In a surprising move, Nepal’s new Maoist government asked its ambassador to India, Durgesh Man Singh, to return to Kathmandu immediately.

Kathmandu - The number of tourists visiting Nepal increased to their highest level in eight years in October, coinciding with the start of the trekking season, officials said Tuesday.

Figures released by the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) said 50,567 tourists arrived in Nepal via air in October, an increase of 16.6 per cent from the same period last year.

The growth was the highest the country has seen in eight years for a single month and represented a healthy outlook for the winter and spring seasons that are considered the best time for trekking in the Himalayas.

Kathmandu - Nepal's former Maoist rebel combatants have issued veiled threats against political parties over growing opposition to their integration into the national army, a media report said Tuesday.

Rebel commanders said they were meeting in western Nepal to discuss how to respond to political opposition to the large-scale inclusion of combatants in the country's security forces, Kantipur newspaper said.

"The discussions have focused on whether to accept the decision by the political leadership or opt for another revolt," Kantipur newspaper quoted an unnamed Maoist commander as saying.

Kathmandu, Nov 3: The two major parties of the Nepalese ruling alliance — CPN (Maoist) and CPN-UML — formed a 12-member joint committee to suggest ways to run the government and to smooth out the souring relations between the two parties.

A meeting of the top leaders of the two communist parties held on Sunday at the UML parliamentary party office today formed the coordination committee comprising six members from each party.

Kathmandu, Nov 1: United Nation’s Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon today said that he will continue to pledge UN''s support to Nepal.

Addressing a special meeting of the Constituent Assembly (CA) here, the Secretary General said, "I have been, and will continue to watch with great interest, the peace process and its achievements, and to pledge the UN''s continued strong support."

Kathmandu - Visiting United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon Saturday reiterated the need to resolve the issue of former Maoist combatants.

Speaking to the press at the end of his two day visit to Nepal, Ban described the issue to integrate former rebel combatants into the security agencies as one of the most important issues in the peace process.