AI Hardware & Materials: Solstice Advanced Materials agreed to buy Element Solutions in a $14.5B deal aimed at AI-critical specialty chemicals for cooling, chip interconnects and thermal interfaces. Semiconductors & Supply Chain: Apple is testing DRAM chips from China’s CXMT while lobbying Washington for broader clearance; meanwhile Apple also expanded its Broadcom partnership with a multiyear pact expected to top $30B and produce 15B U.S.-made wireless chips. Defense Electronics: Lockheed Martin will acquire Ultra Maritime for $3.45B to expand sonar and anti-submarine warfare offerings. Enterprise Tech: Windows desktop market share reportedly slipped below 60% globally, while DuckDuckGo’s browser now blocks YouTube ads by default. Manufacturing & Automation: Mitsubishi Electric launched its MELSEC MX Controller to unify motion, logic and networking for connected factories. Policy & Industry: Xi Jinping called for sci-tech self-reliance by 2035 as China’s top sci-tech awards went to radar and lithium battery leaders. E-waste & Compliance: Subic Bay defended e-waste imports as “urban mining” amid Basel Convention concerns.