The killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a United States-Israeli air campaign has sent shockwaves through the Middle East, decapitating the leadership of the “axis of resistance” at its most critical moment.

For decades, this network of groups allied with Iran was Tehran’s forward line of defence. But today, with its commander-in-chief dead and its logistical arteries cut, the alliance looks less like a unified war machine and more like a series of isolated islands.

Hassan Ahmadian, a professor at the University of Tehran, warned that the era of strategic patience is over and the Iranian government is now prepared to “burn everything” in response to the attacks.

While Tehran promised to retaliate against the US and Israel “with a force they have never experienced before”, the reaction from its key proxies in Lebanon, Yemen and Iraq revealed a deep hesitation driven by local existential threats that may outweigh their ideological loyalty to a fallen leader.

Hezbollah: Walking between raindrops

In Beirut, the response from Hezbollah, long considered the crown jewel among Iran’s regional allies, has been cautiously calibrated.

After Sunday’s announcement of Khamenei’s death, the group issued a statement condemning the attack as the “height of criminality”. However, Al Jazeera correspondent in Beirut Mazen Ibrahim noted that the language used was defensive, not offensive.

“If one dismantles the linguistic structure of the statement, the complexity of Hezbollah’s position becomes clear,” Ibrahim said. “The secretary-general spoke of ‘confronting aggression’, which refers to a defensive posture. … He did not explicitly threaten to attack Israel or launch revenge operations.”

This caution is rooted in a new strategic reality. Since the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s government in Syria in late 2024, the “land bridge” that supplied Hezbollah has been severed. Ali Akbar Dareini, a Tehran-based researcher, noted that this loss “cut the ground link with Lebanon”, leaving the group physically isolated.

Now with top leaders of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) killed alongside Khamenei, Hezbollah appears paralysed – caught between a battered domestic front in Lebanon and a vacuum of orders from Tehran.

The Houthis: Solidarity meets survival

In Yemen, the Houthis face an even more volatile calculus.

In his first televised address after the strikes on Iran began on Saturday, the group’s leader, Abdel-Malik al-Houthi, declared his forces “fully prepared for any developments”. Yet his rhetoric notably emphasised that “Iran is strong” and “its response will be decisive,” a phrasing that analysts interpreted as an attempt to deflect the immediate burden of war away from the Houthis.

The Houthis are under immense pressure. While they have successfully disrupted Red Sea shipping and fired missiles at Tel Aviv, they now face a renewed threat at home.

The internationally recognised Yemeni government, having won a power struggle against southern separatists, has sensed a shift in momentum. Defence Minister Taher al-Aqili recently declared: “The index of operations is heading towards the capital, Sanaa,” which the Houthis control. The statement signalled a potential ground offensive to retake Houthi territory.

This places the Houthis in a bind. While Houthi negotiator Mohammed Abdulsalam recently met with Iranian official Ali Larijani in Muscat, Oman, to discuss “unity of the arenas”, the reality on the ground is different. Engaging in a war for Iran could leave the Houthis’ home front exposed to government forces backed by regional rivals.

“Expanding the circle of targeting will only result in expanding the circle of confrontation,” the Houthi-affiliated Supreme Political Council warned in a statement that threatened escalation but also implicitly acknowledged the high cost of a wider war.

Iraq: The internal time bomb

Perhaps nowhere is the dilemma more acute than in Iraq, where the lines between the state and the “resistance” are dangerously blurred.

Iran-aligned militias, many of which operate under the state-sanctioned Popular Mobilisation Forces, are now caught in a direct standoff with the US. Tensions have simmered since late 2024 when Ibrahim Al-Sumaidaie, an adviser to Iraq’s prime minister, revealed that Washington had threatened to dismantle these groups by force, a warning that led to his resignation under pressure from militia leaders.

Today, that threat looms larger than ever. Unlike Hezbollah or the Houthis, these groups are technically part of the Iraqi security apparatus. A retaliation from Iraqi soil would not just risk a militia war but also a direct conflict between the US and the Iraqi state.

With the IRGC commanders who once mediated these tensions now dead, the “restraining hand” is gone. Isolated militia leaders may now decide to strike US bases of their own accord, dragging Baghdad into a war the government has desperately tried to avoid.

Resistance without a head

Khamenei’s assassination has essentially shattered the command-and-control structure of the “axis of resistance”.

The network was built on three pillars: the ideological authority of the supreme leader, the logistical coordination of the IRGC and the geographic connection through Syria. Today, all three are broken.

“The most important damage to Iran’s security interests is the severing of the ground link,” Dareini said. With Khamenei gone, the “spiritual link” is also severed.

