India has intensified its rescue, relief and forensic assistance to Nepal as the neighbouring country continues to grapple with the devastating impact of flash floods and landslides. An Indian joint technical team is continuing dewatering and slush-removal operations at a tunnel in the Chilime area of flood-hit Nepal, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in its latest update. Rescue personnel are using specialised techniques to clear the affected tunnel, but difficult terrain and restricted access have made the operation challenging.

The slope inside the tunnel and limited entry points are preventing rescue teams from using heavy equipment effectively. To address the problem, construction of a temporary access route is underway. The pathway is being developed to allow heavy machinery to reach the tunnel and support the clearance operation. According to the MEA, the temporary route is expected to be completed within the next two to three days.

At the same time, India's forensic team in Kathmandu is making progress in the identification of victims. The experts are processing more than 1,400 DNA samples and have so far generated 378 DNA profiles. The forensic exercise is aimed at helping authorities identify victims and provide answers to families whose relatives remain missing following the disaster. India has also expanded its humanitarian assistance to Nepal. The MEA said 95 tonnes of emergency relief supplies have already been transported to Nepal aboard seven aircraft. Additional relief material is expected to be sent as required.

Speaking at a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had responded quickly to the disaster because of its close relationship with Nepal. He said New Delhi would continue supporting Nepal's rescue, relief and reconstruction efforts based on the country's requirements. Indian specialists, including forensic experts and tunnel rescue personnel, are currently working alongside Nepali authorities on the ground. The assistance is not limited to supplies, with specialised teams providing technical expertise during rescue and victim-identification operations.

The disaster has also left several Indian nationals unaccounted for. According to the MEA, 275 Indian citizens are currently reported missing. This figure includes 49 people who went missing on the Chinese side of the border. So far, 169 Indian nationals have been rescued, while efforts continue to locate those still missing. The scale of the disaster is reflected in figures released by Nepal Police. Data compiled up to 8 PM on Tuesday showed that 1,366 casualties had been recorded, while 4,077 people remained missing. The recovered victims included 533 men, 339 women and 502 partial human remains.

Of the bodies recovered, authorities have identified and handed over 102 to their families for final rites. Another 1,147 bodies have been buried according to forensic procedures designed to protect unidentified remains and preserve the possibility of future identification. The missing-person figures include both Nepalese citizens and foreign nationals. Nepal Police said 3,469 Nepalese citizens were still missing, including 2,907 men and 562 women. Another 598 foreign nationals were listed as missing, comprising 269 men and 329 women.

Rescue operations have meanwhile continued across affected areas. Nepal Police said 9,254 people had either been rescued or received assistance after being injured. The figure includes 6,380 men, 2,824 women and 50 unidentified cases. Around 3,030 displaced people are currently staying at designated holding and relief centres. DNA collection has become a key part of the ongoing identification effort. Authorities have collected 2,698 samples, including 1,286 samples from deceased victims and 1,412 samples from relatives searching for missing family members. Information, including photographs and profiles of 1,310 unidentified victims, has also been uploaded to an official website to help families identify their relatives.

The emergency response has involved thousands of personnel. Nepal Police has deployed 7,975 personnel across the affected areas, while 65 police personnel have themselves been affected by the disaster. Another 25 officers remain unaccounted for. Alongside rescue and relief work, police teams have conducted 158 public awareness and disaster preparedness programmes involving more than 43,900 people. These efforts are aimed at helping communities understand emergency procedures and respond more effectively to ongoing risks.

India has also urged families of Indian nationals who remain missing in China following the August 26 mudslide and flash floods to provide DNA samples. The samples are expected to assist forensic teams in comparing genetic profiles and establishing the identities of victims. With rescue teams facing difficult terrain, forensic experts working to identify victims and thousands of people still reported missing, the humanitarian situation remains serious. India's continued supply of emergency material and deployment of specialised technical teams are expected to support Nepal's efforts as it moves from immediate rescue operations towards relief and eventual reconstruction.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

The decades-old Indus Waters Treaty between India and Pakistan has entered a fresh legal and diplomatic dispute after an international arbitration tribunal ruled that the agreement remains in force, despite India's decision to place it in abeyance. The ruling, issued by the Court of Arbitration at The Hague on August 31, has been rejected by India, which has questioned the tribunal's jurisdiction and maintained that the proceedings have no legal standing from New Delhi's perspective. Pakistan, meanwhile, has welcomed the decision and argued that the treaty continues to govern water-sharing arrangements between the two countries.

The latest disagreement centres on the Kishenganga and Ratle hydroelectric projects in Jammu and Kashmir. Pakistan has raised objections over aspects of the projects, arguing that their design and operation could affect flows into Pakistan. India has maintained that the projects are permitted under the treaty and has defended its right to develop hydropower on the western rivers within the agreement's provisions.

