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In order to protect the countries forests from illegal logging the Nepalese government has handed control of the land over to the local communities.

There are now fifteen thousand such community run forests in Nepal.  

Rajan Parajuli went to visit one of the projects in the mountainous region of western Nepal.

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In Bangladesh, there are four doctors for every nurse.

According to the World health organisation there should be at least three nurses posted against a doctor.

But in Bangladesh there is only one nurse per eight beds.

While thousands of well trained nurses cannot find work.

This week they reached the breaking point and took to the streets, staging a hunger strike demanding immediate change.

They threatened to set themselves on fire in if their demands weren’t met.

Our reporter in Bangladesh, Ric Wasserman has the story.

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When you think of the Himalayas what images come to mind – snow and rushing, cold mountain streams?

Well at the moment the area is in the midst of a drought and hills usually covered with snow are bare.

According to Nepalese Department of Metrology and Hydrology the temperature is increasing by more than half a degree every year.

And as Rajan Parajuli found out global warming is changing the way farming communities live and survive.

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Last week on Asia Calling, we heard about a popular tourist town in south-west China called Shangri-la.

Its evocative name, and its beautiful landscape on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau, have been attracting more and more domestic and foreign tourists in recent years.

But for locals, it’s sometimes been hard to get a share of the tourist dollars.

With poor levels of formal education, and no skills related to tourism and hospitality, many people have been left out of this new economy.

But, as Elise Potaka finds out, one small not-for-profit training college is trying to change all that.

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The word “Shangri-la” has long conjured up images of a peaceful, spiritual haven high up in the Himalayas.

It was popularised by British novelist, James Hilton, back in the 1930’s with his adventure tale, “Lost Horizon”.

But what happens when you pin-point Shangri-la on the map, and claim it’s a real place?

Well, one small county in southern China has done just that.

Elise Potaka has the story.

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Fear of suicide bombings and attacks by the Pakistani Taliban is turning Peshawar into a solemn town.

People avoid going to parks and large gatherings in the capital of the North West Frontier Province.

All forms of entertainment have been stopped including wedding singers.

Singer assemblies were a key part of traditional weddings but fear of militant attacks is stopping people from inviting them.

As Mudassar Shah in Peshawar finds out this means the Wedding Singers are turning to the street to survive.

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We heard last week on Asia Calling that there are divisions amongst opposition groups in Burma over whether to boycott the government’s planned elections later this year.

This week we hear what the average Burmese person feels about the upcoming poll.

Ronald Aung Naing has been speaking with people in the border town of Mae Sot.

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The Burmese opposition is divided over whether to join or boycott this year’s general elections being promised by the military government.

The elections would be the first in 20 years when the opposition party the National League for Democracy victory was ignored by the military junta.

Ronald Aung Naing travel to the Thai border town of Mae Sot to speak with the different opposition groups ahead of the election.