What remains is a fragmented landscape. In Lebanon, Hezbollah is too exhausted to open a northern front. In Yemen, the Houthis face a potential domestic offensive. In Iraq, militias risk collapsing the state they live in.

When the dust settles in Tehran, the region will face a dangerous unpredictability. The “axis of resistance” is no longer a coordinated army. It is a collection of angry, heavily armed militias, each calculating its own survival in a world where the orders from Tehran have suddenly stopped coming.

There were tears (and cheers) for Catherine O’Hara. Rhea Seehorn explained “Pluribus,” or at least tried to. Harrison Ford was celebrated at the “half-point of his career.” And, because the show’s on Netflix, there were a few well-placed F-bombs, not including the swears muttered by the actors who didn’t win.

The 32nd Actor Awards — or the very first Actor Awards, since for the previous 31 years this ceremony has been known as the Screen Actors Guild Awards — went off without a hitch Sunday, and ended with a bang, scrambling a best picture race that felt settled after “One Battle After Another” won the top prize at the Producers Guild Awards on Saturday.

There were TV awards presented too. But we pay attention to the Actor Awards because the show takes place while Oscar ballots are out and are, for the most part, a reliable precursor to the Academy Awards. How trustworthy will they be for the acting winners this year? Let’s take a look.

Cast in a motion picture

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

Winner: “Sinners”

The past: The winner of this award has gone on to take the best picture Oscar in 15 of 30 years, making it basically a coin flip and easily the Actor Awards’ least trustworthy Oscar precursor. (The ensemble prize wasn’t awarded in 1994, the ceremony’s first year.) Oscar also-ran “Conclave” won last year, ending a three-year streak — “CODA,” “Everything Everywhere All at Once” and “Oppenheimer” — where the winner of the cast prize went on to take best picture.

Will history repeat itself? If “Sinners” had simply taken this award and nothing else, I would say “One Battle After Another” would still be the overwhelming favorite to win the best picture Oscar. But snagging this prize and Michael B. Jordan winning lead actor gives one pause, doesn’t it? Again, the cast award is not a reliable best picture precursor. A Ryan Coogler movie (“Black Panther”) won in 2019, but lost the Oscar to “Green Book.” And while “Sinners” did haul in a record-breaking 16 Oscar nominations, “One Battle” wasn’t far behind with 13, just one shy of the previous record. It’s easy to get carried away with the way the room exploded when Samuel L. Jackson announced the winner, but “One Battle’s” Producers Guild win carries more weight. I’ll need a couple of days to sit with this.

Female actor in a leading role

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

Winner: Jessie Buckley, “Hamnet”

The past: SAG and the academy have matched 21 of 31 years. The last two years have seen the groups split, with Emma Stone (“Poor Things”) winning her second Oscar over SAG winner Lily Gladstone (“Killers of the Flower Moon”) in 2024 and Mikey Madison prevailing for “Anora” over Demi Moore, who won over SAG-AFTRA voters and earned a huge standing ovation when she took the stage for her gonzo comeback turn in the body horror movie “The Substance.”

Will history repeat itself? Buckley has been a lock for the lead actress Oscar since “Hamnet” premiered in September at the Telluride Film Festival, her searching, searing turn as the film’s grieving mother producing the kind of visceral reaction that guts audiences and wins awards. And, boy, has she won awards these last few months, taking pretty much everything save for the major critics groups. The naysayers decried the acting as overripe, sniffing instead of sniffling. Monsters. There’s no denying Buckley goes big with her emotions here, but the magic in her work also can be seen in a much-used still photo from “Hamnet,” the one where she’s resting her elbows on the Old Globe stage, hands clasped, face transfixed, heart opened. You know the shot. And you’re probably getting a little verklempt just thinking about it.

Male actor in a leading role

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

Winner: Michael B. Jordan, “Sinners”

The past: This category has been the most reliable indicator of Oscar victory, with SAG and the academy matching 24 of 31 times. There are exceptions, though, such as just last year when Adrien Brody won the Oscar for “The Brutalist,” prevailing over SAG winner Chalamet (“A Complete Unknown”).

Will history repeat itself? Entering the month of February, it looked like Timothée Chalamet was a shoo-in for playing a talented, self-promoting ping-pong player in “Marty Supreme.” In fact, some know-it-all called this race more or less over just a week ago. (That was me.) Chalamet could still win. Maybe SAG-AFTRA voters didn’t want to give him the award again, just a year after they honored him for his lead turn in “A Complete Unknown.” Maybe SAG-AFTRA voters felt he was a bit, shall we say … “brash” in the way he marketed the movie and needed to be taken down a peg.

So now, entering March, it’s looking like “Marty Supreme” could be this year’s version of “The Irishman,” a film that earns a lot of nominations (in this case, nine) and comes away with nothing.

