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Rapper Balendra Shah has defeated the former Nepalese PM Sharma KP Oli, Poised to Become Next PM

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Rapper Balendra Shah has defeated the former Nepalese PM Sharma KP Oli, Poised to Become Next PM

Kathmandu, Nepal — Preliminary and partial results released Saturday showed a new political party led by an ex-rapper is in front in Nepal’s parliamentary election, the country’s first since last year’s youth-led revolt.

The Rastriya Swatantra, or National Independent, party, had already won 60 of 165 directly elected seats and was leading in 61 other constituencies in the results published by Nepal’s Election Commission.

RELATED NEWS : Who is Balen Shah? Media Hails Him as Top Contender for Nepal’s Next Prime Minister

Its prime ministerial candidate is rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, who won the 2022 Kathmandu mayoral race and emerged as a leading figure in the 2025 uprising that ousted former Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli.

The 35-year-old highlighted health and education for poor Nepalis as a key focus of his campaign, which rode a wave of public anger toward traditional political parties.

Shah, running directly against Oli in a southeastern district, won the seat with a wide margin securing almost four times as many votes as the former prime minister.

The 13 seats announced so far for other parties went to the Nepal Congress party and two communist parties.

Voters are directly electing 165 members to the House of Representatives, the lower chamber of Parliament. The remaining 110 seats in the 275-member body will be allocated through a proportional representation system, under which political parties are allocated seats based on their share of the vote.
Rapper Balendra Shah has defeated the former Nepalese Prime Minister Sharma KP Oli in his parliamentary constituency, as he takes a step closer to becoming Nepal’s next prime minister.

Nepal’s Election Commission confirmed on Saturday that Shah, 35, received 68,348 votes compared to Oli’s 18,734 to unseat the former leader in his constituency.

Thursday’s general election – the first since violent youth-led protests toppled the government in September – pitted the establishment against a new generation of politicians advocating for angry, young Gen Z voters hungry for change.

Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) is now seemingly on course to win the general election.

The party has a majority in directly elected seats in the general election counted so far, according to partial official results on Sunday, and could be heading for a landslide, official trends suggest.

The 35-year-old is also leading in the proportional representation vote count so far, according to the election commission.

For more than two decades, Nepal has seen a revolving door of coalition governments, largely dominated by three parties, two of them communist.

Ahead of this election, it looked set to test whether Gen Z voters had succeeded in convincing the rest of the country that it is time for a new, untested generation to shape their future, or whether veteran heavyweights – who have dominated for decades – would keep hold of power.

The country’s youth included 800,000 first-time voters, making them a key voter bloc.

Shah, who is popularly known as Balen, has been a member of the Nepali hip hop scene for several years, with one of his songs “Balidan” about sacrifice in the Nepali language cultivating millions of YouTube views.

In September 2025 unrest erupted in Nepal with so-called Gen Z demonstrations, triggered by Oli’s banning of social media platforms.

The demonstrations escalated with protesters criticising Nepal’s political system and the symbolism of class inequality “nepo babies” – children of the country’s politicians.

A total of 77 were killed during the protests, and a BBC investigation revealed the country’s police chief issued an order of lethal fire against thousands of unarmed protesters.

Shah spoke in support of the protesters and at one stage called Oli a “terrorist” who had betrayed his country.

The rapper typically shuns the media, but told the Financial Times while he was on the campaign trail he would be “the candidate for all of Nepal”.

Shah’s RSP released its manifesto in February which vowed to create 1.2 million jobs and reduce forced migration, in an effort to tap into frustration over unemployment and low wages that has pushed millions of Nepalis to move overseas.

The party has also pledged that within five years it would raise Nepal’s per capital income from $1,447 to $3,000, more than double the country’s economy to $100 billion GDP and provide safety nets such as healthcare insurance for the population.

