El Niño climate phenomenon officially returns, expected to be historically strong
via Le Matin4 min read
The El Niño climate phenomenon has officially returned, with meteorologist Haley Thiem stating this episode could be historic. The NOAA estimates a 63% probability that El Niño will reach a very strong intensity between November and January, potentially making it one of the most intense episodes since measurements began in 1950. Thiem clarified that El Niño is not a storm or hurricane but a phenomenon affecting atmospheric currents globally. This natural climate event recurs every two to seven years, marked by changes in water temperatures in the central and eastern equatorial Pacific, leading to global shifts in wind and precipitation patterns. Historically, El Niño causes or intensifies droughts in parts of the Amazon, Central America, Indonesia, and Australia, disrupts monsoons in India, and brings heavy rains to East Africa. Experts note that this phenomenon is occurring amidst human-induced global warming, and the combination could amplify the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, raising concerns for populations, water resources, agriculture, and ecosystems. The previous El Niño episode was in 2023-2024. While each El Niño is unique, general trends are observed regionally. In the Americas, it is associated with increased rainfall in parts of southern South America and the southern United States, and intense rains on the coasts of Ecuador and Peru. Conversely, it tends to cause drier conditions in Central America, parts of northern South America, and the Car
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
Nora Fatehi's new song "Siir Siir," featuring French singer and rapper Vegedream and Bangladeshi-American producer Sanjoy, officially launched on June 8 and garnered over 30 million views within 24 hours. This figure significantly outpaced Shakira's "Dai Dai," a collaboration with Burna Boy, which accumulated approximately 13 million views in its first 24 hours two weeks prior. Three days after its release, "Siir Siir" approached 38 million views, indicating a rapid start for one of the official World Cup 2026 album tracks. The song leverages Nora Fatehi's international recognition, Vegedream's association with sports celebration songs in French-speaking regions, and Sanjoy's production style optimized for digital platforms. "Siir Siir" also draws on a recognizable Moroccan reference, the chant used by supporters during the Atlas Lions' 2022 World Cup journey. The music video, filmed in Casablanca and Rabat, integrates this cultural dimension with Moroccan urban landmarks. The comparison with Shakira, a prominent figure in World Cup music history, gained traction on social media, particularly TikTok. While Shakira's "Dai Dai" holds a cumulative lead with over 118 million views approximately two weeks post-release, "Siir Siir" demonstrated a stronger initial performance. Both songs are becoming highly followed and discussed tracks from the World Cup 2026 soundtrack. The official World Cup 2026 album features 18 tracks from various international artists, including two of Morocc
Qatari adventurer, presenter, and documentarian Ali Bin Towar embarked on an immersive bicycle journey across Morocco, documented in a film aired on Al Jazeera Documentary. This project, created in partnership with the "Years of Culture" initiative, extends the legacy of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Cultural Year, aiming to build human, artistic, and heritage bridges between the two nations. Traveling from Tangier to Chefchaouen, Fes, Rabat, and Marrakech, Bin Towar's slow-paced cycling allowed for deep engagement with historians, artisans, academics, cultural figures, and residents, revealing an intimate Morocco beyond common stereotypes. The documentary highlights the country's rich identity, shaped by Amazigh, Arab, Andalusian, African, Mediterranean, and Islamic influences, showcasing how traditions interact with modernity. Ahmed Mahfouz, General Manager of Al Jazeera Documentary Channel, emphasized the documentary's role in fostering understanding between cultures, aligning with the "Years of Culture" initiative's commitment to authentic human stories. Bin Towar noted that cycling facilitates a more present and attentive approach, allowing for spontaneous interactions and a deeper understanding of the country from within. He stressed that the human dimension was central to the experience, with conversations and the hospitality of locals being the most memorable aspects. The slow pace fostered genuine connections, allowing for encounters with people who might otherwise have bee
Must ReadThe Policy Center for the New South PCNS unveiled its tenth annual Report on the Geopolitics of Africa RAGA on Tuesday, June 10, 2026, in Rabat. This year's collective work features twenty-six contributions from authors across sixteen African countries. Abdelhak Bassou, Senior Fellow and publication director, moderated a session exploring Africa's position in global power shifts and how its states balance security, development, sovereignty, and regional integration. Bassou highlighted the report's goal to provide a platform for Africans to reclaim the narrative about their continent, a discourse previously dominated by former colonial powers. Hachem El Moummy, a diplomat and international relations researcher, advocated for a paradigm linking security and development, challenging the traditional "stabilize first, then develop" approach. He argued that peace, security, and development are mutually constitutive, a concept enshrined in the African Union's constitutive act and Agenda 2063. However, he noted that 70% of the African Union's operational budget for its missions comes from external donors, and the UN Security Council legitimizes most interventions. El Moummy concluded that the challenge now is to implement this nexus, not to convince the world of its relevance. Jean-Patrick Koa Junior, Director of Communication and Diplomatic Archives at the Cameroonian Ministry of External Relations, discussed the geo-economic implications of the used clothing trade in Cameroon. He r