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The second edition of the National Premier League (NPL) is taking place at the Kirtipur-based Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground from today onward. 

According to Chairperson of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) Chatur Bahadur Chand, the opening of the NPL tournament will be held at 2 pm today while the first match will take place at 4 pm. 

In the NPL to be conducted up to December 13, a total of 32 matches including league stage, three play-off and final will be held. 

There will be 32 matches, including the finals, and since the Tribhuvan University cricket ground has been upgraded with parapets and floodlights, the second edition has become an additional source of excitement among cricket fans. 

In the opening match, the defending champion Janakpur Bolts will take on Kathmandu Gorkhas. 

This time, a parapet accommodating 10,000 audiences has been constructed in the stadium. 

With the floodlights in place, the matches will be conducted at night like in other international stadiums. 

It may be noted that the Ministry had handed over the initial phase structures to the Cricket Association of Nepal through the National Sports Council on Sunday evening before the beginning of NPL second edition. 

CAN informed that the winner of the tournament will be awarded a cash prize of Rs 11 million. 

Similarly, the runner-up team of the tournament will receive the cash award of Rs 5.1 million. The team securing third place will receive Rs 2.5 million while the fourth-placed team will get Rs 1.5 million. 

All matches of the second NPL will be held at the Kirtipur cricket ground. 

Eight franchise teams, including defending champion Janakpur along with previous runner-up Sudurpaschim Royals, Karnali Yaks, Pokhara Avengers, Biratnagar Kings, Chitwan Rhinos, Kathmandu Gurkhas, and Lumbini Lions are competing in the NPL. 

CAN is expected to earn Rs 400 million from the NPL this time, it is shared. 

Ukraine is working to resume prisoner exchanges with Russia that could bring home 1,200 Ukrainian prisoners, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday, a day after his national security chief announced progress in negotiations, Associated Press reported.

“We are ... counting on the resumption of POW exchanges,” Zelenskyy wrote on X. “Many meetings, negotiations and calls are currently taking place to ensure this.”

Rustem Umerov, Secretary of Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, said Saturday he held consultations mediated by Turkey and the United Arab Emirates on resuming exchanges, according to Associated Press.

India’s anti-terror investigating agency said Sunday it arrested a man from Indian-controlled Kashmir on suspicion of conspiring with a suicide bomber to carry out a deadly car blast in the capital New Delhi, Associated Press reported.

The National Investigating Agency said in a statement that the car that exploded on Monday was registered to Amir Rashid Ali, who it alleged had traveled to New Delhi from Indian-controlled Kashmir to facilitate the purchase of the vehicle. It said Ali’s arrest was a “major breakthrough” in the case.

The explosion killed 10 people and injured 32 others near the city’s historic Red Fort. Indian officials called it a “heinous terror incident” carried out by “anti-national forces.”

Authorities in Iran have sprayed clouds with chemicals to induce rain, in an attempt to combat the country's worst drought in decades, BBC reported.

Known as cloud-seeding, the process was conducted over the Urmia lake basin on Saturday, Iran's official news agency Irna reported.

Urmia is Iran's largest lake, but has largely dried out leaving a vast salt bed. Further operations will be carried out in east and west Azerbaijan, the agency said, according to BBC.

Cartel de los Soles, a group the US alleges is led by Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, will be designated a terrorist organisation, the US State Department has said, BBC reported.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio issued a statement on Sunday announcing that the group will be considered a Foreign Terrorist Organisation (FTO) from 24 November. 

It means that Maduro will effectively be designated a terrorist as well, because the US alleges he heads the Cartel de los Soles, an accusation Maduro strongly denies, according to BBC.

Maldhunga–Beni road, which is part of the Kaligandaki Corridor linking Myagdi and Mustang to the national highway, will be closed for seven hours daily for the road upgrading works, starting from November 17.

The decision to close the road from 10am to 4pm, effective from Monday (tomorrow) to December 6, has been made in view of the ongoing blacktopping work. 

Badri Prasad Tiwari, Chief District Officer of Myagdi, stated that only ambulances, vehicles transporting patients, and those necessary for development and construction will be allowed, while other vehicles are advised to take alternative routes. 

The 13 km section of road connecting Kushma Municipality-1 Maldhunga to Beni in Myagdi, passing through wards 8, 7, 4, and 3 of Jaljala Rural Municipality, is being upgraded to a two-lane road. 

During the closure, the route from Maldhunga, Baglung via Ratnechaur to Beni will be available for use. 

The project, which has faced delays due to contractor issues and lack of action from the project side, has not yet been completed despite a contract signed in Chaitra 2077 BS for Rs 524.6 million. 

Originally initiated under the 'Food for Work' programme in 2048 BS, the Maldhunga–Beni road was opened in 2052 BS and asphalted in 2068 BS, but has recently deteriorated significantly. 

This road serves residents of Myagdi and Mustang, as well as Jaljala Rural Municipality in Parbat, and is part of Nepal’s shortest route connecting China and India via the Kaligandaki Corridor.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 5. 15 points to close at 2, 540 . 57 points on Sunday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 44 points to close at 439. 44 points.

A total of 7,957,056-unit shares of 337 companies were traded for Rs 3. 89 billion.

Meanwhile, Sagar Distillery Limited (SAGAR)

​​​were the top gainer today with its price surging by 9. 99 percent.

Likewise, Bhugol Energy Development Company Limited (BEDC) was the top loser as its price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 44 trillion.

Armed Police Force, Nepal, and the Seema Surakshya Bal (Border Security Force), India have reached an understanding to make joint border patrol and border security more effective.

During the 9th bilateral coordination meeting, discussions were held on the issue of controlling cross-border crimes and drug smuggling.

Nepali delegation was led by APF, Nepal, Inspector General, Raju Aryal, while Director General of SSB, India, Sanjay Singhal, had led the Indian delegation. 

The 9th meeting was held in New Delhi, India, from November 12 to 14. 

Similarly, various issues including controlling smuggling and illegal import in border areas, and exchanging information and training were also discussed, said Joint-Spokesperson at the APF, Nepal, Superintendent of Police, Shailendra Thapa.

The meeting also reviewed the implementation of the agenda passed by the 8th coordination meeting held in December last year in Kathmandu. 

Discussion was also held on the issue of effectively implementing the shared concepts passed by the meeting and the future strategy.