Finnish pianist Laura Mikkola to give concert in Rabat

Laura Mikkola is the winner of several international competitions (Second Prize and Audience Award at the Queen Elisabeth Competition in Belgium, First Prize and Audience Award at the International Unisa Transnet Piano Competition in Pretoria (RSA)), and in her career so far has performed more than 67 piano concertos.

After a few years in Rome, Laura Mikkola and her family settled in Paris where she appeared as soloist with several regional and national orchestras.

Since 2003, she has become the founder and artistic director of the Musical Festival of Iitti, Finland. She has recorded for Naxos and Aeon among others, works by Mozart, Shostakovich, Rautavaara, Brahms, Rachmaninoff, Saint-Saens, Matthews and Tüür.

The chamber music concert will take place on Thursday, September 20, 2018 at 7:30 pm at the Villa des Arts in Rabat. On this occasion, Laura Mikkola will perform great classics, including Chopin ballads and pieces by Sibelius and Debussy.

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New Push For Enhancement of Morocco's Ancient Medinas

On Monday, His Majesty King Mohammed VI presided over a ceremony at the Royal Palace of Rabat, which unveiled the programmes for the enhancement of the old medinas of Rabat and Marrakech, Casablanca and Fez

HM King Mohammed VI presides over the Rabat meeting 

The King ordered the development of the third phase of the programme of buildings threatened by ruin. For this the old Casablanca Medina has been given a budget of 300 million dirhams.

These new generation programmes aim to promote Morocco's ancient medinas, improve the living conditions of their inhabitants, preserve their architectural heritage, tangible and intangible, and promote their wealth and cultural authenticity.

At the beginning of this ceremony, the Minister of the Interior, Mr. Abdelouafi Laftit emphasized, in an address to His Majesty the King, that these programs, which proceed from a participative approach, support the rehabilitation projects of the old ones. medinas of Rabat, Marrakech and Fez.

The old medina of Rabat will see the restoration of ramparts, historic doors, of mosques and Zaouiyas, as well as the rehabilitation of the traditional foundouks and the provision of green spaces.

Under the program "Marrakech, city of permanent renewal" the city will see the preservation of more than 4,000 buildings, the rehabilitation of El Mellah neighbourhood, Ezrayeb and the Achouhada cemetery, as well as the development of tourist and spiritual tours of the old medina of Marrakech.

Fez, the kingdom's spiritual capital, will see the implementation of restoration programs for historic monuments and treatment of buildings threatened by ruin and a focus on the restoration of 27 historical monuments, including madrassas, foundouks, bridges, souks, tanneries, and bordjs.

These programs in Fez will benefit more than 1,600 people (craftsmen, shopkeepers, and students), allowing the restoration of more than 2,200 buildings threatening by ruin in the old medina of Fez.

According to the Minister of the Interior, the new upgrading program of the old medina of Rabat has a budget of about 325 million dirhams, with a contribution from the Hassan II Fund for Economic and Social Development of nearly 250 million dirhams.

The upgrading program of the old medina of Marrakech will cost 484 million dirhams. The Hassan II Fund for Economic and Social Development will contribute 150 million dirhams. The cost in the medina of Fez is nearly 583 million dirhams, including 100 million as the contribution of the Hassan II Fund for Economic and Social Development.

The Minister of the Interior indicated that HM King Mohammed VI ordered the development of the third phase of the program of habitats threatened by ruin as an integral part of the rehabilitation programme of the old medina of Casablanca with an overall budget of 300 million dirhams financed by the Hassan II Fund for Economic and Social Development.

The Minister of Tourism, Air Transport, Handicraft and Social Economy, Mr. Mohamed Sajid, pointed out that these enhancement programmes are aimed at strengthening the development of the medinas, improving their tourist and cultural attractiveness, the promotion of their civilizational and human heritage, in addition to improving the incomes of artisans and the development of the social economy.

Mr. Sajid said that the program for the old medina of Fes (2018-2023) concerns the rehabilitation of 39 historic sites of economic activity (Foundouks, workshops, souks), 10 mosques and Koranic schools, and the enhancement of 11 historical sites (water clock, museum of Jewish culture) and the restoration of Dar Al Makina. It is also planned that there will be 8 new car parks and the implementation of an electronic information system to enhance the tourist experience.

