Rabat - A gay couple was arrested in southern Morocco after being caught engaging in “homosexual acts” in a car parked in a deserted area in the outskirts of the city of Guelmim on May 27, according to Moroccan news website Alyaoum24.

Homosexuality in Morocco is illegal under article 489 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes “lewd or unnatural acts with an individual of the same sex.”

In March, a gay couple was arrested after being dragged from their home and severely beaten by a mob in Beni Mellal. A video of the incident went viral, sparking outrage.

Several human rights associations also launched a campaign calling for the release of the couple and the repeal of article 489 of the Penal Code.

Following Friday’s arrest of the couple in Guelmim, the public prosecutor ordered an investigation be conducted before the case is presented to the city’s Court of First Instance.

Those charged under article 489 of the Penal Code face sentences ranging from three months to six years in prison and a fine of up to MAD 1,200.

The post Gay Couple Arrested in Southern Morocco appeared first on Morocco World News.

Fez - Around 13 percent of Moroccan smokers are under the age of 15, the Regional Delegate of the Health Ministry in Fez, Abdellah Asbai, said Tuesday.

Over 30 percent of students have received advice in class about smoking, while 27 percent have already discussed in class the reasons why people of their age start smoking and 26 percent have attended classroom sessions about the damage of tobacco, Asbai said, citing a recent survey, at an awareness meeting on the harmful dangers of smoking, initiated by a local NGO.

According to the survey, men represent 31 percent and women 2.3 percent of overall smokers at the national level, Asbai pointed out.

The post Around 13% of Smokers in Morocco Are Under 15 appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat - A study released by the National Observatory for Drugs and Addiction (ONDA) reveals that one in five Moroccan students has tried smoking cigarettes at least once and one in ten students has tried hashish. The study comes just ahead of World No Tobacco Day, which is observed around the world on May 31.

According to the Executive President of the Moroccan Federation for Tobacco and Drugs Prevention, Amina Baaji, Morocco is among the top countries for cigarette and drug consumption. Baaji cited the statistic that the number of Moroccan smokers in 2015 was 800,000 people (4-5 percent of the population) and that 750,000 Moroccans consume hashish.

Tobacco is the number one drug consumed in Morocco, followed by cannabis, alcohol, “soft drugs,” cocaine and marijuana, according to an article published by Le360.

The Moroccan Federation for Tobacco and Drugs Prevention launched the new “For a Healthy Society” campaign in Salé on May 27 to teach students about the dangers of tobacco and drug addiction. The campaign will make stops at middle and high schools throughout the Rabat- Salé region.

World No Tobacco Day was created by the World Health Organization in 1987 with the aim of encouraging a 24-hour period of abstinence from tobacco consumption worldwide. The global health campaign also serves to raise awareness about the dangers of smoking.

The post Cigarette and Hashish Consumption on the Rise Among Moroccan Youth appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat - International star and fashion icon Rihanna was photographed in the streets of New York on Sunday May 29, wearing a brightly colored kaftan maxi-dress.

She did not go unnoticed in her red-, white-, and blue-patterned kaftan dress: as she embraced the Moroccan style, paparazzi and fans took endless pictures of her on her shopping spree.

Rihanna did not hesitate to personalize her style by adding a pair of beige, red, and gold platform sneakers and an eye-catching handbag to match her colorful outfit.

Rihanna is not the first celebrity to have worn a kaftan. Aretha Franklin, Elizabeth Taylor, and Ashley Olsen have also publicly worn the traditional Moroccan dress, showing how kaftans have been paid much attention and admiration from fashion designers around the globe.

The post Rihanna Wears Kaftan in Streets of New York appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat - A video of Moroccan national team players smoking a hookah in a hotel room in Marrakech has caused a stir on social media.

Many commenters denounced the players’ irresponsibility and disregard for the colors they represent. The video, which came as an unexpected surprise, also created a stir within the technical staff of the team and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF).

According to Maghreb Arab Press (MAP), the FRMF has called for an emergent joint meeting with the technical staff of the Atlas Lions to discuss the matter. The same source also said that some ‘heads’ are expected to roll following what many observers called ‘the scandal’ of Moroccan players.

Hervé Renard, the national coach, was outraged by this act of indiscipline, which, according to him, should lead to the outright dismissal of offenders.

The video shows several players smoking a hookah, an act that is banned for players, however enticing a puff or two may be.

