First Independent Mena Newspaper
Egyptian health authorities have confirmed that the new COVID-19 variant NB.1.8.1, known as Nimbus, has not been detected within the country. Hossam Hosni, head of the Health Ministry’s Scientific Committee to Combat Coronavirus, stated during a televised interview that all surveillance methods indicate the virus has not entered Egypt. While the variant—currently under monitoring by […]
The Libyan government in Tripoli has formally protested to the United Nations over Greece’s delineation of an Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) south of Crete, arguing that the map infringes on Libyan maritime boundaries. The EEZ map, published in the EU’s Official Journal over the weekend, is said by Libya to be a breach of its […]
King Mohammed VI has reaffirmed Morocco’s willingness to advance the implementation of the reinforced exceptional partnership with France and to reshape the two countries’ cooperation in order to better meet the requirements of of the present. This came in a message of congratulations the Monarch addressed to President Emmanuel Macron on France’s National Day In […]
The Mohammed VI Investment Fund has officially designated 14 management companies to oversee thematic and sectoral investment funds aimed at supporting Moroccan startups and innovation-driven enterprises. This announcement follows a highly competitive call for expressions of interest launched on April 15, 2024, which attracted 47 applications from both domestic and international firms. The selection process […]
Amid improving Moroccan-Spanish ties, Spain’s PP party chose to swim against the current, extending an invitation to members of the Algeria-backed Polisario separatist group. The hostile stands of the PP party, which runs the occupied cities of Ceuta and Melillia, triggered a letter from the Istiqlal party urging a clear stand on the Sahara issue. […]
Morocco’s dirham appreciated 1.3 percent against the U.S. dollar while weakening 0.7 percent versus the euro between May and June 2025, according to Bank Al-Maghrib’s latest monthly economic review, reflecting broader currency market dynamics and the euro’s strength. The central bank attributed these movements partly to the euro’s 2.1 percent appreciation against the dollar during […]
Morocco has positioned itself as the driving force behind Africa’s energy transformation, combining strategic investments, institutional innovation, and regional partnerships to address the continent’s energy paradox, according to a new analysis by global energy expert Mehmet Öğütçü. Despite Africa possessing over 60 percent of global solar potential and vast critical mineral reserves, more than 590 […]
Morocco will import up to 20% of its annual soft wheat needs from the United States for the first time, according to Moulay Abdelkader Alaoui, president of the National Federation of Milling (FNM). This strategic shift comes amid a global drop in wheat prices, driven by expectations of record harvests worldwide, Alaoui told Medias24. The […]
Morocco has formally established Fondation 2030, a national body responsible for coordinating the country’s preparations for the FIFA World Cup 2030, which it will co-host with Spain and Portugal. The foundation was created by a Decree, published in the Official Gazette on July 8, 2025. It is recognized as a public utility foundation and will […]
Mauritania’s economic growth is projected to decelerate to 4.0% in 2025, down from 5.2% in 2024 and 6.5% in 2023, according to the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) latest Article IV consultation. The slowdown is attributed primarily to a contraction in the extractive sector, which has been a key driver of recent growth. While the economy […]