Russian Bombers Fly over Sea of Japan after Live-Fire Naval Drills by China | Vantage | 4K

[00:00:08]Hello and welcome to First Post Vantage with me Horsoya. Let's get started.

[00:00:19]War is expensive, obscenely expensive, not just in missiles and tanks, but in shattered cities and lives that never make it into budget documents. Tonight, we do the math. If wars come with itemized invoices, this one would need several volumes. Meanwhile, as President Donald Trump signals a tougher approach, America's most intimidating bomber is back in the spotlight. Known as the bone, a nickname that sounds like a 1980s action hero and carries enough firepower to make military planners and taxpayers equally nervous.

[00:00:54]Ukraine is now fighting two wars, one against Russia and the other against itself. Because even as the strikes continue, politics has refused to take shelter. We will tell you all about it.

[00:01:06]Luxury has always sold a fantasy.

[00:01:08]Italian investigators now are probing some of the biggest names in fashion, such as Chanel, as part of a widening probe into alleged labor exploitation.

[00:01:17]You know, because nothing says timeless elegance quite like a supply chain that is running out of excuses.

[00:01:24]And finally, for centuries, spices have promised everything. Stronger immunity, better gut health. Basically, the original wellness influences. But is there actually science behind these claims? Can a dash of turmeric, cinnamon, or chili really help you live longer? Or are we just seasoning our hopes? All this and more lined up. But first, the headlines.

[00:01:48]A terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir kills a policeman. The official was on duty for the Amar Nati Yiatra in Arantag when the terrorists opened fire.

[00:01:57]Security forces have launched a search operation to track down the asalants.

[00:02:01]This is the first terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir since the 2025 Pelgam attack.

[00:02:09]Germany approves a controversial French Russian nuclear project. Critics fear this will enable spying and sabotage by Moscow. The planned joint venture is aimed at producing fuel rods used in Russian designed reactors. Germany is one of Ukraine's biggest backers in its war against Russia.

[00:02:30]Venezuela's ousted President Nicolas Maduro is set to appear before a New York court. This is his third public hearing since the US military captured him in January. Maduro and his wife Celia Flores have been held in a Brooklyn jail since then.

[00:02:47]Kenyan lawyers stage a nationwide boycott of court proceedings. They are protesting against judicial corruption and chronic delays. Cases in the East African nation take an average of 2 years to conclude.

[00:03:02]And China warns of retaliation over a French law which aims to curb the rise of fast fashion. The bill was passed by France's parliament last month. It targets e-commerce platforms including Shane, Teimu, and AliExpress. Beijing claims the regulation is in violation of trade principles.

[00:03:27]Senator Irvan is at the weakest point military.

[00:03:32]The estimate we have as of today is 37.5 billion.

[00:03:41]You sir are the failure.

[00:03:45][music] While America's war plananes were bombing Iran for an 11th consecutive night, a different kind of battle was playing out in Washington. Trump's war secretary, Pentagon Chief Pete Hexath, was forced to answer the question Americans and frankly the rest of the world have been asking for months. How much is this war really costing? His answer, $ 37.5 billion.

[00:04:21]That's the figure that the Pentagon has admitted to spending on the war so far.

[00:04:26]Do you have a new estimate about what the war has cost us so far in this the fifth month of the first year of this war in Iran?

[00:04:32]>> Uh Senator, the estimate we have as of today is 37.5 billion >> and it was dramatic enough that it triggered an explosive confrontation in the US Senate. Hexath was accused of having no strategy, no plan. He was accused of leading America into another forever war. And at one point a US senator looked him straight in the eye and said, "You, sir, are the failure."

[00:04:57]Listen to this.

[00:04:58]>> I think your characterization of this incredible effort as a failure is reckless. Uh, and I think it's irresponsible. And I think it smears the sacrifice of the troops that are out there making on behalf of the American people to ensure that Iran never gets a nuclear weapon. Shame on you and others who call this a quagmire and a failure.

[00:05:14]>> If you listen to my comments, you told you would have heard me say how amazing our war fighters are.

[00:05:19]>> I heard failure. The word heard I I heard exactly I will tell you how I use the word failure because I use the word failure to their leaders are are the failure not the men and women who are on that front line not the the men and women who hold up their honor with distinction but if there's a lack of a winning strategy they're in harm's way their leaders have failed them.

[00:05:42]>> That was Democratic Senator Gary Peters holding the Pentagon's chief responsible for the war.

[00:05:48]But if you thought that exchange was the most extraordinary part of the hearing, it wasn't because Hexath wasn't just there to defend the war. He was there to ask Congress for even more money to fight it.

[00:06:00]>> Why don't you show some leadership and stand up to your fellow Democrats who won't fund the troops, who stand and play partisan politics while you don't give us the money? You want to stand up here and talk about the troops? You won't show any political courage to actually fund our department because you have Trump derangement syndrome and can't actually commit to anything meaningful. I put this on you, Senator.

[00:06:19]>> Sergeant Hezoff, you have trillions. You have over a trillion dollars. You're asking for $1.5 trillion dollars. It's not a question of money. It's a question of leadership and understanding what it takes to actually win >> political cowardice of Democrats who won't fund the troops.

[00:06:37]>> Now, here's why that matters. The 37.5 billion figure isn't the total cost of this war.

