EU to give Morocco €200 million for quake reconstruction efforts  (Read more...)

Saudi solar plant in Morocco suffers breakdown with cost estimated $47 million

Renewable energy utility ACWA Power International reported a storage breakdown at one of its solar power plants in Morocco on Sunday. According to a Reuters report quoting a company statement on the Saudi Stock Exchange website, the breakdown will cost the firm an estimated $47 million. The 150-megawatt Noor III plant, part of the Noor Ouarzazate solar complex, will be inactive until November 2024 due to the issue. This is not the first problem at the Concentrating Solar Power (CSP) plant. In

Morocco rescues 165 sub-Saharan migrants off Dakhla

A Royal Navy patrol boat intercepted, on Friday 260 km southwest off the southern city of Dakhla, a pirogue carrying 165 sub-Saharan migrants, including 4 corpses. The pirogue, which had intended to reach the Canary Islands, set sail on March 6, the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces said in a press release. The rescued people received first aid onboard before being taken to the Port of Dakhla and handed over to the Royal Gendarmerie for the usual administrative procedures, the same

Moroccan activist Rabha El Haymar is an inspiration to women worldwide, US Ambassador to Morocco says

The United States’ ambassador to Morocco lauded the strong will of Moroccan activist Rabha El Haymar, who was recognized as the 2024 International Woman on Courage for campaigning for the rights of children deemed illegitimate. «She is an extraordinary woman», said Ambassador Puneet Talwar, Saturday, in an interview with state-owned channel 2M. Speaking about the month of March, as Women's History Month in the US, the diplomat congratulated El Haymar for «her

Morocco strongly condemns Moscow terror attack

Morocco «strongly» condemns the terrorist attack perpetrated Friday at Crocus City Hall in Krasnogorsk near Moscow, claimed by the terrorist organization «ISIS», resulting in the loss of many lives and injuries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates said in a press release. The Kingdom of Morocco expresses its solidarity with the Russian authorities in the face of terrorism, the press release underlined, adding that the Kingdom

Morocco wins 1-0 friendly against Angola

Morocco won a friendly against Friday Angola at the Grand Stadium in Agadir, securing a narrow 1-0 victory. The Atlas Lions controlled the game before scoring in the 71st minute. Morocco's goal came from a Yahia Attiatallah pass to Sofiane Rahimi, who entered the game as a substitute in the 65th minute. Angolan defender David Carmo's attempted clearance deflected into his own net. The Moroccan national team, featuring Real Madrid's Brahim Diaz and Monaco's Elias Ben Saghir from the start,

Morocco’s Achraf Hakimi is the highest-paid African player in Ligue 1

Moroccan international player Achraf Hakimi is the highest-paid African player in the French Ligue, also known as Ligue 1. According to L'Equipe newspaper, Paris Saint-Germain winger has a monthly gross salary of €738,000, followed by Olympique de Marseille's Gabonese Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (€650,000) and Central African Republic international Geoffrey Kondogbia (€450,000). The overall ranking puts Paris Saint-Germain striker Kylian Mbappé at the top, with a €6

Jardin Majorelle urges visitors to use official ticketing

The management of Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech recently reiterated the need for visitors to book and purchase tickets exclusively from the official website: www.tickets.jardinmajorelle.com. This announcement was made public on Thursday after several reports of non-compliant ticket purchases via unauthorized third-party sites, causing problems for visitors and a negative impact on their experience. In a statement sent to Yabiladi, Jardin Majorelle stresses that holders of non-compliant

Morocco, Spain dismantle drug ring that used helicopters to smuggle hashish

The Spanish Civil Guard, in collaboration with the Moroccan Royal Gendarmerie, dismantled a criminal ring and arrested its nine members who were transporting drugs by helicopter from Spain to Morocco, Spanish news agency Efe reported on Friday. Among those arrested were two pilots experienced in night and low-altitude flying, according to the Spanish Civil Guard, which reported that two helicopters were intercepted and 795 kilograms of hashish were seized. Surveillance of members of the

Morocco inaugurates its first football museum

Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch inaugurated on Thursday in Maamoura (Salé suburb) the Museum of Moroccan Football, at the headquarters of the Royal Moroccan Football Association. The inauguration ceremony was attended by Chakib Benmoussa, Minister of National Education, Primary Education and Sports, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Abdellatif Miraoui, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research and Innovation, Fouzi Lekjaa, President of the Royal

