Critical Minerals Push: The U.S. is hardwiring access to “critical” minerals into new bilateral trade and investment deals, with national security now driving policy as China dominates supply chains. Power & Grid Supply: Nextpower completed its acquisition of Zigor’s power conversion assets, expanding inverter tech and U.S./Europe engineering capacity for solar and energy storage projects. Cold Chain Upgrade: Ember LifeSciences and Japan’s Alfresa formed an alliance to improve pharmaceutical cold-chain logistics, giving Alfresa exclusive sales rights in Japan. Warehouse Automation: LPP Logistics deployed hundreds of HAI Robotics units at a Romania e-commerce fulfillment center, boosting storage for millions of garments and accelerating throughput. Robotics Rules: The FCC expanded restrictions on certain foreign-made advanced robotics, including some robotic vacuums, citing national security and cybersecurity risks. Maritime Risk & Sanctions: Treasury sanctioned entities tied to Iran’s Mahan Air network, targeting logistics and commercial support tied to the IRGC. Red Sea Toll Talk: Reports say Houthis are considering charging transit fees for ships through Bab el-Mandeb, potentially reshaping Red Sea shipping costs and routing. Airport Capacity Boost: Melbourne Airport’s $4.5b makeover and Qantas long-haul basing plan aim to unlock new direct destinations with faster check-in and bag tracking. Freight Reliability Spotlight: Univar Solutions honored top transportation partners in its annual Carrier Awards for safety, on-time delivery, responsiveness and data connectivity.