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Mapping the Damage from the Earthquake in MoroccoAn earthquake, which had a magnitude of at least 6.8, struck Morocco on Friday night, killing more than 1,000 people and devastating a region where many vulnerable buildings were unable to withstand the shaking. Shake intensity Very strong Moderate Fes Rabat Meknes Casablanca Safi MOROCCO Marrakesh Essaouira Epicenter Ouarzazate Agadir MOROCCO ALGERIA Shake intensity Very strong Moderate Rabat Casablanca MOROCCO Safi Marrakesh Essaouira Epicenter Ouarzazate Agadir MOROCCO ALGERIA Fes Rabat Shake intensity Meknes Very strong Moderate Casablanca Safi MOROCCO Marrakesh Essaouira Epicenter Ouarzazate Agadir MOROCCO ALGERIA Sources: U.S. Geological Survey (earthquake intensity); WorldPop (population data)The epicenter was about 35 miles west of Oukaimeden, a popular ski resort in the High Atlas Mountains, according to the United States Geological Survey. Rubble filled alleyways in Marrakesh, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and houses were flattened in villages in the countryside. About 3 million more people experienced moderate shaking. Fadel Senna/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesAlthough much of southern Morocco, where the quake struck, is rural, the region’s cities and towns are often very densely populated.

Persons: Fadel Senna Organizations: Rabat, . Geological Survey, United States Geological Survey, UNESCO, New York Times, U.S . Geological Survey, MOROCCO MOROCCO Oulad, Agence France Locations: Morocco, Fes Rabat Meknes Casablanca, MOROCCO Marrakesh, Agadir MOROCCO ALGERIA, Rabat Casablanca MOROCCO Safi Marrakesh, Agadir MOROCCO ALGERIA Fes Rabat, Meknes, Casablanca Safi MOROCCO Marrakesh, Oukaimeden, Marrakesh, U.S, WorldPop, Ourir, MOROCCO MOROCCO, MOROCCO MOROCCO Oulad Berhil, MOROCCO, Moroccan

☆ Marrakech: Residents spend a night in the streets while others flee after earthquake
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-09 | by ( Benjamin Brown | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Marrakech CNN —As the dust began to settle, panic set in. As the earthquake caused buildings to collapse, killing more than 1,000 across Morocco, those who could crowded the streets. A general view of damage in the historic city of Marrakech, following a powerful earthquake in Morocco, September 9, 2023. REUTERS/Abdelhak Balhaki Abdelhak Balhaki/ReutersA damaged vehicle is pictured in the historic city of Marrakech, following a powerful earthquake in Morocco, September 9, 2023. While Marrakech suffered, the epicenter of the earthquake was around 50km away, in the rural, mountainous Al Haouz region.

Persons: –, Balhaki, Marrakech’s, Mohammed VI Organizations: Marrakech CNN —, CNN, REUTERS Locations: Marrakech, Moroccan, Jemaa, Morocco, Rabat, Casablanca, Marrakech’s Medina, Al Haouz, Chichaoua

The visit was Staffan de Mistura’s first to the Western Sahara since he was appointed in 2021 to oversee U.N. efforts to guide negotiations that date back more than three decades. Morocco annexed Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony in 1975, sparking a conflict with the pro-independence Polisario Front. The region is believed to have considerable offshore oil deposits and mineral resources and is slightly larger than the United Kingdom. The United Nations said in a statement leading up to the trip that he “looked forward to further deepening consultations with all concerned on the prospects of constructively advancing the political process on Western Sahara,” and noted that the visit would precede the publication of a Western Sahara report to the Security Council next month. Morocco referenced its preferred plan to grant the region a form of self-governance that falls short of independence.

