On september 9, 2025, Israeli forces launched an attack in Qatar in what is being seen as an unprecedented escalation beyond the Gaza conflict. The strike rattled Qatar, which has hosted Hamas’s political office for years and positioned itself as a key mediator in ceasefire and hostage negotiations. While Israel claims the strike was aimed at Hamas’s leadership, it has triggered wider concerns — about violations of sovereignty, the safety of negotiators, and the future of diplomacy in West Asia. So, what does this escalation mean for Qatar’s role as mediator? How does it affect the future of negotiations with Hamas? Is Israel signalling a new phase in its regional strategy, and what might this mean for U.S. allies and European powers navigating the fallout? Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Washington’s new tariff regime, an extra duty on India-origin imports and the end of the $800 de minimis exemption, is already rippling through India’s textiles and apparel supply chain. Export margins are being squeezed, small businesses have maxed out working capital loans and inventories have piled up as orders have stalled, and mills are facing a major shortage of cotton. In the next part of a series on In Focus, looking at the impact of the United States’ 50% tariffs on goods imported from India, we unpack who gets hit, how jobs are affected, and what policy support could cushion the blow for the textiles and apparels sector – a sector for which close to a third of its export orders come from the U.S. Guests: Soundariya Preetha M, Deputy Chief of Bureau, The Hindu Thivya Rakini, State President, Tamil nadu Textile and Common Labour Union (TTCU) Host: Kunal Shankar Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nepal is the most politically unstable democracy in the world since 1990 with 30 government tenures in 35 years. In this episode, we’re going beyond the breaking news regarding the recent upheaval in the country using numbers: What do they tell us about inequality, youth anger, and the failures of Nepal’s political class? And what reforms might actually make a difference? Click here to listen to Part 1 Guest: Srinivasan Ramani, Deputy National Editor, The Hindu Host: Nitika Francis Recorded by Thamodharan B and Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On 8 September 2025, the quaint Himalayan town Kathmandu saw violent scenes. A ban on 26 social media platforms sparked protests that turned anti-corruption rallies deadly—19 people including school children were shot. The next day, offices of political parties, ministers’ homes and parliament itself were attacked. Prime Minister K. P. Sharma Oli resigned. How did it come to this? Why are young Nepalis losing patience? What does this mean for the country’s future? Guest: Roman Gautam, Editor, Himal Southasian Host: Anupama Chandrasekaran Produced and edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Private coaching in India has grown into a parallel education system. It is no longer just extra help after school, but the backbone of learning for millions of students. In the last seven years, tuition has surged across all levels - from primary to higher secondary. Among rural girls in higher secondary, the rise is especially sharp, while States in the east like West Bengal, and Odisha are seeing some of the highest numbers, with coaching starting as early as Kindergarten. In some cases, families are spending more on tuition than on school itself. The podcast explores the factors contributing to this dependence on private tuition in the east. What does it say about the state of our schools? And how is this reshaping education in India? Guest: Sabir Ahamed, Programme Director at the Pratichi Institute Host: Devyanshi Bihani Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Rajetha Damisetty explains how the entry of unqualified practitioners and a lack of regulatory oversight is impacting patient safety when it comes to skin and hair procedures being performed in India. The wellness sector is booming in India. Aesthetic, skin and hair clinics are everywhere, social media feeds are filled with advertisements and procedures such as hair transplants, skin lightening, botox and others are becoming increasingly common. In a few cases that have been reported in the news however, some of these treatments have gone horribly wrong – in May this year, two men from Kanpur died after botched hair transplants and another man in Kerala contracted a serious bacterial infection. Experts say that the problem is the lack of regulatory oversight – who is supposed to be able to perform these procedures and who is actually performing them in India? Are clinics where these procedures take place fully licensed and equipped to deal with emergencies? Are misleading claims and exaggerated advertisements contributing to the problem? And what is being done to ensure patient safety? Guest: Rajetha Damisetty, a senior dermatologist based in Hyderabad and national chairperson of the Indian Association of Dermatologists, Venereologists and Leprologists (IADVL) Anti-Quackery, Legal and Ethics Committee. Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India’s rocks hold an extraordinary record of life: the earliest traces of plants, dinosaur bones, and even fossils of ancient horses, whales, and humans. This wealth comes from the subcontinent’s geological journey after it broke away from the supercontinent Gondwanaland and later its collision with Asia that formed the Himalayas. Yet today, fossils face mounting threats: theft, commercial trade, and the absence of strong legal safeguards. In this weekender episode, we explore how India became such a rich ground for fossils, why these discoveries matter for both our past and our future, and what it will take to preserve them. Guest: Professor Ashok Sahni, one of India’s most distinguished palaeontologists, whose discoveries have reshaped our understanding of India’s ancient world. Host: Anupama Chandrasekaran Edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Saturday