Carding network smuggling high-tech goods to Morocco dismantled in Spain  (Read more...)

Spanish-Moroccan Lamine Yamal becomes youngest Euro player in Spain-Croatia match

Spanish-Moroccan wonderkid Lamine Yamal made history on Saturday, June 15th. The soon-to-be 17-year-old (his birthday is July 13th) became the youngest player ever to appear in a Euro match, starting for FC Barcelona in their win against Croatia in Berlin. Yamal, a dazzling young winger, played a key role in the match, even grabbing the crucial assist. Despite his young age, he's already a star at Barcelona, having notched an impressive seven goals and eight assists in 50 games across all

Spain's Grande-Marlaska highlights coordination's role in OPE success

While Operation Strait Crossing (OPE) saw a peak in passenger numbers during its first three days, totaling almost 50,000, Spain's Minister of the Interior praised the «excellent coordination» that ensured the smooth running of this crossing, accompanied by Operation Marhaba in Morocco. Visiting the port facilities of Algeciras on Monday, one of the main points of the joint operation, Fernando Grande-Marlaska pointed out that «the movement of people and vehicles towards

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

1,484 inmates receive royal pardon for Eid al-Adha

King Mohammed VI has granted his pardon, on the occasion of Eid al-Adha, to 1,484 people sentenced by various Moroccan courts, the Ministry of Justice said in a statement. The detained beneficiaries of the pardon are 1209 and are divided into: – 114 inmates who benefited from pardon over their remaining prison terms; – 1,094 prisoners who had their prison terms reduced; – 01 inmate who had his prison sentences commuted from life imprisonment to fixed prison terms. The

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»,

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.

Crystal Palace signs young Moroccan defender Chadi Riad

English club Crystal Palace announced the signing of Moroccan international Chadi Riad on Friday. The 20-year-old defender joins the club on a long-term contract running until June 2029. Riad recently earned his first three caps for Morocco, starting for the national team against Sierra Leone in January and scoring his first international goal against Congo Brazzaville earlier this week. «As a full international at just 20 years old, Chadi is an exciting young player and we are

Atlas Lionesses drop one spot in latest FIFA women's rankings

The FIFA Women's World Ranking was updated on Friday, June 14, 2024. The Atlas Lionesses of Morocco dropped one place to 59th, down from their previous ranking of 58th on March 15. At the top of the rankings, Spain remains unchallenged, while France climbs to second place, pushing England down to third. Germany moves up to fourth place, displacing the United States which falls back to fifth. ? Le nouveau #ClassementFIFA féminin est paru ! ?? L'Espagne solide leader ??? La France

Essaouira Medina rehabilitation project nears completion

Nearly complete, the Complementary Program for the Rehabilitation and Enhancement of Essaouira's Old Medina (2019-2023) boasts a 95% progress rate, according to data presented at a meeting of the Ad-hoc Provincial Steering Committee on Thursday. The meeting, attended by provincial authorities and key stakeholders, reviewed achievements, ongoing work, and the project's future outlook. Provincial governor Adil El Maliki emphasized the program's importance in preserving Essaouira's heritage,

Security lapse allows prisoner's escape from Casablanca hospital

The Casablanca Judicial Police Department launched a judicial investigation on the evening of Thursday, June 13, under the supervision of the Public Prosecutor. The investigation aims to uncover how a prisoner convicted of aggravated robbery escaped from a hospital while under medical supervision and to identify anyone who helped him. According to preliminary findings, the prisoner exploited a security lapse to escape with the suspected assistance of several individuals. He surrendered shortly

Ministry warns drivers of strong winds in Morocco this weekend

The Moroccan Ministry of Equipment and Water has issued a warning to road and highway users ahead of anticipated strong wind gusts from Friday through Saturday in select provinces of the Kingdom. In a recent press release, the ministry urged all drivers to exercise caution and remain vigilant due to expected poor visibility caused by the meteorological alert issued by the General Directorate of Meteorology. The alert predicts significant wind gusts accompanied by dust storms affecting several

Morocco and China ink cultural cooperation deal for 2024-2028

The Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication and the Chinese Ministry of Culture and Tourism signed an executive program for cooperation in the cultural field for the period 2024-2028 on Thursday in Rabat. The agreement, signed by Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid and Chinese Vice-Minister of Culture and Tourism Rao Quan, aims to promote cultural exchanges, encourage bilateral visits, and create initiatives and cooperation frameworks to promote cultural