Presenting the bill, Minister of Justice, Abdellatif Ouahbi, stressed that the text is part of the implementation of the strategy of the Ministry in the field of judicial reform, which is based on national and international benchmarks, primarily the High Royal Solicitude.

The overhaul of the judicial organization was done according to a participatory approach involving all key players in the judicial system, to develop an integrated project framing the operation of the Kingdom's courts and regulating the relationship between the various stakeholders in the sector, notably the Supreme Council of the Judiciary, the Ministry of Justice, the Presidency of the Public Prosecutor's Office, judicial officials and judges, said the Minister.

This text, he added, will provide stakeholders with legal mechanisms to ensure greater proximity to the litigants, improve judicial efficiency and meet the expectations of stakeholders in the sector, so as to consolidate confidence in an effective and fair justice as a guarantor of the rule of law, pillar of judicial security and good governance and catalyst for development.

Responding to an oral question on "the International Book and Publishing Fair", presented by the Istiqlalien group of unity and egalitarianism in the House of Representatives, Bensaid said that his department is concerned to present high-level services to visitors to the SIEL and welcome in the best conditions the national and foreign exhibitors.

Regarding school visits, the Minister said that a system of pre-registration has been adopted so that children can benefit properly from the cultural programming dedicated to them.

Generally, the cultural programming of this year has been designed to enhance the image of the Kingdom as a land of encounter and dialogue between cultures and peoples, noted Bensaid, adding that this 27th edition will honor Rabat as the capital of African and Islamic culture.

It is in this spirit that African literature has been chosen as the guest of honor of this edition, he said, reporting close coordination with the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) which is a partner in the celebration of "Rabat, capital of culture in the Islamic world 2022".

The 2021 edition of the SIEL was not held due to health restrictions related to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Office des Foires et Expositions de Casablanca (OFEC), which usually hosted the fair, was then refitted as a field hospital for Covid-19 patients.

 
Initiated jointly by Start-Up Nation Central and Consensus Public Relations, this Forum is a unique event bringing together Moroccan and Israeli leaders, private and public sectors, around the theme of technological innovation in the fields of agribusiness, water, logistics, energy and sustainable development.

The inaugural ceremony was marked by the conclusion of 13 memoranda of understanding (MoU) relating to the development of innovative solutions, which were signed by the Moroccan and Israeli parties to strengthen business to business (B2B) activities between economic and commercial operators of both countries and those that unite government entities.

The primary objective of this event would be to build a solid foundation for business opportunities between Morocco and the State of Israel, to enable companies from both countries to add value to these sectors, as well as to explore the potential for creating technological jobs in the Kingdom.

For Avi Hasson, CEO of Start-Up Nation Central, Morocco offers a framework conducive to innovation, thanks to the vision of HM King Mohammed VI, which has enabled the development of a New Development Model placing transformation at the heart of its concerns.

"Today we feel the desire to collaborate together for the benefit of both our countries to further transform our economies and address the common challenges that lie ahead," he said, highlighting the potential that Morocco has through its innovation ecosystem.

"We want to seal strong links between Moroccan and Israeli companies, because innovation requires first of all a broad and solid collaboration allowing interconnectivity between the different ecosystems," said Hasson, adding that the cooperation links should be established at all levels of the public and private sectors of both countries.

In addition, Hasson noted the willingness of Moroccan participants to exchange, learn and share, calling for the pursuit of this favorable vision and its realization through the work of the forum that will establish the foundations for joint action.

"This is a step that enshrines the ongoing efforts of innovation diplomacy through which we aspire to address the common challenges of both countries, leveraging our mutual know-how and technology to deepen our bilateral relations," he said.

For his part, the Head of the Liaison Office of Israel in Morocco, David Govrin, described the event as unique and historic that demonstrates the quality of relations between the two countries, recalling that "this is the largest bilateral conference we have ever had in Morocco".

This is a manifestation of the development of bilateral relations in all their aspects, especially in innovation, as the best way to face the challenges of our days, he said, adding that this forum is called upon to involve the private sector in the efforts made by both governments.

The importance and strength of Moroccan-Israeli relations are not only based on economic interests, but also on culture and shared values, he concluded.

The event was marked by the pre-recorded speech of Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and by the participation of HM the King's Advisor, André Azoulay, Minister of Digital Transition and Administration Reform, Ghita Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade, Ryad Mezzour and Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mohamed Abdeljalil.

It will run until May 25, with workshops, business sessions, business to business (B2B) and networking meetings. Start-Up Nation Central is a non-profit organization that promotes the Israeli innovation ecosystem worldwide.

