Maoist revolt
The week's news at a glance.
Katmandu, Nepal
Maoist rebels shut down the Nepalese capital this week, as a rebellion against the monarchy spread. The rebels, who have been fighting the government for eight years, ordered businesses, markets, and schools to close. Such calls for general strikes are usually obeyed, out of fear that the communist rebels will kill dissenters. This week’s strike coincided with mass demonstrations against the king by major non-Maoist political parties calling for the return of democratic rule. King Gyanendra suspended the parliament two years ago. Since then, he has had to contend with angry pro-democracy demonstrators as well as communist rebels. Brother to the previous monarch, Gyanendra became king in 2001, after his nephew murdered most of the royal family.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Frauds: ‘fantastically stylish’ crime heist caper is a ‘triumph’
The Week Recommends Suranne Jones and Jodie Whittaker play a pair of ex-cons planning one last job
-
The struggles of Aston Martin
In the Spotlight The car manufacturer, famous for its association with the James Bond franchise, is ‘running out of road’
-
The end of ‘golden ticket’ asylum rights
The Explainer Refugees lose automatic right to bring family over and must ‘earn’ indefinite right to remain