[00:06:45]It's just the latest official estimate.

[00:06:48]Only two months ago. And as we told you last night, the Pentagon said the war had cost $29 billion.

[00:06:56]That means in just 8 weeks, the price tag has gone up another $8.5 billion.

[00:07:02]And even that may be a conservative estimate because Hexath is now asking Congress to approve another $87 billion to keep America's war machine running.

[00:07:16]But while lawmakers argued, as the war continued, so did American strikes across Iran.

[00:07:50]US President Donald Trump has issued a fresh warning to Iran. Posting on truth social, Trump said any Iranian attack on a ship in the straight of Ormus by missile, rocket or drone will be met with a US strike on one Iranian bridge or one power plant, including targets near or inside Thran. This new warning sharply raises the stakes in this war.

[00:08:13]We've seen similar threats in the past.

[00:08:15]But is that enough to deter those calling the shots in Thran? Because while Washington says Iran's military has been devastated, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards CP is still launching missiles towards America's regional allies. In the latest, Iran targeted US bases and military assets in Bahin, Kuwait, and Jordan.

[00:08:36]The IRGC claims it targeted air defense systems, radar sites, communications infrastructure, and other US military facilities. Thran says the attacks are retaliation for the latest US strikes and a prelude to even broader missile and drone operations against American targets across the region.

[00:09:19]But that doesn't seem to phase US President Donald Trump, who isn't talking about deescalation. He says America may soon strike Iran's pickaxe mountain, an underground complex and subterranean nuclear site near Natans, where Western intelligence suspects Iran is building an undeclared enrichment facility.

[00:09:40]Iran threatened reprisal.

[00:09:43]with the Katam al- Anbea military command saying it would see it as an expansion of war if such an attack were carried out. The war is also spreading beyond Iran. Iranbacked Houthis in Yemen have now again warned Saudi vessels to stay out of the Red Sea. The warning came after the Yemeni rebels declared a maritime blockade on Monday. Now, of course, Saudi Arabia's cabinet on Tuesday condemned the Houthi's declaration as baseless and false, denouncing Iranian attacks on Kuwait, Bahin, and Jordan. But here's why we have reason to worry. Two weeks after fighting resumed between the United States and Iran, every new front that reignites in West Asia makes this war not only harder, not only wider, but harder to contain and far more dangerous to end.

[00:10:33]Trump wants 87 billion more. But if the war is working for Washington as Trump claims, then why does it keep getting more expensive? How long can America afford a war with no clear end in sight?

[00:10:54]If Iran is at war with the United States, why hasn't it turned its missiles towards Saudi Arabia or the United Arab Emirates?

[00:11:03]Iran has struck US targets in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan in the renewed strikes, but it has held off on strikes on Gulf's two most powerful states. Why is that? What changed? Because earlier in this war, both Saudi Arabia and the UAE found themselves firmly in Iran's crosshairs. They faced military threats, missile threats, drone attacks, and repeated warnings when the war first broke out. It's because not every American partner is being treated the same.

[00:11:34]Iran is making some calculations militarily, economically, and politically. Because ask yourself, what happens if Iran attacks Saudi Arabia or the UAE?

[00:11:44]Suddenly, this isn't just a US Iran war.

[00:11:47]It becomes a Gulf war. And that could drag the entire Gulf Cooperation Council into this conflict.

[00:11:54]Is that a risk Iran wants to take?

[00:11:56]Probably not. And there's something else that tells you that the Gulf is putting on a united front. On Tuesday, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates publicly displayed a new show of unity.

[00:12:06]Senior officials from both countries posted messages of friendship on social media and a sign of reproach mans after their very public falling out. A Saudi official posted a photograph of Defense Minister Khaled bin Salman alongside UAE Vice President Mansour bin Zed in a post on X. He said, and I'm quoting here, a story of brotherly relations in a strong partnership. The photo was quickly shared by UAE presidential adviser Anoir Gargash who wrote and I'm quoting again the biggest story in the Gulf is captured in a single photograph. Now that's quite a turnaround because only months ago the two countries were logged in a bitter public dispute. They clashed over Yemen, over Sudan and their broader regional strategy. Saudi media even launched a campaign against the UAE.

[00:12:58]Their differences had even spilled over into the Iran war. But now, as the US Iran war escalates once again, Riyad and Abu Dhabi appear to be setting those differences aside.

[00:13:10]And that's also happening at the very moment Iran's Houthi allies are threatening a naval blockade of Saudi Arabia. So ask yourself, if Saudi Arabia and the UAE are busy rebuilding their own relationship, would Iran really want to give them a common enemy? or is Thran deliberately avoiding the one move that could push the entire Arab Gulf onto Washington's side? Because don't forget, Iran and Saudi Arabia also restored diplomatic relations back in 2023. Since then, they have exchanged ambassadors, reopened channels of communication.

[00:13:45]Sure, they are still rivals, but they have been trying to avoid direct confrontation.