Meanwhile, Jordan’s big swing movie star turn in “Sinners,” playing twin brothers Smoke and Stack, was the best work of his career. That scream that Viola Davis let out when she opened the envelope spoke to the enthusiasm in the room both for the actor and the film. Momentum definitely seems to be on Jordan’s side right now.

Female actor in a supporting role

(Kayla Bartkowski / Los Angeles Times)

Winner: Amy Madigan, “Weapons”

The past: The Actor Award winner has gone on to take an Oscar 23 of 31 times, including last year, when Zoe Saldaña won for “Emilia Pérez,” one of countless prizes she won that season. (Note: One of those 23 winners, “The Reader’s” Kate Winslet, was nominated for — and won — the 2009 Oscar for lead actress for that performance.)

Will history repeat itself? Who knows? This category has been all over the place, but as Madigan said in her speech, she’s been doing this a “long ass time” and there’s a lot of love for this 75-year-old acting great. Teyana Taylor (“One Battle After Another”) took the Golden Globe, and Wunmi Mosaku (“Sinners”) won at the British Academy Film Awards. And the “they’re due” narrative doesn’t always play at the Oscars. (Just ask Demi Moore or Glenn Close.) Will a “One Battle” sweep carry both Taylor and Sean Penn? Or is there room for an outlier? It’s tempting to lean toward Madigan.

Male actor in a supporting role

Winner: Sean Penn, “One Battle After Another”

The past: The SAG winner has gone on to win the Oscar 22 times in 31 years, including the last dozen, the longest streak of any category.

Will history repeat itself? Penn did not attend the Actor Awards, the only thing less surprising than this win. Coming on the heels of taking the supporting actor prize from BAFTA last weekend (Penn didn’t go to that ceremony either), it’s looking likely now that Penn will win his third Oscar. He’s barely campaigned and remains a divisive figure. But his menacing turn as the outrageous Col. Steven J. Lockjaw, a man given to zealotry and tight T-shirts, is the best work he has done in years. Will he go to the Oscars, if only to collect the trophy so he can give another statue to Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelensky? We’ll soon see.

Published on
02/03/2026 – 6:42 GMT+1

Oil prices climbed on Monday morning as investors assessed the economic impact of US and Israeli attacks on Iran, which triggered swift retaliation from Tehran targeting assets in multiple Middle Eastern countries.

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In early trade, the price of a barrel of US benchmark crude initially surged by about 8%. It later traded 5.9% higher at $71.00 per barrel. Brent crude rose 6.2% to $77.38 per barrel.

Traders were betting that oil supplies from Iran and elsewhere in the Middle East could slow or grind to a halt. Attacks across the region, including on two vessels travelling through the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow mouth of the Persian Gulf — have restricted countries’ ability to export oil to the rest of the world.

“Roughly one-fifth of global oil and LNG (liquefied natural gas) flows squeeze through the Strait of Hormuz. This is not an obscure canal. It is the aorta of the global energy system,” Stephen Innes of SPI Asset Management said in a commentary note.

A prolonged war would likely result in higher prices for other fuels and petrol, and could ripple through the global economy, adding to overall production costs.

Likewise, prolonged interruptions to oil flows through the Middle East would have “huge implications for oil and LNG and every market everywhere if it occurs. Energy is an input to all production,” RaboResearch Global Economics & Markets said in a report.

Iran exports roughly 1.6 million barrels of oil a day, mostly to China. Beijing may need to look elsewhere for supply if Iran’s exports are disrupted — another factor that could push energy prices higher.

However, China has ample oil reserves of up to 1.5 billion barrels and could offset a decline in Iranian oil by increasing imports from Russia, said Michael Langham of Aberdeen Investments.

The attacks had been anticipated, following a significant build-up of US forces in the Middle East, so traders had already adjusted their positions to account for that risk.

In other early trading on Monday, the price of gold — usually viewed as a safe haven in times of uncertainty — rose 2.4% to about $5,371 per ounce.

Elsewhere, futures for the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average were down about 0.8% by mid-morning in Bangkok.

Asian shares also opened lower. Japan’s Nikkei 225 initially fell more than 2%. In Hong Kong, the Hang Seng lost 1.6% to 26,215.91, while the Shanghai Composite was flat at 4,163.01.

Taiwan’s benchmark index fell 0.6% and Singapore’s dropped 1.9%. In Bangkok, the SET declined 2.1%, while Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 shed 0.3% to 9,173.50.

Videos show heavy bombardment of Tehran after Israel’s military said it had launched another wave of attacks on Iran.

This stunning resort town offers the perfect combination of beautiful beaches, vibrant nightlife and exceptional value for money with cheap flights and affordable pints – what’s not to love?

