Cancer Care: A Chinese study in Clinical Cancer Research suggests response to neoadjuvant immunochemotherapy could let some locally advanced head and neck cancer patients undergo less extensive surgery while maintaining strong disease-free survival and organ preservation. Diabetes Treatment: Novo Nordisk says Wegovy (semaglutide) has been approved in China for metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH), extending GLP-1 benefits beyond weight and cardiovascular risk. Maternal Health: Shanghai will make maternal care fully free, covering prenatal checks, hospital delivery and postpartum follow-ups, as the city pushes to boost birth rates amid demographic pressure. Public Health Policy: Hong Kong will introduce standardized plain cigarette packs from March, with full enforcement by December, aiming to reduce smoking appeal and strengthen health warnings. WHO Governance: Saima Wazed, WHO Southeast Asia regional director, resigned amid fraud investigations by the UN agency and Bangladesh authorities, after nearly a year on unpaid leave. Disaster Response: Nepal’s army is using China-donated drones to deliver food, medicine and fuel to flood-hit, hard-to-reach communities. Diabetes Drugs in Trials: Novo’s once-weekly semaglutide plus basal insulin combo (IcoSema) showed stronger A1c and weight reductions with less hypoglycemia than once-daily insulin glargine in a phase 3b trial. School Health: More Chinese regions are banning mobile phones in schools; Chongqing’s new rules take effect Sept 1. Healthcare Safety & Access: Hong Kong Customs fined a local forwarder for exporting Chinese herbal and proprietary medicines without proper export licences.