SOURCE : AGENCIES |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Israel Renews Assault on Lebanon as Netanyahu Vows “Many Surprises” in Next Phase of War

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Israel Renews Assault on Lebanon as Netanyahu Vows “Many Surprises” in Next Phase of War

Dubai, United Arab Emirates — Israel renewed its assault on southern Lebanon early Sunday, including targeting commanders of the Lebanese branch of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards’ Quds Force, after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised “many surprises” for the next phase of the conflict.

The Israeli military said in a statement that it would “not allow Iranian terrorist elements to establish themselves in Lebanese territory.”

The latest strikes in Lebanon followed an Israeli attack Saturday on an oil storage facility in Tehran, which sent up pillars of fire that could be seen in Associated Press video as a glow against the night sky.

It appeared to be the first time a civil industrial facility has been targeted in the war. State media blamed “an attack from the U.S. and the Zionist regime” at the site that supplies the capital and neighboring provinces in the north.

Elsewhere, Kuwait authorities said two border guards were killed when the Gulf country was hit by a swarm of missiles and drones. The Interior Ministry said only that the guards were killed “while performing their national duty.” No other details were available.

Israeli airstrikes killed eight people in southern Lebanon, the Lebanese Health Ministry said, and local media reported that an Israeli drone hit a hotel in Beirut, killing four and wounding 10 others. The deaths come on top of at least 47 others killed Saturday in Israeli strikes.

Iranian president apologizes for attacks

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized Saturday for attacks on “neighboring countries,” even as his country’s missiles and drones flew toward Gulf Arab states and hard-liners asserted that Tehran’s war strategy would not change.

A rift between politicians looking to de-escalate the war and others committed to battling the United States and Israel could complicate any diplomatic efforts. Conflicting Iranian statements came from two of the three members of the leadership council overseeing Iran since Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the war’s opening airstrikes.

Pezeshkian, who is a member of the council, also dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s call for Tehran to surrender unconditionally, saying: “That’s a dream that they should take to their grave.”

Trump threatened that Iran would be “hit very hard” and more “areas and groups of people” would become targets, without elaborating. Already, the conflict has rattled global markets and left Iran’s leadership weakened by hundreds of Israeli and American airstrikes.

“We’re not looking to settle,” Trump told reporters Saturday aboard Air Force One. “They’d like to settle. We’re not looking to settle.”

He described the ongoing U.S. operations in Iran as an “excursion” and said issues such as rising gas prices and the safety of Americans would improve once the conflict ends.

Iranian leaders have limited power over Revolutionary Guard

Pezeshkian’s message underlined the limited powers exercised by the theocracy’s leaders over the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, which controls the hundreds of ballistic missiles targeting Israel and other countries. It answered only to Khamenei and appears to be picking its own targets.

Pezeshkian’s statement said Iran’s leadership council had been in touch with the armed forces and “from now on, they should not attack neighboring countries or fire missiles at them, unless we are attacked by those countries. I think we should solve this through diplomacy.”

The U.S. strikes have not come from the Gulf Arab governments under attack, but from U.S. bases and vessels in the region.

Hard-line judiciary chief Gholam Hossein Mohseni-Ejei, another member of the three-man leadership council, suggested that war strategy will not change.

“The geography of some countries in the region — both overtly and covertly — is in the hands of the enemy, and those points are used against our country in acts of aggression. Intense attacks on these targets will continue,” he posted on X.

Iran’s U.N. mission later suggested, without offering evidence, that strikes on nonmilitary sites “may have resulted from interception by U.S. electronic defense systems.”

Late Saturday, top Iranian security official Ali Larijani asserted in an address carried by state media that “our leaders are united on this issue and have no disagreements with one another.”

Trump says the Kurds won’t be involved

In other developments, Trump said he has ruled out having Kurds join the war, even though Kurdish fighters in the region are willing to assist in efforts to topple the Iranian government.

“The war is complicated enough without having … the Kurds involved,” Trump told reporters.

