News Flash

Pakistani man's irregular Europe crossing via Morocco thwarted

Pakistani authorities have intercepted a passenger attempting to use Morocco as a transit point for irregular migration to Europe. The incident occurred at Jinnah Terminal, where Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Immigration officials detected suspicious behavior during routine screening procedures. According to The Express Tribune, the suspect, identified as Saddam Hussain, was apprehended while attempting to travel to Morocco on a visit visa. During questioning by General Checking

Sahel : Morocco boosts military alliance with Burkina Faso

Morocco is gaining ground in the Sahel. From December 16 to 19 in Rabat, the first session of the joint military commission between the kingdom and Burkina Faso was held. The meeting was co-chaired by Colonel Rachid Zorouki, head of the Royal Armed Forces' foreign relations department, and Colonel Jean Baptiste Kapuri, director general of military cooperation and defense of Burkina Faso, according to a statement released by the FAR yesterday. The session «focused on all activities for

Morocco to translate Quran interpretations into Amazigh

The Ministry of Habous and Islamic Affairs is considering the translation of the interpretations of the Quran into Amazigh, an official language in Morocco since 2011. Minister Ahmed Toufiq revealed that his department was studying the possibility of including this project in the qualification of mosque imams, as part of the ulemas charter project, under the supervision of Amazigh-speaking religious officials, in coordination with the general secretariat of the Higher Council of Ulema. This

Man arrested for crashing car into a Casablanca fast food restaurant

Police from the Judicial Police Squad of Ain Sebaa, Mohammedi district in Casablanca, apprehended a 31-year-old man on Sunday, December 22, after he allegedly rammed his car into a fast food restaurant, causing significant damage to the establishment's façade and injuring four employees. According to a police press release, identification checks revealed that the suspect has a criminal record and is wanted nationally for two separate cases involving the illicit trafficking of narcotic

PPS accuses Moroccan government of water deal «conflict of interest»

The Party of Progress and Socialism (PPS) has leveled accusations against the government, alleging involvement in «conflicts of interest and economic corruption». This was revealed in a report presented on Sunday by the party's secretary general, Nabil Benabdallah, during the fifth session of the party's Central Committee. The PPS claims that the current «government's deepening corruption not only undermines governance but also imposes a significant social and economic

French Cup : Achraf Hakimi's PSG qualifies on penalties against Ayoub El Aynaoui

Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) qualified on Sunday for the round of 16 of the French Cup against RC Lens, after a draw (1-1) ended in a penalty shootout (4-3). Moroccan footballers Achraf Hakimi (PSG) and Ayoub El Aynaoui (RC Lens) faced each other during this match. In the 25th minute, Achraf Hakimi opened the scoring, but the goal was canceled due to an offside position. RC Lens scored in the 66th minute, thanks to M'Bala Nzola. However, PSG quickly equalized in the 70th minute, courtesy of

EU and Finland-backed initiative highlights 94% concern over plastic waste in Morocco

The «SWITCH to Circular Economy Value Chains» project, backed by the European Union and the Government of Finland, has unveiled significant insights into Moroccan attitudes towards waste management and the circular economy. A comprehensive survey involving 1,013 citizens from diverse demographics across six major regions—Agadir, Casablanca, Fes, Marrakesh, Rabat, and Tangiers—sought to gauge public understanding and behaviors concerning environmental issues. This

U.S. approves $88.37 million sale of Advanced Air-to-Air Missiles to Morocco

The U.S. State Department has approved a possible foreign military sale to Morocco of Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $88.37 million (around 883,7 million dirhams), according to a press release on Friday, December 20, by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency. The latter delivered the required certification on the same day, notifying Congress of the military sale. The sale consists of thirty AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range

Islamophobic extremist : Unraveling the Magdeburg attacker's motives

In the aftermath of the attack that left at least five dead and over 200 injured at the Magdeburg Christmas market, Germany discovers the profile of the perpetrator. Taleb al-Abdulmohsen is a Saudi Shiite doctor, a political refugee since 2006, and a permanent resident since 2016, known for his strong positions on Islam. During the 1990s, he declared himself an «atheist», which led to his persecution in his country. Investigators reveal that he even shifted towards the far right

