Repatriation Update: A special flight has landed in Karachi with the bodies of three Pakistani sailors and four injured crew members from the Palau-flagged MT Honour 25, after Somali forces freed the hijacked tanker; survivors say they’re relieved to be home as officials coordinate next steps for families. Medicaid Coverage Shock: New U.S. federal eligibility rules tied to the “One Big Beautiful Bill” are already starting to strip Medicaid access for hundreds of thousands of immigrants in multiple states, raising fears of delayed care for people with chronic conditions. Palau Veterans Care: A new U.S. GAO report says VA health access for veterans in Palau and other Freely Associated States remains limited, with no local VA facilities and costly travel to Guam or Hawaii; VA is moving toward a narrower expansion that could include reimbursements, telehealth, and medicine delivery. Tobacco Health Alert: A new global study links chewing tobacco to about 251,000 deaths in 2023, with South Asia carrying most of the burden and Palau showing high prevalence. Local Health Support: Shin Kong Wu Ho-Su Memorial Hospital says it treated more than 200 Palauan patients and donated medical supplies during the Pacific Islands Forum, extending care beyond the conference. Climate & Food Security: Reporting from the Pacific notes El Niño-driven rain and shifting tides are disrupting seaweed farming in Solomon Islands, threatening household income and food supply.