Moroccans among travelers required to obtain eVisas to visit the UK

As of February 25, 2026, Moroccan nationals traveling to the United Kingdom who require a visa will receive an electronic visa (eVisa) only, the UK embassy in Morocco announced Wednesday on its X account. The measure applies to all visa-requiring travelers worldwide and replaces the physical visa stickers previously placed in passports. ??اعتبارًا من اليوم، 25 فبراير 2026، سيحصلُ زوّارُ المملكة المتحدة الذين يحتاجون إلى

TUI fly launches new Casablanca-Barcelona route for summer 2026

Belgian airline TUI fly has announced the launch of a new direct route between Casablanca and Barcelona from July 2 to August 31, 2026. This new route marks the airline's return to the Spanish market to meet the high summer demand between Morocco and Spain. The service will operate twice a week, on Thursdays and Sundays, and may be extended until September 7, depending on demand levels. It aims to enhance summer connectivity between the two countries for tourism, business, and family travel,

German court rules against Morocco in Pegasus spyware defamation case

German justice has ruled in favor of the press in a case brought by Morocco. In a decision issued on February 24, 2026, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) dismissed Morocco’s appeals against articles published by Zeit Online and Süddeutsche Zeitung concerning the Pegasus spyware. The judges held that a foreign state does not have the right to sue German media outlets for defamation. In July 2021, the two publications released investigations into the alleged use of spyware developed

Polisario silent after Bolivia suspends recognition of «SADR»

Not a word. On February 23, Bolivia officially announced the suspension of its recognition of the «Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (SADR)». Two days later, the Polisario Front has yet to issue any statement condemning or commenting on the decision taken by La Paz. Media outlets close to the movement have adopted the same cautious stance. They have merely relayed the reaction of former Bolivian president Evo Morales (2006–2019), who criticized the move. «We condemn the

Marco Rubio calls for an end to ineffective UN missions like MINURSO

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued a stark warning to United Nations peacekeeping missions. «The Department will lead efforts to wind down costly and ineffective peacekeeping and special political missions around the world», he stated in an official document outlining plans from 2026 to 2030. The MINURSO mission, active since 1991, is directly in Rubio's crosshairs. This UN operation has yet to successfully organize a referendum in Western Sahara. Back in 2000, as the

De Mistura to remain discreet about recent Sahara talks

The United Nations has provided details on the latest discussions on the Western Sahara conflict, held on February 23 and 24 in Washington. «In close partnership with the United States, as penholder on Western Sahara in the Security Council, Staffan de Mistura, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary General for Western Sahara, co-chaired negotiations in Washington, D.C. That was 23-24 February. That was co-chaired with Ambassador Michael Waltz, the Permanent Representative of the US, with

Polisario bill gains momentum in US Congress with bipartisan support

The bill that seeks to designate the Polisario as a terrorist organization is gaining traction in the U.S. Congress. Spearheaded by Republican Joe Wilson and Democrat Jimmy Panetta, this legislative push recently secured the backing of Republican Representative Zachary Nunn, a former U.S. Air Force colonel. This endorsement, officially documented on February 24, marks the second support received this month, following Republican Representative Pat Harrigan's endorsement on February 13. This

French companies eye Morocco for energy and infrastructure opportunities

French companies from the Grand-Est region, specializing in sectors such as environment, energy, infrastructure, construction, and sustainable urban development, are set to embark on a business prospecting mission to Morocco, recognized as a strategic market, from March 31 to April 2. According to the mission's organizers, Morocco stands as a leader in Africa's energy transition, boasting significant investments in renewable energies, energy efficiency, and sustainable infrastructure. In the

Washington Institute: U.S. must tread carefully in its approach to Algeria in Sahara talks

An analysis published by American policy institute, the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, on Tuesday argues that Washington must tread carefully in its renewed efforts to resolve the Western Sahara dispute, particularly in its approach toward Algeria. The authors note that the recent U.S.-facilitated talks, led by President Donald Trump’s envoy Massad Boulos and U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, represent «an unprecedented shift away from the interminable UN-led search

