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FIFA President Gianni Infantino said they will look to hold a playoff between Los Angeles FC and Club America for a place at the Club World Cup after it removed Club Leon from the tournament last month, Reuters reported.

Leon were pulled from the June 14-July 13 tournament over multi-club ownership rules, though the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has registered Leon's appeal against the decision.

"In a couple of weeks we will have the final and definitive decision, we will respect any decision," Infantino told reporters at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on Monday.

"What we are looking at is that, if CAS confirms the decision of the Appeals Committee, FIFA's intention is to play a match, a playoff, between the team that lost the final of the CONCACAF Champions League, LAFC, and the next team in the ranking, which is America."

World soccer's governing body has said $1 billion prize money will be on offer at the expanded 32-team competition, according to Reuters.

As the Nepali calendar ushers in the New Year 2082, the year 2081 leaves behind a trail of unforgettable events. It was anything but ordinary, marked by a series of natural disasters, political upheavals, historic accomplishments and emotional moments of national pride and loss.

Nepal faced severe natural calamities throughout 2081. Torrential rains triggered deadly floods and landslides across the country, causing widespread destruction and loss of life and property.

On Asar 28, a landslide at Simaltal on the Narayangadh–Muglin road in Chitwan swept away two buses into the Trishuli River—both still missing. A tragic air crash near Tribhuvan International Airport on Shrawan 9 claimed 18 lives when a Shree Airlines flight went down. Just weeks later, on Shrawan 24, an Air Dynasty helicopter en route to Syaphrubesi from Kathmandu crashed in Nuwakot, killing all five onboard. On Asoj 11, a landslide in Dhading’s Jhyaaplekhola buried 35 people.
Even high-profile events came with disasters. At the launch of Visit Pokhara 2025, a balloon explosion injured Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel and Pokhara’s Mayor Dhanraj Acharya. Similarly, a tragic bus accident in Aabukhaireni along the Prithvi Highway claimed 27 Indian tourists and injured 16 others, drawing attention from India’s Youth and Sports Minister Raksha Khadse, who visited the injured in Kathmandu.

Despite these hardships, 2081 also gifted Nepal moments of pride. Para-athlete Palesha Goverdhan made history by winning Nepal’s first-ever medal at the 2024 Paris Paralympics. Renowned climber Kami Rita Sherpa set a new world record by summiting Sagarmatha for the 30th time. Young climber Dawa Yangzum became the youngest Nepali woman to summit all 14 peaks above 8,000 meters, while Nima Rinji Sherpa, at just 18, achieved the same rare feat. Legendary climbers Nirmal Purja and Mingma G Sherpa also broke records by completing all 14 peaks without supplemental oxygen, with Shishapangma being the final one.

Photojournalist Purnima Shrestha became the first woman in history to summit Sagarmatha three times in a single spring season, adding to her record as the first Nepali woman to climb Dhaulagiri.

Meanwhile, Nepal hosted its first Nepali Premier League (NPL), which drew regional attention and boosted Nepal’s cricket profile internationally.

On the political front, 2081 saw significant turbulence. The third Investment Summit was held, securing Rs 65bn in domestic and foreign investment commitments. Former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal inaugurated the Nagdhunga–Sisnekhola Tunnel breakthrough on Baisakh 3, and the historic Dharahara Tower was reopened to the public on Asoj 3.

However, controversy erupted after the dismissal of Kulman Ghising as managing director of the Nepal Electricity Authority. Protests and parliamentary obstruction followed. He was succeeded by Hitendra Dev Shakya. Meanwhile, Deepak Thapa was appointed the 31st chief of Nepal Police.

There were also high-profile arrests: Kailash Sirohiya, chairperson of Kantipur Media Group, was arrested on Jestha 8. Rabi Lamichhane, leader of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, was arrested in Kartik in connection with a cooperative fraud case. 

Businessperson Durga Prasai was also arrested in relation to the Tinkune incident.

The year saw a series of notable diplomatic visits. Bhutan’s King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck visited Nepal in Mangsir. Earlier in the year, Japan’s Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa and Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani made official visits. At the invitation of Nepali Army Chief Ashok Raj Sigdel, India’s Army Chief Upendra Dwivedi toured Nepal, where President Ramchandra Paudel conferred upon him the honorary rank of General of the Nepali Army.

Perhaps the most significant political shift came with the formation of a new coalition between the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML, resulting in KP Sharma Oli being sworn in as Prime Minister for the fourth time on Asar 31.

Twenty commercial banks in the country collectively earned a net profit of Rs 43.49bn over the first eight months of fiscal year 2024-25. According to Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), the net profit over the period is 2.81 percent more than Rs 42.3bn that these banks reported in the same period of the previous fiscal year. 

Net profits of 11 commercial banks went up in the period, while nine saw a decline in their respective net profits. Nepal Bank Ltd logged the highest gain of 132.9 percent, with its net profit rising from
Rs 1.28bn in the first month of the previous fiscal year to Rs 2.98bn in the same period of the current fiscal year. Nepal Investment Mega Bank ltd (45.68 percent), Prabhu Bank (39.65 percent) and Global IME Bank Ltd (37.76 percent) also made significant net profit gains in the review period.

