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

Gdim Izik Trial : Mohamed El Ayoubi sentenced in absentia to 20 years in prison

The Salé Appeal court sentenced in absentia, on Wednesday ; suspect Mohamed El Ayoubi, who was sued for violence and aggravated assault against members of the forces of order as part of the Gdim Izik events, to twenty years in prison with no remission. The court had decided in January to separate the case of El Ayoubi, who was sued while on bail due to his health condition which prevented him from attending hearings, from the rest of the suspects. The Salé Appeal court had

A Moroccan national expelled from Italy for being an Islamist extremist

A Moroccan national has been expelled by the Italian authorities after he was accused of being an Islamist extremist, said IANS news agency quoting the Italian Interior Ministry. The 37-year-old Moroccan was deported from Italy via a flight from Milan’s Malpensa airport joining the 103 alleged religious extremists that were expelled this year by the Italian authorities, said the same source.   According to the same source, the suspect «came to the attention of Italian

Mauritania appoints a new ambassador to Morocco, local media reports

Mauritania is said to have appointed a diplomat to head its embassy in Morocco on Wednesday, 20th of December, local media platforms such us Anbaa.info and Alakhbar.info said. On the other hand, AMI, the Mauritanian official news agency has not commented on that. The same online newspapers confirmed that a former minister, namely Mohamed Lemine Ould Aboye, is the new Mauritanian ambassador to Morocco. He had previously held similar positions in Niger and Senegal. «He is an intellectual

Terrorism : A young Algerian-Moroccan couple acquitted in Montreal

A Moroccan-Algerian-born couple settled in Canada was acquitted on Tuesday, after being implicated in a terrorism-related case in Montreal, reports AFP quoted by the Algerian News Agency. Both individuals were held in pre-trial detention since April 2015, suspected of activities related to «terrorism». They were accused of attempting to leave Canada «for the purpose of committing a terrorist act abroad», for «committing a crime for the benefit of a terrorist

More than 84,000 foreigners live currently in Morocco according to the High Commission of Planning

The number of foreigners residing in Morocco reached in 2014 a total of 84,001 inhabitants, that is a proportion of 0.25% of the total Moroccan population, said the High Commission for Planning (HCP) in a note. The foreign population in Morocco posted an increase of 32,566 foreigners compared to 2004, that is an overall growth rate of 63.3%, according to this note issued on the occasion of the international migrants day. According to HCP, 95.2% of the foreign population is established in

«Bitcoin is not a currency», warned Abdellatif Jouahri

Abdellatif Jouahri, the governor of Bank Al-Maghrib, commented on the Bitcoin controversy, during a press conference held by the end of the organization’s quarterly meeting for 2017. Referring to the risks generated by «digital currencies» including Bitcoin, Mr. Jouahri explained that theoretically speaking ; Bitcoin «is not a currency». «A currency must meet three criteria : Being a means of payment, a store of value and a saving instrument and Bitcoin does

Morocco Flatly Condemns Houthi Missile Fired Against Populated Zones in Riyadh

The Kingdom of Morocco flatly condemned the firing on Tuesday of a ballistic missile by the Houthi militia against populated zones in Saudi capital Riyadh. The Kingdom of Morocco reiterated its unwavering solidarity with the brotherly Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in its fight against anything that could undermine the security of its territories and disturb its populations, said on Tuesday the ministry of foreign affairs in a statement. Morocco also voiced its deep concern over this dangerous

Morocco : 62 penitentiary institutions to benefit from an HIV testing campaign

The General Directorate of Integration and Prison Services launched, in partnership with the Ministry of Health, an HIV testing campaign to raise awareness among detainees in 62 penitentiary institutions, representing 80% of the prison population. This initiative, entitled «Zero stigmatization, 100% human dignity», will continue until December 27, says a statement issued by the directorate, stating on Tuesday that the local prison of Tetouan will be the first stop of this campaign,

Al Hoceima : Hirak detainees sentenced from two to four years in prison

Al Hoceima Appeal Court sentenced on Monday, 18th of December, six Hirak detainees from two to four years in prison, Alyaoum reports on Tuesday. Mounir Benabdallah was sentenced to four years, Bilal Achemlal, Hakim Al Anabi and Bilal Waali, a to three years, Abdellah Al Hankouri to two and a half years in prison. Hicham Lamrabet received on the other hand received a one-year sentence. Today, the trial of Nasser Zefzafi, leading figure of the Hirak popular movement, is held at the Casablanca

