Smart City & Air Quality: A Seoul resident poll found traffic congestion, nighttime crime, and fine dust top the list for smart city priorities, with fine dust leading the environment concerns. Himalayan Climate Disaster Watch: Travelers are debating whether to cancel Nepal trips after deadly Himalayan floods, with authorities warning of a possible second flood risk from a new lake formed by debris. Public Safety Accountability: Jeju police handling of missing-person cases is under scrutiny after bodies were found near where a case was closed quickly, raising questions about how reports were managed. Battery Safety & Clean Tech: Hyundai-backed sodium-ion batteries reportedly cleared major safety tests, adding momentum for alternatives to lithium-ion. Soil Plastic Pollution Research: A new method extracts soil nanoplastics while preserving particles, offering a clearer look at how much plastic pollution is hiding in farmland soils. Community Support for Isolation: Seodaemun’s “NEET Company” program is helping socially isolated young adults rebuild routines through a low-pressure job-like structure. Indo-Pacific Security Context: An Indo-Pacific chiefs of defence conference is underway, underscoring regional security tensions that can shape environmental and disaster response planning. Energy Transition Signals: Japan and the U.S. are tightening support around solar supply chains, with perovskite support rising as China-linked equipment faces barriers.