Nepal’s ‘Balen Wave’ Reshapes Politics

Final Results Confirm Landslide Victory for Balendra Shah Nepal’s political landscape has undergone a dramatic shift after final results from the March 5, 2026 general elections confirmed a sweeping victory for the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP). Led by engineer-turned-musician-turned-politician Balendra Shah—popularly known as “Balen”—the party secured 182 seats in the 275-member House of Representatives, giving it a commanding…

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Mojtaba Khamenei’s First Message Signals a Hardline Iran

Iran’s newly selected Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, delivered his first public message on March 12, 2026, days after assuming the powerful post following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei. The address came amid an intensifying regional war triggered by joint U.S.–Israeli strikes that killed the elder Khamenei and targeted Iran’s strategic infrastructure. The statement, broadcast through…

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Iran Knocks Out Key U.S. Missile Shield Radar in Gulf Escalation

Iran has destroyed a crucial $300 million radar system used to guide American missile defense batteries in the Gulf, raising new concerns about the region’s ability to detect and intercept future attacks. According to a U.S. official, satellite imagery confirms that an advanced AN/TPY-2 radar, central to the U.S. Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system, was obliterated during Iranian…

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Roaring or reeling? Job Losses and Gas Spike Test Trump’s Economic Promise

When Donald Trump returned to the White House in January 2025, he pledged to deliver a “roaring” American economy that would outperform the record of former president Joe Biden. Trump promised faster growth, surging job creation, and sharply lower energy costs through tariffs, deregulation, and strict immigration controls designed to prioritize native-born workers. More than a year…

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Toxic Skies Over Tehran: Israeli Oil Depot Strikes Trigger ‘Acid Rain’ Fears

A doomsday-like scene unfolded in Tehran after Israeli airstrikes ignited massive fires at fuel depots across the Iranian capital, sending towering flames and thick black smoke into the sky. The March 7 strikes targeted several strategic oil storage sites, and within hours residents began reporting an unusual phenomenon — dark, oily drizzle falling from smoke-filled clouds. Authorities…

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Dynasty in the Crosshairs: Mojtaba Khamenei Takes Power in Wartime Iran

Iran has entered a new and uncertain chapter after the country’s powerful Assembly of Experts named Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader, succeeding his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed in U.S.–Israeli airstrikes on February 28 during the intensifying West Asia conflict. The announcement, confirmed by Iranian state media on March 8, marks the…

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Why India Has Not Condemned Khamenei’s Death: Strategic Silence in a Polarized World

In the aftermath of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s killing, India’s response has been marked by notable restraint. New Delhi has neither condemned nor condoned the US–Israel action, choosing instead to focus on calls for de-escalation. This calibrated silence reflects a calculated, interest-driven neutrality—one designed to preserve India’s complex web of regional partnerships while aligning subtly with the…

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From Lal Chowk to ‘Mini Iran’: Protests and Curbs After Khamenei’s Killing

The killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US–Israel strikes has triggered waves of mourning across parts of India, most visibly in Kashmir and in pockets with strong Shia presence. In Srinagar, the iconic Lal Chowk was sealed and inter-district movement restricted following large but peaceful demonstrations on March 1. Similar expressions of grief were reported…

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India–Canada Reset: How the Modi–Carney Pact Could Rewire Global Critical Mineral Supply Chains

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday met his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney as New Delhi and Ottawa attempt to reset ties after a turbulent diplomatic phase. Carney’s February 28–March 2 visit—the first by a Canadian prime minister since 2018—signals a thaw following tensions over Khalistani issues and allegations surrounding the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar….

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