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Royal Air Maroc and Safran strengthen partnership in aircraft engine maintenance

Royal Air Maroc (RAM) and Safran signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Casablanca on Thursday to further solidify their partnership in aircraft engine maintenance. The ceremony was held in the presence of the Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mohammed Abdeljalil. Signed by RAM CEO Hamid Addou and Safran Aircraft Engines President JeanPaul Alary, the MoU paves the way for significant growth at the existing Safran Aircraft Engines Services Maroc (SAESM) site. This includes an

Moroccan footballers triumph in Europa League and Champions League

Three Moroccans made their mark in last night's Europa League quarter-finals. Amine Harit and Azzedine Ouunahi started for Olympique de Marseille against Benfica, helping the team reach the semi-finals after a penalty shoot-out at the Stade Velodrome. In London, West Ham's Nayef Aguered faced off against Amine Adli of Bayer Leverkusen. The match went in favor of the Germans, who secured their spot in the next round. This success follows the previous day's qualification of three Moroccan

Morocco’s Royal air forces rescue 12 migrants stuck on cliff near Laayoune

A Royal Air Forces team, assisted by a Royal Navy diver, conducted a successful search and rescue mission off the village of Tarouma (55 km from Laâyoune). They rescued 12 sub-Saharan migrants, including a minor, who were stranded on a cliff. The General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces issued a press release stating that the rescue team successfully located and evacuated the migrants in distress. The rescued individuals, who were attempting to reach the Canary Islands, received

UN decolonization committee member recognizes Morocco’s sovereignty over Sahara

The Federation of Saint Kitts and Nevis reiterated its recognition of Morocco's sovereignty over the Sahara during talks yesterday in Rabat with Moroccan counterpart, Nasser Bourita, according to a statement released by the Caribbean state's head of diplomacy, Denzil Llewellyn Douglas. The Minister expressed his country's support for the UN-led political process aimed at achieving a just and lasting solution to this regional dispute. He also stressed the relevance of the Moroccan autonomy

Dutch-Moroccan influencer barred from leaving Morocco after controversial blind dating show

A Dutch-Moroccan TikTok influencer is currently not allowed to leave Morocco after participating in an online dating show, according to national Dutch broadcaster NOS on Thursday. NOS, quoting regional broadcaster Rijnmond who spoke to the 20-year-old, reports that the show involved choosing a date based on his clothing. The YouTube show, which premiered last week, sparked controversy in Morocco. Many found the concept degrading to men and criticized the participant's outfit. Days after the

Former executives of Moroccan broadcaster 2M face charges of misusing public funds

The Anti-Corruption Division of the Casablanca Court of Appeals is considering the case against former 2M executives Mustapha Benali and Khadija Boujanoui, along with six others, on suspicion of misusing public funds. Media reports indicate that the Moroccan Organization for the Protection of Public Funds (OMPDP) has joined the civil suit, requesting the inclusion of certain employees and production companies implicated through non-transparent contracts in the prosecution. The NGO's action is

Man faces charges for animal cruelty in Zagora

A man accused of amputating the limbs of a donkey in Zagora is expected to appear in court next week. Local media reports indicate he will be charged with «unnecessarily amputating a riding animal in a place owned by the perpetrator» under Article 601 of the Criminal Code. The Royal Gendarmerie in Zagora investigated the accused before presenting him to the King's Prosecutor at the Zagora Court of First Instance, who ordered his prosecution in custody. According to the same

UN Security Council meeting sees heated exchange between Morocco, Algeria

A UN Security Council meeting on integrating Mediterranean youth into peace and security efforts, hosted by Malta on Wednesday, became a platform for renewed tensions between Morocco and Algeria. Speaking during the meeting, Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf accused «a neighboring state», implying Morocco, of «flooding the Mediterranean basin with drugs». He also called for an «end to the occupation of territories» including Western Sahara. Morocco's

Morocco rescues 131 migrants in distress off Laayoune coast

During two separate operations 50 km northeast of Laayoune, a Royal Navy patrol assisted, on Wednesday, two vessels in distress carrying a total of 131 irregular migrants from sub-Saharan Africa. The group included 27 women and 8 minors, all attempting to reach the Canary Islands. The rescued migrants received necessary aid before being safely transported to the port of Laayoune. They were then handed over to the Royal Gendarmerie to complete the required administrative procedures, according

