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The government in one of the world's youngest democracies collapsed yesterday when the Prime Minister of Nepal resigned. This ends government rule by former Maoist guerrillas, who took power in elections after fighting a ten-year civil war against the King. Protests from all sides have exploded in Kathmandu in recent days. Somini Sengupta joins The Takeaway with more of the story. She's the South Asia Bureau chief for our partner The New York Times.

Today, Tamil separatist fighters ignored an ultimatum issued by the Sri Lankan government. Despite potentially risking the lives of tens of thousands of civilians, the Tamil rebels refused to surrender, trapping the civilians who are unable to flee the city. Fierce fighting continues now. Joining us with details of the ignored ultimatum is Somini Sengupta, South Asia Bureau Chief for the New York Times .

Soon the entire subcontinent of India will have a job. They must go to their nearest polling place and elect a new government. No one is making predictions on this election other than to forecast that whatever unwieldy coalition government is elected, they have a tough road ahead. The global economic crisis has not failed to hit India, slowing growth for the first time in years. Despite the influx of three stimulus plans, which dramatically increased the deficit, the nation is still struggling, and none more than the poorest. Here with an election guide is Somini Sengupta, the South Asia bureau chief for the New York Times.

For more, read Somini Sengupta's article, As Elections Near, Tightrope Awaits in India, in today's New York Times.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh warned that she'd take tough action against a mutiny by paramilitary border security guards if they did not surrender their weapons immediately. The violence arose from grievances on pay and treatment from army commanders. New York Times reporter Somini Sengupta joins the show to talk about the standoff in Bangladesh.

Read Somini Sengupta's article, Army’s Border Guards Rebel in Bangladesh, in the New York Times.

UPDATE: The Associated Press is now reporting that the Bangladeshi government says all mutinous border guards have laid down their arms.

Sri Lanka marks its 61st Independence Day today, but the celebrations have been muted by ongoing skirmishes between the government and separatists. The President declared that the military has nearly crushed the 25-year Tamil rebellion for a separate homeland, but fighting continues and the humanitarian crisis worsens. For more we are joined by Somini Sengupta, the South Asia bureau chief for the New York Times.

For more, read Somini Sengupta's article, Wounded Flee Shelling of a Hospital in Sri Lanka, in today's New York Times.

As the civil war in Sri Lanka continues, the Sri Lankan army has hemmed in the rebels, the Tamil Tigers, in the northeast corner of the country. Caught in the crossfire are an estimated 250,000 civilians who live in the area. Food stocks are dwindling, and Sri Lanka's president today is urging Tamil Tiger rebels to allow the civilians trapped there to leave. For a closer look at these troubling events, we turn to Somini Sengupta, the New Delhi bureau chief for the New York Times.

Somini Sengupta, The New York Times' New Delhi bureau chief, updates the latest from Bombay and the geopolitical ripple effects of last week's attacks.