First Independent Mena Newspaper
Morocco is rapidly emerging as a global automotive manufacturing powerhouse, challenging traditional European players and poised to surpass Italy in vehicle output. Once considered a peripheral actor, the North African kingdom has leveraged its strategic location, competitive labor costs, and aggressive industrial policy to attract billions in foreign investment, particularly from China and Europe, Spanish […]
Morocco has emerged as the United Kingdom’s top supplier of blueberries, setting a new export benchmark with a record-breaking performance in the 2024/25 season, according to data from EastFruit. Between July 2024 and June 2025, Moroccan exporters shipped 19,000 tons of blueberries to the UK, valued at $144 million, marking a 44% year-on-year increase. The […]
The European Union issued more than 606,000 visas to Moroccan citizens in 2024, marking a significant increase and reflecting a notable improvement in diplomatic relations between Morocco and its European partners, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said. In a written response to a parliamentary question regarding visa reciprocity, Bourita emphasized that Morocco’s approach to visa […]
Libyan Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah met with French President Emmanuel Macron’s Special Envoy to Libya, Paul Soler, on Sunday to review the ongoing security operation in Tripoli and set priorities for the next stage of stabilization efforts. The talks disclosed on August 18 by the Prime Minister’s office, addressed bilateral relations, Libya’s political trajectory, […]
A joint counterterrorism operation between Spain and Morocco has led to the arrest of two individuals suspected of jihadist activity in Catalonia, underscoring the role of Morocco’s security services in pre-emptive action against terrorist cells. On Thursday, Spanish National Police, with critical support from Morocco’s General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST), detained two men aged […]
In a landmark move to boost its influence in Africa, Russia last week hosted its first official military consultations with the defense chiefs of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger — members of the recently formalized Alliance of Sahel States (AES). The high-level talks in Moscow, led by Russian Defense Minister Andrey Belousov, concluded with the […]
Morocco’s National Tourist Office (ONMT) has picked the London-based Rooster agency to promote the country’s tourist destination in the UK and Ireland. Rooster’s mission includes managing media, collaborating with influencers, engaging travel industry professionals, organizing events, and enhancing Morocco’s Nation Brand. The British Communications agency has been chosen after successful marketing campaigns from late 2024 […]
A coalition of Moroccan diaspora organizations in Italy has issued a scathing denunciation of what they describe as the political exploitation of children from the Tindouf refugee camps in Algeria. Under the misleading banner of a “peace vacation,” over 60 minors were brought to Italy this summer, allegedly to escape hardship, only to be indoctrinated […]
A new subsea fiber optic cable connecting the Canary Islands to Morocco is set to play a major role in Atlantic connectivity, Spanish media reported. The project is being spearheaded by Spanish company Islalink in collaboration with Canalink, an operator linked to the Island Council of Tenerife and the Technological and Renewable Energy Institute (ITER), […]
The Portuguese government has publicly thanked Morocco for its swift assistance in battling severe wildfires, following the emergency deployment of two Canadair water-bombing aircraft on August 11. The planes were sent after several Portuguese firefighting aircraft were grounded, providing a critical boost to aerial operations at a time of heightened alert. The Moroccan aircraft, operating […]