Persons: De Mistura, “, Joe Biden hasn't, Mistura's, Joshua Harris, Washington's, Harris, Lounès, ” Organizations: UNITED NATIONS, United Nations, Polisario Front, Security, Trump, U.S, Embassy, APS, “, Moroccan Autonomy Initiative Locations: Western, Morocco, Western Sahara, Spanish, Polisario, United Kingdom, United States, Israel, ”, North Africa, Rabat, Algiers, Algeria, Sahara, “ Morocco, Moroccan

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — A powerful earthquake struck Morocco late Friday, and shaking was felt from Rabat to Marrakesh. There was no immediate word on any casualties or damage. The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 and occurred about 18 kilometers (11 miles) below the surface. It said the quake hit at 11:11 p.m. and was centered about 56.3 kilometers (34.9 miles) west of Oukaimeden, a popular ski resort in the Atlas Mountains. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Organizations: Geological Survey, Associated Press Locations: RABAT, Morocco, Rabat, Marrakesh, U.S, Oukaimeden

☆ Powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake strikes Morocco, some damage reported
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

RABAT, Sept 8 (Reuters) - A powerful earthquake of magnitude 6.8 struck central Morocco late on Friday, the U.S. Geological Survey said, shaking buildings in nearby Marrakesh and sending panicked residents out into the streets. The scale of the damage was not immediately clear. Some videos shared on social media, which Reuters could not immediately verify, appeared to show at least one building collapsing and rubble in the streets. Others showed people running out of a shopping center, restaurants and apartment buildings and congregating outside. In Marrakesh, resident Brahim Himmi said he saw ambulances coming out of the old town and that many building facades were damaged.

Persons: Brahim Himmi, Ahmed El Jechtimi, Jose Joseph, Rosalba O'Brien, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: U.S . Geological Survey, Reuters, Thomson Locations: RABAT, Morocco, U.S, Marrakesh, Oukaimeden, Rabat, Bengaluru

Since 1900, there have been no earthquakes M6 (magnitude 6) and larger within 500 km of this earthquake, and only 9 M5 (magnitude 5) and larger earthquakes,” USGS said. Most houses in the mountain village of Asni near the epicenter were damaged, Montasir Itri, a local resident, told Reuters. Morrow state-run Al-Aoula television on Saturday showed multiple buildings collapsed near the epicenter of the earthquake. I’m still in the road with my children and we’re scared,” Houda Hafsi, a 43-year-old Marrakech resident, told Reuters. Before the Covid pandemic, the old city drew nearly three million tourists in 2019.

Persons: Montasir, ”, Hamid Afkar, Waaziz Hassan, Brahim Himmi, I’m, Houda, Aoula Organizations: CNN, United States Geological Survey, Reuters, Royal Moroccan Armed Forces, Twitter, “ Earthquakes, National, of Geophysics, “, UNESCO Locations: Morocco, African, Marrakech, Asni, Taroudant, Morrow, Al, Rabat

The U.S. Geological Survey said the quake had a magnitude of 6.8 with an epicentre some 72 km (45 miles) southwest of Marrakech. "When I felt the earth shaking beneath my feet and the house leaning, I rushed to get my kids out. [1/14]Residents rest in central Marrakesh following a powerful earthquake in Morocco, September 9, 2023. It was Morocco's deadliest earthquake since 1960 when a quake was estimated to have killed at least 12,000 people, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. Marrakech is due to host the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank from Oct. 9.

Persons: Mohamed Azaw, Mohamed Ouhammo, Montasir, Abdellatif Ait, Saida Bodchich, Hannah McKay, Waaziz Hassan, Mohammad Kashani, Zakia Abdennebi, Tarek Amara, Alexander Cornwell, Ahmed Tolba, Jose Joseph, Muhammad Al Gebaly, Adam Makary, Michelle Nichols, Graham Keeley, Josephine Mason, Angus McDowall, Tom Perry, Tomasz Janowski, Frances Kerry, Alexander Smith, Peter Graff, Daniel Wallis Organizations: WHO, Moroccan, Interior Ministry, Geological Survey, Food, High, REUTERS, World Health Organization, UNESCO, . Geological Survey, University of Southampton, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, IMF, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, Morocco, U.S, Amizmiz, Asni, Tansghart, Abdellatif Ait Bella, Marrakesh, Huelva, Jaen, Spain, Jemaa, Moroccan, Turkey, Algeria, Tunis, Imsouane, Dubai, Bengaluru, Cairo, New York, Madrid, London

