CAF approves RS Berkane's jersey with full map of Morocco, sparking anger in Algeria  (Read more...)

Standard & Poor's revises Morocco outlook to positive, affirms 'BB+/B' ratings

U.S. credit rating agency Standard & Poor's (S&P) has revised to positive from stable the outlook on its "BB+/B" sovereign credit ratings on Morocco. «The positive outlook reflects our expectations that Morocco will build on its recent track record of implementing socioeconomic and budgetary reforms, paving the way for stronger and more inclusive growth, and a reduction in budget deficits», the agency pointed out Friday in a release. Morocco's economy has proven

Morocco’s Foreign minister receives the High Representative of the Coalition for the Sahel

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, received the High Representative of the Coalition for the Sahel, the Mauritanian Hamadi Meimou, in Rabat on Friday. The meeting underscores Morocco's role in regional security efforts. The Coalition for the Sahel, based in Brussels, was established at the G5 Sahel summit held in Pau on January 13, 2020. The launch ceremony was attended by the presidents of France, Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad. UN Secretary-General Antonio

Morocco signs deal for electric vehicle battery plant with China's BTR New Material Group

Morocco's Head of Government, Aziz Akhannouch, presided over the signing ceremony for the investment agreement for BTR New Material Group's strategic project in Rabat on Friday. The project consists of the construction of a production unit for cathodes, an essential component of electric vehicle batteries, with an investment of 3 billion dirhams and the creation of over 2,500 jobs, according to a press release. The project, the first of its kind in Morocco, will be developed in two phases on

Moroccan who stabbed his wife to death in Italy repatriated to Morocco

A Moroccan man convicted of murdering his wife in Italy in 2011 has been returned to Morocco. Italian media reported on Friday that the 49-year-old man was released from prison in Padua in August after completing a 14-year sentence for stabbing his wife 42 times. He was then transferred to the Repatriation Center (CPR) in Gradisca, pending repatriation. The convict requested international protection, but the Police Commissioner of Padua issued a detention order based on concerns about

Israel issues travel warning to Morocco ahead of Passover

Israel's National Security Council has issued travel warnings for four countries with which Israel has diplomatic relations : Turkey, Morocco, Jordan, Morocco and Egypt, the Times of Israel reported on Thursday. According to the warning, there are increasing attempts during the Gaza war by global jihadist organizations to push lone wolf attackers to target Jews and Israelis. «The potential for terrorist threats against Israelis and Jews more than five months after the start of the war

Algerian party urges the UN to ban the «African Lion 2024» military exercise

The head of Algerian political party the National Construction Movement, Abdelkader Bengrina, has urged the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to ban the «African Lion 2024» military exercise, co-organized by the armies of Morocco and the United States. «These maneuvers, scheduled from May 20 to 31, 2024, constitute an illegitimate aggression against territories belonging to Western Sahara. These operations raise concerns regarding the principle of self-determination

Air Canada to boost Casablanca service with six weekly flights this summer

Canadian flag carrier Air Canada will be expanding its flight schedule between Morocco's Casablanca Mohammed V Airport and Montreal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport starting this summer. According to state-owned TV channel 2M, the expansion is expected to start on June 16th, 2024, with Air Canada operating 6 weekly flights to Casablanca. The flights will be carried out by the Airbus A330-300 aircraft, which has a capacity of up to 295 passengers. Air Canada will be offering 3

Morocco media regulator stresses importance of editorial responsibility following fake radio call

The High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA) has called for preserving the citizen's right to vigilant and safe media content, following a recent case involving an on-air staging of fictitious crimes and the dissemination of false information during a radio broadcast. In a public statement released on Thursday, HACA is monitoring the legal proceedings against those accused of fabricating fictitious crimes, insulting a constituted body, and spreading false information during a radio

Morocco's naval exercises off the Sahara to be examined by Spain’s foreign minister

Morocco's naval exercises off the Sahara will be on the agenda of a meeting between the President of the Autonomous Government of the Canary Islands, Fernando Clavijo, and the Spanish Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares. The date of the meeting has not yet been set, reports Spanish newspaper ABC. The two parties had already discussed the Royal Moroccan Navy's maneuvers by telephone on Sunday. Yesterday, the subject was discussed at the upper house of the Spanish

