Episodit
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Donald Trump has been elected as the 47th U.S. president, becoming the first convicted criminal to win the White House. At 78, he is also the oldest person ever elected to office. With his election, a new world order is to set in.
Was this victory more a choice for Trump or a rejection of Kamala Harris and the Democrats? What factors led to her loss?
In his speech, Trump vowed, “I will stop wars,” citing his prior term without new conflicts. What will his approach look like regarding the Russia-Ukraine war. Can he achieve what the Biden administration couldn’t?
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!
Chapters:
2:21 - 5:21 — On-ground insights
5:21 - 11:13 — Democrats allowed the Republicans to thrive
11:13 - 13:18 — Biggest player was Joe Biden?
13:18 - 19:38 — How PM Modi is going to deal with Trump
19:38 - 20:54 — What’s next for the US and the world
20:54 - 25:29 — Can Trump stop the wars
25:29 - 28:55 — Abortion rights
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi
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Last week, after over four years of tensions on the border, India and China reached a significant agreement to resume military patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), in key areas, including Depsang and Demchok, in eastern Ladakh.
Why now, though? What might be driving China’s sudden openness to negotiate a truce? And does this development suggest that we are truly on the cusp of a détente or perhaps even a rapprochement, with China?
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi -
Puuttuva jakso?
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India-Canada relations have hit rock bottom, with both countries expelling diplomats. It all began in September 2023, when Canadian PM Justin Trudeau told his country’s parliament that intelligence agencies were actively pursuing “credible allegations” tying agents of the Indian government to the Sikh separatist’s death. India rejected them as “absurd and motivated”.
A year later, Trudeau has yet to present concrete evidence despite intelligence reports, both Signal Intelligence and Human Intelligence, suggesting Indian links. So, why hasn’t he made this intel public yet?
Given Khalistan poses no real threat to India, was this a diplomatic failure? Could this public spat have been avoided through engagement? And does it cast doubts on India's aspirations as a global power?
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi -
Israeli forces have launched a ground offensive into southern Lebanon, escalating their conflict with Hezbollah and Iranian-backed groups. This follows intense airstrikes, including attacks on Hezbollah’s communication systems and the killing of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah in an airstrike on Beirut.
So, why is Israel attacking Lebanon? What does this ground invasion mean for the country and the region? What is Israel’s ultimate goal?
Iran, with its network of militias like Hezbollah, the Houthis, and groups in Syria and Iraq, could escalate attacks on Israel and US bases. But, Iran faces economic struggles and can’t afford to lose Hezbollah, its key ally in the region. So, where does Iran stand in all of this? Should Iran get involved?
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Kapil Dev Singh -
Anura Kumara Dissanayake, or AKD as he's popularly known, has just been sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new president. He represents the Marxist Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP) and its broader front, the National People’s Power (NPP).
Dissanayake defeated incumbent President Ranil Wickremesinghe and opposition leader Sajith Premadasa. Dissanayake secured 42.31% of the vote, Premadasa trailed 34%, and Wickremesinghe placed a distant third with just 17%. Namal Rajapaksa, son of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, garnered less than 3% of the vote.
This election marked the first time since the creation of the executive presidency in 1977 that the race went to a second round, with preferential votes deciding the outcome after no candidate secured the required 50%.
After his victory, Dissanayake said, “We can turn this country around, build a stable government... and move forward. For me, this is not a position but a responsibility."
Many observers believe that Sri Lankans “voted in anger because they were really fed up of the ‘corrupt Rajapaksha brothers’. So, was this a vote against the establishment, fueled by public frustration, or was this a mandate for Dissanayake?
Many think Dissanayake would be a proxy for the staunch Marxist leaders within his National People’s Power alliance. So, can he distance himself from the party's old guard, or will his party’s historical baggage influence his policy decisions?
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Nitin Rawat -
Canada’s decision to end the 18-month extension of postgraduate work permits (PGWPs) has left thousands of international students, many from India, facing uncertainty. Reports suggest that 130,000 are at risk of deportation by 2025.
What’s Trudeau’s rationale? Why take a step that will anger many Indian-origin Canadians, particularly the Sikh community, who have strongly supported him?
As inflation and housing pressures push liberal voters toward the Conservatives, is this shift a sign that liberal ideology is waning in Canada?
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Nitin Rawat -
Since Sheikh Hasina’s ouster and her taking refuge in India, anti-India sentiment has been peaking in Bangladesh.
