Nepal’s main opposition party, the Nepali Congress, began voting on Friday to elect its senior leadership and members of its Central Working Committee, as it seeks to recover from a disappointing performance in the March elections. The leadership contest comes ahead of next year’s local elections, scheduled as the terms of elected local representatives are due to end in 2027. Polling opened on Friday morning, a day later than originally scheduled. Shobhakanta Baral, the senior-most representative at the party’s general convention, cast the first vote. Delegates arrived early at polling centres after waiting in vain for the process to begin on Thursday. Some voters were also eager to complete their participation before returning home for the Dashain festival.

Nepali Congress president Gagan Kumar Thapa, who is seeking to retain the position, said the convention was an opportunity to reorganise the party following its recent electoral setback. Speaking to ANI, he said the party’s immediate priority was to reconnect with voters who had traditionally supported it but turned away in the latest election. Thapa estimated that around one million traditional supporters had stopped voting for the party. He said the leadership intended to address their concerns and rebuild confidence by presenting a renewed political approach that responds to their grievances.

A total of 7,317 eligible convention representatives are participating in the election. The party is choosing its president, vice presidents, general secretaries, joint general secretaries and Central Working Committee members. Following an amendment to its statute, the committee’s strength has been increased to 297 members. The election is taking place against the backdrop of a deep internal dispute that has divided Nepal’s oldest political party into rival camps. The Nepali Congress currently has 38 seats in the House of Representatives, compared with 89 seats in the previous House, which was dissolved before the Gen-Z-led political upheaval.

The current convention is also the party’s first regular national gathering since December 2021. It follows a special convention held in Kathmandu from January 11 to 14, which was convened after more than half of the party’s convention representatives supported a demand for an extraordinary gathering. At that January convention, delegates elected Thapa as party president, replacing Sher Bahadur Deuba. The Election Commission recognised Thapa’s leadership on January 16, and the Supreme Court upheld that recognition on April 17. However, the court agreed in August to review its earlier decision, leaving the leadership dispute unresolved.

The Thapa-led faction maintains that a regular convention must be held within a year of a special convention to establish the elected committee’s continuing mandate. It argues that the ongoing process fulfils this statutory requirement. The faction also secured the authority to issue party tickets for the March election after receiving recognition from the Election Commission.

Deuba’s supporters reject the legitimacy of the January convention and continue to challenge the leadership transition. The former president’s camp has boycotted the current proceedings and announced plans to hold a rival 15th general convention in Kathmandu from December 7 to 9. The disagreement centres on the interpretation of the party constitution, the validity of the special convention and the authority of the leadership while the Supreme Court review remains pending. Although petitions seeking to halt the Thapa-led convention were rejected, the broader legal dispute has yet to reach a final resolution.

Changes to the party statute have added another dimension to the contest. Under the revised rules, convention delegates must receive a recommendation at the ward level and be elected at the constituency level, rather than gaining automatic delegate status through central committee membership. The amended provisions also reserve at least 21 Central Working Committee positions for people under 35 and establish representation provisions for experts, workers, members of the diaspora, persons with disabilities and minority communities.

The roots of the dispute predate the September 2025 Gen-Z protests. In October 2025, Deuba transferred acting presidential responsibilities to Purna Bahadur Khadka. Subsequently, Thapa and Bishwa Prakash Sharma, who were then general secretaries, helped gather signatures for a special convention. The demand received support from 54.58 per cent of convention delegates, while Deuba’s faction argued that the regular convention process was already underway.

Before Thapa’s election in January, Deuba’s committee suspended Thapa, Sharma and Farmullah Mansoor. The Election Commission later recognised the new leadership, but Deuba and Khadka challenged the decision. Although the Supreme Court initially upheld the recognition, it subsequently agreed to reconsider the ruling following their review petition. The leadership election is therefore more than a routine organisational exercise. For Thapa’s faction, it represents an effort to consolidate its authority, rebuild the party and regain voters ahead of the next local elections. For Deuba’s supporters, the dispute concerns the legality of the leadership change and the interpretation of the party’s internal rules.

The outcome of the convention could shape the Nepali Congress’s organisational direction and its ability to present a united opposition in Nepal’s changing political landscape. With the Supreme Court review still pending and a rival convention announced, the party’s internal struggle is likely to remain a significant issue in the months ahead.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Two children were killed and three others injured in an explosion in Gowargo tehsil of Panjgur, Balochistan, in an incident that local sources have alleged may have involved a quadcopter operated by Pakistani security forces, according to The Balochistan Post. The children were reportedly playing in Fateh Ali Bazaar when they spotted a suspicious object hanging from a tree. The object exploded after the children disturbed it, killing two boys, aged nine and 10. Three other children, aged seven, nine and 12, sustained injuries in the blast.

The precise nature and source of the explosive device were not immediately established. However, a source cited by the report alleged that explosives had been attached to a Pakistani military quadcopter and subsequently placed in the area. The source also claimed that local journalists were later instructed by Pakistani forces to report the incident as an explosion involving a hand grenade or another explosive device. The incident has once again raised concerns over allegations of civilian casualties linked to military drone and quadcopter operations in Balochistan.

In a separate incident on September 24, four young men were reportedly killed and two others injured in a military drone strike in Balicha, Kech. Their families disputed official allegations that the victims were suspected militants, saying the men had gone to the area for a picnic, The Balochistan Post reported. The incident was followed by a boycott of courts across the Makran division, with lawyers demanding an independent inquiry. On September 18, five civilians were reportedly injured in alleged quadcopter attacks in the Balochabad and Bullo areas of Mand.