Days ago, Kurdish officials told the AP that Kurdish-Iranian dissident groups based in northern Iraq were preparing for a potential cross-border military operation in Iran and that the U.S. had asked Iraqi Kurds to support them.

The U.S. and Israel have targeted Iran’s military capabilities, leadership and nuclear program. The war’s stated goals and timelines have repeatedly shifted as the U.S. has at times suggested it seeks to topple Iran’s government or elevate new leadership.

The fighting has killed at least 1,230 people in Iran, more than 290 in Lebanon and 11 in Israel, according to officials in those countries. Six U.S. troops have been killed.

Missile lands at US Embassy compound in Iraq

Three Iraqi security officials said a missile landed on the helicopter landing pad in the U.S. Embassy complex in Baghdad. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to comment publicly. An embassy spokesperson declined to comment. There were no reports of casualties.

It was the first reported strike to land in Baghdad’s heavily fortified Green Zone since the Iran war began. Iran and allied Iraqi militias have launched dozens of attacks on U.S. military bases and other facilities in Iraq since then.

Iraq’s caretaker Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani called the embassy attack a “terrorist act” carried out by “rogue groups.”

Strikes target other Gulf countries

Hours after Pezeshkian’s apology, the United Arab Emirates said debris from an aerial interception fell onto a vehicle and killed a driver. Four people have now been killed in the UAE since the war began. Authorities have said all were foreign nationals.

Sirens sounded earlier Saturday in Bahrain as Iran targeted the island kingdom. Saudi Arabia said it destroyed drones headed toward its vast Shaybah oil field and shot down a ballistic missile launched toward Prince Sultan Air Base, which hosts U.S. forces.

In Kuwait, authorities said a wave of drones targeted critical infrastructure, including fuel tanks at Kuwait International Airport and a government building in Kuwait City. At least two people were killed by strikes in Iraq’s semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Trump Forms Anti-Cartel Coalition with Latin American Right-Wing Leaders, “Shield of the Americas” Initiative

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Trump Forms Anti-Cartel Coalition with Latin American Right-Wing Leaders, “Shield of the Americas” Initiative

Miami, US — United States President Donald Trump formalized a military coalition with right-wing Latin American presidents on Saturday to defeat drug cartels, in the absence of Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia.

​The US president presented the so-called “Shield of the Americas” during a summit with 12 ideological allies from Latin America at his golf resort, Trump National Doral Miami.

​The essence of the agreement, Trump said, is “a commitment to using lethal military force to destroy the sinister cartels and terrorist networks.”

​“We need your help,” Trump said, adding, “You have to just tell us where they are.”

​The presidents of Argentina, Javier Milei; Bolivia, Rodrigo Paz; Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chávez; the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader; Ecuador, Daniel Noboa; El Salvador, Nayib Bukele; Guyana, Irfaan Ali; Honduras, Nasry “Tito” Asfura; Panama, José Raúl Mulino; Paraguay, Santiago Peña; and the Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Kamla Persad-Bissessar, and the president-elect of Chile, José Antonio Kast, participated in the meeting.

​The exclusion of Mexico, Brazil, and Colombia

​The progressive leaders of Brazil, Mexico, and Colombia, Washington’s long-time ally in the fight against drug trafficking, were not invited to the summit.

​During his speech, Trump attacked Mexico, which he described as the “epicenter of cartel violence,” and criticized President Claudia Sheinbaum for not allowing the United States to militarily attack drug cartels on Mexican territory.

​Following the US attack on Venezuela on Jan 3 that resulted in the capture of President Nicolás Maduro (2013-2026), who faces drug trafficking charges in New York, Trump has floated the idea of ​​bombing cartels in Mexico, labeled terrorist groups by the US, which Sheinbaum flatly rejected.

​However, both countries maintain security cooperation, as demonstrated during the Mexican operation in which the leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel (CJNG), Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, “El Mencho,” the most wanted Mexican drug lord by both countries, was killed with the help of US intelligence.

