English-Language Access in Qatar: Barzan University College signed a strategic partnership with the British Council to expand IELTS services and support English-based higher education pathways. National Literary Honors (Malaysia): Mana Sikana was named Malaysia’s 16th National Laureate, with his wife calling it a long-awaited recognition of his lifelong contributions to literature. Macau Higher-Ed Expansion: Macau’s Chief Executive inspected the first phase of the Macao-Hengqin International Education (University) Town, set to begin operating Aug. 17 for three public universities. Campus Safety (U.S.): Spokane police are investigating car break-ins at Gonzaga University involving National Guard troops assisting with wildfires. Nursing Pipeline (U.S.): Fletcher Technical Community College graduated a record 52 students from its Associate of Science in Nursing program, including an LPN-to-RN bridge cohort. College Sports Policy Fight (U.S.): Republican senators filed an amendment to stop a college sports bill from overriding state women’s sports laws. Global Higher-Ed & Energy (Nigeria): A proposed $500M solar investment would help Nigerian universities cut diesel dependence and improve campus power and internet access. Access & Retention (Scotland): New research shows more students from Scotland’s most deprived communities are staying in university, with second-year retention rising to 87.7%. Community College Workforce (U.S.): Moraine Valley vice president Ryen Nagle joined a national AACC commission on the future of work, focusing on AI literacy and skills-based training.