Morocco's exports surge 5.3% to 331 billion dirhams  (Read more...)

Imams : Italian Home Minister calls for the expansion of partnership between the two countries

Italian Interior Minister, Marco Minniti called on Friday for the extension of the partnership linking Al-Quaraouiyine and Siena universities regarding the training of imams. At a symposium on «Italian Muslims Together for a Solidary Society» initiated by the Islamic and Cultural Center of Rome, Marco Minniti emphasized that the training experience of imams will allow the Muslim community to better interact and integrate into society. Last October, a partnership agreement was

Six killed and 14 injured after a staff transport vehicle crashed into a train

Six people were killed and 14 others were injured in an accident, on Saturday morning at a railway crossing near the Bni Makada district, between a freight train linking the city of Tangier to the Tangier Med port and a staff transport vehicle, according to local authorities in the Wilaya of the Tangier-Tetouan-Al Hoceima region. The wounded were transported to the hospital of Tangier, added the same source. An investigation is opened by the police under the supervision of the competent

Winter Olympic Games : Samir Azzimani proud of his ranking

French-Moroccan sAlpin kier Samir Azzimani was ranked111th out of 119 athletes in the men's 15km cross-country ski race at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea. The race took place on Friday, February 16th at the Alpensia Biathlon and Cross Country Center. «I'm 13:50 away from the Olympic champion (Switzerland Dario Cologna, ed). I pulled a fist aside after the first lap that I had to manage for five kilometers, which made me slow down otherwise I would not have

The EBRD president to visit Morocco on Tuesday

President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Suma Chakrabarti, is to visit Morocco on February 20th, said Friday the bank in a statement. During his visit to the Kingdom, Chakrabarti is expected to hold talks with several Moroccan officials on strengthening cooperation with the EBRD, said the same source. Quoted by the statement, Chakrabarti said the EBRD is committed and ready «to further support Morocco and empower the private sector with a special

Moroccans in Italy lead the creation of businesses, according to a report

Moroccans residing in Italy are the community of immigrants outside the EU which creates the most private companies in this European country, according to a report by the Italian Federation of Chambers of Commerce. In its 2017 report, the Federation said that 68,259 enterprises were created by Moroccans until the end of last year, noting a clear increase in the creation of companies at the initiative of members of the Moroccan community. By region, 6.8% of Moroccan-owned companies are located

Spain : A man sentenced to 16 years in prison for murdering a Moroccan national

The Madrid Provincial Court sentenced a Spanish Civil Guard agent to 16 years in prison for murdering a Moroccan national in April 2016, the regional online newspaper, Diario de Sevilla reported. The man was also sentenced to four months in prison for reckless driving. He was found guilty by teh court for shooting the victim, crushing him with his car and hitting him. The judges indicated that the officer is suffering from psychic problem, believing that he feared an imminent terrorist

A Moroccan national expelled from Italy for claiming he’s an ISIS member

A Moroccan national was expelled from Italy to Morocco for security reasons, reports the Italian news agency ANSA on Thursday. The 25-year-old man is accused of sexually harassing female staff at the center where he was staying. He was later arrested for violently attacking the police while they were trying to check his identity. The investigation suggests that while in prison, the man claimed that he belongs to the terrorist organization (ISIS) and that he is intending to carry out an attack

Morocco drops in the latest FIFA ranking to 42nd

Morocco's national football team has dropped three places to 42nd in the latest FIFA Ranking released on Thursday. The Atlas Lions, who qualified for the 2018 World Cup in Russia, maintains 4th spot in Africa with 692 points behind Tunisia (23rd), Senegal (27th) and DR Congo (39th). Morocco is followed in this ranking by Egypt (43rd), Cameroon (51st) and Nigeria (52nd). The global ranking remained the same with the top five consisting of World Cup holders Germany in top spot, followed by

France’s Voltalia obtains permits for two hydropower plants in Morocco

French renewable power plants operator “Voltalia” has obtained permits for two hydropower plants of 9.8 MW and 7.2 MW in Morocco. The permits, delivered by the Moroccan ministry for Energy in parallel to the «Photovoltaica» congress of renewable energies in Marrakech, relate to two hydropower plants projects of 9.8 MW and 7.2 MW, located in the Middle-Atlas region, Voltalia said in a press release. These permits follow positive technical approvals delivered by

