Spain invests €340 million in Africa's largest desalination project in Casablanca

The Spanish government has announced the allocation of €340 million (approximately 3.5 billion Moroccan dirhams) to support the seawater desalination plant project in Casablanca—set to become the largest of its kind on the African continent. The first phase of the project is expected to be completed by February 2027. The project is being carried out by a consortium comprising the Spanish company Acciona and the Moroccan firms Afriquia Gaz and Green of Africa, both subsidiaries of

Moroccan disability union protests government inaction on special card implementation

The National Union of Persons with Disabilities held a sit-in on Wednesday in front of the Parliament in Rabat, denouncing what they describe as «systematic marginalization» and «persistent exclusion» following years of unfulfilled promises regarding the implementation of the special disability card. During the protest, organizers criticized the lack of concrete government action and announced that this initial demonstration would be the first in a series of mobilization

Moroccan scientist Najat Mokhtar-Aguenaou wins 2025 Arab Woman of the Year Award in London

On May 1st, Moroccan researcher Najat Mokhtar-Aguenaou was awarded the Arab Woman of the Year Award 2025 in London, in recognition of her scientific achievements, commitment to advancing science, and efforts to empower women in the region. Since January 1, 2019, she has served as the first woman to hold the position of Deputy Director General and Head of the Department of Nuclear Sciences and Applications at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Originally from Taounate,

Yasmina Alaoui's '1001 Dreams' exhibition : A fusion of tradition and modernity at Espace Rivages

The Hassan II Foundation for Moroccans Living Abroad is organizing the exhibition «Retrospectives, Series 1: 1001 Dreams, Series 2: Sediments» by the Moroccan-American artist Yasmina Alaoui, from May 15 to June 14, 2025, at the Espace Rivages. The opening is scheduled for the first day of this event, which highlights the work of an artist born in New York, trained in fine arts at the Carrousel du Louvre in Paris, as well as at the College of William & Mary in the United States.

Morocco's green transition boosted by €65 million EBRD financing for BMCI

In a significant step towards accelerating the green transition in Morocco, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced on Tuesday the provision of green financing amounting to up to 65 million euros to the Banque Marocaine pour le Commerce et l'Industrie (BMCI). This initiative is supported by the European Union, the Green Climate Fund (GCF), and Canada, as part of the High Impact Partnership on Climate Action (HIPCA). This financing is part of the "Decarbonization

UAE Moroccan Festival debuts in Casablanca : A new milestone in international horse racing

The first edition of the UAE Moroccan Festival was recently celebrated at the Casa-Anfa racetrack, initiated by the Royal Society for the Encouragement of Horses (SOREC) in partnership with the UAE President Cup Committee. For the organizers, it represents a "new benchmark event in the international gallop calendar," combining "sporting excellence, strategic cooperation, and international openness." This inaugural edition saw the presence of over 3,000 people who attended eight races featuring

Finnish firm Wärtsilä stands firm in Western Sahara amidst Polisario threats

The list of industrial groups standing firm against pressure from Polisario allies is growing with the arrival of the Finnish company Wärtsilä in Western Sahara. The company has reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining its partnership with the National Office of Electricity and Water (ONEE), sparking the ire of the Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW), an NGO aligned with the Polisario. In July 2024, the Finnish group signed a five-year contract with ONEE for the maintenance of

Spain deports Moroccan citizen after multiple arrests and identity fraud

Spanish authorities have deported a Moroccan citizen following an order issued by Criminal Court No. 2 in the city of Girona, after he was found guilty of involvement in a series of serious crimes. The individual, who was residing irregularly in the town of Calonge in northeastern Spain, had been arrested more than 20 times and faced multiple charges, including violent theft, burglary, possession of stolen goods, and resisting law enforcement. Spanish police described the man as a significant

Spanish police bust criminal network smuggling stolen goods to Morocco

The Spanish National Police have arrested four individuals suspected of belonging to a criminal network operating between Barcelona, Sant Adrià de Besòs, and Montcada i Reixac. The network is accused of smuggling stolen goods to the black market in Morocco using trucks and transport buses. According to Spanish media, the gang organized meetings to purchase stolen goods at various locations in Barcelona. The items were then stored in private homes and warehouses before being

Morocco achieves medium maturity in digital government services [ESCWA]

A recent report by the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) has classified Morocco among the countries with a medium level of maturity in electronic and mobile government services. The classification is part of the sixth edition of the «Maturity Index of Electronic and Mobile Government Services», released on Monday, May 5, 2025, covering 17 Arab countries. Launched in 2019, the ESCWA index is a periodic assessment tool based on data collected from