In Focus by The Hindu

The Hindu
  • 0,0 (0)
  • ACTUALITÉ : ANALYSES
  • TOUS LES JOURS

A podcast from The Hindu that delves deep into current developments with subject experts, and brings in context, history, perspective and analysis.

  1. -3 H

    Strait of Hormuz Crisis: How the U.S.-Israel attacks on Iran impacts global oil supply

    The Strait of Hormuz is the world’s most critical energy chokepoint. Every day, over 20 million barrels of oil which is roughly one-fifth of global supply pass through this narrow shipping corridor connecting the Persian Gulf to global markets. Now, rising tensions after U.S.- Israel attacks on Iran have raised fears of disruptions in this vital route. Iran has warned that the strait is off limits, while the United States has indicated it may deploy naval escorts for commercial oil tankers. Any escalation here could have serious consequences for global energy markets, oil prices, and major importers like India and China, both of which depend heavily on Gulf crude shipments passing through the strait. Guest: Ambassador Mahesh Sachdev. He retired from the Indian Foreign Service in 2013 after a 35-year diplomatic career during which he was Ambassador to three oil importing countries, Algeria, Norway and Nigeria. He continues to be interested in energy and west Asian geopolitics. He is currently president of eco-diplomacy and strategies, a Delhi based consultancy. Host: Devyanshi Bihani Data Support: Nitika Francis and Sambavi Parthasarathy Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    31 min

  2. -1 J

    In Focus-Parley | Has the Supreme Court been effective in curbing hate speech?

    Last month, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a petition seeking criminal prosecution of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over divisive and communal speeches, as well as a now-deleted social media post that depicted him firing a gun towards an animated image of two Muslim men. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant remarked that whenever elections approach, the court tends to become a political battleground, and consequently directed the petitioners to approach the Guwahati High Court instead. Earlier in January, another Supreme Court bench headed by Justice Vikram Nath indicated that hate speech matters long pending before the court since 2021 would be closed. These were cases in which the court had earlier directed police authorities to register suo motu FIRs in instances of hate speech. The bench, however, clarified that the parties remained free to pursue other legal remedies, including approaching the High Courts or seeking appropriate police action. We discuss whether there has been a discernible shift in the Supreme Court’s approach towards curbing instances of hate speech, and whether legislative reforms may be required to deal with such communal rhetoric more effectively. Guests: Shahrukh Alam, advocate practicing before the Supreme Court, and Haris Beeran, advocate and Rajya Sabha MP. I welcome you both to the episode. Host: Aaratrika Bhaumik Edited by Jude Francis Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1 h

  3. -2 J

    Does too much ultra-processed food affect mental health?

    We all know by now that ultraprocessed food is bad for our health. Consumption of a lot of it, has been linked to a number of health issues including hypertension, diabetes and obesity. But did you know that researchers are now finding links between ultraprocessed food and mental health? This is especially concerning considering the huge burden of mental health issues among young people in India and the gaps in access to care. The government is beginning to take note: the Supreme Court has asked the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, or FSSAI to consider warning labels on the front of packaged foods and the Economic Survey this year called for high GSTs on processed foods. So what is the connection between UPFs and mental health? And why, despite all of the evidence, has India still not managed to put in place stringent warning labels for consumers? Guest: Dr. Arun Gupta, paediatrician, public health expert, and convenor of the Nutrition Advocacy in Public Interest. He is also a former member of the PM’s Council on India’s Nutritional Challenges Host: Zubeda Hamid Producer: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    21 min

  4. -3 J

    Ayatollah Ali Khameini: His legacy, and the fallout of his assassination

    Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed last week in an attack by the US and Israel. Iran has declared 40 days of mourning. Muslims around the world have come out in large numbers to protest his killing and express their grief. In India, thousands of Muslims took to the streets in Kashmir, Lucknow, Hyderabad and Bhopal, among other places, to protest the killing. But beyond the Islamic or religious world, there is only a limited understanding of the man who became Iran’s second Supreme Leader, after Ayatollah Khomeini, the cleric who led the Islamic revolution in 1979. Khameini led Iran for 36 years, both during the Iran-Iraq war and in the period after, when Iran had to deal with crippling western sanctions. Besides being a revered religious leader, he is also considered an anti-imperialist statesman who exerted immense religious and political influence in West Asia. What was his legacy, and what are the political, religious and geopolitical implications of his killing – for Iran, for the ongoing war in West Asia, and beyond? Guest: Ziya Us Salam from The Hindu’s Delhi bureau Host: G Sampath Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    23 min

  5. -4 J

    Israel–U.S.–Iran war: Where is the West Asia conflict headed?

