Prime Time | CJP Protest Continues | U.S. Drug Tariffs | Ukraine Commander Replaced

[00:00:00]JUSTICE.

[00:00:06]>> The cockroach Janata party continues its protest demanding resignations and reform in New Delhi. [music] We track the latest ground and political developments as the government agrees to discussions over the exam paper [music] leak issue in the parliament.

[00:00:26]The cure and the disease. The US unveils a new phase tariff regime for imports of generic [music] medicine. The move is aimed at putting America first, but short-term it could have major implications for partners like India.

[00:00:43]>> You sir are are the failure. You don't have a strategy. You don't have a long-term plan to actually win this war.

[00:00:50]>> A war of words in Washington. Defense Secretary Pete Hex [music] defends what's fast becoming a long conflict in the west of Asia already costing at least $37 billion.

[00:01:01]Now the administration [music] wants more funding and fair is foul and foul is fair in Kiev. Ukraine bows to pressure to sack its commander of the armed forces. It follows a week of protests that have [music] raised suspicion of Western backing and a show of democracy. Look at the new general in charge.

[00:01:42]Hello and welcome. You're watching RT India with me Osama Shab. I'm coming to you live from New Delhi. Let's begin with our top story.

[00:01:51]The cockroach Janata party's protest at Jar Mantar continues with more supporters joining. The CJP warned millions more will march to Delhi unless the government accepts its primary demand that is the resignation of Union Education Minister Dhindra Praadhan. RT India correspondent Vinayak Digshed. He gets us this ground report.

[00:02:11]We're here at the Jantaar Mandar protest site where the cockroach party protest is taking place and ever since the last few hours more and more updates are starting to pour in. It was told by one of the spokespersons of the Cockroja party soras that the Delhi police approached him saying you know help Mr. JP Nada would like to meet with the representatives of the Cockroja party to discuss their demands and the way forward as far as this protest is concerned. Now uh according to Sorovaz the spokesperson of the CJP he has suggested that the two parties meet at a neutral point anywhere between the parliament and the jantaar mantra. The central government also agreed to hold a detailed discussion as far as the neat paper leaks are concerned in the Indian parliament.

[00:02:55]The government is ready to have discussions on the neat paper leak issue. There should be a constructive discussion for the future of the youth of this country. This is what the government wants. However, that ended up in a ruckus leading to both of the houses being suspended. Uh, in fact, education minister of India Dhindra Pradan whose resignation is one of the topmost demands of this protest also met with the speaker of the Lok Sabha Omaha on Wednesday after the government had agreed to hold a detailed discussions on a detailed discussion on the neat paper leak issue. Abhijit DK the founding president of the cockroach party and yesterday he contracted food poisoning as a result of which he was not able to stay here during the night. However, he did come here in the morning today stayed here for a good four 5 hours then left just a while ago. Vanayak diction reporting for RT India.

[00:03:47]>> Washington's latest prescription for its pharmaceutical industry is simple.

[00:03:51]America first. It's unveiled a new tariff regime on imported generic medicines to promote domestic production. In terms of timing, the announcement comes during trade negotiations with New Delhi and the move could be a bitter pill for India's industry known as the pharmacy of the world.

[00:04:11]Effective August 1st, 2026, all generic drugs being brought into the United States will continue to have a tariff of 0% for a 2-year period of time, after which the tariff will be raised to 100% for a one-year period of time and 200% thereafter. This is done in order to reshore generic pharmaceutical production into America with a penalty to those companies that decide not to build plant and equipment within the stated period of time given to them.

[00:04:36]>> Well, joining us here in the studio is Zach India's Rhythmma Kadia. Rhythmma, how will Trump's latest tariff announcement affect India? Help us understand.

[00:04:44]>> Trump's latest tariff announcement has thrown a major challenge before India's pharmaceutical industry. Now, while the generic medicines will continue to enter America, Washington's message is quite clear. Either shift manufacturing to the US or face steep tariffs later. Now, let me explain to you why this is so much important and matters to India. Remember that the US is India's biggest uh pharmaceutical market. Now India exported nearly 8.5 billion dollar worth of medicines to the US in the financial year 2026. Around onethird of India's total pharma uh exports go to the American markets for that matter. Now Indian companies also supply about 40% of generic medicines used in the US by volume. But under Trump's plan, tariffs um on generic medicines are set to jump 100% in 2028 and 200% in 2029.

