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Spain and Morocco near end to diplomatic row over disputed Western Sahara

The Euronews reported, citing media outlets, Morocco and Spain have moved closer to resolving a decades-long dispute over Western Sahara.
Spain's Prime Minister stated that a proposed autonomous region under Rabat control is the "most serious, realistic and credible” solution, according to Morocco’s royal palace.
In a letter to Morrocan King Mohammed VI, Pedro Sánchez recognised “the importance of the Sahara issue for Morocco”.
The royal palace said in a statement on Friday: “Spain considers the autonomy initiative presented by Morocco in 2007, as the basis, the most serious, realistic and credible, for resolving the dispute."
Western Sahara -- a vast, disputed territory in northwestern Africa -- has long been a source of tensions between Madrid and Rabat.

Morocco has fought a conflict against Sahrawi independence fighters of the Polisario Front for decades, but Spain is still considered the colonial administrative power of Western Sahara since it abandoned the territory in 1975.
Madrid has long argued that a United Nations-sponsored referendum should settle the territory’s decolonisation.
Meanwhile, the Algeria-backed independence movement has called for a referendum on becoming a sovereign state.
Morocco cuts contacts with German embassy over stance on Western Sahara dispute
The move towards autonomy is a departure from Spain’s previous position that Morocco’s grip on Western Sahara was an occupation.
"Today, we are starting a new stage in our relationship with Morocco, based on mutual respect, respect for agreements, the absence of unilateral actions and transparency and permanent communication," the Spanish government said on Friday.
PM Sánchez and Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares are expected to visit Morocco amid improved relations.
UN chief hopes to maintain ‘momentum’ in Western Sahara talks
In April last year, Morocco was angered after Spain admitted the Polisario Front leader into their country for COVID-19 treatment.
Rabat was then accused of relaxing its border controls, allowing at least 8,000 migrants to enter the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
Source: euronews
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Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
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Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”
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