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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.

Prime Minister Sushila Karki has sought cooperation from all sides to accomplish the elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) member in the stipulated time. 

The Prime Minister informed that formulation of laws required for the safety and identity of human rights defenders, initiative to make foreign employment safe and dignified, and preparation and implementation of the sixth human rights plan of action are the key priorities of the incumbent government. 

In her message of best wishes on the occasion of the 77th International Human Rights Day today, PM Karki reiterated the government's commitment to place robust measures and actions against corruption while clarifying that maintaining good governance is the goal of the government. 

Noting that human rights would not be protected without an enabling environment of transparency and accountability, she said the government is unswervingly moving ahead to this path. 

"Free and fair elections are the soul of democracy. It is the fundamental duty of the State to create an environment for citizens to select their representatives without fear, greed and pressure. The government is committed to make the upcoming March 5 elections further cost effective, transparent and tech-savvy". 

The Head of the Government has expressed her confidence to create an atmosphere for security personnel to be deployed for election to deliver with high confidence. 

The PM also urged all political parties to unobtrusively participate in the elections by assuring the right to vote of the eligible Nepali people and also respect, protect and promote human rights so as to make the democratic exercise such as election a success. 

"Nepal's peace process has inspired the globe, but the backlog of transitional justice is yet to be addressed. The government is fully aware of the issue. The transitional justice would not be complete until conflict survivors are assured of justice,”she asserted. 

The PM expressed her belief that the concerned mechanisms would be successful in bringing the process to confidentiality and keeping victims at the centre on the basis of the prevailing laws and consensus. 

Saying that the government has been emphatically protecting the autonomy, independence and effectiveness of the national human rights commission as a watchdog of democracy, the PM pledged to execute the recommendations of the Commission. 

She mentioned that institutional and physical infrastructure, human resources and budget management will be further strengthened to keep the Commission in 'A' category. 

"Climate change has emerged as another challenge today for the protection of human rights. Although Nepal is a country with minimal carbon emissions, it has had to bear the most severe impacts of climate change. Climate-induced effects such as melting glaciers, unpredictable weather cycles, floods and landslides, and rising temperatures are directly affecting every aspect of our lives, including food security, health, habitation and education". 

She stated that the government is actively moving forward by strengthening national and international partnerships in adaptation, risk reduction, sustainable development, and climate justice. 

Prime Minister Karki added that with the core intention of sustainable development goals, the government is continuously moving towards poverty reduction, gender equality, social justice, inclusivity, peace, and prosperity. The obligations under international human rights treaties to which Nepal is a party are being fulfilled in a timely manner, she noted. 

"Human rights are not merely the legal arrangements; they should be our social conduct. Sustainable peace, good governance, development and prosperity could be obtained only when we all act together to transform human rights to everyday culture", she stated in her message. 

Non-life insurance companies have so far paid out only 18.7% of the total claims filed for losses arising from the Gen Z protests of September 8 and 9, according to updated figures from the Nepal Insurance Authority (NIA). 

The two days of violent unrest, marked by arson, vandalism and clashes between security forces and protesters, resulted in extensive damage to public property, business establishments, vehicles and private homes.

Of around 3,300 claims amounting to approximately Rs 23.44 billion received by insurers, companies have made advance and parietal payments totaling Rs 4.38 billion to policyholders, the NIA said.

Property insurance has accounted for the largest share of losses. Out of 710 property claims worth Rs 19.88 billion, insurers have so far settled about Rs 3.21 billion. Similarly, out of 2,308 motor insurance claims valued at Rs 3.47 billion, payments totaling Rs 1.08 billion have been made as of December 3..

Engineering and contractor’s risk policies have seen 225 claims worth Rs 555.5 million, of which insurers have settled Rs 68.1 million. Transport insurance accounts for 12 claims valued at Rs 16.8 million, with payouts of Rs 6.6 million. Under the “other” category, insurers have paid Rs 4.9 million against 45 claims totaling Rs 384 million.

According to the NIA, 1,984 of the total claims are linked directly to arson and vandalism in Kathmandu and several districts. Seventy-four people were killed in the protests, which escalated after police used excessive force to disperse crowds. Hotel Hilton Kathmandu alone reported damages of around Rs 8 billion, making it one of the largest individual losses.

All fourteen non-life insurance companies and four microinsurers have reported exposure to losses from the protests. Seven companies have liabilities exceeding Rs 1 billion each.

Oriental Insurance has received the highest claim totaling Rs 5.14 billion from 40 policies, followed by Siddhartha Premier Insurance with Rs 4.93 billion across 258 claims. Shikhar Insurance ranks third in terms of claim value, with 366 cases totaling Rs 2.39 billion. IME Prudential Insurance has 24 claims worth Rs 1.59 billion, while Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance has reported 233 claims amounting to Rs 1.47 billion.