A general strike called by ethnic minority groups demanding improved rights under Nepal’s new constitution brought the capital Kathmandu and several other cities to a halt on Wednesday.

External affairs minister S.M.

Ahead of indian external affairs minister S.M. Krishna's proposed visit, India has lodged protests with Nepal over the Maoist party stepping up anti-India activities, including the defacing of its national flag.

Nepal and Bhutan agreed on Friday to resume negotiations on the repatriation of Bhutanese refugees who fled their homeland two decades ago.

China’s Army Chief wrapped up a high level visit to Nepal on Thursday, signing a new aid deal with Kathmandu's military that further cements ties between the two neighbours.

Nepal’s new leader began the task of forming a coalition government on Friday that will face major challenges as the country struggles to complete its transformation to a peaceful, secular democracy.

Maoists, who are set to stake claim to form a new government in Nepal, have dismissed reports that India is their "principal enemy", but highlighted the need to regulate the open border with the neighbouring country and favoured visas for Indian visitors.

As Nepal kicked off its tourism year on Saturday, along with 10 other foreign visitors, a legislator from Bihar became the first Indian to hit the headlines in the Himalayan republic in 2011, but for

Nepal's peace process is at a crossroads, the head of the United Nations has warned, just two weeks before the planned closure of a UN peace mission in the troubled country.

UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon said the lack of progress in the peace process that began when Nepal's bloody civil war ended more than four years ago was a "growing concern".

"Nepal's peace process is at a crossroads," Ban said in a report to the UN security council published in New York on Thursday.

"The prolonged political deadlock that has hampered progress has become a growing concern for Nepalis and the international community alike as key timelines and deadlines approach in the coming months."

Nepal has increased load-shedding to 74 hours starting on Wednesday due to rapid decrease of water level in rivers.