Higher Ed Digital Push: Ethiopia is rolling out online, blended and micro-credential learning across universities, pairing infrastructure gains with teacher and student digital literacy. Skills-Programme Pressure: South Africa’s higher education and training minister says big business is “absent” from skills partnerships, even as a R103m programme trains 20,000 young people for e-commerce and the digital economy. Internationalisation Reality Check: A global commentary asks whether higher-education internationalisation can survive shrinking mobility and rising political pressure, especially in high-income countries. Community-First Research: The UK launches a new Journal for Community Studies to put community knowledge and lived experience on equal footing with academic research. Academic Freedom Under Strain: Scholars at Risk reports 382 attacks on higher education across 59 places, with US pressure on university autonomy and rising self-censorship. US Independence Push: PEN America’s “Champions of Higher Education” leaders demand government respect for institutional independence, rejecting attempts to steer priorities. Curriculum Overhaul at USyd: Staff fear new “Choice Ratio” rules could force major course reductions, triggering broad unit reviews. Access and Equity in Schools: Uganda’s education minister warns against illegal fees in UPE/USE that drive dropouts; Pakistan’s governor spotlights early childhood education as future-proofing. Learning Support and Wellbeing: New research finds menopause is rarely recorded in electronic health records despite self-reports; a UK school celebrates Ofsted praise for “classrooms of purpose.” Funding and Accountability: South Africa’s auditor-general flags rising irregular spending in higher education and training, while Sri Lanka convenes a national school meal forum to strengthen long-term coordination. Teacher Shortages: Nepal reports severe staffing gaps for grades 11–12, with student loads far above targets. AI in Education Debate: Multiple pieces argue AI is reshaping teaching, skills and university planning, from dyslexia support to concerns about AI upskilling and career readiness.