The minister also said that the upgrading program of the old medina of Marrakech (2018-2022) includes the preservation of historic monuments, the strengthening of the signaling system and lighting network, the establishment of interactive tourist information, and the development of public spaces and 6 car parks, including two underground.

The upgrading program of the old medina of Rabat (2018-2021) will focus on the development of the Place Bab El Had and places close to the central market, the strengthening of the signaling system, the setting up of interactive platforms for tourist information, pavement lanes (8 km), and the creation of two underground car parks in Bab El Had and Bab Chellah, with a total capacity of 1,090 vehicles.

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Moroccan Artist Laila Benhalima

Mention Moroccan contemporary art and the names that come to mind are people such as Achraf Touloub, Younès Rahmoun, Fathiya Tahiri and Mahi Binebine. Now add the name Laila Benhalima to that list. Laila currently has an exhibition on in Rabat. It is certainly worth a visit

She dances around "those colourful stars that cannot shine without darkness"

Laila Benhalima is a Moroccan artist born in Rabat. She has been recognised for a many years as having a prestigious talent which this exhibition certainly displays.

Since a very young age, Laila has been living in her own world and found a way to communicate through her art. The natural world - especially the lush, fertile landscape and energy originating from her North African culture - evokes for her a personal response that is full of so much energy showcasing with her African abstract paintings, the vibrant colours, history, and imagery of one of the world's most alluring continents.

While Laila is in action painting some her most complex and beautiful pieces, she dances around "those colourful stars that cannot shine without darkness".

 Laila is a woman of high energy, passion and she is always eager to share her deep thoughts with the world through her painting. She examines how complex our universe is and how she can turn sadness, loneliness and darkness into unconditional love - something that the world needs today more than ever before.

Laila is Pharmacist by profession and Artist and Coach at heart.  One of her goals has been not only promoting peace and love through Art, but also to encourage students to become involved in art in the hope that they can achieve their own recognition as promising artists.

Her influence as an Artist-woman has been widely felt, and had a positive impact throughout her community around her native country Morocco. This exhibition adds to her stature. It is hoped the exhibition can travel to Fez sometime in the future, inshallah.

The exhibition at the Nadira Gallery (11 rue Soussa, Centre Ville, Rabat) continues until March 15.

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Rabat Zoo Announces Arrival of Baby Hippopotamus

Rabat Zoo has had the first birth of a hippopotamus, after a gestation period of 8 months

The zoological garden said in a statement that this first birth of a large mammal is the result of the adaptation of the hippopotamus species to its environment, following the actions of the zoo for the conservation of species, stating that the 16-year-old mother has been a resident of the zoo since it opened, and the birth was in the most natural conditions.

According to the same source, the baby hippopotamus received special attention from the veterinary team of the zoo, in terms of vaccination and care and it is possible that visitors will be able to see it with his mother this week in the wetland ecosystem of the Zoological Garden.

The zoological garden now has a total of six hippos that belong to the family Hippopotamidae and are part of the species of hippos common or amphibian (Hippopotamus amphibius), native to sub-Saharan Africa
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This species, which is included in the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), is considered vulnerable on the Red List of Threatened Species of the World Union for the Protection of Wild Animals.

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Jazz in the Chellah - 22nd Edition

Rabat's, Jazz au Chellah, is back from the 28th of September to October 1st, bringing together European jazzmen and Moroccan musicians from diverse backgrounds, in a magical setting

During this 22nd edition, artists from Austria and Spain will open the festival on Thursday the 28th of September with Vicens Martín Dream Big Band, followed by Shake Stew, an Austrian group of seven musicians. The group will be joined by Nabyla Maan, for an unforgettable encounter that should set the tone for this event.

