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

Japan’s Furukawa Electric inaugurates a plant in Tangier Automotive City

Japanese electric and electronics equipment company Furukawa has opened a new plant in the Tangier Automotive City (TAC) through its subsidiary Optical Fiber Solutions (OFS). The inauguration of the new factory took place, Wednesday, and was attended by Minister of Industry, Investment, Trade and Digital Economy Moulay Hafid Elalamy,and Furukaza’s Executive Vice President Takahide Kimura. «The opening of this plant meets the needs and strong demand for optical fiber cables and

South Africa can’t decide on Morocco’s bid to host the 2026 World Cup

President of the South African Football Association (SAFA) Danny Jordaan is back with another different opinion about Morocco’s 2026 World Cup bid. The official told South African newspaper Times Live on Wednesday that SAFA has not decided yet on whether it wants to support the Moroccan bid or not. «We’re going to have an NEC meeting because these things are determined by the NEC not just individuals», said Jordaan only two days after South African Sports Minister

Bulgaria to extradite a Moroccan alleged terrorist it arrested in January

A Moroccan national wanted for terrorist activity was expatriated by Bulgarian authorities to the Kingdom, says Xinhua quoting a statement issued by the Bulgarian Interior ministry. The 35-year-old man was arrested on January the 13th in the borders between Turkey and Bulgaria. He attempted to enter the country by mingling with a group of refugees who were requesting humanitarian assistance. The alleged terrorist presented a fake ID while carrying a Syrian identity that was found later in his

Morocco : Android users targeted by a sophisticated cyperespionage campaign

A sophisticated cyperespionage campaign is believed to target users of Android devices in several Arab countries, including Morocco, revealed Kaspersky Lab researchers last Thursday. The new malware called ZooPark «uses legitimate websites as sources of infection», says the multinational cybersecurity and anti-virus provider headquartered in Moscow in a survey made public on the 3rd of May. «The campaign appears to be a nation-state backed operation aimed at political

OCP phosphate cargo : The Polisario promises to take similar legal proceedings

The Polisario Front said Tuesday that it intends to take similar actions in other countries against companies that buy «Sahrawi phosphate». «[The Polisario Front] anticipates similar civil legal proceedings in other countries against the remaining Saharawi phosphate purchasing enterprises involved», it stated in a communiqué published on its «press agency».  Moreover, the Front says that it «observes with satisfaction the successful

Morocco’s Hind Bensari awarded in Canada for her documentary «We could be Heroes»

Moroccan movie director Hind Bensari premiered her documentary «We Could Be Heroes» at the 2018 Hot Docs Canadian International Documentary Festival as part of the Toronto Film Festival hosted from April 27th to May the 6th. The documentary received the Best International Documentary Award, allowing Bensari to become the first Moroccan and African filmmaker to win the prize. Through her work, «We Could Be Heroes», Hind sheds light on the journey of two disabled

Two Basque brothers climb a multi-pitch rock in Morocco to honor a deceased mountain guide

Basque brothers Iker and Eneko Pou have climbed multi-pitch rock Agar in Morocco in April, rendering homage to a Spanish mountain guide who was killed in an avalanche, reports Planet Mountain.  The climb is located in the Taghia Gorge, a world-class climbing location with huge limestone big walls. The brothers managed to «establish a new route up the righthand side of the enormous Jebel Tadrarate rock face», in memory of Borja Ayed.  The new 2400-meter high route is close

Morocco and Spain dismantle a five-member terrorist cell in a joint operation

The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ) dismantled on Tuesday a five-member ISIS-affiliated terrorist cell, in an joint operation with the Spanish services, says Interior Ministry in a communiqué sent to Yabiladi. The operation allowed the arrest of three individuals in Fnideq and two others in Bilabao, Spain. The raids led to the seizure of knives and military uniforms, in addition to electronic equipments, said the same source. According to the first elements of the

South Africa won’t support Morocco’s bid to host the 2026 World Cup

South African won’t vote for Morocco’s bid to host the 2026 World Cup, says Times Live on Monday. South African Sports Minister Tokozile Xasa announced that her country will not support the Moroccan bid, confirming the stance made public last week by Danny Jordaan, president of the South African Football Association (SAFA). «We are very clear that we can’t support Morocco», she said. «Our parliament was very straightforward in this regard‚ it is