Ryanair to launch Paris-Beauvais to Essaouira flights in March 2025

Ryanair is set to expand its operations from Paris-Beauvais with the introduction of a new route to Essaouira, located on Morocco's Atlantic coast. Starting March 31, 2025, the airline will offer two weekly flights on Mondays and Fridays, providing options for both short and extended stays. This addition is part of Ryanair's broader strategy to enhance connectivity between France and Morocco. For the summer of 2025, Ryanair will already be operating flights from Paris-Beauvais to Marrakech,

Morocco secures 860 million dirham deal for advanced Small Diameter Bombs

The U.S. State Department has greenlit a potential foreign military sale to Morocco, involving GBU-39B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB-I) and associated equipment, with an estimated price tag of $86 million, equivalent to approximately 860 million dirhams. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) informed Congress of this prospective transaction on Saturday. Morocco's military has expressed interest in acquiring 500 GBU-39B Small Diameter Bombs I (SDBI) along with two GBU-39 (T-1)/B inert

King Mohammed VI receives the Mauritanian president

King Mohammed VI welcomed Mauritanian President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani at the Royal Palace in Casablanca today. The «This meeting is part of the strong relations of trust and cooperation linking the two countries and the sincere fraternal ties uniting the two brotherly peoples», reads a Royal Cabinet communique. During their discussions, the two leaders expressed satisfaction with the positive development of the Moroccan-Mauritanian partnership across various sectors.

Saudi Crown Prince inquires about King Mohammed VI's health post-surgery

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia phoned King Mohammed VI on Friday to inquire about his health and extend his best wishes for a swift recovery. This gesture was reported by the Saudi Press Agency (SPA). King Mohammed VI expressed his gratitude to the Crown Prince for the thoughtful call and well-wishes, as noted by the SPA. It is worth mentioning that King Mohammed VI recently underwent successful surgery earlier this December, following an incident during his regular

T-Man Holding launches new Alsa production line in Morocco

T-Man Holding's Matheï industrial complex in Bouskoura has inaugurated a new production line dedicated to Alsa products, marking a significant expansion of its food manufacturing capabilities. The inauguration ceremony took place on December 19, 2024, in the presence of Industry and Commerce Minister Ryad Mezzour. This initiative is the result of a strategic partnership between T-Man Holding and the German food giant Dr. Oetker, owner of the Alsa brand. The new unit has an annual

Rising significance of Moroccan clementines in the German market

Moroccan clementines are establishing a stronger presence in the German market, offering the most competitive prices in the clementine segment. However, the increased market share comes with mixed quality reviews from buyers, according to recent market observations. According to the Federal Office for Agriculture and Food (BLE) in Germany, Moroccan imports have attracted increased attention in the citrus market, particularly in the post-Saint Nicholas week period. The report indicates that

Morocco chosen as filming site for epic «Cleopatra» film

Morocco has been chosen as the shooting destination for the upcoming epic period film Cleopatra. The movie is currently in active development by the American production studio Universal Pictures and film financing and production company Atlas Entertainment, according to the pre-production listing service Production Bulletin. The latter indicates that the Cleopatra production team has featured Morocco as a new location for the film. Israeli actress Gal Gadot will be starring as Cleopatra and is

Pharma 5 launches Morocco's first generic medicine based on medical cannabis

Moroccan laboratory Pharma 5, specialized in the field of generic drug development and manufacturing, has announced the development of the first 100% Moroccan generic drug based on cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychotropic substance derived from medical cannabis. This new anti-epileptic medication, designed to treat resistant epilepsy, marks a key step in the fight against this pathology. The substance, a result of an investment of 250 million dirhams, is registered under the name CANNABIDIOL

Snowfall expected in Morocco this weekend

Snowfall is forecast on heights above 1,800 meters (5,900 feet) in some of Morocco's provinces, the Directorate General of Meteorology (DGM) reported on Friday. Snowfall ranging from 10 to 40 cm (4 to 16 inches) is expected from Saturday at 8 a.m. to Sunday at 12 p.m. in the provinces of Azilal, Al Haouz, Tinghir, Midelt, Ouarzazate and Taroudant, according to DGM's orange-level weather alert.