Pakistani man's irregular Europe crossing via Morocco thwarted  (Read more...)

UAE : A Moroccan woman finally secures citizenship for her son who was abandoned by his father

Samira Al Zaher, a 35-year-old Moroccan woman who has been living in the United Arab Emirates for 15 years, was struggling for nine years to earn citizenship for her son who was abondanded by his father. Thanks to the Crown Prince of Ajman, an emirate in the UAE, who intervened to help Samira. Her son was granted a Moroccan passport, according to the National, an Emirati online newspaper. In 2007, Sameera Al Zaher married an Egyptian man that she met in the United Arab Emirates, she gave birth

SDX Energy discovers natural gas in Morocco

SDX Energy, a British oil company operating in both Egypt and Morocco, announced on Wednesday October the 11th that it discovered natural gas at a development well located near the Sebou permit in Morocco, of which it holds a 75% interest, reports the firm today. The KSR-14 development well was dug to a total depth of 1830 meters, initial results exceeded pre-drilling estimate that work is underway to further assess the potential of the well. SDX believes that the well would be productive in

Malika Mezzane sentenced to two months in prison

The Rabat Court of First Instance sentenced on Tuesday, Malika Mezzane, an Amazigh poet, to two months in jail for threatening to slaughter Arabs, her lawyer, Mohamed Almo told EFE news agency. He explained that Mezzane, 57, was arrested on September the 17th and was charged for «threats and discrimination». «We will appeal against the sentence with the hope that she will be found innocent», Almo told the same source. For the record, the Amazigh poet posted

Football : South Korea loses to Morocco 3-1

Morocco is rejoiced with a 3-1 friendly win over South Korean in Biel, Switzerland, L’equipe reported on Tuesday. Oussama Tannane, an international football player who currently plays for La Liga club UD Las Palmas, managed to score twice for the Atlas Lions. Ismail El Haddad, a Moroccan footballer currently playing for Botola side Wydad Casablanca as a winger, added a third in the second half. Meanwhile, Tottenham forward, Son Heung-min scored for South Korea. The Moroccan national

Kenya : Raila Odinga, withdraws from October 26 poll re-run

Raila Odinga, a Kenyan politician who served as the 2nd Prime Minister of Kenya from 2008 to 2013, has withdrawn from the re-run of the presidential elections, Al Jazeera reports today. The decision seen as unpredictable came following the September 1st ruling pronounced by the Supreme Court which annulled the August presidential poll. «Odinga and his National Super Alliance (NASA) had pledged not to take part in the vote re-run unless reforms were made to the Independent

The World Day Against the Death Penalty : The CMCPM insists on abolishing death penalty in Morocco

On the World Day against the Death Penalty, the Moroccan Coalition against the Death Penalty (CMCPM) called for the abolishment of death penalty in Morocco, the NGO said on Tuesday. In a communiqué sent to Yabiladi, the CMCPM believes that this is a new opportunity to «warn decision-makers against the consequences of death Penalty». The communiqué describes it as a «cruel, degrading punishment that hurts the human dignity». The coalition recalls

The Belgian Foreign Minister questioned about Francken’s statement against Morocco

The Belgian Foreign Minister Didier Reynders was questioned at the Belgian Federal Parliament following a statement made by the Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Theo Francken on human rights in Morocco. In a question addressed to Didier Reynders, Belgian MP Gwenaëlle Grovonius stressed that the declaration of Theo Francken «is not the first controversial statement he makes against Morocco and its nationals that add value to the Belgian society». She argued saying

AMDH supports the threatened and harassed Hirak lawyers

The headquarters of the Moroccan Association of Human Rights (AMDH) denounced on Tuesday the harassment of some lawyers who are members of the defense committee of the Hirak detainees. In a communiqué sent to Yabiladi, the NGO voiced its concerns regarding the issue discussed during one of its meetings on September the 30th. While congratulating these lawyers for «their valuable efforts to enforce law and justice and ensure that the conditions and standards of a fair trial are

France : King Mohammed VI saves small businesses in Betz

In Betz, a commune in the Oise department in northern France, King Mohammed VI’s visits are appreciated. The monarch, although very discreet, hires dozens of temporary workers to take care of gardens, kitchens, and electricity, reports the regional edition of France TV Info. «His priority is to make people work here, in all sectors,» says Angelique Vétu, a supermarket manager who delivers goods directly to the king’s mansion in the small village. On the other

