Hindustan Times Podcast

The Philippines has just learned how a single sentence can shake the waters it sails in. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s recent remarks about Taiwan, which he claims were “misinterpreted,” have escalated tensions with China and brought the region closer to a standoff. But this flare-up didn’t start with one statement. It began years ago when Manila threw open its doors to U.S. military bases, dro...

Donald Trump is calling it a “big, beautiful” peace deal signed by Armenia and Azerbaijan in Washington, ending decades of on-and-off conflict. But behind the smiles and handshakes lies a web of messy borders, strategic corridors, and geopolitical power plays. The “Trump Route”, a transit corridor, is going to link Azerbaijan’s Nakhchivan exclave to its mainland. Supporters say it will boost trade...

Explore untold stories of political strategy and artistic expression as Amitabh Kant reveals in an exclusive interview with Kumkum Chadha how the Babri Masjid events and MF Hussain’s approach shaped India’s cultural landscape. His candid reflections on working closely with PM Modi offer an unparalleled look at this defining chapter. Watch full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/rN2Vzk1M5gQ

Watch as Renowned economist and global affairs expert Professor Jeffrey Sachs sits down with Hindustan Times to deliver a candid, clear-eyed analysis of today’s tangled geopolitics. From Trump’s looming summit with Putin to the origins of the Russia-Ukraine war, NATO expansion, and the real motive behind U.S. tariffs on India, Sachs brings historical clarity and modern insight. In this wide-rangin...

Can Lebanon really disarm Hezbollah? For the first time in decades, Beirut has asked its army to draw up a plan that could dismantle the country’s most powerful armed group. The demand comes under growing pressure from the U.S., in a deal that offers Lebanon a billion dollars a year in exchange for doing what no state has achieved to do: take on Hezbollah. But how did this moment come to be? Why i...

It took just six months for India–U.S. ties to go from warm embraces to a cold war of words. Donald Trump has accused India of financing Russia’s war in Ukraine, being part of an “anti‑U.S.” BRICS, and being the “tariff king” of the world. But how much of that is fact, and how much is political theatre? In this episode of Grey Zone, Ananya Dutta breaks down the historical roots of India’s foreign...

Can Washington and New Delhi end their trade war? In this exclusive interview, CSIS’s Rick Rossow explains why the White House needs to respect India’s agricultural red lines—and why a breakthrough is still within reach. Rossow predicts that tariffs won’t seriously damage India’s economy, and insists diplomatic flexibility could unlock the deal both giants want. Will political pride sabotage negot...

India's premier investigative agencies like the CBI and ED are under increasing scrutiny as major corruption cases collapse in court after years of media trials, arrests, and political damage. In this video, I examine the recent closure of high-profile cases like those against Satyendar Jain and Suresh Kalmadi, and ask: what went wrong? With only 2 convictions out of 193 political cases by the...

India-China ties appear to be normalizing but beneath diplomatic gestures lie deeper concerns. In this interview, Professor Jabin Jacob of Shiv Nadar University speaks with Shashank Mattoo about the contradictions in India’s approach to China. From industrial sanctions to territorial tensions, Jacob criticizes Indian businesses and policymakers for underestimating the China challenge. A must-watch...

Four years ago, a viral dance video unknowingly captured the start of Myanmar’s military coup. Today, the same generals who crushed democracy are promising to bring it back with elections scheduled for December 2025. But here’s what they’re not telling you. Protesting this election could land you in prison. The military still controls the narrative. And behind the scenes, two superpowers the U.S....

If you've been listening to parliament debates or simply following them on social media or just listening to our politicians argue with each other, there's one question that may have popped into your head at some point- Why do our netas talk about Jawaharlal Nehru so much? 11 out of the 45 MPs that spoke in Lok Sabha on day 1 of the debate brought up the Nehru name. And more than Congress,...

Is the Gaza war finally nearing its end or is it just shifting into a larger geopolitical deal? In this episode of The Grey Zone, Ananya Dutta unpacks the growing international pressure on Israel, the role of U.S. foreign policy, and how Saudi Arabia could emerge as the ultimate dealmaker. With Gaza in ruins and Netanyahu still denying accusations of starvation, even Israeli human rights groups ar...

Delhi Premier League T20 is back and it’s louder than ever! In this exclusive conversation, Mr. Rohan Jaitley, President of the Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA), speaks to Hindustan Times about the vision, scale, and ambitions behind DPL Season 2. From What’s new in Season 2, unearthing local talent to building a cricketing legacy for Delhi, he shares how this league is transforming...

