October 2026

Morocco's draft finance bill for 2027 sets the payroll of the Ministry of Health and Social Protection at 16.42 billion dirhams, up from the same figure in the 2026 finance law, TelQuel reported. The same budget lines carry 9 billion dirhams and 2,600 posts, and the outlet said the shift between the two years is not fully explained by the figures alone.

King Mohammed VI chaired a working session at the royal palace in Rabat on the progress of the Nador West Med port and industrial complex, whose first terminals are expected to enter operation within days. The session also covered the expansion of the Tanger Med port complex through the launch of construction on a new port, Tanger Med 3.

The United States has circulated a revised draft resolution on Western Sahara to members of the UN Security Council. The revisions touch several provisions of the first draft but leave its main political pillars unchanged, foremost among them adopting Morocco's proposal for expanded autonomy as the sole basis for continuing negotiations.

The announcement follows criticism Sayed directed at the Front's current leadership over its field and diplomatic performance, in audio recordings that circulated widely. Outlets describe the step as exposing the depth of internal conflict inside the organisation in the Tindouf camps.

Royal Air Maroc has opened a new direct air link between Casablanca and Essaouira, inaugurated on Wednesday in Essaouira. The route is part of efforts to strengthen domestic air connectivity and the country's territorial integration, and to ease citizens' mobility while supporting tourism and economic development.

Marco Rubio disclosed the results of what were described as "positive" talks held in Oslo on the war in Ukraine. The discussions were framed as putting the Ukraine war on the table, with Steve Witkoff named as the envoy carrying the outcome onward to Russia.

The US dollar rose above 55 Egyptian pounds on Thursday, the highest level on record, and the pound fell to its weakest level in its history. The rate was reached during Thursday's trading.

Egyptian stock market capital fell below 4 trillion pounds after 102 billion pounds was wiped out over the week, with the main index dropping 3.4 percent at the close under selling pressure. The market opened Thursday's session lower.

Iran's Revolutionary Guard announced that three vessels struck naval mines west of the Strait of Hormuz and caught fire. The announcement was carried by Egyptian outlets on Thursday, describing the affected ships as non-compliant.

French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the Élysée said, making Riyadh the final stop of a Gulf tour. The visit was described as a quick, unexpected stop added to the itinerary.