[00:05:47]>> Two years grace, but the intent is unmistakable. Shift production to the US or be ready to face the tariffs and pay.

[00:05:57]Now this is more important because of its timings. It comes right days before the July 24th deadline for India US trade deal and is u raising concerns about how India is going to protect its biggest export sector which remains the pharmaceuticals for now. Now the announcement also comes as the World Trade Organization is pushing India to cut tariff barriers and in fact in its recent policy report the World Trade Organization has questioned India's uh trade policy framework as well. New Delhi says that the real challenge is not the tariffs but rather non-tariff barriers also stricter quality standards complex regulations alongside shifting geopolitics which is making it very hard for the Indian exporters to compete at this point in time. For now the impact is limited. Generic medicines will continue to enter the United States till 2028. But the long game is the real story. Washington uh wants production and the products both together and if the planned tariffs actually comes into force what will happen is that Indian drug makers will be left with two options either build in America or lose ground in your biggest export market which is the pharmaceuticals. Now for India, protecting the nearly $10 billion sector uh fighting the trade barriers and also uh the highstake trade deal remains the biggest challenge for now.

[00:07:27]>> All right, Ryakia, thank you very much for getting us all those updates.

[00:07:33]>> And earlier we spoke to Indian foreign policy expert Prit Pal Chadri on whether the latest farmer tariff bomb it could reshape the future of generic medicines for both India and the United States. He believes market economics could prove a major hurdle for manufacturing medicine in America. Listen in.

[00:07:51]>> The math simply doesn't work. There is a reason why American companies don't do generic medicine. It's not because they can't. It's these are not chemic synthetic chemistry that's behind this as a very old technology. Um it's because it doesn't make any commercial sense for them to do so. The profits on generic medicine are ra are are razor thin. If I'm a Fizer um or a Merc um the profits on on generic medicine make no sense. Uh I much prefer to do cutting edge bioimilars, anti-cancer drugs, uh generic genetic medicine and so on.

[00:08:27]That's where the profits lie. Uh so I I would like to see any single American comp big pharma company come up and say yes I'll make APIs in New Jersey or whatever because the profit margin I mean India struggles to make APIs for its generic medicines because the profit margins are so cheap and the environmental consequences are so bad that China has taken over the bulk of this. So generic medicine is is is cheap because the profit margins are so low.

[00:08:57]uh why would an American company do it given the labor costs given the the cost of of infrastructure and so on branded medicine in America in terms of prices is so high that even with a 500% tariff >> it's still cheaper to buy Indian medicine >> well the cycle of strikes and counter strikes entered an 11th night in West Asia with America bombarding Iran and Iran targeting US link sites in the region US forces struck defense and maritime infrastructure in southeastern Iran, including the city of Chabahar.

[00:09:34]Washington said the operation was aimed at further reducing Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping through the straight of Hormos. The meanwhile said it retaliated by striking US- linked sites in Bahin, Kuwait, and Jordan.

[00:09:49]Kuwaiti authorities also reported strikes on power generation and desalination facilities causing damage to critical infrastructure. Now back in Washington, there's a fiscal battle raging too. US Defense Secretary Pete Hex came under intense scrutiny on Capitol Hill as lawmakers grill him over the mounting costs of the Iran war.

[00:10:12]>> Our children in Iran and Palestine. This is illegal.

[00:10:16]>> Mr. Secretary, please.

[00:10:19]You said on day 14 Iran's military had been quote destroyed and quote made combat ineffective. Yes or no. Was that an accurate statement?

[00:10:31]>> What the American military has the Iranian military is a historic military in effect in that context.

[00:10:38]>> You said Iran's military had been rendered quote combat ineffective for years to come and you stated we had quote achieved every single objective.

[00:10:48]Were those accurate statements?

[00:10:50]>> Uh, it certainly was on behalf of the men and women in uniform a historic military victory over Iran. They had60 naval vessels navy.

[00:11:00]Their air force is completely combat ineffective and they don't have a defense industrial base. So describe to me a country that doesn't have an air force, a navy or a defense industrial base. And I will describe to you a company that country that does not have an effective secretary. They can lob missiles.

