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EXPLAINED: 2 | Rare Historical Photos

Ex-rapper Balen Shah, 35, to take oath as Nepal PM today

Rapper-turned-politician Balendra Shah, 35, is set to become Nepal's Prime Minister, a dramatic rise for the former Kathmandu mayor known for his clashes with the federal government. His confrontational style, including a threat to burn down Singha Durbar, propelled him to national fame.

The Times of India

Balen Shah's political rise in Nepal reflects a broader shift after youth-led protests

An engineer-turned-rapper who later became Kathmandu’s mayor is poised to lead Nepal as prime minister after his party won a landslide election

The Independent UK

He rapped about corruption, now set to run Nepal: Inside Balen Shah’s music

A 35-year-old rapper from Kathmandu, known for writing hard-hitting lyrics on politics, corruption, and social issues, is set to become Prime Minister of Nepal. Balendra Shah, better known by his stage name Balen.

The Times of India

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4 Places Outside India Where Shiva Temples Exist

There is something deeply timeless about Lord Shiva. He is not bound by geography, language, or even religion in the conventional sense. While India is home to countless sacred Shiva temples, what many people don’t realize is that the devotion to Shiva has travelled far beyond Indian borders. Across continents…

Times Life

Who is Balendra Shah? The 35-year-old rap star sworn in as Nepal’s youngest PM

Balendra Shah emerged as a leading figure in the youth-driven protests that shook Nepal last year. The hip-hop star was sworn in as its youngest prime minister after dramatic electoral gains, reports Namita Singh

The Independent UK

Noodles king in soup: Nepal’s only billionaire loses in much-talked-about result

Kathmandu: In an election that mauled former PMs, dynastic heirs and party strongmen, the Balendra 'Balen' Shah wave did not spare Nepal’s richest face either. Binod Chaudhary, the country’s sole Forbes-listed billionaire, the face of the popular Wai Wai noodles empire and sitting Nepali Congress MP from Nawalparasi West-1 in…

The Times of India

Oli’s tabla gift, 'riyaaz' advice to Balen 4 yrs ago turns into Nepal poll’s sharpest irony

Former PM KP Sharma Oli, who once gifted Kathmandu Mayor Balendra Shah a tabla, congratulated him on his recent electoral victory. Their relationship, initially cordial, soured significantly, culminating in a bitter election contest where Shah defeated Oli by a wide margin, highlighting a stark political shift.

The Times of India

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Balen Shah unseats KP Sharma Oli from his constituency; set to become youngest Nepal PM

Nepal’s political landscape has witnessed a dramatic transformation, as newly elected youth leader Balendra “Balen” Shah unseated veteran politician and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli from his parliamentary stronghold. A structural engineer by profession who first rose to prominence as the mayor of Kathmandu, Shah has now made history…

The Times of India

Mic-drop mandate as Nepal grooves to rapper Balen’s beat

Nepal's political landscape has been dramatically reshaped as the Rastriya Swatantra Party, spearheaded by Balen Shah, achieved a stunning victory in the parliamentary elections. This generational shift has seen veteran leaders facing significant defeats, with the urban electorate overwhelmingly backing the new force. The results signal a powerful rejection of…

The Times of India

'We voted for you, now do your job': Nepal’s Gen Z warn new leaders

KATHMANDU: For many young Nepalis, Friday’s historic verdict came with a clear call for the Himalayan country's new leaders: 'We voted for you. Now get to work'.

The Times of India

Lamichhane: TV star who built RSP that caught Nepal’s imagination in just 4 years

Kathmandu: Few politicians in Nepal rose as quickly as Rabi Lamichhane, 50. Before politics, he was already one of Nepal’s most recognisable faces — a loud, brash TV news presenter whose anti-corruption pitch made him a household name. When he launched Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) just before the 2022 election,…

The Times of India

Nepal elections results 2026: Full list of winners

Nepal's Gen-Z uprising has yielded early results in parliamentary polls, with the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) making significant inroads. The RSP has secured key seats in Kathmandu and is leading in over 110 constituencies nationwide. Notably, RSP leader Balendra Shah is ahead of former PM KP Sharma Oli in Jhapa-5.

