Former President Ram Nath Kovind has highlighted the expansion of social and economic inclusion as a key feature of the Narendra Modi government, arguing that communities and regions that were historically left on the edges of India’s development story are now receiving greater attention. In an opinion article published by Hindustan Times on September 17, Kovind wrote that the lasting significance of the Modi era should be viewed through the expansion of what he described as the Indian mainstream. He linked this change to efforts aimed at reaching people and communities that, according to him, had remained underserved by governance for decades.

Kovind, who served as President between 2017 and 2022, said the approach was visible in a range of government programmes and infrastructure projects. Rather than focusing on a single scheme or reform, he presented inclusion across different regions and sections of society as a broader governance objective. The Northeast was one of the main examples cited in the article. Kovind said the region, which was frequently viewed as geographically distant from India's economic centres, has increasingly been presented as a gateway to Southeast Asia. He pointed to improvements in transport links, infrastructure, investment and peace initiatives as signs of the changing approach.

Among the projects mentioned were the Bogibeel Bridge and the Sela Tunnel, both of which have improved connectivity in difficult terrain. He also referred to the Bairabi-Sairang railway line in Mizoram, the first direct rail connection linking the state capital Aizawl with the wider Indian railway network, as well as the development of AIIMS Guwahati. He further pointed to the semiconductor manufacturing facility in Assam as an example of high-technology investment reaching the Northeast.

The former President also focused on remote settlements along India's international borders. He noted that the government's terminology has increasingly shifted from describing such locations as the country's "last villages" to calling them "first villages". The change, he argued, reflects a wider policy effort to improve roads, connectivity, livelihoods and basic services in border areas.

The Vibrant Villages Programme is part of that effort, while the Aspirational Districts Programme seeks to improve development outcomes in districts that have historically performed poorly across indicators such as health, education and infrastructure. Kovind also mentioned the Aspirational Blocks Programme, which extends the model to smaller administrative units.

Tribal communities were another major focus of the article. Kovind referred to programmes targeting Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups and other tribal populations, including the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyaya Maha Abhiyan, or PM-JANMAN. The programme is designed to improve access to essential services and infrastructure for 75 Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups across the country, with areas such as housing, drinking water, roads, healthcare and connectivity among its priorities.

Financial inclusion, according to Kovind, has also helped broaden access to formal economic systems. He pointed to the expansion of Jan Dhan bank accounts and Direct Benefit Transfer as important elements of the government's strategy to connect previously underserved households with banking services and welfare payments. The Pradhan Mantri Jan-Dhan Yojana has now crossed 59 crore beneficiaries, according to government data.

The article also highlighted programmes covering electricity, cooking fuel and tap-water access. Kovind cited Saubhagya, Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana and Jal Jeevan Mission as examples of schemes intended to extend basic services to households that previously had limited or no access to them. Women’s economic participation formed another part of his argument. Kovind pointed to initiatives such as MUDRA, PM SVANidhi and the Lakhpati Didi programme, saying that the policy focus has increasingly moved beyond viewing women only as recipients of welfare and towards encouraging entrepreneurship, income generation and greater economic participation.

The larger message of the former President's article is that development should not be limited to major cities or traditionally stronger regions. Instead, he argues, national growth becomes broader when remote communities, tribal populations, women, border residents and financially excluded households are able to participate in it.

Kovind's article comes as Prime Minister Narendra Modi marks his birthday and looks ahead to the government's longer-term vision of a developed India by 2047. While the article presents the government's record from a supportive perspective, the effectiveness of individual programmes ultimately depends on implementation, access, regional differences and measurable outcomes on the ground.

The debate over India's development model is therefore likely to increasingly centre not only on headline economic growth, but also on how evenly the benefits of that growth reach different parts of society. The central transformation is a change in how the country's development map is viewed: communities once regarded as peripheral are increasingly being brought into the centre of policy attention.
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Sholan Baloch, spokesperson for the Baloch Students Organization Azad, has accused the Pakistani state of carrying out a campaign against Baloch political activists and their families, alleging that the measures are intended to silence political dissent in Balochistan. In a statement, Sholan alleged that a number of Baloch political workers have been forcibly disappeared and are being held at undisclosed detention facilities. She also claimed that the bodies of political activists and leaders have subsequently been found in remote locations. According to her, the deaths of several political workers have weakened the region's political space and created what she described as a growing political vacuum.

