Defence AI in the spotlight: Bulgaria’s BlackBelt Technologies surfaced from stealth at IDEES Plovdiv, pitching Forge-OS for GPS-denied autonomous UAV guidance and mission planning, and starting technical talks with Turkish UAV firm TEUSAN. Space systems, faster: KBR won a $95M Digital Engineering and Enterprise Decision Support contract for the U.S. Space Force, aiming to speed up analytics-driven architecture and acquisition decisions using model-based engineering. Healthcare robotics: Deaconess Illinois is evaluating the latest Da Vinci V robotic-assisted surgical system after demos, targeting smaller-incision procedures and quicker recovery. Diabetes tech expansion: In Cheshire and Merseyside, hospitals are rolling out hybrid closed-loop systems that pair continuous glucose monitoring with insulin pumps and automated dosing, improving access for children. STEM workforce push: Ohio awarded $26M+ in Choose Ohio First scholarships to 59 institutions to grow STEM talent starting in 2027-28. Tech policy friction: UK Technology Secretary Liz Kendall criticized Palantir’s “right-wing” leadership amid debate over the NHS data contract and a possible break clause. AI on devices: WeChat is working with major phone makers to enable agent-to-agent calling and messaging via phone AI assistants, using dual authorization for privacy. Earth science: NSF plans to decommission Alaska’s deep-ocean Ocean Observatories Initiative instruments, raising alarms for fisheries and hazard planning.