Dr. Kankana Debnath, Author at Alive

Former Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak seeks a royal pardon against the verdict of the court. Less than two weeks ago he was sent to jail for 12 years on corruption charges. On August 23 Malaysia’s top court rejected an appeal by Najib to set aside his conviction on corruption and money laundering charges. The case is about a multibillion-dollar scandal at state fund 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB). Najib has denied the charges. Najib Razak served as Malaysia's PM from 2009 to 2018. In the year 2020, he was found guilty of money laundering, abuse of power and other charges 2020. The charges were about the one-time sovereign wealth fund called 1MDB. This was used by the ex-PM and his allies to support luxurious lifestyles and fund electioneering. The 1MDB fund was created soon...

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South Korea-US Military Drill: A Deterrent Gesture Towards North Korean Threat

Dr. Kankana DebnathSeptember 1, 20220

American and South Korean forces on Monday initiated the second phase of their largest joint exercise in five years. This joint exercise is another milestone in Seoul’s attempt to take wartime control of its military. The South Korea-U.S. military drill happened since many drills were cancelled due to a lack of diplomatic efforts and COVID-19 restrictions. The allies of the two countries see the exercises as a gesture essential to deter North Korea. North Korea’s growing nuclear arsenal is posing a serious threat in the region. North Korea has called these exercises a rehearsal for war. The Joint Exercise The 11-day military drill, named, Ulchi Freedom Shield, took place less than 20 miles from the fortified border with North Korea. A combined force of South Korean and U.S. troops he...

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Thailand’s PM Suspended: Democracy On Uncertain Path

Dr. Kankana DebnathAugust 30, 20220

Thailand's PM Prayuth Chan-ocha is suspended by court, from his official duties last week. The verdict came after the court decided to hear a petition from the opposition to review his legally mandated eight-year term limit. It was not clear when it would deliver a final ruling on the petition brought by the main opposition party. They argued that Prayuth’s time spent as head of a military junta should count towards his constitutionally stipulated eight-year term. Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan is expected to take over as interim leader. The 2014 Coup Prayut Chan-ocha took the role of prime minister after a bloodless military coup in 2014 before winning the controversial general election in 2019. On 22 May 2014, the Royal Thai Armed Forces, with General Prayut Chan-o-cha, launc...

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Marsha Blackburn’s Taiwan Visit Amid Heightened Sino-US Bi-Lateral Tensions: China Vows Retaliation

Dr. Kankana DebnathAugust 30, 20220

US Senator Marsha Blackburn's Taiwan visit has heightened Sino-US bi-lateral tensions. Blackburn met President Tsai Ing-wen on Friday. It is the second visit by members of US Congress since House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s trip earlier this month. It has raised tensions with China across the Taiwan strait. She arrived in Taipei on a U.S. military aircraft and was welcomed by Douglas Hsu, Director General of Taiwan's Foreign Affairs Ministry. The visit and Blackburn’s remarks Senator Marsha Blackburn's Taiwan visit, heightened tensions because of China's threats to acquire Taiwan as its integral territory. Taiwan is considered as US’s strongest partner in the Indo-Pacific. These regular high-level visits to Taipei are long-standing U.S. policy according to Blackburn’s statement. She also ...

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Debt-Trap Diplomacy: China Waives Off Debts Owed by 17 African Countries

Dr. Kankana DebnathAugust 29, 20220

China has officially announced that it will forgive 23 loans for 17 African nations. China waives off debts of the African nations, which are interest-free and had matured by the end of 2021. Chinese FM Wang Yi announced this at the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. He has further pledged that China would continue to actively support and finance major infrastructure projects in Africa in agricultural and manufacturing sectors. China will aid towards expanding co-operation in emerging industries such as the digital economy, health, green and low-carbon sectors. Facts and figures of the debts China waives off debts in Botswana, Burundi, Rwanda, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique among the 23 countries. The total amount of waived off debt stands at least at US$113.8...

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India’s Vote Against Russia At UNSC: Squabble On Zelensky’s Teleconference Address

Dr. Kankana DebnathAugust 27, 20220

On the historic occasion at the UNSC meeting, India for the first time on Wednesday voted against Russia during a “procedural vote” on Ukraine. India’s vote against Russia at the UNSC came when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to address a meeting through a video teleconference. The UNSC meeting On Wednesday, the UNSC held a meeting to take stock of the Russo-Ukraine war which has been ongoing for six-month-old. The meeting began with the Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily A Nebenzia requesting a procedural vote concerning the Ukrainian President’s participation in the meeting by video teleconference. Following his and Albanian PM Ferit Hoxia’s statement, the UNSC invited Zelensky to join the meeting via teleconferencing by voting. Russia voted against and China...

