LIVE: Iran Warns US of 'Failure' as Trump Xi Summit in Beijing Kicks Off | Vantage on Firstpost

Added: 2026-05-14

[00:00:38]Heat. Heat.

[00:01:04]Hello and welcome to first post vantage with me hoya. Let's get started.

[00:01:29]Donald Trump is in Beijing and when two men who believe they hold all the cards sit across the table, the world holds its breath. Even before the talks began, both sides were busy drawing red lines.

[00:01:40]And the Taiwan question tops Beijing's list. So the big question tonight, does Taiwan become a bargaining chip? We will be tracking every signal. But what does this summit mean for India? From trade to security to supply chains, the stakes for New Delhi are massive. We break it all down tonight for you. Meanwhile, Washington and Thran remain locked in a standoff. Stay with me for all the latest developments on that. And as the state of Hormuz remains choked, anxiety is building here in India. One of India's most powerful bankers is now sounding the alarm. Ud Kotak says the country should prepare for a major global shock. Stay tuned for that report. Plus, in the neverending war between screens and childhoods, how much screen time is too much? All this and more lined up. But first, the headlines.

[00:02:29]Russia renews its hardline demands for ending the Ukraine war. Moscow has ruled out a ceasefire on negotiations unless Ukraine withdraws from the eastern Donbas region. Just a week ago, Russian president had announced that the four-year long war was heading to an end.

[00:02:48]India approves a nearly $4 billion plan to expand coal gasification. This aims to ease energy supply pressures caused by the West Asia war. Coal gasification converts lowgrade coal into gas which is then used for power generation.

[00:03:05]Iran hangs a 32year-old man after convicting him of spying for Israel. He is the sixth person to be executed on such charges since the war broke out in West Asia. He was sentenced to death in June 2025. Since Marshan has also executed 25 men who were seen as political prisoners.

[00:03:26]Turkey and Armenia will formally resume trade relations. The move comes after a 33-year freeze. Hank shut its border with Yavan in 1993. It was in support of its ally Azarbaijan which was at war with Armenia over Nagoro Karabak.

[00:03:44]And French authorities confined more than 1,700 passengers and crew on a cruise ship docked in Bordeaux. Earlier a passenger had died from a suspected neuro virus. Around 50 people have shown symptoms. Norovirus is a form of gastro gastroenterteritis. It causes vomiting and diarrhea and is highly contagious.

[00:04:23]Whale whale whale whale.

[00:04:39]>> Now, two of the world's biggest leaders are about to face each other again. US President Donald Trump is in Beijing for a highstakes summit with his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. This is the first visit by US president to China in nearly a decade. And here's how Trump set up this meeting.

[00:04:56]>> Going to be a positive. We're going to have a very good meeting. I spoke with President Xi. Uh we look forward, we both look forward to the meeting. It's going to be great. I have a great relationship with President Xi and I think it's going to remain that way. We have a lot of things to discuss.

[00:05:12]>> But this is not just any other diplomatic visit. The summit comes at a fractured moment for the world. There is a war in West Asia, a trade fight between Washington and Beijing, and a battle for AI dominance, and growing tensions over Taiwan. So, the decisions taken in Beijing over the next two days could shape trade, technology, and global stability itself. Trump arrived in Beijing a short while ago, and as he was heading to Beijing, he made his message clear to his hosts. Trump says he wants China to open up. Open up to what exactly? To American companies. He says that will be his first request to Xi Jinping.

[00:06:12]Look at what he said in a social media post. I'm quoting from it. I will be asking President Xi, a leader of extraordinary distinction, to open up China so that these brilliant people can work their magic and help bring the people's republic to an even higher level. Now, the formal summit with she will take place on Thursday and Friday.

