Balendra Shah, senior leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, was sworn in as Nepal's prime minister on Friday at a special ceremony held at the President's Office in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal.

TEHRAN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Iran has issued Thursday decisive warnings to hotel owners in regional countries, especially Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to refrain from accepting U.S. military personnel, otherwise they will become legitimate targets for the Iranian armed forces, the semi-official Fars news agency reported.Following missile strikes and joint operations by Iran and allied resistance groups that damaged U.S. military infrastructure in West Asia, some surviving U.S. personnel have taken refuge in hotels in regional countries, including Bahrain and the UAE, said the report.The hotels and civilian places used by the U.S. military personnel are not limited to those in Bahrain and the UAE, the informed sources were quoted as saying. And substitute bases and places sheltering foreign forces have also been detected in other regional states.The U.S. Marines have been transferred to Djibouti's international airport and deployed to the region, said the report.

VIENTIANE, March 26 (Xinhua) -- The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) has become a leading model of regional solidarity, mutual respect, and shared prosperity over the past decade, said Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane.In a congratulatory message to mark the LMC's 10th anniversary, Thongsavanh said that, since its establishment, the LMC has evolved into a dynamic and results-driven regional partnership, according to a Lao News Agency report on Thursday.Over the past decade, the framework has delivered notable progress across key areas, including connectivity, economic cooperation, water resource management, agriculture, and poverty reduction. These efforts have helped member countries address major challenges such as disease outbreaks, climate change, and economic difficulties, highlighting the strength of regional solidarity, Thongsavanh said.He added that Laos reaffirmed its commitment to advancing initiatives such as the Green Silk Road, innovation development, public health collaboration, and digital economy growth to promote regional stability and sustainable development.Thongsavanh noted that Laos has been a major beneficiary of the LMC framework. With support from the LMC Special Fund, the country has implemented 100 projects worth approximately 26 million U.S. dollars. These initiatives have improved infrastructure, strengthened human resources, enhanced water management, and supported health and poverty reduction, contributing to long-term socio-economic growth.In the message, he also expressed sincere appreciation to China for its significant cooperation and contributions to the LMC Special Fund, which have delivered tangible benefits across the Mekong sub-region.The LMC includes China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.

TEHRAN, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Iran has issued an ultimatum to hotel owners in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates, warning that hosting U.S. military personnel could make their properties legitimate military targets, the semi-official Fars news agency reported Thursday.Fars reported that U.S. forces have taken refuge in regional hotels following Iranian missile strikes and joint operations with allied militant groups that targeted American military infrastructure across the Middle East. The warning covers any facility hosting foreign military personnel and takes effect immediately if such activity continues.The report also claimed U.S. personnel have established a presence at civilian sites across the region, including a logistics base near Beirut's old airport and advisory operations at Damascus' Republic Palace, the Four Seasons, and Sheraton hotels. U.S. Marines were reportedly moved this week to Djibouti International Airport via Istanbul and Sofia.Earlier on Thursday, Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi warned hotels in Gulf Arab countries against accepting U.S. military personnel, accusing the soldiers of fleeing their bases and using civilian sites as cover.From the outset of this war, U.S. soldiers fled military bases in the GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) to hide in hotels and offices. They use GCC citizens as human shields, Araghchi wrote on the social media platform X. He compared the situation to hotels in the United States, which he claimed deny bookings to officers who may endanger customers, and urged Gulf hotels to adopt the same practice.On Feb. 28, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and other Iranian cities, killing Iran's then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior military commanders, and civilians. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes against Israel and U.S. bases and tightened control of the Strait of Hormuz, blocking vessels affiliated with Israel and the United States.