Moroccan PM Calls for Speeding National E-Integration

Morocco’s Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani (Arabic website)
Morocco’s Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani (Arabic website)
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Moroccan PM Calls for Speeding National E-Integration

Morocco’s Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani (Arabic website)
Morocco’s Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani (Arabic website)

Morocco’s Prime Minister Saadeddine Othmani called for establishing a national e-strategy which promotes the integration of digital technology for the African country to catch up with world countries, after its rank slid in the latest United Nations e-government survey.

In the UN E-Government Survey 2018, Morocco ranked the 110th out of 193 countries vetted worldwide. Before, Morocco ranked 85th.

It is also worth noting that Morocco’s ranking places it sixth among African countries.

The survey aims to promote E-Systems for governing member states of the UN, whereby world governments are asked to develop online platforms that better present public services and provide information concerning certain sectors.

It also measures e-participation and focuses on the use of online services to provide and facilitate citizen access to public information and services, interaction with stakeholders, and participation in the national decision-making processes.

“Morocco is betting on digital transformation in order to create a qualitative leap in economic and social development,” Othmani said.

“We need a combined vision to translate the digital transformation envisaged in our country and ensure maximum use of digital technologies.”

The prime minister went on explaining that aim of his vision for digital transformation is to “create new patterns that provide the comfort of the intruders in their relationship to public administration, nurture a positive atmosphere that increases competitiveness among Moroccan enterprises, especially in the digital market, and facilitate the actualization of Morocco's ambition for African economic integration.”

Othmani cited progress achieved by Morocco’s state institutions on developing online services pertaining to tax return statements for large and medium companies, some licenses such as construction permits, and customs import and export operations.



Saudi Stocks Rebound 0.9%, Recouping Previous Session's Losses

An investor monitors stock market data on a screen at the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) in Riyadh (Reuters)
An investor monitors stock market data on a screen at the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) in Riyadh (Reuters)
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Saudi Stocks Rebound 0.9%, Recouping Previous Session's Losses

An investor monitors stock market data on a screen at the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) in Riyadh (Reuters)
An investor monitors stock market data on a screen at the Saudi Exchange (Tadawul) in Riyadh (Reuters)

Saudi stocks closed higher on Monday, recovering some of the losses sustained in the previous session as heavyweight shares strengthened and the banking sector advanced.

The benchmark Tadawul All Share Index (TASI) rose 0.90% to close at 10,106 points, gaining 90 points. Total trading value reached approximately SAR 3.5 billion ($933 million).

The index had fallen 0.8% on Sunday amid selling pressure on heavyweight stocks.

Anaam International Holding Group, Fitaihi Holding Group and Raoom were among the session's top gainers, rising between 7% and 9% to close at SAR 11.93, SAR 2.11 and SAR 72.30, respectively.

On the losing side, Almunajem Foods led the declines, shedding 9.20% to SAR 49.94, followed by Saudi Paper Manufacturing Co., which fell 6.18% to SAR 48.88, and Alamar Foods, which dropped 4.63% to SAR 44.06.

At the sector level, banks led the gains, advancing 1.60%, supported by a 2.06% rise in Bank AlJazira shares, which closed at SAR 10.89.


Tesla to Refund Many Cybertruck Deposits as Demand Exceeds Production, Musk Says

Tesla Cybertruck electric vehicles sit parked in a storage lot in San Diego, California on April 11, 2025. (AFP)
Tesla Cybertruck electric vehicles sit parked in a storage lot in San Diego, California on April 11, 2025. (AFP)
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Tesla to Refund Many Cybertruck Deposits as Demand Exceeds Production, Musk Says

Tesla Cybertruck electric vehicles sit parked in a storage lot in San Diego, California on April 11, 2025. (AFP)
Tesla Cybertruck electric vehicles sit parked in a storage lot in San Diego, California on April 11, 2025. (AFP)

Tesla will have to refund Cybertruck deposits for many customers as orders far exceed production capacity, CEO Elon Musk said, following last week's announcement that the electric vehicle maker is winding down the pickup truck's production at its Texas factory.

"We will try ‌to make ‌as many as ‌possible ⁠before shutting down the ⁠line in about 8 months, but will have to return deposits for a lot of people," the billionaire said in a post on X on Monday.

The comments ⁠come after Musk said ‌Tesla would ‌add an extra production shift to fulfill outstanding ‌Cybertruck orders before dismantling the production ‌line next year to expand output of its Cybercab robotaxi.

The production winddown is slated for mid-2027, Musk announced on ‌Friday, with the resources being redirected to the Cybercab, a vehicle ⁠central ⁠to the automaker's autonomous-driving ambitions.

Tesla began delivering the Cybertruck in late 2023, but demand has fallen far short of Musk's expectations. US sales fell 48% to 20,237 units last year, according to Kelley Blue Book, well below Musk's earlier projection that annual Cybertruck sales could reach 250,000 vehicles.


China Extends Suspension of New Rare Earth Controls Until January

A mining machine is seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia, China July 16, 2011. (Reuters)
A mining machine is seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia, China July 16, 2011. (Reuters)
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China Extends Suspension of New Rare Earth Controls Until January

A mining machine is seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia, China July 16, 2011. (Reuters)
A mining machine is seen at the Bayan Obo mine containing rare earth minerals, in Inner Mongolia, China July 16, 2011. (Reuters)

China on Monday announced a two-month extension of export-control waivers due to expire this month, preserving part of a wide-ranging deal struck after a summit between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump.

China introduced export controls on certain rare earths ‌in April 2025, ‌only to expand ‌them ⁠further in October ⁠of that year, dramatically widening their scope and also adding new controls on certain diamonds with industrial applications and lithium battery technology.

The measures were then ⁠paused for one year last ‌November after ‌a summit in South Korea ‌between Xi and Trump.

The Ministry of ‌Commerce said in a short statement on Monday that the pause would be extended for two months ‌until January 10. It gave no other details.

The extension ⁠is ⁠part of a broader suspension of trade countermeasures and tariffs announced by China on Monday as it negotiates with Washington over an enduring trade deal.

Trump is set to travel to Shenzhen in southern China later this month for an APEC leaders summit, where he is expected to meet with Xi.