Hindustan Times Podcast

What if one diplomatic move quietly rewired three regions at once? Israel’s decision to recognise Somaliland isn’t just about Africa’s newest would-be state, it’s about control, timing, and pressure points in a world already on edge. Why would Israel pick a breakaway region no one else recognises? What does Somaliland offer that Gaza, Lebanon, or even the Gulf can’t? And why did this single announ...

Days after the Bondi Beach Massacre, HT's Aayesha Varma and Legal Scholar Maya Gomez analyse matters of the mind. What does a shooter think? What do survivors go through? How can a nation heal itself after a tragedy like this? Tune in to this episode of HT Podcast. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mhkIMH8YM3c

Over 15 killed and more than 40 injured at a Hanukkah gathering in Bondi Beach have shaken faith in Australia’s famously strict gun laws. This HT In‑Depth episode with Aayesha Varma breaks down the attack, the 1996 Port Arthur reforms, rising firearm numbers, and whether Anthony Albanese’s government will tighten controls again. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/FyJls6CFdsw

Welcome to HT's show, Now You Know, where Ananya Dutta takes you beyond the surface of news stories. You might have come across these subjects before, but have you ever stopped and thought about their history, their impact today, and where they might be heading in the future? From politics to technology, culture to science, we’re here to make you think differently about the world around us. Ru...

South Africa is reeling from a story that feels too surreal to be real. Seventeen men travel for “security jobs,” only to find themselves in the middle of Russia’s war machinery. And now, a political bombshell: allegations that the recruitment trail leads straight to Duduzile Zuma-Sambudla, daughter of former president Jacob Zuma, now a sitting MP, and long known for her pro-Russia politics online...

In the inaugural episode of Soul Yatra, former diplomat Lakshmi Puri and her husband, Union minister Hardeep Singh Puri, join Hindustan Times' Sharat Bhattatiripad to recount major milestones from their lives - from their first meeting and first impressions, to the path towards marriage which marked the beginning of their journey through life together. The two eminent personalities also discus...

In a candid, wide-ranging conversation, Abhishek Manu Singhvi revisits the defining moments, personal struggles, and political complexities that shaped his journey through law, public life, and family legacy. Speaking with rare openness, he reflects on growing up under the towering shadow of his father, eminent jurist Dr. L.M. Singhvi, and the emotional weight of meeting expectations set by a man...

In a powerful conversation, Member of the Kargil Democratic Alliance Sajjad Hussain Kargili breaks his silence on the growing anger in Ladakh. Kargili says BJP betrayed Ladakh’s promise of statehood and Sixth Schedule protection, leaving people disempowered and voiceless. He defends activist Sonam Wangchuk, calling his arrest “politically timed,” and accuses the government of trying to silence Lad...

United States President Donald Trump reveals that Pakistan is testing nuclear weapons under the radar. As the world gets closer and closer to a nuclear arms race, HT's Shishir Gupta decodes what this revelation means for India. Meanwhile, Trump hints at a future visit to India, does this mean that ties are thawing after tariff tension? Tune in to Point Blank to find out. INTERNATIONAL NEWS #Tr...

Venezuela is no longer just a collapsing petrostate in Latin America, it has become a geopolitical frontline. As Nicolás Maduro faces the toughest challenge to his political survival in a decade, a new narrative is emerging: Who really holds power inside Venezuela today? Over the years, Russia armed the regime, Iran built drones and trained militias and China embedded surveillance tech and secured...

Omar Abdullah, in a conversation with Hindustan Times, spoke on his first year as the Chief Minister of Jammu Kashmir in its current Union Territory form. The National Conference party leader spoke on his tussle with the Lieutenant Governor over the division of powers and responsibilities. Abdullah also shed light on how the Pahalgam attack affected the entire UT, starting a ripple effect which ha...

Ladakh stands where India meets China - a region of soldiers, monasteries, and frozen winds. It’s where national security towers high, as its own people are left 'unseen'. Even as the Indian Army holds the Line of Actual Control, the people guarding that border say they feel ‘invisible’. The irony is sharp: a region vital to India’s defence feels defenseless in its own governance. Has the...