The OCP phosphate cargo to finally leave Port Elizabeth in South Africa

Cherry Blossom vessel, carrying a 50,000-ton phosphate cargo, has finally left Port Elizabeth in South Africa, reports French-language online newspaper Telquel Tuesday. The cargo, captured by the South African authorities since the 1st of May, 2017, has been bought by its operator. It was sold for «one symbolic Dollar», after it was put up for auction in South Africa, 10 months after being seized. The information was announced later by OCP group in the person of its executive vice

Morocco and the EU to establish a twining program to support the energy sector

A seminar will be held, on Tuesday in Rabat, for the official launching of the Morocco-European Union (EU) twinning program, aimed at supporting Morocco's energy sector. The 24-month twinning project (2018-2020), funded by the EU to the tune of 1,150,000 Euros, is part of the implementation of the program "Making a success of Advanced Status between Morocco and the EU," said a statement from the ministry of Energy, Mining and Sustainable Development. The project is also part of the process of

Spain : Police arrest a Moroccan national wanted by the Interpol

A Moroccan national, suspected of being a drug trafficker, has been arrested in Mijas (southern Spain), after the French authorities issued a red notice against him, reports Diario Sur. The 36-year-old man is one of the leaders of a drug trafficking network operating in Morocco, France and the Netherlands. The criminal organization was carrying cannabis resin in vans across the three countries, said the same source. Living in Mijas, the Moroccan national was arrested by an agent from the same

A Moroccan national expelled from Italy for being radicalized

A Moroccan national was expelled Saturday, 5th of May, from Italy for being «radicalized» and for «reasons related to the state’s security», reports Corriere di Bologna. Accused of undermining national security, the man who is in an irregular situation was wanted by the police. He was under surveillance by the Italian counter-terrorism services.  The radicalized will be repatriated to Morocco. It is the 40th operation initiated by the Italian

Norway’s Element signs a LOI with French Auplata to acquire Moroccan miner OSEAD

Norwegian mineral sector innovative project investment company Element has signed a LOI with French listed gold producer Auplata SA to acquire in a joint venture OSEAD Maroc Mining, reports Reuters. Through their agreement, the two mining firms will obtain 100% of all the outstanding shares in OSEAD. The latter owns 37% of the shares of Compagnie Minière de Touissit (CMT) the second largest private mining operator in Morocco, which mines primarily lead and silver with

SDX Energy announces a new natural gas discovery in Morocco

North Africa focused oil and gas company SDX Energy Inc. announced in a press release Monday, 7th of May, that a conventional natural gas discovery has been made at its LMS-1 exploration well on the Lalla Mimouna permit in Morocco. «The well encountered 16.4 meters of net conventional gas pay sands which had an average porosity of 32% in an over-pressured section», says the British company. The LMS-1 well was drilled to 1158 meters depth and showed the presence of liquid

2026 World Cup : South Africa backtracks after announcing its support for the Moroccan bid

After openly supporting the Moroccan bid on April 16 for the 2026 World Cup, the South African Football Association (SAFA) is backing up. Without having expressed its support for the US joint bid, the South African Football Association said Thursday in a communiqué that it had received the two presentations and that «it was made clear to both delegations that these presentations would be taken to SAFA NEC who will give the mandate to the delegates going to the FIFA Congress in

Rabat : The police arrest a man who broke into the Hassan mosque holding two knives

During the Friday prayer, a man with two knives has broken into the Hassan mosque in Rabat, reports Telquel. The prayer was broadcasted by national TV channel Al Oula, showing the frightening scene when the man interrupted the sermon. A communiqué issued today by the General Directorate of National Security confirms the arrest, stating that the 29-year-old man with apparent signs of mental disorder has forced his way into the mosque holding two knives. Incident à la

2018 World Cup : Morocco, Saudi Arabia and Tunisia to train in Switzerland

The Moroccan, Tunisian, and Saudi football national teams will fly to Switzerland to start the trainings for the 2018 World Cup, says the Swiss press agency ATS. The Atlas Lions will stay for a week in Crans-Montana in Valais (southern Switzerland), from May the 27th to June the 6th. They will play two friendlies in Geneva, against Ukraine on May 31st and Slovakia on June the 4th. The Eagles of Carthage will be based in Verbier from May 29th to June 4th and will also play in Geneva against