Morocco–Algeria Diplomatic Thaw: Spain’s PM Pedro Sánchez visited Algiers for the first time in four years, aiming to normalize ties after the Western Sahara rupture—while insisting Madrid won’t shift its support for Morocco’s autonomy plan; talks focused on energy, investment, migration, and Western Sahara, with Spain also agreeing to raise Algerian gas imports by 10%. African Atlantic Gas Pipeline: ECOWAS leaders backed the $25bn Nigeria–Morocco Atlantic Gas Pipeline, a ~6,900km corridor targeting up to 30 bcm/year and potential links to Europe via the Maghreb-Europe network—an industrial and energy boost for West Africa. France–Morocco Energy Push: France and Morocco advanced plans for an electricity interconnection to export renewable power, with Paris reiterating its unwavering Western Sahara position. Western Sahara Under Spotlight via Film: Calls for boycotts and legal scrutiny grew after reports that Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey filmed in occupied Dakhla, with Sahrawi groups saying it whitewashes Morocco’s occupation; meanwhile, Morocco’s tourism and film-industry messaging continues to frame Dakhla as a production and visitor destination. Pegasus Surveillance Claims: A new investigation alleges Morocco used Israeli Pegasus spyware to target journalists and Sahrawi activists, including Spanish numbers—raising fresh concerns for regional governance and security.