Morocco arrests three foreign nationals wanted by US in drug trafficking case

Moroccan police arrested three foreign nationals in Marrakech on Wednesday: a Chinese citizen, a Ukrainian citizen, and a Lithuanian citizen. The arrests were made based on international arrest warrants issued by American authorities for alleged ties to criminal networks involved in international drug trafficking and money laundering. The press release from the General Directorate for National Security (DGSN) states that the three individuals, aged 22 to 25, were apprehended during coordinated

Morocco guest of honor at the Madrid Gourmet Show

Morocco makes its debut as a guest of honor at the Salon gourmets de Madrid, held April 22-25, 2024, in the Spanish capital. This major event, considered Europe's largest trade show for gourmet and delicatessen products, provides a prime platform to showcase Moroccan gastronomy and bolster its high-end offerings on the international stage. A 348 sqm Moroccan pavilion will spotlight the country's culinary expertise, rich dishes, and diverse culinary repertoire. 15 exhibitors representing the

Morocco-UK power cable project faces cost hike to £24 billion

The estimated cost of a massive power cable project connecting Morocco and the UK has surged significantly, according to a report by British magazine New Civil Engineer on Wednesday. Xlinks, the developer behind the project, now estimates it could cost up to £24 billion, a 10-20% increase from the initial £20 billion estimate. The project consists of building four 3,800-kilometer high-voltage direct current (HVDC) cables. These cables will run from the UK's south coast, passing

Two arrested in Berkane for hacking and phone call piracy

Police in Berkane arrested, Tuesday, two individuals, including a Lebanese national, suspected of attacking digital data processing systems and hacking phone calls, according to a security source. Preliminary investigation data reveals the involvement of the suspects in hacking national communication networks, using a criminal modus operandi that involves using electronic devices to divert international phone calls to the local network and generate revenue from the tariff difference, the same

Sahara talks : UN envoy frustrated by parties' conditions

On Tuesday, April 16, the United Nations Security Council held a closed-door meeting to discuss the Sahara issue. During the meeting, council members reaffirmed their support for UN envoy Staffan de Mistura's efforts to restart negotiations. However, the UN envoy expressed concerns about conditions set by the parties (Morocco, Algeria, Polisario) for resuming talks. After nearly three years in his role, he has yet to bring all parties to the same table. Algeria continues to advocate for

Air Arabia inaugurates new air base in Tetouan

Air Arabia inaugurated a new air base at Tetouan's Saniat R'mel airport on Tuesday. The ceremony was attended by prominent figures including the Wali of the Tanger-Tétouan-Al Hoceïma region, Younes Tazi, and the Managing Director of Air Arabia Maroc, Laila Mechbal. Mechbal highlighted the significance of this expansion, which introduces 13 direct flights to five European destinations: Amsterdam, Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, and Brussels. She emphasized Tetouan's growing appeal

Algeria's Foreign Minister visits New York ahead of UN session on Sahara

Algerian Foreign Minister Ahmed Attaf arrived at UN headquarters on April 16, hours before the start of a closed session of the Security Council devoted to the Sahara issue. At the UN, Attaf met with UN envoy Staffan de Mistura to discuss «UN steps and efforts aimed at relaunching the political process, involving both parties to the conflict – the Polisario Front and Morocco, to find a solution guaranteeing the Sahrawi people's right to self-determination», according to the

Spain admits talks with Morocco on Sahara airspace transfer

The Spanish government has admitted to holding talks with Morocco on the issue of Saharan airspace. This comes in a written response to a question by a Canary Islands MP, acknowledging «two bilateral meetings» on the topic since the diplomatic rapprochement with Rabat in spring 2022. The government affirms that these negotiations are in line with point 7 of the Moroccan-Spanish Joint Declaration of April 7, 2022, which called for «discussions concerning the management of

Morocco's growth projected at 3.1% in 2024, 3.3% in 2025, according to IMF

According to the International Monetary Fund's (IMF) updated World Economic Outlook released on Tuesday, Morocco's economy is expected to grow by 3.1% this year and 3.3% in 2025. The report, launched during the spring meetings with the World Bank in Washington, also forecasts inflation at 2.2% in 2024 and 2.5% in 2025. Unemployment is predicted to reach 12% this year, falling slightly to 11.5% in 2025. The IMF anticipates the Kingdom's current account balance to stand at -2.6% in 2024,