Coronavirus: Morocco receives US aid of 6.6 MDH

The US government has mobilized 6.6 million dirhams to support efforts to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus in Morocco.

 This support from the United States, through the Contingent Infectious Diseases Emergency Reserve Fund of the American Agency for International Development (USAID), will help Morocco and other partner countries to prepare their laboratories for carrying out  large-scale testing of the Covid-19;  implement a public health emergency plan for points of entry;  activate case finding and event-based epidemiological surveillance for influenza-like viruses;  train and equip rapid response teams;  investigate cases and seek contacts of infected people, and adapt training materials on the Covid-19 for the benefit of health workers.

 “With long-standing partners like Morocco, we are working together to improve the global capacity to contain epidemics at their source and to minimize their impact.  These investments - and the US-Morocco partnership - are essential to quickly and effectively prepare for emerging threats, including the current Covid-19 epidemic, "said Ambassador David T. Fischer in a statement.  in Morocco.

Cold, snow and strong gales from Sunday

Cold weather, snowfall and strong gusts of orange level winds are expected from Sunday 19 January in several provinces of the Kingdom.

 In a special weather report, the Directorate of National Meteorology indicates that the provinces of Al Haouz, Azilal, Midelt, Ifrane, Boulmane, Tinghir, the reliefs of Beni Mellal and Chichaoua, Ouarzazate, Figuig, Taourirt, Jerada, Sefrou,  El Hajeb, Khenifra Taroudant and El Houceima are affected by cold weather from Monday January 20 until Wednesday January 22.

 According to the same source, the provinces of Al Haouz, Azilal, Tinghir, Beni Mellal, Midelt, Ifrane, Khenifra, Sefrou and Boulmane will be affected by snowfall from 1,200m from Sunday to Tuesday January 21.

 Some snowfall (less than 20 cm) will also be expected in the provinces of Taourirt, Taza, Figuig, El Hoceima and Ouarzazate during the same validity.

 In addition, strong gusts of wind (75/95 km / h) will affect, on Sunday, the provinces of Al Haouz, Azilal, Beni Mellal, Midelt, Ouarzazate, Taroudant, Tiznit, Sidi Ifni, Nador, Tinghir and Guelmi

Morocco at the 15th Cycling Tour of Gabon

The national cycling selection will participate in the 15th edition of the Amissa Bongo cycling tour (Tour of Gabon), Africa Tour event which will be contested from 20 to 26 January, we learned from the Royal Moroccan Cycling Federation (FRMC)  ).

 The Moroccan delegation to take part in this competition is made up of runners Adil El Arbaoui, Houcine Sabahi, Mohcine El Kouraji, Oussama Khafi, Youssef Bdadou and Yasser Tahiri, framed by national trainer Ahmed Rahili, said a press release from the Federation on Friday.

Morocco and Turkey for "more balanced" bilateral trade

Morocco and Turkey agreed on Wednesday in Rabat to revise the terms of their current free trade agreement for "more balanced, more important and good quality" trade.

 Under the terms of the joint declaration made public after a business meeting, initiated on the sidelines of the 5th session of the joint monitoring committee of the Morocco-Turkey Free Trade Agreement, the two parties also  agreed to immediately initiate work on the topics agreed upon during the work of this meeting and assess the progress made up to the date January 30, 2020.

 During this session of the Moroccan-Turkish joint committee (January 14 and 15) co-chaired by the Minister of Industry, Trade and the Green and Digital Economy, Moulay Hafid Elalamy, and the Turkish Minister of Trade, Ruhsar  Pekcan, the two sides also agreed to bring bilateral trade to a "more balanced level and encourage Turkish investors to invest in Morocco in the production industry as well as encourage Moroccan exports to Turkey".

 Morocco and Turkey also expressed, on this occasion, their common will to strengthen their commercial and friendly relations "on a mutual beneficial basis of cooperation", according to this joint statement read to the press by Elalamy.

 Organized by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and the Green and Digital Economy in partnership with the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE), the Ministry of Trade of Turkey and the Turkish Relations Council  Foreign Economic Affairs (DEİK), this meeting was an opportunity for economic operators from the two countries to examine ways and means to materialize bilateral economic cooperation.

Rapper L’Gnawi's prison sentence confirmed

The one-year prison sentence imposed by the Salé court against rapper L’Gnawi was confirmed on appeal on Wednesday for "contempt of public official".

 The rapper, 31, had in a "live" video on his Instagram account, insulted the police, explaining later, having experienced a police check as a "humiliation".

 However, according to his lawyer, he "was above all condemned for his last title," Long live the people "(3ach cha3b), which he interprets with two other rappers, denouncing" injustice "and" grabbing wealth  ".

The French amphibious helicopter carrier Diksmuide stops in Casablanca

The amphibious helicopter carrier Diksmuide, a command and projection tool for French Navy forces, docked at the port of Casablanca on Wednesday for a three-day stopover.

 For the occasion, the French Embassy gave a reception on board this flagship of the French navy in the evening, in the presence of several civil and military figures from the two countries.

 Ambassador Hélène Le Gal said, on the sidelines of this reception, that this stopover is part of ambitious cooperation activities between the two countries aimed at exchanging technical and operational know-how, increasing interoperability and promoting  regional security in the maritime sector.

 It is also an opportunity to work with the Royal Navy on ways to strengthen this "extremely strong" partnership for both parties, she said.

 "We are delighted with this partnership we have with Morocco, which also results in the presence of French military aid workers in certain Moroccan schools and Moroccan officers in France," she continued.

 The presence of Diksmuide in Casablanca will be an opportunity to organize visits and meetings with representatives of the local, Moroccan and international community.

 From its flight deck, the ship can deploy a full air mobile force made up of combat helicopters, intended to conduct strikes or territory surveillance operations.

 Its amphibious capacity allows, thanks to rapid landing craft and barges for transporting equipment, to project troops and vehicles from the sea to land, but also to conduct rescue operations for populations (evacuation of nationals, assistance after a disaster)  ).

The rehabilitation program of the old medina of Essaouira benefits 13,000 people

Some 13,000 people will benefit from the complementary rehabilitation and enhancement program for the old medina of Essaouira, said Al Omrane group chairman Badr Kanouni on Wednesday.
 This program, which covers 30 ha for investments of around 300 million dirhams, benefits the 13,000 inhabitants of the old medina of Essaouira, said Badr Kanouni, during the King's visit  Mohammed VI at the old medina of Essaouira.

 This complementary program, which is part of the rehabilitation and enhancement programs of the old medinas carried out under the supervision of the Sovereign, is a global program that revolves around four axes, namely the rehabilitation of the  urban space, the restoration and enhancement of the historic heritage, the promotion of access to social services and the strengthening of the tourist and economic attractiveness of the old medina of Essaouira, he explained.
 A total of 26 projects will be carried out within the framework of this program, the fruit of a partnership between different actors aiming to materialize the Royal High Vision, in particular ministries, the Hassan II Fund for economic and social development, the region of Marrakech-  Safi and the Essaouira municipal council, says Badr Kanouni.

 The monitoring of the implementation of the program is ensured by provincial commissions chaired by the governor of the province, as well as a regional commission chaired by the wali and composed of all the actors in order to guarantee their coordination in order to achieve the  five-year project (2019-2023), he added.
 In this sense, the chairman of the Al Omrane group's executive board noted that work is progressing on schedule.