RSF’s report : Morocco has «detained an unusual number of journalists» in 2017

Morocco is one of the countries that detained an unusual number of journalists in 2017, according to the recent annual report entitled «Worldwide Round-up of Journalists Killed, Detained, Held Hostage, or Missing in 2017» and issued by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), an international NGO that promotes and defends freedom of information and press. While China, Turkey and Vietnam have been mentioned for their poor results, the NGO also points out at Morocco's. «Hamid El

USA : A Democratic Senator urges the EPA to audit Scott Pruitt’s visit to Morocco

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), created for the purpose of protecting human health and the environment, is requested to audit the trip of Scott Pruitt, an American Republican politician who is currently serving as the fourteenth Administrator of the same agency, to Morocco which reportedly cost $40,000, reports Reuters on Monday. On Monday, Sen. Thomas R. Carper, the top Democrat on the Senate environment committee asked the American agency to investigate

A Norwegian observer expelled from Laayoune

A Norwegian observer was expelled Thursday (December 14th) after being arrested in Laayoune by the Moroccan police, who forced her to go to Agadir, the woman told the Spanish news agency EFE. Tone Moe was accredited as an observer at Gdim Izik's trial. She had gone to Laayoune last Wednesday to meet with the families of the convicts and visit the detainees in the detention center. According to her, this visit was made in the name of the «Fundación Sáhara Occidental»,

Felipe VI of Spain and Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano to visit Rabat on January 9

The King of Spain Felipe VI and his wife, the queen of Spain Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, are expected to visit Morocco on the 9th of January. Invited by King Mohammed VI, the royal couple will spend three days in the kingdom, Spanish daily ABC reports. The visit has not been officially announced yet, but according to the same source, Mohamed VI and Felipe IV will participate in a high-level conference, bringing together two hundred Spanish and Moroccan businessmen. Indeed, the two countries

Helena Maleno : Providing assistance for a person in a dangerous situation is not a crime

Several human rights groups and organizations have signed a joint document supporting the Spanish journalist and activist, Helena Maleno Garzón. The Moroccan Association of Human Rights (AMDH), the Africa-Europe Interact network as well as several other associations, foundations and companies signed the document. The Spanish police accused Helena Maleno of being involved in facilitating illegal immigration, believing that she is helping migrants enter the Spanish

Spain : An alleged member of Spanish-Moroccan Daesh was arrested near Madrid

The Spanish police arrested a man on Monday morning in the Madrilenian town of Majadahonda, for allegedly being part of the terrorist group «Islamic State», said the Spanish Interior Ministry, quoted by Antena 3. The alleged terrorist is a 19-year-old Moroccan national who was granted the Spanish citizenship. He had gradually become radicalized since he was 16 years old. According to the ministry, the young man «had a very advanced stage of indoctrination that he showed

Morocco’s Sherine Hossni named Miss Arab World 2017

Sherine Hossni, a 23-year-old Moroccan national was named on Saturday Miss Arab World 2017 winning the pageant held in Giza, Egypt, reports GDN news. Competing with 16 other contestants, the young student from Tafraout was selected as Miss Arab World –Morocco on November the 22nd in Ouerzazate. Rania bin Ashoush from Algeria and Fawsya Abdul Ridha from Bahrain were respectively named as the first and second runners-up while Fatten Al-Shamsi from the United Arab Emirates and Ghofrane

MMA : Morocco’s Rizlen Zouak beats Jacqualine Trosse in 27 seconds

Rizlen Zouak, a Moroccan MMA athlete defeated on Saturday, 16th of December, her South African rival, Jacqualine Trosse at the Xtreme Fighting Championships, currently held in South Africa. The Moroccan champion announced her victory through her official account on Facebook. The fight was broadcast on the Fight Sports channel, as well as on a Facebook page. Since her first international MMA game on June the 24th in London, the professional judo champion has set herself the challenge of

Mohamed El Bachiri wins the 2017 Equality Prize

The book A jihad of love by Belgian-Moroccan author Mohamed El Bachiri has just won the 2017 Equality Prize, reports literature website En Lettres. The award was received during the fifth edition of the 2017 Equality Festival, held in Gand, Belgium, from the 14th to the 16th of December. Living in the Molenbeek district, Mohamed El Bachiri had lost his wife Loubna Lafquiri, a mother of three children, during the Brussels attacks on March 22nd, 2016. The Zaventem airport and a subway train at