Signed in 1960 with the involvement of the World Bank, the Indus Waters Treaty divided the six major rivers of the Indus basin between the two countries. India received the primary rights over the eastern rivers — Ravi, Beas and Sutlej — while Pakistan received the western rivers — Indus, Jhelum and Chenab. India was nevertheless allowed certain uses of the western rivers, including hydroelectric generation, subject to technical conditions.

The agreement remained in operation despite wars and repeated diplomatic crises between India and Pakistan. Disputes over hydroelectric projects, however, have repeatedly tested the treaty's interpretation. The current legal battle became particularly complicated because India and Pakistan have pursued different mechanisms for resolving their disagreements. Pakistan supported arbitration through a Court of Arbitration, while India has backed the use of a Neutral Expert process. The existence of parallel proceedings has been a major source of disagreement between the two sides.

The situation changed dramatically in 2025 after India announced that it was placing the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance following the Pahalgam terror attack. New Delhi linked the decision to its wider security concerns and called for action against cross-border terrorism. Pakistan rejected India's position and continued to maintain that the treaty remained legally binding.

The recent Hague ruling has therefore failed to resolve the central disagreement. Instead, it has highlighted a deeper question over whether an international tribunal can make decisions concerning the treaty when one of the parties does not recognize its jurisdiction. India has said it does not accept the tribunal's authority, while Pakistan continues to rely on the treaty and international dispute-resolution mechanisms. This leaves the two countries with sharply conflicting positions on both the substance of the water dispute and the legal process being used to address it.

The dispute carries significant importance for both sides. Pakistan depends heavily on the Indus river system for agriculture, drinking water and its wider economy. India, meanwhile, has strategic and economic interests in expanding hydropower generation in Jammu and Kashmir and has increasingly emphasized the need for greater control over its water resources.

The continuing disagreement also comes at a time when India-Pakistan relations remain deeply strained. As a result, what began as a technical dispute over the design of hydroelectric projects has evolved into a broader confrontation involving water security, national sovereignty, international law and bilateral relations. The future of the Indus Waters Treaty now remains uncertain. Unless the two countries find a mutually acceptable way to address their differences, the legal dispute surrounding the treaty could continue to complicate one of the most important and sensitive aspects of India-Pakistan relations.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.

The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has sought to put to rest concerns over the future of the space agency amid India's growing push to involve private companies in the country's space programme. ISRO said reports suggesting that its role could be reduced because of increasing private-sector participation were incorrect. The agency clarified that opening the space sector to private companies does not mean reducing ISRO's importance or turning it into a smaller research-focused organisation.

The clarification comes amid concerns among ISRO employees and staff associations over the government's plans to expand the role of private companies and public-sector enterprises in the production of satellites, launch vehicles and other space systems. The debate gained attention following comments by Pawan Goenka, chairman of the Indian National Space Promotion and Authorisation Centre (IN-SPACe), about the possibility of industry taking over the production of some systems currently manufactured by ISRO. Such a move has raised questions about what responsibilities would remain with the space agency in the coming years.

ISRO, however, has maintained that the transfer of mature technologies and manufacturing activities to industry should not be interpreted as a withdrawal from those areas. Instead, the agency is expected to increasingly concentrate on advanced technologies, scientific research, complex missions and capabilities that are strategically important for the country.

The space agency will continue to be involved in major national programmes, including human spaceflight, planetary exploration, scientific missions, advanced launch technologies and the development of new-generation space systems. Its role in developing technologies that can later be transferred to industry is also expected to remain important.

India began opening its space sector to private participation as part of reforms aimed at creating a larger commercial space industry. The government has encouraged startups and established companies to develop satellites, launch vehicles and other space technologies, with IN-SPACe acting as a key institution for facilitating and regulating non-government participation.

The policy is intended to increase India's overall space capabilities rather than replace ISRO. Private companies can potentially provide additional manufacturing capacity, investment and commercial expertise, while ISRO can focus its resources on more challenging scientific and technological programmes. Employee associations, however, have sought greater clarity about how the transition will affect existing manufacturing capabilities and the future responsibilities of ISRO personnel. Their concerns reflect the importance of preserving technical expertise built within the organisation over several decades.

The latest clarification from ISRO indicates that the agency's long-term role will remain significant even as the private sector takes on a larger share of commercial activities. Rather than competing with private companies in every area, ISRO is likely to focus more strongly on developing technologies and undertaking missions that can subsequently create opportunities for industry.

The shift could therefore represent a change in the way India's space programme operates, rather than a reduction in ISRO's importance. A stronger private space industry could help India expand its launch and satellite manufacturing capacity, while ISRO continues to lead the country's most complex and strategically important missions.

