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Lumbini Lions are crowned champions of the second edition of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) after a comprehensive six-wicket victory over Sudurpaschim Royals in the final at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur, on Saturday.

Chasing a low target of 86, Lumbini reached 86/4 in just nine overs, with 66 balls to spare. Dinesh Adhikari led the charge with a blistering 42 off just 13 balls, while D’Arcy Short added 14. Captain Rohit Paudel contributed 16 to ensure a swift finish.

Earlier, Sudurpaschim were bundled out for 85 in 19.1 overs after opting to bat first. Ishan Pandey top-scored with 33, but the innings never gained momentum as Lumbini’s bowlers kept things tight. Ruben Trumpelmann and Sher Malla claimed three wickets each, while Rohit Paudel also picked up a hattrick as Sudurpaschim collapsed from 44/4 to 85 all out.

The title marks a remarkable turnaround for Lumbini, who finished at the bottom of the table in the inaugural edition of the NPL last year, managing just one league win.

For Sudurpaschim, the defeat extended their wait for a title despite consistent performances. They finished as table-toppers in consecutive seasons and reached back-to-back finals, but fell short again. In the previous edition, Sudurpaschim had lost the final to Janakpur, and this year they were outplayed by a resurgent Lumbini side.

The Central Committee of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) has concluded its three-day meeting in Kathmandu, endorsing 13 decisions.

According to the party, the meeting reviewed recent political developments, internal party matters, and upcoming programs. Among the decisions, the party assessed the protests that took place on Sept 8 and 9, attributing them to long-standing political, economic, and governance-related challenges. The committee stated that the incidents reflected public frustration with corruption, unemployment, politicisation of constitutional bodies, and weaknesses in state institutions.

The party reiterated its view that the country should not move towards elections without addressing underlying political issues and demands raised by the youth-led movement. It called for broader national consensus involving political forces and other stakeholders to resolve the current political situation.

On the issue of monarchy, the RPP clarified that it envisions a fully constitutional monarchy and maintained that any restoration should be based on national consensus rather than a referendum or violent means.

The meeting unanimously approved, with amendments, reports related to the party secretariat, finances, active membership distribution guidelines, and the general convention schedule. It decided to retain the proposed election-related convention timetable up to the end of Magh, while other programs will be finalised after the general election.

The party also decided to organise nationwide public dialogues and demonstrations in December and January to present its political position and to build pressure for dialogue before the general election. While expressing reservations about holding elections without resolving political issues, the RPP said it would continue to participate in the democratic process and instructed party members to proceed simultaneously with organisational work, convention preparations, and election activities.

The Central Committee welcomed the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority’s actions regarding alleged irregularities in the construction of Pokhara International Airport and called for further investigations into pending corruption cases.

The meeting noted differences of opinion within the youth movement regarding agreements reached with the government, while viewing the inclusion of constitutional amendment provisions in those agreements as positive. It reiterated its demand for constitutional amendments that reflect public sentiment on issues such as federalism, secularism, and the republican system.

The party urged the government to ensure voting arrangements for Nepalis living abroad and for inter-district voters in the upcoming elections.

The committee expressed sorrow over the loss of lives during the Bhadra protests, extended condolences to the families of those killed, wished a speedy recovery to the injured, and demanded treatment and compensation. It also expressed concern over damage to public and private property during the protests and called for timely reconstruction and compensation.

In addition, the meeting endorsed past decisions of the Central Executive Committee, set provisions related to payment of party levies for general convention representatives, and approved disciplinary action against a Madhes Province proportional lawmaker for joining the government against party directives, including a six-month suspension from party membership and removal from the party’s closed list.

The party said the decisions aim to guide its political stance, organisational activities, and preparations for upcoming elections.

Tribhuvan University (TU) has announced that its 51st convocation ceremony will be held on Dec 25.

The Office of the Controller of Examinations, Balkhu, said in a notice that the convocation will take place on Thursday, Dec 25 at Dasharath Stadium.

Students participating in the ceremony are required to enter the venue from 9:00 am.

Senior Vice-chair of the CPN-UML, Ishwar Pokharel, has expressed disagreement over the nomination of representatives for the party’s 11th national congress.

According to Pokharel’s secretariat, the 108 national congress representatives nominated on Friday were based on a list proposed by party chair KP Sharma Oli, to which Pokharel has raised objections.

Rajesh Rai, who heads the publicity wing aligned with Pokharel, said the senior vice-chair had serious reservations about the nominations. Rai stated that during the Secretariat meeting held a day earlier, there was an understanding that the list of 108 representatives would be finalised jointly by Chair Oli and Senior Vice-Chair Pokharel. He added that discussions were scheduled for Friday morning in line with that agreement. However, Pokharel has said the list was published unilaterally, contrary to the earlier understanding.

Pokharel, who is also a contender for the party chair, had on Friday submitted a separate list of nominees from his group, Rai said, adding that it was agreed to seek consensus between the two lists.

“The list made public today is only the one tabled earlier by the party chair,” Rai said.