Spain : A Moroccan national arrested for sexual assault and kidnapping

A Moroccan national was arrested in Valencia (Southeastern Spain) for preventing his wife from leaving home for a month after beating her, reports Las Provincias. The 36-year-old man had tried to make of his wife a sex slave, forcing her to engage in violent sexual acts, which she refused to perform. Faced with his wife’s rejection, he had repeatedly punched her all over her body. The assaults were repeated every day for about a month, until the woman decided last Sunday to leave her

Terrorism : Morocco arrests three ISIS supporters

The central bureau for judiciary investigations (BCJI), under the general directorate for territory surveillance (DGST), arrested, Thursday, three ISIS’ supporters operating in Laayoune, Salé and Marrakech, said a statement issued by the Interior ministry. Investigations revealed that the suspects, aged between 24 and 30, have pledged allegiance to ISIS' caliph. They are involved in inciting murder pursuant to the bloody approach of this terrorist organization, in addition to

Sahara : Waiting for Moroccans, Messahel is expected today in Berlin

Horst Köhler will receive Thursday in Berlin an Algerian delegation led by Foreign Minister Abdelkader Messahel, reports the Algerian News agency APS. Last week, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara met for two days in the German capital with Mauritania's foreign minister. He, then, held talks with the African Union Special Envoy for Western Sahara, Joaquim Chissano. A meeting that sheds light on the approach adopted by Köhler and

Paris : A Moroccan national arrested over links to the Thalys train attack

A Moroccan national was arrested on Wednesday, 14th February, in Paris for being linked to the Thalys train attack that wounded two people, reports AFP quoting a source close to the file. The same source said that the arrested, 36, is accused of giving «logistical help» to Ayoub El Khazzani, the main assailant in the infamous attack. He boarded the train in Brussels and then opened fire on passengers once it entered France. The attack made no victims as three

When Moroccans comment on Valentine's Day ...

On Valentine's Day, Yabiladi went out in the streets of Casablanca to discover what Moroccans think of such celebration. While women were more reluctant to speak out about this topic, out of modesty or shyness, men openly responded to our questions. Some believe that love should be in the heart of our daily life and not just one day a year, while others think that love shouldn’t always be romantic, referring to family friends and relatives.

Jakarta : Morocco wants to officially join Asean

Morocco has offered to join the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean), a regional intergovernmental organization comprising Southeast Asian countries which promotes Pan-Asianism and intergovernmental cooperation, as a sectoral dialogue partner, reports Jakarta Globe. «Morocco is making it a priority to collaborate with countries in Southeast Asia – we want to make a real positive impact in these countries,» secretary of state to the minister of foreign affairs and

Ex-Guantanamo detainee Younes Chekkouri acquitted by the court of Rabat

Younes Chekkouri, a former Guantanamo detainee was acquainted on Wednesday, 14th of February, by the Rabat appeal court, said the Joint Commission for the Defense of Islamist Detainees in a press release sent to Yabiladi. On the 4th of May, 2017, Chekkouri was sentenced to five years in prison. The Safi-native was granted bail in February 2016. He was being prosecuted for «joining a criminal organization», al-Qaeda, and «undermining the internal security of the

Bulgaria : The arrested Moroccan terrorist might be extradited to his country

The Haskovo Regional Court (Bulgaria) gave its instruction on Tuesday to keep the Moroccan national identified as Naufal Zahri, an alleged terrorist wanted by the Interpol, in custody for 90 days, reports the Sofia Globe on Tuesday. Wanted by Morocco via an Interpol warrant for terrorism, the defendant is prosecuted in the kingdom for setting up a group to commit acts of terrorism, the illegal use and possession of firearms directed against the national security and public order in Morocco,

A British national arrested in Marrakech for drug trafficking  

Marrakech police arrested on Tuesday evening, a 39-year-old British national for belonging to an international network that is active in international drug trafficking. According to MAP news agency, an international arrest warrant was issued in 2014 by the French authorities against the suspect. The General Directorate of National Security said in a statement that the man was arrested immediately after arriving in Morocco via a flight coming from Doha airport in Qatar. According to the same