Higher Education Governance: Students at the Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Maynila (PLM) in the Philippines questioned the university’s decision to award President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. an honorary Doctor of Laws, saying they were not consulted and that the move could be read as political endorsement. Disaster Response & School Safety: In Nepal’s flash floods, India has begun DNA analysis to identify victims while tunnel rescue teams work with Nepali forces; separate reports highlight teachers evacuating more than 1,600 students moments before schools were swept away. Central Asia Education & Tech Links: India and Uzbekistan elevated ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, setting a $5bn annual trade target by 2030 and expanding cooperation that explicitly includes education alongside digital public infrastructure, AI, space, and critical minerals. Skills-First University Reform: Maharashtra’s North Maharashtra University push focuses on practical, job-oriented learning under the National Education Policy, including new training facilities, tribal studies support, and applied fieldwork via MoUs. Medical Training Beyond Exams: India’s medical students were urged to look past postgraduate entrance tests by building community outreach and international exchange experiences. Student Learning Trends: Australia’s “ATARmaxxing” debate is spreading among high schoolers as a strategy to choose subjects that “scale” for university entry, raising concerns about narrowing creative pathways. School Infrastructure Funding: Malaysia’s PM announced a 50% rise in maintenance allocations for all school types in 2027, with district visits to speed up repair needs identification.