Iran warns against ground invasion
As regional diplomats gather in Pakistan on Sunday, March 29, to seek an end to the war in Iran, a top Iranian official issued a sharp warning against any U.S. ground invasions, according to AP News. Parliament speaker Mohammad Qalibaf dismissed the weekend’s diplomatic efforts as a mere cover, noting that the U.S. continues to dispatch additional troops to the Middle East. Qalibaf announced that Iran would respond harshly to any U.S. forces or regional allies entering Iranian territory. Over the course of the now month-long war, more than 3,000 people have been killed.
Nepal elects a new Prime Minister
Balendra Shah, a 35-year-old rapper-turned-politician, was sworn in as Nepal’s prime minister on Friday, March 27. The ceremony served as a tribute to the youth-led revolution that unseated the unpopular government last year. Many Nepalis backed Shah because his lyrics captured the frustrations of a generation forced to seek work abroad due to political impunity. On the eve of his inauguration, Shah released a music video filled with patriotic imagery; according to The New York Times, it garnered over two million views in just eleven hours. As a champion of Gen Z, Shah now faces an immediate test of his leadership credentials.
Europe seeks to increase deportation
The European Union is drawing widespread criticism for adopting migrant tracking and deportation tactics reminiscent of the Trump administration, according to AP News. Following the rise of right-wing parties in the 2024 elections, the EU has moved to tighten its migration borders significantly. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that these measures are designed to prevent a resurgence of the 2015 crisis, when approximately one million people sought asylum during the Syrian Civil War. These controversial changes are stated in the Pact on Migration and Asylum, which is set to take effect on June 12.
