Kathmandu - United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon arrived in the Nepalese capital Kathmandu Friday evening for a two-day visit.

During his stay in Nepal, Ban is scheduled to meet Nepalese President Ram Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav and other politicians.

Talks with Nepalese leaders are expected to focus on the UN role in the country's peace process as well as hurdles seen in the integration of former Maoist rebels into the national army.

The UN formally became involve with Nepal's peace process following the signing of a peace accord between the Maoist rebels and the government led by then-prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala.

Kathmandu - Nepal's Maoist-led government began the process to integrate thousands of former rebel fighters into the national army and other security agencies, a government minister said Wednesday.

"The government formed a high-level committee that will make final decisions on the integration of the former rebel fighters, manage and rehabilitate them," government spokesman and minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara said.

Kathmandu - A senior United Nations official said Friday that Nepal faced multiple challenges to its peace process despite making tremendous progress in ending its decadelong conflict that pitted the government against Maoist rebels.

While the election in April of a constituent assembly was a landmark achievement, major hurdles lie ahead for the successful conclusion of the peace process, said Ian Martin, the head of United Nations Mission in Nepal.

Kathmandu, Oct 24 : The Nepali Congress (NC) has claimed that the Maoists are trying to promote a former People''s Liberation Army (PLA) commander to the coveted post of Chief of Nepal Army (NA).

Nepali Congress leader Shovakar Parajuli on Thursday said that the Maoists are covertly engaged in promoting Nanda Kishore Pun as the next Army chief.

Kathmandu - Nepal's former king and his family members face a possible cut in their electricity supply due to hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid electricity bills, officials said Friday.

The officials said they have had no response from former king Gyanendra or his family members despite notices warning them to pay the outstanding amount or face electricity cuts within 15 days.

The deadline is the first week of November.

Kathmandu, Oct 23 : Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda inaugurated the National symposium on Public-Private Partnership (PPP) here on Wednesday.

Addressing the opening ceremony of the symposium, Prachanda said the model of PPP is the best alternative for the development of Nepal. We not only need peace but also an economic development to sustain that peace.

“The PPP was required to build big projects so that local people can themselves emulate the model in building small and medium size development projects,” he added.

Prachanda also called for change in the mindset and culture in line with the political change in the country.