 The involved players and some of their immediate supervisors are now awaiting the decision that will be made at the FRMF meeting.

The post Morocco’s Football Federation Holds Emergency Meeting Following Hookah Video appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat - A number of Muslim scholars have called for fasting on the same day in Ramadan.

Many Islamic scholars and astronomers convened in Istanbul, Turkey and agreed on unifying the Hijri calendar across the globe, Yabiladi Arabic reports.

The scholars, who represent more than 60 Islamic countries at the conference entitled “Unifying lunar months and the international Hijri calendar”, have agreed to fast on the same day in Ramadan.

The conference began, according to the Turkish New Agency, last Saturday with the participation of scholars and astronomers representing all Islamic countries, in addition to the formal participation of Turkey under the auspices of the Presidency of Turkish Religious Affairs, in cooperation with the Islamic Project for Crescent Observation (affiliated to the Center for International Astronomy in United Arab Emirates), the Center for Guendelli of the University of Bosporus, and the European Council for Fatwa.

Mohammed Gormaz, the President of Turkish Religious Affairs, told the media after the closure of the conference on Monday, “After the debate, which took place for 3 days, it was proposed to vote on unilateral and bilateral calendars, through secret vote, as most countries attended and I can assure you that there is no Islamic state absent.”

He added: “We agreed on the unilateral calendar which is considered the result of hard work, and I congratulate the Muslim world on reaching this calendar.” In his turn, the President of the International Union of Muslim Scholars, Sheikh Yusuf al-Qaradawi, said during a speech at the conference, “Our societies are seeking to unify the calendar, where Muslims fast on the same day, and break their fast on the same day.”

Al-Qaradawi also encouraged astronomers to “help Islamic scholars to unite Muslims regarding the Calendar,” stressing, “Sharia Law is with astronomy, and there is no religion that encouraged science better than Islam. We have outdone the West in science, but they took it from us and made it evolve.”

The post Muslim Scholars Call For Fasting the Same Day in Ramadan appeared first on Morocco World News.

By Kainoelani Lee

Rabat – In a testimony revealed on Tuesday, former managers of Trump University, the for-profit school opened by Donald J. Trump, said the university as an unethical business that relied on high-pressure sales tactics, employed unqualified instructors, made deceptive claims, and exploited vulnerable students willing to pay tens of thousands for Trump’s insights, according to the New York Times.

Ronald Schnackenberg, a sales manager for Trump University, described how he was reprimanded for not pushing a financially struggling couple hard enough to sign up for a $35,000 real estate class, regardless of his conclusion that it would endanger their economic future. He watched, disgusted, as another Trump University salesman persuaded the couple to purchase the class anyway.

“I believe that Trump University was a fraudulent scheme,” Schnackenberg wrote in his testimony, “and that it preyed upon the elderly and uneducated to separate them from their money.”

The release of the documents on Tuesday, under court order, was the latest turn in a federal lawsuit, filed in California by dissatisfied former Trump University students, that have tormented Trump since 2010, and could follow him into the White House if elected president.

Trump acted as the chief promoter of the university, selling it as a tool of financial empowerment that would improve life for thousands of ordinary Americans. He started the university in 2005, and has since owned 93 percent of the company. The university, he said, would “teach you better than the best business school”, according to the transcript of a Web video.

The documents that were made public on Tuesday show Trump University internal employee guides, where employees are told to encourage customers with little money to pay for the tuition with their credit cards.

“We teach the technique of using OPM… Other People’s Money,” explained the internal instructions for salespeople. The documents forced employees to exploit the emotions of potential customers. “Let them know you’ve found an answer to their problems,” read confidential instructions to salespeople.

The most striking documents were written testimony from former employees of Trump University, who said they had become disillusioned with the university’s tactics and culture. Event manager, Corrine Sommer, recounted how colleagues encouraged students to open up as many credit cards as possible to pay for classes thay many could not afford.

“It’s O.K., just max out your credit card,” Ms. Sommer recalled their saying.

Jason Nicholas, a sales executive at Trump University, recalled a deceptive pitch that was used to lure students – that Trump would be “actively involved” in their education. “This was not true,” Mr. Nicholas testified, saying Trump was barely involved at all. Nicholas concluded that Trump University was “a façade, a total lie.”

