College Costs & Access: A new National Association of College Stores survey says students spent an average $338 on course materials in 2025–26, down 44% over a decade, as digital materials and affordable access programs keep growing. Immigration Policy Debate: Japan has kicked off a high-level push to cap or “quantitatively manage” its foreign population, with a working group weighing ratio limits and residency caps. Admissions & Exams: Laos’s National University of Laos held 2026–27 entrance exams with 7,867 candidates; results are due Aug. 24. Student Backlash Over Leadership: At UTS in Australia, students are denouncing the axing of a long-running international leadership program, BUILD, citing lost global opportunities. Exam-Answer Delay: In India, UGC-NET aspirants say they’re still waiting on the June 2026 answer key and results, with NTA helpdesk replies offering only acknowledgements. AI & Education Quality: A Ghana Communication Technology University graduation urged ethical, responsible AI use, warning against becoming “digitally active without becoming digitally powerful.” AI-Native Campus Push: KAIST’s new president says the university will redesign curriculum around an “AI-native” model, including AI-use ratings for every course. Higher-Ed Labor Action: Ghana’s university administrators union has declared a nationwide strike starting Aug. 10 over salary inequities and conditions. Global Research & Health: Navrachana University launched a Centre for Public Health to link research, training, and policy; meanwhile, Cambridge, Fortis Hospitals, and Prema Cognition announced a dementia study recruiting 300 early patients.