The second day, Denmark and the BeNeLux countries will be represented by two unique musical experiences. In the early evening, Mathias Heise Quadrillon will perform with his FuRo Jazz, a fusion jazz of Rock and Funk. In the second part of the evening, Dock In Absolute, a Belgian-Luxemburg trio, will push the limits of jazz with a new progressive approach presented by a trio of virtuosos. Their piano, their percussions and their bass will be enriched by the saxophone of the talented Axel Camil and the Moroccan percussions of Mohamed Amine Bliha, for a Moroccan-European fusion.

Dalindeo - the Helsinki based Finnish group

The third evening will be dedicated to the extremities of Europe. Dalindeo, a Finnish jazz group, described as "a delirious mix of surf punk, hot jazz, Finnish tango with a touch of Ennio Morricone", will create a psychedelic journey carried by its six talented musicians. Finland will then give the stage to a Portuguese trio Maria João,  in a surprising marriage between traditional Portuguese music and electronic music, with an encounter with the talent of Moroccan multi-instrumentalist M'hamed El Menjra.

The closing Sunday, October 1st,  is a true epic throughout the world, a whirlwind of the senses from Germany to Egypt. Gregory Gaynair Trio will bring a resolutely human and brilliant touch to modern jazz followed by the Egyptian group Eftekasat, offering an oriental, enchanting and engaging jazz, integrating Balkan, African and Latin influences. The last meeting promises sparks with the Tagnaouite influence of the guembri of Asmaa Hamzaoui & Bnatt Timbouktou. A merger between Morocco, Europe and the Afro-Mediterranean space that will mark this end of edition.

Also on the sidelines of this cultural event are Masterclasses, 4 free concerts at the Bab Mrissa stage in Salé, as well as other surprises.

Since its creation in 1996, Jazz au Chellah has presented to the public a living showcase of jazz from the European Union. These unique concerts are not limited to the festival, but sometimes give rise to musical projects and new musical collaborations between the artists.

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Green Bus Line for Rabat

A new environmentally-friendly bus service will be in operation around the city of Rabat by summer 2018, according to Maghreb Arab Press (MAP)

In a report carried by Morocco World News, Mohamed Sadiki, vice-president of the Al Assima group, who are in charge of the management of urban transport, has said that the modernisation of transport services in the kingdom’s capital will be done through the introduction of the new green line.

Al Assima launched an international call for tenders for the bus project in February, but Sadiki says, “the identity of the project bidder will not be unveiled until the summer of 2018.”

Al Assima aims for the bus line to alleviate city traffic congestion and is committed to renewing the fleet by rolling out as many as 600 vehicles.

The 1,084-kilometer-long transport network in Rabat-Sale-Skhirat-Temara is served by 58 lines and the number of passengers is estimated at 60 million people per year

It is hoped the easing of traffic congestion will also lower the accident rate. This week, thirty-six people were injured after two buses collided Wednesday night in Rabat.

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Museum of History and Civilisation in Rabat Reopens

After a year of renovation, the Museum of History and Civilisation in Rabat will reopen its doors to the general public today (Wednesday 12 April)

The new scenography of the museum combines two paths; a chronological journey that tells the history of Morocco from prehistory to the Islamic period, and a thematic route offering the visitor a specific focus dedicated to marble and antique bronze

The thematic route includes marble statues, mainly from Volubilis and Banasa.

On the upper level, the visitor discover Morocco under different dynasties, including the Idrissides, Almoravides, Almohades, Merinides and Alawites, through archaeological remains unearthed in the sites of Belyounech, Sijilmassa and Koutoubia.

The director of the museum Mohammed VI of Modern and Contemporary Arts and commissioner of the renovation of the museum, Abdelaziz El Idrissi, indicated that the objective of the renovation of the museum is to enrich the cultural offer of the city of Rabat.

"The museum will become a true cultural destination, which will contribute to meet the demand, with the setting up of an exhibition retracing the history of Morocco and the various periods that the country has known, allowing visitors to feel the peculiarity of our heritage," says El Idrissi.

The curator of the Museum of History and Civilisation and curator of the permanent exhibition, Fatima Zohra Chbihi, emphasised that the renovation reflects the museum's vocation to trace the history of the different civilisations of Morocco.