On Tuesday, lawyers from Trump challenged the testimonies, saying that former Trump University employee’s testimonies “was completely discredited” in depositions taken for the California lawsuit. Lawyers from Trump declined to release those depositions on Tuesday.

Trump argued through representatives that the complaints stemmed from a small number of former students and that the vast majority of students had offered positive reviews of their experience.

“Trump University looks forward to using this evidence, along with much more, to win when the case is brought before a jury,” said Hope Hicks, a spokeswoman for Mr. Trump.

Trump had fought Tuesday’s release of previously sealed documents in the case, and made an attempt to discredit the judge in the case, Gonzalo P. Curiel. Trump made statements calling the judge biased, and a “hate of Donal Trump”, also drawing attention to the judge’s ethnic background – “we believe Mexican,” Trump said. (Judge Curiel was born in Indiana, and if of Mexican descent.)

Not all documents made public on Tuesday were critical, as many former students said the classes delivered exactly what they expected. “Trump University definitely made me more prepared to tackle the ‘real world’ of real estate investing,” wrote David Wright. Jr., who signed up for a six-month program at the university. “We really learned a lot from Trump University and have found a modicum of success,” wrote another student, Kissy Gordon.

Former employees like Sommer differed from opinion, as her testimony stated that she was startled by the qualifications of some Trump University instructors. She recalled that a member of the Trump University sales team, who had previously sold jewelry, was promoted to an instructor, but had “no real estate experience,” she said.

She added that many of the instructors had the quality that the school seemed to value most: “They were skilled at high-pressure sales,” she said.

The post Former Trump University Workers call the School a ‘Lie’ and a ‘Scheme’  appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat - ISIS officials have issued a communiqué calling for people in Raqqa and Mosul to destroy satellite dishes and receivers ahead of Ramadan, warning about the threat of hostile channels "destroying their beliefs and polluting their ethics.”

The Twitter account of “Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently” posted photos of a leaflet distributed around the so-called Islamic State’s de-facto capital, which told residents to destroy their satellite receivers or hand them over to the “Hisba” religious police by the start of Ramadan next week.

#Raqqa #ISIS statement for the people to destroy TV satellite or give it for the Hisbha before Ramadan #Syria pic.twitter.com/q1TSfg2bFZ

— ????? ???? ???? (@Raqqa_SL) May 31, 2016

The ISIS officials were seen in a video handing out pamphlets explaining the need to destroy or surrender satellite dishes to the group’s local Islamic police.

In a video posted on Twitter, a group of people from Deir Ezzor province, including children and soldiers, smashed satellite receivers and video technology in a hysterical manner.

The video ended with a scene showing people stamping on such technology to destroy it.

#IslamicState launching concerted campaign vs sat brdcst. New vid from #DeirEzzor province. pic.twitter.com/Y3sk9Cae0e

— Riam Dalati (@Dalatrm) May 31, 2016

“Crusaders, your dishes will be used as scrap metal for our IEDs to tear your flesh to pieces in your own homes,” an ISIS fighter told the camera, according to a translation by Riam Dalati.

The terrorists have led several attempts to ban satellite dishes, which were denounced as the “enemy within” used by “the enemies to identify airstrike targets.”

Photo Credit: WELAYAT NINEVEH VIA 

The post ISIS Order Destruction of Satellite Dishes Ahead of Ramadan appeared first on Morocco World News.

By Majid Morceli  

San Francisco - Polisario Leader Mohammed Abdelaziz’s life ended on Tuesday after a lifetime lived as a puppet for the Algerian regime. Did it never occur to him that the lives of the thousands of Sahraouis that he pretended to defend, are simply hostages subjected to hellish living conditions, locked inside the gates of Tindouf in the Algerian territory.

The Algerian official news agency APS announced the death of the leader before any other news media, to this author a sign that the Algerian regime is the one making decisions for the Sahraouis, including the announcement of the death of their supposed protector.

Under normal circumstances, one typically feels sorrow for those who die, but not for this puppet, who was responsible for the imprisonment of Moroccan prisoners of war (POWs) for decades upon Algeria’s orders. Moroccan POWs were the longest ever held POWS in the world.  Yet, he never had to face any consequences for his

actions. Instead, he died riddled with lung cancer, and even while dying, he had no choice but to meet the UN secretary general when he visited the camps.  Perhaps it never occurred to him that he could have saved the entire Tindouf population by simply giving up his false dream that

one day Morocco would relinquish an inch of the Sahara.  Although he received many offers to mend fences with Morocco, he refused, choosing instead to please Morocco’s enemies in the El Moradia palace in Algiers and perpetuatethe miserable lives of innocent men, women, and children in the harsh living conditions in Algeria.

