Philippines Health Leadership: President Marcos Jr. has appointed orthopedic surgeon Dr. Jose Brittanio “Brix” Pujalte Jr. as the new Health Secretary, replacing Dr. Teodoro Herbosa, who resigned for health reasons—supporters say Pujalte will push for more accessible public care. AI in Public Hospitals: Malaysia’s Health Ministry will pilot AI tools at selected hospitals to cut doctors’ manual documentation work, with upgrades to digital infrastructure and a safety-first rollout before wider expansion. Cardiometabolic Drug Insight: A real-world study suggests semaglutide’s heart benefits track more with the dose patients actually receive than with the weight they lose. Lung Cancer Deal: AstraZeneca struck an exclusive licensing agreement with China’s Dizal for Zegfrovy (sunvozertinib), paying $600M upfront and up to $900M in milestones for global rights. Behavioral Health Funding Crunch: Dallas County’s major mental health provider Metrocare is facing a severe deficit, with leaders weighing whether Parkland could absorb parts of its model. Dementia Testing Tech: Ireland-based Head Diagnostics launched a dementia assessment service with Medefer, combining digital cognitive testing and consultant-led diagnosis. Overwork Watch: Japan reported 15% of hospital doctors exceed 960 hours of overtime annually, even after caps were introduced. Public Health & Youth Risks: Namibia MPs are consulting on “hubby bubbly” (hookah) health impacts in schools amid concerns about addiction and mixing with alcohol or drugs.