Key tax reforms for Valencia region residents in 2025
Residents of Valencia, Alicante, and the rest of La Comunitat Valenciana will see significant tax reforms in 2025, impacting wealth tax, inheritance and gift tax, property transfer tax, and personal income tax. These changes, introduced by the right-wing coalition of PP and Vox, aim to bring financial relief to both locals and foreign residents. The......
OCP strengthens operations with acquisition of PwC subsidiary
Moroccan phosphate giant OCP SA has acquired PwC Business Services, a subsidiary of PwC Advisory Morocco, in a move that cements their long-standing collaboration. The transaction allows OCP to internalize administrative and financial support functions previously managed by the subsidiary. PwC Business Services was initially established to......
Hadassah clinic in Moscow criticized for treating Iranian IRGC fighters
Moscow – The Israeli-affiliated Hadassah Medical Moscow clinic is reportedly providing medical care to injured members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), sparking widespread criticism in Israel and ridicule across parts of the Arab world. According to a source familiar with the matter, the clinic has also treated......
Morocco forecasts 4.4% economic growth for Q3 2025 amid global uncertainties
Morocco’s economy is projected to grow by 4.4% in the third quarter of 2025, according to the latest estimates from the High Commission for Planning (HCP). The forecast reflects steady momentum from earlier in the year, though growth may slow slightly compared to previous months. Domestic demand remains the primary driver, contributing......
Morocco opens tender to launch 5G mobile networks
Morocco has announced a tender process to license the rollout of 5G mobile networks, signaling a significant step in the country’s digital transformation. The National Telecommunications Regulatory Agency (ANRT) confirmed the move, aligning it with Morocco's ambitious Digital 2030 strategy and its broader telecom policy goals. The......
Protester assaults firefighter, throws him off water tower in Morocco
A protest in the town of Oulad Youssef, near Beni Mellal in Morocco, turned violent on Friday evening when a man attacked a firefighter and pushed him off a high water tower during a crisis intervention. The incident has sparked widespread shock and raised concerns across the region. The protester, reportedly a man in his 40s, had been stationed......
Morocco to invest $40 billion in next five years to meet ambitious energy goals
Morocco will need to invest over $40 billion in the next five years to achieve its national energy objectives, according to Energy Transition Minister Leila Benali. Speaking during an interview with Asharq at the OPEC seminar in Vienna, Benali outlined the country's ambitious energy transition strategy, which focuses heavily on renewable......
Young teacher’s tragic suicide ignites grief and outrage across Morocco
The heartbreaking suicide of Mouad, a young teacher suspended by the regional education directorate in Casablanca, has triggered a wave of grief and anger among citizens and educators in Morocco. The incident has sparked demands for justice, accountability, and systemic reform within the country’s education sector. Suspension and mounting......
US Congress unveils bill to classify Polisario as a terrorist group
The US Congress has officially published the text of a bipartisan bill introduced in June by Republican Congressman Joe Wilson. The proposed legislation builds a case for designating the Polisario Front as a foreign terrorist organization, citing its links to Hezbollah and Iran, as well as its destabilizing activities in the Maghreb and Sahel......
Amina Bouayach emphasizes the need for bold action in transitional justice
Amina Bouayach, the President of Morocco’s National Human Rights Council and the Chair of the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, recently addressed a regional human rights conference in Beirut, focusing on the significance of transitional justice. Highlighting Morocco's unique experience, Bouayach articulated......
Soufiane El Bakkali solidifies his dominance in steeplechase at Monaco Diamond League
Moroccan athlete Soufiane El Bakkali showcased his exceptional talent by winning the men's 3,000 meters steeplechase at the Monaco Diamond League, one of the premier events in international athletics. El Bakkali finished with a time of 8 minutes and 3.18 seconds, outpacing Japan’s Ryuji Miura, who claimed second place with a time......
State Department begins major staff cuts amid reorganization effort
The U.S. State Department has initiated the termination of over 1,300 employees as part of a sweeping restructuring plan aimed at streamlining the agency. According to an internal memo obtained by CNN, the layoffs include 1,107 civil service employees and 246 foreign service officers. Employees began receiving notices on Friday via email,......
Catalan firefighters mourn colleague’s death while battling Paüls wildfire
Tragic loss during wildfire operations A Catalan firefighter tragically lost his life on Thursday afternoon while combating a wildfire in Paüls, southern Catalonia. The incident occurred around 2:15 pm when Antonio Serrano, 46, fell more than 20 meters after a rock he was sitting on gave way. Serrano, a member of the Granollers fire......
Brits in Spain struggle with appointment chaos for residency renewals
Renewing the Brexit TIE: A growing challenge Five years after Spain introduced the non-EU residency card for UK nationals—known as the Tarjeta de Identidad de Extranjero (TIE)—thousands of Britons are now facing significant hurdles renewing their temporary cards. The process, reliant on the infamous cita previa (prior appointment)......
Stephen Miller’s rise: How Trump’s closest aide reshaped U.S. immigration policy
U.S. Marines patrolling Los Angeles streets. Immigration officers sweeping courthouses and restaurants. A ban on travelers from nearly 20 nations. These stark realities reflect the vision of Stephen Miller, the deputy chief of staff and architect behind Donald Trump’s aggressive immigration policies. Miller’s growing influence Stephen......