Geeta's World

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...

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...

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 Saud...

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...

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 in...

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 necessa...

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 Ind...

In Sudan, amidst enduring civil conflict, desperation has driven people to consume dirt for sustenance as the nation teeters on the brink of famine. Why does Sudan's civil strife persist despite over a year passing since its outbreak? Why has resolution remained elusive? Despite international efforts, including ceasefire agreements and sanctions, humanitarian assistance has reached only 16 per cen...

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 t...

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...

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 cha...

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...

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...

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) claime...

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 st...

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, i...

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, an...

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 substan...

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 securi...

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...

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...

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 th...

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? Meanwh...

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...

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 careta...