block-country/Morocco
Features
2010-02-07 The flood-ravaged area will receive government assistance to help farmers recover from the latest round of torrential rain.Continue...
2010-02-05 MPs say the sessions shown on TV – replete with empty seats – do not show the true picture of their work. Convincing the Moroccan public is another story.Continue...
2010-02-05 Morocco is planning a high-speed rail project costing 20 billion dirhams, but some argue that the money should be spent on higher-priority needs like education.Continue...
2010-02-04 Job creation continues to be a challenge for the Maghreb, and female workers and young people suffer the most from joblessness.Continue...
2010-02-02 An international watchdog group's recent report, which concludes that civil liberties have taken a hit in Morocco, has provoked reactions from the government and civil society.Continue...
News Briefs
Tunisian semi-marathon draws international athletes
2010-02-08 The Tunisian town of La Marsa will host its annual semi-marathon, "Les Foulées du Megara", on March 21st, La Presse reported on Monday (February 8th). Runners from Algeria, Morocco, France, Italy, the US, Kenya and other countries will be represented at this year's edition.
Algerian, UN officials discuss new round of Western Sahara talks
2010-02-05 Algerian government officials and UN Western Sahara mission chief Hany Abdel-Aziz met in Algiers on Thursday (February 4th) to discuss the upcoming informal talks between Morocco and the Polisario Front, Algerian press reported. "The positions of the two parties disagree completely, but everything is possible if the will exists," AFP quoted Abdel-Aziz as saying. For his part, Maghreb and African Affairs Minister Abdelkader Messahel reiterated Algeria's support for UN efforts to achieve a solution to the Western Sahara issue. On Tuesday, Morocco and the Polisario Front agreed to hold a new round of informal talks in New York on February 10th.
Maghreb Taekwondo Championships open in Oran
2010-02-05 The 4th Maghreb Taekwondo Championships begin in Oran on Friday (February 5th), APS reported. Tunisia, Morocco, Libya and Algeria will participate in the event. Host Algeria will be represented by 64 male and female athletes.
Casablanca-Tangier rail line construction to begin
2010-02-04 Morocco this week signed contracts to launch construction on a high-speed train line between Casablanca and Tangier, ANSA reported on Wednesday (February 3rd). The new route is expected to cut the travel time between the two cities from almost six to two hours. The new line's estimated budget is 2 billion euros, one third of which has already been allocated by France. The high-speed train should be operational by 2015.
U-17 African Games slated for Morocco
2010-02-04 Morocco will host the first U-17 African Youth Games on May 9th-15th, MAP reported on Wednesday (February 3rd), following the signing of an agreement in Casablanca between Moroccan officials and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ACNOA). Some 1,200 African athletes will compete in 14 individual and team events.
Morocco launches national Women's Rugby Sevens event
2010-02-04 Morocco's first national Women's Rugby Sevens Tournament will open in Temara on Friday (February 5th), MAP reported. The competition aims to promote the sport, which will become an official Olympic event in 2016.