On the contrary, NIC Asia Bank (NIC) reported the biggest drop of 67.75 percent in its net profit.
NIC Asia’s net profit fell to Rs 819.99m in the first eight months of the current fiscal year, down from Rs 2.54bn in the same period of the previous fiscal year. Agricultural Development Bank Ltd (62.66 percent), Rastriya Banijya Bank Ltd (40.09 percent) and Kumari Bank Ltd (31.98 percent) also reported a significant drop in their net profits.

Nabil Bank led the pack with a net profit of Rs 4.78bn over the first eight months of the current fiscal year. Global IME Bank (Rs 4.72bn) and Nepal Investment Mega Bank  (Rs 4.08bn) were the other banks with net profits in excess of Rs 4bn. 

Meanwhile, three commercial banks reported profit below Rs 1bn. Agricultural Development Bank reported the lowest net profit of Rs 738.03m, followed by NIC Asia Bank and Kumari Bank Ltd with net profits of Rs 819.99m and Rs 969.11m, respectively. Bankers say rising non-performing loan levels and declining investments have hit profitability of banks. 

In a significant diplomatic achievement for Nepal, Ek Nath Dhakal, Member of Parliament and former minister, has been appointed as the Secretary-General of the newly established Inter-Parliamentary Speakers’ Conference (ISC)—a global platform aimed at advancing parliamentary diplomacy and fostering international cooperation.

The inaugural assembly of the ISC took place on April 11, 2025, in Seoul, South Korea, bringing together over 150 delegates, including nearly 40 parliamentary speakers from around the globe. The event marked the formal launch of the ISC and underscored the increasing relevance of legislative diplomacy in addressing today’s global challenges.

The conference saw South Asia take center stage with Pakistan’s Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Chairman of the Senate and former Prime Minister, being elected as the Founding Chairman of the ISC.

Dhakal’s appointment to the Secretary-General role signals Nepal’s emerging influence in global parliamentary affairs. His leadership is expected to help steer the ISC’s agenda on critical global issues including climate change, peacebuilding, and sustainable development.

Nepal was further represented at the Assembly by Lawmaker Sunita Baral, who delivered a speech highlighting the country’s commitment to multilateral engagement and democratic values.

The prestigious gathering was attended by global dignitaries including former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, South Korea’s Vice Speaker Lee Hackyoung, and Mayor of Busan Metropolitan City Park Heong-joon. Additionally, President of the United Nations General Assembly Philémon Yang and Secretary-General of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) Martin Chungong addressed the conference virtually.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 1,700 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 184, 300 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 186, 000 per tola on Sunday.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1, 945 per tola today.

The disgruntled teachers are to boycott Grade 12 exams and halt new admission procedures.

The teachers, who have been staging protests in the Bijulibazaar area for the past 13 days under the leadership of Nepal Teachers’ Federation, have said that they would boycott the Grade 12 exams if their demands are not addressed.

As per the previous announcement, the Grade 12 exams will be conducted from April 24.

Meanwhile, the new academic session of schools has also begun.

General Secretary of the Federation Tula Bahadur Thapa said that no teachers or staff will take part in the Grade 12 exams until their demands are met.

He informed that the Federation’s meeting held recently has decided to boycott the Grade 12 exams and halt the new admission procedures.

According to Thapa, an appeal will also be made to stop the exams conducted by CTVT.

“We have heard that CTVT has been conducting the exams, we will urge them to stop the exams by issuing a press release,” Thapa said, adding, “We have heard that some institutional and community schools have also been opened, we will appeal them to close the schools at the earliest by issuing a statement. The decision was made earlier too.”

The teachers have been staging the protests demanding immediate enactment of the School Education Act.

Trump has stated that both Ukrainian President Zelensky and Russian President Putin share responsibility for the "millions of people dead" in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

His remarks came during a meeting with the President of El Salvador at the White House, where he responded to reporters' inquiries.

"When you start a war, you have to know you can win," he said, also blaming President Joe Biden for the conflict, according to BBC.

Trump's remarks came in response to a recent horrific Russian missile strike on people in the northeastern city of Sumy, which has been described as one of the bloodiest attacks this year. He tweeted, "Millions of people dead because of three people: Putin at number one, Biden who had no idea what he was doing at number two, and Zelensky."

Tensions between Trump and the Ukrainian leader have been high ever since their heated confrontation at the White House in February, BBC reported.

The European Union has announced a €1.6 billion ($1.8 billion) aid package to support the Palestinian Authority and fund projects in the the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza.

European Commissioner Dubravka Šuica stated that the Palestinian Authority will get more than two-thirds of the two-year investment to improve financial stability, governance, and private sector growth, Reuters reported.

The aid will be contingent on PA alterations, as part of broader measures to boost resilience and post-war recovery amid ongoing Israeli military operations in Gaza.