In a political earthquake that has stunned South Asia, 35-year-old former Kathmandu mayor Balendra Shah — popularly known as “Balen” — has led the insurgent Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) to an overwhelming parliamentary victory in Nepal. The election followed months of political turmoil and youth-»»»

Some ​65% of Americans believe U.S. President Donald Trump will order troops into a large-scale ground war in Iran and ‌just 7% support that idea, a Reuters/Ipsos poll that closed on Thursday found. The three-day poll showed Trump’s broader standing with the public holding largely unchanged at 40%,»»»

A test flight of the LUCAS low-cost attack drone deployed by the U.S. military in operations against Iran. The system, reverse-engineered from Iran’s Shahed-136, is operated by a U.S. Central Command task force in the Middle East. /U.S. Department of Defense (DARPA) Graphic by Asia Today and transl»»»

EU officials are confident of sealing a trade pact with Australia early next week as the bloc continues its dash for bilateral trade deals. President von der Leyen is due in Canberra on Monday for a three day visit that EU officials hope will conclude an agreement during a meeting with president An»»»

Doha: Minister of State for Energy Affairs HE Saad bin Sherida Al Kaabi revealed that the State of Qatar had warned the United States of the consequences that could affect other countries if Iranian oil and gas facilities were targeted, emphasizing that Washington was urged to exercise restraint in»»»

Tunis, March 20 (TAP) - President of the Arab Parliament Mohamed Ahmed Al-Yamahi extended on Friday his congratulations to the Republic of Tunisia, its leadership, government, parliament and people, on the occasion of Independence Day. This marks an...»»»

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked a federal judge to dismiss charges against two former police officers involved in the raid that resulted in the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor, a black woman, in her home. Former detective Joshua Jaynes and former sergeant Kyle Meany were alleged to ha»»»

Israel’s recent strike on Iran’s South Pars gas field and Tehran’s retaliation on key energy infrastructure in several Gulf countries is more than just another escalation of the war roiling the Middle East. What began as a campaign of decapitation strikes and base‑to‑base missile exchanges has esca»»»

Dubai: Flight disruptions linked to Middle East airspace closures have left thousands of UAE travellers stranded or scrambling for alternatives. For many, the key question is simple: what can you actually claim when your flight falls apart? Sign up for our daily business newsletter, Cheques & Balan»»»

U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday ruled out reaching a ceasefire agreement with Iran, as more Marines headed to the Middle East in a possible sign of a coming ground operation. Trump insisted Washington had the upper hand in the three-week-old war, despite Iran effectively blockading the Strait»»»

A bitter dispute pitting Hungary and Slovakia against Ukraine is holding up a crucial €90bn (£77.95bn) EU loan to Ukraine. No oil has flowed through the Druzhba (Friendship) pipeline, from Russia to Hungary and Slovakia across Ukraine, since the major oil hub at Brody, in western Ukraine, was damag»»»

Doha, March 20 (SANA) The State of Qatar issued a strong condemnation on Friday regarding the Israeli aggression that targeted military infrastructure in southern Syria earlier today. Doha characterized the strikes as a “blatant violation” of Syrian sovereignty and a clear breach of international l»»»

Israel’s recent attack targeting military infrastructure in southern Syria constitutes a dangerous escalation and we strongly condemn it. We call upon the international community to assume its responsibility to ensure the cessation of Israeli attacks, which violate international law and Syria’s sov»»»

The White House Friday released a legislative framework for artificial intelligence. File Photo by Fazry Ismail/EPA March 20 (UPI) -- The White House released a new legislative framework for artificial intelligence creating a federal policy to prevent states from making their own laws about it. "Th»»»

On the first day of the election campaign, Margarita Ivanova, top-of-the-list candidate of the Anti-Corruption Bloc in the southern city of Smolyan, met with local residents to speak about the coalition's platform. She outlined her vision for a Bulgaria free of corruption, emphasizing transparency,»»»

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is gradually scaling back his sweeping ambition to end the war with Iran by toppling its regime, bringing his rhetoric closer to that of US President Donald Trump. Netanyahu now speaks of “achieving tremendous gains” through three objectives: curbing Iran’s»»»

