News Flash

Moroccan migrant's body found in Ceuta

The Coast Guard of the Civil Guard of Ceuta, in cooperation with the Special Group for Underwater Activities (GEAS), found the body of a young man late Wednesday off the coast of Ceuta, near the area known as '1000 Degrees,' according to Spanish media sources. Sources from the Civil Guard Command in Ceuta confirmed to Efe that the body may be that of a young Moroccan man, as it was in an advanced state of decomposition and was not wearing a diving suit. The incident comes at a time of

Two charged for Quran burnings in Sweden

Two individuals have been charged in Sweden with inciting hatred after burning copies of the Quran in public on several occasions in 2023, the Public Prosecutor's Office said on Wednesday. «The two men are being prosecuted for having, on four occasions, made statements and treated the Quran in a way intended to express contempt for Muslims because of their faith», said Senior Public Prosecutor Anna Hankkio in a statement. She added that «the actions and statements of these

Al Ahly signs Moroccan defender Achraf Dari

Egypt's Al Ahly Football Club announced on Wednesday the signing of Moroccan defender Achraf Dari. The club said in a press release that it has signed Dari, a defender from French club Brest, for a period of 4 years. Al Ahly highlighted that all administrative and financial matters have been finalized with the player and his club, noting that Dari successfully passed the medical examination. Dari will join Moroccan players Yahya Attiat Allah and Reda Slim at Al Ahly. Previously playing for

Moroccan star Soufiane Rahimi extends Al-Aïn contract to 2028

Soufiane Rahimi, 28, has extended his contract with Al-Aïn until 2028, the Emirati club announced on X on Wednesday, August 28. The Moroccan striker expressed satisfaction with the agreement reached with Al-Aïn's management. «My decision was made after receiving a phone call from His Highness Prince Hazzaa (bin Zayed, the chairman of Al-Aïn)», Rahimi said in statements, «congratulating me on my performance at the Olympic Games» with the Moroccan soccer

Sahara desert to experience unprecedented downpour in September

The Sahara Desert is set to experience a significant rainfall event over the next two weeks. Meteorologists predict precipitation levels ranging from 500% to 1000% above normal for August and September across large parts of the desert. The Sahara, spanning 9.2 million square kilometers across North Africa, is typically one of the driest regions on Earth. Many areas receive less than 25mm of rain annually, with some locations having no recorded rainfall in modern times. However, this unusual

After backlash, Algerian commentator Mehdi Ghezzar apologizes to Moroccan people

Algerian commentator Mehdi Ghezzar has apologized to the Moroccan people following his appearance on the Algerian public channel AL24 News, where he made numerous false claims, particularly about royal advisor André Azoulay and Morocco. «I wish to express my sincere apologies to the Moroccan people», Ghezzar said in a video shared online on Wednesday. «If my words upset, saddened, or hurt you, I am truly sorry. It was not my intention. I was not referring at all to the

Judges suspended for lenient rape sentencing in Morocco

Supreme Council of the Judicial Power decided yesterday to penalize three judges with a six-month suspension without pay (excluding family allowances) and transfer them to another court for imposing a sentence below the legal minimum in a rape case. The case dates back to March 2023, when the Rabat Criminal Chamber of First Instance convicted three defendants of raping a child under the age of 11, resulting in her pregnancy. The first defendant received a two-year prison sentence, while the

Moroccan-French rugby player lost at sea : Parents file complaint seeking answers

It is the first time that the parents of Mehdi Narjissi, a 17-year-old French-Moroccan rugby player, have publicly addressed the disappearance of their son while training with the French U18 rugby team in South Africa. Nearly a month after the tragic disappearance of young Mehdi, his parents are demanding answers. Speaking on Tuesday, August 27, they expressed their desire to understand who is responsible for this unfortunate event. Mehdi, a rising star at Stade Toulousain since 2022, was

Australia's Worley leads FEED for two major green ammonia plants in Morocco

Worley Limited, an Australian engineering professional services company, has commenced work on a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) for the construction of two major green ammonia projects in cooperation with Morocco's OCP Group, reports Renewables Now, quoting a Worley annual report. The first project, the multi-billion-euro Tarfaya Power-to-X, will begin in September. It will include a transmission grid, hydrogen and ammonia plants, and storage facilities. A temporary camp for 30,000

