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Home Minister Sudhan Gurung has said that he has already mentioned about the share worth Rs 2.5 million he owns in his property details submitted to the government. 

In his response to media reports about his property ownership, he said his property details are available in the official webpage of the Council of Ministers. 

The Secretariat of the Home Minister said, "All shares are not of the same nature. The Minister's property details clearly mention that he owns shares worth over Rs 20 million registered in the stock market.  The Secretariat further said that the investments in the Star Micro Insurance and Liberty Micro Life have been included in the same share group.  

The investment in the share market is not an offense, the Secretariat said, adding that all the transactions were carried out through the banking channels and they are recorded within the system. 

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 13. 17 points to close at 2, 825. 22 points on Monday. 

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 3. 21 points to close at 473. 71 points.

A total of 11,653,370-unit shares of 349 companies were traded for Rs 1. 60 billion.

Meanwhile, Suryakunda Hydro Electric Limited (SKHEL) and Hotel Forest Inn Limited (HFIN) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 15. 00 percent.

Likewise,  Dolti Power Company Limited (DOLTI) was the top loser as their price fell by 5. 35 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 81 trillion.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on April 20 that every rational and diplomatic path should be used to reduce tensions with the US, but added that vigilance and distrust in interactions with Washington were an “undeniable necessity”, according to the official IRNA news agency, Reuters reported. 

A two-week ceasefire between Iran and the US is set to expire on April 22, with US representatives set to reach Islamabad for Iran negotiations on April 20, while Tehran has yet to announce whether it will send a delegation to Pakistan.

Iranian state TV quoted an unnamed informed source as saying there were no plans for a second round of negotiations due to the US’ “excessive and irrational” demands as well as its changing stances.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs S. Paul Kapur arrived in Kathmandu on Monday. 

During his visit to Nepal, he is scheduled to meet government officials, business leaders, and cultural experts. 

The visit aims to further strengthen the Nepal–US partnership, according to the US Embassy.

Thousands of people were evacuated from a northern suburb of Paris while a World War Two bomb was rendered safe on Sunday, BBC reported. 

Residents in Colombes living within a 450m radius of where the device was found last month were told by police to leave their homes by 07:00 local time (05:00 GMT), as authorities carried out a bomb disposal operation. 

An inital attempt to remove the device's detonator failed, French media reports, prompting authorities to destroy the historic munition in situ with a controlled explosion.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 1, 300 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 299, 700 per tola today.   It was traded at Rs 301, 000 per tola on Sunday.

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 35 per tola and is being traded at Rs 5, 190 per tola.

Thirty new species of birds were spotted in Gulmi. 

As per the bird count conducted by Bird Conservation Nepal, the total species of birds found in the district reached 355 with 30 new ones. 

Project Officer of Bird Conservation Nepal, Shambhu Bhattarai, said that new species of birds were recorded in Thaple Satyawati Forest Area.

Likewise, Spiny Babbler, a bird found only in Nepal, is also recorded in the district's Resunga, Madane and Thaple Satyawati forest area. 

The other birds recorded in the district include Egyptian vulture, slender-billed vulture, white-rumped vulture, Himalayan griffon, golden eagle, koel, crested serpent eagle, kalij pheasant, Himalayan monal, owls, partridges, among others.

Chennai Super Kings' patchy Indian Premier League (IPL) campaign suffered a fresh blow after their teenaged batter Ayush Mhatre tore his hamstring, an injury that could put him on the sidelines for a long spell, Reuters reported. 

The 18-year-old has been the most prolific batter for five-time champions Chennai, who dropped to seventh place in the 10-team league after Saturday's defeat by Sunrisers Hyderabad.

The top-order batter milked 30 off 12 balls but was seen clutching his hamstring and required lengthy on-field treatment before being dismissed.