The Atlas Lion who was not aligned Sunday by his coach Lopetegui against Bilbao, becomes the first goalkeeper of the club Sevilla to win the Zamora Trophy.

Bounou has conceded 24 goals in 31 games played, with a coefficient of 0.77 during the championship. He surpassed Real Madrid's Belgian keeper Courtois, whose coefficient reached 0.80.

Yassine Bounou also becomes the first Arab keeper to win this trophy and the second African keeper to get this distinction after the Cameroonian Jacques Songo'o crowned in the 1996-1997 season with Deportivo La Coruna.

Courtois praised the performance of Bounou. "We must congratulate him. He is a friend and he deserves it this year," said the Belgian.

"The three suspected cases are in good health, benefiting from the necessary medical supervision," said the coordinator of the National Center for Emergency Public Health Operations of the Ministry of Health, Mouad Mrabet, in a statement to the press.

He stressed that the three cases have been submitted to medical analysis pending the results, noting that the health executives have received training on the disease of monkeypox which has never been detected in the Kingdom.

The Ministry of Health and Social Protection, he said, has established an emergency interaction system in response to the international alert on monkeypox. This system defines the cases of the disease as suspected, probable or confirmed, as well as the procedure to follow for the health protection and treatment of contact cases, he explained.

The establishment of this system comes, said the official, as part of the proactive strategy adopted by the Ministry to address emergency and warning situations related to public health.

The announcement of this grant, given by the "Rabat" Observatory for observation, monitoring and evaluation, headquartered in Al Quds, comes within the framework of the protection of journalists and media professionals and of their sources of information.

It also falls within the framework of the Bayt Mal Al Quds Acharif Agency's prerogatives, under the Al Quds Committee, as a social institution working to protect and preserve the civilizational legacy of the Holy City, cradle of the three monotheistic religions.

The launch ceremony of the grant was also marked by the establishment of the jury of the "Al Quds Acharif" Prize for journalistic excellence in developing media for the benefit of students of press and media institutes in Morocco and Palestine, under its first edition named after the late journalist Shireen Abu Akleh.

Chaired by former Minister of National Education Abdallah Saaf, the jury includes a host of teachers and researchers in the field of media and press in Morocco and Palestine.

This grant is a tribute to the memory of journalists who lost their lives to defend the duty of the profession and the values of law and justice, the Director in charge of the management of the Agency, Mohamed Salem Cherkaoui, said on this occasion.

Throughout her professional career, late Shireen Abu Akleh has shown humanism and commitment to upholding the truth, he added.

According to Cherkaoui, the selection of the late journalist Shireen Abu Akleh's name for the first edition of the "Al Quds Acharif" Prize for Journalistic Excellence aims at providing journalists in Al Quds and Palestine with the techniques and skills of journalism work.

He also stressed the high solicitude of HM King Mohammed VI for this institution and the direct supervision by the Sovereign of its action, which has enabled the establishment of initiatives and innovative projects for the benefit of the Al-Quds population.

For his part, Palestine's ambassador in Rabat Jamal Al Shobaki reaffirmed the leading role played by the Al Quds Committee, under the leadership of HM the King, for the defense of the sacred values of the Ummah.

The selection of the name of late Shireen Abu Akleh for the 2022 edition of this award is part of the constant support for the Palestinian people and their just causes, he added.

The Palestinian diplomat also called on the media and journalists to convey the truth about the conditions in Palestine, pointing out the need for unwavering solidarity in support of the Palestinian people and cause.

The "Al-Quds Acharif" Prize for Journalistic Excellence was launched in February for undergraduate and graduate students of the Higher Institute of Information and Communication (ISIC) and the Department of Information at Al-Quds Acharif University.

The award aims to encourage research and studies related to the Holy City and to raise awareness of the Palestinian cause among the younger generations.

"The conjoined twins, who were connected by the abdomen, the liver and the lower part of the chest, are in good health four days after the surgery," Talbi who supervised the surgery told MAP.

The resuscitation protocol of the twins has been completed, he said, adding that they will be handed over to their parents tomorrow (Tuesday) or the day after.

The separation surgery of the conjoined twins was postponed until they were two months old so that they could tolerate the four-hour procedure, the pediatric surgeon explained.

The surgery was performed using existing technology at the hospital, which made it possible to successfully separate the liver (...). The same is true for the lower part of the chest, which was separated without any problem, the doctor said.

The success of this operation, the second of its kind at the Children's Hospital of Rabat, was made possible thanks to the combined efforts of surgeons, anesthesiologists, resuscitators, nurses, and the entire medical staff who supervised the intervention.

