Space & Defense Tech: Pulse Space won a $40 million U.S. Space Force contract to develop laser-based power and data links between spacecraft, building on earlier SBIR support. Public Health: New York City reported 38 confirmed Legionnaires’ cases in Manhattan’s Upper East Side, with rooftop cooling towers under inspection and a new law requiring more frequent testing. Health Systems & Preparedness: Israel hosted an international emergency management and preparedness course for hospital resilience, as governments reassess care during wars, cyberattacks, outbreaks and climate crises. Global Governance: A Philippines governance index update says the country has electoral democracy but struggles to turn political competition into effective institutions. Cyber & Critical Tech: India and Australia launched a new partnership framework covering cyber, AI, space, telecoms and supply-chain resilience. Chronic Disease Burden: Australia’s health report finds chronic conditions and dementia are driving most disease burden, alongside rising mental health impacts. Digital Health Data: NIH expanded its All of Us program with data from 747,000+ participants, positioning it as a top global genomic and EHR resource. Retail Tech: Asda is upgrading internet connectivity across 500 Express stores to keep payments and security systems running.