Air Fleet Expansion: China Eastern and China Southern, both state-owned, signed orders for 32 Airbus/Boeing jets worth about USD 13 billion—25 A330neo for Eastern and 7 Boeing freighters for Southern—aimed at boosting intercontinental capacity and cargo growth. Trade & Security: China expanded dual-use export curbs on Japan, adding 20 entities to a control list and 20 more to a watch list, citing Japan’s “neo-militarist” agenda and end-use verification gaps. AI for Work: Meta AI research chief Dawn Song says the next push is toward AI agents that carry out real-world tasks to help workers deliver more economic value. Renewables in the Cold North: China’s first solar thermal power station in high-latitude Jilin began generating, using molten-salt storage to cut wind/solar curtailment and improve clean-energy utilization. Industrial Tech Demand: Market reports highlight fast growth in 360-degree cameras, lithium-ion batteries, and mezzanine floors—signals of continued investment in automation, energy storage, and logistics capacity. Geopolitics in the Pacific: Australia and Vanuatu signed the Nakamal Agreement, designed to prevent any foreign military base on Vanuatu and add consultation over critical infrastructure.