"Different civilisations have crossed our country that constitute the diversity and cultural richness of the Kingdom. The new exhibition was designed primarily to translate the genius of the human spirit and its evolution on Moroccan territory, "says Chbihi.

The restoration of the museum is part of the strategy of the National Museum Foundation, which aims to enhance museums in order to make them more welcoming and attractive and to bring them up to modern standards of conservation and preservation of heritage.

Located in El Brihi street, right in the centre of Rabat, the museum was built under the French protectorate in the 1920s to house the antiquities department of the protectorate.

DETAILS
Museum of History and Civilisations, El Brihi Street, Rabat. Open every day except Tuesdays, from 10am to 6pm. Rates vary from 20 dirhams for adults, 10 dirhams for children between 15 and 18 and 5 dirhams for children under 14 or school groups. A 50% discount is provided for students upon presentation of their card.

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Street Art ~ the Beikirch Mural in Rabat

Recently the German street artist Hendrik Beikirch painted the final wall of his "tracing Morocco" series, in Rabat, Morocco. “Najma” is the title of this 115 x 50 ft tall mural in the Rabat. The artist used emulsion and spray paint of Montana black, on a concrete surface

A Project by Beikirch and Montresso Art Foundation for the Mohamed VI Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art.

Photo of work in progress: Fabrice Gino

"An aesthetic vision that couples painterly sensibility with the techniques of photorealism"

From the artist's website

Photocredit: Nils-Mueller

Looming large in the post-industrial cityscape, Beikirch’s documentary works are studies in humanity. Responding to cultural shifts in the perception of beauty brought about by the ubiquitous presence of digital media, Beikirch rejects the sleek youthfulness that predominates in modern visual culture in favour of an aesthetic vision that couples painterly sensibility with the techniques of photorealism. The world-weariness, grit, and cautious optimism of his subjects imbue these works with a sense of the familiar. there is something reassuring to be found in the melancholy that radiates from these faces.

Beikirch’s murals are not so much interventions in the urban landscape as they are our silent companions, reminders of our common humanity and representations of both actual individuals and the diverse populations of the modern city. roadside shadows, they command our attention; at times melancholic, other times brusque in their sensibility. The subjects of his fictional works are inspired by his imagination and do not adhere to human proportions, instead they are distorted, fragmented and subtly surreal in appearance. Questioning both their surroundings and the conventions of portraiture, these works share the hyperrealist aesthetics of his documentary work, while employing skewed perspectives to accentuate the image and its character.

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A Fado Festival For Rabat in April

The first edition of the Fado Festival will take place on the 20th and 21st of April in Rabat. The festival will not only include music, but also conferences and films

Fado as a music genre can be traced to the 1820s in Lisbon, Portugal, but probably with much earlier origins. Fado historian and scholar Rui Vieira Nery says that "the only reliable information on the history of Fado was orally transmitted and goes back to the 1820s and 1830s at best. But even that information was frequently modified within the generational transmission process that made it reach us today."

Although the origins are difficult to trace, today fado is commonly regarded as simply a form of song which can be about anything, but must follow a certain traditional structure. In popular belief, fado is a form of music characterised by mournful tunes and lyrics, often about the sea or the life of the poor, and infused with a sentiment of resignation, fatefulness and melancholia. This is loosely captured by the Portuguese word saudade, or "longing", symbolising a feeling of loss (a permanent, irreparable loss and its consequent lifelong damage).

The Fado Festival will feature a new generation of Fado singers. Amongst those will be Maria do Carmo Carvalho Rebelo de Andrade, known simply as Carminho, who will perform on April 20 at the Mohammed V theatre in Rabat.  (See video below).

The following day will be a chance to see Luís Guerreiro, a talented guitarist who has performed around the world with Fado superstar Mariza. On this occasion he will appear with two singers Maura and Rodrigo Costa Felix.

Luís Guerreiro

Maura, although only 17 years old, has paid her dues in Casas de Fado, the Fado houses of Lisbon and is considered one of the future international stars.

