Ambassador of Japan to Nepal calls on FS Rai
MAEDA Toru, Ambassador of Japan to Nepal on Thursday called on Foreign Secretary Amrit Rai.
According to Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, various matters of Nepal-Japan relations including celebrating the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 2026 were discussed during the meeting.
Government decides to endorse agreement signed with Gen Z reps
The government has decided to implement the 10-point agreement signed with Gen Z representatives on Wednesday.
The agreement was signed on December 10 at the Office of the Prime Minister, Singha Durbar.
A Cabinet meeting held on Thursday decided to publish the agreement in the Nepal Gazette, Minister for Communications and Information Technology Jagadish Kharel confirmed.
Prime Minister Sushila Karki and Bhoj Bikram Thapa, on behalf of those who attained martyrdom and were injured during the Gen Z movement, signed the pact.
Likewise, Minister Kharel said that the Council of Ministers decided to expand the scope of the Investigation Commission formed by the Government to probe the incidents of the Gen-Z Movement of September 8 and 9.
Asked about the presence of then Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to record his statement in the Probe Commission, Minister Kharel said the jurisdiction of the Commission was expanded and the Commission will perform its job in accordance with the laws.
46, 000 new voters in Sudurpaschim Province
Forty-six thousand and twenty new voters have been registered in Sudurpaschim Province.
Prem Raj Bhatta, Head of the Sudurpaschim Province Election Office, said that there has been an increase in young voters for the House of Representatives elections to be held on March 5.
"Election material management and voter list updating works are going on. A deadline until Friday has been given for registering objections on the voter list and correction of any errors," Bhatta added.
He said the highest number of new voters was added in Kailali with 18,213 and the lowest in Bajura with 1,517 from September 26 to November 21, during the period opened for registering for the voter list.
Nepse plunges by 1. 66 points on Thursday
The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 1. 66 points to close at 2, 607. 37. 03 points on Thursday.
Similarly, the sensitive index, however, increased by 0. 11 points to close at 446. 30 points.
A total of 7,768,601-unit shares of 326 companies were traded for Rs 3. 49 billion.
Meanwhile, Swastik Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SWASTIK) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent.
Likewise, Muktinath Krishi Company Limited (MKCL) was the top loser as its price fell by 8. 42 percent.
At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 1. 47 trillion.
Tiger census from December 16
A tiger census is scheduled to begin in Chitwan National Park (CNP) from December 16. The census will also be conducted in three other national parks: Banke, Bardiya, and Shuklaphanta.
The three-month survey is conducted every four years.
According to CNP Information Officer Abinash Thapa Magar, enumerators will undergo orientation on December 16–17.
Participants will include CNP staff, technical experts from the National Trust for Nature Conservation, local volunteers, students, and conservation partners.
Around 150 personnel will be mobilized for the census.
Magar said that 900 grids have been demarcated in the two wildlife reserves. This means that a two square kilometres area will be counted using one grid.
During the counting process, the two reserves will be divided into three sections for counting.
Cameras will be placed in each section for 20 days. Each section will have 300 grids.
A camera will be placed in a grid for 20 days. Technicians will set up camp and stay in the spaces between the grids to conduct the counting.
Previously, in the tiger census conducted in 2022, it was reported that there were 335 adult tigers in Nepal.
In that census, 128 tigers were counted in Chitwan, 125 in Bardia National Park, 25 in Banke National Park, 41 in Parsa and 36 in Shuklaphanta.
According to Magar, preparations are underway to conduct a rhino census after the tiger census is completed.
Former Prez Bhandari observes Parliament building damaged during Gen Z movement
Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari today observed the Federal Parliament Building that was damaged during the September 8-9 Gen Z movement.
She reached the Federal Parliament building based in New Baneshwor to take stock of the extent of damage from the vandalism and arson.
Speaker Devraj Ghimire and National Assembly (NA) Chairperson Narayan Prasad Dahal apprised her of the losses.
Talking to the media following the inspection, she said she was disheartened to see the condition of the Federal Parliament Building.
13th Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival kicks off today
The 13th Nepal Human Rights International Film Festival (NHRIFF) is starting in Kathmandu today with the aim of bringing human rights-focused films from around the world under a single roof.
Festival director Pandav Khatri said that with the slogan 'Children's Rights', the festival will be held for five days until December 15 at the auditorium of the Film Development Board and Nepal Tourism Board.
"We are screening 50 films from 26 countries, and most of the films selected for the festival have already participated in prestigious international film festivals such as Cannes, Berlinale, Venice, and Busan," he said.
Khatri said the films screened at the festival would present the subject of human rights to the audience in an easy and simple manner.
He stated that the attractions of the festival include the 'Palme d'Or' (short film) winner 'I Am Glad You Are Dead Now' under the 'Cannes Film Festival 2025', 'Navi Lili', which was screened for the first time at the same festival, and 'Aajur', the first feature film in Bajjika language.
The NHRIFF organizers stated that various programs such as interactive group discussions, photo exhibitions, and 'live painting' will be held at the festival in the presence of directors, producers, artists, and human rights activists.
Australian leader defends social media ban as teens flaunt workarounds
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday took aim at young people parading themselves on social media a day after a world-first ban on under-16s went live, saying the rollout was always going to be bumpy but would ultimately save lives, Reuters reported.
A day after the law took effect with bipartisan support from the major political parties and backing by some three-quarters of Australian parents, the country's social media feeds were flooded with comments from people claiming to be under 16, including one on the prime minister's TikTok account saying "I'm still here, wait until I can vote".