[00:13:52]And then there's another reason. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar have largely stayed out of this war. They have not joined offensive operations against Iran. So from Thran's perspective, why create new enemies when they aren't active combatants? Instead, Iran has chosen a different strategy by directly targeting US military assets and shipping in the Straight of Warmuz. It shows that it can impose a cost without picking a fight with every Gulf monarchy. At the same time, there's also the oil factor. Saudi Arabia and the UAE, two of the world's biggest oil exporters. A direct strike on the energy infrastructure, would send oil prices soaring even higher. It could also trigger a much stronger international military response, and that could leave Iran facing a far bigger coalition than it is today.

[00:14:44]Iran appears to be playing a careful game to pressure the United States. Keep the Gulf on edge, but won't do anything that pushes the entire Arab world into the same camp.

[00:15:00]And staying with the war in Iran, President Donald Trump is looking to escalate hostilities. The US Air Force has dispatched one of its most feared bombers, nicknamed the Bone. The B1 Lancer is a supersonic heavy bomber. It is designed for a particular mission to enter enemy airspace at supersonic speeds and bomb targets that are underground like the Iranian nuclear reactors deep inside mountains. The B1 carries a special set of bombs. For the B1, anything that is 150 ft inside the Earth is fair game. So, is Trump going to bomb Iran's pickaxe mountain? Our next report tells you more.

[00:15:43]The US has moved one of its deadliest bombers to West Asia. The B1 Lancers were seen taking off from the United Kingdom and heading towards US bases in the Gulf.

[00:15:55]The Pentagon hasn't fully revealed the details of the mission, but several reports say the B1 bombers will be used to target Iran's underground complexes like missile tunnels and nuclear facilities. The bombers have been mobilized after US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran's Pickax Mountain, a heavily fortified underground facility that reportedly houses Iran's most complex nuclear facility.

[00:16:19]>> Do you believe that Iran has moved nuclear centrifuges into Pickax Mountain? And when you say we're not done yet, what is left to finish?

[00:16:27]>> Well, I think that they they may have.

[00:16:30]We don't have it on record and uh we'll be hitting that area very probably pretty soon and there's not not a thing they can do about it. You know, normally I wouldn't say that.

[00:16:41]>> If I thought they could do something about it, I would never say that. But we'll be hitting that area pretty soon.

[00:16:47]Uh and and very heavily.

[00:16:50]>> If the pickaxe mountain is indeed the target, this will not be an ordinary bombing mission. But first, let's look at the aircraft that have been deployed.

[00:16:58]The B1 Lancer is known by its nickname, the bone. Not because it looks like one, but for a very different reason. When written in English, the B1 spells out as B- O N E. So, the American pilots call it the bone. This is a Cold War relic.

[00:17:14]It has swept wings, which means the wings fold midair, allowing the bomber to reach supersonic speeds. It can cruise at Mac 1. It's one of the most powerful bombers worldwide. The B1 can drop 75,000 tons of ordinance in one mission. The aircraft has been severely modified over four decades. It no longer carries nuclear weapons. Instead, it specializes in destroying underground targets, including those buried under mountains like the Iranian missile cities and nuclear facilities. The aircraft has a range of weapons, but there's one bomb that gives it the ultimate edge. The guided bomb unit 72.

[00:17:52]Now, this bomb has a payload of a whopping 3 tons or 3,000 kg. It's designed specifically to attack underground installations. The nose of the bomb is made of hardened steel. It can penetrate almost 150 ft underground.

[00:18:06]With the deployment of the heavy bomber, the US is sending a message to Iran that it's coming after Thran's underground facilities. The B1 bomber can strike multiple targets in one sort. But can it strike Iran's most secret facility, the Pickax Mountain?

[00:18:23]the heavily fortified underground facility in central Iran located near the Natans nuclear complex. The mountain has been named pickaxe because it's rugged and tough to penetrate and it's made of hardened granite rock. As per US and Israeli intelligence reports, the pickaxe mountain houses Iran's most sophisticated nuclear facility and Trump wants to destroy it. But there's a problem. Can the B1 destroy the pickaxe mountain? The answer is probably not, but it can soften the target. The Pickax Mountains facilities are nearly 300 ft underground. There's no US weapon that can reach that deep. The only way is to target with repeated bombing runs.

[00:19:03]That's why the B1 has been called in. As per US reports, the B1 is meant to carry out multiple strikes to soften the top of the pickaxe mountain before the larger bombs can be dropped by the B2 stealth bomber. For now then, the Pentagon has not revealed the B1 bombers missions, but as they arrive in the region, speculation over Trump's bombing plans in Iran continue to grow.

[00:19:27]The world is watching the Pickax Mountain and wondering, can a bunker really be built so deep that even the world's most powerful bombers cannot reach it?

[00:19:43]India is not new to protests. Farmers have protested, teachers have protested, communities have protested, even government employees have protested.

[00:19:53]They were all different groups with well self-serving demands. But the student demonstrations in New Delhi feel different because this time the issues seem personal, even principled. People from all walks of life relate to it.

[00:20:08]After all, it is about the future of children. Thousands of students are agitating against the neat paper leak neat or the national eligibility come entrance test. It's no ordinary exam. It is the gateway to becoming a doctor in India. It remains the ultimate dream of many in this country. Every year, more than 2.5 million students sit for the exam after they've spent months, even years preparing for it. This year the exam was conducted in May. Soon after a leak was detected. The question paper had been circulated on telegram and WhatsApp.

[00:20:47]The government cancelled the need. A re-examination was held in June. We told you about this yesterday.

