Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz ready to write history with Morocco  (Read more...)

Rising oil prices to affect Morocco’s public finances, according to Abdellatif Jouahri

Morocco is going to be affected by trade disputes between the U.S. and Europe, says Reuters on Tuesday quoting the Kingdom’s central bank governor Abdellatif Jouahri. According to Jouahri, trade disputes between the two poles are expected to slow growth in Europe and that can harm Morocco’s economy. To put it in other words, the rising prices of oil will influence public finances in the North Kingdom, Jouahri told reporters.

Central Bank : Inflation expected to reach 2.4% in 2018, back to 1.4% in 2019

Inflation is expected to reach 2.4 percent in 2018, before returning to 1.4 percent in 2019, while core inflation, which measures the fundamental price trend, would remain subdued, reaching about 1.1 percent in 2018 and 1.6 percent in 2019, central bank «Bank Al-Maghrib» said. «Inflation has markedly accelerated over the first four months of the year. This change reflects the impact of the review of the CPI basket structure last March by the High Commission for Planning as

French Montana launches a campaign against Trump’s immigration policy

Moroccan-American hip hop artist Karim Kharbouch, known by his stage name French Montana, has launched a campaign with American television channel MTV to help undocumented immigrants attend college in the US. In a video published June the 15th, French Montana invited three undocumented immigrants to his place for dinner, where they shared their struggle. The initiative comes as in 2017 President Donald Trump put an end to the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), an American

Pedro Sanchez breaks with Spain’s tradition and goes to Paris on his first state visit

The new Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, is breaking with Spain’s tradition by heading to Paris on his first state visit, he announced in an interview conducted by TVE. Indeed, Pedro Sanchez officially declared yesterday that he will not visit Morocco, as the tradition dictates. He announced that Moroccan Prime Minister Saadeddine El Othmani was the first foreign head of government he phoned after his inauguration. Since 1983, when Spain was headed by Felipe Conzalez

Invited by Vladimir Putin, Joseph Blatter to attend the Morocco vs. Portugal match

Former FIFA president Joseph Blatter will attend, Wednesday 20th of June, the Portugal vs. Morocco match, says his spokesperson on Monday, quoted by Marca. Invited by Russian President Vladimir Putin, Blatter is expected to fly Tuesday to Moscow, says the same source. The disgraced man has been banned from being part of football-related activities for six years after he was «investigated by Swiss prosecutors for alleged corruption during his 17-year reign at the head of FIFA»,

BCP, CIH and CDG want to purchase an Islamic bank and insurance in Tunisia

Banque Centrale Populaire and CIH Bank, Qatar International Islamic Bank (QIIB) and the Caisse de dépot et de gestion (CDG) are among the seven bidders competing to acquire 69.15% stake in Tunisia’s Zitouna bank and 70% stake in the insurance company Zitouna Takaful. Through international bidding, the Tunisian State, Al-Karama Holding and Portfolio Invest, the majority shareholders of Zitouna Bank and Zitouna Takaful, want to sell a single block of shares representing 69, 15% of

Tindouf : Protesters question the death of a Sahrawi prisoner

For the past three days, dozens of Sahrawis have been demonstrating in front of the Rabouni camp, the headquarters of the Polisario leadership. Coming from the Tekna tribe, protesters are questioning the death of a Sahrawi prisoner, Brahim Ould Salek Ould Breika, a young trader who was held in the Dhaibia prison. In its official version of the story, the Front says that the man had committed suicide, putting an end to his life. The deceased’s family, on the other hand, believes that

Sahara : Horst Köhler to visit Laayoune at the end of June

The Personal Envoy of the United Nations Secretary-General for Western Sahara Horst Köhler is expected to visit Morocco on the 28th and 29th of June, a well informed source told Yabiladi on Sunday. The UN diplomat will travel to Laayoune to visit the MINURSO’s headquarters and the Blue Helmets Teams. Before heading to the city, Köhler is to hold talks with Moroccan officials in Rabat. For the record, the former German president wanted to visit Laayoune last April, when the

Huelva Gate : Hundreds rally in Spain to support Moroccan strawberry pickers

On Sunday, 17th of June, a rally was held in the city of Huelva to support Moroccan strawberry pickers who have lodged complaints against their managers, denouncing alleged sexual and labor abuses. Called the «March of anger», the rally was initiated by the Andalusia Workers Syndicate (SAT), joined by several local feminist associations and trade unions. The gathering was welcomed by hundreds of people who came to denounce the abusive practices of farm owners in Huelva. In a

Russia 2018 : A concussion keeps Nordin Amrabat away for one week

Moroccan international footballer Nordin Amrabat is suffering from a concussion following a head injury he had Friday when playing against the Iranian team, says the Atlas Lions' doctor. The player, who was sent to a hospital in St. Petersburg, underwent the necessary examinations including a scanner that proved he was feeling good, added Dr. Abderazzak Hifti. The medical team decided to place Amrabat under medical supervision for 24 hours. «The player is feeling good and there is

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