Mental Health Safety: A new mental health ward in Palmerston North has seen a spike in assaults on staff, with under-staffing cited and coroner findings raising alarms about daily safety risks. Alcohol & Public Health: New research says global alcohol consumption is set to keep falling through 2031, driven by health concerns, changing habits, and even weight-loss drugs—while Vietnam is still forecast to see rising servings. Climate & Heat Risk: NOAA says “super El Niño” conditions have formed and could intensify, threatening hotter years and disruptions that can hit food and health systems. Vietnam Health Tech: At the Vietnam–Singapore Tech Connect Forum, Kaopiz and QuantumTX signed an MOU to co-develop AI/IoT preventive healthcare solutions using QuantumTX’s MitoCharge technology. Health Justice & Toxins: Ahead of a French court hearing on Agent Orange/dioxin claims, a prosecutor recommended overturning a prior dismissal—an outcome that could affect accountability for wartime chemical suppliers. Community Support: Vietnam Red Cross reported nearly 762 billion VND raised during 2026 Humanitarian Month, supporting more than 578,800 vulnerable people nationwide. Local Governance: PM Le Minh Hung urged Hanoi to lift development goals and speed stalled projects, including science, tech, innovation and digital transformation. International Links: Vietnam and Switzerland discussed ways to deepen connectivity in areas including clean energy and high-quality human resources.