Democracy Under Pressure: UN Secretary-General António Guterres marked International Day of Democracy by urging stronger public participation, protection of civic freedoms, and an independent civil society as misinformation and shrinking civic space spread. Civic Space & Protest Rights: South Korean activists protested a possible Strait of Hormuz troop deployment, arguing Seoul is being pressured without public justification. Human Rights in Higher Ed: Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil sued Columbia University over alleged discrimination and failure to protect pro-Palestinian students from doxxing and harassment, seeking restored access and an end to suspension. Civil Society Capacity Building: Liberia’s LWSC and the African Union Commission launched training to help develop bankable, climate-resilient water projects and unlock financing. Climate & Activism Funding: Climateworks Centre helped launch Electrify Australia, pushing electrification as a practical emissions-cut strategy. Authoritarian Controls: China tightened exit rules linking travel to national security and technology controls, raising concerns about politically sensitive cases. Local Governance & Accountability: Assam’s Guwahati High Court asked the state government to respond to a PIL challenging the re-appointment of a retired forest officer, citing procedure and prior environment ministry concerns. Food Safety & Agroecology: A report warns cadmium and arsenic from phosphate fertilizers can accumulate in rice-growing soils, and highlights organic, agroecology approaches to reduce risk.