US unites Morocco and Algeria in joint naval exercise  (Read more...)

Hirak figure Nasser Zefzafi stops hunger strike

Two Hirak activists Nasser Zefzafi and Mohammed Haki have reportedly put an end to their hunger strike. The information was announced on Twitter by journalist CHaimaa Zoui, who closely follows the situation of Hirak detainees in Al Hoceima, reports French-language newspaper Le Desk. A week ago, the two convicts held at the Casablanca local prison (Oukacha) announced that they are going on a hunger strike. Ahmed Zefzafi announced that his son, Nasser Zefzafi, is going on a hunger and thirst

Nador : 230 sub-Saharans arrested for plotting an illegal migration operation

Royal Gendarmerie have arrested 230 sub-Saharan nationals suspected of plotting an illegal migration operation in Ras El-Ma commune in Nador, reported the authorities in the city. The arrest took place following an investigation launched by the Royal Gendarmerie, after preventing 58 sub-Saharan migrants from crossing the sea on Tuesday, indicates the same source. According to firest elements of the investigation, the two men have been given money by migrants to help them reach

Activists rally in Spain, protesting against the expulsion of 116 migrants

Several organizations, NGOs and activists will rallied in Spain to protest against the expulsion of 116 migrants, says El Faro de Ceuta. Rallies are expected to take place in twenty Spanish cities, including Barcelona, Algeciras, Madrid, Malga, Melilla, Seville and Zaragoza, to denounce the migration policy of Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska. Concentración en #Bilbao de @OEEbizkaia @sosracismobiz y Comunidad Africana contra las devoluciones express de migrantes y

Huelva Gate : Moroccan farm workers receive €15,000 thanks to a crowdfunding campaign

Through a crowdfunding platform, Moroccan farm workers in Huelva have managed to reach their objective, by receiving €15,254 in 20 days, announced a Twitter account created to show support for these women on Wednesday. The campaign was created in August on GoFundMe by the Association of the Administration of Justice Users (Ausaj) to raise money for ten Moroccan farm workers in Huelva. These women have filed complaints in May, denouncing sexual and labor abuse. Their objective was to

BCJI dismantles a three-member cell operating in Tetouan and Agadir

The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCJI) dismantled on Thursday, 6th of September, a three-member terrorist cell affiliated to «ISIS» and in both the cities of Tetouan and Agadir, says the Interior Ministry in a communiqué sent to Yabiladi. The suspects are aged between 25 and 26 years old, adds the same source. The authorities seized knives, military uniforms, documents that praised extremist ideology and violence, other devices, stressed the Ministry. The first

Amine Bendriouich’s unisex designs featured in Vogue Magazine

Moroccan designer Amine Bnedriouich is designing unisex clothes «a la Marocaine», says prestigious fashion magazine Vogue US on Wednesday. Indeed, pieces made by Bendriouich do not take gender into account. «I create for the world … for free-spirited people who see the world as one», he told Vogue. Explaining his way of doing things, Amine Bendriouich referred to a story that involved the prophet, Islam and poverty. «There’s this story in the Sunnah

Centrale Danone reduces milk prices, responding to Morocco's viral boycott campaign

Emmanuel Faber, CEO of French food group Danone, announced Wednesday, 5th of September, that Centrale Danone's milk prices will be reduced, as a response to the viral boycott campaign launched in Morocco since April. Speaking during a press conference held today in Casablanca, Faber indicated that a 470ml milk pack will be sold, starting from Friday, for 3.20 instead of 3.50 dirhams. The company also created a 470ml milk pouch that can be purchased for 2.50 dirhams only. These decisions were

Khadija’s alleged rape ordeal : UNICEF urges Morocco to set measures to safeguard children

The United Nations Children's Fund is a United Nations program (UNICEF) has finally reacted to the situation of Moroccan teenager Khadija, who was allegedly raped and tortured by a group of teens in Oulad Ayad. In a communiqué sent, Wednesday, to Yabiladi the UN agency stressed that «the rights of children involved in the case (suspects, victims and witnesses) must be respected». For UNICEF, these teenagers are victims of «the lack of protecting measures»

Tetouan : Migrants expelled from Ceuta to appear in court

After 116 migrants were expelled by Spain on August, 23rd, for entering Ceuta illegally, 20 of them will appear in court in Morocco on September the 10th, reports Spanish online newspaper El Faro de Ceuta. Sub-Saharan detainees will attend a hearing in Tetouan for «illegally entering the enclave, using violence» while doing so, and for «presenting false IDs». One of them will be tried for «discrediting a public official». These migrants were the only ones