Anyone seeking a quick getaway from Britain’s grey and gloomy weather this month need look no further than this sun-drenched resort nestled within this certified island paradise.

Boasting crystal-clear turquoise seas, endless stretches of pristine white sand, and delectable food at every turn, this resort town represents a traveller’s ultimate destination – particularly for those craving vibrant, energetic nightlife.

This former modest fishing hamlet has transformed into a bona fide tourist magnet, offering some of the planet’s finest beaches and water-based activities.

Despite the tourism explosion witnessed over recent decades, this dynamic resort has succeeded in preserving its authentic appeal and distinctive personality, positioning it as the perfect spot for those wanting to effortlessly jet away without breaking the bank.

Perched on Fuerteventura’s northern extremity in the Canary Islands, Corralejo delivers a bright and cheerful holiday experience packed with countless entertaining pursuits, reports the Express.

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Within La Oliva’s municipality, Corralejo’s surrounding landscape proves both extraordinary and spectacular – golden-white sand dunes, rugged volcanic terrain and seaside ambience blended with historic town character.

Corralejo merges its classic maritime heritage with a youthful and dynamic spirit, offering holidaymakers the perfect combination. Getting to this resort on Fuerteventura’s northern coastline is a doddle – and won’t break the bank.

Direct one-way flights from London Stansted Airport and London Luton Airport to Fuerteventura Airport in early March cost as little as £27, with a free allowance for one cabin bag included.

And it’s not just the airfare that’s easy on the wallet – a refreshing pint will set you back a mere £1.70 in this stunning tropical haven. Combine that with Fuerteventura’s glorious 21C March temperatures, and you’ve got all the ingredients for the perfect early spring escape.

Nestled just across the water from the breathtaking – and tiny – island of Los Lobos, the resort town of Corralejo is as postcard-perfect as it gets. Brimming with outstanding restaurants, delightful boutiques, and buzzing bars, it truly is the complete package.

A resort town with humble beginnings

Corralejo was once nothing more than a traditional fishing village, home to a handful of residents and little else. In fact, right up until the 1950s, the entire town boasted only around 11 surnames and a modest population of just over 100 people.

From those quiet beginnings, the resort has grown beyond all recognition to become what it is today: Fuerteventura’s most beloved tourist destination.

The area encompassing Corralejo and its iconic surrounding dunes was also where conqueror and crusader Gadifer de la Salle and his expedition first set foot on Fuerteventura back in 1402.

According to folklore handed down through the ages, Corralejo’s origins trace back to approximately 1810, though some historians argue that genuine settlement didn’t occur until at least the 1850s.

The earliest residents are known to have built their homes using stone and readily available materials sourced from the surrounding area.

Corralejo remained a modest fishing hamlet until the mid-20th century, with its economy and inhabitants heavily reliant upon the neighbouring municipality of La Oliva and goods shipped in from overseas.

Throughout much of its unassuming past, Corralejo existed as an unremarkable fishing settlement where a small number of impoverished fishermen toiled long hours to support their households.

The early 1970s marked the beginning of Corralejo’s tourism explosion, as its magnificent beaches and breathtaking dunes (at last) began drawing holidaymakers to its spectacular coastline.

Things to do in Corralejo

This Fuerteventura destination proves ideal for watersports, especially windsurfing and kitesurfing, thanks to the region’s reliable winds and perfect wave conditions.

Scuba diving, water skiing, jet skiing and snorkelling also rank amongst favourite pursuits for tourists, courtesy of Corralejo’s superb translucent waters.

Adjacent to the harbour, Town Beach (Playa del Viejo) suits those based in or around the town centre, whilst the Galera Beach vicinity and Waikiki Beach located at the town’s core are renowned for their tranquil waters, vibrant beach bars, and convivial ambience.

Playa Vista Lobos is another essential destination, renowned for its distinctive ‘popcorn’ shoreline and spectacular vistas of Lobos Island visible from the coast.

Flag Beach and Glass Beach are perfect spots for enthusiasts keen to enjoy windsurfing or kitesurfing.

The Corralejo Dunes, or Grandes Playas, nestled within the sprawling 11-kilometre Corralejo Natural Park, stand out as arguably the resort’s most celebrated attraction – and justifiably so.

The unspoilt white sand dunes form an untouched coastal haven unlike anywhere else, cementing its status as an essential destination for anyone exploring Corralejo.

Stunning panoramas of Los Lobos and neighbouring Lanzarote further enhance the location’s allure. Native plant and animal species thriving within the Natural Park provide an extra treat for nature lovers.

