Workplace Safety & Accountability: India’s CITU is demanding an impartial probe into a June 8 explosion at Vizag Steel Plant that killed 9 workers and left many burned, saying the incident was driven by serious SOP failures and management responsibility. Public Participation & Governance: A Kenya-focused piece argues public participation is now central to constitutional democracy, warning courts have struck down actions where consultations were rushed, inaccessible, or ignored. Local Service Delivery Under Strain: Scotland’s Accounts Commission warns councils face a £529m daily operating gap in 2026/27, with funding not keeping up with costs and demands—raising fears of service cuts or closures. Public Sector Reform: Scotland appoints Ivan McKee as Public Service Reform Secretary, calling the job “big” amid a £4.7bn finance gap and pushing faster reform and preventative spending. Education Oversight: 73 former officials call for an independent, time-bound review of India’s NTA and CBSE testing and marking systems after NEET-UG leak fallout and alleged OSM rollout problems. Digital & Cybersecurity for Government: A US bill would restore federal support for MS-ISAC, aiming to expand free cybersecurity resources for state and local governments after funding cuts. Tech for Small Business: New Zealand announces AI-powered support funding to expand AcceleratorNZ and mentor tools for hundreds more small firms. Public Finance & Procurement: Bahamas Finance Minister Halkitis says procurement reforms are ongoing, citing certification progress and capacity-building amid public procurement criticism. Community & Transport: Coventry’s A46 Walsgrave junction upgrade will face two public information events as construction starts in September to cut congestion. Corruption Crackdown: Sri Lanka’s CIABOC reports 32 public officials arrested for bribery in the first four months of 2026.