Defense Procurement: The U.S. has approved a potential $24.3B sale of 48 F-35 jets to Saudi Arabia, a move that deepens Gulf air power while Washington keeps Israel’s “qualitative edge” in mind. Diplomatic Upgrade: Morocco and Israel agreed in New York to raise ties to full embassies, exchange ambassadors, and restore direct flights by year-end, with investment and double-taxation deals targeted before end-2026. Sahara Diplomacy Watch: Morocco’s FM Nasser Bourita met UN chief António Guterres as MINURSO’s mandate heads toward its Oct. 31 deadline, under a new Security Council framework that centers Morocco’s autonomy plan. Migration Policy Debate: A policy paper argues EU–Morocco migration cooperation shouldn’t rely on deterrence alone, proposing a Diaspora Fund for Moroccans abroad to align youth jobs, Rabat’s strategy, and Europe’s needs. Local Tech & Climate: A peer-reviewed study using satellite data finds Laayoune’s urban heat behavior differs from other Moroccan cities, with Tangier showing the strongest “hotter core” pattern. Cyber & Security: Morocco faced a claimed data leak by hacker group Jabaroot, which says it exposed 70,000 names tied to police and intelligence. Fisheries Economy: Morocco’s sardine landings jumped 66% to 394,200 tons in the first eight months of 2026, with Laayoune and Dakhla among the biggest gainers.