Algeria appoints new consuls to Morocco

The Algerian Minister of Foreign Affairs has appointed two new consuls to Morocco, in Casablanca and Oujda. These two appointments are part of a wide-ranging process launched on Tuesday March 26 by President Abdelmadjid Tebboune, involving all the Sahel countries and other African countries such as Nigeria, Uganda, Zambia, Ghana and Ethiopia. States where the kingdom is consolidating its positions. It's worth noting that Algeria kept its consulates in Morocco open despite the severed

Morocco’s industry sees record 801.5 billion dirham turnover in 2022

Morocco's industrial sector has seen a record 801.5-billion-dirham turnover in 2022, Minister of Industry and Trade Ryad Mezzour announced on Wednesday in Rabat. Presenting the results of the 2023 edition of the «Barometer of Moroccan Industry», Mezzour highlighted that this remarkable performance is mainly due to the contribution of the food industry (23.1%), the chemical and semi-chemical industry (23%), and the automotive industry (17.8%). This sector, whose number of

Hit Radio denies involvement in fake robbery call on Momo Ramadan Show

Moroccan radio station Hit Radio broke its silence after callers to the Momo Ramadan Show, which aired on March 21st, fabricated a fake robbery to boost the station's ratings. «We would like to strongly deny any involvement of the station in committing these acts, which do not reflect our values. Hit Radio and its staff are committed to strict ethical and professional principles», the station said in a statement sent Thursday to Yabladi. «Hit Radio and its staff are not

EBRD approves new country strategy for Morocco, covering the period 2024-2029

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) announced, Wednesday, the approval of its new country strategy for Morocco, covering the period 2024-2029. The strategy focuses on three key priorities: promoting the private sector, fostering inclusive growth, and supporting Morocco's green transformation. «The adoption of the new strategy is a key milestone for the Bank and Morocco», Antoine Sallé de Chou, the EBRD’s Head of Morocco, said. «It will

Morocco and Italy sign agreement on mutual recognition of driving licenses

Morocco and Italy signed, Wednesday, an agreement in Rome on the mutual recognition of driving licenses for conversion purposes. The signing ceremony took place at the Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. Youssef Balla, Morocco's Ambassador to Italy, and Matteo Salvini, Italy's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure and Transport, signed the agreement in the presence of the Vice-Minister of Maritime Transport. During the ceremony, Salvini expressed his admiration

Morocco's Tanger Med port among the top 20 in the world

Morocco's industrial port complex Tanger Med has secured a spot among the top 20 container ports in the world, according to a March ranking by industry monitor Alphaliner, Tanger Med currently ranks 19th out of 500 container ports, up three spots from the previous ranking. This achievement places Morocco in the exclusive company of just 12 other countries with ports in the global top 20, including China, Singapore, Korea, the United States, Hong Kong, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, the

Morocco thwart major drug operation, seize over 10 tons of chira

Casablanca's Judicial Police Department, acting on intel from the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGTS), thwarted a major international drug trafficking operation in the early hours of Wednesday morning. The operation led to the seizure of 10 tons and 300 kilograms of chira, according to a statement from the General Directorate of National Security. The statement details that the operation, conducted in coordination with local Royal Gendarmerie units, involved stopping two

Berklee College of Music, Gnaoua and World Music Festival launch program for young Moroccan musicians

Berklee College of Music and the Gnaoua and World Music Festival have announced the launch of a new edition of the Berklee on the Road program, which will take place from Monday 24 to Saturday 29 June 2024 in Essaouira. The program, called Berklee at the Gnawa and World Music Festival, has been created for actively performing musicians seeking to advance their skills as improvisors, and welcomes students with a wide range of musical backgrounds, from classical to traditional Gnaoua to pop,

To Algeria, the «Sahara question is not closed»

At a press briefing in Algiers yesterday, March 26th, the Algerian Foreign Minister stressed that the Sahara question is not closed, Algerian media reported. «The issue is still being examined by the Committee of 24 of the UN, which still considers Western Sahara eligible for decolonization», said Ahmed Attaf. Furthermore, «the Security Council will address this issue next month», he added. «The Saharawi question is not closed, and MINURSO remains deployed in