KAPILBASTU, 29 Mar 2005 (IRIN) - Dinanath, a Nepalese farmer, was struck by tragedy when he lost his wife following the birth of their child a few months ago.Full report

BARDIYA, 21 Mar 2005 (IRIN) - In July 2000 Nepal's government made a historic move to outlaw the 'Kamiaya' bonded labour system, which was akin to slavery. Kaliram Tharu breathed a sigh of relief that his family of Kamaiyas had been finally freed from bondage to his landlord and debilitating debts. The law has been in operation for five years but the situation hasn’t improved and many still suffer.Full report

KABUL, 14 Mar 2005 (IRIN) - A national campaign to boost girls' enrollment was launched in Afghanistan over the weekend as the country prepares for a new school year at the end of March.Full report

KATHMANDU, 10 Mar 2005 (IRIN) - Health workers in seven remote northwestern mountain districts of Nepal are gearing up for the final phase of an ambitious national measles vaccination campaign. Full report

ISLAMABAD, 2 Feb 2005 (IRIN) - Two independent reports on domestic violence against women in Pakistan have found that the country is suffering increasing levels of abuse in spite of legislation to provide women with protection.Full report

ANKARA, 2 Feb 2005 (IRIN) - The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has welcomed a decision by the Turkmen parliament to pass legislation banning child labour and guaranteeing freedom from economic exploitation as a right of children.Full report

ALMATY, 1 Feb 2005 (IRIN) - For Irina Geisler, a young ethnic German in the Kazakh commercial capital of Almaty, 'returning' to Germany, couldn't be more natural. "I feel German. It's my dream," the 19-year-old linguistics student told IRIN. Her application for German citizenship currently awaits approval. Full report

KABUL, 26 Jan 2005 (IRIN) - The spread of a severe whooping cough outbreak has been controlled in the central province of Urozgan after health workers finally reached the mountainous district of Gezab earlier this week. Full report

DUSHANBE, 25 Jan 2005 (IRIN) - The infant mortality rate is going up in northern Tajikistan, health officials say, citing poor socioeconomic conditions in the country. Of the 48,997 births officially registered in the region in 2004, there were 1,037 deaths of infants under one. This means the province has an infant mortality rate of 21.2 per 1,000 live births. In 2003, the rate in the province of Sogd stood at 13.5 cases per 1,000 live births. Full report

ANKARA, 24 Jan 2005 (IRIN) - Little has changed in Kyrgyzstan's political life over the past year. A local analyst told IRIN that it was like a temporary calm ahead of major events, including both parliamentary and presidential elections, scheduled for 2005. Full report

NEPAL: Focus on maternal mortality

NEPAL: Focus on former bonded labourers

KAZAKHSTAN: Interview with UN Resident Coordinator, Yuriko Shoji

UZBEKISTAN: Focus on child labour in southern cotton sector

UZBEKISTAN: Focus on rural schools