Morocco World News

Rabat – Barcelona can secure the La Liga title next weekend if they avoid defeat against Real Madrid in El Clásico at Camp Nou.  Hansi Flick’s side needs only a draw to make their lead unassailable, with four matches left in the season. Real Madrid beat Espanyol 2‑0 on Sunday thanks to two second‑half goals from Vinicius Junior.  The victory kept the gap at 11 points and postponed Barcelona’s celebrations. For Madrid, however, the win only delayed what looks inevitable: Barcelona lifting t

Marrakech – Morocco’s financial obligations to Spain have jumped sharply over the past six years. The North African country’s debt reached approximately €471 million by the end of 2025, up from €264 million in 2019. That marks a 79% increase and roughly €207 million added in just six years. The figures come from Spain’s Ministry of Economy, Commerce, and Enterprise, released in response to a transparency request. They show Morocco now leads all countries in the rate of debt growth with Spa

Casablanca – As GITEX Future Health Africa 2026 unfolds in Casablanca, discussions are already moving beyond healthcare technology to address deeper structural challenges shaping the continent’s health systems.  While innovation and AI remain central to the event, the conversations highlight the broader issue of Africa’s continued dependence on external systems, funding, and supply chains. On the first day, the GITEX Future Health Executive Summit takes center stage, with a strong focus on healt

Rabat – European airlines are beginning to cancel flights ahead of the summer travel season as soaring jet fuel costs and supply concerns linked to the Middle East war strain the industry, raising fears of wider disruption in the months ahead. Low-cost carrier Transavia this week announced its first cancellations for May and June, citing sharply higher kerosene prices and difficulties importing fuel from Gulf suppliers. The move follows similar decisions by Ryanair and Volotea, signaling m

Agadir – Morocco’s Ministry of Tourism has launched a new system of mystery visits targeting classified tourist accommodation establishments, starting this May, as part of efforts to upgrade service quality and align with international standards. The ministry added that these visits will target and assess around 2,500 establishments across different regions in the country. The initiative falls under the law No. 80.14, which marks a shift in how Morocco evaluates its tourism sector. Classif

Rabat – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) is facing internal tension after appointing Congolese referee Jean‑Jacques Ndala to oversee the first leg of the Champions League final between South Africa’s Mamelodi Sundowns and Morocco’s AS FAR.  The match is scheduled for May 17 in Pretoria. Both Sundowns and AS FAR submitted official complaints to CAF on Monday morning, expressing concern over the choice of referee.  Sources inside the organization confirmed to Moroccan news outlet

Rabat — Questions surrounding the future of writing in the digital age took center stage on Monday,  during a high-level discussion held on the sidelines of the International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL) 2026.  Organized to mark Rabat’s designation as Arab Media Capital 2026, the gathering brought together leading voices from journalism, literature, and academia to reflect on how digital transformation is reshaping storytelling and media practices. Hosted at the Fatima Mernissi Hall, the disc

“It’s not easy being part of Morocco’s Gen Z. We think with a global mindset but live in a local reality,” said a 23-year-old Moroccan man we interviewed for a study on the changing practice of religion in Morocco. He was not complaining. He was mapping a fault line. This fault line, between the world these young Moroccans navigate digitally and the one that greets them when they log off, is producing something that neither their parents nor their society quite know how to name. It is neither at

Rabat – Egyptian writer Amr Abdel Hamid, who authored the well-known sci-fi novel “Land of Zicola,” took part in the International Publishing and Book Fair (SIEL) 2026 in Rabat for the first time. Many readers gathered to meet him. Long lines formed during his signing session, with visitors waiting to get their copies of “Land of Zicola” signed and speak with the author. Abdel Hamid is best known for his popular novel “Land of Zicola”, a science fiction story that has gained wide attention

Agadir – Spanish authorities have intercepted one of the largest cocaine shipments in an operation carried out off the coast of Dakhla. According to Spanish media reports, the civil guard seized between 30 and 45 tons of cocaine aboard a vessel named Arconian, sailing under the flag of Comoros. The interception took place on Friday in Atlantic waters near Dakhla, under the coordination of Spain’s National Court. The ship had reportedly departed from Sierra Leone on April 22 and was heading

