Forest lodge complaint over officiating in Man City defeat - reports

Nottingham Forest have filed a complaint with England's professional referees body (PGMOL) over the officiating in their 2-1 Premier League defeat at Manchester City on Saturday, British media reported, Reuters reported. 

The club contacted PGMOL on Monday to request the VAR audio from the match, the reports said.

Forest manager Sean Dyche said after the match that Rayan Cherki’s 83rd-minute winner should have been disallowed for a foul on Morgan Gibbs-White in the build-up, according to Reuters. 

South Africa edge Zimbabwe 3-2 to book knockout place

Oswin Appollis scored a penalty in the final 10 minutes to hand South Africa a 3-2 victory over Zimbabwe in Marrakech on Monday and seal second spot in Group B at the Africa Cup of Nations, dumping their southern African rivals out of the tournament, Reuters reported. 

South Africa finish with six points in the group, one behind winners Egypt. Both of those advance to the last 16 as Angola (2) finish in third and face an anxious wait to see if that is enough as one of the four best third-placed sides.

South Africa led three times in the game thanks to a first international goal from Tshepang Moremi, as well as strikes from Lyle Foster and Appollis, but coach Hugo Broos will be concerned by how open his side were at times at the back, according to Reuters. 

Unbeaten Egypt find balance under Hassan at Africa Cup of Nations

When Hossam Hassan was appointed Egypt coach in early 2024, taking charge of a team largely accustomed to foreign managers over the past decade, serious questions were raised about his credentials, Reuters reported. 

Egypt's all-time leading scorer enjoys iconic status as a former prolific striker with a glittering playing career, but he had achieved little success as a coach at a handful of Egyptian clubs.

Almost two years into his tenure, however, Egypt appear to be heading in the right direction. They sealed smooth passage to the Africa Cup of Nations knockout stage with seven points in their group, ending a run of six successive draws across the past two editions of the tournament, according to Reuters. 

FIFA received 150 million World Cup ticket requests, Infantino says

FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the ticket prices for next year's World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico, citing heavy demand for them and the revenue generated for the sport around the world, Reuters reported. 

This month fan groups criticised the cost of tickets , which were several times more expensive than those for similar matches at the 2022 tournament. FIFA then launched a $60 ticket tier to make the games more affordable for fans of qualified teams.

"We have six-seven million tickets on sale ... in 15 days, we received 150 million ticket requests. So, 10 million ticket requests every single day. It shows how powerful the World Cup is," Infantino said on Monday at the World Sports Summit in Dubai, according to Reuters. 

Mechi Customs Office collects Rs 3.8 billion in revenue from import of petro products

The Mechi Customs Office in Jhapa collected Rs 3.8 billion in revenue from the import of petroleum products in the first five months of the current fiscal year 2082/083 BS. 

The import of the petroleum products alone covered 55.8 percent of the total revenue of the Office, Information Officer of Mechi Customs Office Ishwar Kumar Humagain said. 

Information Officer Humagain added that five different types of petroleum products worth Rs 7.84 billion were imported during the period.

Likewise, the Office collected 4.14 percent revenue from import of readymade garments, 3.68 percent from vehicles and spare parts, 3.4 percent from vegetables and 3.3 percent from cement clinker.

 

 

PM extends greetings on Tamu Lhosar, Maipru Naku

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has extended greetings to all those celebrating Tamu Lhosar and Maipru Naku by stating that the festivals could inspire the promotion of mutual unity, peace and goodwill. 

In a message today, Prime Minister Karki wished for happiness and prosperity in the lives of all Nepalis. 

In her message, PM Karki has extended greetings to all Nepalis at home and abroad on the occasion of the Gurung community's Tamu Lhosar and the Dura community's Maipru Naku festivals. 

Taking to her Facebook account today, PM Karki wished that the festivals may inspire to further strengthen our multicultural identity through mutual unity, peace and goodwill.

 

Tamu Lhosar being marked today

The Gurung community is observing the Tamu Lhosar today as the community's New Year. 

In the Gurung language, ‘Lho’ means year and ‘Sar’ denotes change.    

Members of the Gurung community mark the festival by organizing feasts and cultural programs.

The festival is marked on the 15th day of the Nepali month of Poush with the first rays of the sunlight reaching the Gurung settlements in Lamjung, Gorkha, Tanahun, Syangja, Manang, Kaski and Parbat.    

The festival is marked by the Tamang and Sherpa communities later in the Nepali months of Magh and Falgun, respectively.    

The government has announced a public holiday on the occasion of Tamu Lhosar today. 

Members of the Gurung community have been observing a special program at Tundikhel, Kathmandu, on the occasion of Tamu Lhosar.  

The Gurungs divide their year into 12 cycles and each cycle is represented by 12 different animals -- Garuda (eagle), serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog, deer, mouse, cow, tiger and cat -- which they call “Lho.”  During each Lhosar, they bid farewell to the existing 'Lho' and welcome a new one.

This year, the Gurung community is going to celebrate Lhosar by bidding farewell to the Snake cycle and welcoming the Horse cycle on Tuesday.

 

EC determines spending limit for HoR candidates

The Election Commission (EC) has determined the maximum amount that a candidate can spend for the House of Representatives (HoR) elections scheduled for March 5.

As determined by the EC, the spending limit is different for remote districts, and others with better access to services and connectivity networks.

According to the EC, the candidates from constituencies 1, 3, 6, 7 and 8 can spend upto Rs 2.5 million. 

Likewise, Rs 2.7 million of spending limit is set for the candidates from 17 constituencies.

The candidates from 65 other constituencies can spend a maximum of Rs 2.9 million, it is said.

EC Spokesperson Narayan Prasad Bhattarai said that the candidates from 52 election constituencies can spend upto Rs 3.1 million and Rs 3.3 million by the candidates of 26 election constituencies.

The EC has also asked the candidates to open a separate bank account in a bank and financial institution for the purpose of the HoR election and a responsible person should be named for the spending authority during the election.  

After the completion of the polls, the candidates should submit the election cost to the EC within 35 days of the polls as per the HoR Member Election Act.