As of the writing of the article, Moroccan officials have not commented on his death, nor have they sent any condolences. They are well aware that the death of the puppet will not end the conflict.

His replacement has already been carefully selected by Bouteflika’s clan. How odd that Bouteflika himself is suffering from exactly the same malady, but that apparently it has not crossed his mind that it is time for a united Maghreb, and to perhaps extend an olive branch to Morocco, as did Morocco’s King on several occasions.

One thing is sure, the death of a man whom many regard as a traitor will not change anything. Quite the contrary, it is good news for the Algerian regime. It will allow it to select someone who is in good health as the new Polisario leader and who will allow it to maintain its rule over the Sahraouis. Morocco, unfortunately will have no choice but to continue tofiercely defend itself against its many enemies.

The people of Morocco will simply have to come to terms with that for as long as Algeria is its neighbor. Nothing will change even after Bouteflika and his clan are no longer at the helm.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Morocco World News’ editorial policy

© Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed

The post The Death of the Polisario Leader: A Moroccan Who Betrayed His Country appeared first on Morocco World News.

Washington - Two people were killed Wednesday morning in a shooting at the University of California’s Los Angeles campus, police said.

The shooting occurred in Boelter Hall on the Westwood campus, according to a statement from the school.

Details regarding the victims, identified by police only as two males, were not immediately available and no arrests were reported.

The suspect was described as a white male dressed in black, law enforcement officials said.

The post Two Killed in Shooting at University of California’s LA campus appeared first on Morocco World News.

By Lisa Jane Fallon

Rabat - I have lived in the United Kingdom of Great Britain all my life of 32 years and will always be proud of my homeland but a new adventure was on the horizons. 

After many visits to Morocco and all its wonders, I decided to take a big leap of faith and quit my homeland in favour of something incredibly different. After leaving high school I studied hard and went on the journey of becoming a teacher and a teacher is what I became. Being a teacher was such an amazing pleasure until the English governmental pressures of getting excellent grades became increasingly worse and I could see myself becoming trapped in this ‘robotic’ lifestyle of ‘work, eat, sleep, repeat’. I bravely decided on quitting this ‘rat race’ as we call it in the UK, and grab hold of life with both hands.

I wanted to start living a more real and rural life-I wanted to live somewhere with a special connection to nature, somewhere with astonishing sunsets, somewhere with a rich beautiful culture and what better place than Morocco. So I left one Kingdom for another and have settled in the lovely coastal city of Asfi.

My cultural roots are very different to the culture of Morocco and at first, my family were very inquisitive about my move to Morocco and had concerns over the fact that it was a Muslim country. I told them that the only way for them to truly understand the Moroccan religion and culture was for them to visit the country. And so they did.

Their misconceptions of the religion disappeared and they fell in love with Morocco just as much as I did. They came to stay with me in Asfi for a while, which really gave them a true insight and fell in love with the people, food and the diversity of the land.  I then felt piece with the happiness of my family and was then free to start enjoying my new adventure in life.

[caption id="attachment_187926" align="aligncenter" width="1000"] The fragrant Andalusian gardens in Rabat. Photo by Emma Julia Vos/MWN[/caption]

Morocco is such a rich beauty and I could write forever about the delights of the country. I wish to share some of my adventures of living in a rural countryside with not many tourists. It can be difficult at times, but it is impossible to find faults when you have a view of the Atlantic Ocean every day.

I eat fresh food each day and eat with my new Moroccan family who take such pride in cooking fresh wholesome food. Eating in Morocco is an experience in itself, sharing a dish and ripping up pieces of bread for each other almost feels like a ritual that is so comforting.

I love to see the animals in Morocco that are free to roam and hunt food for themselves and you often see dogs running by with chicken legs in their mouths. This used to upset me, but I have learnt to understand that this is nature and is much better than keeping dogs on leashes and in the house all day as many English families do.