morning, a 45-year-old man died in Kerala of amoebic meningocephalitis. This is the fourth death reported in Kerala in less than a month of this rare but deadly infection, colloquially known as brain-eating amoeba. This year alone, over 40 cases have been reported in the State, with 11 people undergoing treatment in hospitals at present. The Health Department has invoked the Kerala Public Health Act to launch preventive and control measures, as it emerges that perhaps all waterbodies — wells, ponds, canals, swimming pools, water theme parks — could be a potential source of amoebic infection for people using them, unless these are regularly cleaned and maintained in good condition. What is this brain-eating amoeba? Why is a rare infection being seen in dozens of people across one Southern state? How is it diagnosed and treated? And how can water be used safely? Guest: Dr Aravind Reghukumar, Head of department of infectious diseases, Government Medical College Thiruvananthapuram, KeralaConvenor of Kerala State Medical Board Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For years, the United States let low-value parcels enter duty-free under a rule called the de minimis exemption—literally “too small to matter.” By 2016, the limit had risen to $800, among the highest in the world, opening doors for Indian exporters to sell cheaply to American buyers. Now that rule is gone. The U.S. says it was abused, hurting local businesses and even enabling shipments to make synthetic drugs. With India’s government-run postal system halting most parcels, what was once too small to matter is now a big question for India’s small businesses: how will they cope? Guest: Movin Jain Host: Anupama Chandrasekaran Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On August 25, 2025, the Supreme Court urged the Union government to frame guidelines for regulating social media, noting that influencers often commercialise free speech in ways that may offend the sentiments of vulnerable groups. A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi directed that these regulations be drafted in consultation with the National Broadcasters and Digital Association. The order stemmed from an intervention application filed by a non-profit representing persons with Spinal Muscular Atrophy, which alleged that comedians Samay Raina, Vipul Goyal, Balraj Paramjeet Singh Ghai, Sonali Thakkar, and Nishant Jagdish Tanwar had made derogatory remarks about those living with the disorder. Should commercial speech on digital platforms be regulated? Here we discuss the question. Guests: Apar Gupta and Jay Vinayak Ojha Host: Aaratrika Bhaumik. Edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Parliament last month enacted the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, establishing a comprehensive legal framework for India’s rapidly expanding online gaming sector. The legislation, which received the President’s assent on August 22, seeks to regulate segments such as e-sports and social gaming, while simultaneously imposing a blanket prohibition on all money-based online games. The stated rationale for this prohibition is the “serious social, financial, psychological and public health harms, particularly among young individuals and economically disadvantaged groups,” associated with real-money gaming. Even before the law has taken effect, several petitions have been filed in the Karnataka High Court challenging its validity. The Court has issued notice to the Union government on an interim plea seeking a stay on the Act’s application to online games of skill. Can the new legislation withstand constitutional scrutiny? What are its broader implications? Does it run contrary to established judicial precedents that distinguish between games of skill and games of chance? Note: This episode was recorded before petitions challenging the law were filed in the Karnataka HC. Guest: Deepak Joshi, Advocate-On-Record at the Supreme Court of India Host: Aaratrika Bhaumik Shot, produced, and edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi visit China for the first time in seven years. He had a bilateral meeting with President Xi Jinping, which assumes significance in the context of the ongoing dissonance in India-US relations over tariffs. How do we read the Modi-Xi meeting – does it signal a shift toward normalisation of in bilateral ties? How important is this particular summit in the history of the SCO and the challenges it faces today? And what tangible benefits can India expect from greater engagement with SCO and with China? Guests: Suhasini Haidar, The Hindu’s Diplomatic Affairs Editor, and Ananth Krishnan, Director at The Hindu Group and former Beijing correspondent. Host: G. Sampath Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Ananth Krishnan has just curated a new e-book for The Hindu on China, titled, ‘China: India Perspectives on China’s Politics, Economy and Foreign Relations’. It is an anthology of 12 outstanding essays by reputed China scholars and experts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India has several policies designed to support persons with disabilities. Yet, data shows that many are still unable to access these benefits. A major reason is the lack of a Unique Disability ID Card, which has become essential for availing government schemes and entitlements. The Unique Disability ID card is an important document for people with disabilities. It serves as proof of their disability status and helps them access a range of government benefits and schemes. At the same time, it enables the government to maintain an accurate count of persons with disabilities, so that resources and support can be better planned and allocated. Yet, the data shows a stark gap — on average, only about 39% of people with disabilities in India actually have a Unique Disability ID card. Guest: Shashank Pandey, a lawyer and founder of Politics and Disability Forum, who works on political representation of Persons with Disabilities. Host: Nitika