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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 10. 98 points to close at 2, 677. 32 points on Monday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 56 points to close at 450. 65 points.

A total of 14,443,765-unit shares of 322 companies were traded for Rs 6. 96 billion.

Meanwhile, Nyadi Hydropower Limited (NYADI) and Guardian Micro Life Insurance Limited (GMLI) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Bottlers Nepal (Balaju) Limited (BNL) and Upakar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (ULBSL) were the top losers as their price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 44 trillion.

Nepali Congress General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has said the party's general convention will be held before the 2084 BS periodic election.

Talking to media today, he said the party's general convention will take place every four years as stipulated by the party's statute.

The party is working on the finalization of the name list of party's active members within a couple of months, according to him.

He, however, said that the party membership issue and other factors are likely to affect the plan to hold the general convention by the end of 2025.

On a different note, Thapa stated that the ordinances issued by the government will be tabled in the House within a few days and will be endorsed following discussions.

The lawmaker also said that the Social Media Bill introduced by the government will not be endorsed without amendments. 

Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba has said that the construction of the six-lane Chisapani-Gaddachauki road section of the East-West Mahendra Highway will start soon.

Inaugurating the newly constructed administrative building of Lamkichuha Municipality in Kailali today, Minister Rana said that a survey is being conducted for the construction of six lanes from Chisapani in Kailali to Gaddachauki in Kanchanpur in view of the pressure of vehicles.

"Chief Minister of Sudurpaschim Province Kamal Bahadur Shah is taking the initiative to make the highway six-lane. The highway is currently being surveyed. Work on the construction of the six-lane road will begin soon," Minister Rana said.

The Minister expressed her confidence that the administrative building of Lamkichuha Municipality would facilitate the residents of the city to avail integrated services.

Foreign Minister Rana further argued that the government is serious about the overall development of the agricultural sector in the region, adding that she is excited to see the development construction at the local level.

Minister Rana today inaugurated the newly constructed party office of Nepali Congress Kailali Region No. 2 and Lamkichuha Municipal Committee as well. 

The Media Council Bill, 2081 BS has been presented in the National Assembly (NA).

Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung tabled the Bill in the session.

Prior to this, NA Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal apprised the House that no notice of protest has been received regarding the Bill.

The government had on January 28 registered the document in the NA, citing it aimed to further systematise the use of social sites, making them decent and secured.

Tabling the Bill, the Minister said the Bill is meant for making the operators and users of social site platforms responsible and accountable and promoting social goodwill, cultural tolerance and good governance through the appropriate and systematic use of social sites.

The Bill has proposed the provisions for license (with a two-year validity) for any companies, firms or institutions to operate digital platforms and renewal of the permission, granting the rights to authorities concerned to ban on the operation of such platforms and the remove the contents in violations of the terms and conditions.

It has proposed conditions for the users of social sites as well.

The Bill prohibiting cyber bullying, stalking and ID hacking, extortion or sextortion, dissemination of vulgar, fake or misleading contents, uploading or dissemination of deep fake videos and the use of accounts with anonymous or pseudonymous identity.

The Bill has wanted that the operation of social sites should not the jeopardize the country's peace and security, order, sovereignty, territorial integrity, national security, national unity, independence and should not feature contents that are against the interests of nation.

In case of the violations of these terms and conditions, the operation license may be scrapped.

It has disapproved the social media contents capable of hurting the dignity of others, trolling, hate speech and distortion of information.

Similarly, post, like, repost, live streaming, subscribe, comment, tag, hashtag or mention with wrong intention is liable to fine up to Rs 500 thousands to users of social sites.

The government claims that in case of the endorsement of Bill and its implementation as the Act will cause a rise in the information security and privacy of personal data, cyber security, and systematization of IT related enterprises and the rise in foreign investment in this sector.

Two persons died when a school bus met an accident at Bhanjyang in Pharping of Dakshinkali Municipality-3, Kathmandu district on Sunday.

The ill-fated bus was carrying 50 students of the Junkiri English School.

The identities of the deceased are yet to be ascertained, according to the District Police Range, Kathmandu.

SP Apilraj Bohora shared that the students injured in the accident have been sent to various hospitals for treatment while the rescue operation was underway.

The details of the accident are awaited, SP Bohora added. 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli stated that it is too early to comment on whether the recently issued ordinances will be endorsed by the House.

In response to a question from journalists at the Federal Parliament Building today, he said that the time has not yet come to count the quorum for the endorsement of the ordinances issued by the government.

It may be noted the government had issued six ordinances at different times before the commencement of the parliament's ongoing winter session.

According to parliamentary rules, these ordinances shall be presented to the parliament once the session begins.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 11. 49 points to close at 2, 688. 31 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 2. 25 points to close at 452. 21 points.

A total of 15,855,610-unit shares of 305 companies were traded for Rs 8. 39 billion.

Meanwhile, Central Finance Co. Ltd. (CFCL) and Guardian Micro Life Insurance Limited (GMLI) with their price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Saptakoshi Development Bank Ltd (SAPDBL) was the top loser as its price fell by 6. 52 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 46 trillion.

The progress of national pride projects envisaged and initiated by the government for effective public service delivery and to boost economic growth has not been so satisfactory owing to several reasons.

One of them is dismal capital expenditure of those projects despite all possible means and resources and facilitation on the part of the government.

Of the total Rs 66 billion allocated for the 19 of the total 27 national pride projects for the current fiscal year 2024/25, only Rs 17 billion has been spent as of the six months of the current fiscal year, 2024/25, according to the Ministry of Finance.

This is 25.70 percent of the total budget, the Ministry said.

The number of national pride projects rose from 17 to 27 since its inception in the fiscal year 2012/2013 based on the need of the nation and projects' relevance.

Out of 27 projects, some of them have been completed while some have achieved a breakthrough and 19 of them are currently in the process of implementation.

Last fiscal year, over 60 billion was allocated for those 19 projects. Their financial progress was 89.82 percent and physical progress was at 57.50 per cent, the Ministry said.