Omani fraud suspect arrested at Casablanca airport on international warrant

Officers of the General Directorate of National Security at Mohammed V International Airport in Casablanca arrested, Thursday, a 37-year-old Omani national who was the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by judicial authorities in the Sultanate of Oman, on suspicion of involvement in fraud-related offenses. The suspect was apprehended while preparing to leave Moroccan territory on a flight bound for Cairo International Airport. A check of the General Directorate of National

Italy-born Pietro Tranchina becomes Morocco’s first World Cup skier

Pietro Tranchina will become the first Moroccan skier to compete in the Alpine Skiing World Cup, representing the Kingdom at the Milan–Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Born and raised in Susa, near Turin, Tranchina said that choosing to compete for Morocco, his mother's country, gave him the opportunity to perform at the highest level, develop as an athlete, and gain valuable international experience. His decision was also influenced by his close relationship with his mother, Sadia. Set to

CGEM and Technopark Morocco join forces to boost startup ecosystem in Casablanca

The General Confederation of Moroccan Enterprises and Technopark Morocco signed a strategic cooperation agreement on Tuesday in Casablanca. The agreement aims to strengthen Morocco’s national startup ecosystem and foster the integration of technological innovation into the country’s economic fabric. The agreement was signed by Hassan Belkhayat, President of CGEM’s TECH Ecosystem Commission, and Lamiae Benmakhlouf, General Director of Technopark Morocco. According to a

Polisario reacts to Bourita’s talks on critical minerals, warning on Sahara resources

The Polisario Front swiftly issued a statement warning countries and companies against exploiting the natural resources of the Sahara, following the participation of Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita in a ministerial meeting on critical minerals held in Washington and chaired by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Without directly naming the United States, the Front accused Morocco of using the meeting to «involve third parties in activities that amount to exploiting stolen

Petroleum supplies in Morocco remain stable, with 617,000 tons available

The Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development has confirmed that supplies of petroleum products on the national market remain stable and under control, despite the exceptional weather conditions Morocco has been experiencing for several weeks. These conditions have notably disrupted operations at certain ports and delayed the unloading of ships carrying energy products. In a statement, Thursday, the ministry said it had activated close coordination between public and private

Table III named best restaurant in Morocco

Table III has been hailed as the finest restaurant in Morocco, earning the eleventh spot in the prestigious Middle East & North Africa's 50 Best Restaurants ranking. This accolade underscores the brilliance of Chef Fayçal Bettioui, solidifying Morocco's status as a «leading gastronomic destination», according to a press release. The release highlights that «this international recognition primarily celebrates the journey of a star chef, trained and honed in some of

Mauritanian municipality clarifies partnership with Dakhla amidst Polisario criticism

Amid mounting criticism from the Polisario Front and its supporters in Mauritania, the municipality of Toujounine felt compelled to issue a clarifying statement. The move followed the signing, last Tuesday, of a partnership and cooperation agreement between its mayor, Ahmed Salem Ahmed Habib Allah Al-Filali, and the municipality of Dakhla. The Toujounine municipality explained that the visit by its mayor, accompanied by three aides, was part of an initiative aimed at fostering «fruitful

Morocco advances green hydrogen projects with investor agreements in Rabat

On Thursday, February 5, Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch welcomed representatives of national and international investors in Rabat, in the presence of Moroccan Agency for Sustainable Energy Chairman and CEO Tarik Ameziane Moufaddal. The investors signed preliminary contracts to reserve land following the selection of their projects by the steering committee, as part of the implementation of Morocco’s Green Hydrogen Offer. According to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office,

143,000 people evacuated so far as flood risks persist in Morocco

A total of 143,164 people have been evacuated and relocated so far across several provinces as part of ongoing preventive measures to protect lives and ensure public safety amid flooding risks, the Interior Ministry said on Thursday. More specifically, 110,941 people were evacuated from Larache Province, 16,914 from Kenitra Province, 11,696 from Sidi Kacem Province, and 3,613 from Sidi Slimane Province. These measures are being implemented as part of continued mobilization by public