[00:20:54]So millions of students had to take the exam again for no fault of theirs. For some the pressure was too much. Over a dozen students have died by suicide since the paper leak. For days, students have been protesting in the nation's capital. They are demanding justice and accountability.

[00:21:13]On Monday, the protest took a violent turn. Students marched to the parliament. Clashes erupted as they were stopped by the police. Opposition parties have joined the movement. On Tuesday, they staged a protest outside the prime minister's residence. Several leaders were detained.

[00:21:31]Today the opposition called for a debate in the parliament and the central government has agreed to discuss the issue. They've also agreed to listen to the demands of the students.

[00:21:41]The protests officially began in the first week of June led by the Cockroach Jantaa Party, a political movement that began as a satirical online protest.

[00:21:54]Activist Sonam Wanguk then joined the movement. Since then the protests have grown in size. Teachers have arrived at the site. Doctors and nurses have set up camp. Farmers too have joined in as a veterans of the armed forces. Working professionals are sending food to the protest site. A few celebrities have also backed the stir. A diverse mix of students be it English speakaking or Hindi speaking, affluent or middle class and from other states have descended on the capital.

[00:22:26]Those who couldn't make it are protesting in their respective regions.

[00:22:31]Demonstrations over the neat paper leak have been reported across at least 10 states.

[00:22:39]Meanwhile, the Indian diaspora in New York and London also held rallies in solidarity. It has caught the attention of the global media.

[00:22:47]The agitation has resonated with many because the pain is real. Millions of students compete in an exam that can make or break their career and the students have been let down more than once.

[00:23:02]The first exam to be cancelled was the UGCNET, a nationwide exam that unlocked several career paths in higher education. It was cancelled because the question paper was compromised.

[00:23:16]That happened in June of 2024.

[00:23:22]In July, just a month after UGC Net cancellation, the NEAT exam was scrapped because the question paper had been leaked. This year, aspiring medical students faced heartbreak again when the neat exam was leaked in May. Now, every ruling party has faced protests and descent before as is the case with any democratic government like the farmer's agitation in 2020. The protests against the citizenship amendment act in 2019.

[00:23:53]The protesters then were farmers and activists. This time the protests are different. They include people from all walks of life because everyone was once a student.

[00:24:09]Ukraine's war is now being fought on two fronts. One of course is against Russia.

[00:24:13]The other is inside Kev.

[00:24:16]within Ukraine's own leadership. As the war moves deeper into its fifth year, President Vladmir Zilinski has launched the biggest shake up of Ukraine's wartime power structure. In just a few days, he has replaced his prime minister, sacked his defense minister, and now he has also fired his top military general. The decision has shaken Ukraine's political and military establishment. So, what's happening in Kev? And why is Zilinski rebuilding his leadership in the middle of a war?

[00:24:47]Tonight, we break it down for you. At the center of this is a simple question.

[00:24:52]How should Ukraine fight its war? That question now divides Kev. The battlefield has changed significantly over the past four years, and so has the technology. You see, drones now dominate the skies. Software now shapes battlefield decisions. And electronic warfare can disrupt an entire offensive.

[00:25:11]So Kev knows it must quickly adapt and that is exactly where the trouble began.

[00:25:17]Last week, Zilinski reshuffled his cabinet. This was his fourth major wartime shakeup since the Ukraine war began in February 2022.

[00:25:29]He replaced Prime Minister Julia Sweridenko. In her place, he appointed Siri Kitki. He is a former energy executive and his immediate task is clear. To prepare Ukraine for another winter and to keep the country's power grid running. The task is easier said than done. Here's why. Russia has repeatedly targeted Ukraine's energy infrastructure. Power plants have been hit and electricity grids have been damaged. So every winter ke races to keep the lights on. But the biggest surprise was still to come. Zilinski also sacked his defense minister. His name is Miklo Fedov. He has been in this job for just six months. Yet, he had quickly become one of the most influential voices in Ukraine's war effort. How? By pushing for more drones, faster procurement, and greater domestic weapons production.

[00:26:24]>> He believed Ukraine had to move faster and think differently. But inside the government, he was faced with many hurdles. The biggest clash was with Ukraine's top general, commanderin-chief Alexander Sirski. The two men shared the same goal, but not the same strategy.

[00:26:44]The astrid minister wanted rapid reforms, but the sack general preferred a more traditional approach. After his dismissal, Fedorov decided to speak out.

[00:26:53]He accused Siri of blocking reforms.

[00:26:58]But we've run into the fact that all the initiatives we propose have started to be blocked. And Cerski, given all the problems we've discussed today, is not ready to speak openly about these issues, face to face. And instead of figuring out how to defeat Russia asymmetrically, which is the commander-in-chief's task, he has figured out how to split the country where we find ourselves today.

[00:27:21]the war.

[00:27:22]>> In fact, he even issued a stark warning that under the current system, Ukraine won't be able to win the war. Those comments struck a nerve. Thousands of Ukrainians came out on Kev streets. They sang the national anthem, held cardboard signs, and demanded change. At first, they wanted the minister back. But as the days passed, the demands grew louder. The crowds were no longer just talking about him. They were now calling for the removal of the general.

