Moroccan hacker group announces cyber campaign targeting Israel

A Moroccan hacker group calling itself the Moroccan Black Cyber Army has announced the launch of an international cyber campaign targeting Israel. The move comes amid Israel’s military escalation against Iran, which has reportedly included not only airstrikes but also coordinated cyberattacks that disrupted Iranian news agencies and sent text messages to Iranian citizens urging them to rise up against the regime. In a statement, the Moroccan group declared it would target key Israeli

Rapper known for anti-normalization songs placed in custody in Fez

Police in Fez have placed Souhaib Qabli, a rapper known by the stage name «Al-Hassel», in police custody following a lengthy interrogation. He was arrested on Monday, March 2, 2026. According to the Taza branch of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights, he is scheduled to appear before the public prosecutor at the Taza Court of First Instance on Wednesday, March 4, 2026. Qabli’s arrest dates back to Monday morning, when the 20-year-old university student from Taza

Weeks after Sahara position shift, EU report publishes full map of Morocco

In its Annual Investment Report 2025/2026, the European Investment Bank published a complete map of Morocco, including the Sahara. Released on Tuesday, the document marks a first for an EU institution. The map appears on page 41 of the report, within the EU Strategic Engagement Index section. In that section, a world map featuring Morocco illustrates the report’s note that «EU companies are losing trade share in Morocco, Lebanon and (even more relevant) Algeria». This

Tragic fall claims life of local council advisor in Taroudant province

A local councilor in his fifties tragically lost his life on Tuesday morning after falling from a mountain slope in the Ighil Lbarj area, within the Tidsi commune in Taroudant province, while tending livestock. According to local media reports, the victim lost his balance on the mountainside and fell from a considerable height. He sustained critical injuries and died at the scene. Local authorities, accompanied by Royal Gendarmerie officers and civil protection teams, rushed to the site

Maroc Telecom waives February bills for Ksar El Kebir flood victims

In a gesture of support for residents affected by the recent floods, Moroccan telecom operator Maroc Telecom has announced that it will fully waive February bills for its customers in the city of Ksar El Kebir, where severe weather caused significant damage to infrastructure and property. In a statement, the company specified that the measure applies to high-speed internet services (ADSL), fixed-line telephone services, and fiber optic subscriptions. The initiative aims to ease the

Rabies diagnosed too late in British grandmother who died after dog scratch in Morocco

A 59-year-old British grandmother who died four months after being scratched by a stray dog during a holiday in Morocco was only diagnosed with the fatal virus back home when it was already too late. An inquest into her death heard Tuesday that doctors were initially unaware of the incident in Morocco, write The Times. Yvonne Ford was scratched on February 10, 2025, after startling a stray dog on a Moroccan beach. The wound pierced her skin but appeared minor, and she did not seek treatment,

Morocco sets final Hajj 1447H cost at 63,021 dirhams, partial refunds to begin March 9

The Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs, Ahmed Toufiq, announced on Tuesday in Rabat that the final cost of Hajj for the 1447H season for pilgrims supervised by the Ministry has been set at 63,021 dirhams. Speaking during a meeting of the Royal Commission in charge of Hajj, Toufiq explained that an amount of 1,979 dirhams, representing the remaining balance from the initial flat fee of 65,000 dirhams paid under the official organization scheme, will be reimbursed to the concerned

Macky Sall enters race for UN Secretary-General backed by Burundi

Former Senegalese President Macky Sall, renowned for his strong ties with Morocco, has officially announced his candidacy for the role of United Nations Secretary-General. His nomination has been endorsed by Burundi, which has been presiding over the African Union since February. Sall is vying to replace Portugal's António Guterres, whose tenure at the helm of the UN is set to conclude on December 31, 2026. The election to appoint the next Secretary-General is scheduled for the fall

Middle East escalation triggers two-day slide on Casablanca stock exchange

The Casablanca Stock Exchange recorded two sharp declines following the escalation of the conflict in the Middle East involving Israel, the United States, and Iran. The uncertainty triggered by the exchange of strikes heightened investor caution, even thousands of kilometers away from the conflict zone. On Monday, March 2, the MASI index fell by 4.21%, dropping to around 17,377 points. Total market capitalization slipped below 1 trillion dirhams, reflecting broad market anxiety and weaker

