Morocco: 3 parties agree to form new coalition government

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Morocco’s prime minister-designate announced Wednesday that a three-party coalition will form the country's next government. King Mohammed VI appointed billionaire Aziz Akhanouch as prime minister earlier this month after his party placed first...

Israeli FM to visit Bahrain in first after diplomatic accord

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel's foreign minister said Friday that he will visit Bahrain later this month, the first such visit by an Israeli minister to the Gulf country following a diplomatic agreement reached last year. Yair Lapid announced the visit in a conference call...

Morocco's king appoints a new PM after poll victory

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has named Aziz Akhanouch of the liberal National Rally of Independents Party, or RNI, as the country’s new prime minister and tasked him with forming a government. Akhanouch’s appointment was announced Friday, two...

Moroccans elect new leaders in shadow of virus

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Moroccans voted Wednesday for a new parliament and local leaders in elections that have been reshaped by the pandemic, and whose outcome is hard to predict as opinion polls were not allowed. Candidates promised to create jobs and boost Morocco's...

Parties campaign ahead of Morocco's pivotal elections

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Politicians from dozens of political parties were campaigning for a final day Tuesday, trying to reach out to millions of Moroccans despite social distancing measures a day before pivotal legislative, regional and local elections, with a moderate Islamist party hoping...

Morocco 'regrets' Algeria's decision to cut diplomatic ties

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Morocco regrets the “completely unjustified" decision of neighboring Algeria to break off diplomatic relations, the country's Foreign Affairs Ministry said Wednesday, calling some of Algeria's reasons “absurd.” Algeria cited a series of...

Algeria breaks off diplomatic ties with neighboring Morocco

ALGIERS, Algeria (AP) — Algeria formally broke off diplomatic relations with neighboring Morocco on Tuesday, with the foreign minister citing a series of alleged hostile acts. The move culminates a period of growing tension between the North African countries which are...

Foreign minister announces Algeria is breaking diplomatic ties with Morocco 'starting today' due to alleged hostile acts

Italy-Moroccan student freed after satirical cartoon post

ROME (AP) — An Italian-Moroccan student has been freed by Moroccan authorities after she was detained on blasphemy charges after she arrived in June to visit relatives, Italian officials said Monday. Italy's Foreign Ministry said Ikram Nazih, 23, had been convicted of...

Spain, rights groups disagree over rights of child migrants

MADRID (AP) — Spanish officials sought to justify Tuesday their policy of sending unaccompanied child migrants back to Morocco, while 28 human rights organizations wrote to the Spanish prime minister urging him to end it immediately. Hundreds of unaccompanied minors...