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Hong Kong’s Exodus On Rise: How It Changes Demography?

Dr. Kankana DebnathAugust 25, 20220

Hong Kong, the Special administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China has recorded a sharp decline in population due to exodus. Hong Kong’s exodus is on the rise due to strict Covid control measures and political crackdown by the Chinese government. According to Census and Statistics Department the city's total population fell from 7.41 million people to 7.29 million. This happens to be the biggest decline since the government began tracking the statistics in 1961. The decline through the years Hong Kong’s exodus is on rise since the pro-democracy protests of 2019 and 2020. This was the time when the government carried out a heavy crackdowns on civil liberties. Following this nearly 90,000 residents have left the territory. Around 113,200 residents left Hong Kong over the past ...

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The Changing American Society: Hate Crimes Against Asians In US On Rise

Dr. Kankana DebnathAugust 25, 20220

Since past several years hate crimes against the Asians in the US are at rise. It appears that the hate is aimed against anyone who doesn’t follow the ideologies or agenda which is deemed as “American”. The concept to “embrace people for their differences” has been disappearing from the minds of American citizens. The US was considered as a nation that was an amalgamation of different people who were accepted without any bias of their ethnicity. But now that concept is being replaced by a “us and them” mentality. What is a hate crime? The Federal Bureau of Investigation defines a hate crime as a “criminal offense against a person or property motivated in whole or in part by an offender’s bias against a race, religion, disability, sexual orientation, ethnicity, gender, or gender ident...

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South Korea Increases Defense Supplies: President Yoon Targets Becoming Top Supplier

Dr. Kankana DebnathAugust 24, 20220

South Korea’s President, Yoon Suk Yeol has completed his 100 days in office. During this time he has expressed his plans to make Korea one of the world’s top four weapons suppliers. He increased South Korea's defence budget, wishing to join the top exporters league along with the US, Russia and France. South Korea increases its defence supplies, leading to strategic industrialization making it a defensive powerhouse. South Korea’s global status as a military supplier In 2021, South Korea ranked 10th in the world in arms transfers according to the SIPRI. The value of arms export in South Korea is valued at $566 million. South Korea has already taken steps to achieve its top four ambitions by signing its biggest-arms deal with Poland. The deal was made with almost 1,000 K2 tanks, 600 ...

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Toll Of Climate Change: Droughts And Starvation In East Africa

Dr. Kankana DebnathAugust 22, 20220

Eastern African countries face severe drought and starvation. The ongoing civil war in Northern Ethiopia along with drought and starvation in East Africa are heavily contributing to food insecurity in Africa. The World Health Organization warned that over 50 million people in East Africa faces acute food insecurity. According to a study by the World Food Programme and Food and Agriculture Organization an estimated 7 million children are suffering from malnourishment. As per the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, hundreds of thousands are leaving their homes in search of food or livelihoods. The affected countries are Ethiopia, Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya, Sudan, South Sudan, and Uganda. This year accounts as the fourth season of failed rains in Kenya. It is one of the hard...

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India’s Vision For Indo-Pacific: Analysing S. Jaishankar’s Chulalongkorn University Speech

Dr. Kankana DebnathAugust 22, 20220

External Minister S. Jaishankar gave an extensive speech on India's Vision of the Indo-Pacific at the Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. India and Thailand are celebrating 75 years of establishment of diplomatic relations. Mentioning this Jaishankar highlighted that India is very much inclined towards the East. He also emphasized that New Delhi now looks beyond the Indian Ocean and into the Pacific. India's Vision of the Indo-Pacific Jaishakar stated that there is a need to envisage a free, open, inclusive, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. A regional concept which is built on rules-based international order, freedom of navigation and over-flight, unimpeded lawful commerce. There should also be mutual respect for sovereignty, peaceful resolution of disputes, as well. J...

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Synthesis Of Difference: The Confluence Of Indo-Korean Art Delhi’s Cultural Centre

Dr. Kankana DebnathAugust 19, 20220

The Korean Cultural Centre India unveiled ‘Synthesis of Difference’ which is an exhibition featuring the works of South Korean and Indian artists. This is an attempt to promote the art exchange between India and South Korea. It portrays the amalgamation of classic and modern ideas through new media art, paintings, animation etc. The opening ceremony of "Synthesis of Difference" took place in the presence of Chang Jae Bok, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India; Adwaita Gadanayak, Director General of National Gallery of Modern Art; Jaya Asokan, Director of India Art Fair, Mahinder Sehgal, Programme Director of Indian Council for Cultural Relations, and others. The India and South Korea will complete 50 years of diplomatic relations next year. This exhibition is held in order to stre...