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The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 12. 50 points to close at 2, 594. 87 points on Sunday. 

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 0. 79 points to close at 445. 50 points.

A total of 11,272,168-unit shares of 330 companies were traded for Rs 1. 47 billion.

Meanwhile, Swastik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SWASTIK) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, City Hotel Limited (CITY) was the top loser as its price fell by 6. 26 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 35 trillion.

Comedian Dick Van Dyke celebrated his 100th birthday on Saturday, six decades after starring alongside Julie Andrews in Mary Poppins and headlining The Dick Van Dyke Show. Reflecting on his milestone, Van Dyke told ABC News from his Malibu home, “A hundred years is not enough. You want to live more, which I plan to.”

The celebration includes a nationwide screening of a new documentary, Dick Van Dyke: 100th Celebration, honoring his decades-long career. Van Dyke, a Tony, Grammy, and four-time Emmy winner, also starred in Bye Bye Birdie, Diagnosis: Murder, and remains the oldest Daytime Emmy recipient for a guest role on Days of Our Lives.

Having overcome alcoholism in the 1970s, Van Dyke has shared his journey publicly. On aging, he noted he often played older characters as grumpy men, but at 100, he says his own experience is far more upbeat, embodying the humor and charm that made him an enduring icon.

Thailand reported its first civilian death from the ongoing border conflict with Cambodia after a rocket attack on Sunday killed 63-year-old Don Patchapan in Sisaket province’s Kantharalak District. The attack occurred in a residential area near a school, with nearby houses catching fire from the blast. Thai authorities condemned the attack as “cruel and inhumane,” while Cambodia has deployed truck-mounted BM-21 rocket launchers firing indiscriminately across the border.

The latest clashes follow a skirmish on Dec 7 that wounded two Thai soldiers. Both sides continue airstrikes and drone operations, resulting in more than two dozen reported military deaths and the displacement of over half a million people. Thailand confirmed 15 of its troops have died, while Cambodia disputes Thai casualty figures but acknowledges civilian deaths. Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet praised his country’s resilience on social media. Recent fighting has disrupted a ceasefire brokered in July, previously enforced through US and Malaysian mediation

Two elephant calves born at the Elephant Breeding and Training Center at Khorsor, Chitwan National Park, are to be sent to Qatar on December 17.

The two calves named Rudrakali and Khagendra Prasad, raised and trained at the breeding center, and sheltered in Sauraha Hattisar, are about to be transferred to Qatar. Rudrakali is seven years old and Khagendra Prasad is six years old. 

Dr Haribhadra Acharya, the Information Officer of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, said that the two elephant calves are to be sent to Qatar on December 17, via a chartered cargo plane from Bhairahawa International Airport.

Acharya said that preparations are being made to send the elephants to Bhairahawa from Sauraha a day earlier after coordinating with the plane's flight schedule and assessing the road conditions. 

These elephants are going to be kept at Al Khor Park's zoo in Doha, Qatar.

According to Information Officer Acharya, two mahouts are also going to Qatar under the leadership of park animal technician Dinesh Dhakal, accompanying the calves. 

They will return home after ensuring the management of the elephant calves there.

Previously, Nepal has been presenting various wild animals such as the one-horned rhinoceros and elephants to different friendly nations as gifts. 

These wildlife gifts have been presented to strengthen the bilateral relations and to project the importance of Nepal's biodiversity at the international level.

Acharya said that this is the first time that Nepal is sending elephants as presents to another country.

The elephant breeding center, established in 2044 B.S. with 16 elephants brought from India, two from Myanmar, and two from Thailand, has so far bred and raised 68 elephants. 

Six of those born here have died. It is said 61 elephants have been trained here. 

Previously, Nepal has given 26 rhinos, 10 tortoises, one wolf and two leopards to various countries since 1985.

Nepal had expressed its commitment to gift elephants to Qatar during the official visit of then President Bidya Devi Bhandari in 2018.