Children’s Literature Honors: Chinese picture book illustrator Cai Gao, 80, became the first Chinese creator to win the Hans Christian Andersen Award (often dubbed the “Nobel Prize for children’s literature”), with IBBY praising her calm, detail-rich storytelling. Higher Education Access: Jammu and Kashmir’s higher education participation lags sharply, with a reported 21.5% gross enrolment ratio versus 30% nationally, and weaker higher-secondary retention, pointing to pipeline gaps before college. Skills for Jobs: Bangladesh’s NSDA completed the first task analysis and occupational mapping for “Chinese Language,” aiming to turn language learning into an employment-linked occupation with competency standards and new training curricula. Student Protests & Exams: In Jharkhand, talks with JPSC-JSSC aspirants are considering cancellations and probes over recruitment irregularities, while students say agitation will continue. School Safety Disruptions: Kerala declared a holiday for Kuttanad education institutions after heavy rain and waterlogging; separate forecasts also raised closure concerns for Aug 10 across parts of India. Regional Education & Culture: Japan’s “Kokuban Art Koshien” chalk-on-blackboard contest spotlights creativity in schools, while China organized a study-tour “mobile classroom” train for teachers and students to Beijing. Tragic School Violence: Thailand’s school shooting death toll rose to at least eight after a 12-year-old girl died in hospital, intensifying scrutiny of youth gun access. Sports & Student Life: India won team silver at the FISU World University Squash Championships in Mumbai, its best-ever team finish.