The K. Hema Committee report has shaken up the Malayalam film industry, bringing into the public domain all kinds of horrors. Based on direct testimonies, it has documented rampant sexual exploitation, illegal bans, discrimination, wage disparity, and inhuman working conditions, with women not having access to even basic amenities such as toilets and changing rooms.Significantly, it notes that the Malayalam film industry is controlled by a tight-knit cabal of 10 to 15 all-male producers, directors and actors, who could ban anyone from the industry. It also flags the fear that witnesses felt in speaking freely about their experiences working in the industry.How is it that in such a big industry with an annual turnover of more than ₹1,000 crores, employees don’t have basic protections or decent working conditions? Will the persons who perpetrated the crimes documented in the Report be brought to book? And what kind of legal mechanisms can be put in place to protect the safety of women in the film industry?Guest: Thulasi K Raj, a lawyer who practices at the Kerala High Court and at the Supreme Court of India.Host: G. Sampath, Social Affairs Editor, The HinduEdited by Jude Francis Weston

The Central government, a few days ago, banned 156 fixed dose combination drugs, or FDCs. An FDC is a drug that has more than one active ingredient – two or more drugs together, in a single pill, capsule or shot. This is the latest in a series of bans brought in by the Centre – last year 14 FDCs were banned, and a total of 499 have been banned since 2014. Why is this happening? Expert committees of the government have said these FDCs are irrational or have no therapeutic value for patients. In fact, FDCs are known to contribute to a growing public health problem in India – antimicrobial resistance So then why is the Indian market dominated by FDCs? Why are there FDCs in India that are not found anywhere else in the world? How are even unapproved and banned FDCs often found in the market?Guest: S Srinivasan, co-convenor, All India Drug Action NetworkHost: Zubeda HamidEdited by Jude Francis Weston

Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, who served as Chief Adviser to an interim government in Bangladesh, provides insights into the country's political upheaval following Sheikh Hasina's departure. He discusses the resurgence of opposition parties and public expectations from the interim leadership. The dialogue includes the concerns around constitutional changes, safety of minorities, and the challenges of a two-party system. Additionally, they explore how Indian foreign policy might need to adapt to the changing landscape in Bangladesh.

In this insightful discussion, tennis legends Novak Djokovic, Carlos Alcaraz, Daniil Medvedev, and Jannik Sinner dive into the thrilling dynamics of the upcoming US Open. Djokovic seeks his 25th Grand Slam title, while Sinner faces a cloud of doping controversy. The conversation touches on potential matchups, the competitive landscape for both men and women, and the mental state of top athletes. The panel also addresses the disparities between top-ranked players and their lower-ranked counterparts, setting the stage for an exciting tournament.

Another public health emergency has hit the world, and this time it’s mpox, previously known as monkeypox. The outbreak is sweeping through west, central and east African countries, and in the past few days cases have also been reported closer home, in Pakistan and Thailand. While mpox has been around for decades, this time around, a deadlier and far more transmissible strain—known as Clade 1b—has driven the recent surge in cases. This strain is believed to cause death in about 3.6 per cent of the cases, with children being the most vulnerable, according to the World Health Organisation. The Indian government has said there is no call for alarm as of now but has also said that hospitals have been alerted and large-scale testing is being looked into if the need arises. So what is mpox—how is it caused and how does it spread? How do you know if you have mpox and what are the signs and symptoms? What are the treatment options and is there a vaccine available? And importantly, how concerned should India be about this latest zoonotic viral disease?  Guest: Dr V Ramasubramanian, consultant infectious diseases specialist, Apollo Hospital, Chennai and medical director, Capstone Multispecialty Clinic, Chennai Host: Zubeda Hamid Edited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian. 

A few weeks ago, Donald Trump told Black journalists in Chicago, USA, that Kamala Harris had identified herself as Indian, not Black. He was trying to suggest to Black journalists and voters that Kamala Harris was not "Black enough." While that criticism has been made against Kamala as well as Obama, for that matter, it also threw into focus Indian-Americans who form a small part of the overall population in America but who are now quite visible in American politics, government, business and academia today. We have Vijay Prashad, academic, author and activist who is executive director of Tricontinental: Institute for Social Research and author of the book Karma of Brown Folk about Indian-Americans to talk to us about this.Host: M KalyanaramanEdited by Jude Francis Weston

Exploring India's 2020 FDI policy changes, experts discuss the significant drop in Chinese investments and national security concerns. The impact of recent geopolitical tensions is highlighted, especially post-Galwan Valley. Suggestions emerge for reevaluating the restrictions to boost manufacturing and technology transfer. The discussion points to the debate over balancing economic benefits against protecting local industries, ultimately advocating for a nuanced approach to managing India-China economic relations.

The fifth of August changed the course of history in Bangladesh. The images of a once-powerful Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fleeing the country in a helicopter will remain etched in memory for the momentous change it marked.A government led by the high-profile Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, once the target of Sheikh Hasina’s high-handed actions, has taken charge of the country. It has, significantly, two young leaders from the student movement that took the county by storm and led to the far-reaching changes.Mr. Yunus and his government are taking steps to assure the minority Hindu community that they are safe in the country in the wake of attacks in many places. As the euphoria of change dims, the spotlight will be on how the interim government performs. What the students do in the days and weeks ahead will also be watched. They have already demonstrated their influence.So, what do all these life-changing events spell for Bangladesh? We discuss this in the episode. Guest: Mahfuz Anam, editor and publisher of The Daily Star newspaper. Host: Amit Baruah, Senior Associate Editor, The Hindu. Edited by Jude Francis Weston

The staggering decline of vultures in India has led to roughly 500,000 extra human deaths from 2000 to 2005, tied directly to the use of the veterinary drug Diclofenac. As vultures disappeared, alternative scavengers like dogs and rats surged, increasing disease transmission. The discussion highlights the essential role of vultures in public health and ecological balance. The urgent need for conservation and effective waste management solutions is emphasized to mitigate this crisis.

The devastating landslides in Wayanad that left over 400 dead and over 100 still missing shocked not just Kerala but the entire country. Almost immediately, a blame game began – Union Home Minister Amit Shah said adequate warning had been given to Kerala, but the government of Kerala disputes this – it said the warning came after the landslide had occurred. Experts in the meantime have pointed to a number of factors that could have acted as the trigger, including the 570 mm of rainfall received in the region on July 30 and 31st. The tragedy has also brought back into the news the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, led by Madhav Gadgil, whose report in 2011 recommended that the entire region of the Western Ghats – 1,29,000 sq km across six States be declared an ecologically sensitive zone. The report recommended three zones for ecologically sensitive areas, with strict restrictions on development activities in the first two. This report generated backlash from the States as it would significantly impact livelihoods and economic growth.Following the landslide, the Central government brought out, for the sixth time in 10 years — a draft notification classifying parts of the Western Ghats as ecologically sensitive areas. Concerns of the States are now to be addressed by a separate committee.What were the actual triggers of the landslide? How are the Western Ghats and other hilly regions in India particularly vulnerable? How much of a role has climate change played and will this continue in the near future? What can be done to make modelling and prediction systems better?Guest: Raghu Murtugudde is a professor of climate studies, IIT Bombay, and an emeritus professor, University of Maryland.Host: Zubeda HamidEdited by Sharmada Venkatasubramanian