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Commentators predictably reacted to the news of the signing of a mutual defence pact between Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Pakistan on August 7 by reaching for the label “Islamic Nato”. The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement stipulates that an armed attack on any one of them would be treated as an attack on all. Jerusalem went a step further, describing the alliance as an anti-Israel alliance. But the Nato comparison is the wrong framing.

Chief Justice Surya Kant on Friday criticised the Bar Council of India for directing state bar councils not to enrol students from the National Academy of Legal Studies and Research graduating in 2026 as advocates, calling the now-revoked action “absolutely uncalled for”, Bar and Bench reported. Kant said: “It’s a dialogue between students and me.

Two Naga persons were killed in firing by suspected militants in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district. A group of men armed with “sophisticated weapons” attacked Langka Naga village at around 8 am, an unidentified police officer said. Residents said an armed group from the Naga village opened fire at the suspected attackers after the incident.

Bangladesh is the world’s second largest producer of the environmentally friendly fiber jute. However, the country has, for decades, grappled with the move to combat the escalating use of the cheaper and more popular, but harmful, plastic-based packaging and synthetic fibers. As a safeguard measure, the government, 16 years ago, enacted a law for the mandatory use of jute sacks and bags to contain and carry 19 essential commodities, including rice, wheat and fertiliser.

Companies selling packaged food products in India often claim that they are healthy, natural, pure, sugar-free – but are they actually so? In 2024, a committee of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India reviewed more than 160 food products that had been flagged for making misleading claims. Two years later, our investigation found a majority of those claims were still in circulation.

Two Naga persons were killed in firing by suspected militants in Manipur’s Kangpokpi district on Friday, Ukhrul Times reported. A group of men armed with “sophisticated weapons” attacked Langka Naga village at around 8 am, an unidentified police officer told PTI. The officer said that a man identified as W Chawang died at the scene after suffering gunshot wounds to the head, while three others were injured.

Such a lovely piece, beautifully explaining the shared legacy and current challenges (“A letter from Lahore for Abhijeet Dipke: We watch with wonder and longing”). The Cockroach Janata Party here in India and Gen Z across South Asia have given me hope that we can come together, despite our bitter history, for a brighter future. I wish our boundaries would not stop us from learning and sharing with love, and in legal ways. – Manish *** I was overwhelmed by the letter written by Ehtesham Hassan.

Clashes erupted between protesters and police personnel in Haryana’s Ambala on Thursday, leaving six officers and several demonstrators injured, The Indian Express reported. The Sikh protesters were demanding action against Gursimran Singh Mand, national president of the International Anti-Khalistani Terrorist Front, alleging that he attempted to run over several persons with his car on August 7, the newspaper reported.

Every good love story includes a Holi celebration. But personally, I never felt the festival was romantic in any conventional sense. It’s loud, anarchic and someone always gets colour in their mouth. The thandai is spiked by someone who doesn’t announce it. The white clothes you wore, ironically, are destroyed within four minutes. Someone’s playlist is terrible. Someone’s playlist is perfect. It doesn’t matter. But maybe that’s the point. Holi felt better that year.

The Supreme Court on Friday quashed criminal proceedings against comedian Samay Raina and four others in connection with allegedly insensitive remarks about persons with disabilities on the comedy show India’s Got Latent, Live Law reported. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana passed the order after noting that Raina and the other respondents had complied with directions to conduct awareness programmes and raise funds for persons with disabilities.