Geeta's World

The anti-Israel protests, originating at Columbia University in the US, are gaining momentum globally on university campuses. The police have intervened violently, with videos emerging from different states showing hundreds of students – and even faculty members – being forcefully arrested. Despite the harsh response, the students' resolve remains unshaken. They continue to pitch tents and stand their ground. So, why are students persisting, and what are their demands? Large student movements have influenced public opinion and policy throughout American history, like the Anti-Apartheid Movement in the 1980s. So, can these protests spark a significant foreign policy shift in the country? In this episode of Geeta's World, our host, Anna Priyadarshini, and the foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network, Geeta Mohan, discuss! Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Pro-China Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu's People's National Congress party has secured a two-thirds majority in the Majlis. With this absolute parliamentary dominance, what previously obstructed policies can the current government push through? But is Muizzu's win really a vote against India, given his vocal support for it, or are there other factors that played out? And why did the Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP) lose so badly? How did Maldivians lose trust in the MDP? In this episode of Geeta's World, our host, Anna Priyadarshini, and the foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network, Geeta Mohan, discuss! Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

After the Katchatheevu Island controversy, now Gwadar Port, in Pakistan's Balochistan province, has become a focal point in India's upcoming general elections. The BJP has accused the then PM Jawaharlal nehru of rejecting the Gwadar port , which the Sultan of Oman had apparently offered to India in 1956. If it's true, what would have happened if Nehru hadn't rejected the offer? What could have changed? Despite security challenges and unrest in Balochistan, China remains invested in Pakistan's BRI. What's the incentive for China to continue in Pakistan? Our host Anna Priyadarshini and foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network Geeta Mohan discuss in this episode of Geeta's World! Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Following the "India Out" campaign in the Maldives, a similar movement has emerged in Bangladesh, spearheaded by the Bangladeshi diaspora and opposition factions. These factions are advocating for the boycott of Indian products. Despite originating after the January elections, why did this anti-India movement gain traction only recently? Was it because the Awami League government initially didn't appear overly concerned about this campaign? Given that the BNP is not in power in Bangladesh, what are the prospects for the sustainability of this campaign? And should India be wary of this and make attempts to salvage the situation? Our host Anna Priyadarshini and foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network Geeta Mohan discuss in this episode of Geeta's World! Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Following the "India Out" campaign in the Maldives, a similar movement has emerged in Bangladesh, spearheaded by the Bangladeshi diaspora and opposition factions. These factions are advocating for the boycott of Indian products. Despite originating after the January elections, why did this anti-India movement gain traction only recently? Was it because the Awami League government initially didn't appear overly concerned about this campaign? Given that the BNP is not in power in Bangladesh, what are the prospects for the sustainability of this campaign? And should India be wary of this and make attempts to salvage the situation? Our host Anna Priyadarshini and foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network Geeta Mohan discuss in this episode of Geeta's World! Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