"Morocco and Portugal will remain, I am sure and certain, at the forefront of advocacy and action for the oceans," said Futscher Pereira, who was speaking at the opening of the "Blue Talk", an international conference held by the Mohammed VI Foundation for Environmental Protection in partnership with the Embassy of Portugal in Morocco.

The diplomat praised the Foundation's "extraordinary dedication" to the protection of the oceans, particularly against marine pollution.

Morocco and Portugal, "two countries bordering the Atlantic with thousands of kilometers of coastline, large territorial seas and huge exclusive economic zones (....) are directly affected by this issue and as neighbors and friends, we must work together" to face these challenges, he said at the event which aimed "to prepare the United Nations Conference on the Oceans", slated on June 27-July 1 in Lisbon.

The Lisbon conference is intended to support efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG14) "Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development" and will be dedicated to the theme "Oceans: Scaling up science and innovation for the implementation of SDG14: stocktaking, partnership and solutions", the ambassador said.

"At a time when the international community is unfortunately very divided on many issues, it is particularly important that we are able to continue working together to overcome the challenges that concern us most, that concern humanity as a whole," insisted the Portuguese diplomat.

"The action of governments is certainly decisive, but it is not enough. The involvement of the civil society is also necessary," he said, stressing the importance of mobilizing intergovernmental organizations, international financial institutions, NGOs, universities and the scientific community, the private sector, philanthropic organizations and the youth.

The Lisbon conference will feature a "rich program" that will address the issue of the oceans from all angles as well as an interactive dialogue on a number of topics such as marine pollution, marine and coastal ecosystems protection, and ocean warming, he said.

An investment forum on the sustainable blue economy, a youth and innovation forum, and a high-level symposium on water will be held in Lisbon to address the full water cycle and explore the synergies between SDG 14 and SDG 6 "drinking water and sanitation," according to Futscher Pereira.

"The success of this conference will depend on our collective ability to inspire and mobilize the political will of the international community, generate new ideas, harness scientific knowledge and innovation, engage youth, and leverage the financial resources needed to implement measures" that will allow future generations to keep oceans healthy, he concluded.

During the works of this conference,  the Moroccan delegation stressed the active participation of the Kingdom in the first phase of the cooperation program between the Arab League and the European Union (EU) on the fight against illicit trafficking and proliferation of small arms and light weapons.

The Moroccan delegation included officials from the Royal Armed Forces (FAR), the Ministry of the Interior and the Directorate General of National Security (DGSN).

Morocco pursues an open policy on its international and regional environment and interacts with all initiatives aimed at strengthening mechanisms to combat criminal phenomena, including those related to firearms, the delegation said, adding that the Kingdom sees cooperation in capacity building as a key entry point to address them.

It also recalled that in line with Morocco's international commitments in this area, a training course was organized in Rabat in February 2020 for the benefit of national sectors and services concerned with weapons.

Morocco has submitted to the competent authorities of the General Secretariat of the Arab League a proposal to host one of the workshops scheduled under the second phase of the AL-EU cooperation program on "Combating illicit trafficking and proliferation of small arms and light weapons," which was launched Monday in Cairo.

The conference underway in Cairo is part of the second phase of the AL-EU cooperation project under the strategic dialogue between the two organizations. It aims to exchange experiences and best practices to strengthen the capacity of AL member states in combating the illicit proliferation of small arms and light weapons, including their possession by terrorists and criminals.

Speaking at the Fourth Ordinary Session of the Specialized Technical Committee (STC) on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons held in Malabo, Ambassador Mohamed Arrouchi, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom to the African Union and UNECA, highlighted the factors that exacerbate and further aggravate the physical effects of climate change on the continent, namely the rising population trend, the precarious economic situation and the lack of adequate technological capacity.

Africa's statistics and performance indicators in relation to the above factors do not support resilience and adaptation that would enable the continent to cope with climate change in a sustainable manner, the diplomat observed.

In that regard, he called for capitalizing on continental initiatives, including the three Climate Commissions of the Sahel, the Congo Basin and the Island States, in order to materialize actions to strengthen the continent's adaptation and resilience to this scourge.

The diplomat who leads the Moroccan delegation to this event recommended an African alliance to meet the challenges of climate change so as to maximize the mobilization and the resources available to the continent to strengthen its adaptation and resilience, both in terms of early warning systems and interaction with the various partners of Africa.

Recalling that Africa remains the continent that contributes the least in greenhouse gas emissions, Arrouchi stressed that the main issue in this fight remains reducing carbon emissions. The Moroccan diplomat called for putting this item on the agenda of the meetings with Africa's partners to strengthen advocacy and address this phenomenon.