Sholan said continued violence and alleged repression have compelled many Baloch political workers to leave their homes and live as refugees. Some, she said, have moved overseas, while others and their families have taken shelter in Baloch-majority areas of Iran. She added that some families have also relied on relatives for protection and accommodation, describing the practice as part of a longstanding social tradition.

She further alleged that Baloch activists have faced threats and attacks even after moving to neighbouring Baloch areas. Sholan cited the reported killing of Dr Abdul Rashid Arif Nokap, described as a central political worker of the Baloch National Movement, as an example of what she characterised as a broader campaign against Baloch political figures.

According to Sholan's account, Dr Abdul Rashid had been staying with relatives after leaving his home because of what she described as abuses by Pakistani authorities. She alleged that members of his family were subjected to collective punishment in an attempt to pressure them and discourage their political activities.

Despite living away from his original home, Dr Abdul Rashid reportedly remained involved in the Baloch national movement while continuing his work as a doctor. Sholan said he had established a medical clinic in a remote locality where residents had limited access to healthcare. She claimed that he continued treating people in the area while remaining politically active.

Sholan also raised allegations concerning violence against Baloch families in neighbouring areas, referring specifically to the Sham Sar incident. She claimed that Pakistani fighter aircraft were responsible for the deaths of an entire Baloch family in the incident. She further alleged that other families had faced collective punishment, including the killing of relatives and the destruction of their homes.

The spokesperson accused the Pakistani state of attempting to weaken Balochistan's political movement by targeting activists and their families. She described the alleged killing of political workers who had been living as refugees in Baloch areas as serious violations of international law and characterised them as war crimes.

Sholan paid tribute to Dr Abdul Rashid Baloch and other Baloch political activists, saying they continued to support the Baloch national movement despite displacement and insecurity. She also appealed to international organisations to recognise the situation of Baloch refugees, protect those facing alleged persecution and investigate claims of abuses. Sholan called for accountability over what she described as systematic violence against Baloch political activists and urged international institutions to take action over allegations of an ongoing campaign of repression in Balochistan.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@BSO__AZAD.

Pakistan is facing a difficult diplomatic balancing act as tensions between Saudi Arabia and Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels put its relations with Riyadh and Tehran under fresh pressure. Islamabad has spent much of the year trying to maintain ties with both sides, including supporting backchannel diplomatic efforts involving the United States and Iran while simultaneously strengthening its defence partnership with Saudi Arabia.

The latest fighting has made that balancing strategy increasingly difficult. Pakistan has moved quickly to reassure Riyadh after comments from Islamabad appeared to suggest that its recent defence commitments with Saudi Arabia would not automatically require Pakistani forces to participate in military operations against the Houthis.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman over the weekend and reaffirmed Pakistan's support for the Kingdom. According to Pakistan's Prime Minister's Office, Sharif strongly condemned the Houthi attacks and expressed full solidarity with Saudi Arabia. He also warned that continued attacks could threaten regional stability and create further disruptions to global energy supplies.

The conversation came amid questions over Pakistan's obligations under its growing defence relationship with Saudi Arabia. A recently signed security arrangement involving Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey states that an armed attack against one member should be treated as an attack against all. The agreement has therefore raised questions about how Islamabad would respond if Saudi Arabia faced a sustained military threat from the Houthis.

Those questions became more prominent after Pakistan indicated that the agreement did not necessarily mean its military would be deployed against the Yemeni group. The position appeared to create uncertainty among the countries involved and prompted Islamabad to step up its diplomatic engagement with Riyadh.

The latest outreach also followed an attack that temporarily disrupted Saudi Arabia's East-West oil pipeline, a strategically important route of around 1,200 kilometres that allows Saudi crude to reach the Red Sea without relying on the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway has already faced severe disruption because of the wider confrontation involving Iran and the United States.