The old town in Corralejo serves as the resort’s beating heart, featuring delightful narrow lanes packed with seafood restaurants and outstanding dining establishments – a haven for culinary enthusiasts.

Corralejo Old Town teems with characteristic whitewashed buildings, intimate bars and independent retailers, alongside a working harbour where fishing boats still operate.

Avenida General Franco, commonly referred to as Main Street, extends from the old town and hosts some of the resort’s most celebrated international restaurants, shopping complexes, and the bustling Music Square.

Visitors can also depart from Corralejo’s harbour to discover the neighbouring volcanic islands of Lobos and Lanzarote, either through glass-bottom boat excursions or by hopping aboard the regularly scheduled ferry services that connect the Canary Islands.

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Owning the smallest house in Britain comes with its fair share of history and responsibility, but the owner’s ancestor only bought it for a mere £20

Year in, year out, tourists flock to this seaside village to see what is known as Britain’s tiniest home, and day in, day out, its owner is still in shock at just how much attraction it continues to gain.

Jan Tyley inherited the little red house in Conwyn, Wales, from her mother’s cousin back in 2015, and over 10 years later, she is heading up a small business that continues to boom, all thanks to its unusually small size.

Measuring just 72 inches wide and 122 inches high, it holds the official World Record of being the smallest house within the British Isles – a phenomenon that draws in roughly 50-60,000 visitors each year.

The origins of the place sit way back in her family, when her great-great-grandfather bought it in 1891 as a letting property with a sitting tenant. Jan shared: “He was called Robert Jones, and the sitting tenant was called Robert Jones, which has created a lot of confusion over the years.”

Tenants of the past

Robert, the tenant, was a six-foot-three fisherman who was living there up until 1899, when the local council decided that it was not, in fact, a house fit for human habitation.

“I’m 5’7″, and I have to duck to go in, and I frequently forget to come out again,” Jan joked. “So you can imagine what a sore back he must have had.”

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There was no toilet, but instead a shared toilet with the cottages beside it, and so, they threatened to tear it down.

Disheartened and unsure what to do, the landlord was chatting to his friends at the pub, one of whom was the editor of the North Wales Weekly News, Roger Dawson, who suggested it may be the smallest in the country. This led them on a wild pursuit in which they travelled across the UK measuring numerous houses, after advertising the quest in newspapers.

In turn, the council agreed for it to stay put, but that nobody could actually live in it. “So being the enterprising chap, um, my great-great-grandfather said, ‘Well, I’ll turn it into a tourist attraction,'” Jan explained. In May 1900, it became a tourist attraction, and the family never looked back.

The building remains dressed as it was when it was last lived in in 1900, Jan confirmed. Unfortunately, being open to the public has meant they have seen a few items go missing over the years.

While it’s bursting with humorous stories and tales of those who once lived in this tiny abode, the reasoning for them inhabiting such an uncomfortably small space is a lot darker.

“It’s a real testament to the shortage of property in Conwy and how people wanted to live in a house of their own, because sadly the alternative was a poorhouse,” Jan explained.

“When Robert Jones, the last tenant, had to move out, that’s where he ended up. He was in the poorhouse, and sadly that’s where he died. So that’s why, although it’s tiny, people didn’t have a problem living there.”

During the 18th and 19th centuries in Wales, poorhouses were institutions designed for the less fortunate, with conditions made to be ‘prison-like’ in a bid to deter those in financial need from seeking help. Inhabitants were forced into rigid, segregated and often unsanitary living conditions, and so while the cottage was small, it was somewhere people could call their own.

According to records, there was shockingly a family of six all living within the tiny home – a mum and dad and four children. The little one’s beds were believed to be hammocks, which hooked on to the walls and sat in between the beams.

The house today

While the property remains in Jan’s hands, and with no looming threats from the council anytime soon, it continues to be a tourist attraction.

However, the one shift she has noticed in recent years is a rather unusual request, not from landlords or the council, but from YouTubers hoping to immerse themselves in the 1800s experience and share it online.

“I’ve had lots of YouTubers who say, ‘Oh, can we stay the night?’ and they think they’re the first one to think about it. Except, I probably get three or four of them a year.”

Although the house is closed during the winter, from March it is open seven days a week, from 10am right up until 4pm, and Jan has a team of people helping to keep the whole thing running.

“I have a team of eight lovely ladies who do the shift. So, we have two shifts a day. I take my turn on the door as well, but I live about half an hour’s drive away.”

Originally, Jan was living in Oxford, but after inheriting the property, she moved closer to the North Wales spot to take on its wealth of responsibilities.

But for her, it seems a worthwhile decision. She said: “It never ceases to surprise me how many people come to see it each year and from all over the world, which is amazing.