Three Moroccan regions provided up to 58.2% of GDP in 2016, says Planning agency

Three regions participated in the creation of 58.2% of the national wealth for the year 2016, according to the High Planning Commission (HCP). These are Casablanca-Settat with 32%, Rabat-Sale-Kenitra with 16% and Tangier-Tetouan Al Hoceima with 10.2%, said the HCP in an information note on regional accounts for the year 2016. The total contribution of the regions of Fez-Meknes (9%), Marrakech-Safi (8.8%), Souss-Massa (6.7%) and Beni Mellal-Khenifra (5.6%) rose to 30.1% of GDP, said HCP,

Morocco-EU : MEPs hold talks with the president of Laayoune regional council

A mission sent by the European Parliament to Western Sahara arrived, Monday 3rd of September, in Layoune. Its members are, currently, holding a meeting with the head of the Laayoune-Sakia el Hamra regional council, Sidi Hamdi Ould Errechid. MEPs plan to hold talks with representatives from NGOs close to the Polisario and others that support the Moroccan stance on the possible impacts the new fisheries agreement might have on the Western Sahara inhabitants. Signed last July be Rabat and

Sahara : Horst Köhler and the Red Cross discuss food aid sent to the Tindouf camps

The United Nations Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Horst Köhler met on Monday, 3rd of September, with the president of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), Peter Maurer. The later was visiting Berlin, where he held talks with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier. The food requirements of the Tindouf camp population were at the heart of the discussion Köhler and Maurer had yesterday. ICRC is working on the cases of Sahrawis who went missing

Morocco’s Hakim Ziyech is the Netherlands' best footballer of the year

Moroccan-Dutch attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech was named on Monday, 3rd of September, the best Dutch footballer of the year and won the Gouden Schoen award (Golden Boot), announced Football 24/7 on Twitter. He is a «piece of jewelry for Dutch football», said Ajax Coach Eric ten Hag after the annual ceremony, quoted by Dutch online newspaper Voetbalprimeur. «I think he plays for a good team, with lots of good footballers, it is wonderful and motivating to see him

Morocco's net international reserves up 5.1%

Morocco's net international reserves amounted to 226.2 billion dirhams until August 24, 2018, recording a 5.1% year-on-year increase, Morocco's central bank (Bank Al-Maghrib) said. During the week of August 24-29, Bank Al-Maghrib injected 86.8 billion dirhams. As for the interbank rate, it fell from 2.35% the week before to 2.31%, while the average trading volume increased from 1.7 billion Dirhams the week before to 2.1 billion Dirhams, the source added. During the same period, the Dirham

Morocco is an «essential» country for Spain in terms of migration control, says Pedro Sanchez

Morocco is an «essential» country for Spain in the area of migration control, Spain's Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, said on Monday. «Morocco is a safe country, a country with which we are collaborating - in many areas - and for us, it is logically an essential country in terms of migration control,» Sanchez pointed out in an interview with Radio Cadena Ser. Spain, which is facing the aging of its population, is a country that needs a «legal and orderly»

Luxury : King Mohammed VI’s $1 million watch

According to an Instagram post, made public Monday, 3rd of September, by an account known for posting photos of luxury accessories worn by celebrities and distinguished personalities, Insane Luxury Life, King Mohammed VI was wearing in one his photos a rare Patek Philippe watch. Made by the luxury Swiss watch manufacturer, the piece of jewelry is referenced as a «5980/1400G (watch) with 18K white gold case and bracelet, set with an impressive total of 893 diamonds weighing

Spain extradites a Moroccan man accused of murdering a German student

Arrested in Spain, the 41-year-old Moroccan national, accused of allegedly killing Sophia Loesch was extradited to Germany. Suspected of killing the 28-year-old German student after picking her up, the driver has been locked up since Thursday in a prison in Upper Franconia, reports Wetterauer Zeitung. On June the 14th, the man was expected to drive the young woman to Bayern, where her parents live. She went missing for days, then her body was found in Spain and identified by the authorities

King Mohammed VI in Seychelles for his summer vacation

King Mohammed VI arrived, Sunday, in the Seychelles International Airport for his summer vacation. According to Arabic-language online newspaper Hespress, the royal airplane flew to the East African country after a five-hour trip from the United Arab Emirates and through the Indian Ocean. The same source recalls that Seychelles is home to many beaches and national parks. Mahé is the main island in the archipelago and it is home to 70,000 inhabitants, including the capital