The inauguration ceremony of the 11th National Convention of the CPN-UML is set to begin shortly. The opening session is being held at Sallaghari in Bhaktapur, while the closed-door sessions will take place at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu.

Delegates and leaders from across the country have been arriving in Bhaktapur since early today. For the inauguration ceremony scheduled for midday at the open ground in Sallaghari, representatives of 16 political parties and six social organisations have been invited.

The convention venue at Sallaghari has begun filling up with participants. Strict security checks are being carried out before entry into the inauguration site.

A total of 2,262 delegates will take part in the 11th National Convention. As per the party statute, five percent of the delegates can be nominated, bringing in 108 nominated members. Including 309 central advisers, the total number of participants will reach 2,571.

The 11th National Convention of the CPN-UML is now getting underway, with a steady flow of delegates heading towards Sallaghari. Rallies comprising delegates from various sectors are marching towards the convention venue, while several participants have already arrived at the inauguration site. Party leaders are also reaching Sallaghari one after another.

Cultural programs are currently underway at the venue. Participants are being subjected to rigorous security screening before entering the inauguration area. A total of 20,000 chairs have been arranged at the open ground to accommodate those attending the ceremony.

The 11th National Congress of the CPN-UML is set to begin today, with party chairperson KP Sharma Oli scheduled to inaugurate the event this afternoon at the open ground in Sallahghari, Bhaktapur.

Party leaders and cadres arrived at the venue early in the morning. Security arrangements have been tightened, with police teams, including trained sniffer dogs, deployed at the inauguration site.

Parking arrangements have been made at Gaththaghar and Jagati for leaders and cadres attending the inaugural ceremony. According to the organizers, vehicles coming from the Kathmandu side will be parked at Gatthaghar, while those entering through the eastern route will be directed to Jagati. Parking facilities have been arranged at brick kilns, plotted lands, and other open spaces in the Jagati area.

Participants are expected to reach the Sallahghari venue in organized processions. The party has described the convention as a demonstration of the strength of a democratic political party. CPN-UML Politburo member Mahesh Basnet said efforts have been made to ensure that the processions proceed as much as possible through service lanes along the main roads.

CPN-UML Publicity and Publication Department chief Rajendra Gautam said all preparations for the convention have been completed and that around 300,000 participants from across the country are expected to attend the inaugural session. He added that more than 200 cultural tableaux reflecting Nepal’s unity and diversity will be displayed during the ceremony.

According to the party, a model of the Changunarayan Temple has been constructed on the stage, alongside an electronic lamp, which will be lit remotely by Chairperson Oli to inaugurate the convention. As this is the party’s 11th national convention, 11 party flags will be displayed, with 10 flags hoisted at the outset and one flag raised remotely. The closed session of the convention will be held at Bhrikutimandap in Kathmandu.

Participants at an interaction program titled “The Current Political Landscape: Reality and the Way Forward” have said that addressing the demands raised by the GenZ movement is essential to steer the country towards development. The participants noted that successive governments have failed to adequately address youth concerns related to good governance, transparency, and democratic practices, leading to growing frustration and disillusionment in society.

The interaction was jointly organized on Friday in Kathmandu by Youth Initiative, NGO Federation Nepal, and the Association of International NGOs in Nepal. The programme featured direct dialogue between youths and speakers including NGO Federation Nepal President Arjun Bhattarai, former minister Sumanā Shrestha, Monika Niraula, Pratigya Basyal, and journalist Hari Bahadur Thapa.

During the discussion, youths emphasized the need to ensure good governance, provide political space based on merit, and end nepotism. They also stressed the importance of sustaining anti-corruption campaigns and conducting elections in a transparent manner.

The program also discussed the perceived gap between rural and urban movements, challenges faced by traditional mainstream media in maintaining credibility in the digital age, and the need to reduce growing distrust between the state and young people. Participants further exchanged views on measures to address digital security risks.

WWF Nepal and the Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) on Tuesday held an inception workshop for the Swachya Sagarmatha: Sustainable Waste Management for Clean Himalaya Project, bringing together government representatives, local authorities, development partners, and community organizations.

The three-year project aims to strengthen sustainable waste management systems, including the handling of electronic waste, across Sagarmatha National Park and its buffer zone. The initiative will be implemented by WWF Nepal in partnership with SPCC, the Khumbu Pasang Lhamu Rural Municipality, the Sagarmatha National Park Office, the Buffer Zone Management Committee, and local waste management groups. It is funded by the Thomas L Kempner Jr Foundation and aligns with the rural municipality’s Environmental Pollution Control and Sustainable Waste Management Plan 2023.

The workshop discussed project priorities and explored approaches for long-term, community-based waste management solutions in the Khumbu region. With tourist arrivals increasing from about 20,000 in 1998 to more than 50,000 in 2023, waste management has emerged as a growing environmental challenge in the area.

Participants from federal ministries, conservation agencies, local government bodies, the private sector, and the media attended the event. Discussions focused on project design, community capacity building, waste segregation, recycling practices, and coordination to establish systems for collecting, processing, and transporting waste, including electronic waste.