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.
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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 #CervicalCancer #WomensHealth #PinkMonth #HTLifeAndTimes #HealthAwareness #CancerPrevention #IndiaHealth #CancerDetection
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, yet societal norms remain rigid. Japanese women are among the most educated globally, yet face pressures to conform to traditional roles — prioritizing marriage, motherhood, and domesticity over leadership or ambition. Feminists worry that Takaichi’s conservative stance may reinforce the patriarchal status quo, rather than empower women. Symbolically, she breaks the glass ceiling; substantively, change may be limited. So why does Japan produce so many brilliant, capable women but so few in power? This story unpacks the tension between economic might, gender equality, and cultural inertia.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/HXKEKlW-QGU
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, while Venezuela’s María Corina Machado becomes a focal point for sanctions, international praise, and even military pressure at sea.Trump’s playbook is clear: public praise, implicit threats, and ideological signaling replace covert meddling. The rhetoric is sharp, leftist opponents are framed as dangerous, conservative allies celebrated, and entire elections subtly influenced from Washington. Is America still using fear to shape governments or has it just made the process more unapologetic, louder, and impossible to ignore? Where once spies pulled the strings in secret, now an unashamed president wields influence like a spotlight, shaping politics across continents.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/pvOtdvtHiB8
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 sees digitisation and Aadhaar as India’s biggest governance successes. This candid conversation offers rare insights into the mind of India’s leader, through the words of the man who worked closest with him.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Iezglsh0zDA
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.
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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? In this episode of Grey Zone, Ananya Dutta unpacks the economics, politics, and strategy behind Zelensky’s bold new plan. From battlefield-tested drones and missiles to the moral dilemma of selling while fighting, this is a story about how modern wars are no longer just fought on the frontlines but also negotiated in markets and boardrooms. Can Ukraine turn its war into a business? Or is this the start of a new arms race in Europe?
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 framework. This association rekindles controversy, as both local Palestinians and Hamas have publicly rejected his involvement, citing his past actions and the broader implications of international oversight over Palestinian affairs. But how does Tony Blair fit into Trump's proposal? In this episode of HT In-Depth, we delve deeper into Blair's politics and his ties to the Middle East in the past two decades. Watch this video to find out the realities behind Blair's involvement in the Gaza plan.
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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.INTERNATIONAL NEWS #Europe #RussiaSanctions #Trump #India #EnergyCrisis #EUIndiaTrade #JohnClark #GlobalPolitics #UkraineWar #EconomicPolicy
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://youtu.be/_6pEb8WcX4M
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 voices divided on whether protests should be held or curtailed, the future of the Waqf Act remains a critical question for India’s minority community.
Watch the exclusive interview here #WaqfAct #SupremeCourt #AIMPLB #KhalidRasheed #Masjid #MinorityRights #IndiaNews #WaqfVerdict #SCJudgment #MuslimCommunity #Politics #TheInterview
President Xi Jinping marked the 70th founding anniversary of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region in Urumqi with all the familiar symbols of Chinese state power: red banners, thunderous applause, grandiose speeches. But beyond the stage lights and orchestrated clapping lies a darker story, one that the United Nations put into words that same year. In August 2022, the UN Human Rights Office released a landmark assessment, accusing China of committing “serious human rights violations” in Xinjiang that may amount to crimes against humanity. The report spoke of arbitrary detentions, forced labor, sexual violence, and an entire surveillance system designed to erase Uyghur culture. For years, leaks, testimonies, and satellite images had hinted at this. But now, the world’s top human rights body has put it on record. The celebration inside Urumqi’s hall was scripted, but the suffering outside could no longer be hidden. Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/DqJz-gF5fTA
Why do older leaders keep winning in a world obsessed with Gen Z? 🤔As PM Narendra Modi turns 75, even his rivals are wishing him well—without calling for retirement. From Rahul Gandhi’s slow rise, to Nepal’s Gen Z choosing a 73-year-old leader, to global examples like Joe Biden and Keir Starmer, this episode explores why experience beats age in politics.👉 Is youth really overrated in leadership?👉 Why voters still trust elders to steer nations?👉 What Modi’s next move at 78 could mean for India.🔔 Watch now to understand why age is the new advantage in the political game.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Ax0vjzl4ptE
Is Antifa really behind Charlie Kirk’s death, or is this just the latest chapter in Trump’s war on the left? After the fatal shooting of the conservative influencer, Donald Trump signed an executive order labeling Antifa a domestic terror organization. But the movement has no central leadership, no membership list, and, crucially, no connection to Kirk’s death. So why is the president cracking down now? In this episode of Grey Zone, Ananya Dutta explores the murky Grey Zone between dissent and terrorism, where entire segments of the American left are being grouped under one label. From protests and doxing campaigns to the fear of censorship, we break down how Trump’s Antifa crackdown could reshape free speech, political activism, and who gets targeted next. Are we looking at protection, or persecution? And in a world where millions aren’t protected by celebrity status or money, who’s really safe?Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/sZlO8f32fHc
This weekend, four Western powers, the UK, France, Australia, and Canada formally recognised Palestine, issuing grand speeches about statehood. But while the world celebrated a symbolic breakthrough, Benjamin Netanyahu was busy charting a different course, one that could reshape the Middle East forever. In the same breath that he rejected Palestinian sovereignty, Netanyahu praised “progress” in talks with Syria, a country crippled by war, sanctions, and economic collapse. Why does Israel’s prime minister seek validation from Damascus? Because for Netanyahu, this is not about peace but power. His long-standing vision of a “Greater Israel” is quietly unfolding - through wars, settlements, and now diplomacy. As world leaders deliver ceremonial gestures, Netanyahu is redrawing borders in real time. The contradiction is stark: Palestine recognised on paper, Israel expanding on the ground. The question is, who is really shaping the future of the region?
China’s rising influence in South Asia, including in strategically vital countries like Nepal and Bangladesh, has worried India. Constantino Xavier joins the HT podcast with Shashank Mattoo to explain China’s rising power in India’s neighbourhood and the competition between the two Asian heavyweights. Watch the full interview here.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi turns 75, marking over a decade of transformative leadership that has reshaped India’s political, economic, and global trajectory. In this episode of Point Blank, journalist Shishir Gupta decodes PM Modi’s legacy, from his unmatched work ethic and bold national security decisions to flagship initiatives like Atmanirbhar Bharat, Make in India, and Digital India.Discover how Modi’s vision for Viksit Bharat 2047, his strategic handling of global geopolitics, and his “India First” approach continue to define India’s rise as a major world power.
Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UBfF73oBHzs
Israel’s attack on Qatar has sent shockwaves across the Middle East. While Tel Aviv insists it was targeting Hamas leaders, Doha says its trust has been broken and the fear of betrayal has sent Turkey in a spiral. It is now warning that it could be next. For years, Ankara has sheltered Hamas leadership while balancing its NATO obligations. If Israel were to attack Turkey, the fallout would be seismic, testing NATO’s Article 5, straining U.S. alliances, and risking a conflict that could engulf the entire region. So, is Israel overreaching? And what happens if it pushes NATO into the battlefield?
