World News

Nepal’s Anti-Establishment Wave Sweeps ‘Balen’ Shah to Historic Victory, Nears Two-Thirds Majority

Former rapper and Kathmandu mayor Balendra “Balen” Shah leads a landslide as Rastriya Swatantra Party wins 182 seats, ending decades of coalition rule.

#nepal, #election, #balenshah, #rastriyaswatantraparty, #kathmandu

NATO’s Arctic Front Line: Cold Response 2026 Brings 32,500 Troops to Norway, Finland and Sweden

Cold Response 2026 draws 32,500 NATO troops to the High North, testing Arctic warfare and Norway’s “total defense” amid Russia tensions.

#nato, #arctic, #norway, #finland, #sweden

Russia Unleashes Major Missile-and-Drone Barrage on Kyiv Region as Energy War Intensifies

One of winter’s largest barrages hit the Kyiv region, killing at least four. Ukraine struck refineries and ports in Russia as energy sites become the front line.

#ukraine, #russia, #kyiv, #airdefense, #energy

France’s Municipal Vote Sees Record Abstention as Far Right Consolidates Southern Footholds

First-round municipal results show stubbornly low turnout, far-right gains in key cities, and a divided left and centrist camp ahead of 2027.

#france, #elections, #farright, #macron, #turnout

New START Expires, Leaving U.S. and Russia Without Binding Caps on Strategic Nuclear Arms

The New START treaty has lapsed, ending inspections and legal limits on U.S. and Russian strategic arsenals as leaders trade warnings and reassurances.

#nuclear, #armscontrol, #russia, #unitedstates, #newstart

Israeli ‘Double-Tap’ Strike Hits Beirut Beach Shelter, Killing Displaced Civilians

Witnesses say an Israeli double-tap strike hit Beirut’s Ramlet al-Baida seafront, killing at least eight as fighting with Hezbollah widens.

#lebanon, #beirut, #israel, #hezbollah, #airstrikes

Deep 6.0 earthquake jolts Naples area, but leaves little damage

A magnitude 6.0 quake struck deep beneath the Tyrrhenian Sea near Capri, widely felt across Italy but causing no injuries and only rail delays.

#italy, #earthquake, #naples, #seismology, #civilprotection

Lebanon’s Parliament Extends Its Term to 2028 as War and Displacement Upend Election Plans

Amid Israeli strikes and mass displacement, Lebanese MPs vote to delay 2026 elections and extend their mandate to 2028, sparking constitutional outrage.

#lebanon, #elections, #hezbollah, #israel, #parliament

Nepal’s Anti-Establishment RSP Sweeps Election, Balen Shah Poised for Premiership

Balendra “Balen” Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party routs Nepal’s old guard after 2025 Gen Z protests, setting up a powerful new government.

#nepal, #elections, #balenshah, #rsp, #genz

Deadly Flash Floods Hit Nairobi as Long Rains Begin, Exposing Infrastructure Gaps

Torrential overnight rains killed at least 25 in Nairobi and up to 49 nationwide, flooding informal settlements and renewing calls for drainage upgrades.

#kenya, #nairobi, #flooding, #climatechange, #infrastructure

U.N. Security Council Heads for Vetoes as Rival Resolutions Clash Over Iran War

Security Council votes on competing Gulf- and Russia-led drafts over the widening Iran conflict, with vetoes expected and little chance of action.

#unsecuritycouncil, #iran, #middleeast, #diplomacy, #straitofhormuz

Geneva Peace Talks on Ukraine End Without Cease-Fire, Exposing Deep Gaps

U.S.-brokered Geneva talks between Russia and Ukraine ended with only a pledge to keep negotiating, while territory, security guarantees and sanctions remain unresolved.

#ukraine, #russia, #ceasefire, #geneva, #diplomacy

Colombia election delivers mixed verdict on Petro as right picks Paloma Valencia for May race

Petro’s bloc stays largest in Congress but falls short of a majority, while Democratic Center gains and Paloma Valencia wins the right’s primary ahead of May 31.

#colombia, #elections, #gustavopetro, #palomavalencia, #congress

China’s Wang calls 2026 a ‘big year’ for U.S. ties as Iran war looms over Trump-Xi summit

At China’s annual press conference, Wang Yi condemns the Iran strikes while casting Trump’s late-March Beijing visit as a chance to steady ties.

#china, #us-china, #trump, #iran, #diplomacy

Haiti Opens Party Registration for 2026 Vote as Gangs Tighten Grip on Port-au-Prince

Haiti’s electoral council has opened a brief registration window for parties ahead of August 2026 elections, despite sweeping gang control and a contested transition.

#haiti, #elections, #gangviolence, #caricom, #unitednations