News Flash

Niger reiterates support for Morocco's request to join ECOWAS

Niger reiterated on Tuesday its support for Morocco's request to join the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS). In a joint statement issued at the end of the 4th Morocco-Niger Joint Committee, held on Dec. 25-26 in Rabat and co-chaired by foreign minister Nasser Bourita and his Nigerien counterpart Ibrahim Yacoubou, the two parties underlined the importance of regional integration between Morocco and West African states, adding that the Nigerien side reiterated its support for

Al-Quds status : Trump administration to make significant cuts in its United Nations budget

Nikki Haley, the current United States Ambassador to the United Nations, announced on Tuesday, 26th of December, that the American government is cutting a significant amount of its UN budget obligations. In a statement issued by the US mission to the UN, it has been indicated that the next year’s budget will be missing $ 285 million. «We will no longer let the generosity of the American people be taken advantage of», said Haley. This measure comes five days after the UN

A tortured child in Imzouren : DGSN denies the allegations

The Directorate General of National Security (DGSN) has denied allegations of torture concerning a child alleged to have come from Imzouren. He was appeared in a photo that went viral on social media. The child had bruises on his body. On Facebook, netizens said he was being tortured following the arrest of several children in the village for conducting an «unauthorized gathering». Responding to that, the DGSN claimed, according to MAP news agency, that child concerned is

Primark and H&M wants to source made in Morocco orders

The Swedish brand H&M, as well as the Irish company Primark will purchase parts of their orders from Morocco. This decision is likely to create 20,000 additional jobs in the textile sector, says the daily newspaper Les Eco. According to the Moroccan Association for the Textile and Clothing Industries (AMITH), the textile sector is expected to be one of the key factors in the fast-fashion industry. «For the first time, we are collaborating with new brands such as H&M and Primark

Jerada : Saadeddine El Othmani to receive MPs from the region

Moroccan Prime Minister, Saadeddine El Othmani reacted this afternoon to the death of two brothers in a clandestine mine in Jerada. A few minutes ago Saadeddine El Othmani spoke at the House of Representatives in Rabat stating that he is willing «to welcome MPs from the Oriental region this week or next week to discuss the problems in the area». Jerada was also in the heart of the discussions held today in the chamber. Instead of expressing their condolences to the family of the

Sahara: The Polisario is conducting a military exercise in a buffer zone

The Polisario Front has organized on Monday a tactical training and a military parade of its troops in the region of Agouinit, considered as a buffer zone. The event, chaired by Brahim Ghali, is expected be concluded an entertaining show. A Polisario delegation from the interior is also attending the ceremony. These maneuvers were preceded by visits made in recent days by the «Minister of Defense» in military areas under the control of the Front. Abdellah Lahbib Belal has

Guatemala wants to move its Israeli embassy to Jerusalem

After the United States, Guatemala is the second country to recognize Jerusalem as the Israeli capital, according to Reuters. Indeed, President Jimmy Morales expressed last night his intention to move the Guatemalan Embassy in Tel Aviv to the holy city. The announcement was made on the night of Sunday to Monday, through the president’s official page on Facebook. The latter said that he «gave instructions to the Minister [of Foreign Affairs, Sandra Jovel] to take the necessary

Morocco to Host 2018 Intergovernmental Conference on International Migration

The UNGA appointed on Sunday Morocco to host the intergovernmental conference on international migration in 2018, during which the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration will be adopted. The UNGA adopted unanimously the resolution on this event which will be held on Dec. 10-11, 2018 in Morocco. The conference will complete the world forum on migration and development, to be co-chaired by Morocco and Germany, and whose 11th summit will be held in Marrakech ahead of the

Milan : A Moroccan-Italian national arrested after returning from Syria

An Italian woman of Moroccan descent was arrested on Saturday by agents of the International Anti-Terrorist Section and the Air Border Police at Milan Malpensa Airport, Italy. The arrest occurred following a European arrest warrant issued Thursday by the Paris Court of Appeal. The 35-year-old woman is held responsible for participating in a criminal organization that has been planning terrorist acts, according to the Italian online newspaper, Rai News. The woman asked to be extradited to