[00:11:14]>> Mr. Secretary, you stated four months ago, >> existing stockpiles were depleted and decimated almost completely ineffective.

[00:11:21]So why are the missiles left to hit Jordan and and result in the loss of life of our brave men and women?

[00:11:27]>> They would like to get a nuclear weapon of the war to believe because it's either over or it's not over. It's within two weeks or it's not two weeks.

[00:11:36]We have no missiles or we have missiles.

[00:11:38]>> You, sir, are the failure. Not the men and women who are on that front line.

[00:11:42]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. And that's what's happening. We have political leadership.

[00:11:55]You You don't have a strategy. You don't have a long-term plan to actually win this war.

[00:12:00]>> You won't show any political courage to actually fund our department because you have Trumped derangement syndrome and can't actually commit to anything meaningful. So, I put this on you, Senator. Sergeant Hzoff, you have trillions. You have over a trillion dollars. You're asking for $1.5 trillion dollars. It's not a question of money.

[00:12:18]It's a question of leadership and understanding what it takes to actually win >> political cowardice of Democrats who won't fund the troops.

[00:12:30]>> The United States appears set to deepen its strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia beyond oil and defense. President Donald Trump. He has approved a new energy agreement. Reports quoting unnamed officials say it could potentially allow the kingdom to develop uranium enrichment capabilities for its civilian nuclear program. Now, Washington has long argued that uranium enrichment in Iran, it poses an unacceptable proliferation risk. Reports now say that the deal with Riyad would however skip the safeguards meant to keep enrichment from being weaponized.

[00:13:06]Trump's no gold standards rule for Saudi Arabia. It comes as he threatens to attack an Iranian nuclear site over suspected enriched uranium.

[00:13:15]>> There were less than one trillion.

[00:13:17]>> 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.

[00:13:24]>> If I thought they could do something about it, I would never say that. But we'll be hitting that area pretty soon.

[00:13:30]Uh and and very heavily. Well, joining us on the broadcast is West Asia analyst, journalist Dr. Vil Aad. Dr. Aad, thank you very much for speaking with RT India. Sir, u it boggles my mind that there is one rule for Iran and there is another for Saudi Arabia. How do you explain that?

[00:13:51]>> Well, thank you for having me. I believe it's a very sensitive story you have picked up and it's quite interesting especially it comes at the time when the United States and Israel are attacking Iran continuously and rallying the world behind them that Iran should not have a nuclear weapon but what we are witnessing here as a new nuclear standard for the Middle East which is the US is now arguing about it that they wanted to give the the issues to the leverage to Saudi Arabia to use the civil for civilian use while they are denying the Iranian. So I believe there has to be a strong messages that both are equal and if that is the trend then we are going to face a new armed race in the Middle East even it is a nuclear for civilian use or for military use because a we have a state which is undeclared nuclear state called Israel and the rest of the country are trying to do it in a civilian way. So Turkey and Egypt could step in next. So, so would you say that this is likely to trigger a regional nuclear competition then?

[00:14:52]>> Absolutely. That's what I'm saying because yeah, here you go. I mean there is there is a hypocrisy in dealing with this issue in a double standard by all means. I mean even is the United States trying to argue that these are not the way they see it but we believe it is the way it is and that's the reality and that's why the argument everywhere in the world that even the United States have been violating the nuclear issues of the uh the non nonprofies even when they talked about aos and they decided to sell the propuls submarines to nuclear submarines to uh to Australia but the question also was raised so I believe the United States wanted to set up some new standard of dealing with the nuclear issue after dealing with Iran.

[00:15:36]>> Dr. What exactly is Washington really trying to achieve here? Because the United States and Saudi Arabia, they will say that look, this is clearly about civilian nuclear energy. But is it really about that or is it really about the United States, you know, keeping Saudi Arabia firmly inside the American security umbrella?

[00:15:56]>> Well, absolutely. I believe the United States is trying to preserve not to preserve the non-prololiferation treaty regime but is actually redesigning it around its own geopolitical allies as which means if you are a friend or an ally with the United States you will get the access to the nuclear technology but if you are an adversary to it you will face the brunt.

[00:16:18]>> Do you feel this will change the strategic balance in the Middle East then?

