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.
India's Generation Z is changing the way young people engage with politics, with traditional campaign methods increasingly competing against social media, issue-based activism and demands for greater accountability. While young Indians are not necessarily turning away from politics, many are becoming less receptive to conventional political messaging and long-standing patterns of party loyalty. For decades, political parties in India have relied heavily on rallies, speeches, party workers and election campaigns to connect with voters. For a generation that has grown up with smartphones and social media, however, political communication is no longer limited to these traditional channels. Young voters can watch a politician's speech online, compare different viewpoints, question claims and discuss political issues with others within minutes.
This shift has made social media an increasingly important part of political engagement among India's youth. Research on Gen Z political participation in India has highlighted the growing role of digital platforms in shaping political discussions and activism. Instagram, YouTube and other platforms allow young people to participate in political conversations without necessarily joining a political party or attending traditional rallies.
At the same time, employment and education remain major concerns for young voters. As millions of Indians enter colleges and the workforce each year, questions surrounding jobs, competitive examinations, salaries, education costs and career opportunities are becoming increasingly important in political discussions. Recent youth-led protests and student movements have shown how quickly concerns over education and employment can develop into wider public debates.
This has created a challenge for political parties. Young voters may listen to ideological arguments, but many also want politicians to explain how their policies will affect their everyday lives. Promises about economic growth, for example, are likely to be judged against questions about employment opportunities and household finances.
Political parties have started responding to this changing environment. The BJP has increased its focus on Gen Z outreach, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expanded his presence on platforms such as Instagram. The move reflects a broader attempt by political organisations to communicate with younger voters through the digital platforms where they already spend much of their time.
But simply appearing on social media may not be enough. Gen Z has become accustomed to direct and informal online communication, and young users can quickly identify content that appears overly scripted or promotional. Political leaders are therefore facing growing pressure to communicate more openly and respond directly to questions and criticism.
The relationship between Gen Z and politics is also more complicated than the idea that young people have become politically apathetic. Young Indians continue to participate in elections, campus politics, protests and online political debates. In some cases, members of the generation are also entering politics themselves, demonstrating that dissatisfaction with established political practices does not necessarily mean rejecting political participation altogether.
Instead, the emerging trend appears to be a demand for a different kind of political relationship. Young voters want to know what politicians stand for, but they also want evidence that promises can translate into measurable results. They are increasingly able to compare political claims, access alternative sources of information and publicly challenge leaders.
India's Gen Z is also far from being a single political group. Young voters from different states, communities and economic backgrounds have very different priorities. While one group may focus on employment, another may be more concerned about education, inflation, technology or social issues. Political preferences can therefore vary considerably even among people of the same generation.
What connects many of these young voters is the expectation that politics should remain relevant to their rapidly changing lives. They are entering adulthood during a period of technological transformation, economic uncertainty and changing employment patterns. Artificial intelligence is reshaping workplaces, education is becoming increasingly competitive and social media has fundamentally changed how information is consumed.
As Gen Z becomes a larger part of India's electorate, political parties are likely to devote even more attention to this generation. The challenge will not simply be attracting young voters with digital campaigns. Building long-term trust could prove much more difficult. India's Gen Z may not be finished with politics. Instead, it may be finished with accepting politics in the same way previous generations did. For political parties, the message is increasingly clear: young voters want to be heard, questioned promises to be answered and political communication to move beyond slogans toward issues that directly affect their future.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.
Bollywood actor Riteish Deshmukh recently had a memorable meeting with former Brazil captain and football icon Cafu, describing the encounter as a dream moment. Taking to Instagram, Riteish shared a photograph with the Brazilian great and praised Cafu's achievements both on and off the football field. He called the former defender a "GOAT on the field" and a true legend beyond the game.
Cafu is currently in India as part of promotional activities surrounding the upcoming international friendly between India and Brazil. The Brazil men's national football team is scheduled to face India on October 3, 2026, at the Vivekananda Yuba Bharati Krirangan in Kolkata, according to the All India Football Federation (AIFF). The highly anticipated fixture will bring one of football's most celebrated national teams to India.
AIFF Deputy Secretary General Satyanarayan described Brazil's visit as a significant occasion for Indian football, saying that hosting a team of Brazil's stature could become an important milestone for the sport in the country. AIFF Director of National Teams Subrata Paul also highlighted the significance of the match for Indian players. He said facing Brazil would provide the national squad with an exceptional opportunity to compete against one of the world's most successful footballing nations.
According to Paul, an experience of this scale can help Indian players develop, broaden their ambitions and create lasting memories during their careers. Cafu has also been engaging with football fans during his India visit. On September 4, he visited the Pillai University campus in Navi Mumbai, where he interacted with students and football enthusiasts.
