Aviation & Trade: China is set to launch its first international commercial route for the homegrown COMAC C919, flying Beijing to Ulaanbaatar, a bid to challenge the Boeing-Airbus duopoly. Defense & Diplomacy: Saudi Arabia called the new Makkah defense pact with Türkiye and Pakistan a “long-term” deal to boost regional security and stability. Global Health Access: Fiji Airways and Cure Kids Fiji expanded specialist care to remote communities, supporting hundreds of patients including pregnant mothers and children via domestic and international flight sectors. Energy & Minerals: Malaysia and Australia discussed closer rare-earth and critical-minerals cooperation, including domestic neodymium magnet manufacturing and better handling of processing residues. Tech & Investment: Accel raised $3.5B for early-stage AI investing worldwide, with dedicated funds for the US, Europe/Israel, and India. Safety & Education: Dalton Public Schools partnered with Sandy Hook Promise to roll out an anonymous “Say Something” reporting system and safety training. Earthquake Response: Colombia is coordinating international aid after a deadly earthquake, with multiple countries and multilateral proposals in motion.