Germany is building two centers in Morocco to house deported minors

Germany wants to deport young migrants coming from Morocco. Two centers will be built in the kingdom to house deported minors, reports AFP news agency. The German Interior ministry wants to take care of «street children, and minors returning from Germany», adds the same source, quoting Welt am Sonntag, a German Sunday newspaper. The shelters in Morocco will each host 100 youths. Minors will receive social assistance, counseling and access to educational opportunities,

Nasser Bourita on a visit to Saudi Arabia to strengthen bilateral ties

Foreign minister Nasser Bourita met, Sunday in Riyadh, with Saudi counterpart Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir on the latest regional and international developments. According to Saudi news agency (SPA), the two parties «discussed distinguished bilateral relations between the two countries and latest regional and international developments.» Earlier in the day, the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud had received Bourita and Minister of Economy and

Netherlands : New US Ambassador apologizes for his anti-Muslim remarks

Peter Hoekstra, the new US ambassador to the Netherlands, has made headlines in 2015 following an interview conducted by the Dutch public channel NOS where he made anti-Muslim comments. After a phase of denial, the diplomat apologized this Saturday, reports the AFP news agency. Indeed, on December 23, the American diplomat «denied his claims and said they were fake news before retracting,» said the same source. In a statement, Peter Hoekstra apologized saying : «I made

Three German nationals killed in a road accident between Essaouira and Agadir

Three German nationals, residing in Morocco, were killed in an a car accident on Saturday night on the road linking Essaouira to Agadir atnear the commune of Aourir, said the local authorities of the Wilaya region of Souss -Massa. Three French nationals were slightly injured in this accident. The injured were transferred to Hassan II hospital in Agadir and an investigation was opened by the authorities to determine the circumstances of the accident.

Mehdi Benatia scores the winning goal against AS Roma

Mehdi Benatia, a Moroccan footballer who plays for Italian club Juventus, and for the Morocco national team, has scored the winnin goal for his club defeating AS Roma (1-0) on Saturday, reports BeIn Sport. The current Italian champions, Torino, have «inflicted on Roma their first defeat of the year in a match of great intensity,» added the same source. Juventus are four points ahead of Inter Milan (third). Luciano Spalleti's team suffered from their second consecutive defeat on

Khaled Meshaal, former Hamas leader, is to visit Morocco

Khaled Meshaal, the former leader Hamas' political bureau is expected to visit Morocco next Tuesday, says Al3omk.com. The Islamist leader is expected to hold talks with members of the PJD's general secretariat, led by Saadeddine El Othmani, and the leadership of the Unity and Reform Movement, the same source added. The Palestinian politician, who currently lives in Qatar, is also expected to meet with associative figures known for their support for the Palestinian cause to examine the

Munir El Haddadi will not be playing with Morocco's national football team

Munir El Haddadi, an international player who plays as a forward in the Deportivo Alavès will not be part of the Atlas Lions. The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) «withdrew the appeal it had filed with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (also known as the CAS, an international quasi-judicial body established to settle disputes related to sport through arbitration) to allow Munir El Haddadi to play with the Moroccan team,» says the Spanish news agency EFE. The Royal

A Moroccan national shot and arrested after forcing his way into Ceuta driving a car

A Moroccan national was shot in the arm on Friday, 22nd of December, after trying to force his way into the Tarajal border gate, reports Huffpost Maroc quoting local Spanish media platforms. The incident took place early morning when the man drove his car fleeing the national police at the borders. Threatening to hit pedestrians with his speeding car, the police officers had to open fire on the Moroccan national forcing him to stop. After driving for 300 meters, the car coming from Morocco

The World Bank grants Morocco a € 172 m loan to boost the Casablanca Development Plan

Morocco and the World Bank (WB) concluded on Thursday in Rabat, a 172 million Euros loan agreement to support the Develoment Plan of the Greater Casablanca (PDGC), set to improve the living conditions in the city, promote economic competitiveness, the business environment and enhance the attractiveness of the city. This agreement was signed by the Minister of Economy and Finance, Mohamed Boussaid, the head of the World Bank's department for the Maghreb and Malta, Marie Françoise