☆ Algeria says it fired warnings at jet skiers who strayed into its sea from Morocco
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

CAIRO, Sept 3 (Reuters) - Algeria's defence ministry said on Sunday its coastguard fired warning shots before firing directly at a man on a jet ski who entered Algerian waters, in an incident that a survivor said left two dead. "After multiple attempts, shots were fired on a jet ski," the ministry said. Another member of their group, Smail Snabi, was detained by the Algerian authorities, Kissi said. "Given that the maritime border area is witnessing intense activity by drug smuggling gangs and organized crime, Coast Guard members fired warning shots," the Algerian statement added. "I did not hear any warning shots.

Persons: Mohamed Kissi, Morocco's, Bilal, Abdelali Mchiouer, Smail Snabi, Kissi, Mchiouer's, Mohamed, Bilal Kissi, Bilal Kissi's, Hatem Maher, Ahmed Eljechtimi, Adam Makary, Ros Russell Organizations: coastguard, Rabat, Coast Guard, Reuters, Sunday, Human Rights, Ministry, Thomson Locations: CAIRO, Moroccan, Saidia, Algeria's, Algerian, Algeria, Morocco, Algiers, Oujda

☆ Tourists from Morocco shot dead after straying into Algerian waters on jet ski- survivor
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

RABAT, Sept 1 (Reuters) - Algerian authorities shot dead at least one Moroccan tourist after a group of five strayed into Algerian waters on jet skis, according to one of the survivors. Another member of their group was detained by the Algerian authorities, Kissi said. Moroccan authorities said they could not comment on the case, calling it a judicial matter. Mustafa Mechouar, the father of Abdelali Mechouar, told Reuters he believed his son was dead and wanted to bury him. "I appeal to Moroccan and Algerian authorities to reach an agreement to bring my son back to me to observe a proper funeral and burial for him," he said.

Persons: Mohamed Kissi, Morocco's, Kissi, Bilal, Abdelali Mechouar, Mohamed, Bilal Kissi, Bilal Kissi's, Mustafa Mechouar, Ahmed El Jechtimi, Tarek Amara, Geert de Clercq, Angus McDowall, Mike Harrison Organizations: Rabat, Ministry, Reuters, Thomson Locations: RABAT, Moroccan, Saidia, Algeria, Morocco, Algiers, Algerian, Oujda, Rabat, Tunis, Paris

☆ BRICS expansion hopefuls seek to rebalance world order
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-21 | by ( Joe Bavier | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/6] People walk past the Sandton Convention Centre, which will host the upcoming BRICS Summit, in Johannesburg, South Africa August 19, 2023. The wealthy West's domination of international bodies, such as the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund or the World Bank. DEVELOPING WORLD DISCONTENTWhile BRICS has not divulged a full list of expansion candidates, a number of governments have publicly stated their interest. Others want changes at the World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund and World Bank. Its BRICS trade has indeed increased steadily since it joined, according to an analysis by the country's Industrial Development Corporation.

Persons: James Oatway, Rob Davies, South, bode, Vladimir Putin, Steven Gruzd, BRICS, Ramón Lobo, Gruzd, Lucinda Elliott, Deisy, Yousef Saba, Gustavo Palencia, Lamine Chikhi, Ahmed Eljechtimi, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Sandton, REUTERS, United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, BRICS, Observers, South African Institute of International Affairs, U.S ., Reuters, United, Emirates, World Trade Organization, Argentine, New Development Bank, Russia, Industrial Development Corporation, South, Thomson Locations: Johannesburg, South Africa, JOHANNESBURG, Iran, Argentina, Brazil, Russia, India, China, Ukraine, Venezuela, Gulf, Saudi Arabia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, United Nations, United States, Montevideo, Caracas, Dubai, Tegucigalpa, Lamine, Algiers, Rabat

☆ Morocco has not applied to join BRICS - state media
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