He’s the man many call when the stakes are sky-high. From Gujarat Riots to Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan, Mukul Rohatgi has been at the center of India’s most explosive legal battles. In this no-holds-barred episode, the former Attorney General opens up like never before - on courtroom drama, political pressure, media glare, and what it really takes to stand tall in the Supreme Court. What’s it l...

On July 11, there were a series of seven well coordinated bomb blasts in the first class compartments of Mumbai's local trains, as they were pulling to key stations. The 7 explosions took place between 6.23pm and 6.28 pm-6 minutes, thus targeting the rush hour in the city, and also injuring 817 people, many of them on the crowded platforms. Mumbai's police and the Anti terror Squad arreste...

Russia calls it a "peace memorandum." Trump calls it a countdown. Ukraine calls it war. The Russia-Ukraine conflict is now over 1,200 days old, but in the last few weeks, something has shifted. A new ceasefire proposal has surfaced, one pushed by Ukraine, countered by Russia, and pressured by a 50-day ultimatum from U.S. President Donald Trump. But is peace really on the table? In this e...

Amid rising tensions, the Dalai Lama affirms only Tibetans can decide his reincarnation-rejecting China’s interference. Former diplomat Rajesh Raina breaks down the spiritual, historical, and political dimensions of this high-stakes succession battle. Will Beijing name a rival Dalai Lama? Who will the world recognize? Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/o7P6cQwxHH8

There’s a dramatic twist unfolding in the Middle East and it's not the war you're thinking of. Israel launched an airstrike campaign inside Syria, claiming it’s “protecting the Druze minority.” But weeks ago, the same Israel was reportedly in peace talks with Damascus. So what changed? Why did Israel suddenly strike Syria's Defence Ministry in Damascus? Is Benjamin Netanyahu trying to force normal...

July 2025. Floods in Texas. Fires in California. Subways submerged in New York. America’s climate crisis is here, and its infrastructure is collapsing under the weight of it. In this Grey Zone episode, Ananya Dutta asks the uncomfortable questions: Why is the richest country on Earth so unprepared for the storms it knew were coming? Why are roads, bridges, and buildings from the 1960s still holdin...

Donald Trump just flipped on Ukraine, again. After months of calling for peace talks and resisting further aid, the U.S. president is now sending Patriot missiles to Kyiv. Why? Because Putin, his so-called "friend," bombed his trust, literally. Trump says Moscow "talks nice and bombs at night." That’s a serious accusation, and a major shift in U.S. policy. So, what changed Trum...

Is this the shocking reality of animal welfare in India? Digital Content Creator Harjas Sethi shares her experience with community dogs, legal rights, and alleged mob intimidation in Gurugram in this conversation with Aayesha Varma. Tune in! Watch the full video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/1r5s41NKMeA

A new ceasefire could be just days away in Gaza or so says U.S. President Donald Trump. But even if the bombs stop falling there, the Red Sea tells a very different story. Just as hopes rise for peace, the Houthis launch fresh attacks on cargo ships, claiming solidarity with Palestinians. So why are the Houthis still fighting if a ceasefire is on the table? Can Trump’s backchannel diplomacy, broke...

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince met Iran’s Foreign Minister in Jeddah and while the meeting was officially about "bilateral ties", everyone knows there’s a war-shaped elephant in the room. With Israel fresh out of a bloody confrontation with Iran, and normalisation deals hanging by a thread, Riyadh’s next move could reshape the entire region. Why did MBS meet with Tehran’s top diplomat now? What does...

Chinese President Xi Jinping raised eyebrows when he decided to skip BRICS Summit 2025 in Brazil & instead sent Premier Li Qiang to represent China. There have been a lot of rumours doing the rounds about the reason why Xi decided to skip the summit. In this episode of Hindustan Times Podcast, Professor Wang Wen, a renowned China expert, emphasizes that President Xi Jinping’s absence from the...

Weight loss drugs are being hailed as revolutionary tools in the fight against obesity. Originally developed for diabetes, these drugs have gone mainstream - recommended by doctors, and sought after by millions worldwide. But as prescriptions soar and profits climb, tough questions remain: What are the long-term health impacts? In this in-depth interview with Dr Ambrish Mithal, we speak about the...