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France defeats Iraq in record-long World Cup match, takes lead in Group I
via Le Matin1 min read
France secured a victory against Iraq in a World Cup 2026 match, which was noted as the longest in the tournament's history. Kylian Mbapp茅 scored the opening goal in the 14th minute and added a second in the 54th minute. Ousmane Demb茅l茅 sealed the win for France in the 66th minute. This result brings France's total to six points, placing them provisionally at the top of Group I, ahead of Norway. Iraq remains at the bottom of the group with zero points after two losses. In the upcoming final group stage matches, France will play Norway, and Senegal will face Iraq.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
Morocco has achieved a new record in tangerine exports to the United Kingdom, sending 71,600 tons valued at over 60 million British pounds between October 2025 and April 2026. This represents a nearly 20% increase over the previous record, according to EastFruit. In February and March 2026, Moroccan tangerines accounted for more than half of the UK market for the first time. The UK is a highly competitive European market for tangerines, with strong consumption during Christmas and stable demand in summer. Historically, Spain dominated the British winter market, but post-Brexit phytosanitary rules have leveled the playing field. This Moroccan success comes as Spain faces drought and heatwaves impacting yields. While Morocco also experiences water constraints, investments in desalination and production support have helped stabilize its supply. The Nadorcott variety has been a key factor, with its licensing liberalization expanding access to over 3,000 Moroccan producers. Its harvest period from January to April aligns with a slowdown in Spanish exports to the UK. This trend is part of a broader increase in Morocco's presence in the UK fresh produce market, where it is already a major supplier of raspberries and blueberries.
The African Development Bank AfDB has released a report on the implementation of the "Support Program for Transformation towards a Digital Entrepreneurial Moroccan University," funded with 120 million euros. The report, following a field mission from May 11 to 20, 2026, details the progress of the National Student Entrepreneur Status SNEE, a key component of the program. SNEE provides support for student project holders, offering entrepreneurship and management training through workshops, seminars, mentoring, and MOOCs. Students also receive dual guidance from a university teacher and an external expert, such as an entrepreneur or professional. The program grants access to coworking spaces like the "Saleem" hub or other partner facilities to foster networking among student entrepreneurs, and allows entrepreneurial projects to count towards academic credits. In 2025, 4,150 students were supported under SNEE, with 60% being women, achieving 106% of the annual target. The overall project aims to support 15,000 students, with current progress at 20.22%. The AfDB considers this indicator "on track with corrective measures." A separate gender-disaggregated indicator shows 2,490 female students supported in 2025, reaching 50.74% of the 4,500 target for women. Building on the pilot phase of the "Erasmus+ Saleem" project in Rabat and Casablanca, the ministry has begun expanding SNEE and support hubs to all Moroccan universities. The AfDB granted Morocco 120 million euros in 2024 to pr
Norway secured a 3-2 victory over Senegal, with Pedersen scoring in the 43rd minute and Erling Haaland adding two goals. Ismaila Sarr scored twice for Senegal. This win marks Norway's second consecutive victory, ensuring their progression to the World Cup round of 16. Both Norway and France now have six points in Group I, guaranteeing them a top-two finish. The top spot in the group will be decided in the final match between France and Norway.