Local Government Finance: Worcestershire’s councils face a “critical” decision on whether to reorganize into one unitary authority or two councils, as officials warn rising exceptional financial support is unsustainable. Civic Tech & Transparency: Civic Brief launched a platform to make local meeting records, agendas, and plain-English summaries easier for residents to find and follow. Student Aid Policy: Ontario civil servants said a spike in OSAP spending was driven largely by career colleges—months before the Ford government cut OSAP grants. Education & Community Action: In Madhya Pradesh, villagers built a new government primary school after officials allegedly left families waiting, highlighting gaps in service delivery. Immigration & Deportations: A Venezuelan mother described the chaos and dehumanization she faced seeking answers about a deported son, as US-Venezuela deportation fallout continues. AI & Government Stakes: OpenAI is reportedly in early talks to offer the US government a 5% equity stake, amid growing scrutiny of AI’s public impact. Energy & Oversight: India’s Supreme Court paused Delhi’s CAG audit of private power discoms tied to massive regulatory assets. Cyber Governance: GoDaddy warned India’s crackdown on fake brand sites could make the internet less safe for legitimate businesses. Diplomacy: A Ukrainian diplomat said Central Europe’s public rhetoric toward Ukraine doesn’t reflect practical cooperation, with security needs driving ties.