School Nutrition in India: Hare Krishna Movement Charitable Foundation, Junna Solar Systems and Chain Labs India are funding two centralised community kitchens in Telangana (₹9.17 crore total) to deliver hygienic breakfasts daily to 50,000 government schoolchildren in Nagar Kurnool and Vikarabad. Public Health in the Pacific: Niue reassures residents after two confirmed HIV cases, citing counselling, contact assessment, testing and follow-up as risk to the wider public remains low. Malaria Research: Papua New Guinea and Japan launch a five-year, Japan-funded project to strengthen PNG health systems and push toward malaria elimination, with field work in East Sepik. Tobacco Burden: A Lancet Global Health study estimates chewing tobacco caused about 251,000 deaths worldwide in 2023, with South Asia—especially India—carrying most of the harm. Pandemic Preparedness: WHO and partners unveil a $35.99m Pandemic Fund multi-country project for Western Pacific nations to boost surveillance, labs and emergency response. Healthcare Tech & Innovation: Samsung Galaxy Watch9 adds AI health features like Daily Cardio Load and an upgraded Running Coach, aiming to turn sleep and fitness data into actionable guidance. Drug R&D Deal: Novartis signs a ~$7.8b licensing deal with China’s Abogen for RNA-based therapy ABO2203 targeting autoimmune diseases. Maternity Coverage in Japan: Japan begins talks to make childbirth free under a revised Health Insurance Act, targeting nationwide coverage by June 2028. Health Workforce Policy: WHO removes Uganda from its severe health-worker shortage list, allowing limited export of some cadres like nurses and midwives under safeguards.