With India's space ambitions expanding, the government is attempting to build an ecosystem in which ISRO, private companies, startups, academia and public-sector organisations contribute to different parts of the programme. ISRO's latest clarification makes clear that, despite the changing structure of the sector, the agency will continue to occupy a central position in India's space ambitions.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Hindustan Times.

Nepal could need between $4 billion and $5 billion to rebuild after devastating floods and related disasters, according to the country's Finance Minister, highlighting the growing financial burden faced by nations vulnerable to climate-related extreme weather. Finance Minister Swarnim Wagle said the preliminary estimate could amount to around one-tenth of Nepal's economy. The government is continuing to assess the damage, meaning the final reconstruction cost could change as authorities gather more information from affected areas.

The disaster caused extensive damage across parts of Nepal after a glacier collapse sent large volumes of ice, rock, mud and water into river systems. Homes, roads, bridges and other infrastructure were damaged or destroyed, while several hydropower facilities were also affected. Nepal's National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has estimated that damage to property, houses and infrastructure has already reached about 387.5 billion Nepalese rupees, equivalent to roughly $2.56 billion. Officials have said that around 20,000 homes could eventually require reconstruction, with thousands already reported to have been destroyed.

The immediate recovery requirement is much smaller than the long-term reconstruction bill, but the government still expects to need tens of millions of dollars during the first few months. The money will be used to restore roads and electricity, provide temporary accommodation and ensure access to essential services such as drinking water.

The disaster has also placed Nepal's hydropower sector under significant pressure. The country has invested heavily in hydropower as part of its economic and energy strategy, but mountainous terrain leaves many power projects and the infrastructure connecting them vulnerable to floods and landslides. Damage to access roads and other facilities could therefore affect both reconstruction costs and electricity generation.

Nepal's situation has also brought renewed attention to the limited size of international climate finance. The UN-backed Fund for responding to Loss and Damage had received pledges of about $822 million by March 2026. That amount is less than one-fifth of Nepal's preliminary $4 billion-$5 billion reconstruction requirement, even though the fund is intended to support vulnerable developing countries around the world rather than a single nation. The gap illustrates a major challenge in the global climate debate. Developing countries often have limited financial resources to recover from major disasters, while the cost of rebuilding infrastructure and communities after extreme weather events can run into billions of dollars.

Rebuilding will involve more than replacing what was destroyed. Authorities are also expected to face pressure to make roads, bridges, homes and hydropower infrastructure more resilient to future floods, landslides and other climate-related hazards. That could increase the cost of reconstruction but may reduce the risk of similar losses in the future.

The disaster has strengthened calls for greater international support for countries facing climate-related losses. For Nepal, the immediate focus remains on restoring basic services and supporting affected communities, but the larger challenge will be securing enough funding to rebuild without putting additional strain on the country's economy. As damage assessments continue, Nepal's estimated $4 billion-$5 billion reconstruction requirement is emerging as another example of the widening gap between the cost of climate disasters and the financial resources available to countries most exposed to them.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.

Singapore is set to increase the salaries of its political officeholders by as much as 9 per cent, marking the first adjustment to ministerial pay in 15 years. The move has renewed debate over how Singapore determines compensation for its political leaders, including whether salaries should continue to be linked to earnings among the country’s highest-paid private-sector professionals. Elakeyaa Selvaraji and Hairianto Diman explore the principles behind Singapore’s political pay framework and the broader question of how public service should be valued. They also discuss the issue with Eugene Tan, Associate Professor of Law at Singapore Management University (SMU).

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

As floods continue to affect communities across Nepal and Tibet, the Red Cross is assessing the urgent humanitarian needs, efforts to locate missing people and the difficulties involved in delivering assistance to hard-hit areas. Elakeyaa Selvaraji and Hairianto Diman also examine how the Singapore Red Cross’s S$50,000 humanitarian contribution will aid relief operations, the circumstances that could lead to a deployment in Nepal and how members of the public in Singapore can support the response. They discuss these issues with Benjamin William, Secretary General and CEO of the Singapore Red Cross.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Singapore’s prison population is ageing, with one in six inmates now aged 60 or above, compared with one in 10 in 2019. Daniel Martin spoke with Quentin Lee, Assistant Director and Lead Psychologist at the Singapore Prison Service’s Psychological and Correctional Rehabilitation Division, who is part of a National Committee sub-group focused on preventing offending and re-offending among older adults. They explored the factors driving the rise in elderly inmates and examined the support needed to help older offenders and ex-offenders break the cycle of crime and reintegration into society.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

Rescue teams in Japan have continued their search operations overnight as they race to find survivors following a powerful earthquake that struck Kyushu Island. Several people remain unaccounted for after the 7.1-magnitude quake caused buildings to collapse, with many feared trapped beneath the debris of a shopping centre. CNA Senior Correspondent Michiyo Ishida joins Andrea Heng and Hairianto Diman to provide the latest updates on the rescue efforts and situation on the ground.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.