Maura - a rising star

Rodrigo Costa Félix is ​​one of the precursors of the new generation of Fado and heir to the great tradition of male Fado singers in Lisbon. Professional Fado singer since the age of 17, his versatile career has led him to sing in Fado houses as well as concerts in Portugal and abroad, participating in tv shows and documentaries, and major record projects and main Fado events.


Rui Vieria Nery, one of the specialists of Fado, will give a lecture on the history of this art. The singer Rodrigo Costa Felix will lead a discussion on the Casas de Fado, spaces dedicated to this type of music and which are included in the intangible heritage of humanity by UNESCO.

Rodrigo Costa Félix

The festival will also show two films devoted to two figures of this popular music. The first, entitled " Com que voz ", traces the story of Alain Oulman, composer of Fado persecuted by the regime of Salazar. Oulman is notably famous for having collaborated with the the Queen of Fado, Amalia Rodrigues.

The second film, entitled " Mísia a voz do Fado ", is a documentary about the career of the famous singer Mísia, who became queen of the Fado following the disappearance of Amalia Rodrigues.

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Surf is up in... Casablanca!

The Atlantic coast of Morocco is well known for its surf, but this  week Tuesday afternoon saw some unusually huge waves striking the Casablanca coastline. Result: The Tahiti Beach Club complex, located on the Casablanca corniche, was submerged by the waters

Surf up at the Tahiti Beach Club

During the afternoon the water level rose several metres and caused material damage. Locals say the problem was exacerbated by the relatively low height of the beach club structures and their proximity to the coast.

This is not the first time such events have occurred. In January 2014, the Casablanca Recreation Club was devastated by giant waves,  making several months of work had been necessary.

On Tuesday the ocean was serving up some gigantic waves further up the coast, one of which resulted in the death of one person and injures to five others. The wave, on the golden beach of Harhoura, a few kilometres from Rabat, also injured six other people who were walking on the beach when the wave took them by surprise.

Giant waves strike Harhoura

Amongst the wounded were two French nationals (a father and son) and three women, who were saved from drowning by lifeguards "The ambulances and the helicopter arrived very quickly," says Hafida, a resident of Val d'Or.

A Canadian resident in the area who wanted to take photographs of  the waves, was also swept away by before being saved by the lifeguards. He had no injuries.

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African Art to be On Show in Rabat

Morocco's National Museum Foundation (FNM) is preparing for a major exhibition of African art and culture in Rabat. The exhibition, entitled "Afrique en Capitale", will open on March 28th and run through until April 28th, 2017

The major multidisciplinary artistic event is being prepared in the wake of King Mohammed VI's speech at the 28th African Union summit, the FNM said, and will include exhibitions, concerts, film screenings, street art and conferences.

"It will host a whole continent of vibrant and contemporary creativity, positioning Rabat, "the City Light", as a great cultural capital of Africa, claims the FNM. "The work already begun by the Foundation for several years to enhance the Moroccan heritage abroad is now naturally extended to a continental dimension," said FNM President Mehdi Qotbi.

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The Grand Theatre in Rabat to Open in 2018

The building of the Rabat Grand Theatre is a challenging project characterised by a modern design, its futuristic architecture involving complex cutting-edge engineering challenges

The futuristic design presents many complex engineering challenges

While the projected opening in 2018 is good news for culture lovers, the work still has some way to go.

According to reports this week the construction site shows a satisfactory rate of progress that has made it possible for Nada El Kasmi, deputy general manager of the project to feel confident about the 2018 opening date.

The budget of 1.452 million Dirhams includes the design, construction and equipment for the project. Ongoing work on the site are the structural works, civil engineering, steel structure and technical lots," says Nada El Kasmi, "In terms of progress, deep foundations, slabs and elevations of the basement and ground floor are completed. 70% of the "back of house" construction is complete." Ms El Kasmi added that "Time lines are central to our daily concerns given the technical complexity of implementation".

Rabat's Grand Theatre is the work of a brilliant Anglo-Iraqi architect, the late Zaha Hadid.

The auditorium  hopes to provide superb acoustics and sight-lines

"The futuristic  design  is intended to complement the wealth of monuments in the city of Rabat and its position as a cultural and tourist centre of the region, " said Ms. El Kasmi. "Moreover, from a technical point of view, it is the high quality equipment which will give the auditorium its superb acoustics and sight-lines.