REUTERS/Wu Hong/Pool/File photo Acquire Licensing RightsRABAT, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Morocco has not made a formal request to join the BRICS grouping and will not attend its summit in South Africa, state news agency MAP said on Saturday. Citing an unnamed diplomatic source, MAP denied a statement by South Africa's foreign minister Anil Sooklal who said earlier this month Morocco was among the nations seeking to join the bloc. "South Africa allowed itself to speak about Morocco's ties with the BRICS without prior consultation," it said. Morocco would not attend the BRICS meeting in South Africa, MAP said, adding: "South Africa has in fact always shown a primary hostility towards Morocco and has systematically taken negative and dogmatic positions on the Moroccan Sahara issue." Morocco is attached to a non-divisive multilateralism and has good ties with the rest of BRICS member states, it said.

Persons: Wu Hong, Anil Sooklal, Ahmed Eljechtimi, Tomasz Janowski Organizations: Xiamen International Conference and Exhibition Center, REUTERS, South, Polisario, Thomson Locations: Brazil, Russia, China, South Africa, India, Xiamen, Fujian Province, Morocco, Africa, Algeria, Western Sahara, Moroccan

☆ Atlas Lionesses: The Moroccan soccer revolution and the players inspiring a generation of girls
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Alasdair Howorth For Cnn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Morocco players celebrate after advancing to the knock out stage of the Women's World Cup. Her impact on the Moroccan women’s team has been equally dazzling. Chebbak’s legend has only grown this summer in leading the Atlas Lionesses at their first ever World Cup. Frustrated with the lack of women’s soccer, Illa and a few friends set up a team of their own. Nouhaila Benzina, pictured alongside FIFA President Gianni Infantino, has become a history maker during the Women's World Cup.

Persons: Ghizlane Chebbak, Mohammed VI, King, Chebbak, –, Prince Moulay Abdallah, King Mohammed VI, Cheebak, Khadija Illa, “, Alex Grimm, Larbi Chebbak, Ghizlane, didn’t, Misr El, Paul Kane, ” Chebbak, ”, Hakimi, Hakim Ziyech, Morocco’s, Morocco's, Reynald Pedros, Gary Day, Illa, Colin Murty, Fouzi Lekjaa, Nouhaila, Gianni Infantino, Harold Cunningham Organizations: CNN, of Nations, Morocco women’s, National Women’s Football League, FIFA, Moroccan, Rabat’s AS, AS, CAF Champions League, Confederation of African Football, South, Chebbak, Getty, Royal Moroccan Football Federation, Women’s Football League, CAF Women’s Champions League Locations: Morocco, South Africa, Sahara, Egypt, Germany, South Korea, Colombia, France, Laâyoune, Rabat, soccer, AFP, Moroccan

Spain's Socialist leader and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, salutes his supporters during the general election, in Madrid, Spain, July 23, 2023. Spain has a sticky diplomatic relationship with Morocco over issues including migration, airspace, territorial waters, customs and land borders. Madrid said it regarded Rabat's autonomy proposal for Western Sahara as "serious, credible and realistic". Moroccan media first reported - and welcomed - Sanchez's choice of holiday destination. The site praised Sanchez's closeness to Morocco "although many Spanish politicians reproach him for it", contrasting his stance to that of his political rivals in Madrid.

Persons: Pedro Sanchez, Nacho, Spain's, Sanchez, Podemos, Idoia Villanueva, Villanueva, Miguel Tellado, Vox, David Latona, Angus McDowall, Aislinn Laing, Nick Macfie Organizations: Socialist, REUTERS, Sanchez's Socialists, Polisario, Twitter, People's Party, Onda, Thomson Locations: Madrid, Spain, Morocco, Western Sahara, Spanish, Algeria, Polisario, Moroccan, London

☆ Morocco wants normal ties with Algeria, king says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

RABAT, July 29 (Reuters) - King Mohammed VI said on Saturday Morocco hopes for a return to normality and open borders with Algeria amid severed diplomatic ties. Algeria unilaterally cut ties with Morocco in 2021 and halted the flow of a gas pipeline to Spain via Morocco. The Western Sahara dispute has been at the heart of worsening ties between the two countries. Morocco considers the territory its own, but the Algerian-backed Polisario front wants to establish an independent state there. "I should like to tell the leaders and people of our sister nation, Algeria, that no evil will ever be done to them, nor will any harm ever come to them from Morocco," king Mohammed said.