​Natalia Molano, a State Department spokesperson, told EFE that this alliance “is not a closed door” for the Mexican government, which can join if it wishes.

​Pressure on Cuba

​The Miami meeting comes amid the war against Iran launched last week by the US and Israel, which resulted in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and amid growing tensions between Washington and Havana over the energy embargo imposed on the island.

​Although he stated that he is currently focused on Iran, Trump emphasized to his allies that the Cuban regime is in “its last moments of life” and that the island will soon “have a great new life.”

According to the American president, he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio are leading the negotiations with the Cuban government after Washington announced tariffs on countries supplying oil to the island, an energy embargo that has exacerbated the social and economic crisis in the Caribbean nation.

Interest in Latin America, but not in Spanish

The “Shield of the Americas” will be overseen by Kirsti Noem, recently dismissed as Secretary of Homeland Security.

Its creation coincided with Trump’s objective to turn Latin America into a sphere of Washington’s influence, reviving the so-called Monroe Doctrine, the foreign policy principle proclaimed in 1823, summarized under the motto “America for the Americans.”

​One of Trump’s major worries is precisely China’s influence in the region, which has seen a surge in trade and investment in Latin America over the past decade.

​Trump, who has pressured the Panama Canal to divest itself of Hong Kong companies and sanctioned Chilean officials for the potential construction of a fiber optic cable with China, warned at the summit that he “will not allow hostile foreign influence.”

​He made it clear, however, that he has no cultural interest in Latin America, telling the leaders that he has neither the will nor the time to learn their “damn language,” a dismissive remark about Spanish that elicited some laughter from the attendees.

SOURCE : EFE. |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

New Delhi Hosts Raisina Dialogue 2026 as World leaders debate Geopolitics and tech

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New Delhi Hosts Raisina Dialogue 2026 as World leaders debate Geopolitics and tech

New Delhi, India — The annual Raisina Dialogue begins in the Indian capital on Thursday, bringing together global leaders, policymakers and technology experts to discuss the future of geopolitics, geo-economics and emerging technologies under the theme “Samskara.”

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Organised by the Observer Research Foundation in partnership with India’s Ministry of External Affairs (India), the three-day conference from March 5 to 7 will examine how technological disruption, strategic competition and economic security are reshaping global politics.

Several senior officials have already arrived in New Delhi for the dialogue, including Ian Borg, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta; D. N. Dhungyel, Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade of Bhutan; and Dhananjay Ramful, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Regional Integration and International Trade of Mauritius.

Other participants include Barry Faure, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Diaspora of Seychelles, and Vijitha Herath, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism of Sri Lanka.

The chief guest for this year’s dialogue is Alexander Stubb, President of Finland, who arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday.

Focus on technology and strategic competition

Discussions during the conference will explore the growing tension between traditional alliances and what analysts describe as a “technopolar” world, where global influence is increasingly shaped by control over artificial intelligence, semiconductor supply chains and digital infrastructure.

The opening day will focus on the changing nature of global security and the rise of digital-first governance models. Experts will also examine the future of transatlantic security and the evolving role of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization as European members consider strengthening their defence capabilities amid uncertainties over long-term security commitments.

Another session will highlight India’s Digital Public Infrastructure model and its potential to expand digital inclusion globally.

Climate geopolitics will also feature prominently, with policymakers discussing ways to strengthen climate finance and safeguard green investments from geopolitical tensions.

Security challenges and emerging technologies

On the second day, discussions will shift toward global security challenges and technological competition.

One session will examine deterrence in the Taiwan Strait and the geopolitical implications of dependence on semiconductor supply chains. Experts will also discuss defence production gaps between Western countries and Russia’s wartime industrial mobilisation.

Participants are expected to debate the evolving role of the United Nations Security Council amid increasing unilateral actions by major powers.

Parallel sessions will explore Africa’s demographic rise, Latin America’s role in supplying critical minerals for the AI-driven economy and India’s strategic partnerships with Europe and Russia.

