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The price of gold has increased by Rs 800 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 153, 100 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 152, 300 per tola on Tuesday.

Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 5 and is being traded at Rs 1,855 per tola today.

Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi paid a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Paudel at the latter's Office in Sheetal Niwas on Tuesday.

During the meeting, President Paudel mentioned that establishing an embassy of Oman in Kathmandu would be suitable for both countries considering the increasing number of Nepalis working in Oman. He also expressed the opinion that direct air connectivity between the two countries would help facilitate trade, promote tourism and enhance relations at the people-to-people level, according to President's Press Adviser Kiran Pokharel.

On the occasion, Visiting Foreign Minister Albusaidi responded that his government was positive about opening Oman's Embassy in Nepal and establishing direct air links between the two countries. "We highly value the contribution of the calm, gentle and hard-working Nepalis to the development of Oman."

Foreign Minister Albusaidi arrived in Kathmandu on Monday on a two-day official visit to Nepal.

Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba and her visiting Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi held a bilateral meeting on Tuesday.

During the meeting, they exchanged views on matters relating to Nepal-Oman bilateral interests, common concerns and the strengthening of bilateral relations, according to the Ministry.

They touched on issues relating to air connectivity, labor issues, investment, tourism, diplomatic exchanges, all sorts of bilateral cooperation and collaboration and so on. 

Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Ganesh Prasad Pandey, Nepal's Ambassador for Oman, Dornath Aryal and the Omani officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present in the meeting.

Minister Rana called on Oman to operate Nepal's international airports based in Bhairahawa and Pokhara, reminding of the closure of the flights at Bhairahawa following a brief operation. She said the government has decided to ensure more facilities for international airlines providing services in Nepal. In response, her counterpart said the Government of Oman will consider the matter.

Likewise, Nepal raised the topics of the rights and welfare of Nepali workers and additional labor destinations. The Nepali side raised this topic, stating that Oman could become a promising labor destination for Nepali workers as Oman has better labor laws and other environments.  

The Omani side stated that the Nepali workers were honest and conscientious and so Oman will hire additional Nepali workers based on requirement.

An agreement has been reached according to which the two countries will move ahead signing a labor agreement on this topic.

Foreign Minister Rana mentioned about the immense possibilities of tourism in Nepal due to its natural beauty, the Himalayan peaks over 8,000 meters high including the Sagarmatha and the various heritage sites enlisted in the list of World Heritage Sites.

She urged the Omani investors to invest in Nepal in various sectors including in tourism. "There are many areas for possible investment in Nepal. Therefore, I urge, through the Foreign Minister, the Government of Oman and the investors there to invest in Nepal," she added.

Talking briefly to journalists after the bilateral meeting with the Omani Foreign Minister, Foreign Minister Rana said talks were held on further deepening the relations between Nepal and Oman. She informed that preparations have been made on the two countries reaching agreement soon on labor, health, tourism and foreign affairs.

Minister Dr Rana also said that Oman was willing to invest in the priority sectors in tourism in Nepal.

According to her, they reviewed overall aspects of Nepal-Oman relations including matters relating to labor and employment, tourism, trade, air connectivity, investment, among others.

Nine complaints have been filed against 17 proposed ambassadors to different countries at the Parliamentary Hearing Committee (PHC).

Committee President Ishwori Devi Neupane said the hearing on the complaints has been scheduled to start from August 30.

"Nine complaints have been filed against 17 ambassadors proposed by the government for various countries. We will call the complainants at the Committee and ask them to clarify the subject of their complaint and its rationale," she mentioned.

Neupane further said, "Schedule has been revised and passed in accordance with Section 15 of Parliamentary Hearing Committee Procedure on the issue of concluding the hearing process, holding discussion by calling the proposed ambassadors."

During the meeting, lawmakers expressed the view that the appointment of ambassador was not inclusive. Lawmakers—Pashupati Shumsher JB Rana, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Janardan Sharma, Prakash Adhikari, Ananda Prasad Dhungana, Leelanath Shrestha, Ishwori Gharti, Mahesh Kumar Bartaula, Bhagawati Neupane, among others, raised the question saying the government failed to ensure participation of Dalit, Madhesh and Muslim communities while making recommendation of the ambassadors.  

They shared that the Committee's request of maintaining inclusion while appointing ambassadors was not implemented. 

The government had recommended Prof Dr Krishna Prasad Oli as the ambassador to China, Sunnima Tuladhar to Denmark, Dr Shail Rupakheti to Germany, Dr Shankar Prasad Sharma to India, Prof Dhan Prasad Pandit to Israel,  Dr Netra Prasad Timalsina, Rita Dhital to Pakistan, Prakash Manu Poudel to Portugal, Ramesh Chandra Poudel to Qatar, Jung Bahadur Chauhan to Russia, Naresh Bikram Dhakal to Saudi Arabia, Prof Dr Kapilman Shrestha to South Africa, Dr Shiva Maya Tumbahamphe to South Korea, Sanil Nepal to Spain, Ram Krishna Bhattarai to Sri Lanka, Chandra Kumar Ghimire to UK and Lok Darshan Regmi to USA.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 111. 96 points to close at 2,782.60 points on Tuesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 22. 87 points to close at 496. 47 points.

A total of 43,868,970-unit shares of 330 companies were traded for Rs 18.  billion.

Meanwhile, Taragaon Regency Hotel Limited (TRH), Aatmanirbhar Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (ANLB) and Dolti Power Company Limited (DOLTI) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Nepal Finance Ltd. (NFS) was the top loser with its price dropped by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 41 trillion.

Visiting Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Tuesday.

During the meeting held at the Singha Durbar-based Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, matters relating to bilateral interest and mutual concerns and benefits were discussed, according to the Prime Minister's Secretariat.

Prime Minister's chief advisor Bishnu Prasad Rimal and Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal were also present in the meeting.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Government of the Sultanate of Oman arrived in Kathmandu on Monday on a two-day official visit at the invitation of his Nepali counterpart Arzu Rana Deuba.

Nepal and Oman had established diplomatic ties on January 21, 1977.

The gold is being traded at Rs 152, 300 per tola in the domestic market on Tuesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,850 per tola today. 

Police have arrested four persons with a huge cache of gold and silver from Nepalgunj.

DSP Narayan Dangi of the District Police Office, Banke said that four persons were nabbed with 34 tola of gold and 10.5 kg of silver from Nepalgunj.

They were apprehended from a jewelry shop in the town. However, the shop owner has managed to flee.

Police have not yet revealed the identities of the arrested.

Police detained them acting on a tip-off.