Submit your Article

The Nepali national cricket team is set to play five practice matches against teams from the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) and South Australia as part of their preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier.

In a statement released today, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) announced that the matches will take place from August 26 to 30. 

Nepal will play two matches against ACT on August 26, followed by two against South Australia on August 28. 

The first match each day will begin at 4:45 am, and the second at 9:45 am as per Nepali time.

Additionally, Nepal will face South Australia in a one-day match on August 30, scheduled to start at 5:45 am. 

Prior to these fixtures, the Nepali squad will compete in the Top End T20 Series in Darwin, Australia, from August 14 to 24. 

The matches are part of Nepal's build-up to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier, set to be held in Oman this October.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent has warned that Washington could increase secondary tariffs on India, BBC reported.

He said the decision would depend on the outcome of President Donald Trump's meeting with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska on Friday.

"We've put secondary tariffs on Indians for buying Russian oil. And I could see, If things don't go well, then sanctions or secondary tariffs could go up," Bessent said in an interview to Bloomberg TV on Wednesday. 

Earlier this month, Trump imposed a 25% penalty on India in addition to 25% tariffs for buying oil and weapons from Russia, according to BBC.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 100 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 196, 800 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 196, 700 per tola on Wednesday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 2, 340 per tola today.

The District Police Range, Kathmandu has received a maximum number of cases related to banking fraud in the last fiscal year. 

A total of 12,915 cases related to banking fraud and financial crime were registered in the Range in the last one year, according to the Chief of the Range, Bishow Adhikari. 

The Range shared that the offences related to embezzlement of cooperatives' money, cybercrime, cheque bounce and crypto currency have increased. The Range has received 35 cases on average each day. Chief of the Range, Adhikari shared that a total of 140 cases of murder were received in the last fiscal year. 

The North Korean leader's powerful sister said on Thursday (Aug 14) that the country has never taken down propaganda loudspeakers and will not do so, calling South Korea's belief that Pyongyang was responding to its peace overtures a "pipedream."

Kim Yo-jong, who is a senior official in the North's ruling Workers' Party, also said a change made to the plan for annual joint military drills by South Korea and the United States was a "futile" move that does not change the allies' hostile intent, Reuters reported.

Kim, who officials and analysts believe speaks for her brother, has in recent weeks rebuffed moves taken by South Korea's new liberal government aimed at easing tension between the two Koreas.

More than 100 organisations have signed a joint letter calling on Israel to stop the "weaponisation of aid" into Gaza, as "starvation deepens".

Humanitarian groups, including Oxfam and Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), say they are increasingly being told they are "not authorised" to deliver aid, unless they comply with the stricter Israeli regulations, BBC reported.

Groups risk being banned if they "delegitimise" the state of Israel or do not provide detailed information about Palestinian staff, the letter says.

Israel denies there are restrictions on aid and says the rules, introduced in March, ensure relief work is carried out in line with Israel's "national interests".

J-pop star Kenshin Kamimura was found guilty by a Hong Kong court on Wednesday of the indecent assault in March of a woman who served as his interpreter during a fan event, Reuters reported.

Kamimura, 26, was previously a member of the six-member boy group One N' Only. He pleaded not guilty in April and chose not to testify during the trial in July.

Magistrate Peter Yu said that Kamimura's behaviour showed obvious disrespect towards women, noting that his touches suggested a sexual undertone, according to Reuters.

The Trump administration is proposing nearly $1 billion in funding to speed the development of U.S. critical minerals and materials, used in everything from electric vehicle batteries to semiconductors, the Energy Department said on Wednesday, Reuters reported.

The department intends to offer funding to advance and scale up mining, processing and manufacturing technologies in the critical minerals and materials supply chains, sectors that have been dominated by China and other countries, the statement said.

"For too long, the United States has relied on foreign actors to supply and process the critical materials that are essential to modern life and our national security," said Energy Secretary Chris Wright, according to Reuters.