First Independent Mena Newspaper
Morocco has received lately 36 respirators and 98,000 facemasks donated by Chinese state-owned Development Bank (CDB). The donation comes after Bank of Africa (BOA) of Moroccan BMCE Group had sent four months ago medical supplies to China following the coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, Hubei province. After the Chinese hospitals, doctors and health workers were overwhelmed […]
The Moroccan government has decided to extend the state of health emergency for three more weeks until June 10. The announcement was made by Head of Government Saâd-Eddine El Othmani this Monday before the Parliament’s two chambers. The state of emergency, previously scheduled to end on May 20, was one of Morocco’s boldest measures to […]
The Sudanese army Sunday said a soldier killed Saturday two occupants of a tuk-tuk that sped through a military checkpoint in Khartoum during a coronavirus curfew. “A speeding motorized rickshaw drove through a military checkpoint in Khartoum without stopping… at 9:00 pm” on Saturday evening, army spokesman Brigadier Amer Mohamed al-Hassan said in a brief […]
Morocco’s impressive management of the coronavirus health crisis, which stands as a model, in the view of several observers, is still attracting the attention of international media. The strategy adopted by Morocco to fight the COVID-19 pandemic is based on containment, high technology and financial support for the most needy, German weekly Die Zeit commented […]
Morocco’s high commission for planning (HCP) published a study warning of the impact of a general confinement easing on the number of deaths and infections that could overwhelm the health system in 62 days. A general confinement easing entailing protective measures with all people under 65 years who are not suffering from chronic health conditions […]
US President Donald Trump officially appointed on Friday Morocco-born immunology expert Moncef Slaoui as head of the White House’s COVID-19 vaccine development team. Trump announced the appointment during a press briefing in the White House’s Rose Garden. The White House initiative aims to quickly develop and distribute coronavirus vaccines. Dr. Slaoui, a former GlaxoSmithKline executive, […]
The containment imposed to limit the spread of COVID-19 costs Africa 2.5% of its GDP, equivalent to $65.7 billion per month, the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) revealed in a report. Private companies approached by the authors of the report say they are working at only 43% of their potential. These estimates do not take […]
Al Mada Foundation has launched Wednesday another COVID-19 solidarity operation to assist needy households during the holy month of Ramadan. This second phase of the Foundation’s COVID-19 Solidarity operation consists of 1,778 tons of foodstuffs and hygiene products, worth more than 22 million dirhams. It will benefit 50,000 households or approximately 250,000 people. The 50,000 […]
The Moroccan parliament is examining a draft law submitted by the government to protect tourism companies from becoming insolvent. The law 30.20 would enable businesses operating in the tourism sector including hotels, travel agencies and airlines to exchange bookings canceled over the coronavirus outbreak with a similar offer for a similar price. Speaking to MPs, […]
Morocco’s GDP will rebound by 4 pc in 2021 after a 2 pc decrease in 2020 due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, says the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). In its Regional Economic Prospects report published Wednesday, EBRD explains that the slowdown will be driven by a sharp decline in tourism, […]