Kathmandu, Nepal — About two dozen Tibetans jailed in Nepal for protesting the Chinese occupation of their homeland have gone on a hunger strike in Kathmandu. In the past Nepal was very sympathetic toward Tibetan refugees, but with China’s growing economic investments in Nepal, policies have changed.

New Delhi, India — The recent visit of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin to New Delhi has revealed new trends in the relationships between India, Russia and the United States. In 24 hours Russia concluded agreements in defense, nuclear power, trade, mining, foreign policy, aeronautics and space cooperation.

Kolkata, India — It’s time for India to pack up and leave Afghanistan. The Taliban and the Pakistani government never wanted it in the first place, and now even its friend Afghan President Hamid Karzai no longer wants India to interfere in the country’s affairs.

Nakhonratchasima, Thailand — Former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra’s second call-in in two days to his Red Shirt loyalists, gathered by the tens of thousands in Bangkok to overthrow the government, was broadcast Monday night. Despite his best efforts, he seems unable to engineer a counterrevolution and restore his former glory.

Washington, DC, United States — The Obama administration is trying to play catch-up in its relations with the country that could become its most important long-term ally. But it may be leaving it too late, after India last week agreed a US$7 billion deal in arms, nuclear reactors and space technology with Russia.

Bangkok, Thailand — Has Burma’s Senior General Than Shwe gone mad? This question has arisen after the junta headed by Than Shwe announced the laws that will govern the upcoming national elections. One thing is clear: Than Shwe is very much afraid of losing his power.

London, England — The United States is pursuing a "pressure track" to halt Iran's nuclear program, given its continued rejection of a U.N. proposal on its disputed uranium enrichment activities. To prevent Iran from becoming nuclear-armed, one option is for the West to support Iran's internal opposition movement.

Boston, MA, United States — Hamid Karzai's second term as president of Afghanistan has begun just as poorly as his first term ended. Entangled in allegations of fraud and impropriety, Karzai has done little to justify his reelection. And he has yet to form a Cabinet to help him with the enormous task of governing the country.

Kolkata, India — Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, returning from Riyadh on March 1, revealed that he asked the Saudi crown prince to persuade Pakistan to desist from the path of abetting terrorism. But expecting the Saudi sheikhs to act as interlocutors with Pakistan to favor India is simply ludicrous.

Helsinki, Finland — The dirty little secret in the military is that general officers take care of each other and when things get messy, often keep each other "out of the bursting radius" of plans gone sour. The last major resignation on principle was Matthew P. Hoh, former senior civilian representative in Zabul province, Afghanistan.