During the visit, the World Cup-winning defender spoke about his journey in football, shared experiences from his illustrious career and encouraged young fans to pursue their passion for the sport. With Cafu's India visit generating excitement among football followers, the upcoming India-Brazil friendly is expected to be a major occasion for Indian football fans when the two teams meet in Kolkata.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
The investigation into the November 2025 Red Fort blast has brought renewed attention to the activities of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS), after the National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleged that the attack was connected to a network affiliated with the Al-Qaeda-linked Ansar Ghazwat-ul-Hind (AGuH). The explosion near Delhi's historic Red Fort on November 10, 2025, killed 11 people and left several others injured. The case was subsequently taken over by the NIA, which launched an extensive investigation into the suspected conspiracy and the individuals allegedly associated with the network.
In its chargesheet, the agency alleged that the accused were connected to AGuH, which investigators have described as an offshoot associated with AQIS. The NIA has alleged that the network involved individuals operating across different locations and that the conspiracy extended beyond the immediate site of the blast.
The investigation has attracted particular attention because some of those arrested or named in the case had professional backgrounds that did not immediately fit the conventional image of members of an extremist network. Among those investigated was Dr Umer Un Nabi, whom the NIA identified as a key accused in the case. Nabi, according to investigators, was associated with Al-Falah University in Faridabad and died in the explosion.
The NIA's chargesheet, running into thousands of pages, details evidence gathered during the investigation, including witness statements, documents and material evidence. The agency has alleged that the accused were influenced by the ideology associated with AQIS and AGuH and were involved in a wider conspiracy. The case has also highlighted the changing nature of extremist networks in South Asia. Rather than relying solely on large, centrally controlled organisations, militant groups can attempt to maintain influence through smaller affiliated networks and individuals. Such structures can make investigations more complicated because connections may be spread across different locations and individuals may not have direct contact with senior leaders.
AQIS was established in 2014 by former Al-Qaeda chief Ayman al-Zawahiri with the stated objective of expanding the organisation's presence across the Indian subcontinent. The group has sought to build influence in countries including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Indian security agencies have previously investigated alleged AQIS-linked networks and their connections with militant organisations operating in Jammu and Kashmir.
The Red Fort case has now placed renewed focus on those alleged connections. Investigators have examined activities and relationships extending across Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and other locations as part of the probe. The NIA has also filed additional charges against other individuals as the investigation progressed. The agency has said that its findings are based on a combination of forensic material, documentary evidence, witness accounts and other investigative leads.
The allegations have yet to be conclusively established in court. A chargesheet represents the investigating agency's case against the accused, while the final determination of guilt rests with the judiciary. The investigation nevertheless offers an important insight into the security challenge posed by decentralised extremist networks. For counter-terrorism agencies, identifying links between individuals, extremist organisations and their wider support structures can be as important as investigating an individual attack.
The Red Fort blast case is therefore being closely watched not only because of the scale of the attack but also because of what investigators say it reveals about the continued attempts of AQIS-linked networks to establish or maintain a presence in the region. As the judicial proceedings continue, further evidence and court findings are expected to shed more light on the alleged network and the events leading up to the blast.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from NDTV.
President Droupadi Murmu, in her Teachers’ Day 2026 message, urged educators to ensure their behaviour does not create fear or anxiety among students. She said teachers have a vital responsibility to guide young people, build their confidence and help them become responsible and good human beings. Recalling her own experiences as a student and teacher, Murmu highlighted how caring and dedicated educators can unlock a child’s potential. She stressed that teaching goes beyond academics, with a teacher’s success ultimately reflected in students who achieve their goals while maintaining strong values and ethical conduct.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.
Reform UK has suspended two senior party figures following an undercover investigation that allegedly showed them discussing ways to circumvent electoral rules governing overseas donations. The investigation, conducted by Channel 4 News in collaboration with investigative group Verbatim, was released just before Nigel Farage was due to deliver his speech at the party’s conference in Birmingham. The party has launched an internal investigation into James Orr, its head of policy, and Dan Jukes, a senior adviser to Farage, over their alleged conduct in the footage. Lucy Hough is joined by senior political correspondent Peter Walker to discuss the allegations, the party’s response and what the controversy could mean for Reform UK and Farage.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
As artificial intelligence transforms the job market and changes the skills employers are looking for, workers are increasingly faced with a key question: which skills are truly worth investing in? Cheryl Goh speaks with Chandler Morse, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Workday, about whether businesses are prioritising specialists or generalists, how employees can distinguish genuine workplace demand from AI hype, and the steps they can take to stay relevant as the job market evolves.
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.
When Jackson Pollock created Blue Poles, one of the defining works of American abstract expressionism, he could hardly have imagined that the painting would later become the centre of a major cultural and political debate in Australia. The artwork drew the attention of figures ranging from former prime minister Gough Whitlam to the Shah of Iran before ultimately finding a home at Canberra’s National Gallery, where it came to represent Australia’s growing embrace of modern art and cultural ambition. As Blue Poles prepares to move from Canberra to Perth, Guardian Australia political editor Tom McIlroy joins Rafqa Touma to explore the remarkable intersection of art, politics and national identity surrounding the painting. Their discussion draws on McIlroy’s book, Blue Poles: Jackson Pollock, Gough Whitlam and the Painting That Changed a Nation, which examines how one American artwork became deeply woven into Australia’s cultural and political history.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.