On March 22, Moscow witnessed the deadliest terror attack in decades when four gunmen stormed the Crocus City Hall and began firing on a crowd attending a music concert. They started shooting and attacking people with knives before blazing the place. Russian authorities said 137 people were killed and more than 100 injured. Hours after the attack, the Islamic State–Khorasan Province (IS–KP) claimed responsibility. But why would ISKP target Russia? And some Russian commentators find it odd that ISIS terrorists could penetrate Moscow, given the strict surveillance by intelligence agencies. They question how the attackers could terrorise a crowd for an hour and a half and then escape quickly to the heavily militarised border with Ukraine, suggesting theories that the attack might have been orchestrated within Russia. Can this be deduced? Our host Anna Priyadarshini and foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network Geeta Mohan discuss in this episode of Geeta's World! Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Sweden has officially become the 32nd member of NATO, completing its accession process in Washington. It took place two years after Sweden had applied to join the military alliance following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. But the two Nordic states, Finland and Sweden have long maintained military neutrality. So, why did Sweden officially move away from its non-alignment and neutrality stance to NATO now? And Sweden had applied in May 2022. Why did Erdogan take so long, around two years, to finally accept Sweden’s NATO’s bid? Our host Anna Priyadarshini and foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network Geeta Mohan discuss in this episode of Geeta's World! Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Iranian conservatives have secured a majority in recent elections, but many incumbents were disqualified, leaving only loyalist candidates vetted by the Guardian Council to participate. With predictable outcomes and key figures like former President Rouhani disqualified from standing again for the Assembly of Experts, are these elections then a farce? Ali Khamenei's second son, Mojtaba Khamenei, is expected to succeed as Iran's supreme leader. Several elite reformists believe he could be the next radical moderniser. Will he? Our host Anna Priyadarshini and foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network Geeta Mohan discuss in this episode of Geeta's World! Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Donald Trump inches closer to securing the Republican presidential nomination after a decisive win over Nikki Haley in South Carolina. But why is it that the Republicans, especially those within the party who opposed his brand of divisive politics, were never able to find a single rival? Why is it that the Republicans couldn't move on from Trump? Many younger Democrat voters are angry at Biden, and some Arab and Muslim Americans say they won't vote for Biden in 2024 because of his stance on the Israel-Hamas war. So, could this influence Biden's presidential bid? Our host Anna Priyadarshini and foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network Geeta Mohan discuss in this episode of Geeta's World! Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

The Pakistan election has come as quite a shocker for many, with many stating this is a wake-up call for the establishment. But is the military really out of the game? And who exactly will make the government? We are looking at a coalition between the PML-N and PPP, but both parties are divided as to who will become the prime minister: Nawaz Sharif or Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Who has a more substantial hand? Our host Anna Priyadarshini and foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network Geeta Mohan discuss in this episode of Geeta's World! Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Pakistan's upcoming February 8 elections are marred by manipulation concerns, with experts dubbing them a sham. The military seeks to sideline Imran Khan's PTI party, favouring former PM Nawaz Sharif for the win. So, is this the same playbook by the army, and the outcome won't make a difference? And there are multiple crises that Pakistan is reeling under, including economic instability and security tensions with neighbouring countries. So, will voters consider these pressing issues at the polls? Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

The Rishi Sunak government has signed a new treaty with Rwanda and proposed new laws declaring that Rwanda is a safe country. The bill is currently being discussed in the house of lords, after the Supreme Court had earlier deemed the Rwanda plan illegal. Ironically, at the time when the UK government planned to send illegal immigrants to Rwanda, it granted refugee status to four Rwandans in the UK due to persecution fears. Won’t this revelation impact the migration bill's chances of becoming a reality? And what happens if the migration bill becomes a reality? Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

Last week witnessed an unexpected development as Iran and Pakistan engaged in cross-border airstrikes, each claiming to target Baluch insurgent hideouts. This could have easily been an incident where both Iran and Pakistan could have partnered together to eliminate Baloch separatists. Instead, they chose to launch missiles at each other. What does this tell us? Experts find these attacks seemingly feckless, given that on the same day as Iran attacked Pak, joint naval operations were underway, and Iran’s foreign minister met with Pakistan’s caretaker prime minister at the World Economic Forum. Is there a possibility that these strikes were mere optics, and that there's something bigger at play between Iran and Pakistan? Our host Anna Priyadarshini and foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network Geeta Mohan discuss in this episode of Geeta's World! Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Nitin Rawat

Diplomatic tensions between India and Maldives ignited on January 4 when PM Modi shared tourism-promoting images from his Lakshadweep islands’ visit. This triggered a social media war involving Maldivian officials and Indian users. But, there was no direct mention of Maldives by PM Modi or other Indian officials. So, what sparked this anger? And is boycotting Maldives really a response to this diplomatic tension? Our host Anna Priyadarshini and foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network Geeta Mohan discuss in this episode of Geeta's World! Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Kapil Dev Singh