Casablanca encounter : Anti-Zionist Orthodox Jews from the US seek peaceful life in Morocco

A chance and surprising encounter in Casablanca: Orthodox Jews from the USA were strolling along Boulevard Moulay Youssef, with a little boy in traditional dress holding two Palestinian flags. The adults wore cloths inscribed with «Jews are not Zionists!» in Hebrew and English. In conversation, they confirmed their American origins and their intent to live in Morocco, a country they view as peaceful. Suddenly, a man in a car stopped to shout at them, to which the eldest replied,

Spain denies Moroccan role in Ceuta migrant surge

The Spanish government has ruled out Morocco's involvement in the recent influx of migrants into Ceuta, according to Spanish government sources. They noted that relations with the Kingdom of Morocco remain positive, reported EFE. The government sources denied any connection between the current situation and the events of May 2021, when more than 8,000 people entered irregularly during a diplomatic crisis with Rabat. They highlighted the good cooperation in combating migration and the positive

Organ donation rates lower among Dutch of Moroccan descent

Recent data released by the Dutch Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) reveals a significant disparity in organ donation rates among different ethnic groups in the Netherlands. While the overall number of adults refusing organ donation has slightly decreased, there remains a notable trend among Dutch citizens of Turkish, Moroccan, or Surinamese descent. The data highlights that 75% to 98% of adults born in Turkey, Morocco, or Suriname, or with a parent from these countries, have explicitly

Moroccan Foreign Minister congratulates new Tunisian counterpart

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nasser Bourita, had a telephone call yesterday evening with the new head of Tunisian diplomacy, Mohamed Ali Nafti. Bourita «congratulated» his Tunisian counterpart «for the confidence entrusted in him by His Excellency the President of the Republic», according to a statement from the Tunisian Foreign Ministry. Both parties «emphasized the depth and solidity of the fraternal ties between the two brotherly peoples and the common

Satellite captures Saharan dust winds sweeping off Morocco

A satellite image from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi National Polar-orbiting Partnership, a weather satellite operated by the United States' National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), captured winds carrying dust from Southern Morocco sweeping over the Atlantic Ocean. The image, published by NASA’s Earth Observatory on August 24, shows dust from the Sahara Desert, described as «Earth’s largest source of airborne dust»,

Morocco addresses concerns over non-hazardous waste imports

The Ministry of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development has clarified that the importation of non-hazardous waste into Morocco is strictly regulated by both international and domestic laws. The Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal, ratified by Morocco, provides the overarching framework, while specific domestic legislation, such as Law 28.00 and Decree 587.17.2, outlines detailed procedures and requirements. Addressing recent

Leicester City secures Moroccan star Bilal El Khannouss for €20.5M

Moroccan international footballer Bilal El Khannouss will be signed by English club Leicester City. According to Italian sports journalist Fabrizio Romano, Leicester City has agreed to sign the attacking midfielder from Belgian Pro League club Genk. El Khannouss is set to join Leicester City on a €20.5 million package deal, Romano wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday. «A 15% sell-on clause is also included», he added. ?? Leicester City agree deal to sign El Khannouss

RMC drops columnist Mehdi Ghezzar after anti-Morocco remarks on Algerian TV

Following his appearance on the Algerian public channel AL24 News, where he made numerous false claims, particularly about royal advisor André Azoulay and Morocco, Ghezzar has been removed from French channel RMC's Les Grandes Gueules.«Following unacceptable comments made by Mehdi Ghezzar on foreign television, the management of RMC and Les Grandes Gueules have decided to end his participation in the show», the program announced on Tuesday. MISE AU POINT - Suite

Heavy thunderstorms and hail expected Wednesday in northern and central Morocco

The Directorate General of Meteorology (DGM) has issued an orange alert warning of heavy thundershowers, hail, and gusty winds in several provinces of Morocco on Wednesday. Between 1 PM and 11 PM, thundershowers are expected to bring 20-35 millimeters of rainfall to the provinces of Boulemane, Taza, Ifrane, Khenifra, Midelt, Sefrou, Al Hoceima, Guercif, Driouch, Jerada, and Taourirt.