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The 2025 FIFA Arab Cup will have a record prize fund of more than $36.5 million, Qatar's Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the regional tournament announced on Thursday, Reuters reported.

The competition, which features senior men's national teams from the 22-member Union of Arab Football Associations (UAFA), representing both Asia and Africa, takes place from December 1 to 18.

"This announcement further elevates the stature of the FIFA Arab Cup, a tournament we reinstated in 2021, and reflects Qatar's leading role in developing football across the region and beyond," said Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al-Thani, Minister of Sports and Youth and LOC Chairman in a statement, according to Reuters.

Rishabh Pant’s Lucknow Super Giants have beaten Shubman Gill’s Gujarat Titans by 33 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Chasing 235 runs, the hosts were reduced to 202/9. Sharukh Khan chipped in with a half-century for the Titans, The Indian Express reported.

Earlier, Shubman Gill won the toss and put Lucknow into bat first. On the back of a century from Mitchell Marsh, Lucknow have managed to get 235/3 from their 20 overs. Nicholas Pooran too has chipped in with a half-century.

Titans have already qualified for the playoffs, and it is bout finishing in the top two for them. As per LSG, with their loss in the previous game against the Sunrisers Hyderabad, they have been out of the competition, according to The Indian Express.

US President Donald Trump’s administration revoked Harvard University’s ability to enroll international students on Thursday, and is forcing current foreign students to transfer to other schools or lose their legal status, while also threatening to expand the crackdown to other colleges, Reuters reported.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem ordered the department to terminate Harvard University’s Student and Exchange Visitor Program certification effective for the 2025-2026 school year, the department said in a statement.

Noem accused the university of “fostering violence, antisemitism, and coordinating with the Chinese Communist Party.”

Harvard said the move by the Trump administration - which affects thousands of students - was illegal and amounted to retaliation, according to Reuters.

The country is currently witnessing the impacts of Westerly and local winds. 

The moisture-laden winds originating from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea also have partial impact, according to the Meteorological Forecasting Division.

The weather will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly regions of the country including in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini Provinces, and fair in the other parts this afternoon.

There is a possibility of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning in a few places in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Lumbini Provinces, as well as in one or two places in the hilly regions of the remaining provinces. 

Light rain and snowfall may occur in one or two places in the high hilly and mountainous regions of the country.

According to the Meteorological Forecasting Department, it will be partly to generally cloudy in the hilly areas of the country including in Koshi, Madhesh, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Sudurpaschim Provinces tonight, while the remaining areas will have clear weather.

Light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is likely to occur in a few places in Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati, Gandaki, and Sudurpaschim Provinces. 

Light rain and snowfall may occur in one or two places in the high hilly and mountainous regions of the country.

Two back-to-back earthquakes struck Baitadi district in western Nepal on Friday.

The first earthquake of magnitude 5.1 was recorded at 1.48 am, with the epicenter at Khalanga, the district headquarters, said Chintan Timalsina, the Head of the Earthquake Monitoring Centre, Surkhet.

This was followed by a second earthquake measuring 3.7 on the Richter scale at 2.00 am. After two consecutive tremors, the local residents here had scurried out of their homes.

The tremor was felt in Darchula, Bajhang, and Dadeldhura, said the Centre's chief Timalsina. 

Details of the damage caused by the earthquake are yet to be received.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the country's economy is moving towards a positive direction. 

Taking to his social media account, Prime Minister Oli noted that exports have increased by 73 percent compared to last year over the past 10 months, indicating that the economy is on a positive path. 

"In the past 10 months, exports have risen by 73 percent compared to last year. During this period, exports amounted to Rs 218 billion. The economy is moving in a positive direction," Prime Minister Oli mentioned.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba, who is on an official visit to Japan, held a meeting today with her Japanese counterpart IWAYA Takeshi at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Tokyo. 

The meeting focused on various issues of Nepal-Japan bilateral relations, mutual interests and common concerns, marking the 70th anniversary of Nepal-Japan relations, which began in 1956, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. 

During the meeting, Minister Rana expressed her appreciation for Japan's long standing cooperation in Nepal's economic, social and other sectors. She also urged Japan to continue its support, especially as Nepal is set to graduate from a least developed country to a developing nation by 2026. 

Minister Rana extended an invitation to Minister Takeshi to visit Nepal next year to mark the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

Highlighting investment opportunities in Nepal, she requested Takeshi to encourage Japanese industrialists and businessmen to invest, ensuring investment security and assurance. 

She also requested the Japanese government to consider launching direct flights to Nepal, a proposal to which Minister Takeshi agreed to facilitate.

Referring to the centuries-old relationship between Nepal and Japan, she said, “The two countries have had ancient socio-cultural relations inspired by the teachings of Lord Gautam Buddha. Lumbini, the birthplace of Buddha, is also a cultural bridge between Nepal and Japanese citizens.”

Acknowledging the inflow of thousands of Japanese tourists to Nepal every year particularly for study and observing the natural and cultural wonders of Nepal, including Lumbini, the two leaders discussed the possible cooperation in tourism in the coming days. 

Additionally, the Foreign Minister expressed her gratitude for Japan's active engagement in the recently concluded "Sagarmatha Sambaad" organised by Nepal this week (May 15-18) , praising the role of the Japanese delegation led by Japanese Parliamentary Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs IKUINA Akiko. 

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 19. 40 points to close at 2,688. 91 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 7. 19 points to close at 458. 04 points.

A total of 22,396,329-unit shares of 314 companies were traded for Rs 9. 82 billion.

Meanwhile, Om Megashree Pharmaceuticals Limited (OMPL) was the top gainer today, with its price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Barahi Hydropower Public Limited (BHPL) was the top loser as its price fell by 9. 99 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 50 trillion.