[00:27:50]This isn't the first time we've protested on the streets in various ways, and we've had different experiences, and we always start with peaceful dialogue. Accordingly, we're now trying in a peaceful manner and exercising our constitutional right to peaceful protest to secure concrete decisions from our government because the source of power in Ukraine is the Ukrainian people.

[00:28:09]Now, for days, the protest continued and Zilinski came under growing pressure to act. He had a choice to make. Stand by his commander, change course. On Tuesday, he made his decision. He fired the man leading Ukraine's armed forces.

[00:28:22]The general was out. He had led Ukraine's military through some of its toughest moments. This includes the defense of Kev during the initial phase of the war and the surprise Kursk offensive in 2024.

[00:28:36]>> I am grateful to Alexander Cerski and every one of our soldiers for Ukraine's strong frontline positions. I am grateful to Mikailo Draati for having precisely the same view. Today with Alexander Sirki and Andre Hanatov, we talked about further service formats and the correct transfer of affairs.

[00:28:59]But war records do not necessarily guarantee political survival. Sirski had become a divisive figure, not because of a single battle, rather because of his approach. Many critics saw him as a commander from another era. They believed that change was too slow, reforms were stalling and that the military was struggling to keep pace.

[00:29:18]For now, Zilinski has turned to a new face. His name is Major General Mallo Draati.

[00:29:27]He's just 43 years old and has built a reputation as a modern military leader, one who favors initiative, flexibility, and faster decision-making. To many Ukrainians, he represents a new generation of commanders, one who is ready for a different kind of war.

[00:29:45]>> Draati is capable of changing the course of the war and I believe this was a very good decision by the president. I expect positive changes >> and the shakeup may not stop there. More changes could follow in the days ahead.

[00:29:59]But the message from Keev is clear. The government wants to move faster. The military wants to adapt quickly. That is because the war itself is evolving.

[00:30:09]Ukraine has slowed Russia's advance across large parts of the front. It has expanded its long range drone campaign by targeting logistics hubs, warehouses, and energy facilities inside Russia. But Moscow continues to hit back. So the fight is far from over. And for Zilinski, this is more than a cabinetry shuffle. It is a bet that this can change the outcome of the over four-year long war.

[00:30:40]Our next story is about Japan. The land of the rising sun is facing intense pressure from not one but two of the western world's biggest rivals. Japan has always had an uncomfortable relationship with China and Beijing has once again irked Tokyo by conducting livefire naval drills. a little too close to the Japanese island. And if that wasn't enough, Moscow also decided to get in on the action. Russian strategic bombers carried out a sorty over the Sea of Japan. They were flying around for 11 hours, and that's clearly a message to Tokyo. Our next report has the details.

[00:31:20]Say hello to Russia's Tupalev Tu95.

[00:31:24]It's an old aircraft built in the heyday of the Soviet Union. You can probably tell by the four propellers, very retro.

[00:31:33]But don't let the plane's age fool you.

[00:31:35]The TU95 is still a formidable beast, and it's one of Russia's prized nuclear capable strategic bombers.

[00:31:45]This is one of the aircraft Moscow will deploy if it plans to drop a nuke on a country or even just to poke a nation full of holes using cruise missiles.

[00:31:55]That happens to Ukraine quite a lot, which is why Russia's rivals are always wary when a TU95 is nearby.

[00:32:03]Japan is the latest nation to get spooked at the bombers's approach.

[00:32:07]Russia has released this footage of the TU95 flying over international waters.

[00:32:13]The nuclear capable bombers are being escorted by Sue35 fighter jets and they did this over the Sea of Japan for about 11 hours. Moscow says the flight was scheduled, that it was routine. But even still, a nuclearcapable bomber hovering around the Sea of Japan cannot have been comfortable for Tokyo.

[00:32:35]You would almost think that Russia was having a little fun by fraying Japanese nerves because the nation is already on edge thanks to both Russia and China conducting some drills this weekend.

[00:32:50]On July 19th, we confirmed that a Chinese naval vessel, which was sailing jointly with a Russian Navy vessel, conducted live firing drills within Japan's exclusive economic zone about 180 km southwest of Okinoi.

[00:33:07]Tokyo says that Chinese warships fired live rounds within its exclusive economic zone. It's the first time that the Japanese Defense Ministry has confirmed an incident like this. The incident took place near Japan's southernmost island.

[00:33:22]It's called Okinori. It's a tiny little atole located about 1,750 km south of Tokyo. Okinori is so far away that its exclusive economic zone is a bubble in the ocean with a 200 m nautical radius. According to international law, all resources within this circle exclusively belong to Japan.

[00:33:45]But Chinese and Russian warships entered the EEZ and a Chinese ship fired live ammunition as part of their naval drills.

[00:33:55]In response, the Japanese government lodged a protest with China through diplomatic channels, saying the drills could pose a danger to vessels navigating in the surrounding waters.

[00:34:05]What was Beijing's response? Well, it called Tokyo's claims groundless. It said that Okinori was a rock and so it did not warrant an exclusive economic zone. And then China said that this was a pretext for Japan to ramp up its remilitarization.

[00:34:24]Japan's claim to an exclusive economic zone based on Okinatori is contrary to international law. China's activities on the relevant high seas are consistent with international law and international practice. Japan has smeared and hyped up the legitimate and lawful activities of other countries, exaggerating external threats in order to create a pretext for accelerating its own remitization and challenging the postwar international order. The international community must remain highly vigilant and jointly resist this dangerous trend.

