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The price of gold has dropped by Rs 500 per tola in the domestic market on Monday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 116, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 117, 000 per tola on Sunday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 115, 950 per tola. It was traded at Rs 116, 450.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,410 per tola today.

The Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) is assisting to construct 250 temporary shelters for the earthquake victims in Sudurpaschim Province.

NRCS is providing this assistance with financial support from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).

Multiple earthquakes that struck the province during the first week of this month had caused more damage in Bajhang and Bajura districts.

NRCS, Emergency Operations Centre coordinator Santosh Neupane said the NRCS is going to construct 250 temporary shelters with toilets for the earthquake-affected families in Bajhang and Bajura districts.

"We have already written to the districts for the construction of the shelters with toilets. We will complete the construction within one month," he said, adding that works on building the shelters will start soon.

He said the amount would also be provided to 600 affected families of the two districts at the rate of Rs 15,000 each for purchasing the essentials.

The NRCS had distributed tarpaulin sheets, blankets, jerry cans, mats and other logistics, reaching to the quake affected families of various municipalities in Bajhang and Bajura districts immediately after the disaster.

NRCS distributed different materials including 415 tarpaulin sheets and 377 blankets to the earthquake-affected families in Bajhang and 515 tarpaulin sheets and 413 blankets, among other relief materials to the needy families in Bajura.

According to the NRCS, a total of 9,876 families are affected in Bajhang. Out of these, the houses of 2,522 families have been completely destroyed and of 7,354 families partially damaged. 

Similarly, 6178 families were affected in Bajura. Out of them, the houses of 1,441 families were completely destroyed and of 4,737 families partially damaged by the tremors.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, who is currently on an official visit to Nepal, is scheduled to visit Sagarmatha (Everest) region today. After that he will leave for Pokhara in the afternoon.

The UN high official will leave for the Everest region on a Nepali Army helicopter depending on the weather and he will converse with the locals on topics related to how climate change has affected their daily lives, it has been learnt.

After returning from the Everest region, the Secretary General will hold a meeting with the UN team in Nepal at the UN House in Lalitpur, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated. Following this, he will leave for Pokhara in the afternoon.

Secretary General Guterres is accompanied by Under Secretary General for Peace Operations, Jean Pierre Lacroix, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations to Nepal Hanaa Singer-Hamdy and other officials from the UN Headquarters in New York and the United Nations country team in Nepal.

The UN dignitary arrived in Kathmandu on a four-day official visit at 1 am on Sunday at the invitation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

On the first day of his visit on Sunday, Secretary General Guterres called on President Ram Chandra Paudel at Sheetal Niwas and exchanged views on matters of long-standing partnership between Nepal and the United Nations.

Earlier the same day, the Secretary General had a meeting with Prime Minister Dahal at his office in Singh Durbar. Following the meeting, the Prime Minister and the Secretary General briefly addressed the media.

Secretary General Guterres also held a meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives Devraj Ghimire in the afternoon on Sunday. Matters relating to Nepal-UN relations were featured during the discussion.

Earlier the same day, the Secretary General held separate meetings with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defense Purna Bahadur Khadka, and Minister for Foreign Affairs N P Saud in Singh Durbar. Various aspects of Nepal-UN relations and co-operations were discussed during the meetings.

Secretary General Guterres also held separate meetings with former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and former Prime Minister and leader of the main opposition Party in the House of Representatives, KP Sharma Oli on Sunday afternoon.

The Secretary General also visited Patan Durbar Square, the UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Later in the evening, Prime Minister Dahal hosted an official banquet in honor of the Secretary General of the United Nations Guterres and his delegation.

In the course of the visit, the UN Secretary General will also be going to the Annapurna Base Camp and Lumbini.

He is also scheduled to address the joint sitting of the Federal Parliament on October 31, Tuesday, according to the Federal Parliament Secretariat.

Wrapping up his visit to Nepal, Secretary General Guterres will leave Kathmandu on November 1.

Visiting United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said that Nepal's efforts made to its graduation from LDC are praiseworthy.

Talking to the media after his meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the UN Secretary General also said that Nepal has played a key role in maintaining world peace and resolving multilateral issues.

