Higher Education Policy: India’s Bar Council of India granted one-time conditional approval to Maharashtra law colleges to join the 2026-27 Common Admission Process after gaps left over 100 of 357 colleges out of the CAP system, giving them until Aug 31 to finish portal steps and paperwork. School Safety & Inclusion: A Jeju Island elementary school left no official record after a bullied fifth-grader attempted to jump from a third-floor window, reigniting scrutiny of how schools document and respond to harassment. Rural Education Accountability: India’s Cockroach Janta Party founder Abhijeet Dipke announced a nationwide Aug 15 campaign urging parents and village leaders to run social audits of basic facilities in government schools. Northeast University Reform: Arunachal Pradesh CM Pema Khandu urged Northeast universities to become “problem-solving institutions” tied to local challenges, partnerships, and measurable outcomes. International Student Mobility: Cambridge International reported growth in AS & A Level entries across Southeast Asia, with rising demand for flexible, globally recognised qualifications. ASEAN Diplomacy: ASEAN missions in Bangladesh pledged deeper cooperation spanning trade, education, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchanges. Pacific Security: A Reuters report said China’s nuclear-capable missile test exposed limits of Pacific leaders’ push for an “Ocean of Peace,” with ministers unable to agree on a collective condemnation.