[00:34:58]>> On one side, Japan faces joint Russian and Chinese naval drills. On the other, Russian bombers are now regularly flying nearby. Moscow and Beijing carried out joint air drills last month. So, Japan is raising the alarm.

[00:35:15]It is warning its allies that Russia China military coordination is on the rise because Tokyo knows that its proximity to both nations puts it first in the line of fire.

[00:35:32]Now what happens when the world's largest producer faces a shortage of one of its most basic foods? That is exactly what is happening in China. For years, the country has dominated global egg production. Let me pull up the numbers for you. In 2024, it produced 30.86 million metric tonses. That is more than any other nation in the world. India was the second largest producer. It produced approximately 8.10 10 million metric tons. Yet today, a food that has long been one of the cheapest items on the shopping list is suddenly costing much more in China. Prices reportedly surged by more than 40% from a year prior.

[00:36:12]Wholesale rates have reached their highest level in a decade. And the Chinese state media has reportedly even coined a new term, rocket eggs. So, how did the world's largest producer find itself here? The answer lies in a series of events. They turned a surplus of eggs into a shortage. To understand what happened, we have to go back to last year. At the time, poultry farmers were producing more than the market needed.

[00:36:38]After several years of good returns, they expanded their flocks. More hens met more supply. But consumers were not buying enough to match that growth. The result, there was a glut and the prices of eggs collapsed. For many farmers, selling eggs was no longer profitable.

[00:36:54]So they responded the only way they could by reducing their flock. Large numbers of egg laying hens were reportedly culled. It helped them survive in the short term. But it also created a new problem. When demand picked up again earlier this year, there were not enough laying hens left. In other words, the market had swung from one extreme to the other. And that was only the first blow. You see, even as supply was shrinking, the cost of producing and selling eggs was also going up. Now, why is that? Because of the conflict in West Asia, it has pushed up global energy prices. Fuel has become more expensive. Transport costs have risen and cooking gas prices have climbed quickly. Every stage of the supply chain has become more costly.

[00:37:41]The impact has been felt everywhere from poultry farms to local food stalls.

[00:37:45]Small food vendors who depend heavily on eggs are now paying more for their main ingredient. Many say they cannot fully pass those higher costs onto their consumers. They fear people will simply stop buying, so their profit margins have become thinner. Meanwhile, households are feeling the pressure, too. Eggs remain one of China's most affordable sources of protein. For millions of families, they're not a luxury. They are a necessity. So, what did shoppers do when prices climbed?

[00:38:14]They delayed buying eggs. This is in the hope that prices would soon fall. But that never happened. On the contrary, they soared and they sold sharply. In the end, many had little choice but to buy them again. And that has quietly pushed up household grocery bills. This is reportedly forced some families to cut back on other everyday spending.

[00:38:35]But why does this matter? And why are we talking about this tonight? Primarily because this is not happening in a thriving economy. You see, China's growth is losing steam, and we are not the ones claiming it. The numbers tell the story. The economy expanded by just 4.3% in the second quarter. That was its slowest pace of growth in more than 3 years. On paper, exports continue to look strong. They jumped 27% in June from a year earlier. But that is only one side of the picture. At home, consumer spending remains weak. The property crisis has eroded household wealth. Now, what is that? For years, millions of Chinese families saw their homes as their biggest investment. But as the property market slowed, home values came under pressure. Many households felt less wealthy. So, they cut back on spending. And at the same time, young Chinese are finding it harder to secure stable jobs. That has further weakened consumer confidence.

[00:39:34]And China is not the only country to experience eggflation. The United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Taiwan have all faced sharp price spikes in recent years.

[00:39:46]But for China, the price of an egg has become more than a food story. It has become a reminder that strong exports cannot compensate for weak demand at home, and that even the simplest item on a dinner table can expose the strength or the weakness of an economy.

[00:40:10]>> [music] [music] >> Who really makes made in Italy or made in France. Italian police walked into the headquarters of nine luxury fashion brands this week with that very question. So, let's talk about the $5,000 luxury jacket and the $5 an hour workers who make them. The police walked into the headquarters of luxury fashion companies, not because they believe the brands themselves committed crimes, but because investigators want to know one thing. How much did they really know about the people making these premium products for them?

[00:41:05]The companies include Brunello Cuchinelli, Monontlair, Chanel, Bulgaryi, Atro, Stefano Richie, Goyard, Owens, Score, and Jacob Cohen.

[00:41:16]None is currently under criminal investigation. None has been placed under court administration. But the visits aren't random. Investigators are following a paper trail. You see, luxury fashion sells us a dream. Craftsmanship, meticulous attention to detail, heritage, provenence, artisans who lovingly stitch every seam by hand while the Tuscan sun sets in the background.

[00:41:39]Italian prosecutors would like you to meet the other part of that supply chain.

[00:41:46]Investigators demanded documents on supplier controls and corporate governance from these labels. And while the investigators followed the paper trail, it was the garment bags that gave them away. And here's what you need to know. This latest operation grew out of an earlier investigation into two Chinese-owned workshops. Police alleged those workshops exploited undocumented Chinese workers while producing the least glamorous items in luxury retail.