It is intended the new theatre will accommodate a large variety of performances such as operas, symphony concerts and provide Rabat with a place on the national and international cultural scene.

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Dates Announced for 21st Chellah Jazz Festival

The Chellah Jazz Festival in Rabat is scheduled to run from the 22nd to 25th of September. There had been doubts about the festival taking place due to restoration work begun last year by the Ministry of Culture. Thankfully the 2016 festival will finally take place

Yesterday (Tuesday August 10) a statement from the Delegation of the European Union in Morocco gave the festival the green light. The European Delegation organises the festival, in partnership with the Ministry of Culture and the Wilaya of Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaer along with embassies and institutes of other EU member countries.

The 21st edition of the festival will follow the popular format of previous editions, with an early evening performance by a European group, followed by a Moroccan-European fusion. New this year  will be projections "on the walls to allow a wider audience to share the Jazz au Chellah".

The artistic direction this year comes from Sebastian Vidal, the Nice Jazz Festival programmer and Jauk El Maleh, singer, author and composer of specialist percussion, considered the "undisputed father of Dakka jazz".

Organisers say they will announced the festival programme in the next few days.

Please note that the "official festival website" jazzauchellah.com/ has been hacked or colonised and has no festival information.


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Mohammed VI Opens Rabat Bypass

On Thursday, His Majesty King Mohammed VI opened the 3.2 billion dirham Rabat motorway bypass and the longest cable-stayed bridge in Africa. The bridge has been named "The Mohammed VI Bridge"

Construction works were launched by the King in February 2011 as part of Mohammed V1's major structural projects policy after his accession to the throne.

This section of the highway has been a traffic bottleneck for years causing major disruptions and slow travelling times because it was the confluence of the major highways serving the South, Central, North and East of the country.

The project will not only relieve traffic on the existing ring road of the city of Rabat, but cut down the high numbers of heavy goods traffic, significantly reducing the emission of greenhouse gases. It is expected that the bypass will carry some 20,000 vehicles each day with economic benefits for the major centres of the Rabat and Salé with time savings and lower route and transport costs.

In a press statement, the Minister of Infrastructure, Transport and Logistics, Aziz Rabbah, stressed that the bypass highway "will reduce transit times between regions, contributing to strengthening road safety".

This new road infrastructure originates in the existing motorway from Casablanca-Rabat north of Skhirat. It bypasses the towns of Mers El Kheir, Tamesna El Menzeh to Technopolis in Sala Al Jadida, where it ends by plugging into the beginning of the highway Salé-Kenitra.

On the terms of accessibility and connectivity, Rabat motorway bypass includes several improvements: a junction with Highway Casablanca-Rabat, an interchange to serve the new city of Tamesna, an interchange at the Common menzeh overlooking the boulevard Mohammed VI (Rabat), an interchange at Sala Al Jadida and another at Technopolis.

The bridge over the Oued Bouregreg is an exceptional structure, and at 950 metres, is the longest cable-stayed bridge Africa. Its two towers are 200 meters high and there is a wide apron of over 30 meters. This contemporary bridge, which provides several advantages in terms of aesthetics, safety, technical and environmental prowess, is distinguished by its architecture inspired by the Arab-Muslim civilisation. The two towers symbolise the new doors to the cities of Rabat and Salé.

The construction of the Rabat motorway bypass required a multitude of structures, including 16 underpasses, 14 overpasses, 7 vehicle passages and two pedestrian crossings.

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Royal Air Maroc Launches Cheap Winter Flights

Royal Air Maroc (RAM) is launching a unique promotion with unusually large discounts for flights to and from several European cities

This winter  flights to Venice, Turin, Brussels, Marseille, Montpellier, London and Madrid, will cost from only 1100 DH (102 Euro, 111USD, 153 AUD)  for a round trip, taxes included.

From within any of these European cities, customers can purchase plane tickets to Rabat from just 90 Euros (£ 99 from London).

All these flights are operated by B.737-800 aircraft.