Recently BNP leader Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir demanded Hasina’s extradition, warning that her continued presence in India could severely damage Indo-Bangla relations. With Mohammed Yunus as interim leader and a BNP government likely on the horizon, the call for Hasina’s return is intensifying. So, will India bow to this demand or hold its ground?
And can Bangladesh, under BNP leadership, if elected to power, afford a strained relationship with its neighbour? Will historical ties hold firm, or will this be a new crisis for India-Bangladesh relations?
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 -
The Taliban's new 35-article morality law restricts women from speaking, singing, or even making eye contact in public, requiring them to cover their bodies completely. This is part of a broader push to enforce their strict interpretation of Islamic principles.
Western countries have linked sanctions relief to restoring women's rights, but the Taliban have only increased restrictions, dismissing this as an internal matter. Despite sanctions, reports suggest the Taliban are already getting foreign aid.
If sanctions aren't working, what should the international community do to pressure the Taliban to uphold human rights?
Has India, as a neighbouring country and a leading voice of the global south, done enough to voice concerns?
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi -
In the lead-up to the US election, the Democrats are hosting their National Convention—a high-energy event often seen as a show of strength, where supporters rally behind their nominee and make its formal announcement. The convention kicked off yesterday in Chicago and is expected to be a significant moment in Kamala Harris’ campaign.
But amidst the political fervour, Kamala Harris faces pressure from uncommitted delegates demanding a more progressive stance on Israel, including a Gaza ceasefire. Will this anti-war movement overshadow Harris’s cause?
Given that both Democrats and Republicans seem to be adopting similar economic policies, how different will Kamala Harris's agenda at the Democratic Convention really be from Trump’s? Have Republicans already set the narrative on the economy, leaving Harris with little room to manoeuvre?
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi -
Bangladesh is facing unrest, with ensuring peace being the foremost challenge. While it was expected that violence would cease after Sheikh Hasina's resignation, the situation has worsened, particularly with escalating atrocities against Bangladeshi Hindus.
Why is the caretaker government under Mohammed Yunus letting people run amok and not ensuring communal harmony?
Before her exit, Sheikh Hasina claimed that "conspiracies" were being plotted to topple her government. She alleged that the US intended to acquire St Martin's Island to build a military base in exchange for the BNP's electoral victory.
Is it true that this island influenced how the US sought to steer Bangladesh's political landscape? Given that both the US and China believe the BNP would align more closely with them, which superpower is getting its calculations wrong?
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi -
After weeks of massive turmoil in Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina has stepped down as its prime minister today following a 45-minute ultimatum from the army. With that, her 15-year-long rule has come to an end. She fled to India amid student protests against the Awami League’s quota system for freedom fighters. It is not known what her final destination is.
Dramatic visuals of protestors bringing down statues of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s first President and Sheikh Hasina’s father, have flooded social media, bringing forth different perspectives about the country’s history.
What happens now? Bangladesh Army Chief Waker Uz Zaman has addressed the nation, stating that the Army would form an interim government to restore peace. But how will the Army ensure peace during this critical period? And why is it letting protestors run amok and vandalise statues of freedom fighters?
Meanwhile, West Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has remarked that over one crore Bangladeshi Hindus might seek refuge in India. Other members of the ruling BJP are also echoing this rhetoric. But is there any truth to the claim that with Sheikh Hasina gone, Bangladesh will fall to Islamic fundamentalists?
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi -
Days after visiting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow, PM Modi is expected to visit Kyiv around Ukrainian National Day on August 24. This would be his first visit to Ukraine since the Russia-Ukraine war began in 2022 and the first-ever by an Indian PM since Ukraine's independence following the breakup of the Soviet Union.
Considering Modi’s Russia visit irked Ukraine and the West, is this visit just to placate the West and strike an equilibrium?
Observers say finding a middle ground could serve the global good, but what more can India offer now, two years into the war, after failed peace attempts?
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi -
With Joe Biden stepping down as US president and endorsing Kamala Harris as the presidential candidate, the race to the White House is becoming more intense and dramatic by the day. Though there was talk of holding an open convention to select a new nominee, it seems unlikely now that Harris has secured enough Democratic delegates to become the party’s nominee.
But how will Kamala Harris differ from Biden?
And does Kamala Harris have a chance to beat Donald Trump?