Analysts say these investments in planned Chilean copper mines respond to sustained growth in global demand, driven by electrification, power grids and the energy transition File Phot by Pedro Tapia/EPA SANTIAGO, Chile, March 20 (UPI) -- Mining companies BHP and U.S.-based Freeport-McMoRan submitte»»»

CBS News has said it is shutting down its radio service after nearly 100 years in May, in a fresh round of layoffs. The service is expected to end on 22 May, affecting more than 700 affiliate stations, the editor-in-chief, Bari Weiss, and president Tom Cibrowski announced on Friday. Employees will »»»

Dubai’s world-class attractions, entertainment venues, and shopping centres saw a surge of activity on the first day of Eid Al Fitr. A diverse array of events and seasonal promotions drew residents and visitors alike to the heart of the city's festive celebrations. Major landmarks, including the Bu»»»

The UK has approved allowing the United States to use British bases to launch strikes on Iranian sites targeting the Strait of Hormuz. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously only allowed US forces to use the bases for defensive operations to prevent Iran firing missiles that put British interes»»»

There Is Such a People (TISP) leader Slavi Trifonov appeared in a Q&A on his own 7/8 TV on Friday as his party opened its campaign for the April 19 elections. "In the next government, we need to be practical and think logically if TISP is part of a stable majority," he said. The event was broadcast»»»

Doha: The State of Qatar expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the Israeli attack that targeted military installations in the south of the Syrian Arab Republic, considering it a flagrant violation of its sovereignty and a clear breach of international law and the Charter of the Unit»»»

As the financial landscape evolves, securing capital is no longer a straightforward process for business owners. Once dominated by traditional banks, financing now includes digital lenders, fintech platforms, and alternative methods such as peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding. This growing fragme»»»

After visiting Maronite Patriarch Beshara al-Rahi in Bkirki, U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa affirmed that "the United States is concerned with peace prevailing in Lebanon and for it to be independent and free from war." "I personally am doing everything I can to achieve this goal. I share a»»»

Magnus Haakon, the crown prince of Norway, and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway attend the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize presentation ceremony at Oslo City Hall. Mette-Marit gave her first interview about her friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. File Photo by Paul Treadway/UPI | License Photo March 20 (UP»»»

Tunis, March 20 (TAP) - Chairperson of the African Union Commission Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, extended on Friday "his warmest congratulations" to the Government and people of the Republic of Tunisia on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of their...»»»

Former Bolivian anti-drug chief Maximiliano Dávila was sentenced to to 25 years in prison for conspiring to import large quantities of cocaine into the United States. Photo by MrWashingtOn/Pixabay March 20 (UPI) -- A U.S. district court has sentenced former Bolivian anti-drug chief Maximiliano Dávi»»»

Dobrich became the first city where the Continue the Change – Democratic Bulgaria (CC-DB) coalition started campaigning for the April 19 parliamentary elections on Friday. Ivaylo Mirchev, co-chair of Yes, Bulgaria, called for citizens’ democratic vote to remove GERB leader Boyko Borisov and MRF - N»»»

BELGRADE - Speaking to reporters after a session of an extended National Security Council that addressed the energy situation, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic said on Friday the current natural gas price of 735 euros per thousand cubic metres was an even bigger problem than the crude oil price, »»»

Meeting with representatives of employer organizations, caretaker Prime Minister Andrey Gurov said government measures in response to rising fuel prices are highly targeted and do not affect the principles of the market economy. "Our priority is to provide help where it is needed, carefully, and in»»»

Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan today received Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye. Sheikh Mohamed and the Turkish Foreign Minister exchanged Eid Al Fitr greetings, conveying their best wishes for continued wellbeing and prosp»»»

GERB leader Boyko Borisov visited the new building of the state hospital under construction in the southeastern town of Yambol on Friday, the first day of the election campaign. "What we committed to back in 2018 is now 98 percent complete. In a few months, everything will be ready, and people will»»»

Ankara: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated that his country is harnessing all its resources to achieve peace and stability in the region. In remarks today, Erdogan added, "We, as the Islamic world, are trying to overcome a path fraught with obstacles, traps, and conspiracies. Wherever we»»»

