German Politics & Education: AfD is poised for a historic state-level breakthrough in Saxony-Anhalt on Sunday, with polls putting it around 40%+ and raising fears of knock-on effects for education and culture as Germany’s “firewall” against coalition with AfD is tested. AI in Schools: New York City’s one-year moratorium on student-facing generative AI for pupils up to eighth grade spotlights the growing policy fight over how AI should be used in classrooms. Higher Ed Capacity: Dutch universities and the government have agreed a “self-regulation” approach to international student intake, including limits on new English-language bachelor programmes—sparking debate about transparency and access. Student Safety & Access in War Zones: Sumy (Ukraine) opened an EU-supported underground school for 500 students, while more protected facilities are under construction in the region. World Maps & Learning: The UN backed an African-led push to promote equal-area maps (Equal Earth) over Mercator in education and official communications, arguing it corrects long-running distortions. UK Literacy & Curriculum: UK authors and education voices argue for stronger reading-for-pleasure and a rethink of GCSE English book choices as participation rises from a recent low. Privacy & Tech: A Netherlands-based travel app Polarsteps faces scrutiny after investigators say weak protections allowed tracking of users’ locations and even likely home addresses.