Rabat – Real Madrid coach Álvaro Arbeloa has defended Kylian Mbappé’s freedom to travel during his recovery but reminded everyone that the club’s values come first. Speaking after Madrid’s 2‑0 win over Espanyol, Arbeloa balanced support for his star forward with a firm message about discipline. Mbappé recently traveled to Italy while recovering from injury, a move that drew criticism in Spanish media. Arbeloa dismissed the controversy, saying the medical staff oversee all treatment plans a

Meknes – Manchester United officially secured their return to the UEFA Champions League following a thrilling 3-2 victory over Liverpool on Sunday. Under manager Michael Carrick, the team has now guaranteed a top-five finish in the Premier League, marking a major comeback for the club, as they haven’t played in Europe’s top competition since the 2023/24 season. The match at Old Trafford began perfectly for United as Matheus Cunha scored an early goal off a quick rebound. Shortly afte

Meknes – Sir Alex Ferguson was rushed to the hospital after falling ill at Old Trafford just before Manchester United’s match against Liverpool on Sunday, according to BBC Sports. The legendary manager is currently in stable condition after undergoing medical tests as a precaution due to his age. The same source indicates that Sir Alex is doing well and is expected to be released soon to continue his recovery at home. As a regular at Old Trafford, the 84-year-old was in his usual reserved

Fez – Morocco is stepping up its economic outreach to Ireland with two business events aimed at attracting investment and strengthening trade links between Europe and Africa. The events, scheduled for 6 May in Dublin and 8 May in Cork, are organized by the Embassy of Morocco in Ireland in partnership with the Moroccan Agency for Investment and Export Development (AMDIE) and local business partners. They bring together public officials, investors, and business leaders to explore new opportunities

Rabat – The National Human Rights Council (CNDH) brought together experts and practitioners to examine the growing role of artificial intelligence in shaping culture and development, while also raising concerns about the global state of freedom of expression.  Held under the theme “Artificial Intelligence as a Driver of Culture and Development,” at the ongoing International Publishing and Book  Fair (SIEL), the discussion reflected both optimism about technological innovation and caution a

Fez– Taiwan’s Foxconn has taken another step into the space sector with the successful launch of two low-Earth orbit satellites, underlining its ambition to expand beyond electronics manufacturing. The company said on Sunday that its second-generation satellites, PEARL-1A and PEARL-1B, were launched aboard a Falcon 9 rocket operated by SpaceX from California. Both satellites have reached their intended orbits and are expected to carry out on-orbit missions for the next five years.  According to

Rabat – Senegal’s president, Bassirou Diomaye Faye, has revealed that he asked King Mohammed VI of Morocco to grant a royal pardon to Senegalese supporters jailed after violent incidents during the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final. In a press conference, Faye said he wrote to the Moroccan king both to congratulate him on hosting AFCON and to request clemency for the detained fans. “I asked the King of Morocco for forgiveness for our supporters,” he explained.  “We tried every possible way,

Meknes – Paris Saint-Germain are looking at Real Madrid for new talent, identifying the center-back Joan Martínez as a top target to strengthen their future defense, according to Marca. The 18-year-old is considered one of the most promising players at “La Fábrica,” Real Madrid’s famous training ground. Although he hasn’t made his official debut for the first team yet, experts believe he has the potential to become a regular starter very soon. PSG are not the only club in

Meknes – Marwan Rahiki maintained his perfect finishing streak on Saturday, securing a dominant first-round TKO victory over Ollie Schmid at UFC Perth. The Featherweight bout took place at the RAC Arena in Perth, Australia. As part of the main card for UFC Fight Night: Della Maddalena vs. Prates, the event drew over 13,000 fans to witness the highly anticipated return of the Octagon to Western Australia. Originally scheduled to face Jack Jenkins, Rahiki had to adapt to a late opponent chan

Rabat – Pedri has written his name into Barcelona’s history by breaking a record once held by Lionel Messi.  The midfielder reached a major career milestone in the recent 2‑1 win over Osasuna, showing again why he is central to Hansi Flick’s team. At just 23 years and 159 days, Pedri became the youngest player in Barcelona’s history to make 200 starts.  He beat Messi’s previous mark of 23 years and 227 days, as well as Xavi Hernández’s earlier record. The achievement shows his consistency