[caption id="attachment_187927" align="aligncenter" width="666"] the beautiful pastel blue and white streets of the Oudaia. Photo by Emma Julia Vos/MWN[/caption]

I have started to go to school each day-catching the bus with the locals, to study the Moroccan Arabic which is an amazing tool to have. Moroccans are delighted when you can speak Arabic with them and also feels amazing on my part too.

Morocco has so many charming places to visit and each weekend, I explore new places-my favourites being the more rural places such as Imsouane to see the old fisher men selling the fresh fish that they work so hard to catch, Essaouira and the enchanting medina with their artistic creations which are getting more and more unbelievable, the famous Sahara and driving deep into the Atlas Mountains, eating goat tagines next to waterfalls.

I made the right choice in life to live in this beautiful country and I would not swap it for the world. Sometimes you have to wake up and just live.

The post Why I left England and I settled in Morocco  appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat - The Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) announced disciplinary sanctions against players who appeared in a recent video smoking a hookah in a hotel room in Marrakech.

After the video caused a stir on social media, the Federation decided to ban players Fahd Moufi and Adnane Boumous from completing training with their colleagues.

Nasser Larguit, national technical director, decided to punish the players after consultation with FRMF officials.

According to the Federation, the decision comes after officials watched the video, in which players appear smoking a hookah in a hotel room in Marrakech. The room was booked by the national Olympic team.

After the video was widely shared on social media, Moroccan football fans denounced the act as one of “irresponsibility and disrespect” to the image of the national team. FRMF football players are strictly forbidden from smoking, drinking or engaging in other activities that may negatively affect their performance.

Hervé Renard, the national coach, was also outraged by the video, which, according to him, should lead to the outright dismissal of offenders.

The FRMF stressed that it will not hesitate to punish anyone who violates the rules or participates in acts that may tarnish the image of the national team.

The post Morocco Dismisses Two National Team Players for Smoking Hookah appeared first on Morocco World News.

By David Hazelwood

Rabat - Day after day I continue to read about human rights cases happening in Morocco. Moreover, I am reading about Moroccans violating other Moroccans, Muslims violating other Muslims. Just yesterday I read an article about a couple being arrested on May 27 after being dragged from their home and severely beaten by a mob due to their sexual orientation. The same such incident happened in Beni Mellal just two months ago.

The fact is we all have a sexual orientation and a gender identity, and this shared fact means that discrimination against members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender community, based on sexual orientation and/or gender identity, is an issue that affects all of us.

All people, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, should be able to enjoy their human rights. Across Morocco, there remain many instances where an individuals' sexual orientation or gender identity can lead them to face imprisonment, violence or discrimination.

Homosexuality in Morocco is illegal under article 489 of the Penal Code, which criminalizes “lewd or unnatural acts with an individual of the same sex.” Those charged under Moroccan Article 489 of the Penal Code face a sentence of imprisonment ranging from three months to six years and a fine of up to MAD 1,200.

People detained or imprisoned solely because of their homosexuality or for their gender identity are considered to be prisoners of conscience and must be immediately and unconditionally released.

It is important for Moroccans – and others – to learn to accept others. Not only is this morally right, it is a development necessity. Morocco and Moroccans cannot develop and prosper as a country and a people if they do not have respect for human rights.

Citizens of Morocco must call for the decriminalization of homosexuality where such legislation remains, including a review of all legislation which could result in the discrimination, prosecution and punishment of people solely for their sexual orientation or gender identity. All such laws should be repealed or amended. The refusal of governments to address violence committed against LGBT people creates a culture of impunity where such abuses can continue.

David Hazelwood is an author and human rights activist. He is an American expat living in Morocco.

The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Morocco World News’ editorial policy

© Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed

The post Decriminalizing Homosexuality in Morocco appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat - The Moroccan government seeks to attract 100,000 Chinese tourists by 2020.

In a seminar on Monday, Minister of Tourism Lahcen Haddad declared that Morocco should seize all opportunities that the Chinese market offers.

This seminar, which was dedicated to exploring how best to turn Morocco into one of Chinese most favorite destinations, and was co-organized by the Ministry of Tourism, the Moroccan National Tourism Office (ONMT), the National Tourism Confederation, and the Tourism Observatory.

Haddad explained that the Royal decision to eliminate visa procedures for Chinese citizens traveling to Morocco is a “particularly wise one, as it will greatly benefit the Moroccan economy.”