The Times of India

Nepal’s 35-year-old rapper-mayor Balendra Shah heads for landslide win in general election

Rastriya Swatantra Party led by rapper-turned-mayor crosses 100 seats mark

The Independent UK

Balen Shah: Engineer, rapper, mayor, disruptor — Nepal's next PM at 35?

Former Kathmandu mayor and rapper Balendra Shah, known as Balen, is challenging ex-PM KP Sharma Oli in Nepal's parliamentary elections. Balen, who gained prominence through his protest songs and online following, is running on the Rastriya Swatantra Party ticket. His campaign resonates with young voters frustrated by corruption and political…

The Times of India

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The Independent UK

Rapper-mayor leads PM race as Nepal votes to replace government felled by Gen Z protests

Last year, discontent over corruption sparked a violent agitation that collapsed the government and threw Nepal into political turmoil. As 19 million people prepare to elect a new administration on 5 March, the jobs crisis remains a top concern. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports

The Times of India

After the hashtag: Nepal's '#NepoKids' fall silent as election tests Gen Z anger

KATHMANDU: Nepal's Gen Z uprising last Sept did not begin with a speech or a scandal. It began with screenshots. Images of politicians' children posing beside designer shopping hauls, on luxury holidays, stopping traffic with lavish weddings. Those pictures travelled rapidly across social media platforms, becoming symbols in a widening…

Times Life

4 Powerful Lord Shiva Temples Outside India You Should Visit

Lord Shiva, the supreme deity of Hinduism, is also known as Trikaal Darshi or the seer of the three periods of time. Being the Adi Yogi who is engaged in deep meditation, Maha Dev has absolute knowledge of everything that is happening throughout the universe. Therefore, not just in India,…

Times Life

4 Ancient Temples Where Devi Is Worshipped as a Living Goddess

“या देवी सर्वभूतेषु शक्तिरूपेण संस्थिता। नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमस्तस्यै नमो नमः॥” In the temples of India and Nepal, Devi is not always worshipped as a distant idol carved in stone. In some sacred spaces, she is treated as present, breathing, responding. The rituals are not symbolic alone. They are conducted with…

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The Independent UK

British national among at least 19 killed as passenger bus rolls off Nepal mountain slope

Officials say 25 people are injured, including two from New Zealand and China

The Independent UK

At least 19 dead including British national as packed bus plunges off a highway

19 dead including a British national following crash 50 miles from capital Kathmandu

The Times of India

18 dead, several injured in Nepal after passenger bus plunges into river in Dhading

A passenger bus veered off a road and plunged into the Trishuli River in Dhading, Nepal, early Monday, resulting in at least 18 fatalities and 25 injuries. The bus, en route from Pokhara to Kathmandu, was carrying over 35 passengers when the accident occurred. Rescue operations are underway, though challenging…

Times Life

5 Countries Where Hindu Gods Are Worshipped Differently

“एकं सद्विप्रा बहुधा वदन्ति” Rigveda 1.164.46 Truth is one, the wise describe it in many ways. Have you ever wondered what happens to faith when it crosses borders? When people migrate, trade, build kingdoms, or settle on distant islands, they carry their gods with them. But something beautiful happens along…

Times Life

The Air Here Can Kill, Welcome to the World’s Most Polluted Place

What Does “Most Polluted” Even Mean? It’s not like one place wins a forever trophy for being the worst, air quality rankings aren’t set in stone. Reports from groups like IQ Air track PM2.5 levels (fine particulate matter) over months or a year, comparing how often cities exceed safe limits…

Euronews

Nepal: Watch cannabis rituals unfold during Shivaratri in Kathmandu

Crowds thronged Kathmandu’s Pashupatinath Temple for Shivaratri, where worship, music and a rare legal tolerance of marijuana marked the festival.

The Independent UK

Cannabis smoke fills the air as Nepal marks Shivaratri festival

Nepal’s Shivaratri festival draws huge crowds to Kathmandu as holy men and devotees openly smoke cannabis as part of worship

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