RIGHTS: Nepal Plunged Into the Dark Ages, Cry Dissidents

Overseas Nepalis, even supporters of the monarchy, have criticised King Gyanendra - as the political turmoil in the Himalayan nation enters its fifth day since the monarch imposed strong media censorship after dismissing the government of Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and declaring a state of emergency in the country.

POLITICS-SOUTH ASIA: Nepal Plays the China Card

Prithvi Narayan Shah, the 18th century founder of modern Nepal famously described his fortified kingdom in the Himalayas as a yam between the two boulders of India and China.

RIGHTS-NEPAL: Tough Media Censorship Marks Royal Coup

It was supposed to be the beginning of a three-day strike called by Nepal's rebel Maoists. But unlike previous ones, Thursday began as a normal day - there was the usual rush hour traffic, shops and business districts remained open and even children went off to schools.

RIGHTS-NEPAL: 1990 Constitutional Monarch, 2005 King-Less Republic?

In May 1990, the winds of change that began with the collapse of the Berlin Wall and freeing of South Africa's Nelson Mandela, had reached the Himalayan Hindu kingdom of Nepal. The role of the god-king - the incarnation of Lord Vishnu - was challenged.

RIGHTS-NEPAL: Democracy Gets Royal Flush Down the Drain

King Gyanendra's dismissal of Nepal's elected government on Tuesday and assumption of direct power for the next three years is being seen here as a clear snub to India and Western powers that have been urging him to strengthen democracy in his Himalayan kingdom, sandwiched between Asian giants India and China.

RIGHTS-NEPAL: Tibetan Refugees Left in Limbo With Office Closure

Most people passing through the Lazimpat area in Nepal's capital hardly know that a very low profile organisation, close to the French Embassy, shelters hundreds of Tibetan refugees in its premises at any given time.

RIGHTS-NEPAL: Children Victimised in Escalating War

Children are being increasingly killed, injured, recruited as soldiers and subjected to other abuses by both government and rebel forces in the armed conflict in Nepal, according to a report released Wednesday by a children's rights group.

POLITICS-NEPAL: No Maoist Talks, So The Vote is On

The ultimatum was given to Nepal's Maoists rebels to talk, failing which elections will be held in the Himalayan kingdom. They missed the deadline and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has now started consultations to announce fresh parliamentary polls.

POLITICS-SOUTH-ASIA: Questions Surround Nepal King’s India Visit

Nepal's King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev begins a 11-day visit to India on Thursday despite mounting criticism back home, with detractors accusing the monarch of trying to legitimise his role by seeking military assistance from New Delhi to crush an on-going Maoist insurgency in the Himalayan kingdom.

POLITICS-RUSSIA: Yeltsin Quits To Steer Chosen Successor Into The Kremlin

Russian President Boris Yeltsin pulled his last and biggest surprise out of his hat, announcing his resignation Friday, just 12 hours before the New Year.

RIGHTS-MOROCCO: Amnesty Sparks Democratic Expectations

The unexpected amnesty granted to political prisoners by Morocco's new king Mohammed VI on the first day of his effective reign raised great expectations about fundamental political change in this north-African country.

POLITICS-RUSSIA: Yeltsin Won, Political System Lost

A seemingly strengthened president Boris Yeltsin will push this week for a stronger role in solving the conflict in the Balkans, but at home there is a growing perception that the Parliament's failure to impeach him this weekend only further weakened Russia's political system.

POLITICS-ISRAEL: Russian and Middle East Jews Will Decide Elections

The outcome of Israel's most fateful election Monday will be decided by a contest between two ethnic groups among Jewish Israelis - the Russian- speakers from Europe and the Arabic- speakers from the Middle East.

CRIME-BRAZIL: Witness Protection Law to Fight Impunity

Brazil will soon have a strong ally to fight crime and impunity. A law is in the works to create the Federal Assistance Programme for Victims and Threatened Witnesses.

WEEKLY SELECTION-SRI LANKA: Parents of Missing Soldiers Yearn To Know

When Janaka Thenuwara, a young Sri Lankan navy officer was freed by his Tamil rebel captors, after a year in custody, he vowed to set up an organisation to campaign for the release of all prisoners of war and an end to the civil war.

WEEKLY SELECTION – Paraguay’s Vice-President Killed in Wake of Ruling Party Split

The vice-president of Paraguay, Luis Maria Argana, was assassinated in the capital of this South American country Tuesday in the wake of a confrontation with President Raul Cubas that led to a split in the long-governing Colorado Party.

CONFLICT-MEXICO: Guerrillas Leave the Forest to Tour the Nation

Hundreds Zapatista National Liberation Army (EZLN) fighters will travel from Chiapas to various points around Mexico to promote a plebiscite, while their weapons - used for barely 12 days five years ago - gather rust.

WEEKLY SELECTION-COLOMBIA: Guerrilla Pledges Justice for Murderers

The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), which admitted the "error" of killing three indigenous rights activists from the United States, says it will bring the culprits to justice itself.

Weekly Selection/INDIA: Missionary’s Killing Marks A Turning Point

The burning alive of an Australian missionary and his two sons in rural Orissa marks an abysmal low in India's religion-driven right-wing politics.

Weekly Selection/SRI LANKA: Ruling Party Win Marred by Violence

Sri Lanka's ruling People's Alliance has emerged victorious in elections for the northwestern Provincial Council, but the poll has been marred by unprecedented levels of violence.

Weekly Selection/INDIA: Fundamentalist Shadow Over Republic Day

India celebrated its 49th Republic Day, Jan 26 with right-wing, Hindu fundamentalism casting a shadow over the ideals of religious secularism promised in the Constitution.