Hospital Funding Watch: A new Drees study says France’s public hospital deficit is set to reach 2.1% of revenue in 2025 (about €2.3B), after 2.7% in 2024 (€2.9B). Costs are still rising, with interest payments on loans weighing on budgets, even as staff wage growth slows. Space for Health & Environment: Copernicus Sentinel-3C is scheduled to launch from French Guiana on Sept. 14 aboard Avio’s Vega-C, boosting ocean, land, ice and atmosphere monitoring. The data can support climate tracking and help detect algal blooms that affect coastal waters. Border Pollution & Mercury Risk: French authorities warn illegal gold mining along the Suriname–French Guiana border is a “ticking time bomb,” citing extreme mercury and arsenic contamination levels that threaten Indigenous communities through water and food. Viral Hepatitis Snapshot: Eurostat reports EU viral hepatitis deaths fell to 3,172 in 2023, the lowest since 2011, with men and older/working-age groups still hit hardest. Travel Health Alert: The CDC is warning travelers about chikungunya in Costa Rica’s Guanacaste Province, advising vaccination where appropriate and strong mosquito protection.