Pakistan–Nepal Friendship T20 Cricket Tournament concludes
The 11th edition of the Pakistan–Nepal Friendship T20 Cricket Tournament concluded on Sunday amidst a function at the Pakistan Embassy Plot in Kathmandu.
Held from February 7 to 15, the annual tournament featured 12 teams from various Nepali cricket clubs, along with the Pakistan Embassy Team.
Since 2014, the event has been organized each year to celebrate the shared love of cricket between Pakistan and Nepal and to support young players.
Ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal, Abrar H. Hashmi, and special guests presented the trophies, medals, and cash prizes to the winning team, top performers and tournament officials, reads a statement issued by the Embassy of Pakistan in Kathmandu.
Baluwatar Cricket Academy won the tournament and received the winning trophy and cash prize. The Pakistan Embassy Team secured the runner-up position.
In his remarks, Iqbal Haider, Counsellor (Political & Education), highlighted Pakistan Embassy’s sustained efforts to promote cricket at the grassroots level, noting the tournament’s role in nurturing emerging talent in Nepal.
In his closing address, Ambassador Abrar Hashmi reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening youth engagement and sporting exchanges between the two countries.
He announced that the 12th edition of the tournament in 2027 will expand to participation of 16 teams, according to the statement.
The Ambassador congratulated all participating teams, particularly the winning team, and thanked Ambassadors, distinguished guests, supporting partners IME Global Bank and Filli Cafe; broadcasting partners Action TV and Dish Home Media Network for live coverage that reached audiences across Nepal and beyond.
Holder and Hope steer West Indies into T20 World Cup Super Eight
West Indies charged into the Super Eight stage of the Twenty20 World Cup after the two-times champions defeated Nepal by nine wickets in Mumbai on Sunday, with Jason Holder's four-wicket haul and Shai Hope's half-century setting up the win, Reuters reported.
Chasing a modest 134 for their third straight victory after battling knocks by Nepal's Dipendra Singh Airee (58) and Sompal Kami (26 not out), West Indies eased to victory at Wankhede Stadium with 28 balls to spare.
After paceman Holder's wickets laid the platform, captain Hope (61 not out) and Shimron Hetmyer (46 not out) guided their team home to rule Nepal out of the reckoning for the next stage of the tournament, according to Reuters.
Arsenal stroll to Wigan win as Leeds beat Birmingham and Wolves survive Grimsby mud bath in FA Cup
Arsenal scored all their goals in the opening 27 minutes of Sunday's 4-0 FA Cup fourth-round win over League One Wigan Athletic, while Leeds United needed penalties and Wolverhampton Wanderers endured a mud bath on a good day for top-flight sides, Reuters reported.
Any hopes of a Wigan upset in North London were swiftly ended as Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli both scored from Eberechi Eze assists, before defender Jack Hunt put the ball into his own net.
When Gabriel Jesus netted a fourth just before the half-hour mark it looked as though it would be a rout but Wigan managed to limit the damage as they tightened up at the back and Arsenal took their foot off the pedal, according to Reuters.
Land revenue offices collect Rs 5 billion in revenue last month
The Land Revenue Offices across the country collected Rs 5 billion in revenue in the month of Magh. The amount of total revenue decreased last month compared to the previous month, it is said.
The Land Management and Record Department stated that the offices across the country collected Rs 315.8 million from service tax, more than Rs 2.68 billion from registration fees and Rs 1.96 billion plus was collected from capital gain tax.
The offices had collected Rs 5.17 billion in revenue in Poush, the Department said.
According to the Department, the total transaction of the real estate property has not increased substantially in recent months.
Last month, a total of 50,837 real estate properties were traded, which was slightly more than the month of the last fiscal year.
17 days left for HoR polls: Publicity campaign begins today
The political parties and the candidates of the House of Representatives (HoR) elections scheduled for March 5 are beginning their formal election campaigns from today as per the election code of conduct.
According to the Election Commission (EC), the candidates and political parties are allowed to organize rallies, mass meetings, corner assemblies and publish their election-related materials in the media outlets only from 15 days of the elections.
As per the same provision of the election code of conduct, the political parties and candidates could continue the publicity campaigns until March 1 midnight.
The EC has urged all stakeholders to conduct the election campaigns by fully upholding the integrity of elections.
Likewise, the EC has also mobilized different mechanisms for the implementation and monitoring of the election code of conduct.
In case of violation of the election code of conduct, the EC would seek clarification from the political parties and candidates, and would advance further legal actions. However, the EC has made it clear that such a situation for action would not come since the code of conduct was formulated after a massive interaction with the political parties and stakeholders.
Similarly, Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari said that the EC has taken the zero tolerance policy against the violation of the election code of conduct.
Europe aims to rely less on US defence after Trump's Greenland push
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reflected a feeling of profound change among European leaders at this weekend's Munich Security Conference when she said: "Some lines have been crossed that cannot be uncrossed anymore".
Transatlantic ties have already been strained over the past year by Donald Trump’s return to the White House. But the U.S. president’s push to annex Greenland dramatically increased European doubts about Washington’s commitment to protect the continent through the NATO alliance, Reuters reports .
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio offered limited reassurance to Europeans in his conference speech. Rubio said the U.S. wanted to work with Europe and used a warmer tone than Vice President JD Vance last year. But he was critical of Europe's recent political course and did not mention NATO, Russia or Moscow’s war in Ukraine - issues on which a gulf has emerged between the U.S. and its partners in the alliance.
Eleven killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza, rescuers say
Eleven people were killed in Israeli strikes in Gaza on Sunday morning, according to Palestinian civil defence and health officials, BBC reported.
The Palestinian Red Crescent said a strike on a tent encampment in northern Gaza killed at least six people, while another strike in the south of the strip killed five.
The Israel Defense Forces said it had struck terror targets in response to ceasefire violations by Hamas, and that militants had been killed after emerging from a tunnel into the area of the strip controlled by the Israeli military, according to BBC.
China confirms visa-free travel for UK and Canadian nationals
UK and Canadian nationals will be able to travel to mainland China for up to 30 days without a visa from 17 February, BBC reported.
China's foreign ministry said visa-free entry would be permitted for tourism, business or visits to family and friends, with the policy set to stay in effect initially until 31 December.
It follows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's official visit to China last month, where he and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed travel rules would be relaxed, according to BBC.