Balochistan has also continued to face allegations of enforced disappearances and other human rights violations. Critics and local communities say reports of arbitrary arrests, disappearances and limited accountability have deepened insecurity and mistrust, further complicating efforts to establish lasting peace and restore public confidence in state institutions.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Indian Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava met Nepal Prime Minister Balendra Shah on Tuesday for a farewell call as he prepares to return to India after completing his diplomatic tenure. The meeting was held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singhadurbar, according to a statement issued by the Nepal Prime Minister’s Office.

During the interaction, Prime Minister Shah described the relationship between Nepal and India as longstanding, close and cordial. He also conveyed his appreciation to the Government of India for its assistance to Nepal during recent floods, landslides and other natural disasters. Shah congratulated Srivastava on completing his assignment and wished him success in his future responsibilities.

Reflecting on his tenure, Srivastava said several development initiatives involving Nepal and India had progressed or been completed during his time as ambassador. He also thanked the Nepalese government and people for the cooperation and support extended to him throughout his stay. Srivastava is expected to leave Nepal for India on Wednesday following the completion of his assignment.

His farewell meeting with Prime Minister Shah is part of a series of engagements with senior Nepalese officials as he concludes his diplomatic posting. Earlier on September 21, Srivastava met Nepal’s House Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal as part of the same farewell programme. The ambassador had also held meetings with Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal and Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

According to Nepal’s Foreign Ministry, Khanal congratulated Srivastava on completing his tenure and acknowledged his efforts to further strengthen the broad-based relationship between Nepal and India. Foreign Secretary Rai also recognised the ambassador’s contribution to bilateral ties, particularly in areas including energy cooperation, cross-border infrastructure and people-to-people connections. The series of farewell meetings comes as India and Nepal continue cooperation in development, infrastructure, energy and humanitarian assistance. India’s support during recent natural disasters in Nepal has also remained an important part of the countries’ ongoing engagement.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar on Monday, where he paid his respects at the Sikh shrine. Authorities made extensive security arrangements in and around the complex ahead of the visit. Gor has been travelling across different parts of India as part of his diplomatic responsibilities. His recent visits included Srinagar and Leh.

The Ambassador’s Amritsar visit also drew attention from Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), with its Acting President Emaan Singh Mann indicating that he intended to discuss a range of Punjab-related and Sikh community issues with the US envoy. Mann described the visit as important for the Sikh community and said he planned to raise matters concerning Punjab, Sikh rights and India-Pakistan relations.

Mann pointed to the security concerns faced by Punjab’s border districts, particularly Amritsar, amid tensions between India and Pakistan. He referred to Operation Sindoor and the Indus Waters Treaty while calling for dialogue and renewed cooperation between the two countries on water-related matters.

According to Mann, his party has submitted a seven-point list of demands. These include continued US diplomatic efforts to help prevent further India-Pakistan tensions, restoring cooperation under the Indus Waters Treaty, examining the possibility of the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) pipeline, and facilitating legal movement of people, trade and pilgrimage across the India-Pakistan border. He argued that greater cross-border connectivity could support Punjab’s economy and create opportunities for trade with Central Asian markets. Mann also highlighted concerns over the smuggling of drugs and weapons across the border.

Other issues he said he wanted to raise included elections to the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), religious freedom and the case involving Sikh human rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra. Mann also spoke about what he described as the Sikh community’s right to self-determination and said his party had asked Washington to support an inquiry into matters related to Sikh rights. Security was tightened significantly around the Golden Temple before Gor’s arrival. Amritsar DCP Law and Order RPS Sandhu said police had made arrangements to deal with any possible security situation.

Sandhu said around 150 personnel, including officers in uniform and plain clothes, were deployed both inside and outside the shrine complex. He also said security teams were monitoring the area and that arrangements had been made to prevent any untoward incident during the Ambassador’s visit.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from ANI.

Simon Hattenstone, a features writer at The Guardian, has supported Manchester City for more than five decades. His connection with the club began when he was a child, during a difficult period in his life when he was recovering from a serious illness. He would attend matches in his hometown alongside his father, forming a bond with the club that would remain with him for much of his life.

For many years, being a Manchester City supporter meant experiencing far more disappointment than success. The club endured long periods away from the spotlight, with occasional moments of excitement breaking up years of frustration. That changed dramatically when City's fortunes began to improve, eventually leading to an extraordinary period of trophies, high-profile players and international attention. According to the original account, that remarkable rise was later overshadowed by allegations and a major legal dispute.

Guardian football writer Jonathan Liew has described the case as being about much more than Manchester City's transformation into one of football's biggest clubs. The allegations concern claims that the club benefited from hundreds of millions of pounds in improperly reported or unlawful income following its change in fortunes after 2008. The legal findings and the club's position on those matters have become part of a much wider debate surrounding football finances.

The story also raises broader questions about how the Premier League has evolved as international investment has poured into English football. The arrival of enormous amounts of overseas money has transformed clubs, transfer markets and commercial competition, while also raising difficult questions about financial regulation, ownership and competitive balance. Manchester City's story, therefore, has become part of a much larger discussion about how money has reshaped both English football and the business surrounding it.
Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from The Guardian.

Severe flooding in Bangkok has displaced thousands of residents and put the city’s drainage network under immense strain. Intense rainfall has also triggered deadly flooding in Nepal, India and the United States. Poh Kok Ing and Hairianto Diman speak with Bangkok-based Singaporean Ang Geck Geck and Tim Fletcher, Professor of Urban Ecohydrology at the University of Melbourne, to explore why cities are increasingly vulnerable to extreme downpours and how improved drainage, green infrastructure and smarter urban planning could help reduce flood risks.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

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.