In this exclusive conversation, economist and policy analyst, Professor Jeffrey Sach, joins Abhishek Singh of Hindustan Times to decode some burning geopolitical questions. From the fallout of Donald Trump's meeting with Vladimir Putin in Alaska, to the deeper roots of the Russia-Ukraine war, Sachs pulls no punches in laying out the complex realities behind global conflicts and shifting alliances. On India, Sachs criticizes Washington’s tariff threats and urges New Delhi to think beyond old alliances. Sachs also calls out European leaders for blindly following the U.S.’ lead, warns of further destabilization in Latin America, and offers a sharp critique of American diplomacy under Trump. Watch the full interview for all the details.HT PODCAST#JeffreySachs #Geopolitics #UkraineCrisis #IndiaChina #USIndiaTrade #TrumpForeignPolicy #BRICS #MultipolarOrder #HindustanTimes #UNReform #RussiaUkraineWar #TradeTensions #GlobalPolitics #USHegemony

In this week’s episode of Tell Me Why, we dive into the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) — the 100-year-old ideological fountainhead of the BJP and India’s ruling establishment. With RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat delivering a rare 3-day lecture series, we break down the biggest takeaways: Why the Sangh doesn’t want PM Narendra Modi to retire at 75, what it really thinks about Ayodhya, Kashi, and Mathura temple disputes, its controversial stand on meat bans, and how deeply it still influences BJP decisions. From its roots in Nagpur to shaping India’s politics and culture today, this is everything you need to know about the RSS in 2025.👉 Why does the RSS matter? How does it shape Modi’s future? And what does it mean for India’s politics?https://youtu.be/vK7a3cYbA5c

Japan is facing a storm it didn’t anticipate. A government program linked to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) quietly branded the “Hometown Plan”, has triggered a wave of anger on social media. The fear? That Japan is about to be flooded by African migrants, granted quick permanent residency, and even incentivized to marry into Japanese society. Thousands of posts online are calling this everything from “selling out the country” to “ethnic cleansing.” For a country already struggling with a demographic crisis, immigration is an explosive topic. And while Africa is seeking trade, not aid, Japan’s attempt at building closer ties has backfired at home. The backlash shows how deep-rooted fears about identity, race, and population decline run in Japanese society. So, is this controversy just online hysteria or does it expose a deeper anxiety about the future of Japan?Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/YQI4FutXbY0

Donald Trump says he wants to meet Kim Jong Un again. The announcement instantly revives memories of that dramatic 2019 handshake at the DMZ. But the world Trump is walking back into has changed. North Korea today is not just the isolated state he once tried to charm, it now stands firmly backed by two powerful patrons: Russia and China.Just last year, Vladimir Putin visited Pyongyang, the first Russian president to do so in 24 years. He signed a sweeping defense pact with Kim, pledging mutual military support. In practice, it has meant North Korea sending arms and ammunition to Russia’s war in Ukraine, while Moscow supplies oil, food, and possibly missile technology in return. At the same time, Beijing continues to serve as Pyongyang’s economic lifeline.So when Trump talks about “friendship” with Kim, the question is: will the U.S. walk into a room where Russia and China are already seated at the table? Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/VGQPAv7TCto

Donald Trump is playing up his role as a global peacemaker, but is that the whole story? While Washington talks of ending wars, U.S. warships are circling Venezuela, signaling something far bigger than just cracking down on “drug cartels”. Could this be the start of another regime change war? And where America goes, rivals aren’t far behind. China and Russia are already deeply invested in Venezuela’s oil and politics and that means the Caribbean could become the next frontline in great power rivalry. So, is Trump really pushing peace, or is Venezuela about to become Washington’s next foreign adventure? And more importantly, who stands to gain if the conflict escalates? Ananya Dutta brings you this episode of Grey Zone.

Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/mzYitBrq8E0

With Indian students flocking to Australia for higher education, Australia's High Commissioner to India Philip Green decodes the hurdles and practical advice they must consider to ensure their plans remain on track. This as the Australian government plans to increase the cap for international students to 295,000 by 2026. In this special episode, Green offers a rare glimpse into his personal observations, portraying India as a dynamic, complex, and ever-evolving nation.Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/C8fVglZSvP4

In an interview with HT, former Trump national security adviser John Bolton criticized Washington for its “confused” policy on India. Ambassador Bolton questioned Washington’s 25% penalty on India for purchasing Russian energy and acknowledged that the India-US relationship is in “a very bad place”. Bolton believes Trump is an “aberrational president” and that the objective should be to keep the damage to the India-US relationship to a minimum during the rest of Trump’s term. When asked about India-US relations and if they could return to normalcy, Bolton advised that Indian PM Modi and Trump should have a one-on-on and "clear the air." He also commented on Trump's policy China policy, saying he gives China "a lot of leeway"Watch the full episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/C5jHikCfWQo

Qatar is tiny, but its diplomatic reach is towering. While Donald Trump is loudly campaigning for a Nobel Peace Prize, tiny Doha has been quietly racking up real peace deals - from ending America’s longest war with the Taliban, to brokering prisoner swaps between the U.S. and Iran, to negotiating delicate truces between Israel and Hamas. The irony? This conservative Gulf monarchy, often dismissed as “too small to matter,” has become the world’s unofficial backchannel. Its leverage comes not just from wealth or gas, but from mastering the art of neutrality in a polarized world. The question is: how did Qatar turn geography and vulnerability into global influence? And what does its rise as a diplomatic hub mean for the future of conflicts where traditional powers have failed? In this episode, we break down Qatar’s quiet power, and why it’s now indispensable to world diplomacy. Watch The Full Episode On YouTube: https://youtu.be/29Uu-c41dfQ