HRW says Morocco escalated «repression» of activists and journalists in 2025

In its 2026 annual report, Human Rights Watch stated that Moroccan authorities intensified their crackdown on activists, journalists, and human rights defenders throughout 2025. According to the organization, this was carried out through prosecutions on charges such as defamation, spreading false news, insulting or damaging the reputation of local officials, government institutions, heads of state, or foreign religious figures, as well as undermining state security or the monarchy. The report

Dutch prosecutor seeks 12-year sentence for ex-NCTV agent accused of spying for Morocco

On Wednesday, Dutch prosecutors sought a twelve-year prison sentence for Abderrahim El M., a former official at the National Coordinator for Counterterrorism and Security (NCTV). Originally from Morocco, he is on trial for espionage, accused by the Netherlands of working on behalf of Moroccan intelligence. El M., who joined the NCTV in 2005, has firmly denied the charges, describing the case as a «misunderstanding». His lawyer said he had been «threatened by an individual who

Morocco braces for heavy rain and strong winds through Friday

Heavy rainfall, stormy showers with a risk of hail, and strong wind gusts are expected on Thursday and Friday across several provinces of Morocco, according to the General Directorate of Meteorology (DGM). In an orange-level alert bulletin, the DGM forecasts heavy rain and stormy showers ranging between 60 and 90 mm from Thursday noon until 11:00 p.m. on Friday in the provinces of Chefchaouen, Tétouan, Larache, Al Hoceima, and Taza. During the same period, rainfall totals of 40 to 60

Magnitude 3.8 quake hits near Taounate in northern Morocco

A magnitude 3.8 earthquake struck 27 kilometers northwest of Taounate in northern Morocco early Thursday morning, according to the European-Mediterranean Seismological Centre (EMSC). The quake occurred at 3:54 a.m. at a depth of 10 kilometers, a shallow level that can make tremors more noticeable near the epicenter. A subsequent report by Portugal’s Institute for Sea and Atmosphere (IPMA) assessed the quake at magnitude 3.2, while Spain’s National Geographic Institute (IGN)

Moroccan consulates in Spain extend hours to better serve citizens

The Moroccan Embassy in Spain and all Moroccan general consulates have reaffirmed that serving Moroccan citizens and safeguarding their interests remain an absolute priority. In this context, the central services of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccans Living Abroad held a coordination meeting by videoconference on Wednesday with the Moroccan Embassy in Madrid and the twelve general consulates operating across Spain. The meeting forms part of ongoing coordination

UK warns British travelers of severe weather and flooding in Morocco

The UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) has updated its travel guidance for Morocco, warning British nationals planning to visit the country of severe weather conditions affecting several regions. In its latest travel advice issued on February 4, the FCDO noted that Morocco’s General Directorate of Meteorology has issued red-level weather alerts due to exceptionally heavy rainfall, storm activity, and a heightened risk of flooding, stressing that the

Casablanca court bars PAM MP from leaving the country

On Wednesday, the investigating judge at the Casablanca Court of Appeal ordered a travel ban against businessman and Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM) MP, Abdelrahim Ben Dho, as part of an ongoing case involving his dairy company, White Gold. Ben Dho, who also serves as PAM’s regional secretary-general in the Casablanca region, is being prosecuted alongside three other individuals, including two veterinarians. The defendants face charges related to the offering, sale, import, and

Moroccan culinary icon Chef Kimo passes away at 57

Known on social media as Chef Kimo, Kamel Laâbi passed away tragically on Wednesday following a cardiac arrest. He was 57. The much-loved chef from Fez had built a large following through engaging videos that helped revive and popularize Morocco’s traditional cuisine. Chef Kimo was widely admired for his innovative yet accessible way of presenting age-old culinary traditions. His expertise was shaped by years of family influence as well as hands-on experience in the restaurant

Video of bladed weapons leads to arrest of three individuals in Marrakech

The Marrakech Police Department has arrested three individuals suspected of carrying knives and endangering public safety and property, following the circulation of a video on social media showing the alleged acts. According to security sources, investigations were launched immediately after the video surfaced, leading to the identification of the suspects and the arrest of three of them in a neighborhood of Marrakech. A search operation resulted in the seizure of a knife matching the one seen