Morocco expels two Norwegians from Laayoune  (Read more...)

2018 Mediterranean Games : Lamine Ouahab wins Morocco's 8th Gold Medal

The Moroccan tennis player Lamine Ouahab won, Saturday, a gold medal at the 18th Mediterranean Games. This is Morocco’s 8th gold medal in this competition, which runs in the Spanish city of Tarragona from June 22 until July 1. Ouahab defeated Lucas Catarina of Monaco in two sets (6-2, 6-3). The Mediterranean Games are a multi-sport event held every four years between nations around or very close to the Mediterranean Sea, where Europe, Africa, and Asia meet. The games are under the

Russia 2018 : FIFA fines Morocco $65, 000 for misconduct at World Cup

FIFA has fined the Royal Moroccan Football Federation 65,000 Swiss francs (MAD621 593/ $65,650) for misconduct, says Associated Press on Saturday. The football governing body warned Moroccan winger Nordin Amrabat for a comment he made on Video Assistant Referee system (VAR) during the game the Atlas Lions played against Spain (2-2) in Kaliningrad. The fine targeted also six Morocco staff who «forced their way into the pitch after the final whistle»,wrote the American press

Moroccan international player Amine Harit involved in a deadly car accident

Moroccan World Cup footballer Amine Harit has reportedly been involved in a deadly car accident in Marrakech on Friday night, reports Sports Joe. The Marrakech police confirmed that Schalke midfielder was behind the wheel when his car hit a pedestrian and killed him. Reports, however, suggest that Harit's 14-year-old brother was the one driving when the accident occurred, killing a 28-year-old man. Passersby have stopped the 21-year-old international footballer and his brother from fleeing

Moroccan-Belgian player Marouane Fellaini signs a new contract with Manchester United

Moroccan-Belgian footballer Marouane Fellaini, who currently plays for Manchester United, has renewed his contract with the English club, extending it to June 2020, said the United on Friday. The Premier League midfielder has been playing with United since 2013. He made 156 appearances with the club and scored 20 goals. I am pleased to be continuing my journey as a Manchester United player. I made this decision because I am very happy here. Also, I feel like this team, under Jose, still has

Tangier inaugurates the Khalladi wind farm facility

The new Khalladi 120MW wind farm was inaugurated on Friday, 29th of June, in Tangier, reports MAP. Conducted by Saudi group ACWA Power and located in the region of Tangier along the ridge of the Jbel Sandouq, the Khalladi farm is expected to produce about 370 gigawatts and will mainly supply huge industrial customers. The farm wind contains 40 turbines installed on 80-meter towers and equipped with three 45-meter blades. The project is funded by the European Bank for Reconstruction and

Migration : The European Union to increase funds for Morocco and Spain, says Pedro Sanchez

European Union leaders will boost funds granted to Morocco and Spain to help deal with migration flows, says Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Friday quoted by Reuters. According to the newly appointed PM Rabat and Madrid will benefit from this decision as more migrants are opting for the route between the two countries to enter Europe. «There is a commitment to dispense more funds to the government of Spain and Morocco», said Sanchez in a televised news conference held

Horst Köhler in Laayoune : Pro-Polisario activists organize a demonstration

Pro-Polisario activists demonstrated Thursday, 28th of June, in Laayoune as the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara Horst Köhler was in the city on his first visit to Morocco’s southern provinces. In fact, Saharawis, a majority of young people and women, brandished the separatist flag chanting slogans for self-determination. The public forces intervened to disperse the demonstration. In the morning, Köhler met with the region's Wali,

Sentences against Hirak detainees are first instance verdicts that could be appealed

Sentences handed against the accused involved in the Al Hoceima events are first instance verdicts that could be appealed, said minister delegate for relations with parliament and civil society, government spokesperson Mustapha El Khalfi. Speaking at a press conference following the weekly cabinet meeting, convened under the chairmanship of head of government Saad Eddine El Othmani, El Khalfi said that the said sentences are first instance verdicts and the convicts could appeal them or use

Sound Energy sees new «potentially significant oil play» in Morocco

A study conducted by African and European upstream gas company Sound Energy PLC has revealed that the company’s Anoual permit, eastern Morocco, has a «potentially significant oil play», reports Proactive Investors on Friday. The results add to Sound Energy’s recent 5.5 trillion cubic feet of gas discovery. «The AIM-quoted explorer is acquiring and processing further 2D seismic data over the area, which is now being evaluated as a candidate for the planned third