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New Flights - Rabat to Abu Dhabi

Starting from January 15, 2016, Etihad Airways will launch a new line linking the two capitals Rabat and Abu Dhabi with two flights per week

The new route to and from Rabat provides travellers with more choice in both directions between the UAE and the Kingdom of Morocco, and will allow the connection to other major destinations of Etihad Airways' network including the Gulf States (GCC), Asia, India and Australia. It will ,strengthen the existing daily service to Casablanca.

Flights are on Wednesdays and Fridays: EY616 Rabat - Abu Dhabi departs at 8pm and arrives at 7.25am. EY615 Abu Dhabi - Rabat departs at 10am and arrives at 3.15pm. Normal economy seats are priced at around 8,500 Moroccan Dirhams ($848 USD, $1,176 AUD)


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Morocco's Rapid Response Squad - Dial 19

Morocco now has a dedicated emergency number that will connect with the country's mobile rapid response squad.  Unfortunately, at the moment it is only operational in Rabat

The development was announced yesterday (Monday September 14) by Abdelatif Hammouchi, head of the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN)

To call emergency police in the region of Rabat, dial the number 19.

The DGNS has set up 40 telephone lines and 24 officers have undergone training by security experts to respond quickly and effectively 24 hours a day and seven days a week to calls from citizens.

This service is permanently connected to mobile units operating on the ground.  This new brigade, consisting of 90 riders, including ten women has been named the "mobile unit emergency police".

A control room and operations coordination have already been set up at the main police headquarters in Rabat. It is planned to extend the service to the entire kingdom.

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Nordic Film Week in Rabat Offers Four Fine Films

The 2nd edition of the Nordic Film Week in Morocco will run from September 29th  to October 2nd, at the Renaissance Theatre in Rabat. This cultural event is organised by the embassies of Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark, in order to promote Nordic culture in Morocco

The Renaissance: 360, Avenue Mohamed V Rabat  Phone 0698-412096

With the advent of Scandi-noir on the small screen (The Killing, Borgen, The Bridge...) and the increasing number of Nordic actors on the big screen the Nordic Film Week in Rabat is an opportunity to show the Moroccan public this new wave of cinema.

The four films representing the four northern countries are a mix of drama, thriller and comedy and should be a good introduction to the Nordic pragmatism that marks everyday life.

On the opening night the Ambassadors of Denmark, Finland, Sweden and Norway will open the season.

Admission is free and sessions begin at 8:00 p.m. All films will be subtitled in French.

Opening night is Tuesday, September 29, 2015 and will feature the first feature by Juha Lehtola, writer and director of theatre in Finland. The films original title in Finnish is Aikuisten Poika or Adult Son. It is also known in English as Boy Upside Down, but has been given the title Drôle de Petit Homme (Funny Little Boy) in French.

Aikuistan Poika is a Finnish feel-good film that starts with a tragedy and ends with new hope. What actually happens shall not be revealed here, but the journey to a brighter future will not be easy for our hero in the film, 11-year-old Oliver. When both his parents die in a car accident, Oliver tries to refute the allegation that his father was speeding. Coincidentally he meets Joonas (Kari Hietalahti), a slightly dubious outsider who has a relationship with the wife of his former best friend. Together, the two of them make an odd but charming couple with different plans and wishes.

Aikuistan Poika makes for reflections, which simultaneously warm the heart and allow us to smile. A well told and well written film is crowned with great performances and delightful characters. Two especially good characters are two elderly brothers who run an old cinema. They take Oliver under their wings, unaware of the tragedy that has happened to the young boy. This dynamic film that is set in Tampere in summer and shows with humour and sensitivity, that instinctive life energy overcomes unbearable emotions. The performance by Esa Nikkilä as Oliver is superb.

On Wednesday, September 30th, the film comes from Norway - Pioneer - a thriller directed by Erik Skjoldberg

Pioneer is set in the early 80’s, at the beginning of the Norwegian oil boom. Enormous oil and gas deposits are discovered in the North Sea, authorities aim to bring the oil ashore through a pipeline 500 meters deep. Petter, a professional diver, is obsessed with reaching the bottom of the Norwegian Sea. Along with his brother Knut, he has the discipline, strength and courage to take on the world’s most dangerous mission, but a sudden, tragic accident changes everything. Petter is sent on a perilous journey where he loses sight of who is pulling the strings. Gradually, he realises that he is in way over his head and that his life is at stake. Warning! This is not a film for the faint-hearted.

