Morocco's Arrabet and Skaleet partner for a new neo-bank offering in Africa  (Read more...)

You had Down syndrome, and yet…

You had Down syndrome, andYet they unleashed on you a fierceCombat dog, trained to kill as much asThey were all educated to hate. Your name was Muhammad. AndLike the Prophet, peace be uponHim, you were also loved, cherishedAnd above anything else, «most praised». Your mother used to care for you,And so did every member of theCamp in Gaza, though plunderedBy a mob bereft of any sign of faith. You called your killer «my dear»,Begging it while it was crunchingYour arm,

Raja president Mohamed Boudrika to be extradited to Morocco after German arrest

German prosecutors have confirmed the arrest of Raja de Casablanca president Mohamed Boudrika at Hamburg airport on an international arrest warrant. «He is being held pending extradition to the Moroccan authorities», the prosecutor's office stated. Boudrika was traveling to Hamburg on Wednesday to meet with first-team coach Josef Zinnbauer to convince him to continue coaching the Green team. Last March, the Aïn Sebaa Criminal Court sentenced Mohamed Boudrika in absentia

Marhaba 2024 : 538,000 passengers cross Moroccan ports by mid-July

Minister of Transport and Logistics, Mohamed Abdeljalil, announced on Monday that Moroccan ports have received approximately 538,000 passengers by July 15 as part of the «Marhaba 2024» operation, marking a 4% increase compared to the same period last year. Abdeljalil, presenting the «Marhaba 2024 provisional figures» at the House of Councillors, emphasized that the Ministry, through all its components, will continue the general mobilization to ensure that the arrival

Spanish police seize 15 stolen cars headed to Morocco

The Spanish National Police recovered 15 stolen cars hidden inside containers at the Algeciras port. Most of these vehicles, originating from France, Germany, and Italy, were intercepted before being shipped across the Strait of Gibraltar to Morocco. According to Spanish media, the thieves employed a technique known as «triangulation». This method involves fraudulently obtaining ownership documents for rental cars, essentially hiding the true owner's identity through a series of

Major tech disruption : Morocco's RAM and Ryanair impacted

A major technical failure is currently disrupting computer systems of numerous companies worldwide, according to statements from Australia's national cybersecurity authority. The disruption first impacted entities in Australia, including the ABC television network, Sydney Airport, and a major supermarket chain. The impact extends beyond Australia's borders, with reports of similar disruptions at airlines like Ryanair and Transavia, emergency services in the US state of Alaska, and airports

Morocco’s govt strives to regulate right to strike

The Moroccan government is striving to provide a regulatory and legal framework for the right to strike, as part of a serious, responsible, and participatory dialogue with trade unions, Government Spokesperson Mustapha Baitas said on Thursday in Rabat. Speaking during a press briefing following the Government Council, Baitas stated that after presenting draft organic law n° 97.15, which defines conditions and procedures for exercising the right to strike, discussions would begin today to

King Fahd Translation School apologizes for mislabeling Amazigh a «foreign language»

Following a social media uproar, the King Fahd School of Translation in Tangier, affiliated with Sultan Abdelmalek Saadi University, issued an apology for designating Amazigh, an official language of Morocco alongside Arabic since 2011, as a «foreign language» in a recent announcement. The school said, Thursday in an official apology, that it was an «unintentional mistake» and assures the public that the issue has been corrected. Said announcement, shared both online

Morocco retains African supremacy despite drop in FIFA rankings

Morocco has slipped two spots to 14th place in the latest FIFA World Rankings released on July 18th, with a total of 1669.44 points. Despite the drop, the Atlas Lions remain the top-ranked African nation, ahead of Senegal (19th), Egypt (36th), Côte d'Ivoire (38th), and Nigeria (39th). They also retain the top spot in the Arab world. Argentina continues to reign supreme in the overall rankings, followed by Euro 2024 finalists France and Spain (3rd, +5), the newly crowned champions.