[00:06:34]The last time the two leaders sat face tof face with each other was in October last year in South Korea. But top officials from both countries are already holding talks. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bassent met Chinese Vice Premier Hila Fang in South Korea. They discussed trade, economic security, and ways to reduce tensions. Today, Trump landed in Beijing with some of America's biggest business leaders. NVIDIA CEO Jensen Wang, Apple CEO Tim Cook, Tesla chief Elon Musk, Boeing CEO Kelly Ortberg, and Goldman Sachs chief David Solomon, among others. That tells you something important. This visit is not just about diplomacy. It is also about business, about access to China's massive market, and about who controls the next technology boom.

[00:07:23]But how is Beijing viewing this? China says it welcomes Trump's visit.

[00:07:29]China stands ready to work with the United States in upholding the spirit of equality, respect, and reciprocity to expand cooperation and manage differences, thereby injecting greater stability and certainty into a world of intertwined changes and turbulence.

[00:07:45]But behind the diplomatic language, Beijing has also drawn its own red line.

[00:07:50]It calls it the four non-negotiable issues. In other words, four areas where China does not want any outside interference or pressure. That list includes Taiwan. More on that in just a minute. China's political system, which Beijing says other countries should not try to change. Human rights, an issue where China has often faced criticism from the West, and what Beijing calls its right to development. China does not want the United States to block its economic or technological rise. These are the topics off the table. So then, what's on the agenda? Number one, the Iran war. This is now a major issue between Washington and Beijing. China depends heavily on oil imposed from the Gulf and much of that oil passes through the straight of war. Right now, the strait remains under immense pressure.

[00:08:39]Trump admitted the war in West Asia would be on top of the agenda.

[00:08:44]>> Well, I think number one, we're going to have a long talk about it. Uh I think he's been relatively good to be honest with you. You look at the blockade, no problems. They get a lot of their oil from that area. We've had no problem and he's been a a friend of mine. He's been somebody that we get along with.

[00:09:02]>> But Trump also made it clear Washington does not see Beijing as a mediator in the conflict. China, meanwhile, has its own concerns. A longer war in West Asia could disrupt energy supplies, push up oil prices, and damage global trade flows. Number two will be Taiwan.

[00:09:19]Now, while Beijing is not keen on discussing the self-ruuled island, which it claims it as its own, Taipei remains very much on Trump's agenda, and this is the most sensitive issue in USChina relations. The United States continues to support Taiwan. This is through arms sales. Last year, Trump approved a major weapons package for the island. Now, he says those sales could come up in his discussions with Shi.

[00:09:44]>> Do you think we should still be selling them weapons? United States.

[00:09:47]>> Well, I'm gonna have that discussion with President Xi. President Xi would like us not to and I'll have that discussion. That's one of the many things I'll be talking about.

[00:09:58]>> Now, Beijing has repeatedly rejected the idea of Taiwan's independence and not ruled out force in seizing it.

[00:10:07]>> There is only one China and Taiwan is part of China. This is an undeniable historical and legal fact that cannot be denied. Taiwan has never been a country.

[00:10:17]It was not one in the past and it absolutely will not be one in the future. No matter how many times Taiwan President L. Ching repeats his lies, a lie told a thousand times remains a lie and can never become the truth.

[00:10:33]>> For now, Taiwan will be watching the summit very closely. Number three, artificial intelligence. The United States and China are locked in a global AI race. Washington has restricted China's access to advanced AI chips, particularly from Nvidia. The United States says the restrictions are about national security. China says they are an attempt to slow down its rise. The country that leads in AI could shape everything from military power to the future of global business. So this summit is also about who leads the next technological revolution. Number four, trade. This remains the biggest economic issue between the two countries. Last year, Washington and Beijing imposed massive tariffs on each other's goods.

[00:11:14]It turned into a full-blown trade war.

[00:11:17]China responded by restrictions restricting rare earth's exports. These materials are critical for electric vehicle batteries, semiconductors, advanced weapons. Now, both sides are looking for some stability in their economic relationship. Finally, number five, fentinyl. This is a powerful synthetic drug. It is at the center of America's deadly opioid crisis. The drug has been linked to tens of thousands of overdose deaths in America. Washington accuses Chinese companies of supplying chemical ingredients that eventually reach Mexican drug cartels. These cartels in turn then use those chemicals to produce illegal fentinel.

