News Flash

Tangier to stage the first Local Spring Festival on May 24th and 25th

Tangier will be the stage for the first edition of the Local Spring Festival on May 24th and 25th. Organized by The Local Sessions, the event will bring together artists from across Morocco to «showcase their diverse identities and artistic expressions», reads a press release sent Thursday to Yabiladi by organizers. The festival will feature not only musical performances but also art sessions designed to captivate and inspire audiences. The lineup boasts a diverse array of Moroccan

Five arrested in Tangier as police dismantle drug trafficking network

Police in Tangier arrested, Thursday, five people involved in a drug trafficking ring. The arrests were made based on intelligence provided by the Directorate General of Territorial Surveillance. Four suspects were apprehended in a vehicle during a security operation in central Tangier. Police searches of the vehicle and a house occupied by the suspects led to the seizure of 7,600 ecstasy tablets. The investigation led to the arrest of a fifth suspect arriving by train from Marrakech. He was

South Korean court awards $7,500 to Moroccan asylum seeker for inhuman treatment

A Seoul court has ordered the South Korean government to compensate a Moroccan asylum seeker $7,500 for months of detainment at an immigration center and alleged inhumane treatment, reports Seoul-based newspaper Korea Herald. The Seoul Central District Court ruled in favor of the Moroccan national on Thursday, in a case stemming from his March 2021 detention. The case gained public attention in September 2021 after disturbing footage emerged from the detention center. The video showed the

Has Morocco's Digital Minister Ghita Mezzour bought a 2.48 million Dhs car ?

Ghita Mezzour, Minister Delegate for Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, has reportedly launched procedures to buy a luxury car for 2.48 million Dhs and another for 1.27 million, Al Akhbar newspaper reported in its Wednesday edition, and a number of news websites subsequently reported the news. A review of the tender, published on the public procurement portal under the number 4/24/MTNRA, shows that it is not for the purchase of two luxury cars, but 17 cars. These include one luxury

Suardiaz bolsters Morocco-Northern Europe route with new vessel

Suardiaz, a company specializing in roll-on/roll-off (RoRo) maritime transport, has acquired the Viking Amber from Gram Carriers of Norway and renamed it «Asturias» for its Morocco-North Europe route. Built in 2010, the vessel has a cargo capacity of 4,200 cargo equivalent units (CEUs). Suardiaz said in a statement, «With this acquisition, the Suardiaz Shipping Lines division continues its fleet renewal and emissions reduction plan with more efficient vessels and greater

Moroccan medical graduate faces deportation in Germany despite qualifications

A 25-year-old Moroccan medical graduate faces deportation in Germany because his qualifications aren't yet recognized. Abdelhamid El Khadiri, who fled the war in Ukraine, has been working as a nursing assistant at the Braunschweig Marienstift hospital, reports public German broadcaster NDR. El Khadiri has filed an application with the German Hardship Commission to cancel his deportation and stay in Germany. The young man has a medical degree from Ukraine but needs to complete an additional

Morocco's digital Minister meets with OpenAI to discuss AI collaboration

During her visit to San Francisco on Wednesday, Ghita Mezzour, Minister for the Digital Transition and Administrative Reform, held a working meeting with OpenAI, a leading artificial intelligence company. Mezzour met with OpenAI's Chief Technology Officer and his team at the company's headquarters. The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss potential collaborations in research and innovation within Morocco, as well as ways to develop an artificial intelligence system tailored to the

Algerian president puts the Palestinian issue on an equal footing with the Sahara conflict

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune delivered a speech on Wednesday at the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence, in the presence of army commanders, and as usual he made sure to mention the Sahara conflict, reiterating his country's support for the Polisario Front. Tebboune also made sure to equate the Palestinian issue with the Sahara conflict, speaking of Algeria's «firm and unconditional commitment to just causes, especially the Palestinian cause and the Sahrawi people's right

Free heritage days offer guided tours to discover Casablanca's rich history

The thirteenth edition of the Casablanca Heritage Days, organized by the Moroccan cultural association Casamémoire, will take place from May 13 to 19, 2024. This free public event offers a unique opportunity to discover Casablanca's hidden treasures. Visitors will have the chance to explore historically significant buildings that are usually closed to the public. Casamémoire's trained volunteers conduct guided tours annually, providing valuable insights into the city's rich