    The conflict between the U.S., Israel, and Iran has entered its third day, marked by intense aerial exchanges and escalating regional involvement. With Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei's death, Iran has launched widespread retaliatory missile barrages targeting Israel and U.S. assets across the Gulf. The situation remainshighly vol atile, with potential for further spread amid calls for restraint from global powers. Guest: Stanly Johny, International Affairs Editor, The Hindu Host: Smriti S Edited and produced by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    33 min

  6. 27 FÉVR.

    West Bengal polls explained: Can the BJP halt the TMC’s fourth-term bid?

    In this episode, we take a closer look at the issues shaping the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections, which are expected to be announced soon by the Election Commission of India. Even before the formal declaration, the political temperature has begun to rise, with sharp exchanges between the Trinamul Congress, which is seeking a fourth consecutive term in office, and its principal opponent, the BJP. But beyond the SIR controversy and the familiar flashpoints that have defined recent campaigns, what does the broader political landscape in West Bengal look like? What is the real state of play on the ground as parties gear up for a high-stakes contest? And as the Trinamul Congress attempts to extend its decade-long hold on power, could this turn out to be its toughest electoral battle yet? Guest: Sankhadip Das, the proprietor, editor of the Bangla language portal, the Wall.in, a very popular portal in Kolkata Host: Nistula Hebbar Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    24 min

  7. 26 FÉVR.

    In Focus-Parley | Have AI products begun disrupting India’s IT services sector?

    Artificial intelligence has moved from experimentation to enterprise adoption in under two years, with industry estimates projecting AI services revenues of $10–12 billion in FY26 and rapid growth thereafter. Yet, this moment of expansion coincides with layoffs, automation, and the vulnerability of entry-level roles in India’s IT and BPO sectors. It also coincides with India’s top tech firms contracting AI products into their workflows. Is this transformation or disruption? Are we witnessing productivity gains, structural shifts, and early signs of displacement, all at the same time? And what does this mean for India’s services-led growth model? Guests: Kishan Sundar and Alaganambi Welkin Host: Kunal Shankar Producer: Sharmada Venkatasubramanian Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    34 min

  8. 26 FÉVR.

    ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ case: Can Supreme Court’s observations help reverse the declining protection for free speech in India?

    Recently, the producers of a Netflix movie titled ‘Ghooskhor Pandat’ were taken to court. A PIL had been filed in the Supreme Court, seeking a ban on the movie. The PIL had been filed by a man claiming to be the National Organisation Secretary of the Brahman Samaj of India. His petition argued that the movie portrayed the Brahmin community in a negative light, by “equating” bribe-taking with the title ‘Pandat’. It said it would provoke disharmony, and a law and order problem. The film’s producers offered to relinquish the title, and release the movie under a different name. So, the case was closed. However, the associate judge on the Bench handling the case, Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, has authored a separate opinion, where he has sought to restate first principles, dwelling on the themes of fraternity and free speech. On the one hand, the opinion states that it is “constitutionally impermissible” for state or non-state actors to “vilify or denigrate any community”. Many have expressed concerns that this could be used to impose further restrictions on free speech and artistic expression. But the judge has also observed that the effects of words must be judged from the standards of ordinary men of common sense and prudence, and not “on the basis of standards of people who always have a sense of insecurity, or of those who always perceive criticism as a threat to their power or position”. Free speech is the most critical element of a democracy, and there seems to be enough here for those who want to spin the opinion as pro-free speech or as anti-free speech. What is the broader context of this commentary, and what are its legal implications? Guest: Supreme Court advocate Deepak Joshi Host: G Sampath Producer and editor: Jude Weston Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    32 min
Tout afficher (1,2 k)

À propos

A podcast from The Hindu that delves deep into current developments with subject experts, and brings in context, history, perspective and analysis.

Informations

  • Création
    The Hindu
  • Années d’activité
    2020 - 2026
  • Épisodes
    1,2 k
  • Classification
    Tous publics
  • Copyright
    © The Hindu
  • Site web de l’émission
    In Focus by The Hindu

Vous aimeriez peut‑être aussi