Sahara: The UN confirms Washington Talks

The United Nations responded Tuesday evening to questions about the Western Sahara discussions held on February 23 and 24 in Washington. «I can tell you that our colleague Staffan de Mistura, the Personal Envoy of the Secretary-General for Western Sahara, is co-chairing ongoing negotiations on implementation of Security Council resolution 2797, passed last year. Those talks are ongoing in Washington, D.C., with Ambassador Michael Waltz as the other co-chair. In order to give these

Spanish official praises Moroccan police cooperation in 2017 Barcelona attacks investigation

A Spanish security official has praised the «meticulous performance» and close cooperation of Moroccan police in the investigations into the August 17, 2017 attacks in Barcelona, which killed 16 people and injured dozens. Speaking before a parliamentary committee in Spain’s Congress, the official said Rabat imposed no restrictions on Spanish investigators and fully respected the chain of custody for evidence. According to Europa Press, the official, who heads a division

Two light 3.0-magnitude earthquakes strike near Al Hoceima and Ifrane

Two light magnitude 3.0 earthquakes were recorded in Morocco on Wednesday, February 25, within minutes of each other, reports Volcano Discovery. The first quake struck at 11:10 a.m. near Ifrane, about 8.2 km south of the city. It occurred at a depth of 17 km and was reported as very weak (intensity II), with limited tremors felt near the epicenter. Just three minutes later, at 11:13 a.m., a second magnitude 3.0 earthquake hit approximately 12 km southwest of Al Hoceima, at a depth of 12 km.

Five referees suspended after Raja Casablanca vs Ittihad Tanger match

The National Technical Directorate of Refereeing (DTNA) announced on Tuesday the suspension of five referees following the controversial match between Raja Casablanca and Ittihad Tanger, held during the 13th day of Botola Pro D1 «Inwi». According to a statement released on the Royal Moroccan Football Federation (FRMF) website, referee Nawfal Nachit has been handed a five-match suspension. Video assistant referee (VAR) Abderrahim Rkhiz faces a four-match suspension, while fellow VAR

A holiday in Morocco ends with hefty €48,000 TikTok bill

A British entrepreneur’s family trip to Morocco turned into a financial nightmare after eight hours of TikTok scrolling resulted in a staggering €48,000 phone bill. Andrew Alty, a small business owner from Manchester, was left stunned upon returning from holiday to discover the astronomical charge. While still abroad, he first received a bill of around €25,000 from his telecom provider. «I thought there was a technical error, or my account had been hacked», he told

Younes Seddiki appointed Vice President of Deutsche Bank in London

Younes Seddiki was appointed Vice President at Deutsche Bank in London on Tuesday, February 24. He joined the German banking group in January 2025 after previously working at an investment bank in Paris. Seddiki completed his secondary education in Morocco, where he obtained his baccalaureate, before pursuing preparatory classes that enabled him to enter the Institute of Financial Science and Insurance (ISFA) in Lyon, from which he graduated. He later earned a master’s degree in finance

End of return operations for flood-evacuated residents in Kenitra and Sidi Kacem

Local authorities in the provinces of Kenitra and Sidi Kacem announced on Tuesday the completion of all stages of the safe and organized return of residents evacuated following the recent exceptional weather conditions. According to the Interior Ministry, the operation was carried out after confirming that all safety conditions were met and unfolded in good circumstances. Authorities praised the strong sense of responsibility and civic spirit shown by residents in the affected areas,

Italy: Ex-security councilor gets 12 years for killing Moroccan man

An Italian court has sentenced lawyer and former police officer Massimo Adriatici to 12 years in prison for the voluntary manslaughter of Moroccan national Younes El Boussettaoui, who was shot dead on July 20, 2021, in Voghera, a town in Lombardy. El Boussettaoui, 39, was killed after Adriatici, also a former councilor for Security in Voghera, fired a gun during an altercation in the town’s central square. The Pavia court also ordered provisional compensation totaling €380,000

Spanish Civil Guard dismantles car smuggling network from Morocco to Algeria

Spain’s Civil Guard in Alicante has dismantled a network accused of exporting stolen vehicles from Morocco to Algeria using forged documents. The cars were reportedly first brought into Europe, where their paperwork was falsified to present them as European-registered vehicles before being resold. The investigation began on November 19 at the port of Alicante, after authorities detected an unusual increase in vehicles bearing temporary license plates bound for Algeria. Further inquiries