Casablanca, in the presence of the ambassador of Italy in Morocco, Roberto Natali and an Italian delegation, in addition to Moroccan

A reception center for Moroccans living abroad inaugurated in Beni Mellal

Following-up the implementation of a partnership agreement signed last February between the Ministry of Moroccans residing abroad and migration affairs and the Council of the Béni Méllal-Khénifra region for the creation of a Reception Center for Moroccans living abroad (MLA) was at the center of a communication meeting held recently at the region's council. According to the Council of the region, this project is part of a national strategy set for the Moroccan diaspora.

Paris : Nadia Skali receives the medal of the Academic Society Arts-sciences-letters

Moroccan painter Nadia Skali recently received in Paris the medal of the Academic Society Arts-sciences-letters, in recognition of her distinguished artistic career. «It is a dream that came true for me, knowing that since its creation in 1915 this Academy has devoted eminent creators in the fields of arts, science and literature», declared the artist Nadia Skali during this occasion, adding that she is very proud of being recognized by such a prestigious institution. Through her

Moroccan Sanaa Benhama wins a gold medal at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships

The Moroccan athlete, Sanaa Benhama won on Friday in London the 1500 m (T13) gold medal at the 2017 World Para Athletics Championships held from the 14th to 23rd of July at London's Olympic stadium. In 4 min 40 sec 40 / 100th, the Moroccan champion succeeded the Tunisian athlete Soumaya Boussaid who finished the race in 4: 40.89 before her compatriot Najah Chouaya (4: 46.16). Morocco is participating in the World Handicapped Athletics Championships in London with a team of 14 athletes. It

African Development Bank to grant Morocco a USD200 million loan

African Development Bank (AFDB), an multinational development financial institution headquartered in Abidjan, Ivory Cost, granted Morocco a USD200 million loan on Friday to reinforce the country's industrialization plan, states the Chinese news agency Xinhua quoting local Moroccan media. The loan is destined to provide for the first stage of an industrial acceleration plan set to create «by 2020 to create 500,000 new sustainable jobs and significantly increase the share of industry in

No reception centers for migrants on the Moroccan soil, says Bourita

«There will be no reception centers in Morocco for migrants,» the Foreign Minister said in an interview with Russia Today. «These kinds of centers undermine human dignity. Morocco rejects that. The kingdom has always opposed these proposals,»he said. For the record, former Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi-Fihri had declined a similar offer once again suggested by Germany, arguing that Rabat receives only its expelled citizens from Europe. The Minister has spoken out about

Terror threats : Minurso receives an alert similar to the one of June 2

The Minurso (United Nations Mission for the Organization of a Referendum in Western Sahara) remains a potential target for terrorist groups. «The UN mission yesterday renewed the alert launched on June 2nd to its civilian and military members operating in the zone», says a source in the Sahara. «The message calls the elements of the Minurso mission to remain cautious while on duty, whether in the territory controlled by Morocco or in the other side of the security

11 people sentenced to 20 years for terrorism plot

The criminal court of first instance in charge of terrorism-related cases pronounced, on Thursday evening, sentences ranging from 5 to 20 years in prison, against 11 defendants. The convicts were linked to terrorism cases. The chamber thus sentenced the main accused to 20 years in prison, and 18 years in prison for two other defendants, 10 years to 5 and five years in prison for the rest. The accused are charged for «organizing a gang and preparing for terrorist acts as part of a

Air Arabia launches a line linking Marrakech to London

Air Arabia is launching a new line linking Marrakesh and London Gatwick airports. The air line will be operational starting from November  the 1st and aims to promote the city, indicates Zone Bourse. The airline is thus expanding its offer to Britain, «one of the main basins issuing tourists in Europe,» said the same source. Two flights a week will be offered each week, on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Adel Ali, the chairman of the Air Arabia group, said: «The opening of a

Balance Agri-Nutrients : «OCP will be the loser» regarding the phosphate cargo

Following the ruling of the South African court regarding the phosphate cargo shipped from Morocco to New Zealand, OCP, the leading state-owned company, has accused the court of «political piracy» for detaining the 54,000 ton shipment for more than 73 days, Stuff.co reports. Speaking to the same source, Mark Wynne, chief executive of Balance Agri-Nutrients, the fertilizer company that was awaiting the phosphate shipment sent by OCP, said that Morocco’s decision was

Morocco : Bank Al Maghrib to adopt an autonomous status  

  The government council, held on Thursday, adopted Bill 40-17 on the status of Bank Al Maghrib, presented by the Minister of Economy and Finance. This project is devoted to redesigning the status of Bank Al Maghrib through the expansion of its missions contributing to the prevention of systemic risk and strengthening financial stability and to adapt its instruments of intervention to this mission, The Deputy Minister for Relations with Parliament and Civil Society, government spokesman

Tourism : A campaign to promote Morocco as a destination in Italy

An Italian travel agency called King Holidays, based in Milan and Rome, is promoting Morocco as a tourism destination in Milano through a campaign, Engage.it reports. The project comes as collaboration with the National Organization for Tourism in Morocco and the local agency. According to the same source, the compaign is posting pictures of Morocco on public transportation «to promote Morocco as a destination through 'King Holidays there', developed by m & cs , Milan

Italy: Italian-Moroccan Hajar Dakiri, a new member of the ICFTU National Council

At the end of its 18th national congress in Rome, the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (Confederazione Italiana Sindacati Lavoratori, CISL) has just elected a young Italian-Moroccan member of its national council. According to the Edv, an Italian online newspaper, Hajar Dakiri was elected through the vote of the regional delegates of the second Italian trade union confederation, which has more than 4 million members. The young student is now a member of the ICFTU local branch

Moroccan phosphate cargo : OCP denounces the seizure

By deciding to take the case of the «Cherry Blossom» ship to a different level, the South African court has made a highly political decision and committed a serious abuse of power, OCP said on Thursday in a statement reported by MAP news agency, denouncing what the company called a «serious political interference». «Not only does it (the court) assume jurisdiction to act which contradicts the basic principles of international law but, moreover, its decision

Six new cement plants launched in Africa by LafargeHolcim Maroc Afrique

Six new cement plants will be created in Africa by a coalition of LafargeHolcim and SNI, under their joint subsidiary LafargeHolcim Maroc Afrique (LHMA), and for a total capacity of 3 million tons, the subsidiary said in a communique issued byt the company. The decision to develop the six cement plants was made following a strategic study 6 months ago. The study has identified the considerable growth opportunities not yet covered by ongoing projects, both in the countries where the subsidiary

Ali Idrissi Kaitouni, The «cursed» poet from Hassan II era passed away

Poet, artist, politician and human rights activist, Ali Idrissi Kaitouni died on Wednesday in Casablanca at the age of 58 after suffering from cancer, reports Al Aoual on Thursday.   Born in Fes on November the 17th 1985, the artist belong to a family of activists who fought for the independence of the Kingdom which marked his entire career, the same source recalls. The deceased participated in several plays and even organized an exhibition in the late 70's before leaving Morocco to Spain