The Arab Parliament condemned the blatant Iranian attacks that targeted oil and industrial facilities in several Gulf states, describing them as a dangerous and unprecedented escalation, and a highly perilous development that threatens the security and stability of the region and exposes global ene»»»

Iran intends to take part in this summer’s FIFA World Cup but only if the team’s matches are moved from the US to Mexico, the head of the country’s football federation has said. The announcement comes as the US and Israel continue their military campaign against Iran, now in its fourth week. The 20»»»

Israel says it has carried out air strikes on Syrian government infrastructure in the south of the country, in response to what it described as attacks on Druze civilians in Suweida province. In a statement, the Israeli military said it hit a command centre and weapons stored at army compounds over»»»

1 of 2 | Ting-Wei “Willy” Sun, left, and a worker from another company, work with "dummy" servers to allegedly conceal Nvidia microchips heading to China. Image courtesy of the Department of Justice March 20 (UPI) -- Three men were charged with smuggling Nvidia chips able to run artificial intellig»»»

Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has issued a message on the occasion of the Persian calendar New Year. In a message on Friday, Ayatollah Khamenei congratulated both the Eid of Nowruz and Eid al-Fitr, which have coincided this year, to the Iranian nation and to the»»»

When discussing water pricing and the structural problems in the water supply sector, there are also social dimensions to consider, caretaker Labour and Social Policy Minister Hasan Ademov said during a plenary session of the Economic and Social Council (ESC), the Ministry’s press centre reported. »»»

BELGRADE - The energy sector is the most important element of Serbia-Russia cooperation and talks are underway with the Russian side to ensure Serbia continues to have the best natural gas price in Europe, Serbian Minister without portfolio Nenad Popovic, who co-chairs a Serbia-Russia commission on»»»

Leading Chinese state-backed brain-computer interface (BCI) startup NeuCyber Neurotech said its most cutting-edge product is still three years behind Elon Musk's Neuralink, as Beijing races to expand clinical trials. Last week, China became the first country in the world to approve an invasive BCI »»»

Abu Dhabi: UAE President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan received messages of congratulations on the occasion of Eid Al Fitr from Kings, Presidents, and Emirs of Arab and Islamic states. His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE»»»

US stocks are sinking Friday as hopes wither on Wall Street for a possible cut to interest rates by the Federal Reserve this year because of the war with Iran. The S&P 500 fell 0.9% and was on track for a fourth straight losing week, its longest such streak in a year. The Dow Jones Industrial Avera»»»

Ideally, policy debates should serve to bring together the fullest information, the brightest minds, and the sharpest arguments in order to find solutions. That is, the optimum combination between what is best and what is feasible. In the real world, shaped by ordinary human fallibility and the ext»»»

The EU will provide a controversial loan to Ukraine “one way or another,” despite it remaining blocked by Hungary, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said on Friday. Budapest vetoed the EU’s €90 billion ($105 billion) emergency loan for Ukraine after Kiev halted Russian oil flows th»»»

An oil and gas price surge is about to hit Europe, Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev has warned, calling the EU’s rejection of Russian energy, “stubborn stupidity.” The escalating conflict in the Middle East, triggered by the US-Israeli attack on Iran, has driven extreme volatility in global energy mar»»»

Five Russian Paralympians have been added to the ‘kill list’ run by Ukraine’s state-backed Mirotvorets website, which publishes the personal details of individuals it labels as ‘enemies’ of the state. The athletes, placed on the list on Thursday, include alpine skier Aleksey Bugaev, and cross-count»»»

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez announced Friday a sweeping package worth five billion euros ($5.8 billion) aimed at cushioning the economic impact of the Middle East war, including a "drastic reduction" in energy-related taxes. Speaking after an emergency cabinet meeting, the Socialist leader»»»

A combination of factors triggered the unprecedented blackout that left Spain and Portugal without electricity for several hours last year, a new report has found. On 28 April 2025, shortly after midday, the Iberian peninsula's electricity supply was shut down, causing widespread chaos, cutting int»»»

New York: Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), Philippe Lazzarini warned that the agency's continued operation is in doubt. Lazzarini's warning came in a letter published today, as the agency has been facing a severe funding crisis for s»»»