Balen Shah's RSP sweeps Nepal polls, winning 125 of 165 seats under FPTP

IANS | March 9, 2026 9:34 PM

Kathmandu, March 9 (IANS) As counting of votes concluded in 163 electoral constituencies out of 165 under the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system in Nepal’s parliamentary elections by Monday evening, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) secured nearly 76 per cent of the seats in the House of Representatives in a sweeping electoral victory.

Pakistani national's involvement in foiled US plot underscores porous nature of transnational networks

IANS | March 9, 2026 9:32 PM

Washington, March 9 (IANS) The recent conviction of Asif Merchant, a Pakistani national, in a US federal court for murder-for-hire and attempting an act of terrorism transcending national boundaries, reveals a troubling dimension of the "long shadow war" between Iran and the United States. The charges were linked to a foiled plot to assassinate US President Donald Trump as well as other prominent American leaders, including former President Joe Biden and Nikki Haley, a report said on Monday.

India and UK discuss strengthening cooperation, advancing Commonwealth reforms

IANS | March 9, 2026 9:01 PM

London, March 9 (IANS) Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh held a meeting with UK's Minister for Latin America, Caribbean and Multilateral Chris Elmore on the sidelines of Commonwealth Foreign Affairs Ministers Meeting (CFAMM) on Monday, discussing strengthening cooperation between two nations and working with partners to advance Commonwealth reforms.