Educational astronomy project to tour Morocco in November  (Read more...)

El Othmani’s cabinet gains parliamentary backing

El Othmani’s cabinet won a vote of confidence on Wednesday 26th of April in parliament. 208 lawmakers mostly from the PJD and its five other coalition partners voted in favor of the new program presented last week by the head of the government. 91 lawmakers from the party of authenticity and Modernity (PAM) and the united socialist party voted against El Othmani’s program while 40 others from Al Istiqlal party abstained. On Thursday 27th of April a meeting is scheduled to be held

A Moroccan pianist wins a competition in Azerbaijan

Nour Ayadi, a Moroccan pianist won the first prize of a competition held on the 20th of April in Baku, Azerbaijan. The talented young woman came back home carrying the trophy of the international competition of young artists of classical music, reports Femme du Maroc magazine. During this event, the artist competed in the senior category and represented Morocco at the musical contest. The latter was attended by several countries such as Uzbekistan, Turkey and Kuwait. For the record, Nour, who

Spain : 18 people arrested for selling psychotropic drugs in Morocco

A total of 18 people were arrested in Almería, Spain, in an operation conducted by the Spanish Civil guard. Ideal, an online newspaper located in Granada, reports that these individuals are accused of falsifying 50,000 medical prescriptions. Members of the arrested network were planning to buy Benzodiazepines in Spain and sell them back in Morocco. The main active ingredient of these psychotropic drugs is the infamous «karkoubi», a drug frequently used in impoverished areas

Mehdi Qotbi will represent morocco at the international fund for preserving the peril heritage

The President of the National Foundation of Museums (NFM), Mehdi Qotbi, was selected to be Morocco’s representative at the Council of the International Alliance for the Protection of Heritage in conflict areas (ALIPH). Qotbi was appointed by King Mohammed VI to preserve and maintain the protection of cultural properties that are threatened by conflicts and terrorism. Qotbi's contribution to this foundation will help promote the preservation of cultural heritage that is exposed to

Barcelona : 8 Moroccans arrested in an antiterrorism operation

Eight Moroccan men were arrested on Tuesday 25th of April in Barcelona, Spain as part of an antiterrorism operation against suspected militants believed to be linked to last year’s attack on Brussels' airport. Four of those arrested have a «clear affiliation» to the organization «Islamic State» and are suspected of having participated in attacks in other European countries, the Catalan police chief Josep Luis Trapero told Media. Trapero said that the operations

Donald Trump meets the Ambassador of Morocco to the United States

Morocco’s newly-appointed ambassador to the United States, Lalla Joumala Alaoui, met on Monday the US President Donald Trump at the White House. During their meeting, Lalla Joumala expressed the respect and appreciation the two nations hold for each other. Indeed, she referred to the historical and diplomatic ties between Morocco and the US when the Kingdom was the first country to recognize the independence of the USA in December 1777. The Moroccan ambassador emphasized also

A Moroccan man arrested in Italy for planning a terrorist attack

A 29-year-old Moroccan man was arrested yesterday 24th of April in Italy for planning terrorist attacks. ANSA news agency, reports that Mouner El Aoual was arrested by the Italian Carabinieri police in Turin for «allegedly promoting Islamist extremism on the Internet, planning attacks in Italy and looking for people to carry them out with.» Preliminary investigations suggest that El Aoual is «extremely dangerous» and at a «high risk of moving to the execution of

The Ministry in charge of Moroccans living abroad reacts to Chafik’s incident

Yabiladi reported on Thursday the case of Chafik H. the 38 year-old man of Moroccan descent who set himself ablaze in front of a Belgian courthouse in Kortrijk because he was «tired of racism». The Ministry in charge of Moroccans living abroad has reacted to Chafik’s story. In a communiqué reported by the MAP news agency, the department presided by Abdelkarim Benatiq declared that : «The necessary measures have been taken concerning the case of the Moroccan who

Moroccan tribesmen photographs presented in New York

Photographs of Moroccan tribesmen from the 70s will be part of a sophisticated exhibition in New York. Fans of photography will have the chance to attend an exhibition of the great American Photographer Irving Penn (1917- 2009) at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. According to the Met Museum website, Penn’s exposition will be hosted from the 24th of April till 30th of July providing a series of photos that the artist took during his 70-year career. A photograph taken by Irving Penn in 1971