[00:42:13]Garment bags, shopping bags, and protective pouches. not actual luxury handbags, but the bags that carry those handbags. These products were allegedly flowing through intermediary suppliers before they were placed on the shelves at some of the world's most recognizable luxury labels. When investigators searched the workshops, they reportedly found subcontracting documents linking production to additional fashion houses.

[00:42:39]And this is the second major operation in 7 months. In December 2025, police sought similar documents from 13 luxury brands including Gucci, Prada, Dolce, and Gabbana. Let's zoom out then. Since 2023,7 luxury fashion groups have been placed under courtappointed administration in Italy over alleged failures in their supply chains. So, do you see the pattern? It is important to note Italian prosecutors have not accused these nine brands of exploiting workers. Not yet.

[00:43:07]Anyway, also in the previous cases, courtmandated measures were later lifted after companies changed their compliance systems. But again, do you see a pattern? Let's take the case of Laura Piana, the Kashmir brand owned by LVMH, that is Mo Tennessee, Louis Vuitton, and the numbers will tell you why prosecutors keep coming back. According to court documents in the Lauropana case, investigators found a workshop where workers allegedly worked up to 90 hours a week. They were paid around $5 an hour. Five of the 10 workers allegedly lacked legal immigration status. Some allegedly slept inside the factory. The workshop was reportedly making jackets that retail for $3 to $5,000.

[00:43:54]The company says a supplier subcontracted production without its knowledge and that it terminated the relationship once it discovered this breach. Are these luxury labels doing their homework before they sell you a jacket that will cost you a kidney and then some and the hope that it will somehow make your life better?

[00:44:14]As per reports, Italy accounts for 50 to 55% of global luxury goods production.

[00:44:19]That scale depends on thousands of small manufacturers and subcontractors. The system works because brands outsource.

[00:44:26]The issue is that the oversight also gets outsourced. And Italian prosecutors argue that this isn't an accident. Court rulings describe excessive subcontracting as a generalized and consolidated manufacturing method which is designed to reduce labor costs while distancing brands from legal responsibility. So, as you can imagine, luxury companies strongly dispute that characterization. They say they have strengthened audits and supplier checks.

[00:44:54]Brunelloo Cochinelli, for example, said it was surprised and deeply saddened.

[00:44:59]Thank the good heavens that they are saddened. No, the latest police visits aren't about proving that nine luxury brands broke the law. They're about testing whether we didn't know is still an acceptable answer. For years, luxury brands sold customers on provenence and people and the Italian prosecutors are now asking them to prove it.

[00:45:26]Now, Indians have an emotional relation with spice. A meal without chili, that's punishment. For most Indians, this is not a question. Of course, spicy food is good for you. Your grandmother said so.

[00:45:38]Your mother said so. From Andhra Pradesh's fiery curries to Rajasthan's lal mass, our food doesn't whisper, it screams and occasionally so do we. And that's usually after biting into the wrong green chili. But now scientists across the world have caught up. And they have some news. Turns out your grandmother was right. So let's start with the big one. In 2015, a landmark study was published in the British Medical Journal. Scientists tracked over half a million adults in China for several years. They found that people who ate spicy foods six or seven days a week had a 14% lower risk of dying compared to those who ate it less than once a week. Two years later, a similar US study found the same thing. Americans who regularly ate red hot chili peppers were 13% less likely to die. The real takeaway here is if you want to live longer, eat spicy food. Or here's another way of putting it. The hotter the food, the later the goodbye.

[00:46:40]The science said it. Now, before we go any further, it's time for a brief cultural interlude. You know how some people in the West go completely red in the face? They start sweating. They cry for a glass of milk after eating something described mildly spicy. Turns out that's not a personality trait.

[00:46:59]That's a capsain deficiency. And that compound called capsain is the hero of the story. It is what makes chili peppers hot. It is also apparently what makes them healthy. Capsain has been shown to reduce inflammation. It acts as an antioxidant, raises good cholesterol, lowers bad cholesterol, improves blood flow, and modestly speed up metabolism as well. One study found it can temporarily boost metabolic rate by up to 8%.

[00:47:30]Another found men who ate food with hot sauce at the start of the meal consumed 200 fewer calories overall, not because they were disciplined, because the heat slows them down. And the story gets even more interesting. A Pennsylvania state researcher, John Hayes, made a discovery recently. When people eat spicy food, they chew more slowly. They pace themselves. They pause. They braze for the heat. And in doing so, they eat less. Overall, spicy food makes you mindful whether you like it or not. But here's the thing that we have to distinguish. Science isn't saying go douse everything in pepper. People with acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome, or inflammatory bowel disease should be careful. Very high chili consumption has been linked in some studies to certain cancers. So the amount matters. It is not canceling out the ultrarocessed food. It is not replacing sleep or exercise. The Washington Post published a major piece this month on spicy food and longevity. Harvard Medical School called the research emerging. Multiple Western universities are now funding studies on chili peppers. There are labs, there are grants, there are papers with very long titles. All trying to figure out what every Indian kitchen has known since approximately 3000 BC.

[00:48:48]Turmeric, cumin, ginger, garlic, cinnamon, coriander, not one of these is new. All of them contain bioactive compounds with genuine health benefits.