He also noted the “uniqueness” of Moroccan tourism, underlining the fact that it has gained the capacity of attracting various segments and social classes of the Chinese population. “Large segments of the Chinese middle class, for instance, are drawn to the authentic cultural and historical touristic experiences that Morocco offers,” he said.

Haddad called for a short-term action plan that would include the opening of flight routes from China through the Middle East and Europe; the launching of advertising campaigns about Morocco in Chinese media outlets; as well as adapting the touristic, gastronomic, and hotel industry to the needs of the Chinese market.

“The Ministry of Tourism offers an important position to the Chinese market in its vision for the future, which expects to attract 100,000 Chinese tourists by 2020,” said Haddad.

Morocco hosted 10,515 Chinese tourists in 2015, an increase of 12 percent compared to 2014, according to data from the Ministry of Tourism.

The post Morocco Seeks to Attract 100,000 Chinese Tourists by 2020 appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat - The U.S. Department of State announced on May 26 the strategic partners and steering committee for the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES) to be hosted by President Obama June 22-24 at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California.

More than 700 entrepreneurs from 170 countries around the world, including a large number of social entrepreneurs, are expected to attend to participate in three days of interactive discussions and workshops with top Silicon Valley executives and investors from around the world.

Given that participation in the actual summit is limited compared to previous years, separate events, such as a speed mentoring session sponsored by the Middle East and North Africa Consultants Association in conjunction with the Association of Moroccan Professionals in America, will be held on the sidelines of the conference.

The State Department is also working with select strategic partners through the SPARK Initiative, a consortium of organizations committed to supporting greater investment in global entrepreneurship. The selected partners share President Obama’s commitment to entrepreneurship and are committed to supporting the Summit, a unique event intended to spur innovation across the globe. These partners will help the GES delegates transform ideas into reality.

GES Partners will contribute to the overall experience of the Summit through the creation of networking lounges, a “portals to” project to connect entrepreneurs around the world, opening and closing receptions to solidify investor and entrepreneur relationships, a Global Launch Lounge to encourage new commitments toward global entrepreneurship, the Dell PolicyHack^TM, and the creation of the Innovation Marketplace— the main hub of activities, tools, and resources for attendees of the GES.

Partners will also provide direct services for the entrepreneur delegates during the conference including connections with top mentors and investors in Silicon Valley, funding and prizes for the winning youth and women entrepreneurs of the GES+ Spark the Fire pitch competition, travel sponsorship for need-based entrepreneurs to attend, global media coverage, and programs to help entrepreneurs continue to grow and scale even after the Summit.

The GES 2016 Global Partners include:

• Al Jazeera Media Network
• Blackstone Charitable Foundation
• Bloomberg L.P.
• Dalberg Global Development Advisors
• Dell Inc.
• Deloitte
• Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation
• Ernst & Young
• GE
• Google for Entrepreneurs
• Kauffman Foundation
• Microsoft
• Omidyar Network
• PayPal
• Samsung
• Silicon Valley Bank
• Skoll Foundation
• Stanford University
• Stripe
• Walmart
• World Bank Group

Members of the newly created summit Steering Committee will provide program advice, support, and guidance to the Global Entrepreneurship Summit. As leading professionals in their fields, their assistance will ensure that the Summit is an invaluable tool for entrepreneurs as they build their businesses. The members of the Steering Committee for the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit are:

• Astri Kimball, Google
• Danny Navarro, Google for Entrepreneurs
• David Demarest, Stanford University
• Elizabeth Gore, Dell Inc.
• Jonathan Ortmans, SPARK
• Kate O’Sullivan, Microsoft Corporation
• Renee Kaplan, Skoll Foundation
• Suzana Grego, Skoll Foundation
• Tony Tolentino, Blackstone Charitable Foundation
• Victor Hwang, Kauffman Foundation

Morocco World News will provide coverage of the 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit as an approved media participant.

More information on the Global Entrepreneurship Summit is available at www.ges2016.org. Follow the summit at @ges2016 on Twitter and ges2016 on Instagram.

For more information on MENA Consultants, go to menaconsultants.org/.

More information on AMPA is available at www.amp-usa.org/.

The post State Department Announces 2016 Global Entrepreneurship Summit Partners appeared first on Morocco World News.

The post International Symposium in London on MENA Economics appeared first on Morocco World News.