Facing backlash, Balenciaga pulls Moroccan slippers from online boutique

A pair of traditional Moroccan mules, known locally as Belgha, were removed from Balenciaga’s online official boutique, after they had been put for sale for 995 dollars. The move came after a wave of backlash, with many accusing the luxury fashion house of culturally appropriating the Moroccan shoes. The mules were put for sale earlier this week. «Flat Mule in black smooth lambskin is in several looks of Balenciaga Summer 24 Collection», read a description of the product

Kenya Foreign Affairs Principal Secretary visits Rabat to mend ties with Morocco

Morocco Foreign Minister Nassser Bouirta received, Thursday in Rabat, the Kenyan Principal Secretary for Foreign Affairs Abraham Korir Singoei, who was carrying a message to King Mohammed VI. This visit comes as Kenya is trying to mend diplomatic ties with Morocco, following a sour episode. After President William Ruto announced, on September 14, 2022, the day after his inauguration, the withdrawal of recognition of the self-proclaimed «SADR», ties with the separatist movement were

Atlas Lions : The new recruits are doing a good job at integrating, Regragui says

The new players summoned to join the Atlas Lions in their friendlies against Angola and Mauritania in Agadir are integrating well with the rest of the team, Morocco’s national football team coach Walid Regragui said on Thursday. The squad announced earlier this month by the Royal Moroccan Footbal federation, includes new recruits, namely Real Madrid star Brahim Diaz, his club teammate Youssef Enríquez Lekhedim, Villarreal winger Ilias Akhomach Chakkour, and Monaco star Eliesse Ben

Did the Moroccan Ministry of Habous ban loudspeakers in mosques ?

Did the Moroccan Ministry of Endowment and Islamic Affairs (Habous) ban mosques from using loudspeakers during Taraweeh prayers in Ramadan ? Recent reports by local media have suggested that the ministry’s regional delegation in Chtouka Ait Baha, a province in the Souss-Massa region, has reportedly issued the ban. These reports relied on a document issued by the Regional Delegation for Islamic Affairs in Chtouka Ait Baha, which prohibits the use of silos' loudspeakers when reading Quran

CJEU Advocate concludes EU-Morocco fisheries agreement should be annulled

The Advocate General of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) has concluded that the court should «annul the Council decision concluding the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement with the Kingdom of Morocco». In an opinion published on Thursday March 21, following an appeal lodged by the Polisario, the EU top lawyer Tamara Capeta argued that «in not treating the territory of Western Sahara and the waters adjacent thereto as separate and distinct from that of

Italian anarchist group disrupt repatriation of Moroccan national

A group of anarchists in Malpensa, Italy, attempted to block a Royal Air Maroc flight departing for Casablanca, reports La Stampa. The flight was reportedly expected to repatriate a Moroccan citizen believed to be a member of the anarchist group «No Cpr», an Italian anti-deportation group. The incident occurred on Wednesday evening, the newspaper explains, quoting members of the group. They claimed in a video that their Moroccan comrade «taken by the Gradisca d'Isonzo CPR,

Spain’s Minister of Labor has reportedly denied Polisario camp visit invitation

Spain's Minister of Labor, Yolanda Diaz, has reportedly rejected an invitation from the Polisario Front to visit the Tindouf camps in Algeria, Front sources told El Independiente. These claims were rejected by Diaz’s party. «She has received nothing», sources from the far-left coalition, Suma, argued. A reaction that did not discourage the Polisario from reiterating its «invitation» to the Minister of Labor. The Polisario has publicly reiterated their invitation

EU court advocate demands labeling of melons and tomatoes from the Sahara

The Advocate General of the European Court of Justice (CJEU) has weighed in on the labeling of agricultural products from the Sahara. In an opinion delivered on March 21st, Croatian judge Tamara Capeta stated that «melons and tomatoes from Western Sahara must be labeled with a 'country of origin' indication reflecting their provenance from this territory. These products cannot indicate Morocco as the 'country of origin’». Capeta's opinion follows a complaint filed by the

«Morocco is not spying on Spain», official report rules out

Morocco is not interfering in Spain’s domestic affairs, concludes a report by the Iberian counterintelligence agency. However, the document identifies Russia and China as having engaged in hostile actions on Spanish territory. These findings disappoint right-wing and far-right politicians who continue to accuse Morocco of hacking the phones of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and key ministers. The Popular Party and Vox allege that Moroccan hacking in 2021 influenced Sanchez's support for