Experts will also address emerging risks related to advanced artificial intelligence, including autonomous systems, cyber vulnerabilities and issues of digital sovereignty.

Focus on connectivity and global economic resilience

The final day will focus on the future global order and economic resilience.

Sessions will discuss maritime security challenges across the Indian Ocean and the Red Sea, including threats to undersea communication cables and the use of autonomous maritime systems.

Participants will also deliberate on economic coercion and supply chain security as global trade increasingly intersects with strategic rivalries.

Another key topic will be global connectivity initiatives such as the India‑Middle East‑Europe Economic Corridor, a proposed trade and logistics network linking Asia, the Middle East and Europe.

Across the discussions, India is expected to highlight its role as a bridge between developed economies and the Global South while presenting its long-term development vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047,” aimed at transforming the country into a developed nation by the centenary of its independence.

Now in its eleventh edition, the Raisina Dialogue has emerged as one of the world’s leading strategic forums and is often compared with the Munich Security Conference for its growing influence on global policy debates.

SOURCE : ANI & Edited Shasi Kumar |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Pedro Sánchez revives ‘no to war’ slogan as Spain rejects Middle East escalation

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Pedro Sánchez revives ‘no to war’ slogan as Spain rejects Middle East escalation

Madrid, Spain — Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Wednesday firmly rejected the escalating Middle East conflict sparked by US and Israeli attacks on Iran, summing up his government’s position in three words: “No to war,” a slogan widely associated in Spain with opposition to the 2003 Iraq invasion.

Speaking in an address from the Moncloa Palace, Sánchez drew parallels between the current crisis and the 2003 Iraq war, warning against repeating what he described as past mistakes.

RELATED NEWS : Israel attacks Iran, several explosions heard in Tehran

He recalled that the US “dragged us” into the Iraq war in 2003, a conflict that, in his view, unleashed “the greatest wave of insecurity” in Europe since the fall of the Berlin Wall.

“That war, which was supposedly launched to eliminate Saddam Hussein’s weapons of mass destruction, bring democracy and guarantee global security, produced the opposite effect,” Sánchez said, arguing that it resulted in greater insecurity, terrorism, and economic instability.

“That was the gift of the Azores trio to Europeans at the time: a more insecure world,” he added, referring to former leaders George W. Bush of the United States, Tony Blair of the United Kingdom and José María Aznar of Spain.

Sánchez also stressed that Spain would not be “complicit in something that is bad for the world,” nor would it support the current war in the Middle East “out of fear of retaliation,” in an apparent reference to threats by US President Donald Trump to cut trade ties with Spain over its stance on the conflict.

He warned that the confrontation could be prolonged and said Spain must prepare “for the possibility that it may be a long war.”

He reaffirmed that his government would maintain the same “clear and firm” position it has taken on Ukraine and Gaza, opposing what he called “the bankruptcy of the international law that protects us all.”

The prime minister said the government is assessing various scenarios and potential measures to shield households, workers, companies, and the self-employed from the economic fallout of the conflict.

“We have the capacity and the political will, and we will act in coordination with social partners, as we did during the pandemic, the energy crisis and, more recently, the tariff crisis,” he said.

Addressing Spaniards currently in the conflict zone, Sánchez assured them that, if they wish to leave, “they can be certain that we will help them and bring them safely home.”

Around 30,000 Spaniards, including residents, tourists and workers, are currently in the region. On Tuesday, a first group returned to Spain, while others are leaving the area by different means.

SOURCE : EFE. |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

China to send its special envoy for the Middle East to mediate amid regional crisis

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China to send its special envoy for the Middle East to mediate amid regional crisis

Beijing, China — China’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Wang Yi, announced on Wednesday the Special Middle East envoy would travel to the region to mediate the escalation sparked by the United States’ and Israel’s military attacks against Iran.

Wang proposed sending the representative during a telephone conversation with his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, to whom he conveyed that the spread of the conflict is something that China “does not wish to see.”