[00:48:57]Science is simply now catching up and writing it down in a journal with citations.

[00:49:07]The 2026 FIFA World Cup is done and dusted. It was a controversial tournament to put it mildly. We saw the introduction of mandatory water breaks.

[00:49:16]We had a halftime show which ran on for longer than it should have. And we had allegations of bias against the head of FIFA himself. Jani Infantino was accused of favoring Argentina and this conspiracy seems to have been endorsed by Cristiano Ronaldo himself. But despite all the controversies, one man seems to have been thrilled with what Infantino pulled off. US President Donald Trump is reportedly so happy that he now wants Infantino to head the United Nations. Our next report has the details.

[00:49:48]The 2026 FIFA World Cup ended with a bit of a whimper. It was Spain versus Argentina, Laminal versus Lionel Messi.

[00:49:58]On paper, the prospect of these two talismans going head-to-head was tantalizing.

[00:50:05]But what we got instead wasn't much of a contest. It was absolute domination by Spain. Argentina didn't even manage a single shot in regular time. There's only one reason the score didn't heavily favor Spain at the end of 90 minutes, and that's the heroics of Argentine keeper Ameliano Martinez. That's it.

[00:50:27]Messi did not make a dent. He was expertly contained by the Spanish side.

[00:50:33]And at the final whistle, a lot of fans were left asking one question. How on earth did Argentina even make it to the final if they play like that? Well, a lot of other fans had an answer. They pointed the finger at FIFA and the president, Giani Infantino.

[00:50:52]Referees were accused of favoring Argentina throughout the tournament, especially during the knockout stage match where Argentina faced Egypt. A lot of decisions went against the Pharaohs, which ended up helping Argentina overturn a twogoal deficit and moving ahead. During this match, Infantino was accused of not maintaining his neutrality. But the FIFA chief brushed the criticism aside. Even though the World Cup is over now, and even though Argentina failed to win the tournament, the allegations of FIFA bias have refused to die down.

[00:51:27]Instead, they've got a new lease on life thanks to Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo's official account apparently liked an Instagram reel. The reel came out before the final. It featured a Spanish journalist accusing FIFA of corruption.

[00:51:42]The journalist claimed that FIFA wanted to hand the World Cup to Lionel Messi.

[00:51:47]Ronaldo's official account liked that post. The like is gone now. Ronaldo or his PR team might have gone into damage control mode, but this adds more fuel to the allegations of bias against FIFA and Giani Infantino.

[00:52:03]However, it seems the FIFA chief may not have much to worry about. Even if these allegations are proven true and even if Infantino is forced to leave FIFA, it seems he might have an arguably bigger job waiting for him.

[00:52:17]Giani Infantino has reportedly been backed to become the next Secretary General of the United Nations and his backer is apparently a close friend, the recipient of the very first FIFA Peace Prize, US President Donald Trump. Can I keep it?

[00:52:36]Yes, according to the New York Post, Trump wants Infantino to be the next head of the UN. The American president reportedly believes that Infantino is respected by everyone around the world.

[00:52:49]Clearly, Trump hasn't spoken to Egyptian football fans among a host of others.

[00:52:54]Belgium is upset with Infantino for overturning a one- match ban for US forward follin Balagan at Trump's request. FIFA's decision to accommodate Trump also earned the eyeire of the European Football Association or UEFA.

[00:53:09]It left a bitter taste across Europe.

[00:53:14]So, it's hard to imagine them being happy about Trump's buddy Infantino becoming the head of the UN. And at least over here, a few of them do have a veto. A UN chief is recommended by the entire 15 member UN Security Council and the five permanent members, the US, Britain, France, Russia and China, they get a veto. Britain in particular may not be happy with Infantino after the whole Argentina World Cup controversy.

[00:53:42]So if he steps onto the pitch as a UN Secretary General contender, there's a decent chance that the FIFA chief will get a straight red.

[00:53:53]>> [music] >> From standing next to the Mona Lisa to being in the iconic Friends poster, Trump is everywhere. But what started this? It was his attempt to get into the Spanish football team's World Cup victory picture. They cropped him out, but the netizens did not. They were quick to photoshop Trump into some of history's biggest moments. Now the man just wanted one photo. Now he has many.

[00:54:28][music] [music] Heat. Heat.

[00:54:55]>> [music] [music] [music] >> And now it's time for Vantage Shorts.

[00:55:23]images that tell a story. In Egypt, the stunning 15th century Mosolum dome has reopened after a 2-year restoration, bringing one of Cairo's greatest architectural treasures back to life. In the UK, Boeing unveiled its MQ28 ghost pad combat room as it plans to expand production of the next generation unmanned aircraft. And in Denmark, 55 million-year-old fossil cliffs are set to receive UNESCO World Heritage status after revealing extraordinary wellpreserved remains of ancient marine life. Finally, taking you back in history, on this day in 1992, notorious Colombian drug lord Pablo Escobar escaped from his self-built luxury prison, setting off one of the biggest manhunts in modern history. That's all from us. Thank you so much for watching.

[00:56:11]See you tomorrow.

[00:57:42]Heat.

[00:57:48]Hey. Hey.

[00:58:19]Heat.

[00:58:24][music] [music] Heat.

[00:58:45][music]