First Independent Mena Newspaper
Sand and dust storms now affect over 330 million people across 150 countries, with serious consequences for health, food security, and economies, according to a new report by the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO). Marking the International Day of Combating Sand and Dust Storms, the UN General Assembly declared 2025–2034 the official Decade for Action […]
On Monday, July 14, 2025, Mali has issued a strong diplomatic protest against the Czech Republic for denying entry visas to its U19 women’s basketball team, preventing their participation in the FIBA Women’s Basketball World Cup held in Brno, from 12 to 20 July. The Foreign Ministry labelled the move as an “unfriendly act” and […]
South African car exports to the United States have plummeted dramatically, falling over 70% in the first quarter of 2025, and tumbling further to 80% in April and 85% in May, 2025, following the imposition of steep tariffs by US President Donald J. Trump. The automotive industry, which relies heavily on the US market under […]
Morocco’s microfinance sector faces significant transformation as proposed regulations dramatically increase lending limits and introduce new deposit frameworks, positioning microfinance institutions as crucial intermediaries for small business financing. The draft decree, implementing Law 50-20 on microfinance, establishes differentiated credit ceilings based on institutional structure and client profiles. For associative microfinance institutions serving low-income populations, limits […]
President Paul Biya, Africa’s second-longest serving leader and the world’s oldest head of state at 92, has confirmed his candidacy for Cameroon’s 12 October presidential election. The announcement, made via social media, ends months of speculation about his political future and reignites debate over the country’s democratic stagnation. “I am a candidate in the presidential […]
The French Embassy hosted a vibrant celebration on the occasion of France’s National Day, marking not just a historic date but a renewed chapter in French-Moroccan relations. Held at the French Residence, the event welcomed some 2,500 guests, including high-ranking Moroccan officials, diplomats, business leaders, and members of the French community in Morocco. The evening […]
More than 100 migrants, including five women, have been rescued from captivity in Ajdabiya, eastern Libya, where they were being held and tortured by a human trafficking gang demanding ransom payments. Libya’s attorney-general confirmed on Monday, July 14 that the criminal group had been orchestrating the smuggling, detention, and abuse of migrants to extort their […]
Morocco has solidified its position as a key trade partner for Spain, emerging as the third-largest supplier of agricultural and fisheries products to the Iberian nation after France and the Netherlands, according to official data released by Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food. The figures, published in the 2024 Foreign Trade Report, reveal that […]
Morocco’s OCP Group has commissioned the country’s longest water pipeline, a 203-kilometer engineering marvel transporting desalinated water from the Atlantic coast to inland phosphate mining operations, achieving complete water autonomy two years ahead of schedule. The Jorf Lasfar-Khouribga pipeline, operated by OCP Green Water, represents a MAD 5 billion ($556 million) investment addressing Morocco’s persistent […]
Africa’s cultural and natural heritage gained significant recognition at UNESCO’s 47th World Heritage Committee session in Paris, with five new sites inscribed and three historically threatened locations successfully removed from the danger list after decades of conservation efforts. The rescued sites demonstrate remarkable resilience through targeted interventions. Madagascar’s Atsinanana Rainforests, endangered since 2010, achieved restoration […]