Featured 68 - Samvada World

US: Plea to pardon Julian Assange triggers debate on government mass surveillance and control of deep state

27Nov

By EditorNo Comments

Featured, North America, World

US: Plea to pardon Julian Assange triggers debate on government mass surveillance and control of deep state

Summary: Julian Assange's partner Stella Moris has urged President Trump to pardon him before Christmas. Democrat senator Tulsi Gabbard has seconded her plea and has asked him to consider pardoning those who, at great personal sacrifice, exposed the deception and criminality of those in the deep state. Another whistleblower Edward Snowden has said that no other issue in our time unites left, right, and center like the struggle to end governments' abuse of mass surveillance and secrecy. As the UK courts decide on Assange's extradition, his case has again triggered the debate over government mass surveillance and control of deep state in the US. "These are Julian's sons Max and Gabriel. They need their father. Our family needs to be whole again. I beg you, please bring him h...

Cambodia Government versus Opposition: Why has Cambodia’s longest serving PM arrested his political opponents and put them on trial?

26Nov

By EditorNo Comments

Analysis, Asia, Featured, World

Cambodia Government versus Opposition: Why has Cambodia’s longest serving PM arrested his political opponents and put them on trial?

Cambodia's PM Hun Sen launched a sweeping crackdown on his opponents in 2017 charging them with treason and illegal attempt to take power. Most opposition leaders of CNRP were arrested along with their supporters. The opposition charges the PM and his party the CPP of human rights abuses, torture, control of media and corruption. As the government and opposition battles it out, the world is watching the court proceedings with keen interest. The crackdown on political opponents by Prime Minister Hun Sen which started in 2017 has now reached the next stage. On Thursday, 26th November, a Cambodian court began hearing into the cases of over 120 opponents and government critics who have been charged with treason. They have also been charged with taking part in protests deemed illegal by the...

How the world reacted to 26/11 Mumbai Attacks

26Nov

By SamvadaWorld StaffNo Comments

Featured, World

How the world reacted to 26/11 Mumbai Attacks

The United Nations, President of the United States, President of France, PM of Britain, PM of Australia, Pope Benedict XVI, leaders of Asian and Middle-Eastern countries, and many others condemned the Mumbai attacks of 26/11. Here is a representative compilation of reactions from major world leaders. The Mumbai terrorist attacks of November 2008, shook India but also unnerved the entire world in its audacity and the way it was executed. The multiple terrorist attacks that occurred on November 26–29, 2008, in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India led to the death of at least 174 people, including 20 security force personnel and 26 foreign nationals were killed. More than 300 people were injured. Nine of the 10 terrorists were killed, and one Ajmal Kasab was arrested. The attacks were carried o...

Convicted Islamic terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika stripped of his Australian citizenship

25Nov

By SamvadaWorld StaffNo Comments

Featured, Oceania, World

Convicted Islamic terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika stripped of his Australian citizenship

Islamic terrorist Abdul Nacer Benbrika convicted of being involved in terrorist attacks in Australia has been stripped of his citizenship, as per Australian news reports. He is slated to be released from the Victorian prison where he was imprisoned since 2008. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton confirmed the news that Australian passport of the terrorist cancelled on November 20. "If it's a person who's posing a significant terrorist threat to our country, then we'll do whatever is possible within Australian law to protect Australians," Mr Dutton told reporters in Brisbane. Under Australian law, the government can only strip people of citizenship if they are dual citizens, ensuring they will not be left stateless. The Algerian-born Abdul Nacer Benbrika, who has lived in Australi...

Why didn’t India sign the RCEP agreement?

25Nov

By Chandrashekar TSNo Comments

Asia, Featured

Why didn’t India sign the RCEP agreement?

Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), covers over 2.2 billion people and accounts for 30 per cent of the world’s economy. India decided to hold off on signing the agreement. It comprises of ten South East Asian countries viz., Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam plus China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, and India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said: “The present form of the RCEP Agreement does not fully reflect the basic spirit and the agreed guiding principles of RCEP. It also does not address satisfactorily India's outstanding issues and concerns. In such a situation, it is not possible for India to join the RCEP agreement." The RCEP aims to remove trade barriers, including tariffs...

What happens during US Presidential transition?