[00:16:23]Well, absolutely. I believe we all in the Middle East have been calling for a free Middle East of the nuclear weapons.

[00:16:28]And in fact, it has been there more than three decades. It has been talked about it in the new in the UN. It talked about it in any regional and international arenas and and seminars, conferences. We decided that the nuclear issue should be not available in this region because any availability of a nuclear weapons in the part of this ward sama the all it will have a great impact for all the region because we are too close to each other.

[00:16:55]So Israel cannot be an exemption and nuclear ambiguity cannot remain for long. Iran should not have even the nuclear do for military b although the late decided not to have it nuclear bomb and they never had a military nuclear program yet now we can see that the setting up a new design a new format by the United States is nothing but increasing the arm race in this region and making the world more dangerous because the more you get people into the arms I'm not speaking of Saudi Arabia here I'm just speaking in a different standard of measuring Because if the international community accepted Israel as a nuclear state for decades and treating possibility of another Middle East state, acquiring a nuclear capability is unacceptable trade then there is something wrong with the world we are living in.

[00:17:44]>> Dr. Abad, can the United States can it still pressure Iran on its nuclear program then? Because Iran will point out to this agreement and say look why not us. So does Washington still have that moral and diplomatic high ground then?

[00:17:58]Well, I believe the United States wanted to obliterate Iranian civilization, not only its own nuclear program. And that's why we see the systematic bombing and the continuous carbon bombing of different city in Iran is part of the strategy. The United States is giving no room for any negotiation or maneuver and then the war rooms become narrower by the day and we're too closed for a regional war. And that's exactly what I have been saying. It could be the Yugoslavia design that the United States decided to isolate Iran at one side to break Iran into pieces, support the opposition and then take some some forces to to occupy certain strategic part in the straight of Formos all these islands and and capture the Iranian oil and and gas. So I believe the United States actually is only following its own interest in this region and there is a new nuclear arm race in the region and the erosion of NPT authorities also will will not be any more legitimate because this is a a violation by the only state which is calling itself safeguarding the interest of the world nonprololiferation treaty and finally if Osama the president of the United seriously was keen on removing Iranian nuclear program and take the enriched uranium he would have done it without going to this war.

[00:19:12]>> Dr. Aad, what does this mean for Israel then? Because Israel has always been very deeply uncomfortable with the spread of the sensitive nuclear technology in that region. Now, even if this particular civilian program uh if it is a civilian program today, will there be concerns in Tel Aviv about whether and where this could eventually lead then?

[00:19:33]Well, I don't think the United States taking any decision in in West Asia or in GCC country without the consent of the Israelis security concern because now we are moving from a world governed by the relatively stable rules of the world increasingly strategic calculation. The danger is not simply because country acquiring a nuclear issue. It's a few country may trust the international system to protect them. So I believe Saudi Arabia may be in in a position to do it for for civilian issues. But as I said this will open the the lust and the uh you know hunger for any other country to also acquire and and don't forget Turkey on on the line Egypt is on the line. So I think the uh the only way is that we should remain uh the nuclear issue should remain an instrumental as a deterrence and should not be a failure of a system to provide equal security pushed more nation to seek them.

[00:20:31]>> Dr. Abad, a final word from you. How much of this is about China as well?

[00:20:35]Because China has become Saudi Arabia's largest trading partner. It has also brokered the Saudi Iran reapproachment.

[00:20:41]Is Washington in a way worried about losing influence in the Gulf?

[00:20:47]Well, I think it's not going to be easy for them and nor the the Chinese are willing to take over the American influence in the region to be honest with you. I remember in the 60s when United States the president have sent a warning to the USSR that do not interfere in the GCC otherwise you will use a nuclear against you and they have kept that threat throughout the years and that's why all these military bases are in the Gulf to safeguard the American interest at the first place.

[00:21:12]But I think the Chinese worried not only because of the American trying to contain them and remember what's happening in the Assan summit now creating America is fishing in the South China Sea turbulent water. So therefore create creating a rift between Philippine and China and Malaysia and China and trying to woo the Asian country into the American influence of security. It give you a clear indication that even if the Saudi Arabia get access to this nuclear for civilian use the next will be on the line not only Australia but it will be South Korea and Japan.

