Investment & Industry Promotion: Laayoune-Sakia El Hamra pushed investment opportunities at the Morocco-France Economic Day in Paris, pitching renewable energy, fisheries/blue economy, manufacturing, logistics and tourism, and stressing faster approvals and investor support. Diplomacy for Trade & Production: France’s new ambassador to Morocco, Philippe Lalliot, made his first Laayoune visit, reaffirming Paris support for Morocco’s autonomy plan and promising continued development and investment engagement in the southern provinces. Institution Building & Human Services: A NEPAD delegation was briefed on the Sahrawi experience in institution building, including public healthcare, education at the University of Tifariti, and the transport and energy ministry’s mandate. Agribusiness Supply Chains: The US temporarily suspended anti-dumping and countervailing duties on Moroccan phosphate fertilizer imports, aiming to protect American farm input supply—an action with wider MENA strategic ripple effects. Energy/Climate Innovation (Context): “The Nomad Garden” highlights engineered food production under harsh Saharan conditions, framed around sustainability amid aid restrictions. Culture & Media Scrutiny: FiSahara called for a boycott of Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” over claims that filming in Western Sahara normalizes Morocco’s control of the territory. Regional Political Signals: Former South African President Jacob Zuma backed Morocco’s Western Sahara stance in Ghana, praising Ghana’s support for Morocco’s autonomy plan and criticizing Polisario’s agenda.