Morocco's rich heritage on display at the «Artisanat d'art» exhibition in Rabat

Celebrating ancestral Moroccan craftsmanship, the exhibition «Artisanat d'art : Création et Transmission» is on display at the Musée national de la parure in Les Oudayas, Rabat, from May 7 to June 6, 2024. A highlight of the 8th edition of National Crafts Week, the event is a collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, Crafts and the Social and Solidarity Economy, the Maison de l'Artisan, and the National Museums Foundation. Fatim-Zahra Ammor, Minister of Tourism,

Morocco’s University of Rabat hosts robotics competition

The University of Rabat (UIR) is set to host a robotics competition on May 9th and 10th, organized by its School of Aerospace and Automative Engineering. Held under the theme «Innovate and Automate», the competition will see engineering students from UIR and other moroccan schools clash in a series of robotics challenges, reads a press release sent Wednesday to Yabiladi. These aspiring engineers will put their robot programming and control skills to the test across three main

Spanish hotel chain Eurostars expands to Morocco

Spanish hotel chain Eurostars Hotel Company is expanding its international presence by opening three new hotels in Morocco, reports Europa Press. The first, Eurostars Casa Anfa, is slated to open this fall in Casablanca, the country's commercial hub. The other two new hotels, Eurostars Californie and Exe Zerktouni opening in mid-2025, will also be located in Casablanca. These three newly built hotels are all under lease agreements and strategically located within Casablanca. With this

Major Chinese manufacturer Zhejiang Hailiang to build copper plant in Morocco

Major Chinese copper tube and rod manufacturer, Zhejiang Hailiang Co., is building a $288 million plant in Morocco to produce new energy materials, including lithium battery foil, according to a Bloomberg report on Wednesday. Citing a filing by the company to the Shenzhen Stock Exchange on Tuesday, Bloomberg states that the plant in Morocco will help Zhejiang Hailiang better supply clients in Europe, America, the Middle East, and Africa as geopolitics disrupt trade flows. The Moroccan

Fertilizer diplomacy in action : Morocco, Algeria showcase expertise at African summit

Kenya hosted the preparatory ministerial meeting for the Africa Fertilizer and Soil Health Summit, which took place from May 7 to 9 in Nairobi. Morocco was represented by a high-level delegation led by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Water, and Forests, Mohamed Sadiki, and senior officials from Moroccan phosphate miner OCP. Sadiki highlighted Morocco's commitment to sharing its expertise and experience in fertilizers and soil health with fellow African nations. He

Food poisoning incident in Marrakech claims six lives

Six people, including a five-year-old girl, tragically died from food poisoning after consuming a meal at a fast-food shop in Marrakech's M'hamid neighborhood. This incident follows reports from late April, where more than 20 individuals required hospitalization at the Mohammed VI University Hospital after eating at the same establishment. Authorities responded swiftly, arresting the shop owner and employees. A health safety inspection uncovered spoiled meat intended for food preparation and

Algeria files complaint with FIFA ahead of U-17 Women's World Cup qualifier

Ahead of their U-17 Women's World Cup qualifier against Morocco on May 10, Algeria's Football Federation (FAF) has reportedly filed a complaint with FIFA. The FAF expressed concerns about a similar situation to the recent canceled matches between Renaissance sportive de Berkane and USM Alger, which Algerian media reported were due to the Moroccan team's jerseys displaying a full map of Morocco. CAF awarded RS Berkane victories in both legs. It's worth noting that Algeria previously boycotted

King Mohammed VI meets Saudi emissary

King Mohammed VI received Prince Turki bin Mohammed bin Fahd bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, Saudi Minister of State, on Tuesday at the Royal Palace in Casablanca. Prince Turki delivered a message from King Salman. The meeting follows the tradition of consultation between the two countries on regional and bilateral matters. King Mohammed VI expressed his deep satisfaction with the strong bonds of brotherhood and mutual esteem linking the two monarchs and royal families, as well as the close relations

Arab Summit prep : Bahrain's FM meets Moroccan counterpart

Bahrain's Foreign Minister, Abdullatif Bin Rashid Al Zayani, held talks with his Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, in Rabat on Tuesday, May 7. Al Zayani's visit to Morocco is part of a regional tour he has undertaken over the past few days. A key focus of the discussions was likely preparations for the upcoming Arab summit. Al Zayani delivered invitations to the President of the Libyan Presidential Council and the Algerian President to attend the next ordinary Arab summit, scheduled for