Hindustan Times Podcast

On May 8 evening, Pakistan fired missiles & drones into India through the LoC & international border. Notably, the Jammu sky was lit up as Indian air defences successfully intercepted the incoming projectiles. The escalatory move by Pakistan followed India's strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan on May 6-7. Even though India struck terror launch pads, Pakistan tried to atta...

A missile from Yemen shut down Israel’s airspace. Tel Aviv went into panic mode, flights were grounded, and a crater appeared near its busiest airport. But this wasn’t just another missile attack. It was a statement — and the Houthis claimed responsibility. Backed by Iran but increasingly acting on their own, the Houthis are evolving into one of the most unpredictable actors in the Middle East. So...

India's External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar has lashed out at Europe for ‘lecturing’ India in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. Jaishankar rebuked Europe for its hypocritical stance on the India-Pakistan conflict, citing Europe's selective morality and actions. He also criticised Europe for preaching restraint while ignoring its actions and those of its allies supplying P...

Russia says it’s ready to talk peace - with Ukraine, bypassing Washington. Kyiv says it’s open to the idea. In 2022, Ukraine and Russia came close to a peace deal, until the West stepped in. From Boris Johnson’s surprise visit to Kyiv, to reports that the U.S., Germany, and France shut down negotiations, the message was clear: no deal with Moscow, keep fighting. In this episode of Grey Zone, Anany...

Azerbaijan just hosted the Iranian president — and weeks later, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to land in Baku. Why is a small Caspian nation suddenly at the centre of such high-stakes diplomacy? Iran and Azerbaijan have spent years trading accusations, cutting ties, and drawing red lines. So why the sudden reset? And more importantly — why is Israel watching so closely? Th...

A Pakistan minister has said that there is credible evidence that India is planning a military strike within 36 hours. This comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a crucial meeting on Tuesday, conveyed that the armed forces have full operational freedom to determine the mode, targets, and timing of India’s response to the April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack. During a high-level security meeti...

North Korea’s involvement in the Ukraine war is raising eyebrows. What motivated the isolated regime to send its troops to fight alongside Russia? In this episode of Grey Zone, Ananya Dutta dives deep into the complex geopolitical shifts that are reshaping the battlefield. From the "comprehensive strategic partnership" forged between Pyongyang and Moscow to the Cold War-style treaties th...

In this episode of Hindustan Times' Point Blank, Executive Editor Shishir Gupta decodes the panic that has gripped the South Asian nation of Pakistan after its involvement in a deadly terror attack on India's Pahalgam. This comes as Pakistani Minister for Railways, Muhammad Hanif Abbasi, issued a direct 'nuclear' threat to India. Meanwhile, Bilawal Bhutto declared, “I want to tell...

India unveiled a raft of punitive diplomatic measures against Pakistan on Wednesday, suspending the 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, downgrading bilateral ties, and shutting down the Attari checkpost, as it hit back at Islamabad over the brazen terror attack near Pahalgam that killed 26 tourists. New Delhi’s retaliatory measures were decided at a Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) meeting chaired by Pri...

India's Jammu & Kashmir on April 22 witnessed one of the most horrific terror attacks in recent years. The attack took place at the scenic Baisaran meadow, a popular tourist spot near Pahalgam which is also referred to as 'mini Switzerland. Prime Minister Narendra Modi cut short his Saudi Arabia visit and returned to Delhi, Home Minister Amit Shah rushed to Kashmir on Tuesday as the at...

Hindustan Times presents The Impossible Show, a series celebrating self-made heroes from small towns across India. Hosted by @-RiteshAgarwal , features @sadhguru mystic, biker, and spiritual guide — as he opens up about his youth, why he wanted to join the army, and the deeper truth about life. Watch the full episode on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih8fpHGiJyI #TheImpossibleShow #Sadhg...

Is Yemen on the brink of a new war? The world has been focused on the Red Sea attacks and U.S. airstrikes, but beneath the headlines, a massive ground offensive is quietly taking shape — one that could redefine the Yemeni civil war. The internationally recognised Yemeni government is reportedly assembling 80,000 troops in a bid to retake Hodeidah Port from the Iran-backed Houthis. But this isn’t j...