RELATED NEWS : Pedro Sánchez revives ‘no to war’ slogan as Spain rejects Middle East escalation

According to a statement from the Chinese Foreign Ministry, the minister said that “China strongly urges all parties to cease military operations, resume dialogue and negotiation as soon as possible, and avoid a further escalation of tensions.”

He described the indiscriminate use of force as “unacceptable,” especially “against innocent civilians or non-military targets.”

The minister also expressed appreciation for Saudi Arabia’s restraint and commitment to peaceful resolution and emphasized that the reconciliation achieved among regional countries is invaluable and must be promoted.

Wang’s words can be understood as a reference to the resumption of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran in late 2003, during which China played a mediating role, a process that Beijing considers one of its greatest achievements in the Middle East.

The Saudi minister expressed his concern to Wang that the conflict continues to spread and intensify, and stressed that his country reserves the right to self-defense, hoping that the crisis will be resolved and de-escalated.

According to an official statement from Beijing, the chief of Saudi diplomacy also said that Riyadh is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China to promote peace and stop the conflict.

As of Wednesday, Wang spoke with his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates, Abdalá bin Zayed.

He emphasized that the “red line” of protecting civilians during the conflict must not be crossed, and that non-military targets, including those related to energy, the economy, and food security, must not be attacked.

In addition, he stressed on the importance of maintaining safe maritime routes.

It is the third consecutive day that Wang has maintained contact with countries involved in or affected by the conflict, including Israel, Oman, Iran, a close political ally and largest trading partner of China, and others.

SOURCE : EFE. |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Modi urges return to Dialogue and Diplomacy over Middle East crisis

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Modi urges return to Dialogue and Diplomacy over Middle East crisis

New Delhi, India — Indian PM Narendra Modi on Monday called for peace and stability in the Middle East as tensions escalated following joint airstrikes by the United States and Israel on Iran and Tehran’s subsequent retaliation across the region.

“India stands for peace and stability,” Modi said during a joint press conference in New Delhi with visiting Mark Carney, the prime minister of Canada. He said disputes should be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy and reaffirmed India’s commitment to ensuring the safety of its citizens in the region.

RELATED NEWS : 9 dead after Iranian missile hits Israeli town near Jerusalem

Carney is on a four-day visit to India, during which both sides pledged to expand economic cooperation and boost bilateral trade to $50 billion.

The appeal for calm comes after the United States and Israel launched joint military strikes on Iran on Saturday, triggering retaliatory drone and missile attacks by Tehran targeting US-linked bases in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Among those reported killed in the strikes was Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who Iranian authorities said died following US-Israeli bombardment of his compound in Tehran.

Modi also held talks on Sunday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the “current regional situation,” according to a statement posted on the social media platform X (Twitter). He conveyed India’s concerns over the unfolding developments and stressed that civilian safety must remain a priority, reiterating the need for an early cessation of hostilities.

In response to the crisis, the Indian government convened a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security, the country’s highest security decision-making body, chaired by Modi. The committee expressed serious concern over the safety of the large Indian expatriate community in the region and directed relevant departments to take necessary measures to assist affected nationals.

SOURCE : AGENCIES |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

India Storm into T20 World Cup Semi-Finals after thrilling Win over West Indies; Samson’s 97 Seals record chase

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India Storm into T20 World Cup Semi-Finals after thrilling Win over West Indies; Samson’s 97 Seals record chase

Kolkata, India — Defending champions India stormed into the T20 World Cup semi-finals with a thrilling five-wicket victory over West Indies in a decisive Super Eights clash at Eden Gardens on Sunday.

Chasing a daunting 196, India completed their highest-ever successful run chase in a 20-over World Cup match, reaching 199-5 with four balls to spare. The architect of the memorable win was Sanju Samson, whose unbeaten 97 off 50 balls — featuring 12 fours and four sixes — proved to be a masterclass in composure and controlled aggression.