“I’m still amazed at how many people do come through our doors. We probably could get more if we were bigger, but then that wouldn’t be the point.”

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Kathmandu, Nepal – Facing thousands of raucous supporters, 35-year-old Balendra Shah lifted his signature black rectangular sunglasses, asked his audience to look him in the eye, and said: “I love you.”

It is a sentiment that millions of young Nepalis appear to reciprocate.

Balen – as he is popularly known – was a nobody until 2013, when he almost overnight became a rap sensation. Nearly a decade later, in May 2022, he stunned Nepal’s deeply entrenched mainstream political parties by winning the post of mayor of Kathmandu, the country’s capital, while contesting as an independent.

When the Himalayan nation of 30 million people erupted in popular protests against the government of then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in September 2025, Balen emerged as a high-profile backer of the protesters. He was the first choice of many Gen Z activists to take over as interim leader after Oli was forced to resign. But he instead supported former Supreme Court Chief Justice Sushila Karki for the post. It is now that this was a tactical move.

As Nepal heads to its first election since the protests last year, and Karki’s brief term ends, Balen is positioning himself as the future prime minister the country needs. And true to style, he is doing it with a bang: He is contesting the parliamentary elections from Jhapa-5, a seat about 300km (186 miles) southeast of Kathmandu, against Oli, the man protesters deposed just five months ago.

On the surface, the odds appear stacked against him. The region is a stronghold of Oli and the Communist Party of Nepal – Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML), which the former prime minister heads. Balen is contesting as a candidate of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), a centrist party formed less than four years ago, which won 10 percent of the national vote in the last elections in 2022.

Balen’s volatile public communication – he has abused mainstream parties, India, China and the United States, and threatened to burn down symbols of power in Nepal – has sparked criticism and questions over whether he is ready for high office.

But Balen defied the pundits when he won the Kathmandu mayoralty. And observers and analysts say that for many Nepalis, he represents a breath of fresh air in a country where more than 40 percent of the population is under the age of 35, but where the leadership of all major parties is in its 70s.

“Young Nepalis see him as a decisive actor, who is not beholden to traditional political or business interests,” Pranaya Rana, a journalist who writes for the Kalam Weekly newsletter, told Al Jazeera. “Many admire his macho public persona and his willingness to take on entrenched political patronage networks.”

The craze

If young Nepal burned with anger in September, when protesters clashed with security forces and attacked senior politicians after a crackdown by authorities under Oli, Balen was still seething with rage two months later.

In a midnight post on Facebook in November, he lashed out: “F*** America, F*** India, F*** China, F*** UML, F*** Congress, F*** RSP, F*** RPP, F*** Maobaadi. You Guys all Combined can do nothing”, venting against the popular political parties and even nations that have close ties to Nepal. Being the Kathmandu mayor at the time, he deleted the post less than half an hour later.

Then in January, he quit as mayor and joined the RSP, one of the parties he cursed in the Facebook post. More recently, after Oli called on Facebook for a public debate among prime ministerial candidates of major parties, Balen rejected the suggestion and asked the ex-prime minister to take responsibility for the dozens of civilians killed during the Gen Z protests in September. He asked Oli to acknowledge that he was a “terrorist”.

Over the top? Not to many Nepalis.

The rapper-turned-politician’s confrontational style and rhetoric appear to have only endeared him to large sections of the youth. His beard and dandy, all-black clothing style – he occasionally wears the traditional Newari dress of the ethnic inhabitants of the Kathmandu valley – coupled with his trademark dark glasses, have become fashion symbols.

Kathmandu shops once ran out of the kind of black rectangular glasses he wears. Many online stores, including Daraz, the most popular seller in Nepal, still carry multiple choices of these shades, calling them “Balen Shah glasses”.

Unlike traditional politicians, Balen mainly stays away from mainstream media. Instead, he communicates with the wider public through podcasts, television shows where he is a judge, or through his favourite platform: social media. His 3.5 million followers on Facebook, 1 million on Instagram, 400,000 on X and nearly 1 million on YouTube give him an online audience unmatched in Nepal.

This is valuable capital with a generation constantly on their phones.

Yet Balen first made waves not as a politician, but as an upstart musician who shook Nepal.

Big cars, bigger songs

The youngest of four siblings, Balen was born in 1990 in Kathmandu. Balen’s father, Ram Narayan Shah – who passed away in December – was a government practitioner of ayurveda, the ancient Hindu healing system.

In an interview with Al Jazeera in September – three months before his death – Shah recalled Balen as a “bright and simple” child. The father’s work took him away from home frequently, but one clear memory from Balen’s childhood stuck out for Shah: “He wrote poems. I remember that, because I also wrote poems.”