Persons: King Mohammed VI, Mohammed said, Abdelmedjid Tebboune, Ahmed Eljechtimi, Alistair Bell Organizations: Morocco, Moroccan, Polisario, Thomson Locations: RABAT, Algeria, Maghreb, Morocco, Spain, Algerian, Western Sahara, Rabat, Tel Aviv

☆ Maison Sara Chraibi shows geometric patterns in haute couture lineup in Paris
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Mimosa Spencer | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/5] A model presents a creation by designer Sara Chraibi as part of her Haute Couture Fall/Winter 2023-2024 collection show for fashion house Maison Sara Chraibi in Paris, France, July 6, 2023. REUTERS/Sarah MeyssonnierPARIS, July 6 (Reuters) - Maison Sara Chraibi presented a sculptural lineup of garments with elaborate, geometric patterns on Thursday, the final day of Paris haute couture week. "It's like a building where you look at it from all sides," said Chraibi, after the show. It was her second outing as a guest on the Paris haute couture calendar, which includes leading luxury houses like Chanel, Dior and Giorgio Armani Prive. Other guest presenters this season were Juana Martin from Spain and Imane Ayissi, who was born in Cameroon.

Persons: Sara Chraibi, Maison Sara Chraibi, Sarah Meyssonnier PARIS, Dior, Giorgio Armani Prive, Juana Martin, Imane Ayissi, Mimosa Spencer, Josie Kao Organizations: Couture, REUTERS, Paris haute, Left Bank, Thomson Locations: Paris, France, Rabat, Spain, Cameroon

☆ Ombudsman to investigate if Spain delayed migrant rescue
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

MADRID, June 23 (Reuters) - Spain's ombudsman is to investigate the sinking of a dinghy headed to the Canary Islands from Morocco on Wednesday after more than 30 migrants were feared dead. Migration-focused organisations Walking Borders and Alarm Phone criticised Spain and Morocco this week for not intervening earlier to rescue the vessel's passengers. Two people, a child and an adult man, were found dead while 24 migrants were rescued by Morocco, Spain's maritime rescue service said. The ministry statement said the maritime rescue service complied with international search and rescue procedures. "At no time did the Moroccan authorities ask Spain's rescue service for assistance or mobilisation of resources, except in the final moments when the mobilisation of a helicopter was requested.

Persons: Emma Pinedo, Aislinn Laing, Alison Williams Organizations: Borders, United Nations, Transport, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Canary Islands, Morocco, Spain, Spain's, Melilla, Spanish, Madrid, Rabat

☆ IMF working on global central bank digital currency platform
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-19 | by ( Ahmed Eljechtimi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

RABAT, June 19 (Reuters) - The International Monetary Fund (IMF) is working on a platform for central bank digital currencies (CDBCs) to enable transactions between countries, IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva said on Monday. "For this reason at the IMF, we are working on the concept of a global CBDC platform," she said. The IMF wants central banks to agree on a common regulatory framework for digital currencies that will allow global interoperability. A CBDC is a digital currency controlled by the central bank, while cryptocurrencies are nearly always decentralised. Already 114 central banks are at some stage of CBDC exploration, "with about 10 already crossing the finish line", she said.