Rabat- Moroccan authorities dismantled on Thursday a new terrorist cell linked to the so-called Islamic States (ISIS).

The Central Bureau for Judiciary Investigations (BCIJ), under the General Directorate for National Territory Surveillance, dismantled on Thursday a terrorist cell made up of six people linked to ISIS and operating in the cities of Tétouan, Martil and Casablanca.

According to preliminary information on this operation, which is part of the counterterrorism fight, the cell members have close relations with ISIS fighters who were trying to establish this terrorist group in the Kingdom, in conformity with the terrorist organization's expansionist strategy outside the Syrian-Iraqi scene, said a statement by the Interior Ministry.

The schemed plan was to send members of this cell in one of ISIS camps to undergo military trainings and return to Morocco in order to commit specific terrorist operations, said the statement, noting that this amplifies the threat posed by ISIS concerning the States' security and stability.

The accused will be brought to justice after the completion of the investigation led under the supervision of the public prosecutor.

The post Morocco Dismantles Six-Strong ISIS Related Terrorist Cell appeared first on Morocco World News.

Geneva – Morocco’s national football team has moved up two positions to 62^nd according to the latest FIFA world rankings of internationals teams released on Thursday.

Argentina holds on to top spot ahead of Belgium in the latest update to the FIFA World Rankings.

Argentina is ahead of Belgium, with Colombia, Germany and Chile completing the top five.

Morocco jumped two places in comparison to last month’s ranking.

The July ranking will show major changes, as it will factor in Euro 2016, the Copa America Centenario and African Nations Cup qualifiers.

The post Morocco Ranks 62 in FIFA World rankings appeared first on Morocco World News.

Tangier - A memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed on Wednesday in Tangier between King Fahd School of Translation (KFST) and the United Nations Interpretation Service.

Signed by the Under-Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management, Catherine Pollard, the president of Abdelmalek Essadi University, Hodaifa Ameziane, and KFST director Noureddine Chamali, this agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between these institutions in the field of translation.

Under the agreement, students will benefit from programs intended to strengthen their skills in translation.

This agreement confirms the confidence of international organizations in Morocco’s higher education sector and should enable KFST to start a new stage in its distinguished scientific career, the signatories pointed out on this occasion.

This meeting was an opportunity to highlight the role that translation plays in ensuring the exchange of information, strengthening communication skills, and promoting the values of peace, tolerance and acceptance of others.

With MAP

The post Morocco’s King Fahd School of Translation Signs MoU with UN appeared first on Morocco World News.

By Benjamin Stevenson

Rabat - ‘Neither Slave nor Negro’- GADEM Launches New Antiracism Campaign to Follow Previously Failed Campaign ‘My Name is not Negro’.

On March 21 2016, Campagne Maghrébine Contre Les Discriminations Raciales (GADEM) announced at a press conference in downtown Rabat that it would begin a new campaign fighting racism against sub-Saharan migrants in Morocco and other northern African countries. The campaign span from April until July 10.

Stemming from the original campaign “My Name is not Negro” launched two years ago on the International Day Against Racism, the campaign aims at raising awareness of sub-Saharan migration and the challenges these communities face upon their arrival to North Africa.

Migration from sub-Saharan Africa for political or economic reasons is not a new occurrence in Morocco. For many of these migrants, Europe is their target destination; however, many of these migrants are often prevented from crossing into Europe, leaving them stranded in countries like Morocco.

Here, these individuals must face daily issues of discrimination for various reasons. Of these reasons, discrimination on the basis of skin tone or ethnic background has proven to be a prevalent phenomenon in the region.

This new campaign has many objectives including:

1.  Raising awareness about the history of slavery

2.  Defining a migrant and explaining the circumstances that have brought these individuals to Morocco

3.  Emphasizing using proper terminology to refer to these people

4.  Preventing further discrimination and racism of these communities

In the past, media sources have been prevented from advertising racial issues such as this. In the previous campaign, a video of migrants discussing the challenges and discrimination they face as migrants was prohibited from being broadcasted.

The organizers of the new campaign hope it will be more successful in pushing officials to address the issues migrant populations face on a regular basis through creating a public discourse, than the previous campaign.

Throughout the next month GADEM will be hosting press conferences, workshops, arts events, and various other activities to accomplish their goals.

The post Neither Slave nor Negro: New Antiracism Campaign in Morocco appeared first on Morocco World News.