25Nov

By SamvadaWorld StaffNo Comments

Featured, North America, World

What happens during US Presidential transition?

Reports from the US suggest that President Trump has finally conceded the elections to Joe Biden and has agreed to start the process of transition. After refusing to concede the elections for weeks after November 3rd, Trump agreeing to start the process of transition is seen as the key to the country's response to Corona and other challenges. If the transition happens as planned, Joe Biden will take oath of office on January 20, which is almost 11 weeks after the vote counting was done. But why does the transition of one US President to the next take so long? What happens during the weeks of transition? Is the process as complex as it is made out to be? Why is the transition period this long? Though the transition means the handover of important information and duties from one a...

Geopolitics of Global Battery Supply Chain: China’s domination, Economic Security and India’s Role

23Nov

By Chandrashekar TS2 Comments

Analysis, Featured, World

Geopolitics of Global Battery Supply Chain: China’s domination, Economic Security and India’s Role

Bharat always believes Trade Globalization and new Technology innovations are for world’s mutual growth and development. Indians have gone through the world to do Business, Work as Scientists, Engineers, Students, Labors and have contributed for the next generation edge. From Google to Microsoft to getting nominated in a Presidential Race of a powerful country Indians have made their own mark. Neither they nor Bharat as a Nation has ever wanted to dominate a product or resource or Nations for their own selfish ends. A question has now arisen as to how the Battery Supply Chain has been used and dominated by China with more than world’s 50% share and how it has used it for its narrow political interests. This could make the global battery supply an issue of national security. ...

COVID19 – Why are Europeans protesting against lockdown and safety norms?

21Nov

By EditorNo Comments

Analysis, Europe, Featured, World

COVID19 – Why are Europeans protesting against lockdown and safety norms?

Europe is now dealing with two extremes related to the COVID19 pandemic - The rise in Corona infections on one end with large scale protests against lockdown and COVID19 safety norms at the other. Many countries in the continent are in the grip of protests against fresh lockdown as COVID19 cases continue to rise. Germany has become the epicentre of this anti-lockdown movement in Europe, as thousands of people have been taking to the streets in several cities to defy social distancing measures and mask mandates for many months now. As the second wave of COVID19 hit Europe in early November, patients started to fill hospitals in many countries. In order to stem further increase in infections, governments resorted to partial to full lockdowns and strict enforcement of COVID19 safety n...

Anti-Semitism in UK’s Labour Party – Why Lord Meghnad Desai’s resignation opens a can of worms for Jeremy Corbyn and the party

21Nov

By EditorNo Comments

Analysis, Europe, Featured, World

Anti-Semitism in UK’s Labour Party – Why Lord Meghnad Desai’s resignation opens a can of worms for Jeremy Corbyn and the party

Lord Meghnad Desai, Indian-origin economist and author, has resigned as a member of the UK’s Opposition Labour Party over its failure to effectively tackle racism within its ranks, reports The Daily Guardian. Lord Desai on Thursday said that he was forced to cancel his membership after 49 years after former party leader Jeremy Corbyn was readmitted just 19 days after he was suspended and despite findings of “unlawful acts” by the country’s human rights watchdog against him. The Daily Guardian quotes Lord Desai saying, “It was a very peculiar decision to allow him back without any apology. He has been refused the party whip in the House of Commons for a few months, but that is a very lame response to a very big crisis”. He added “I have been very uncomfortable and slightly ashamed ...

CCP government cracks down on members of Mentuhui religious movement across China; Key leaders arrested again

21Nov

By SamvadaWorld StaffNo Comments

Asia, Featured, World

CCP government cracks down on members of Mentuhui religious movement across China; Key leaders arrested again

The crackdown against Mentuhui which started again in May 2020 by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) government continues to haunt the members of the neo-religious movement to this day. Bitterwinter.org reports that the key leaders continue to be arrested even in November with no let up in the harrassment and torture of its followers. The crackdown on Mentuhui is as lethal as the suppression of the Falun Gong if not more, say the members who took risk to report the arrests to the outside world. Following Mentuhui has been banned in China since 1990. The Association of Disciples, or Mentuhui, is a Chinese neo-religious movement based on Christianity which was founded in 1989 but was banned by the CCP government the next year. In 1995, it was included in the list of the xie jiao. The ...