This week

Futile elections
Parliament conducted two rounds of elections within a week for the post of prime minister. NC's lone contender, Ram Chandra Poudel, could not win even on the 11th attempt on Thursday, once more failing to garner a simple majority of 301 votes in the 601-member parliament. NC has 114 seats in parliament and requires 187 votes to win. UCPN (Maoist), UML and the Madhesi alliance have been boycotting the election process, demanding a consensus candidate for the post.

Pascoe's visit
United Nations Under-Secretary General for Political Affairs,
B Lynn Pascoe, arrived in Kathmandu Wednesday to observe the ongoing peace process and to encourage its progress. He met the prime minister and top leaders of major parties, and urged progress on the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants by mid-January 2011. Pascoe will prepare a report on the implementation of recent agreements between the parties and the government that settled the row over the extension of UNMIN's term.

Mr Gurung goes to London
Army Chief Chhatraman Singh Gurung left for the UK on a ten-day official visit on Sunday at the invitation of the British army chief. Gurung will hold talks with British General Sir Peter Wall on matters of mutual interest, including support to UN peacekeeping operations, Britain's Gurkha regiment, and the resolution of the peace process in Nepal. It has been learnt that he skipped meetings with senior staff at the Foreign Office and the Department for International Development after the Nepali embassy expressed concern, saying an army-level visit is not entitled to engage in discussions on issues related to the government.