Balen graduated with a civil engineering degree from Himalayan Whitehouse International College in Kathmandu and received a postgraduate degree in structural engineering from Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) in Karnataka, India.

Then, in 2013, he engineered his first major career transition. The setting was a popular rap battle in Nepal, called Raw Barz, in which two contestants face-off live against each other. One of the organisers of the competition, who requested anonymity, told Al Jazeera that Yama Buddha, a popular rapper who has since passed away, recommended Balen to him.

Balen won the rap battle, gaining instant popularity. “More than a rapper, he was a poet. He was very good lyrically, and talked about suppressed [people],” the contest organiser recalled.

In 2021, Shah announced his candidature for the mayoral election and revealed that he had been plotting the run for at least two years. He swept the election, winning 61,767 votes, defeating candidates from the major political parties, the Nepali Congress and Communist Party of Nepal (UML), who received 38,341 and 38,117 votes, respectively.

As mayor, according to his aide and press coordinator, Surendra Bajgain, Shah would arrive at his office at the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) at about 10am. He would first meet all the department heads, go through files, “seek clarity” on questions he had, and then sign files, Bajgain told Al Jazeera.

He would wear his trademark black jacket and pants, and black shades, every day to the office. He would remove his glasses inside the office, Bajgain said. “But you’ll see him in those glasses when taking pictures or in public,” he added.

As a mayor, he lived in government-provided accommodation in the heart of Kathmandu with his wife and an infant daughter. A gym regular, he preferred lunch at home, but would sip on endless cups of tea and coffee in the office.

To get away from the public gaze, Balen “loves to go on long rides outside the valley, because here, people surround him very often in public,” Bajgain said.

His passion for cars also landed him in controversy, widely circulated online, when he was seen driving an expensive Land Rover Defender worth 40 million Nepali rupees ($275,0000) in January, while campaigning in Jhapa 5, his electoral constituency, for the March 5 election.

Given his strong anticorruption image, the sight of him in a high-end luxury vehicle drew heightened scrutiny. Critics accused him of a lack of transparency over the vehicle’s ownership and use, while some pointed out that, despite promoting modesty in public office, he rarely used public transport as the mayor. The car, it turned out, had been given to him by a wealthy businessman for use during his campaign.

Balen is now also pursuing a PhD in traditional infrastructure at Kathmandu University. But he is far from a reluctant public figure, nor is he an ivory-tower researcher.

Balen’s songs, which mock political parties, criticise corruption and talk of the sacrifices of everyday Nepalis, have been the soundtrack to the efforts by Nepal’s Gen Z to reshape the country’s politics in recent months.

One song, Nepal Haseko (Nepal Smiling), became an anthem during last year’s protests, and already has more than 10 million views on YouTube. In the song, children sing in the chorus: “I want to see Nepal smiling; I want to see Nepalis living happily.”

Another song, Balidan (Sacrifice) has 14 million views on YouTube. It talks about impunity and corruption. On the Discord server “Youth Against Corruption”, where Gen Z protesters picked the country’s interim leader after Oli’s resignation in September, the name “Balen” was mentioned 16,328 times — far more than anyone else’s.

But Balen also has his critics.

‘Set on fire’

In 2023, when Balen was mayor, his wife was in his official vehicle when a traffic policeman stopped it. Balen was not in the car. The government-plated vehicle was being used on a public holiday, which gives traffic personnel the right to ask the purpose of the vehicle use and whether the driver has a permit for it.

On social media, Balen blew up about the incident: “If any of our KMC vehicles are stopped by the government from tomorrow, I will set the Singha Durbar on fire. Remember, you thief government”. Singha Durbar houses many administrative offices along with the Prime Minister’s Office.

The Oli government initially wanted to charge him for the incendiary statement, but backed off – Balen’s comment on social media had drawn support. It was a sign of things to come. During the Gen Z uprising in September, Singha Durbar was severely damaged after being set on fire.

In another instance, in 2023, after India installed a mural of “Akhand Bharat” (a Greater India) – encompassing many of its neighbours – Shah hung a “Greater Nepal” map in his office, including territories that once belonged to Nepal but now lie within India’s borders.

The move instantly escalated into a diplomatic hurdle. Shah was accused of going beyond his mandate as a municipal leader and stoking nationalist sentiment for political gains. His supporters, however, hailed his move as an assertive counter to foreign dominance.

In 2023, Balen also banned the screening of Indian films in Kathmandu, alleging that an Indian movie had suggested that Sita, one of Hinduism’s most revered goddesses, was born in India. In fact, she was born in present-day Nepal according to Hindu scriptures.

