<p>Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said his informal meet together with the Chinese President and the Indian Prime Minister in course of the BRICS-BIMSTEC Outreach Summit was a pleasant coincidence. </p><p>During a press briefing at Tribhuvan International Airport following his return from India after participating in the outreach summit, Prime Minister Dahal said the informal meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi took pace in the waiting room. He further said it was a mere coincidence. </p><p>PM Dahal said it was a chance to reiterate the trilateral cooperation, reminding that Nepal is a small country sandwiched by the big ones. Both of them took it positively," he said, adding that they were positive on his sharing that the important touristy issues relating to Buddha, Janaki and Pashupati have bound the three countries for long, similar connections are created by science and technology. </p><p>According to PM Dahal, during the meeting with Chinese President Xi, issues of friendly relations based on the panchasheel, bilateral interests and implementation of past agreements were discussed. He further said President Xi showed interest in visiting Nepal soon. </p><p>The Prime Minister also reminded that during his meeting with the Indian PM Modi, discussion was held on the imminent visit of the Indian President to Nepal, timely completion of the projects run with bilateral cooperation, and the implementation of the agreements made during his visit to India as formation of a joint monitoring mechanism to inspect and evaluate the projects funded by Indian assistance.</p><p>Meanwhile, he shared that intensive discussion was held for the common interests and progress of the BRICS and BIMSTEC member states. <br><br></p>

<p>Buddhist scholar Pandit Badri Ratna Bajracharya passed away on Sunday at the age of 84.</p><p>His last rites were performed at Shovabhagawati-based Karnadweep today. </p><p>Pandit Bajracharya was a renowned Buddhist scholar from Kathmandu.</p><p>He was an acclaimed orator of religious stories and scriptures and an expert on Buddhism.</p><p>He has authored various books related to Buddhism and philosophy. He is survived by three sons and four daughters. <br><br><br></p>

<p>Nepal Workers and Peasants Party chair Narayan Man Bijukchhe has said the government isn't serious to hold the elections in the stipulated time. </p><p>Speaking at a face to face interaction organized by the Rafat Sanchar Club in Bhaktapur today, leader Bijukchhe cast doubts over the timely elections as per the constitutional provision.</p><p>He even shared that the Election Commission itself is saying that the government isn't cooperating to fix the dates for the elections. </p><p>He further claimed that the sovereignty of the nation might be at risk if unnecessary demands of Tarai-centric parties were fulfilled through constitution amendment. <br><br><br></p>

<p>&nbsp; Banana farmers of Kanchanpur and Kailali districts today staged demonstrations in front of the main entrance to the Gaddachauki Customs Office, Kanchanpur, to protest free import of bananas from India. <br><br>They argued bananas being imported from India without going through lab tests contain high pesticide residue and are inedible.</p><p>Bananas being supplied into the district from India contain pesticide residues higher than the set standard, they said. <br><br><br></p>

<p>A total of 178 people have been found infected with dengue in two months' period from mid-August in Chitwan district.<br><br>According to Vector Control Supervisor at the District Public Health Office, Chitwan, Ram KC, 178 people were infected with dengue till October 8 from mid-August while 53 more dengue patients were found in the gap of six days till October 10. <br><br></p>