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi -
On July 13, former U.S. President and Republican frontrunner Donald Trump experienced a near-death incident when he was shot in the ear during a campaign rally in Pennsylvania. The FBI identified the shooter as 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks from Bethel Park, Pennsylvania, labelling it a potential act of domestic terrorism.
How did such a security lapse occur under the US Secret Service's watch? An eyewitness claimed he reported a suspicious man with a rifle on the roof, but authorities ignored him. What does this reveal about the security measures in place?
With the US elections just months away, could this incident give Trump a decisive edge over Biden? What new challenges do Democrats face now?
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi -
On June 23, gunmen attacked two churches, a synagogue, and a police post in Russia’s Dagestan region, killing at least 19 police officers, National Guard members, civilians, and an Orthodox priest and injuring 12 others. The attacks occurred in Derbent and Makhachkala.
No group has claimed responsibility, but considering past attacks by Islamic militants in the region, can these attacks be linked to groups like the Islamic State?
And despite evidence of homegrown terrorism in Russia, President Putin insists that Russia cannot be a target of Islamic fundamentalist attacks. Instead, it pins the blame on Ukraine. What explains this reluctance to acknowledge the presence of Islamic fundamentalists and the underlying resentment among Muslim conservatives in Russia?
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi -
Switzerland hosted a two-day high-level Peace Summit for Ukraine last weekend, but Russia did not participate, dismissing it as a “waste of time.”
So, can this peace summit meaningfully contribute to ending the war and ensuring regional peace without involving both parties in dialogue, given their differing views on 'peace'?
Interestingly, many countries that once proposed peace plans—such as Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Indonesia, Brazil (which remained an observer), and China (which declined to participate)—dissociated from the summit's outcome document.
Why did these countries, once advocates for peace plans, refuse to participate?
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi -
Narendra Modi has secured a third term as India’s Prime Minister. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance won 293 seats, although, unlike the 2019 elections, the BJP itself did not achieve a majority.
As Modi 3.0 begins, PM Modi has promised a “new chapter of big decisions” for India. But, considering the BJP is not a party with a brute majority anymore and relies on an NDA coalition instead, the scope of these decisions might be limited. Will major foreign policy decisions be hindered?
And will Modi 3.0 tweak India’s foreign policy at a time when foreign media is reporting about the state of Indian democracy and calling press freedom, political freedom and human rights into question?
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi -
Mexico has elected Claudia Sheinbaum, a climate scientist and former mayor of Mexico City, as its new president, marking a significant step for gender parity.
Concerns exist that Sheinbaum is a handpicked successor of her predecessor, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, better known as AMLO, and may be captive to his agenda. Critics argue she lacks charisma, and despite not being on the ballot, AMLO's influence loomed large during the election. So, have Mexicans placed more faith in the party than in Claudia? Is the mandate more for the left party?
Will Sheinbaum's governance differ? Although intellectually a nationalist, her campaign emphasised policy continuity and protecting AMLO's legacy over her own proposals.
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi -
On May 19, Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, and several other officials were killed in a helicopter crash in East Azerbaijan province.
Raisi's death has sparked numerous speculations and conspiracy theories. Was it an accident? Was there foul play? Is Israel involved, or is it due to Iran's struggle with US sanctions that prevents it from obtaining necessary improved aircraft parts? What do we know so far?
After years of negotiations, India and Iran signed a ten-year contract for the Iranian Chabahar Port. India and Iran have shared historical and cultural ties, and bilateral trade between the two nations improved after Raisi became President in 2021. Although the supreme leader made significant decisions, Raisi's presidency saw enhanced relations between the two. So, will this work in a continuum with a new president?
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi -
After a two-year gap, China has regained its position as India’s largest trading partner, surpassing the United States. According to the latest GTRI report, from FY19 to FY24, while trade with the US grew, increasing India's trade surplus, India's exports to China slightly decreased, and Chinese exports to India surged by almost 45%.
Does this mean the trade balance heavily favours China, with India facing a trade deficit of over $85 billion?
This trade growth persists despite India's trade and investment restrictions on China since the 2020 Galwan clashes. Indian politicians often discuss reducing reliance on Chinese imports and boosting domestic manufacturing. So, why can't India stop trading with China?
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!
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Produced by Anna Priyadarshini
Sound Mix by Sachin Dwivedi - Näytä enemmän