Africa Security Forum : Experts gathered in Casablanca to discuss terror threats facing Africa

Terrorism remains one of the «first security challenges» facing the 21st century, in the North African region, the Middle East, as well as the rest of the world, said on Monday in Casablanca the Deputy Minister of Interior, Noureddine Boutayeb.   At the opening of the Africa Security Forum's 2017 edition, the minister said that «terrorist networks have reached an unprecedented level», adding that «the threat itself has become increasingly fluctuating and

Morocco’s embassy in Belgium reacts to the accusations of the Belgian Secretary of State

The Moroccan Embassy in Brussels denounced strongly the remarks made by the Belgian Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Theo Francken, who told Belgian media in an interview conducted on Saturday that Morocco is «among the countries where human rights are not respected». «The Embassy of Morocco in Belgium expresses its deep protest and deep indignation following the statements made by the Belgian Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration, Mr. Theo Francken»,

HCP : Economic growth expected to recover during the fourth quarter of 2017

The national economic growth is expected to improve to about 3.9 per cent compared to 1 per cent in the previous year, said the High Commission for Planning (HCP) in an report on the situation of the national economy. «The growth of non-agricultural activities will continue at + 2.7% in the 4th quarter with 13.5% increase in agricultural value added, the national economy is supposed to reach  3.9%, instead of 1% as reported last year,»said the HCP. Considering that world

The United Kingdom is «grateful» for Morocco’s aid after the terrorist attacks

The United Kingdom is «grateful» for the «efficient» aid presented by Morocco following the terrorist attacks in London, assured Suzanne Williams, the British Deputy Minister of Interior. «We are grateful for the fast and efficient assistance that Morocco has provided us after the attacks in London», the Baroness said in a statement to MAP news agency when she visited Sidi Moumen Cultural Center on Sunday in Casablanca. The British official explained that

Poultry sector : EU experts have a poor opinion about chickens produced in Morocco

With poor «deplorable hygiene conditions» and «little traceability», Morocco does not have the European Union’s backing to export its chickens to the 27 countries. This is reported by the daily newspaper L’Economiste on Monday. The media shed light on the report issued by the EU experts during an initial audit carried out from the 6th to the 14th of March. «At the end of this audit, the conclusions were drafted by experts from the EU,» the same

Spain : A Moroccan national accused of recruiting jihadists

A Moroccan national  will appear next Thursday in court, for having allegedly recruited terrorists on social media through 13 different profiles and for maintain contact with members of the terrorist organization «ISIS», Europa Press reported quoting the «provisional findings» made by the prosecutor. Identified as Abdallah Lachiri, the man is believed to be a presumed jihadist bearing a Moroccan nationality and could be facing a 10-year sentence. Abdallah Lachiri,

Economic Cooperation : The Russian Prime Minister to visit Morocco on Wednesday

The Russian Prime Minister, Dmitry Medvedec is set to visit Morocco on Wednesday 11th of October to boost bilateral and economic ties between Morocco and Russia, Xinhua said on Sunday. According to the same source, «talks between Medvedev and Moroccan officials would focus on boosting economic cooperation, especially in agriculture and energy». Morocco is expected to be the first Arab and African country to export agricultural products to Russia, as reported by the Chinese news

Casablanca : Hundreds of protesters demand the release of Hirak detainees [Photos and video]

Hundreds of people from all over Morocco gathered in Casablanca on Sunday, 8th of October to protest in the economic capital (...), they demand the release of imprisoned activists, said the Associated Press (AP). Several activists of the protest movement have their trials this month, such as Nasser Zefzafi, the leader of the Hirak popular movement. The demonstration is «the latest of numerous protests demanding the liberation of activists from the city of Al Hoceima, in the northern

Moroccopedia, a program for youngsters to preserve cultural heritage

Supported by Unesco and the Mediterranean Youth Network (Net-Med Youth), and initiated by the province of Tata and the Ministry of Culture, Moroccopedia travels the city of Tata with 14 young people to produce short documentaries on the cultural heritage of the city. The works will be presented Saturday, October 7 at the cultural complex of Tata, a stated in a communiqué sent to Yabiladi. Moroccopedia will provide free training to young people in the region who wish to learn audiovisual