In this episode of Point Blank, Hindustan Times Executive Editor Shishir Gupta delves into the escalating tensions between China and the Tibetan Buddhist community following the Dalai Lama’s recent succession declaration. The 14th Dalai Lama said the institution will continue after him, and added that his successor will be chosen by a trust he founded, not by the Chinese authorities.

With his 90th birthday approaching, the Dalai Lama’s announcement directly challenges China’s efforts to assert control over Tibet and its spiritual leadership.

So why is atheist China rattled by the Dalai Lama’s announcement? What does this mean for India-China ties? Watch this episode of Point Blank for all the details.POINT BLANK#China #Tibet #DalaiLama #India #Buddhism #HindustanTimes

Syria’s civil war is over. Assad is gone. But a new chapter has begun, one that’s raising eyebrows across the Middle East. The United States is lifting sanctions. Israel is pushing for peace. And Syria, broken and broke, is being nudged toward normalisation with a country it once called its enemy. So what’s really going on?In this episode of Grey Zone, Ananya Dutta breaks down how Trump flipped U.S. policy overnight, why Israel is piggybacking on the opportunity, and what Syria could lose in the name of “peace” including the Golan Heights. From backchannel deals via the UAE to raw anger on Syrian streets, we unpack the real motives behind the diplomacy, the risks Syrians now face, and the uncomfortable trade-offs ahead. Is Syria selling its sovereignty for sanctions relief?Will the Golan Heights be the price of reintegration?And who benefits the most - Damascus, Tel Aviv, or Washington?#Syria #Israel #Trump #GolanHeights #MiddleEast #GreyZone #Geopolitics #Normalization #AbrahamAccords #Damascus #Assad #HTS #AlJolani #Iran #Russia #USForeignPolicy #SanctionsLifted #ArabWorld #UAE #BasharAlAssad #MiddleEastPolitics #PeaceDeal #IsraeliFlag #Diplomacy #SyriaWar #AnanyaDutta

In this episode of Point Blank, Hindustan Times Executive Editor Shishir Gupta gives an analysis of recent statements by Pakistan's Field Marshal Asim Munir. The Pakistan army chief, during a speech at the Pakistan Naval Academy, characterised what India calls terrorism as a “legitimate struggle” under international conventions. The discussion highlights how such statements are nothing but dog-whistling to extremist elements targeting India, especially in Kashmir.

The show delves into India-U.S. relations and why Pakistan is not even a factor when it comes to ties between the world’s largest democracies.

Watch the whole episode on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIymD4_eCYE#India #Pakistan #AsimMunir #OpSindoor #Kashmir #J&K #HindustanTimes

The 12-day Israel-Iran war may be over, but its impact is just beginning. In this episode of Grey Zone, Ananya Dutta unpacks how the U.S. and Israel are seizing this moment to push the Abraham Accords further — hoping more Arab nations will normalise ties with Israel. U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff says military gains may compel new countries to join the accords. But will Arab governments follow suit, or is public opinion too deeply shaped by solidarity with Palestine?We revisit the original 2020 Abraham Accords under Trump and examine how the recent Iran-Israel conflict has shifted the region’s dynamics. Even Abraham Accord members like UAE, Bahrain, and Sudan condemned Israel’s strikes. Meanwhile, Iran is promoting a rival initiative — the Mwada Dialogue — aiming to unite Muslim nations, including Turkey, around Islamic solidarity.

Watch the full episode on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9UDxCuOoGU

#GreyZone #IsraelIranWar #AbrahamAccords #USMiddleEast #SaudiIran #ArabPublicOpinion #Mwada #Palestine #MiddleEastPolitics #TrumpDiplomacy #Geopolitics

The ceasefire between Iran and Israel is holding for now. But has the war changed anything? Despite targeted U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, reports suggest Tehran’s core nuclear infrastructure remains intact. Which brings us to the real question: was this ever just about nuclear weapons? Or was it always about oil?From Eisenhower to Carter to Obama, and now Trump - U.S. presidents have painted Iran as the regional villain. But if you look closer, oil has always been at the center of the conflict. Trump himself openly praised Iran’s oil wealth while hinting at future trade.In this episode of Grey Zone, Ananya Dutta breaks down Iran’s oil power, who’s buying it, and how much influence Tehran still holds over global markets, especially through the Strait of Hormuz. This story isn't just about missiles or uranium. It’s about leverage, pipelines, and petrodollars. So, what’s the real cost of keeping Iran boxed in? #IranIsraelConflict, #IranOil, #MiddleEastPolitics, #USForeignPolicy, #TrumpOnIran, #GreyZone, #OilWar, #IranNuclearDeal, #StraitOfHormuz, #Geopolitics, #IranSanctions, #EnergySecurity, #IranNews, #PetroPolitics, #OilPrices, #MideastCrisis, #GlobalOilMarkets, #JCPOA, #EnergyGeopolitics, #IranVsUS, #IranChinaTrade, #OilSupplyChain, #GasReserves, #NuclearDiplomacy, #USIranRelations, #AnanyaDuttaWatch the whole episode on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h27fkdVIj8c

Is Donald Trump laying the groundwork for regime change in Iran? And is Washington preparing for the return of the Shah’s son, Reza Pahlavi? In a dramatic escalation, the U.S. has joined Israel in striking Iran’s nuclear sites, and just hours later, Trump posted a tweet echoing his famous slogan: “Make Iran Great Again.” But this time, it's not a campaign rally. It’s a signal perhaps, to topple Iran’s Islamic regime.We dive into Trump’s statement, Iran’s expected response, and the eerie parallels with 1953, when the CIA orchestrated a coup to reinstall the Shah. Now, Reza Pahlavi, the exiled crown prince, says this is the moment for regime change.Is history repeating itself? And if it is what does that mean for Iran, for the U.S., and for the rest of the Middle East?We revisit America’s track record in Afghanistan and Iraq—because when Washington tries to pick a leader, it often ends up creating its next enemy.#Iran #TrumpTweet #RezaPahlavi #MakeIranGreatAgain #RegimeChange #GreyZone #MiddleEast #USIranTensions #OperationAjax #IranWar #USForeignPolicy #CIAHistory #Ayatollah #IslamicRepublic #ShahOfIran #IranProtests #Tehran #Khamenei #TrumpIran #ProxyWar #AmericanImperialism #Taliban #ISIS #Mossadegh #USMiddleEast #IranCrisis #AnanyaDuttaWatch the full episode on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8PqlgWU_Zk

Understanding women’s rights, regime change and Middle East politics. Human rights activist Ryma Sheermohammadi shares exclusive insights on the struggle for freedom, the challenges women face in Iran, and the hope for a better future.

Watch this in-depth full interview for expert analysis on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nPJKBtDqnVc#Khamenei #Trump #Netanyahu #Iran #Israel #IranIsraelWar #WomensRights #RegimeChange #MiddleEast #HumanRights #IranProtests #MahsaAmini #FreedomForIran #IranNews #CurrentAffairs