Persons: Kristalina Georgieva, Georgieva, CBDCs, Ahmed Eljechtimi, Sharon Singleton Organizations: Monetary Fund, IMF, Thomson Locations: RABAT, African, Rabat, Morocco

☆ Israel to recognise Moroccan sovereignty over W.Sahara soon -official
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

RABAT, June 8 (Reuters) - Israel will soon announce its support for Morocco's claim of sovereignty over the disputed Western Sahara region, Israeli parliament speaker Amir Ohana said on Thursday during a visit to Rabat. The Algerian-backed Polisario Front demands an independent state in Western Sahara. "I am fully aware of the importance of the recognition of the Moroccan Sahara ... Israel should move towards the goal of recognising the Moroccan Sahara just as our closest ally the U.S. did," Ohana told reporters after talks with his Moroccan counterpart. Reuters reported on Wednesday that Israel was considering backing Morocco on Western Sahara and that the issue was being discussed within the Israeli National Security Council (NSC). A diplomatic source told Reuters that Israeli recognition of Moroccan rule over Western Sahara could lead to a full upgrade of Israeli-Moroccan ties.

Persons: Amir Ohana, Donald Trump, Ohana, Benjamin, Netanyahu, Israel, Ahmed Eljechtimi, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Polisario Front, Moroccan, Reuters, Israeli National Security Council, . Security, Thomson Locations: RABAT, Israel, Sahara, Rabat, Algerian, Western Sahara, Moroccan, Moroccan Sahara, U.S, Morocco, Western, Polisario, Spain

Morocco considers Western Sahara its own, but the Algeria-backed Polisario front demands an independent state there. The NSC's head, National Security Adviser Tzachi Hanegbi, met Moroccan foreign minister Nasser Bourita on Wednesday, Morocco's foreign ministry said without offering further details. At that meeting, Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita said: "I hope we will meet very soon in a different desert but with the same spirit." Moroccan media reported a possible plan to reconvene in the Western Sahara town of Dakhla. Holding it in coastal Dakhla could pose a challenge for Washington, which has never followed through on Trump's pledge to open a U.S. consulate in Western Sahara.

Persons: Yair Lapid inaugurates, Moroccan Foreign Ministry Mohcine, Benjamin Netanyahu's, Donald Trump, Tzachi Hanegbi, Nasser Bourita, Eli Cohen, Israel's, Abraham, Dan Williams, Ahmed Eljechtimi, Christina Fincher, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Moroccan Foreign Ministry, Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs, REUTERS, Wednesday, Western, Reuters, National Security Council, National Security, Israeli, Abraham Accords, Moroccan, Washington, Thomson Locations: Rabat, Morocco, REUTERS JERUSALEM, RABAT, Sahara, Western Sahara, Algeria, Polisario, Israel, statecraft, Moroccan, Spain, NEGEV, Abraham, Dakhla, U.S, Laayoune, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain

☆ Kipyegon sets women's 1,500m world record, Kerly wins 100m in Florence
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-02 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

Kipyegon shaved almost an entire second off the previous mark of 3:50.07 set by Ethiopia's Genzebe Dibaba in 2015. The world record completes the 29-year-old's collection of feats, adding to her two Olympic 1,500m golds and the 2017 and 2022 world titles, Commonwealth Games gold medal from 2014 and three Diamond League titles. Dina Asher-Smith, who won the world 200 metres title in Doha in 2019, pulled out in the build-up to the race. Spaniard Mohamed Katir produced a lung-busting performance to win the 5,000m with a world leading 12:52.09, with world record holder Joshua Cheptegei coming in fourth. Reporting by Aadi Nair in Nashik, India; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Pietro Mennea Golden, Luigi Ridolfi, Kipyegon, Remo Casilli FLORENCE, Fred Kerley, Ethiopia's Genzebe, Britain's Laura Muir, Jessica Hull, Muir, Ferdinand Omanyala, Trayvon, Jamaica's Yohan Blake, Jacobs, Ivorian Marie, Josee Ta Lou, Gina Lueckenkemper, Imani, Lara Lansiquot, Dina Asher, Smith, Ta Lou, Erriyon Knighton, Grant Holloway, Mohamed Katir, Joshua Cheptegei, Italy's Leonardo Fabbri, Andy Diaz, Larissa Iapichino, Aadi Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: Diamond League, Commonwealth Games, Kenyan, Rabat, Thomson Locations: Florence, Italy, Ivorian, Doha, Netherlands, Rabat, Nashik, India