Trump threatens to cut trade with Spain

Donald Trump has once again turned his sights on Spain. The 47th President of the United States declared during a White House press conference, alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Mertz, his intention to «cease all trade with Spain». This announcement comes in response to the Spanish government's refusal, under Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, to allow American military forces to use NATO bases at Rota and Morón for operations against Iran. «Spain has been

UN Secretary-General proposes budget cuts for MINURSO

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has aligned with U.S. calls to reduce funding for peacekeeping operations. He has proposed to the UN General Assembly a budget of $62.7 million for MINURSO for the period from July 1, 2026, to June 30, 2027, an 11.3% decrease compared to the 2025–2026 fiscal year. The proposed reduction comes as the Secretary-General is required, under Resolution 2797 adopted on October 31, to submit a «strategic review of the future mandate

Five Moroccan stadiums nominated for 2025 Stadium of the Year Awards

Five Moroccan stadiums are among the nominees for the 16th edition of StadiumDB.com’s «Stadium of the Year» awards, which rank the best football venues opened or fully redeveloped in 2025. Competing among 28 global candidates, the Moroccan stadiums in the running are the Grand Stade de Tanger (75,600 seats), Stade Prince Moulay Abdellah (68,700 seats), Stade Olympique de Rabat (21,000 seats), Stade Al Medina in Rabat (18,000 seats), and Stade Moulay El Hassan (22,000 seats).

Morocco divides coastal trawling and longline fishing fleets to boost sustainable fisheries

The State Secretariat in charge of Fisheries has adopted two ministerial decrees establishing the spatial division of the coastal trawling fleet and the longline fishing fleet. The measures form part of the implementation of the Halieutis Strategy, aimed at ensuring the sustainable management of fishery resources. In a statement, the State Secretariat announced that Decree No. PC CHAL-01/26, issued on February 3, 2026, sets out the spatial division of the coastal trawling fleet. Under this

Casablanca police identify suspect in viral video threatening public safety

Police in Casablanca have successfully identified the individual featured in a viral video on social media, where he was seen recklessly firing projectiles into the air, endangering both public safety and property. This breakthrough followed the swift launch of investigations by the security services upon the video's discovery. The inquiries revealed that the suspect is linked to a faction of sports club supporters in Casablanca and is a Moroccan expatriate residing overseas. Ongoing

Moroccan footballer Abdelkabir Abqar dreams of winning a title with national team

In an interview with a Spanish newspaper, Moroccan international Abdelkabir Abqar, currently playing for Getafe CF, expressed that his ultimate aspiration is to clinch a title with the Moroccan national team. The center-back, originally from Settat, shared that donning the national team jersey has been a cherished dream for both him and his family, realized after years of dedication and advancement through the youth ranks. He further stated that his current goal is to secure a continental

Maâmora Forest tree damage attributed to storms not logging, says agency

Recent images depicting fallen trees have sparked allegations of extensive logging in the Maâmora Forest. However, the National Agency for Water and Forests has refuted claims of any intentional cutting, attributing the damage instead to the fierce winds and storms that battered several provinces in early February 2026. In a statement, the agency explained that these severe weather conditions led to the toppling or uprooting of hundreds of trees across the provinces of Kénitra,

Audi RS 5 tested in Morocco from Marrakech circuit to Atlas Mountains

Following its world premiere, the new Audi RS 5 made its first real-world dynamic debut in Morocco, showcasing its capabilities on the Circuit de Marrakech and the winding roads of the Atlas Mountains. The high-performance plug-in hybrid was put to the test on a demanding track layout before heading into the Atlas Mountains, where it tackled steep switchbacks and varied terrain. In all-electric mode, it moved almost silently through mountain villages, while its hybrid powertrain delivered

Police arrest sub-Saharan national for hashish and Pouffa dealing

Police in the Ain Sebaa–Hay Mohammedi district in Casablanca arrested a sub-Saharan African national on the evening of Monday, March 2, on suspicion of possessing and dealing hashish and «Pouffa», a psychotropic substance. The arrest followed extensive field investigations after security services monitored the suspect’s alleged drug trafficking activities in an old cemetery in the Hay Mohammedi area. The case gained further attention after a video