Morocco rejects EU’s wish to build migrant detention facilities on its soil, says Bourita

Morocco has rejected the Council of Europe’s wish to build migrant detention facilities on its soil. The offer was made on Thursday by Spanish Foreign Minister Josep Borrel, who is currently on an official visit to Morocco. «Morocco rejects and has always rejected these kinds of methods for managing the issue of migration flows», said Moroccan Foreign minister Nasser Bourita in Rabat during a meeting he held with his Spanish counterpart, reports AFP. «These are easy

Journalist Hamid El Mahdaoui sentenced to three years in prison

Moroccan journalist Hamid El Mahdaoui was sentenced to three years in prison and fined 3000 dirhams on Thursday, 28th of June, by the Criminal chamber of the Casablanca Court of Appeals. El Mahdaoui, who is also the founder and the editor-in-chief of online news website Badil.info, was found guilty of failing to report «an attempt to endanger internal state security» to the authorities. On the 26th of June, the Casablanca Court of Appeals decided to separate his trial from the

Boycott campaign : After Centrale Danone, Oulmes issues a profit warning

After Centrale Danone, mineral water company «Les Eaux Minérales d’Oulmès» issued a profit warning, advising the stock market that profits will be lower than expected in 2018. According to a statement published by French-language newspaper L'Economiste, Sidi Ali’ sales have «strongly declined». «Les Eaux Minérales d’Oulmès has been subjected since April the 20th, to a boycott campaign. A campaign that

2018 Mediterranean Games : Moroccan Judoka Imad Bassou wins a bronze medal

Moroccan Judoka Imad Bassou won, Wednesday, the bronze medal in the 18th Mediterranean Games, earning Morocco its fourth medal in this competition, which takes place in Tarragona (Spain) from June 22, to July 1. Bassou lost the semi-finals (60-66 Kg) against the Italian Manuel Lombardo with a score of 100-10 points. This is Morocco's fourth medal, after the gold and silver ones won by Karateka Ameknassi and Sayah, as well as another bronze earned by fencer Elkord. The Mediterranean Games are

Russia 2018 : Morocco questions FIFA about referees mistakes

The Moroccan Royall Football Federation (FRMF) has decided to question FIFA about mistakes referees made during the two games the Atlas Lions played against Portugal and Spain. The decision was announced by several local and foreign newspapers, including French-language online newspaper Le 360 Sport and French paper L’Alsace. La Fédération Marocaine décide de saisir la @FIFAcom et demande des explications sur les erreurs d'arbitrage dont la sélection

Hirak : Hundreds protest in Moroccco and France, denouncing the heavy convictions

Denouncing the heavy verdicts returned in Hirak trials, hundreds of people take to the streets in Rabat and Casablanca. In Paris, a gathering is scheduled for Saturday 30th of June for the same purpose. Initiated by Hirak National Support Committee, human rights associations and some political parties, a sit-in was held yesterday in Casablanca where hundreds of people protested the heavy sentences handed down to 53 Hirak detainees. Participating to the demonstration, Mustapha Brahma,

Amnesty International believes verdicts returned in «unfair Hirak trials must be overturned»

Sentences 53 Hirak protesters received must be «overturned due to the unfair nature of their trials», said Amnesty International on Wednesday 27th of June following the Casablanca Court of Appeals’ verdicts issued Tuesday. «These convictions are unsafe given the extremely unfair nature of the trials», said Heba Morayef, Amnesty International’s Middle East and North Africa Director. For the London-based non-governmental organization, «Nasser Zefzafi

USA : The Supreme Court rules in favor of Donald Trump’s Muslim ban

The Supreme Court of the United States ruled, Tuesday, in favor of President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban, an order made public in September, restricting travel from majority Muslim countries, reports CNBC. SUPREME COURT UPHOLDS TRUMP TRAVEL BAN. Wow! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) 26 juin 2018 The court found that Trump’s restriction was «squarely» part of his authority, rejecting accusations suggesting that the ban was «motivated by religious

Horst Köhler to meet pro-Polisario NGOs Thursday in Laayoune

On Wednesday morning, Horst Köhler held talks with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita. In Rabat, the UN Secretary-General’s Personal Envoy for Western Sahara will also meet Prime Minister Saadeddine El Othmani. Tomorrow, the UN envoy will take part in a meeting, attended by representatives of pro-Polisario associations and NGOs that support the Moroccan stance. «Contrary to what was relayed by some media platforms, the meeting will take place at the MINURSO