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The International Day for the Abolition of Slavery is being observed worldwide today. 

The United Nations General Assembly designated this day after adopting, on 2 December 1949, the Convention for the Suppression of the Traffic in Persons and of the Exploitation of the Prostitution of Others (Resolution 317(IV)). 

Each year, the day is marked to raise global awareness against slavery and human trafficking.

The purpose of this day is not only to recall historical forms of slavery but also to draw attention to today’s widespread “modern forms of slavery,” which include human trafficking, forced labour, sexual exploitation, child labour, forced marriage and the recruitment of child soldiers.

It is estimated that around 50 million people across the globe are trapped in modern slavery, many of them subjected to forced labour or other forms of coercive exploitation. Women and children remain particularly vulnerable.

Perpetrators often exploit poverty, inequality, discrimination, displacement, and lack of protection to target vulnerable groups — including women, children, indigenous communities, minorities, and migrant workers.

In this context, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and various UN bodies have repeatedly emphasized the need for collective action to end modern slavery, ensure justice and rehabilitation for victims, and strengthen legal frameworks and awareness to prevent exploitation.

In Nepal too, various events are being held today, calling for stronger cooperation among the government, civil society and communities to combat all forms of slavery and human trafficking. As modern-day exploitation continues to affect many, the need for awareness, justice, social inclusion and human rights protection has become ever more urgent.

This day is not only a reminder but also an opportunity to commit to concrete action in support of those who remain the most vulnerable and exploited.

At least four people, including three children,have been killed in a mass shooting at a children's birthday party in California, authorities say, BBC reported.

The victims were eight, nine, 14 and 21 years old, a spokesperson for the San Joaquin County Sheriff's Office said. Eleven others were injured - one critically - in the incident at a restaurant in the state's northern city of Stockton.

A suspect is still on the loose. Authorities say they believe the shooting may have been "targeted" and may have been committed by multiple people, according to BBC.

At least 12 people have died and around 50 are still missing after a landslide struck two boats docked at a river port in Peru's Amazon rainforest region, local media reports, BBC reported.

The landslide sank a ferry and seriously damaged another passenger vessel that had dozens of people on board, according to a police report cited by the Andina news agency.

It happened at around 05:00 local time (10:00 GMT) as passengers were set to disembark at Iparia, in the country's central Ucayali region on Monday, according to BBC.

The death toll in the floods which struck Indonesia last week has now climbed to more than 500, with rescue workers still battling to reach affected areas, BBC reported.

The floods, which were caused by a rare cyclone that had formed over the Malacca Strait, have hit three provinces and impacted some 1.4 million people, according to the government's disaster agency.

Another 500 people remain missing, while thousands more have been injured, according to BBC.

President Zelensky has said Kyiv's priorities in peace talks to end the war with Russia are maintaining Ukraine's sovereignty and securing strong security guarantees, BBC reported.

Zelensky said "the territorial issue is the most difficult", as Russia continues to demand that Ukraine give up areas of the eastern Donbas region that it still holds – which Kyiv maintains it will never do.

He was speaking after meeting French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, where he joined a call with European leaders including those of the UK, Germany, Poland, and Italy, according to BBC.

A German national was found dead in the Khopra area of Annapurna Rural Municipality-5, Myagdi district on Monday afternoon. 

German national Weiser Astrid Elizabeth had gone missing since November 25 on her way to Kaski from Myagdi.  

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) of District Police Office, Myagdi, Surya Bahadur Thapa confirmed that her body was found some 160 meters off the road in Annapurna Rural Municipality-5, Myagdi.  

Local community members and tour guides had informed the police as they spotted the dead body today, according to the police.

Police stated that the dead body of the German national would be sent to Kathmandu for examination.

Weiser had stayed in Khopro area of Myagdi district before leaving for Dobato area in Kaski.

Police assumed that the German national would have fallen off the cliff.

The central bank has continued a cautious flexibility of the monetary policy through its first quarterly review of the current fiscal year. 

Nepal Rastra Bank made public the first quarterly review (monetary) of the fiscal year, 2082/83. It has brought flexible provisions in the monetary scheme. 

The review stated that policy initiatives the government took for an industrial atmosphere with good governance in the wake of Gen Z protest and the monetary facilitation the NRB made are expected to ensure gradual improvement in the national economy.

Nepal got BB minus in the Sovereign Credit Rating (by Fitch Rating) this year as well. 

Although the hotels were damaged during the September 8-9 protests, the government recovered the peace and security situation, thereby assuring the tourism and arrival of tourists, the monetary policy review stated. 

The hydropower production has seen continuous strides in the past three months. Total 309 MW electricity was linked to the national transmission line in the last three months alone. 

The banks and financial institutions have excessive liquidity and low interest rates.

A Central Working Committee meeting of the Nepali Congress has decided to hold a regular general convention in the second week of January.

The meeting held at the party office in Sanepa on Monday decided to hold the 15th general convention on January 10-12 in Kathmandu, party spokesperson Prakash Sharan Mahat informed.

Similarly, the meeting has set the deadline for distributing new active members until December 6.

The meeting has decided that the forms should be distributed to the wards by December 10 and the work of new active members should be completed by December 23, spokesperson Mahat said.

It has been decided to call for the complaints and the final list including the new ones will be submitted to the President on December 29 after investigating the complaints. 

The new active memberships will be distributed to new generations, leaders and cadres of other parties.

The convention of the liaison committees will be held by December 30, the village/town convention by December 31, and the provincial regional convention by January 3.

Regional conventions and the convention of districts with a single constituency will be held by January 5.

The district conventions of districts with more than one constituency are to take place by January 6, and the provincial conventions on January 7–8.

Similarly, as per the Central Committee decision, the term of the Central Committee, which is set to end on December 9, will be extended until mid-February, 2026.