As Kathmandu mayor, Balen bulldozed illegal structures and ordered rubbish to be dumped outside government offices. He temporarily halted waste collection from Singha Durbar. The move was a riposte to what he argued was the central government’s failure to coordinate with the city to address Kathmandu’s chronic waste management crisis.

Yet to many belonging to the generation most hungry for change in Nepal, Balen has an allure no one else appears to have.

‘Shake up the status quo’

Aayal Sah, a 20-year-old first-time voter, is a resident of Janakpur – where Sita, the Hindu Goddess, is believed to have been born. He took three of his friends to see Balen’s first public appearance after joining the RSP. “I cannot directly vote for Balen as he is not contesting from our area, but I’ll surely vote for his party,” he told Al Jazeera.

Rana, the journalist at Kalam Weekly, said that for many, Balen “embodies the outsider spirit that many young Nepalis are looking for to shake up the status quo”.

Yet, Rana acknowledged, questions over Balen’s ability to lead Nepal linger as the country heads to elections. “A primary concern for most critics is Balen’s immaturity and his refusal to engage with the public. During his time as mayor, he gave no interviews to local media and did not answer any questions,” Rana told Al Jazeera.

After Oli quit office, when Gen Z protesters voted most for Balen to take over as interim leader on Discord, the then-mayor was not available on the phone when the youth movement’s leaders tried to reach him to see if he would take charge of the nation.

That, say analysts, was yet another example of Balen’s communication style: It is always one way, at his time and place of choosing.

But for many young Nepalis like Sah, the Janakpur resident, none of these chinks in Balen’s public life matter. “It’s the trust he has gained among the young people,” Sah said.

“He is the only one who can take the country forward.”

A one-off reunion episode brought back a number of stars from the tenth series months after the E4 show ended

The stars of Married At First Sight UK’s tenth season reunited for one final time in an explosive reunion episode that aired this evening (March 1).

The dramatic season concluded back in November last year, and while a number of couples made it to their final vows on the show, nearly all of them separated after filming ended. Just one couple from the series are still together, Abigail Lindsay and John Shepherd.

There was no shortage of tears and clashes as the cast got back together, and there was even an unexpected new feud. So what were the biggest revelations that came during the episode?

Bailey had a fling with April’s best friend

April and Rebecca were frosty with each other from the start following the revelation that Rebecca’s ex, Bailey, slept with April’s best friend at a music festival.

Rebecca claimed April had broken ‘girl code’ by not informing her about what had happened straight away. After April pulled Rebecca for a chat to attempt to smooth things over, the conversation took a sour turn.

April was left in tears after Rebecca told her: “I don’t dislike you, I would just never associate with someone like you,” elaborating: “I’m treating you like the opposite of a girls’ girl, which is what you are.”

Bailey ended things with Rebecca

Fans had long questioned who had ended things with who when news of Bailey and Rebecca’s split was made public. The pair had been loved-up on the show and were even planning a huge move to be together permanently, with Rebecca planning to uproot her life in Liverpool to join Bailey and his daughter down south.

Rebecca revealed that she was on the verge of moving when Bailey ended things with her following a tense holiday to Dublin. She admitted she had been actively in conversation with an aesthetics clinic as she prepared to move her business.

Bailey recalled he had tried to split up with her twice before they finally parted. He said: “I couldn’t breathe without her telling me off for doing something.” He claimed it felt like “she was sabotaging the relationship.”

Rebecca was texting her ex

Bailey reluctantly revealed at the dinner table a private conversation that he had with Rebecca in the car ride home following their final vows on the show which he felt caused him to change afterwards.

He told the group: “Why did I change? I changed because after final vows I feel like you lied to me because of what you told me in the car on the way home.”

He continued: “You said ‘I’m so sorry I’ve got to tell you something. During the show, I was messaging my ex’ – and you didn’t tell me until after final vows.” Rebecca insisted the messages were never flirty, and that her ex simply didn’t know she was on the show.

Maeve and Julia-Ruth are civil

Maeve and Julia-Ruth had one of the fiercest feuds on their season, especially after Julia-Ruth got a matching tattoo with Maeve’s ex. Despite their past, the pair were smiling and laughing together as they met at the reunion.

Both decided to bury the hatchet and found common ground in navigating life in the public eye.

Dean is dating again

Viewers were delighted to see Dean giving up on his unrequited love for Sarah and moving forward with his dating life. He shared that he had been on a couple of dates since the series wrapped, and he still shares a solid friendship with his former flame.

He even had the support of Sarah who danced as he delivered a signature rap at the dinner table, despite her previously considering his rapping an ‘ick’ when they first met.

All episodes of Married At First Sight UK are streaming now on Channel 4’s catch-up service. For the latest showbiz, TV, movie and streaming news, go to the new ** Everything Gossip ** website.

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