AI & Research Funding: Firmus nearly doubles valuation to $10.5B+ after a $2B equity raise backed by Nvidia, aiming to expand AI training/inference infrastructure across Australia and Asia-Pacific. Optical Networking: Lumilens launches with $900M funding to replace copper interconnects with faster fiber-optic optical chips for AI data centers. AI Talent Shuffle: Google’s chief scientist Jeff Dean and three top AI researchers leave to start Discovery Loop, with Alphabet investing and Google Cloud as partner. Cyber & Youth Safety: A New Mexico court orders Meta to create a $567M fund after finding its platforms harmed youth mental health, adding to earlier $375M penalties. Geopolitics & Tech Controls: China announces sanctions and drone export restrictions on U.S. firms ahead of Xi-Trump talks, while markets track Middle East Strait of Hormuz uncertainty. Education & Governance: Nebraska schools prepare for AI use with local policy guidance, and Brunei’s EVYD highlights risk-based AI governance at DFCE 2026. Health Tech & Science: Researchers expand public lab cancer models and use 3D-printed tumor neighborhood systems to study chemotherapy-resistant bone cancer. Business & Infrastructure: A New Zealand Future Fund proposal targets domestic investment for innovation and long-term infrastructure.