Francis Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Coffee is more than a beverage—it’s a sensory ritual. But in 2025, global coffee prices are at a fifty-year high, sending shockwaves down to Indian households. Even long-trusted South Indian brands, staples of middle-class homes, are becoming costlier. Will the “ordinary” filter kaapi or takeaway latte soon feel like a bigger luxury? In this weekender episode, we explore the reasons behind rising prices, how it’s reshaping consumption, and whether there’s a way to hold on to our morning lifeline. Guest: Divya Jaishankar, founder of a specialty café in Chennai and master roaster Host: Anupama Chandrasekaran Camera: Thamodharan B and Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Produced and edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In recent years, Sri Lanka has endured fuel queues, protests and the fall of the Rajapaksa political dynasty. Ranil Wickremesinghe stepped in and steadied the economy but angered many with austerity and loyalty to the old elite. Now, in a historic first, he’s been arrested for misusing state funds on a UK trip. At the helm is President Anura Kumara Dissanayake. This son of a farmer and reformist leader has promised honesty and a clean break from the past. So what does this turning point mean for Sri Lanka’s democracy, economy and its place between India and China? Guest: Meera Srinivasan, Sri Lanka Correspondent, The Hindu Host: Anupama Chandrasekaran Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

India-China relations have been bogged down by two major irritants: the border issue, and China’s close military collaboration with Pakistan. But now, both India and China are looking for a reset in bilateral ties. This assumes significance especially in the context of the Trump administration’s 50% tariffs on Indian exports. India doesn’t want its growth trajectory derailed by these tariffs, and wants to explore all options for protecting its economic interests. Prime Minister Modi is meeting President Xi Jinping in Tianjin at the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit, and greater economic cooperation is very much on the agenda. Given the historical tensions and trust deficit between the two countries, can India benefit from a pivot to China? And if the answer is yes, how would it work? Guest: Cameron Johnson, Senior Partner, Tidalwave Solutions, Shanghai and former Vice Chair of the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai. He is a leading expert on Chinese manufacturing, economy, trade, and supply chain management. Host: G Sampath Shot, produced, and edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

During his Independence Day speech, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a “Deepavali gift” to the people in the form of next-generation Goods and Services Tax (GST) reforms. The Ministry of Finance subsequently said that a large part of these reforms involved moving GST from the current four-tier system to a two-tier structure of 5% and 18%, along with an overall lowering of the average tax rate. What impact will this proposal have on revenues? And should the States be compensated for revenue loss? Here we discuss the question Guests: Manoj Mishra, Partner at Grant Thornton Bharat; Pratik Jain, Partner at Price Waterhouse & Co LLP Host: T.C.A. Sharad Raghavan Edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Banks and fintechs use Artificial Intelligence to detect fraud in credit scoring, but with new opportunities come new risks, including that of bias and accountability. The Reserve Bank of India recently released a report called Framework for Responsible and Ethical Enablement of AI (FREE-AI) to regulate the use of AI in the financial sector. The report has seven 'sutras' or guidelines and 26 recommendations to encourage innovation in this space. The report has seven 'sutras' or guidelines and 26 recommendations to encourage innovation in this space. Guest: Prof. Prasanna Tantri, Associate Professor of Finance and the Executive Director of the Centre for Analytical Finance at the Indian School of Business  Host: Nivedita V Edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Last month, OpenAI, the company that developed ChatGPT made an important change to its popular app: ChatGPT will now avoid offering specific advice on personal issues and it will also prompt users to take breaks in cases of lengthy conversations. These changes were brought in after the company admitted that ChatGPT fell short of recognising signs of emotional dependency or delusions. An increasing number of people across the world, are beginning to turn to ChatGPT and other AI chatbots for mental health help. And increasing number of professionals are cases of users whose mental health has been badly affected after the use of chatbots. What is going on with chatbots and the world of mental health? Is it safe to turn to chatGPT for therapy? What are the risks involved with excessive use or personal disclosures? And how can people use chatbots safely in a world where they are increasingly becoming tools for daily use? Guest: Soumitra Pathare, director, Centre for Mental Health, Law & Policy, Pune Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Sharmada Venkatausbramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since October 2023, more than 200 journalists have been killed in Gaza, a Palestinian territory that has seen extensive destruction, displacement and death. More recently, on August 10, 2025, an Israeli drone strike killed seven reporters in a media tent in Gaza City—underscoring the dangers of telling these stories. With food, water and medicine scarce, and press freedom under siege, the question remains: how can the world protect those who continue risking everything to report the truth? Guest: Sarah Qudah, Middle East and North Africa Regional Director, Committee to Protect Journalists Host: Anupama Chandrasekaran Edited and produced by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices