In a statement to MAP, president of the Lagon Dakhla Association for the development of sport and culture, said that this year's event once again confirmed the city of Dakhla's reputation as a key destination for kitesurfing and wingfoil, both of which are Olympic sports.

She noted that the presence of over 70 internationally renowned participants from several countries reflected the enthusiasm for the city of Dakhla and its cultural and tourist features.

The 13th Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan Kitesurfing World Cup 2023, organized from September 22 to October 02, will bring together 39 athletes (26 men and 13 women) in Strapless kitesurfing.

The 2nd GWA Wingfoil World Cup will also be held in Foum Labouir, with the participation of 36 competitors (26 men and 10 women).

The suspects, whose ages range from 34 to 48, were caught in the act in a rural area near the town of Skhirat. They were preparing for an irregular immigration operation by sea, intending to assist 14 would-be immigrants who were arrested at a farm in the same vicinity where they were temporarily residing.

The four suspects have been taken into police custody, while the potential migrants are undergoing a judicial investigation, supervised by the relevant public prosecutor's office, to clarify the details of this case and identify any possible connections or ramifications.
 

These destinations are in demand again, Baitas said at a press briefing following the weekly cabinet meeting, recalling that the Kingdom will host a major event in early October.

In this regard, the minister underlined that by capitalizing on tourism, the government has made the right choice, emphasizing the important contribution of this sector to the recovery of the national economy.

Baitas also recalled the efforts made by the government to support economy during the Covid-19 pandemic and in particular the tourism sector, noting that this sector is promising, particularly during the post-Covid-19 period.

He stressed that the government is working to support the tourism sector, due to its significant contribution to GDP and the creation of job opportunities, adding that the government's support for air transport and tourism sectors will have a positive impact on the national economy.

On Thursday, the MASI had closed with a loss of 0.02%.

''The bid is on the right track, the federations involved are in contact and the Spanish government is committed and pushing as best it can,'' Francos told the press.

''The most important is that we have the best offer and that we have a good chance of winning the bid to host the 2030 World Cup", the Spanish official underlined.

In this regard, he recalled that acting president of the Spanish government, Pedro Sanchez, held a meeting, this week, with FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, to express the government's support for this bid.

At the end of this meeting, Sanchez said that the joint Morocco-Spain-Portugal bid was a "solid and ambitious project", adding that "Spain is working with Portugal and Morocco on a solid bid for the 2030 World Cup".

HM King Mohammed VI announced Morocco's joint bid with Spain and Portugal to host the 2030 World Cup on March 14 in Kigali, in a message to mark the presentation of the Confederation of African Football's (CAF) Outstanding Achievement Award-2022.

This joint bid, unprecedented in the history of football, will be the junction between Africa and Europe, between the north and south of the Mediterranean, and between the African, Arab and Euro-Mediterranean worlds, the Sovereign noted.

HM the king stressed that this bid would be one of bringing together the best from each side, and demonstrating an alliance of genius, creativity, experience and resources.

The tripartite Spain-Morocco-Portugal Commission bidding to host the 2030 World Cup held its first meeting last weekend in Madrid. The next meeting will take place on October 4 in Rabat, in the presence of the presidents of the three federations.

The meeting was an opportunity to examine a series of ongoing programs, in particular the interconnection program between Sebou and Bouregreg basins, which aims to ensure the supply of drinking water to the Rabat-Casablanca region.

During this meeting, projects related to seawater desalination were also discussed, such as the seawater desalination project in the provinces of El Jadida and Safi, the construction of which was entrusted to OCP Group under a memorandum of understanding and a concession contract, as well as the Nador plant.

It should be noted that the national committee in charge of steering the National Drinking Water Supply and Irrigation Program was set up by the Head of Government in June 2022. The members of this committee come from the various departments concerned.

"It is impressive to see how the government and other stakeholders are working to coordinate the reconstruction efforts that will be carried out in the coming months," Flasbarth told MAP following his talks with Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Cooperation and Moroccan Expatriates, Nasser Bourita.

The German official, who was accompanied by a large delegation, also expressed his country's desire to provide assistance following this painful ordeal.

Flasbarth welcomed, on this occasion, the fruitful exchanges he had with Bourita, stressing that his visit to the Kingdom was an opportunity to express Germany's solidarity and support in these difficult circumstances.

"Under the leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, our country, as a State, thanks to the mobilization of its authorities and services and the solidarity and mutual assistance shown by all Moroccans" has successfully managed the impact of this natural disaster, Baitas underlined at a press briefing following the weekly cabinet meeting, adding that Al Haouz earthquake has required the mobilization and the intervention of the State with its various institutions in order to provide assistance to the affected population.

