STEM for rural students: Malaysia’s Melaka state says Budget 2027 should keep funding STEM access in countryside schools, with hands-on tech exposure like drones, 3D printing, and solar cars so students can use equipment—not just read about it. Semiconductor growth needs power + talent: ABB warns Penang’s semiconductor and E&E boom depends on reliable, sustainable electricity plus smart energy management, while the biggest bottleneck remains skilled workers. Climate policy shake-up in New Zealand: The ACT Party proposes scrapping the net zero target and repealing the Zero Carbon Act, replacing it with a “carbon tax refund” and partner-benchmarked emissions caps. Manufacturing security for the Industrial IoT: A new study proposes a permissioned blockchain + edge + cloud framework (XManuChain) to secure cross-factory data sharing in smart factories. Biotech momentum in cancer vaccines: Moderna’s personalized mRNA cancer vaccine plus Keytruda posts positive Phase 3 results in high-risk melanoma, boosting confidence in tailored oncology approaches. Biometrics at airports: U.S. Customs and Border Protection expands touchless Enhanced Passenger Processing using facial comparison at more international airports, raising fresh privacy concerns. Energy storage shift: Sodium-ion batteries move closer to mainstream as 2026 brings more commercial production and grid-scale deployments. AI meets manufacturing collaboration: Reply launches an AI Film Festival to connect generative AI creators with filmmakers, pushing responsible creative uses of new tools.