A terrorist attack thwarted in Tetouan

An «imminent» attack has been thwarted on Friday by the Central Bureau of Judicial Investigation (BCIJ), 2M.ma reports. The online newspaper announced that : «The BCIJ forces arrested 3 men on Friday morning in Jamaa Lamzaouk neighborhood in Tetouan». These men are aged between 20 and 25 years old. The Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations has dismantled a militant cell that had guns and electronic equipments. The judicial section of the Moroccan domestic

The Japanese government creates a scholarship program for Moroccan students

According to a communiqué issued by the Japanese embassy in Rabat, the Asian country is offering Moroccan students who are interested in carrying their academic studies in Japan a chance to get a scholarship. The program includes a one year and a half up to two years scholarship for research students, a 5-year scholarship for literary and scientific undergraduates and a 3-year scholarship for students in special trainings such as trade schools. A full description of the available

Morocco : a new Chinese series for the first time on TV

A Chinese series was broadcasted yesterday for the first time on the Moroccan TV channel 2M, Xinhua news agency reports. Mohammed Ghazali, Secretary-general of the Ministry of Culture and Communication and Liu Qibao Head of the Central Propaganda department of the Communist party of China attended the launch of the series entitled «A happy life». China Radio International (RCI) president Wang Gengnian and 2M managing director Salim Cheikh signed yesterday an agreement that allows

Morocco and Venezuela clash during an UN meeting

The UN headquarters in New York witnessed another clash between Morocco and Venezuela this week. During the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) meeting, the representative of Caracas did not miss the opportunity to recall the Western Sahara conflict, reports Map news agency. Venzuela’s ambassador, Rafael Ramirez said that the ODD achievements target «occupied territories» referring to Palestine and the Moroccan Sahara. Responding to this, Omar Hilale

A British woman of Moroccan descent beaten and racially abused in the UK

Safia Sadki, a 23-year-old woman was racially attacked and beaten by two women on Friday night after ordering a Basic English food at a pizza shop. The young woman told Hull daily mail, that she was at Bella Pizza, a takeaway at the Prestongate area in the city of Hessle England, when two women called her «Dirty skin» and pulled her hair, punched her face after she ordered a Margarita pizza. 'Racist woman pulled my hair and said I had dirty skin as I waited for

A Moroccan man set himself on fire in front of a Belgian courthouse

A 38-year-old man of Moroccan descent set himself on fire Tuesday in front of a courthouse in Kortrijk, Belgium, RT reports. A video emerged online of the young man pouring gasoline on his body and setting himself ablaze after being rescued by fire fighters. Local media has said that the man, who is believed to be called Chafik, posted on social media a statement saying that he was «tired of racism». Jamal Qnioun who is head of the People Help the People organization and member of

A Moroccan taxi driver racially assaulted in England

Shane Orchard, a 33 year-old man from Cam, a village in England, has admitted at Cheltenham Magistrates court yesterday that he racially assaulted a Moroccan taxi driver. The accused was found guilty by the judges for offending Abdellatif Settar who is originally from Morocco on the 1st of April, reports Gazette news. The court based its sentence on a recording that Settar had of the incident. According to the recording, Orchard called Settar «Paki», a racist appellation that

Canada : A Moroccan arrested for threatening Alexandre Bissonnette and his family

Mohamed-Amine Ben Faras, 33, was arrested Saturday 15th of April in Quebec City for uttering death threats against the alleged gunman. The man, who is originally from Morocco, is accused of menacing Alexandre Bissonnette and members of his family, Le Journal de Quebec reports. The detained man is the nephew of one of the victims of January’s deadly mosque shooting that took place in Quebec. The victim’s family however did not recognize Ben Faras and mentioned being highly troubled

Morocco : King Mohammed VI invites Arab Financial groups to extend development funding

King Mohammed VI called, yesterday on a speech delivered at the Arab Finance Ministers meeting by Mohammed Boussaid Minister of Finance, the financial Arab groups to increase their funding for development projects in Arab countries. The sovereign’s statement was read upon Ministers of Economy and Finance of the Arab countries who attended the opening of the two-day annual meeting held in Rabat on the 18th of April. Arab Times, a Kuwaiti newspaper, reported that King Mohammed VI urged