On Thursday, October 1st the spotlight turns on Sweden with a delightful comedy from director Felix Herngren. Again there is a confusion over the title in English and French, however many people will know this story as an adaptation of the novel by Jonas Jonasson "The Centenarian Who Climbed Out the Window and Vanished".  Hundraåringen som klev ut genom fönstret och försvann has been a gigantic success in Sweden, selling more that 250.000 copies Somehow this title has arrived at the Nordic Film Fest as The old man who did not celebrate his birthday.

This film follows the progress of Allan Karlsson, a simple man with a predilection for blowing things up, after he leaves his nursing home to embark on a journey that will take him wherever it takes him. Through flashbacks we see that this is a metaphor for his entire life. Karlsson has, it turns out, been with several significant figures of the 20th century and, unwittingly, has profoundly affected its course.

The film is comic, darkly comic, absurdist, farcical, a chase caper, an espionage thriller and, finally, peaceful. It is all of these things successfully in a way that Wes Anderson's "The Grand Budapest Hotel" attempted to be, but didn't quite manage. More importantly, the characters are entirely believable despite the often fantastical story lines. It is also beautifully shot.

The final night, Friday, October 2, belongs to Denmark with Billie August's film Marie Krøyer

At the beginning of the 20th century, Marie is married to Denmark's world famous painter P.S. Krøyer. They are among the country's most admired and famous couples. Marie, who adorns several of Krøyer's paintings, is considered to be "the most beautiful woman in Europe". Together with their daughter Vibeke they experience all the best life has to offer: parties, champagne and luxury. However, this is only the polished surface. Beneath it is living hell. Krøyer suffers from manic depression and syphilis. He can change from being cheerful and upbeat, to a foaming crazy monster.

Marie has struggled to keep up appearances for a long time, but the situation is wearing her down. She is caught in an impossible situation between maintaining the bright social life and the hell unfolding behind closed doors. She feels that she is being suffocated and that she is disappearing. After another of Krøyer's violent fits of insanity and rage, Marie decides to leave for Italy with their daughter.

In Italy she meets the younger Swedish composer Hugo Alfvén. He falls head over heels in love with her and she finally yields to his unreserved and unrestrained emotions. However, their union is not a happy one. Marie is caught between a new life on one side and her love for Vibeke and Krøyer on the other.

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Colder Weather Returns to Morocco

After a couple of weeks of wonderful weather, the Moroccan National Department of Meteorology (DMN) is less optimistic about the week ahead

While predicting some fair weather the DMN is saying that there could be significant snowfalls in several regions of Morocco from today (Wednesday). The temperatures also will decline.

On Wednesday, the weather will be fresh and accompanied by a rain storm in the Atlantic plains north west of the Rif, the Saiss in the Mediterranean coast, north of Essaouira and the heights of the High and Middle Atlas.

Snowfalls are expected in the Atlas area with an altitude above 1,700 metres. Temperatures will range between 0 and 5 degrees Celsius in the hills and 5 to 10 degrees in the eastern coast of the Kingdom.

This winter, temperatures have reached minus 10 degrees in many parts of Morocco, particularly in the Middle and High Atlas and the Haouz.

In Fez the weather will become increasingly cloudy with temperatures ranging between 7 at night to 18 or 19 during the day. There is a chance of rain tomorrow and Saturday. Rain may continue for the first three days of next week.

Rabat can expect the same weather with temperatures between 8 and 11 degrees. Casablanca will also have a few days of rain and temperatures between 9 and 18.

Marrakech will experience rain on Thursday and Friday but followed by sunny weather. Temperatures 6 to 20 degrees.

Tangier will have rain for most of the next week and a temperature range between 9 and 17

The weather should return to being quite pleasant in a couple of weeks.

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