India’s pursuit began shakily, with Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan dismissed inside the first five overs. But Samson steadied the innings with remarkable maturity, carefully rebuilding before accelerating at the right moments. Tilak Varma’s brisk 27 off 15 balls provided crucial support, but it was Samson who carried the chase almost single-handedly.

Fittingly, he sealed the victory in style — launching a six and then a boundary off Romario Shepherd to finish the contest and spark celebrations in Kolkata.

Earlier, India had opted to bowl but endured a sloppy outing in the field. Three dropped catches — including a costly miss by Abhishek Sharma — and a missed run-out opportunity allowed West Indies to capitalize.

Roston Chase, surprisingly promoted to open, anchored the innings with a composed 40 off 25 balls as West Indies reached 102-1 before Jasprit Bumrah turned the tide. The pace spearhead outfoxed Chase with a slower delivery and later dismissed Shimron Hetmyer for 27 with a sharp ball that induced a thin edge.

Rovman Powell (34*) and Jason Holder (37*) then launched a late assault, stitching together an unbeaten 76-run partnership off the final 35 balls to lift West Indies to 195-4. However, their strong finish ultimately proved insufficient against Samson’s brilliance.

With the win, India secured the runners-up spot in Group 1 behind South Africa and will face Group 2 winners England in the semi-final at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Thursday. South Africa will meet New Zealand in the first semi-final a day earlier.

Having now reached the semi-finals for the third consecutive edition, India’s title defense remains firmly on track — powered by a record-breaking chase and a knock that will be remembered as one of the finest in T20 World Cup history.

SOURCE : AGENCIES |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

Mark Carney begins India visit to rebuild ties and boost trade partnership with New Delhi

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Mark Carney begins India visit to rebuild ties and boost trade partnership with New Delhi

New Delhi/Mumbai – Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney arrived in Mumbai on Friday for his first official visit to India, aiming to reset bilateral relations and strengthen trade cooperation after years of diplomatic strain.

During his four-day trip, Carney is scheduled to meet business leaders in Mumbai before holding talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Monday.

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India’s Ministry of External Affairs said the meeting will provide an opportunity to reaffirm the “positive momentum and shared vision” for a forward-looking partnership. Discussions are expected to focus on trade and investment, energy, critical minerals, and technology cooperation.

Carney’s visit comes as Ottawa seeks to diversify trade beyond the United States. He has set a target of doubling Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next decade, citing the impact of American tariffs on investment flows.

Strained Ties and Diplomatic Reset

Relations between the two countries deteriorated in 2023 after Canadian authorities alleged India’s involvement in the killing of a Sikh activist near Vancouver. New Delhi strongly denied the accusations and countered that the previous Canadian government under Justin Trudeau had tolerated pro-Khalistan extremist elements — a movement banned in India.

Diplomatic ties began to improve in June last year when Carney invited Modi to the G7 summit in Alberta, signaling efforts to stabilize relations.

Carney will travel to Australia and Japan next week as part of a broader Indo-Pacific outreach strategy aimed at expanding Canada’s global trade partnerships.

Officials on both sides expressed optimism that the visit could mark a turning point in India-Canada relations.

SOURCE : MEA |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

At least 10 killed in Pakistan as protesters try to storm US Consulate over Khamenei’s death

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At least 10 killed in Pakistan as protesters try to storm US Consulate over Khamenei’s death

Karachi, Pakistan — Violent clashes between protesters and security forces in Pakistan’s port city of Karachi on Sunday left at least 10 people dead and more than 50 others injured as pro-Iran demonstrators attempted to storm the U.S. Consulate, authorities said.

In the north of the country, demonstrators also attacked U.N. and government offices.

The violence came after the United States and Israel attacked Iran, killing its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Police and officials at a hospital in Karachi said that at least 25 people were also wounded in the clashes and some of them were in critical condition.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed his “profound sorrow over the martyrdom” of Khamenei” and conveyed his condolences to Iran, according to his office. He said: “Pakistan stands with the Iranian nation in this moment of grief and shares in their loss.”

