馃嚥馃嚘MoroccoNorth Africa
New direct social aid bill adopted by House of Councillors committee
via Le Matin3 min read
A new direct social aid bill has been adopted by a committee in the House of Councillors. Fouzi Lekjaa, the Minister Delegate for the Budget, presented the bill, highlighting its alignment with the social state initiative launched by King Mohammed VI, aiming to establish social justice and economic inclusion as core pillars for Morocco's future. The Direct Social Aid Program, initiated in 2023, has already reached nearly 4 million households and over 5 million children, incurring a monthly cost of approximately 2.2 billion dirhams, with 62 billion dirhams mobilized since its inception. The practical implementation of the program revealed challenges, particularly concerning the link between receiving direct social aid and accessing the job market. Many beneficiaries feared losing their aid if they secured employment or registered with the National Social Security Fund CNSS. To address this, the new bill introduces a provision for a one-time exceptional bonus for households that lose their direct social aid entitlement due to a spouse or head of household registering with the private sector social security scheme. The duration of this bonus will be determined by regulation. Lekjaa also noted that the proposed amendments aim to encourage beneficiaries to integrate into the labor market by allowing eligible households to combine direct social aid with professional income for a period, to be set by decree, up to one year. This measure seeks to promote professional stability and ac
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Le Matin.
The Ministry of Health and Social Protection has launched a campaign to promote healthy eating and prevent chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, and kidney diseases. This initiative aims to enhance public knowledge of nutrition by providing reliable, simple, and accessible information. The campaign will emphasize the complementary roles of different food groups, the importance of dietary variety, and the adoption of healthy cooking methods. It seeks to raise awareness about the link between diet and chronic disease prevention. The campaign will utilize various communication channels, including audiovisual content from health professionals, educational publications, and informational materials. Through this effort, the Ministry intends to foster a better nutritional culture, encourage balanced and sustainable eating habits, and empower citizens to make informed dietary choices based on their age, health status, and specific needs. The Ministry calls upon health professionals, institutional stakeholders, media, civil society, and all citizens to help disseminate the campaign's awareness messages.
The African Development Bank AfDB has praised Morocco's strategy for human resource development and technological know-how transfer within its railway program. In its evaluation report accompanying a 205 million euro loan for the Railway Infrastructure Development Support Project PADIF, the AfDB highlighted Morocco's focus on expertise transfer to address technological challenges associated with its high-speed rail LGV line. This approach involved a partnership with French operator SNCF, which provided support in project management, technical integration, operational readiness, maintenance, and project ownership. This cooperation facilitated the transfer of skills to teams at the National Office of Railways ONCF and Moroccan design offices. The AfDB notes that this strategy is yielding concrete results, with 200 Moroccan railway workers now fully managing LGV maintenance, a number expected to reach 350. Rolling stock maintenance is overseen by a joint venture with SNCF, aiming for a complete transfer of skills by 2035. The Institute for Railway Training IFF, established in 2015, plays a crucial role, offering over 140 training modules for LGV operators, including infrastructure and equipment maintenance. The AfDB also points out that this strategy is complemented by an industrialization policy. Industrial offset clauses in contracts with railway equipment manufacturers have spurred local production for both ONCF and other African operators. Examples include a partnership with
Christopher Nolan's epic film, "The Odyssey," has achieved significant box office success, leading the North American box office in its opening weekend. Globally, the film garnered $264.1 million, with $139.6 million from international markets, marking one of the director's best career openings. The movie, an adaptation of Homer's nearly 3,000-year-old poem, follows Odysseus's journey and his challenging return to the island of Ithaca after the Trojan War. Matt Damon stars as the Greek hero, alongside Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Zendaya, and Charlize Theron. With a budget estimated at $250 million and a runtime of nearly three hours, the film was shot in various countries, including Greece, Italy, Iceland, Scotland, and Morocco. Christopher Nolan utilized Imax cameras for the entire production, a film format known for its unique resolution despite technical constraints. Morocco played a visible role in the film's spectacular reconstruction, with the Ksar of Ait Ben Haddou in Ouarzazate province serving as the ancient city of Troy. In Essaouira, a large-scale sequence involving the Trojan Horse reportedly engaged thousands of extras, aligning with the director's preference for real sets and crowds over entirely computer-generated imagery. "The Odyssey" significantly surpassed initial estimates, outperforming "Moana" which earned $19 million, and "Minions and Monsters" with $14.8 million at the North American box office.