Saudi authorities have also reported Houthi attacks involving missiles and drones. One projectile reportedly caused injuries and damaged several buildings, including a mosque. The repeated targeting of civilian and economic infrastructure has increased concerns about the potential impact of the conflict on Saudi Arabia's security as well as international energy markets.

The situation presents a particularly sensitive challenge. Islamabad has strong defence and economic interests in the Gulf, with cooperation with countries such as Saudi Arabia playing an increasingly important role in its efforts to attract investment and strengthen its fragile economy. At the same time, Pakistan shares a border with Iran and has an interest in maintaining stable relations with Tehran.

Pakistan also depends on energy supplies transported through the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea. A prolonged disruption along either route could create additional economic difficulties for Islamabad. Direct involvement in the conflict could also expose Pakistani personnel and infrastructure to greater security risks. Pakistani military personnel are already stationed close to the Saudi-Yemen border, making any escalation between Saudi forces and the Houthis particularly sensitive for Islamabad. A deeper military role could potentially draw Pakistan into a wider regional confrontation at a time when the country is already dealing with significant economic and security challenges.

Sharif's latest conversation with the Saudi Crown Prince appears to be part of an effort to prevent disagreements over the Houthi issue from damaging the broader Pakistan-Saudi relationship. The Pakistani prime minister also indicated that he, Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar would continue diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions and supporting peace in the region.

Islamabad now faces the difficult task of reassuring Riyadh about its security commitments without unnecessarily damaging its relationship with Tehran. For Pakistan, maintaining that delicate balance could become increasingly challenging if the conflict involving Saudi Arabia, the Houthis, Iran and the wider region continues to escalate.

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Pakistan’s press freedom environment is facing growing international scrutiny, with several prominent rights organisations accusing Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government of allowing an increasingly difficult atmosphere for journalists. The groups have raised concerns over alleged intimidation, censorship, detentions, investigations and restrictions affecting independent media across the country.

In a joint letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and other rights organisations expressed concern over the alleged disappearance and detention of journalists, as well as restrictions on reporting and internet access. They urged the government to take immediate steps to protect journalists and ensure that media workers can operate without fear of harassment or retaliation.

The organisations specifically raised the cases of independent journalists Razi Tahir and Muhammad Saif, who they said were allegedly taken away on August 1 and moved to an undisclosed location. According to the groups, Islamabad police have not officially acknowledged their detention, while their whereabouts remain unknown. The rights organisations called for authorities to clarify their status, provide them with access to their families and lawyers, and launch an independent investigation into the circumstances surrounding their disappearance.

The groups also demanded a transparent probe into the June 7 attack on journalist Mian Zahid Owaisi in Bahawalpur. Owaisi, who works for the Urdu-language newspaper Daily Khabarain, was reportedly assaulted by around 10 armed men after publishing a report about alleged drug trafficking in the area. Police have arrested three suspects in connection with the incident, but several other alleged attackers reportedly remain at large. The organisations called for all those responsible to be held accountable.

Another major issue highlighted in the letter was Pakistan’s Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines, 2026. The rights groups described the regulations as overly restrictive, arguing that journalists working for foreign media organisations must obtain government authorisation for assignments outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. They also expressed concern about provisions allowing authorities to suspend accreditation on broad grounds such as national security, sovereignty and public order, warning that such powers could interfere with independent journalism.

The organisations further criticised the use of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) and investigations conducted by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) against journalists. They cited the June arrest of journalist Sohrab Barkat, who was reportedly detained over a YouTube report related to protests in Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). The groups argued that cybercrime laws should not be used to restrict legitimate reporting or silence journalists covering politically sensitive issues.

Internet restrictions have added to concerns over the media environment. The rights organisations said the suspension of internet services in PoJK seriously affected journalists’ ability to communicate with sources, verify information and send reports. They also criticised the reported blocking of Al Jazeera’s website, describing such restrictions as another obstacle to public access to independent news and information.

The organisations have urged Pakistan’s government to strengthen protections for journalists and ensure that media workers are not subjected to arbitrary detention, violence, censorship or excessive legal pressure. Their concerns have renewed debate over press freedom in Pakistan and the need to balance legitimate security measures with the public’s right to access independent information.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

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.