馃嚥馃嚘MoroccoNorth Africa
European Parliament approves updated EU-Morocco scientific and technological cooperation agreement
via Le Matin8 min read
The European Parliament, during a plenary session in Strasbourg, approved a resolution to amend and supplement the scientific and technological cooperation agreement between the European Union and the Kingdom of Morocco. This agreement outlines the terms and conditions for Morocco's participation in the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area PRIMA. The update modernizes the legal framework governing Morocco's involvement in this Euro-Mediterranean research and innovation partnership. Launched in 2018, PRIMA is an initiative that funds joint research and innovation projects addressing key challenges in the Mediterranean region, focusing on sustainable water management, agriculture, food systems, and climate change adaptation. Morocco is one of the participating countries in this initiative, which includes EU member states and several partners from the southern Mediterranean.
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.
Super Typhoon Bavi, an exceptionally intense weather event, serves as a reminder of accelerating global climate change. While this type of typhoon does not directly threaten Morocco, the underlying mechanisms contributing to its development are already impacting the Kingdom through increasingly extreme weather. Mustapha Benrimal, an environmental expert and president of the Al Manarat 脡cologiques Association, stated to "Assahra Al Maghribia" that climate change is a present reality requiring accelerated adaptation strategies. He explained that rising ocean and atmospheric temperatures provide more energy to tropical cyclones, increasing their power, development speed, and capacity to cause torrential rains and destructive winds. Benrimal views Super Typhoon Bavi as part of a series of extreme phenomena indicating an increasingly unstable climate system, though he cautions against calling it the "most powerful in history" without sufficient scientific basis. For Morocco, the consequences are primarily indirect. The Kingdom is not in a tropical cyclone formation zone but is experiencing the effects of global warming, including heatwaves, persistent droughts, and an increase in violent storms and flash floods. Benrimal advocates for strengthening early warning systems, improving infrastructure resilience, and integrating climate risks into development policies. He also emphasized protecting natural resources and supporting climate-related scientific research and disaster managem
Ayoub Bouaddi, a key midfielder for Morocco, is a leading candidate for the FIFA Young Player Award at the 2026 World Cup. After initial mixed performances against Scotland and Haiti, Bouaddi became central to Morocco's midfield in matches against the Netherlands and Canada, demonstrating strong ball recovery, effective distribution, and tenacity in duels. The FIFA website highlighted Bouaddi as a top contender alongside Lamine Yamal Spain, D茅sir茅 Dou茅 France, and Nico O鈥橰eilly England, noting their remarkable performances throughout the competition. FIFA stated that these young talents have already established themselves among the sport's elite, with Bouaddi, Dou茅, O'Reilly, and Yamal reinforcing their chances for the award after helping their nations advance to the next round. The award recognizes the best player born on or after January 1, 2005. FIFA described Bouaddi as the "true conductor" of Morocco's midfield, impressing with his on-field maturity and off-field achievements, including winning an eloquence competition at 15, earning his baccalaureate at 16, and currently studying mathematics. This intelligence is reflected in his composed play, complemented by surprising physical power for his age, which was evident in Morocco's 3-0 victory over co-host Canada in the round of 16.
Fadl Chaker, a prominent figure in Arab pop music, has been released from prison after surrendering following twelve years as a fugitive. He had been living in the Ain al-Helweh Palestinian refugee camp near Saida. Chaker faces charges in four cases related to his alleged involvement in 2013 clashes in Saida, alongside Sheikh Ahmad al-Assir, against the Lebanese army, which resulted in the deaths of 18 soldiers. He was granted release after posting two bail bonds totaling nearly $3,500. During his time as a fugitive, Chaker was sentenced in absentia to prison terms ranging from five to 15 years with hard labor in these cases. Months before his surrender, Chaker released songs that topped charts in the Arab world, and his music videos, filmed in the Ain el-Helweh camp, garnered hundreds of millions of views on YouTube.