France Eyes Boosting Economic Ties with Morocco

FILE PHOTO: A general view shows the ancient city of Fez, Morocco October 17, 2021. REUTERS/Shereen Talaat Purchase Licensing Rights
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows the ancient city of Fez, Morocco October 17, 2021. REUTERS/Shereen Talaat Purchase Licensing Rights
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France Eyes Boosting Economic Ties with Morocco

FILE PHOTO: A general view shows the ancient city of Fez, Morocco October 17, 2021. REUTERS/Shereen Talaat Purchase Licensing Rights
FILE PHOTO: A general view shows the ancient city of Fez, Morocco October 17, 2021. REUTERS/Shereen Talaat Purchase Licensing Rights

France is looking forward to stir the stagnant waters of trade with Morocco, an indispensable partner in the Arab Maghreb, after the ties between the two sides were affected by the Western Sahara issue.

French Minister of Foreign Trade Franck Riester affirmed that the time has come to "revive the ties."

This came during a visit to the kingdom on Thursday following an earlier visit by Foreign Minister Stéphane Séjourné.

Morocco is also preparing to host French Minister of Economy Bruno Le Maire and Minister of Agriculture Marc Fesneau soon in April.



Starbucks Workers Expand Strike in US Cities Including New York

Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
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Starbucks Workers Expand Strike in US Cities Including New York

Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)
Starbucks workers hold signs as they picket during a strike in front of a Starbucks to demand collective bargaining agreements in Burbank, California on December 20, 2024. (AFP)

Starbucks workers have expanded their strike to four more US cities, including New York, the union representing over 10,000 baristas said late on Saturday.

The five-day strike, which began on Friday and initially closed Starbucks cafes in Los Angeles, Chicago and Seattle, has added New Jersey, New York, Philadelphia and St. Louis, Workers United said in a statement. It did not say where the New Jersey walkout was occurring.

Starbucks did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside regular business hours.

Talks between the coffee chain and the union hit an impasse with unresolved issues over wages, staffing and schedules, leading to the strike.

The union is striking in 10 cities, also including Columbus, Denver and Pittsburgh, during the busy holiday season that may impact the company's Christmas sales.

Workers United warned on Friday that the strike could reach "hundreds of stores" by Tuesday, Christmas Eve.

Starbucks began negotiations with the union in April. It said this month it had conducted more than eight bargaining sessions, during which 30 agreements had been reached.

The company operates more than 11,000 stores in the United States, employing about 200,000 workers.