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Dozens of U.S. lawmakers have called on FIFA to lower the cost of tickets for the 2026 World Cup, saying in a letter sent to the global soccer governing body this week that the use of dynamic pricing has ​turned the sporting event into an exclusionary enterprise at the expense of fans, Reuters reported. 

The letter, which was orchestrated ‌by Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove and signed by another 68 Members of Congress, was addressed to FIFA President Gianni Infantino and said American fans and international visitors for the June 11-July 19 World Cup should have access to affordable tickets.

"The extreme high demand for World Cup tickets should ​not be a green light for price gouging at the expense of the people who make the World ​Cup the most-watched sporting event in the world," the group said in the letter that was ⁠shared on Wednesday, according to Reuters. 

Arsenal's eight-game winning run in the Champions League came to an end as they needed an 89th-minute penalty from substitute Kai Havertz to rescue a 1-1 draw at Bayer ​Leverkusen in their last-16 first leg on Wednesday, Reuters reported. 

Former Leverkusen player Havertz converted the latespot kick to cancel out Robert Andrich's 46th-minute header for the hosts, marking the first time this season that quadruple-chasing Arsenal had fallen behind in Europe's elite competition.

The sides will meet again on Tuesday in London for the return leg ​and a spot in the quarter-finals, according to Reuters. 

Holders Paris St Germain carved out a clear advantage in their Champions League last-16 tie against Chelsea ​as substitute Khvicha Kvaratskhelia inspired them to an exhilarating 5-2 first-leg victory at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday, Reuters reported. 

Luis Enrique’s side twice went ahead through Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembele but were pegged back each time by Malo Gusto and Enzo Fernandez, before Vitinha and Kvaratskhelia, with a double, netted three late goals to put the hosts in control of the tie.

Although the French champions showed defensive frailties eight months after being dismantled by Chelsea ​in the Club World Cup final, they produced flashes of the incisive, high-octane football that carried them to their first European ​Cup triumph last season, according to Reuters. 

Federico Valverde struck the first hat-trick of his career as Real Madrid swept aside Manchester City 3-0 in the first leg of their Champions ​League last-16 tie on Wednesday, leaving the English side with a daunting task ahead, Reuters reported. 

Pep Guardiola's City team began brightly at the Santiago Bernabeu, but were caught out by Madrid's pace on the break.

Thibaut Courtois released Valverde down the right, who rounded Gianluigi Donnarumma to open the scoring in the 20th minute and seven minutes later Vinicius Jr fed Valverde, who beat the offside trap and drilled home, according to Reuters. 

Iran cannot participate in the 2026 World Cup after co-host ​the U.S. launched airstrikes alongside Israel, Sports Minister Ahmad Donyamali said on Wednesday, Reuters reported. 

The attacks killed the Islamic Republic's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali ‌Khamenei and triggered a region-wide conflict.

"Considering that this corrupt regime has assassinated our leader, under no circumstances can we participate in the World Cup," the minister told state television, according to Reuters. 

The results of the March 5 elections to the House of Representatives have been made public of both the first-past-the-post (FPTP) and proportional representation (PR) system. 

Accordingly, the Rastriya Swatantra Party came first, the Nepali Congress came second, the CPN-UML third, and the Nepali Communist Party came fourth.

The results so far show a very weak representation of the marginalized groups, with only 14 people of 165 (8.48 percent) directly elected. There are 26 indigenous (15.76 percent), 28 Madhesi (16.97 percent), five Tharu (3.3 percent), four Muslim (2.42 percent), and one Dalit (0.61 percent) elected through the FPTP system.

Looking at Dalit representation in this election, the Nepali Congress had fielded only one candidate from the Dalit community as Joint General Secretary Prakash Rasaili from Bajhang. The UML had fielded Chakra Snehi as a candidate from Dadeldhura and Bimala BK as a candidate from Bardiya-2.

Similarly, the Nepali Communist Party had fielded Padam Bishwakarma from Syangja-2 and Man Bahadur Sunar from Kanchanpur-3. 

The RSP had given tickets to Khagendra Sunar from Banke-3. Of them, only Khagendra Sunar has won.

The weather will be generally cloudy in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini Provinces, as well as in the hilly regions of Karnali and Sudurpashchim Provinces. It will be partly cloudy in the remaining areas. 

According to the Weather Forecasting Division, there is a possibility of light rain and snowfall with thunder and lightning at some places in the hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi Province, as well as Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces; at a few places in Madhes Province; and at one or two places in the hilly and mountainous regions of Lumbini, Karnali, and Sudurpashchim Provinces, as well as in the Tarai regions of Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini Provinces.

The Meteorological Analysis by the Division shows that at present Nepal is under the partial influence of westerly winds, a high-pressure system in the upper atmosphere, and a low-pressure area in the lower atmosphere near the eastern region of Nepal.

Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif has congratulated President of Rastriya Swatantra Party Rabi Lamichhane and its senior leader Balendra Shah on their remarkable victory in the 2026 elections in Nepal.

In a congratulatory message, Prime Minister Sharif said the strong mandate reflects the trust and confidence of the Nepali people in new and dynamic leadership.

He also expressed Pakistan’s willingness to work closely with the newly elected Government of Nepal to further strengthen the historic friendship and cooperation between the two countries, according to the Pakistani Embassy in Kathmandu.