In 2023, the world faced significant global risks and uncertainties. In South Asia, elections, political unrest, and economic uncertainties marked the year. This year too, the region mostly looks at elections and campaigning in countries such as Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. Considering the potential for a change in power, do we see the region’s foreign policy and power dynamics changing? Meanwhile, as Russia's war in Ukraine enters its third year, Europe grapples with economic challenges and heightened inflation. The war has exposed Europe’s vulnerable economic spots – mainly its energy dependency. So, can we say that the once-dominant financial giant that was Europe, is losing ground, and is this shift likely to endure? Our host Anna Priyadarshini and foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network Geeta Mohan discuss in this episode of Geeta's World! Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Kapil Dev Singh

In an effort to mediate in the Gaza war, Egypt has put forward a peace proposal to Israel, Hamas, the United States, and the European governments. The proposal includes a ceasefire, a phased hostage release and the creation of a Palestinian government of experts who would administer the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank. But what's the likeability of the proposal being accepted? Because Netanyahu remains stern, he wants to eradicate Hamas, and this peace accord will mean he will have to pull back from his mission? And the other crucial point is the creation of a Palestinian government of experts who would administer the Gaza Strip and occupied West Bank. But, the question being, who will this technocratic government be? Who will decide and make the call? Our host Anna Priyadarshini and foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network Geeta Mohan discuss in this episode of Geeta's World! Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Kapil Dev Singh

Bangladesh gears up for its 12th general elections on January 7, but there are concerns of the elections being lopsided. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is expected to be seeking a record fourth-term in office, but major opposition parties such as the BNP are opting to boycott, with discussions about reinstating a caretaker government for elections. But many critics feel that the return to the caretaker government will be counterproductive in protecting democratic institutions in Bangladesh and might hinder the progress of the country. So will going back to a caretaker government actually help the opposition? And if Sheikh Hasina secures a fourth term, what changes can be expected in her foreign policy, particularly in engagements with China and the US? Our host Anna Priyadarshini and foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network Geeta Mohan discuss in this episode of Geeta's World! Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi

The U.S. Department of Justice has indicted a senior Indian government intelligence official for allegedly plotting the assassination of U.S. citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun on American soil. But the question is: To what extent will the U.S. pursue this case, given their decision not to disclose the identity of the Indian official? Does it mean they don't want to risk its relations with India? And, considering that Khalistan is largely perceived as a romanticized sentiment in India, with minimal real threats in the internal landscape, why would India jeopardise crucial geopolitical relationships by allegedly plotting such assassinations on international soil? Our host Anna Priyadarshini and foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network Geeta Mohan discuss in this episode of Geeta's World! Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Nitin Rawat

Nearly 1,00,000 delegates from 198 countries are participating in the global conference in Dubai for COP28, which commenced on Thursday and will run through December 12. Delegates at COP28 in Dubai established a new fund to aid developing nations in coping with climate-induced damages. So far $660m from 15 developed countries and the host, UAE has been pledged. But is this enough? And as per Oxfam's 2022 report, wealthy nations may fall short by $75 billion in fulfilling the $100 billion annual pledge for climate finance. With the transition to renewable energy requiring trillions by 2030 and escalating losses from global warming, where will this massive funding come from? But to really walk the talk, is always the challenge. Our host Anna Priyadarshini and foreign affairs editor at India Today, TV Today Network Geeta Mohan discuss what challenges await in fighting the climate war and how and what way the COP 28 can contribute. Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Kapil Dev Singh

Geert Wilders, an anti-Islam populist, won a significant victory in the Dutch election with his Party for Freedom (PVV) emerging as the single largest party with 37 seats in the 150-menber lower house. Despite the win, he lacks a majority and he says that he must negotiate with other parties to reach the required 76 seats. But several parties such as the Labor-Green alliance have rejected collaboration opposing his anti-migration and euro-sceptic stance. So, how much of a compromise is he willing to make? And did toning down his hardline Islamophobic rhetoric contribute to his victory? Listen in! Produced by Anna Priyadarshini Sound Mix by Kapil Dev Singh