Months after India's Operation Sindoor created waves across the globe, India's Army Chief warns of phase two. How does Mission Sudarshan Chakra tie into an Atmanirbhar Bharat? And what impact does this have on India's neighbourhood? Listen in to HT's Shishir Gupta as he provides crucial insight on all of the above and much more. This is Point Blank. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu....

In this special HT interview, top oncologists Dr. Neerja Bhatla and Dr. (Col.) CS. Pant decode India’s two most common cancers among women - breast and cervical cancer. From early detection and screening to government awareness drives and lifestyle factors, the doctors explain what’s making more Indian women vulnerable, when to get tested, and how awareness can save lives. #BreastCancerAwareness #...

Japan has a new prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, the country’s first female leader in 78 years of democracy. Takaichi, a conservative stalwart, was parliament-selected, not popularly elected, and she became Japan’s fourth prime minister in five years. The paradox is stark: Japan is the fourth-largest economy in the world, a global industrial powerhouse where one in every 12.5 cars is made in Japan,...

In an interview with HT, analyst Uzair Younus explains why U.S. President Donald Trump is pursuing closer ties to Pakistan. Younus, sitting down with Shashank Mattoo, explains that the Trump administration wants Pakistan’s help on the Middle East and on critical minerals. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/vw1TProUzKQ

What if foreign policy didn’t hide behind spies, coups, or covert operations, but came wrapped in a MAGA cap? Argentina, Brazil, Venezuela, all bear witness to a bold new U.S. strategy. Javier Milei has visited Trump four times in ten months, nominated him for the Nobel Peace Prize, and received a $20 billion lifeline. Jair Bolsonaro, though barred from running, still gets Trump’s open endorsement...

In this exclusive interview, former Principal Secretary to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his top aide, Nripendra Mishra, opens up on the defining decisions that shaped India’s economic and political landscape, from the rollout of GST to the contentious demonetization drive. Mishra reveals how Modi approaches decision-making, the inside story behind demonetization, and why the Prime Minister see...

Global protests have erupted across Italy, Germany, Mexico, and other countries as public opinion shifts sharply against Israel over its actions in Gaza. Once widely seen as a victim, Israel now faces growing international criticism and condemnation, with many accusing it of disproportionate force and civilian harm in the conflict. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/XJXEOOjzSc4

Ukraine is fighting a war with a shortage of weapons and now, it wants to sell weapons. President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Ukraine is ready to export its homegrown arms to Europe, the U.S., and the Middle East. But why would a country still under attack sell its own weapons abroad? Is this a desperate attempt to fund its war, or a strategic move to build a long-term defense industry?...

Tony Blair, the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, is a leader whose legacy sparks intense debate. Despite peace initiatives, the decision to lead UK into the Iraq War, tailing America, did not go down well with citizens and diplomats alike. Now, decades later, Blair is expected to a major role in governing postwar Gaza, according to US President Donald Trump's 20-point peace framewo...

The EU has refused President Trump’s call for tariffs on India and China over Russian oil, stressing independence in trade policy and unveiling a landmark 19th sanctions package on Russia. In this conversation between HT's Aayesha Varma and Former EU Trade Negotiator John Clarke, listen in to insights about EU trade policy and much more as U.S. pressure escalates and India remains resilient. I...

Pakistan, America, Afghanistan and India. What are the recent geopolitical developments in these regions that you need to know? Tune in to Point Blank with HT's Shishir Gupta to find out. It's a discussion on Pakistan & America's growing closeness, how it relates to China, why Trump and the Taliban are involved in a tussle and what happened in Ladakh. Watch on YouTube: ⁠https://you...

Explore the real history of the Rothschild dynasty—bankers who shaped Europe, financed nations, and supported the creation of Israel. Bust myths and conspiracy theories surrounding their wealth and legacy in global finance. Join Aayesha Varma as HT In Depth reveals facts behind one of history’s most influential families and their impact today. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/2o8zmpesFw8

The Supreme Court’s verdict on the Waqf Act has sparked fresh debate. AIMPLB Executive member Khalid Rasheed speaks on the community’s concerns, from fears that the government is targeting masjids through the new Waqf Act, to allegations of corruption within Waqf. Rasheed calls for compensation on buildings made on waqf land, and explains why many Muslims are not satisfied with the judgment. With...