KATHMANDU, 23 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - Nepal’s seven main political parties say they are preparing for talks with the leaders of the nation’s Maoist rebels, who have been waging a violent campaign against the state for the last nine years. Over 12,000 people have died in the continuing insurgency.Full report

BARDIYA, 22 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - Every evening, Kamala Tharu and her two young daughters Dilkumari and Premkumari sit near their house in the district of Bardiya, 700km west of the capital, Kathmandu, gazing at the dusty tracks that lead to their village in the vain hope of seeing husband and father, Laka Jawan Lahanu, returning.Full report

KATHMANDU, 17 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - Some national and international NGOs in Nepal say they are seriously concerned over the introduction of the Social Welfare (First Amendment) Ordinance 2005. The new government ruling was promulgated during the last week of July and gives new powers to the state to enable it to control and regulate programmes run by NGOs and their activities. Full report

KATHMANDU, 11 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - Since King Gyanendra took over direct rule of Nepal six months ago on 1 February, at least 1,115 people have been killed according to a report published by Insec, a local human rights group.Full report

KATHMANDU, 9 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - A government initiative to hand over the management of all state-run schools to local communities has given new hope to parents and teachers alike in Nepal, where the education sector has suffered due to years of conflict.Full report

BAITADI, 8 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - In Nwali and Deulekh village development committees (VDCs) of Baitadi district, about 800 km west of the Nepali capital, Kathmandu, people live in constant fear of diarrhoea. It’s a simple and easily curable condition yet local villagers see many of their young children die from it every year.Full report

NAWALPARASI, 4 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - Prahlat Sahni is just an ordinary villager living in Sarabal village of Nawalparasi district, about 200 km southeast of the Nepali capital, Kathmandu. He makes a meager income from his small farm and has no political interest at all.Full report

KATHMANDU, 1 Aug 2005 (IRIN) - The World Bank on Monday signed two grants totaling US $35 million with the Nepalese government for the development of rural road infrastructure and economic reform.Full report

KATHMANDU, 26 Jul 2005 (IRIN) - With some 400 children killed in the nine-year Maoist conflict, it is clear that it is the country’s young population that is most vulnerable, living constantly in fear and insecurity, a new report by Amnesty International (AI) said.Full report

SUNSARI AND BANKE, 25 Jul 2005 (IRIN) - Flood victims in two of Nepal's flood-prone districts, Sunsari and Banke, located in the far eastern and western regions of the country, accuse both the government and international relief agencies of neglecting their plight.Full report

NEPAL: Community-run schools make progress

NEPAL: Growing concern over vigilante groups

NEPAL: Focus on malnutrition

NEPAL: Remittances - making a real impact on poverty

NEPAL: Interview with Ian Martin, head of UN human rights monitoring