Kathmandu, July 24 : The term of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) has been extended for another six months to allow the mission to complete its monitoring and management of the arms and personnel of the Nepal Army and the Maoist People''s Liberation Army (PLA) combatants.

According to Nepalnews, the UN Security Council adopting the resolution unanimously to this effect last night renewed the mandate of the mission through January 23 next year.

They also called on Nepal''s political parties to support the peace process so that UNMIN could wrap up its work soon.

Kathmandu, July 24: There were minor demonstrations in Nepal against the newly elected Vice President Parmananda Jha after he took his oath of office and secrecy in Hindi.

According to Nepalnews, student organisations affiliated with different parties staged demonstrations today. They demanded that Jha apologize for taking oath in a "foreign language".

Residents of Gajuri in Dhading district also barred vehicles from plying on the road by imposing transportation strike.

They said that this was a matter of grave concern, putting at risk the sovereignty of the country.

Kathmandu, July 24 : Following the election of Dr. Ram Baran Yadav as President and Paramananda Jha as Vice President, the race to form the new Government in Nepal has started.

The decks have been further cleared with the formal resignation of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala who tendered his resignation to President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav.

The election of chairman of Constituent Assembly (CA), too, is likely to take place today with the Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) candidate Subas Nemwang set to be elected unopposed.

Kathmandu - Thousands of people were displaced from their homes in eastern Nepal after flooding caused by heavy monsoon rains inundated their villages, media reports said Thursday.

More than 1,500 houses were partially underwater in Saptari and Sunsari districts, about 400 kilometres east of the capital, forcing residents to seek refuge elsewhere, the Kathmandu Post newspaper reported.

"Over two dozen villages were inundated by floods triggered by continuous rainfall since Tuesday evening," the newspaper said. "The houses were under one metre of water which destroyed foodstuffs, clothing and other material."

Officials said about 9,000 people were affected by the floods in eastern Nepal.

Kathmandu, July 24: India has congratulated Nepal's President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav and Vice President Paramananda Jha after they assumed their respective offices.

President Pratibha Patil has sent a letter congratulating President Yadav.

In her message, Patil said, "Your election as President represents a new chapter in Nepal's historic democratic transition. I am confident that Nepal will progress further on the path of peace, democracy and development."

"We attach the highest priority to further developing our close and multi-faceted relationship with Nepal," she added.

India's Vice President Hamid Ansari also congratulated Vice President Paramananda Jha.

Kathmandu, July 23 : Nepal newly elected President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav and Vice President Paramananda Jha were sworn in amid a grand ceremony at Shital Niwas here today.

According to Nepalnews, Chief Justice of Nepal Kedar Prasad Giri administered oath of office and secrecy to President Yadav.

The President was given military honour after he was sworn in.

Following the swearing ceremony, Yadav assumed his office as the President of Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal.