Back to school 2026-2027: these are the OCU's tips to avoid spending more money than necessary on the return to the classroom

Families face mounting financial pressure and nervousness ahead of the 2026-2027 school year, prompting the OCU to release a series of recommendations designed to help households avoid overspending on back-to-school supplies. The transition back to the classrooms marks a challenging period for students and parents alike as they navigate the final days before the academic term begins.

Concurrently, regulatory and humanitarian developments are unfolding internationally. In the Dominican Republic, the rapid expansion of large Chinese retail stores has impacted tax records, customs inspections, migration operations, and consumer complaints. Meanwhile, authorities in Nepal reversed a previous restriction to permit limited international foreign assistance, specifically deploying specialists for tunnel rescues, forensic identification, and related operations following flood disasters.