☆ Stephens puts down marker on 'favourite court in the world'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-29 | by ( Karolos Grohmann | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

[1/3] Tennis - French Open - Roland Garros, Paris, France - May 29, 2023 Sloane Stephens of the U.S. celebrates winning her first round match against Czech Republic's Karolina Pliskova REUTERS/Clodagh KilcoynePARIS, May 29 (Reuters) - Sloane Stephens relished every moment she spent on her favourite court in the world as the she cruised to a 6-0 6-4 first-round victory over former world number one Karolina Pliskova on Monday to put down an early marker at the French Open. "This is my favourite court in the world and I am super happy to be back," said Stephens, currently ranked 30th. Stephens came into the tournament in improving form on clay after winning her first WTA 125 event and reaching the semi-finals on clay in Rabat last week. "To start like that on your favourite court and favourite surface is great. I wanted to get matches under my belt this year (before the tournament) and I was feeling confident," Stephens said.

☆ These adorable sand cats could be under threat
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Nell Lewis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

The sand cat has been observed hunting the venomous Saharan horned viper, pictured here buried in the sand. This elusive nature is no doubt one of the reasons sand cats have been so under-reported, says Breton. The report notes that sand cats appear to travel greater distances than any other cat of their size, including black-footed cats and African wildcats. Sand cats in dangerThe report’s findings could have serious implications for the sand cat’s conservation status. There are also local threats from shepherd dogs that sometimes kill sand cats; domestic cats carrying diseases that are dangerous for the wild species; and there have also been cases of sand cats being captured for the illegal pet trade, he adds.

☆ Morocco restricts tomato exports over high domestic prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Ahmed Eljechtimi | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

RABAT, March 24 (Reuters) - Morocco has restricted tomato exports since late February with a total ban in place from last week until Thursday to lower domestic prices, the head of the country's main fruit and vegetable exporters' group said on Friday. Higher-priced produce such as cherry tomatoes, which represent more than half of the North African country's tomato exports, are not included in the restrictions, Aderdour said. The agriculture minister did not respond to Reuters calls for comment and the agency in charge of food exports did not immediately answer a request for comment. However, when asked about inflation on Thursday, a government spokesperson said it was impossible to talk about exports while domestic food prices were high. Food inflation jumped to 20.1% last month, bringing general inflation to 10.1%, a level unmatched since the 1980s.

☆ Real Madrid hit five past Al Hilal to secure fifth Club World Cup title
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-11 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

RABAT, Feb 11 (Reuters) - Real Madrid won the Club World Cup for a record extending fifth time after beating Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal 5-3 in the final on Saturday, with doubles from Federico Valverde and Vinicius Jr and a goal by Karim Benzema. Valverde extended Real's lead five minutes later on the rebound but Al Hilal hit back with a goal from Moussa Marega on the counter-attack. Vietto scored his second of the night 10 minutes later to round off a high-scoring encounter that delighted the Moroccan fans. Having also won three Intercontinental Cup trophies, a predecessor to the Club World Cup that pitched the European and South American champions against each other, Real have a combined total of eight global titles. For the eighth time Real Madrid is World Champion," manager Carlo Ancelotti told Telecinco.

☆ Fans irate as FIFA moves Club World Cup match to Tangier
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Fernando Kallas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

RABAT, Feb 9 (Reuters) - The Club World Cup third-place match between Brazil's Flamengo and Egypt's Al Ahly planned to be held in Rabat before the final on Saturday has been moved to Tangier, FIFA said on Thursday. "Fans who have bought tickets for the double-header will be informed shortly," FIFA said in a statement. "Special travel arrangements will be organised by ONCF, Morocco's national railway operator, enabling those who want to watch the third-place match in Tangier to be able to do so. "Ticket holders will be able to exchange their current tickets for new ones for the third-place match, or have the option to apply for a refund of existing tickets." "FIFA's decision left the fans in lost in translation," Tatiana Ribeiro, from travel agency Ribeiro Viagens, told Reuters.

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