Nepal’s youngest prime minister was sworn in Friday following a decisive election victory earlier this month and months after a youth-led uprising that led to the fall of the previous government. Balendra Shah, 35, took the oath of office after being appointed by President Ram Chandra Paudel. According to official election results, Shah’s Rastriya Swatantra Party secured nearly two-thirds of the seats in the House of Representatives in the March 5 vote. The election followed political upheaval in September, when protests led largely by young people forced the resignation of the former gove

At least 28 civilians were killed in two separate drone attacks in Sudan on Wednesday, according to local authorities, as fighting continues in the country’s ongoing civil war that began in 2023. In North Darfur, an attack struck a market in the city of Saraf Omra, killing 22 people and injuring 17 others. Officials said the drone targeted an oil tanker, triggering a fire that spread through a large section of the market. A second strike occurred on a highway in North Kordofan, where a drone hit a truck carrying civilians. Six people were killed and 10 others were injured in that incident, a

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit China on May 14 and 15, according to a statement released Wednesday by the White House. The visit had originally been planned for later this month but was postponed due to rising tensions involving Iran and what officials described as a potential conflict situation. The White House did not provide further details on the security considerations behind the delay. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the trip is among the most anticipated international visits of Trump’s current term. She said the president will travel with First Lad

Two people were killed and three others injured after debris from an intercepted ballistic missile fell in Abu Dhabi amid ongoing regional tensions, according to authorities in the United Arab Emirates. Officials said the missile was launched from Iran and was destroyed mid-air by air defence systems. However, falling fragments struck areas in the UAE capital, resulting in civilian casualties. Authorities identified the two people killed as one Pakistani national and one Indian national. Three others injured include a UAE citizen, a Jordanian national and an Indian national, officials said. Ac

South African anti-corruption investigators have arrested 12 senior police officers on allegations of corruption and fraud, according to a statement released Wednesday by the National Prosecuting Authority’s investigative directorate. The officers appeared in court in Pretoria following their arrests. Authorities allege the case is linked to a contract involving the provision of health and wellbeing services to police personnel. A 13th individual, identified as a company director connected to the contract, was also taken into custody, the agency said. According to the prosecuting authority,

Australia’s federal government says it will temporarily bar Iranian nationals from entering the country on tourist visas, citing concerns about visa overstays. According to a government announcement, the measure takes effect Thursday and is expected to remain in place for about six months. Home Affairs officials say the restriction applies specifically to new arrivals on short-term visitor visas. The federal home affairs minister said the decision was made due to concerns that some travellers may remain in Australia after their visas expire. Authorities estimate about 7,000 Iranian nationals

Afghanistan’s Taliban government says it has released American academic Dennis Coyle, who had been held in the country since January 2025. According to a statement issued Tuesday by Afghanistan’s foreign ministry, Coyle was released in Kabul on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, the holiday marking the end of Ramadan. The ministry said the decision followed an appeal from Coyle’s family and came after the country’s Supreme Court determined that his time in custody was sufficient. Afghan authorities had previously detained Coyle on allegations of violating local laws, but did not publicly spe

Iran launched a series of missile strikes targeting Israel from Monday night into Tuesday, marking the 25th day of ongoing hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States. According to statements attributed to Israeli authorities, Iran carried out seven missile attacks during that period. Israeli officials did not immediately release independent verification of damage or casualties from the latest strikes. In response, Israel continued its counter-offensive operations. The Israeli Air Force said it struck more than 50 Iranian-linked targets overnight, including missile launch sites an

India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump to discuss the evolving security situation in the Middle East, according to a statement shared by the U.S. envoy in India. Sergio Gor said in a social media post that both leaders focused on regional stability and emphasized the importance of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open for global shipping. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical maritime corridor through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes. Ongoing tensions involving Iran have raised concerns about potential disruptions to the ro