And naturally, "the government is one of those stakeholders" that intervened to mitigate the impact of this natural disaster and has worked according to a clear and well-defined approach in accordance with the High Royal Guidelines, he pointed out, stressing that HM the King chaired three important and key meetings over ten days, during which priorities were defined in a precise manner.

Baitas also noted that "the ministers concerned are making visits to the disaster areas", underlining that a census of the victims is currently being carried out on the ground in the affected regions, and that "the distribution of subsidies will take place as soon as the data is available".

Data relating to the rehabilitation of damaged infrastructure is also being collected, especially roads and schools, as well as other facilities providing social services to citizens, with a view to rebuilding and strengthening infrastructure and promoting the local economy of these localities, he added.

All the departments concerned are present on the ground and are closely monitoring research and census operations, he said, affirming that the government is mobilized to provide a prompt and effective response to these challenges despite the meteorological constraints.

In this regard, the minister noted the need to continue the work with the same momentum in order to preserve the achievements and open a new stage of reconstruction for the disaster areas, with the speed and efficiency that promote the strengthening of local economy local and a decent life.

Regarding the Natural Disaster Fund, Baitas affirmed that “it is activated and credits are allocated to it during each fiscal year, but the tragedy of the earthquake has generated great repercussions”, noting that HM the King has given His High Instructions so that the reconstruction and general rehabilitation program of the disaster areas be a model of integrated and balanced territorial development.

« A great loss for the nation, the late Aïcha El Khattabi was a patriot deeply attached to the constants of the Kingdom", said the Belgian-Moroccan Khalid Hanaoui, president of the "Jaliya 24" association.

« She always believed in a united Morocco, and never ceased to be proud of her Moroccan identity and her King," the Nador-born community activist told MAP.

The deceased was a living memory of the Rif region, and her testimonies enriched the history of anti-occupation movements in different regions of the Kingdom, he added, pointing out that history will remember "a Moroccan woman who embodied the voice of wisdom".

For his part, Dutch-Moroccan Aissa Meziani, a member of the Christian Democratic Party (CDA) in the Netherlands, emphasized the qualities of the late Aïcha El Khattabi as a national figure who had always defended the unity of Morocco and the Moroccan people, and the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Kingdom.

He recalled that HM King Mohammed VI had received the late Aicha El Khattabi, on the occasion of the 19th anniversary of the Sovereign's accession to the throne of His glorious ancestors, noting that this event was a source of great pride for the late, but also for all members of the Moroccan community living abroad, who remain very attached to their country of origin.

The death of Aïcha El Khattabi, a patriotic figure who set an example in terms of love of country and attachment to the foundations of the Nation, is a great loss for Morocco, deplored Meziani, calling for the memory of national figures to be preserved, as a source of lessons for rising generations.

The late Aïcha El Khattabi symbolized the values of unity and solidarity that characterize the Moroccan people, and which were once again materialized in the response to the consequences of the Al Haouz earthquake, under the enlightened leadership of HM King Mohammed VI, he noted.

For his part, Kacem Achehboun, an active member of associations in the Netherlands, remembers the deceased as "a fervent defender of the unity of the nation and its sacred constants and causes".

She enshrined the strong attachment of the family of the late Mohamed Ben Abdelkrim El Khattabi and the sons of the Rif region to the August person of His Majesty the King, he said, noting that she firmly believed in the region's development under the High Guidance of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, particularly after the Sovereign's visit to Al Hoceima in 2000, the day after His accession to the Throne of His Glorious Ancestors.

The funeral of the late Aïcha El Khattabi took place on Thursday in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid.

After the Dhuhr and funeral prayers, the deceased was buried in the Errahma cemetery. The funeral of the deceased was attended by members of her family and relatives, as well as by several personalities.

Born in 1942, she lived and studied in Egypt, before returning to the Motherland after the death of her father.

"The two French nationals who were turned back did not request any authorization to report on the Al Haouz earthquake", stressed Baitas during a press briefing at the end of the government council, adding that they had entered Morocco for tourism purposes.

In this respect, the Minister indicated that it was normal for them to be subject to administrative deportation by decision of the competent authorities, which had applied the relevant legal provisions.

Baitas also said that no fewer than 312 foreign journalists, representing 90 media outlets, were involved in covering the earthquake, stressing that they worked in a climate of freedom and transparency in all the affected regions.

"Of this total, 78 journalists, or a quarter, were of French nationality and represented 16 media outlets, 13 of which were accredited to report on the earthquake and three of which had permanent accreditation," explained the Minister.

"Our country has shown that it is a country of transparency and freedoms, which has ensured that all journalists carry out their work in total freedom", he concluded.