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Lumbini Lions have entered the Qualifier 2 of the Nepal Premier League (NPL) 2025, defeating Kathmandu Gorkhas by four wickets.

In the eliminator match held at TU International Cricket Ground earlier today, Lumbini surpassed the victory target of 112 runs set by Kathmandu in 17.4 overs at the loss of six wickets.

For Lumbini's victory D'Arcy Short scored 33 runs off 34 balls, followed by Sundeep Jora who scored 23 runs off 23 balls. Likewise, Captain Rohit Paudel and Niroshan Dickwella scored 18 and 14 runs respectively.

For the bowling side, Santosh Yadav took two wickets, while Karan KC, Sunny Patel, Shahab Alam and Rashid Khan claimed one wicket each.

Earlier, batting first after winning the toss, Kathmandu Gorkhas were able to score only 111 runs in 19.1 overs, losing all their wickets.

Santosh Yadav top-scored with 23 runs off 17 balls while John Simpson and Mohammad Aadil Alam scored 18 runs each. Bhim Sharki contributed 14 runs off 16 balls.

In restricting Kathmandu to a meagre total, Sher Malla took three wickets in his full quota of four overs, giving away 22 runs. This feat also earned him the player-of-the-match award. 

Captain Rohit Paudel also took three wickets while Ruben Trumpelmann took two wickets.

With the win today, Lumbini Lions will face Biratnagar Kings in the second qualifier to be held at the same ground tomorrow. 

Biratnagar lost to Sudurpaschim Kings by 77 runs in the Qualifier 1 held on Tuesday.

After defeating Biratnagar in Qualifier 1, Sudurpaschim have booked a place in the final, and will play the winner of tomorrow's match. 

The final is scheduled to take place at the same venue on Saturday.

All services of the Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL), including utility payment, are set to be suspended for three days due to the merger of the servers. 

The merging of the Kshetrapati and Tripureshwor branches, along with necessary software integration work for the Maharajgunj and Kamaladi branches, will affect the system leading to the service closure. 

According to KUKL's Chief Executive Director Ashok Kumar Paudel, services will be shut from December 12 to 14.

He stated, “Due to the software merger, online payment services, revenue collection counters, new connection services, and all other services at Kshetrapati, Tripureshwor, Maharajgunj, and Kamaladi will be closed for three days.” 

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 5. 03 points to close at 2, 609. 03 points on Wednesday. 

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 0. 86 points to close at 446. 18 points.

A total of 8,647,948-unit shares of 329 companies were traded for Rs 3. 73 billion.

Meanwhile, Swastik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SWASTIK) and Muktinath Krishi Company Limited (MKCL) were the top gainers today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Jhapa Energy Limited (JHAPA) was the top loser as its price fell by 9. 30 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 47 trillion.

Australia's world-first social media ban for children has taken effect, with throngs of teenagers waking up to find their accounts have gone dark, BBC reported 

Others tell BBC they have already snuck past barriers and will continue scrolling and posting freely until they are caught.

The new law means social media firms - including Meta, TikTok and YouTube - must take "reasonable steps" to ensure Australians aged under 16 don't hold accounts on their platforms, according to BBC.

South Korea has lodged a complaint with the Chinese and Russian defence attaches based in the country, a day after their warplanes entered its air defence zone, BBC reported.

Seoul said it sent up fighter jets to "take tactical measures in preparation for any emergencies" after seven Russian and two Chinese military aircraft "briefly entered" the zone on Tuesday, but noted they "did not violate" South Korea's airspace.

Some countries delineate air identification defence zones, wherein they require foreign planes to identify themselves. These are not part of sovereign airspaces under international law, according to BBC.

Ukraine is "ready for elections", President Volodymyr Zelensky has said, after US President Donald Trump repeated claims Kyiv was "using war" to avoid holding them, BBC reported. 

Zelensky's five-year term as president was due to end in May 2024, but elections have been suspended in Ukraine since martial law was declared after Russia's invasion.

Speaking to reporters following Trump's comments in a wide-raging Politico interview, Zelensky said he would ask for proposals to be drawn up which could change the law, according to BBC.

A sperm donor who unknowingly harboured a genetic mutation that dramatically raises the risk of cancer has fathered at least 197 children across Europe, a major investigation has revealed, BBC reported. 

Some children have already died and only a minority who inherit the mutation will escape cancer in their lifetimes.

The sperm was not sold to UK clinics, but the BBC can confirm a "very small" number of British families, who have been informed, used the donor's sperm while having fertility treatment in Denmark, according to BBC.

A total of 6,027 trees will be cut down in Mahottari district as part of the East-West Highway expansion project. 

Rajesh Kumar Das, the Chief of the eastern section of the Kamala-Dhalkebar-Pathalaiya road project, stated that an order has been issued following the completion of all necessary procedures through the Division Forest Office, the Department of Forest and Soil Conservation, and the Ministry of Forest and Environment. 

Chief Das revealed that a total of 11,577 trees have been authorized for removal across the districts of Mahottari, Dhanusha, and Sarlahi, where the eastern section of the project will be carried out. 

Of this total, 3,674 trees will be removed in Sarlahi, 1,876 in Dhanusha, and 6,027 in Mahottari, according to Das. 

He also mentioned that the highway will be expanded to six lanes, maintaining a width of 31 meters in urban market areas, while in other regions, it will be widened to four lanes with a total width of 18 meters. 

Das noted that the majority of the trees slated for removal during the highway expansion are Saal (Shorea robust). 

He pointed out that relocating electricity poles and installing drinking water supply pipes pose significant challenges during the expansion project. 

Tree felling bid has already commenced in Dhanusha and Sarlahi, and the process will soon begin in Mahottari, he added.