"Besides peace building, Nepal has made positive achievements in political transformation in the past 20 years,' he said.

"Much more international action is needed. Developed countries must step up to support sustainable development, and help developing economies including Nepal to tackle the climate crisis.”

Saying that he will see the terrible impact of the climate crisis in Nepal, UN Secretary General Guterres argued that the developed nations should help Nepal in this regard.

On the occasion, Guterres said that the transitional justice process in Nepal must help bring peace to victims, families and communities and added that Nepal's transitional justice should meet international standards, the Supreme Court’s rulings, and the needs of victims.

Moreover, he urged to end the nightmare for the people of Gaza, Israel and all those affected around the world.

The UN Secretary General expressed his sympathies to the bereaved families of 10 Nepalis who lost their lives in Israel and hoped for the safe release of missing Bipin Joshi.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said United Nations (UN) Secretary General Antonio Guterres’s four-day official visit to Nepal would contribute to further strengthening Nepal's relations with the United Nations and international community.

Talking to the media following his meeting with UN Secretary General Guterres at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers this afternoon, the Prime Minister said that the visit would play a crucial role in further consolidating Nepal's ties with the international community.

"We discussed various matters of bilateral interest and national and international concerns in a very cordial atmosphere," the Prime Minister said, adding that they primarily focused on the issues of climate change.

During the high-level meeting, the Prime Minister applauded the role of Guterres as the UN Secretary General in mitigating the climate change impact. 

Nepal anticipated further bilateral and multilateral support from the UN and other international agencies in its efforts to address climate change, according to PM Dahal.  He also assured the UN Secretary-General that Nepal's peace process would reach a conclusion soon, expecting the role on the part of Guterres towards that end.

The meeting also delved into Nepal's economic development and prosperity, with Dahal urging the UN Secretary General to facilitate Nepal's transition to a developing nation and assist in achieving sustainable development goals.

According to the Prime Minister, the meeting was highly positive. 

"The UN Secretary-General is well aware of Nepal's political dynamics and peace process. He also acknowledged Nepal's contributions to the world peacekeeping mission. We also sought recognition in regard with our involvement towards that end."

The Prime Minister is hosting a cultural function followed by a dinner in honor of the UN Secretary-General this evening.

During the trip concluding on November 1, the UN Secretary-General is scheduled to visit Namche in Solukhumbu, Pokhara, Annapurna Base Camp and Lumbini as well. 

Visiting United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres held a meeting with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba at the federal Parliament building in New Baneshwor on Sunday.

During the meeting, they discussed Nepal’s peace process and climate change among others issues, Nepali Congress Vice-President and Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dhan Raj Gurung said.

At the invitation of Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, the United Nations Secretary General arrived in Nepal on a four-day official visit on Saturday.

Earlier, he held separate meetings with Prime Minister Dahal, Deputy Prime Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka and Foreign Minister NP Saud.

He had also held a meeting with CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 28. 18 points to close at 1,875.65 points on Sunday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 5. 16 points to close at 361. 94 points.

A total of 2,712,123-unit shares of 283 companies were traded for Rs 742 billion.

Meanwhile, Upper Solu Hydro Electric Company Limited was the top gainer today with its price surging by 8. 99 percent. Likewise, Sonapur Minerals and Oil Limited was the top loser with its price fell by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 88 trillion.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres expressed his grief over the death of 10 Nepalis in Israel.

He expressed his grief over the death of Nepali students in the West Asian country after a meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal on Sunday.

The Secretary General extended his condolences to the family members of the deceased.

He also expressed his belief over the safe return of Bipin Joshi who has been missing in Israel.

In addition to that Secretary General Guterres strongly condemned the armed attacks by the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas on Israel.

The Secretary General said that the attacks by Hamas on Israel that killed thousands of civilians is unacceptable.

Urging both sides to end the war immediately, he urged them to release the people held captive unconditionally.

Secretary General Guterres said that all should comply with international humanitarian law.

On a different note, the United Nations Secretary General said that he came to Kathmandu to further strengthen the relationship between Nepal and the United Nations.

At the invitation of Prime Minister Dahal, he arrived in Kathmandu on Saturday night.