Achraf Hakimi set to extend contract with PSG

Paris Saint-Germain is set to extend the contract of Moroccan full-back Achraf Hakimi, according to RMC Sport. A key player for Luis Enrique's side since his 2021 arrival, Hakimi has remained influential despite Kylian Mbappé's departure. Currently contracted until 2026, the right-back is expected to sign an extension, solidifying his long-term future at PSG. Despite facing some physical challenges during the 2023-2024 season, Hakimi contributed significantly, making 40 appearances

Young Moroccan dies after falling into Italian river

A 20-year-old Moroccan man died after falling into the Galaso River in Marina di Ginosa, a seaside resort in the municipality of Ginosa, Italy, local media reported on July 16. The man, identified as Soufiane Elqasemy, had been living in Italy for about a year, working as a laborer in the Ginosa countryside. Investigators say he was with another compatriot when he fell off a lilo. Unable to swim, he drowned. His friend managed to get out of the water and call for help. The incident occurred

US State Department : Morocco actively boosts foreign investment

Morocco «actively encourages and facilitates» foreign investment, said the US State Department in its «2024 Investment Climate Statements» published Wednesday. «Morocco actively encourages and facilitates foreign investment, particularly in export sectors like manufacturing, through positive macro-economic policies, trade liberalization, investment incentives, and structural reforms», the report pointed out. At the confluence of Europe, Sub-Saharan Africa,

Morocco state sells stake in iconic Mamounia hotel

Moroccan state has sold its stake in the iconic Mamounia Hotel to the state-owned OCP Group for 1.7 billion dirhams ($173 million), according to Al Sharq, which cites well-informed sources.  The hotel, a Marrakech landmark, celebrated its centenary last year and boasts a rich history hosting international dignitaries such as Winston Churchill, Franklin Roosevelt, Charles de Gaulle, and Charlie Chaplin. Prior to the sale, the Mamounia's ownership was divided among various entities, with

Moroccan army delegation visits Ethiopia

A Moroccan military delegation led by Major General Aziz Idrissi visited Ethiopia to discuss strengthening bilateral defense ties. The delegation met with Ethiopian Army Chief of Staff Field Marshal Berhanu Jula to explore avenues for cooperation on peace and security issues. Field Marshal Jula acknowledged the «historical ties between the two nations, which were interrupted for several reasons». General Idrissi emphasized the importance of military collaboration. Relations

Algeria briefly reopens border to repatriate 6 Moroccans

On July 17, Morocco temporarily reopened its land border with Algeria to repatriate six Moroccan citizens who had completed prison sentences in Tlemcen, Algeria. The individuals hailed from Oujda, Kasbah Tadla, Taza, and Fez, according to a press release from the Moroccan Association for the Support of Migrants in Vulnerable Situations. The NGO expressed concern over the ongoing plight of hundreds of Moroccans detained or held in pre-trial detention in Algeria. Despite sending a letter to

Morocco attracts 100 investors for green hydrogen project

Morocco’s Energy Transition and Sustainable Development Minister Leila Benali announced on Tuesday that Morocco has attracted interest from «100 domestic and foreign investors in its green hydrogen development initiative». During a parliamentary session, Benali highlighted the «Morocco Offer», a comprehensive plan providing investors with access to 300,000 hectares of land in the initial phase. She emphasized the initiative's appeal to key Moroccan partners,

Morocco condemns shooting in Sultanate of Oman

Morocco condemned the shooting that took place on Tuesday near a mosque in the Al-Wadi Al-Kabir area in the Sultanate of Oman, which has caused several deaths and injuries. In a press release, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates stated that the Kingdom of Morocco reaffirms its solidarity with the brotherly Sultanate of Oman in all the measures undertaken to preserve its security and stability and the security of its citizens and residents.

Raja Casablanca president Mohamed Boudrika arrested in Germany

Mohamed Boudrika, president of Raja de Casablanca, was arrested in Germany on Tuesday, July 16, following an international arrest warrant issued by Morocco. Le360 reported that Boudrika was in Hamburg to negotiate a contract extension with coach Josef Zinnbauer when the arrest occurred. According to the media outlet, Mohamed Boudrika remained unreachable, while his entourage «left doubt by publishing two posts on his official Facebook account». Boudrika's son, contacted by Le360,

Students launch petition against classmates who visited Israel

More than 1,500 students have signed a petition against last week's visit to Israel by students from Al Akhawayn University (AUI). «Some students from AUI are participating in an ‘activism’ event in Tel Aviv, Israel (PALESTINE). They are proudly taking a stance which goes against all morals and values that we are taught here at AUI», the petition reads. «Those students should be held accountable for tarnishing the reputation of, not only AUIers, but of all