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ICYMI: Here are our top stories from Monday, October 14
Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (October 14, 2019).Post Report
Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (October 14, 2019).
Xi departs, signing over two dozen agreements and memorandums
Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his two-day state visit to Nepal on Sunday with both sides extolling the elevation of bilateral relations and signing over two dozen agreements and memorandums of understanding, primarily concerning various infrastructure projects. Beijing has offered to extend financial support for all of these projects, either as grants or loans.
“The bilateral relationship between Nepal and China has entered a new phase,” reads a joint communiqué issued in Kathmandu on Sunday after Xi departed for Beijing. The two sides agreed, among others, to “respect each other’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity”.
Nepal, China sign MoU to develop 50-km road linking Kathmandu and Rasuwagadi
Nepal and China signed a memorandum of understanding on Sunday under which China will help build two stretches of the road linking Kathmandu and Rasuwagadhi. The road will include two tunnels.
The agreement was signed between Nepal’s Ministry of Finance and the China International Development Cooperation Agency in Kathmandu on Sunday, hours before Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his two-day state visit to Nepal.
Market aflush with ayurvedic medicines containing heavy metals in excessive amounts
Ayurvedic medicines containing heavy metals—arsenic, lead, and mercury—in excessive amounts have been found to be sold throughout the country for months.
Mahayograjguggul of batch SB0371, Prabal Bhasma of batch SB0115, Ekangavir Ras of batch SB0196, Vtagajankush Ras of batch SB 0190, Mahabata Bignasan Ras of batch SB0106, Vrit Batachintamani Ras of batch SB 0244and Vrit Batachintamani Ras of batch SB 0244 (all ayurvedic medicines) manufactured by Dabur India Ltd and imported by Dabur Nepal Pvt Ltd were found containing excessive amounts of heavy metal.
Nepal to achieve 6.5 percent growth, World Bank says
Nepal's economy is estimated to grow at 6.5 percent in this fiscal year 2019-20, way below the ambitious 8.5 percent target set by the government, according to the World Bank.
The World Bank said in its report entitled South Asia Economic Focus published on Sunday that the gross domestic product growth rate was forecast to reach 7.1 percent in 2019 and 6.4 percent in 2020.
Hybrid rice promises to change the face of paddy cultivation in Nepal
Dina Thakur of Belbari, Morang visits his farm and counts the grains at his standing paddy plants that have grown around 1.2 meter high. “There are around 370 rice grains tightly enveloped by the husk,” the 69-year-old farmer says excitedly.
There is a reason why Thakur is upbeat. This year, he is expecting to produce 9 tonnes of paddy on a hectare of land — three times the national average paddy productivity rate.
All this is because Thakur cultivated two high yielding hybrid varieties— Arize 6444 Gold and Arize Idea hybrids.