Summaiya Syed Tariq, a police surgeon at the city’s main government hospital, confirmed six bodies and multiple injured people were brought to the facility. However, she said the death toll rose to 10 after four critically wounded people died.

In the northern Gilgit-Baltistan region, thousands of Shiite protesters angered by U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran attacked the offices of the U.N. Military Observer Group and the U.N. Development Programme (UNDP), government spokesman Shabir Mir said, adding that all staff working for those organizations was safe.

Mir said protesters repeatedly clashed with police at various places in the region, damaged the offices of a local charity, and set fire to police offices. However, he said authorities had deployed troops and brought the situation under control.

Police in Gilgit-Baltistan said at least two protesters were killed in the clashes.

The U.S. Embassy in Pakistan said in a post on X that it was monitoring reports of ongoing demonstrations at the U.S. Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore, as well as calls for additional protests at the U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and the Consulate General in Peshawar.

It advised U.S. citizens in Pakistan to monitor local news, stay aware of their surroundings, avoid large crowds and keep their travel registration with the U.S. government up to date.

Consulate windows smashed

In Karachi, which is the capital of southern Sindh province and Pakistan’s largest city, senior police official Irfan Baloch said that protesters briefly attacked the perimeter of the U.S. Consulate, but were later dispersed.

He dismissed as baseless reports that any part of the consulate building was set on fire. However, he said that protesters torched a nearby police post and smashed windows of the consulate before security forces arrived and regained control.

Witnesses said that dozens of Shiite protesters remained gathered about a kilometer (half-mile) from the consulate, urging others to join them. They said one of the protesters had tried to burn a window of the consulate, before security forces arrived there and dispersed the demonstrators.

Appeal for calm

The clashes prompted Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to issue an appeal for calm.

“Following the martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei, every citizen of Pakistan shares in the grief of the people of Iran,” Naqvi said in a statement.

He described it as “a day of mourning for the Muslim Ummah and for the people of both Iran and Pakistan,” but urged people not to take the law into their own hands and to express their protests peacefully.

The provincial government of Sindh in a statement also urged citizens to express their views peacefully and warned against engaging in violence.

Protests in the area surrounding the U.S. Consulate in Karachi went on for hours, with dozens of Shiite youth, some covering their faces, throwing stones at law enforcement officials and vowing to reach the consulate, where hundreds of police and paramilitary Rangers have been deployed.

Security raised at US embassy and consulates

In Islamabad, police fired tear gas and swung batons as hundreds of Shiite protesters, angered by the killing of Khamenei, tried to march toward the U.S. Embassy. The clashes took place outside the Diplomatic Enclave, where the embassy is located and additional police had been deployed.

Meanwhile, in the northwestern city of Peshawar, authorities also used tear gas and batons to disperse thousands of demonstrators attempting to approach the U.S. Consulate to hold a rally to denounce the killing of the Iranian leader, police said.

Shiites also held a peaceful rally in Multan, a city in Punjab province, chanting slogans against Israel and the United States.

Mamoona Sherazi, who attended the rally, said that she was protesting Khamenei’s killing. She described him as a fatherly figure and a strong voice for Shiites, adding that he also supported Sunni Muslims facing oppression. “God willing, we will never bow before America and Israel,” she said.

Shiites also held a rally and clashes with police repeatedly near the U.S. Consulate in Lahore, the capital of eastern Punjab province, police said. Rallies against Israel and the United States were also planned in northern Gilgit-Baltistan region. Authorities said that the government has stepped up security around the U.S. Embassy in the capital, and consulates across the country to avoid any further violence.

Shiites make up roughly 15% of Pakistan’s population of about 250 million and represent one of the largest Shiite communities in the world. They have frequently staged anti-Israel and anti-U. S. rallies in the past, though clashes of this scale are rare.

SOURCE : AP NEWS |  Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube |

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