[00:21:45]>> Absolutely Dr. Vawad an absolute pleasure to have you here on RTI India.

[00:21:51]>> Thank you for having me.

[00:21:55]>> Donald Trump has declared a new era for Lebanon. The statement came as the US president hosted his Lebanese counterpart. First visit by Beirut's top official in almost 20 years. A ceasefire with Israel topped the agenda as idea forces they began to withdraw from some of the areas seized in recent months.

[00:22:14]Now there is lingering doubt though of continued occupation across the northern border. Trump called it a work in progress. Here is RT's Steve Sweeney with the details. But first the US president's comments.

[00:22:28]when the Israeli army withdraw from Lebanon. Is there a clear timeline?

[00:22:32]>> They're in the process of doing that.

[00:22:33]They're in the process of redeploying at other sections and uh again they get along very well. That was a great agreement they signed with Lebanon and they're redeploying.

[00:22:44]>> Well, this new era that was outlined uh by Trump in this uh visit by the Lebanese president Joseph Owen, the first president to make such a visit since 2009. Well, it doesn't really tally with the facts on the ground. Of course, Israel still occupies large sways of Lebanese territory. This so-called uh yellow line, which uh Netanyahu has detailed on a map, sits some 8 to 10 km inside Lebanese sovereign territory. Now, Israeli army said that it was starting to withdraw from Za Alabia. This is in Nabatia district. Now, this took place on Tuesday. There was a lot of hue and cry.

[00:23:23]There was a there were media there and the Lebanese army waited on the borders until it was safe to uh cross in. Now they entered the uh Zaragabia and they brought with them some construction vehicles. Now as they entered uh that village the Israeli army subsequently opened fire on them. They claimed that the Lebanese army had entered the so-called security zone. Uh so they fired shots. They said that the shots were fired in the air, but the Lebanese army in the meantime said that these actions by the Israeli army could uh scupper that peace deal entirely.

[00:23:59]While military units were carrying out deployment operation in the western town of Zhortar Algabia, Israeli occupation forces opened fire in the vicinity of these units. The army commanders confirmed this aggression will obstruct deployment steps being taken in the experimental areas within the framework of communication with the military coordination group for Lebanon MCG4L.

[00:24:19]Now, as the bombing continued across South Lebanon, the Lebanese president, Joseph, had the meeting in the White House with President Trump. Now, it opened with some uh which some people are calling a kind of fairly sickopantic speech from the president, Joseph Aun, in which he said he'd been very much looking forward to meeting Trump that describing him as a great uh president.

[00:24:41]And he did go on to praise the role of the Lebanese armed forces uh inside uh Lebanon. and he appealed to Trump for more support for the Lebanese armed forces and of course that means uh financial support as well. The the the United States is one of the biggest backers of the Lebanese armed forces.

[00:24:59]Now Trump for his part of course he was very bombastic. He described our own as a great leader and he could be one of the greatest leaders uh in the uh region and he also offered his support should the president decide that um he requires Trump's assistance that he's very happy to speak to Hezbollah.

[00:25:18]>> I would speak to Hezbollah. I speak to everybody. I'll speak to people that a lot of people think I shouldn't be speaking to and things work out.

[00:25:26]>> Mr. President, >> I would speak to I would say this. if the president wanted me to speak to Hezbollah. You know, he's lived with Hezbollah for a long time.

[00:25:33]>> Now, it's not clear whether Trump's call would be reciprocated by uh Hezbollah, but Trump did then go on to say after press questioning that he again uh once again mentioned the prospect of the Syrian president Muhammad al- Jalani, Ahmed Al- Shar as he's now known, of his forces intervening in uh Lebanon to take on Hezblah. This is something that he's repeated uh quite frequently over the uh the past few weeks. Now, so far Damascus has rejected that call. But if it were to happen, if the Syrian forces were to enter Lebanon, what we could see instead of peace in the region is further instability.

[00:26:18]A Ukrainian drone strike on Russia's Crash Nodar region has struck a warehouse owned by the country's largest online retailer, leaving one person dead and 10 others wounded. The local governor confirmed UAV fragments hit the logistics center. Plus, a number of nearby homes and apartment buildings causing a huge fire. Russia's investigative committee is treating the attack in Krasmodar and other overnight strikes as acts of terrorism. While Moscow said assistance for Kiev in these strikes would be a gamecher for the conflict's parameters.