It’s been five years since the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything—from the way we work to the way we think about global health. But what if another pandemic strikes tomorrow? Will the world be any more prepared? The World Health Organisation thinks it can be, thanks to a new agreement being finalised right now: the Pandemic Treaty. In this episode of Grey Zone, Ananya Dutta dives into the heart...

Ecuador just made "history" — but not without chaos. Daniel Noboa, the 37-year-old president, has been re-elected in a messy, high-stakes election that’s causing shockwaves across Latin America. In this episode of Grey Zone, Ananya Dutta breaks down: How did Noboa manage two election wins in two years? Why is he betting big on his ties with Donald Trump? And is Latin America quietly adop...

In this episode of Point Blank, Hindustan Times' Executive Editor decodes how India has reacted to Bangladesh interim government chief Muhammad Yunus’ controversial remarks leveraging the isolation of India’s landlocked northeastern states while seeking Chinese investments. Notably, India has ended a nearly five-year-old arrangement for the transhipment of Bangladeshi export cargo to third countri...

Tahawwur Rana, a co-conspirator in the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, is now in NIA custody in India for questioning about his involvement in the attacks. The 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai led to the deaths of 166 people, including six Americans. Rana was flown to India in a special plane after the U.S. Supreme Court cleared Tahawwur Rana's extradition to India on Apr 9. Rana's legal challeng...

The Democratic Republic of Congo is bracing for a political storm. Former President Joseph Kabila, once ousted amid mass protests, has announced a surprise return after an exile. But he’s not walking into the same DRC he left. Armed rebellions, particularly by the M23 group, have reshaped eastern Congo, cutting off vital cities like Goma from government control. As Kinshasa accuses Rwanda of backi...

A seismic shift hit global trade: the U.S. slapped a 104% tariff on Chinese goods. Donald Trump calls it a "tit-for-tat," but has the China-U.S. trade war officially begun? In this episode of Grey Zone, Ananya Dutta breaks down what Trump's tariffs mean for you — from your smartphones and sneakers to your pocketbooks. We dive deep into how China is responding, how it's weaponizin...

Nuclear talks are back on the table — but will they even work? As the United States and Iran gear up for negotiations this Saturday, tensions are already sky-high. Former President Donald Trump is back in the mix, pushing for a new deal — but on his own terms. Iran, on the other hand, is pushing back, demanding a mediator and refusing to trust Washington at face value. Trump has already issued thr...

Singapore’s Prime Minister Lawrence Wong isn’t mincing his words — warning the world about the nightmare that a full-blown global trade war could unleash. But is he also hinting at something even darker... a World War 3 scenario? In today’s episode of Grey Zone, Ananya Dutta unpacks the chilling parallels between today’s economic chaos and the 1930s Great Depression that led to global conflict. As...

In this episode, we look at Japan. The Studio Ghibli effect has taken the world by storm — from Instagram filters to viral AI debates, it’s everywhere. But there’s something deeper at play that most people have missed. Beyond the cute aesthetics and online trends lies a much older, richer story that’s been quietly shaping an entire country’s global influence. What if Japan has been living under th...

Donald Trump has thrown the global economy into chaos with an unprecedented “ reciprocal tariff ” policy targeting 185 countries and territories. Asian markets tanked, Dow Jones futures plummeted, and investors worldwide are scrambling to assess the damage. But in this sweeping tariff war, one major country is conspicuously missing—Russia. Why has Trump exempted Moscow while slapping tariffs on al...

Is the Philippines on the brink of war? The country’s military chief just made a startling revelation—if China invades Taiwan, the Philippines will inevitably be involved. But why? The answer lies in geopolitics, military strategy, and a political power struggle between current President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and former leader Rodrigo Duterte. Under Duterte, the Philippines embraced China, downplay...

U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariff war just triggered an unexpected alliance—China, Japan, and South Korea are joining forces. Is the U.S. pushing its closest allies straight into China’s arms? As April 2nd—Trump’s so-called ‘Liberation Day’—approaches, global markets are in freefall, and gold is hitting record highs. But who really wins and loses in this battle? Japan and South Korea have long...

Donald Trump has ignited a firestorm by hinting at a possible third term, despite the U.S. Constitution explicitly prohibiting it. What started as a joke has now evolved into a serious discussion, with Trump claiming he has "methods" to make it happen. From amending the Constitution to unconventional political maneuvers, the idea is gaining traction among his supporters and some Republic...