Oil prices surge amid Israel-Iran exchanges, global markets decline
via Le Matin1 min read
Oil prices rose significantly, with Brent crude for August delivery increasing by 4.90% to $97.65 per barrel and West Texas Intermediate for July delivery gaining 4.88% to $94.96. This surge is attributed to renewed tensions in the Middle East following exchanges between Israel and Iran. Global stock markets experienced declines, with Paris down 0.86% and Frankfurt down 1.13% in early trading. London showed more resilience, falling 0.25%, supported by oil companies like BP, which rose 1.74%, and Shell, up 1.47%. Asian markets saw sharper drops, with Tokyo losing 3.85%, Seoul 8.29%, and Taiwan 3.46%, particularly affected by a downturn in the semiconductor sector. An analyst from CMC Markets, Andreas Lipkow, noted that events in the Middle East underscore the region's fragile and unpredictable situation.
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The Morocco national team, led by Mohamed Ouahbi, is grappling with several injury concerns as they prepare for their upcoming match against Brazil. Abdessamad Ezzalzouli, a key winger for the Atlas Lions, is a major worry after sustaining a right leg injury during a match against Norway. Initial examinations, according to "Foot Mercato," suggest a sprained internal knee ligament, potentially sidelining him for three to four weeks. This timeframe could rule him out of the World Cup, a significant blow given his recent strong performances in Morocco's offense. Noussair Mazraoui also left the Norway match due to a shoulder impact, but Mohamed Ouahbi stated in a press conference that it is a contusion and no serious injury was detected, making him likely available for the Brazil game. Additionally, Nayef Aguerd and Chamseddine Talbi are continuing their recovery protocols from previous injuries, with Aguerd recently rejoining collective training. Anass Salah-Eddine's absence from the Norway match lineup, after playing against Madagascar, has raised questions, though no official communication has confirmed a serious injury. With the Brazil match scheduled for June 13, the coming days are crucial for the Moroccan technical staff to assess the fitness of these players. Speculation about potential reinforcements from the extended squad, including Sofiane Boufal and Maamma, is circulating in case of confirmed withdrawals.
A recent scientific study published in npj Clean Energy explores the technical and economic feasibility of installing floating solar panels on 58 dams in Morocco. This initiative aims to generate renewable electricity from existing water surfaces and reduce water loss due to evaporation. Researchers analyzed data from 58 Moroccan dams, whose reservoirs cover approximately 433 square kilometers. These bodies of water lose about 909.46 million cubic meters of water annually through evaporation, with the highest losses occurring in July. The technology involves placing photovoltaic panels on floating platforms on the water's surface, which produces electricity without using agricultural, urban, or industrial land. Additionally, the panels limit direct sun exposure, thereby reducing evaporation. The study highlights that certain dams, such as Al Wahda 183.88 million cubic meters lost annually, Al Massira 131.35 million cubic meters, and Oued El Makhazine 76.86 million cubic meters, account for significant evaporation losses. Morocco benefits from an average of 3,000 hours of sunshine per year and a daily solar irradiation of about 5.80 kWh/m². The study suggests that covering just 1% of the total surface area of the studied dams with floating solar panels could produce a notable amount of electricity with a quick return on investment. A more extensive coverage of about 40% could theoretically meet the national electricity demand, estimated at 42.38 TWh in 2023. While this indicat
Morocco's national football team will approach the 2026 World Cup with one of the most internationalized squads. A study by German platform Finalarm and data analysis studio DataPulse reveals that 92.3% of Moroccan players are based in clubs outside the Kingdom. This figure is significantly higher than the global average of 72% for the 48 qualified teams, positioning the Atlas Lions among the most internationalized national teams in the tournament. This trend highlights a profound transformation in modern football, where top players increasingly pursue careers away from their home leagues, particularly in Europe, which offers attractive clubs, higher revenues, and more followed competitions. The extent of this shift is evident when comparing it to 1990, when only 26% of World Cup players were with foreign clubs. Today, nearly three out of four players are based abroad, indicating a global phenomenon rather than just a few talent-exporting nations. In Morocco's 2026 World Cup squad, only Munir Mohamedi, Ahmed Reda Tagnaouti, and Mehdi El Harrar on the reserve list play in the national league, with the majority playing in foreign, mainly European, championships. Other major national teams show similar trends, though levels vary based on the strength of domestic leagues. Argentina also has 92.3% of its players abroad, while Brazil has 73.1%. France, despite its strong Ligue 1, sees 69.2% of its players under contract outside national territory. Conversely, nations with powerful