[00:26:53]>> President, >> the president once said, some may have forgotten this already, that Vladimir Putin was asked about the European Union's preparation for war and he very clearly replied that we have no intention of attacking anyone. But if they having once again gathered all of Europe under familiar banners try to attack us, it will no longer be a conventional war. It will be a different kind of war.

[00:27:24]>> Ukraine has fired its commander-in-chief of the armed forces after days of so-called unrest in the country. The person being lined up to fill those boots doesn't have a great track record though, including a 2016 probe into the killing of civilians. Arty's Roman Koserv he gets us this report.

[00:27:42]>> The newly appointed Ukrainian army's commander in chief Mk Draatate who changed Siri at his post is well he's mostly known for his bravery against civilians. He became infamous after attempting to ram ordinary citizens of Marupople with his infantry fighting vehicle. Now that was back in 2014 when locals in Marupo set up barricades throughout the city in protest against the illegal government coup in Kiev.

[00:28:13]Since then, Draati was active in the Ukrainian aggression against the people of Dambas as he also took part in the torture and repression of the city's residents. Hundreds of people went to missing or were executed back then for refusing to accept the government of the uh the new government of the Kiev regime. Now uh Draati is also wanted in Russia by the investigative committee who accused him of organizing artillery attacks against various Danbas settlements back in 2017 and 2019 where 154 civilians were killed. So that's Ukraine's new army commanderin-chief in a nutshell. Somewhat of a compromising choice for Zalinski who was forced to sack his predecessor Alexander Cerski.

[00:29:06]Now despite claims to the world that Ukraine has an upper hand in the war against Russia, the K regime has been constantly changing its defense ministry leadership. The latest minister fired by Zalinski was Mikail Fodorov and his dismissal sparked protests across Ukraine that were well largely propped up by the western supporters of the KV regime. The ones that control the flow of Western taxpayers cash as well as military supplies. Now unlike protests against violent force mobilizations, the ones in support of Shodov and in favor of dismissal of Sirki were completely unimpeded by the authorities. Meanwhile, the new defense minister Kamara has become the fifth man to take up the post since this the start of the special military operation in 2022.

[00:30:03]Uh despite this uh so-called leadership revolving door, Zilinski still claims that Ukraine has the upper hand against Russia while continuously begging for more cash and more weapons from his Western curators.

[00:30:19]>> Am I correct in understanding that Fedorov and Cerski were fired for those very so-called battlefield successes that Zalinski boasted about at Western summits, saying how wonderfully the money was spent, but more is needed.

[00:30:31]Meanwhile, the Russian army continued to strike Ukrainian ports used for delivering supplies to the Kiev regime and also military facilities in the Odessa region. Overnight, the targets of air launched precision weapons and attack drones included two ships uh port of Odessa infrastructure facilities used for unloading and storing military supplies and fuel reser reservoirs. Also in Odessa, the Nova Porcha logistics center used to store military supplies was hit as well as the Neptune coastal missile system battery in the village of Kovaleovka. Now on Tuesday, the Russian forces were also striking the Black Sea port facilities in Odessa, Chernamors and Nikolive. As the result, infrastructure facilities used to unload and store military supplies were hit in Odessa port and a ship repair yard in the port of Chernamorsk as well. The Russian troops continue to advance in all areas of the special military operation and continue expanding the buffer zone in Neprop and Kharkov regions. Now, the settlement of Volahovska in the Kharov region is one of the latest gains as Ukraine lost over 1,400 soldiers in just one day.

[00:31:55]Meanwhile, a complete lack of success on the battlefield for the Kiev regime is transforming to an increasing number of terrorist attacks in Russia. And those are of course presented by Zalinski as some kind of victory on the battlefield.

[00:32:12]Last week alone, 69 civilians, including two children, were killed and 364 people were wounded. And this week, the number of civilian casualties of Ukrainians, Ukrainians terrorist attacks increased yet again. And we'll bring you that tally by the end of the week.

[00:32:34]Well, those are the latest developments this hour. Stay on top of all today's stories online, on our social media, and right here on RT [music] India.

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