[00:11:57]China has denied these allegations, but Trump is expected to raise this issue during his talks with she.

[00:12:04]So yes, this summit is about many things, but at its core, it is about one big question. Can the globes, arguably two biggest powers, manage their competition without pushing the world into greater instability?

[00:12:23]It's a summit the world cannot ignore.

[00:12:26]In just a few hours from now, US President Donald Trump will hold talks in China with President Xi. A summit many are already comparing to Richard Nixon's historic 1972 visit with Maadong.

[00:12:40]But while the summit comes at a time of deep tensions between the United States and China, there's another country that will be watching this meeting with close interest, India. For New Delhi, what happens between Trump and she could directly impact India's economy, its energy security and strategic standing.

[00:12:59]Here's why. India has major stakes in the summit for one simple reason. The US and China are India's biggest economic partners. Any major shift in the United States and China ties could massively affect India's trade access, manufacturing ambitions and also leverage. You see, as the US sought to counter an expansionist China, India emerged as a strategic partner through quad Indopacific cooperation, tech investments, and supply chain diversification.

[00:13:27]But if America under an unpredictable president suddenly softens its China policy, India risks losing a major advantage leverage.

[00:13:37]So to put it simply, India will benefit when US China rivalry is managed, not if New Delhi is sidelined. Why would that happen though? Allow me to explain. One of India's biggest concerns is the possibility of Washington and Beijing moving towards a more transactional relationship.

[00:13:56]When Trump and Shei met in South Korea last year, where they agreed a roll back on various trade restrictions after months of tariff war, both sides hailed the meeting as positive. Trump even went as far as giving the meeting a 12 out of 10 rating and touting it as a G2 meeting. Now G2 or a group of two similar to G7 or G20 and comprising only of the United States and China is not something the rest of the world including and especially India would be comfortable with. After all, why should the rest of the world accept a US China co-management?

[00:14:34]India, Europe, Japan, Brazil, West Asia, global south would not want the global order to be negotiated over our heads.

[00:14:41]Remember even though India China relationship is currently at a more productive phase border disputes remain and so if Trump offers concessions to shei on trade Taiwan and regional influence for economic gains Beijing's position could strengthen and that could have direct implications for India.

[00:15:03]A stronger China may become more aggressive on border issues, Indo-Pacific region and most importantly more emboldened in its nexus with terror exporter Pakistan.

[00:15:14]So this meeting between Trump and she is also about India security.

[00:15:19]Then there is the issue of India's energy dependence.

[00:15:23]The Trumpi summit comes amid tensions around Iran and the straight of Hormuz.

[00:15:28]This critical waterway is a choke point at risk because it carries a major share of India and China's oil and gas supplies. If Trump successfully pressures she to use his leverage with Iran and deescalate the conflict, that could directly benefit India by easing pressures on energy roots. But if no meaningful breakthrough happens or if China secures exemptions only for its energy interest, then India could face higher risks.

[00:15:55]New Delhi will also be closely watching Trump's broader regional strategy.

[00:15:59]During Trump's first term, the Quad quadrilateral security dialogue comprising India, Japan, Australia, and the United States gain momentum as an important counterweight to China. But this time, Trump appears far less invested in it. That concerns New Delhi.

[00:16:17]And that's not all. To be clear for India, the preferred outcome is neither a breakdown in US China ties nor a sweeping reset in ties. That would bring US and China too close. What New Delhi is wanting here is balance, enough stability to avoid disruptions in trade, markets and energy, but enough competition to ensure Indian economy's relevance and geopolitical importance.

[00:16:41]As Trump and Sheim meet in Beijing, everyone will be asking will Trump pressure Beijing or accommodate it? New Delhi will be watching closely because for India the stakes are higher than just the meeting of two global leaders.

[00:17:01]Now this Beijing summit is being described as a visit filled with many firsts. Several diplomatic conventions are being broken. All precedents are being rewritten and both sides are entering the meeting under circumstances never seen before. In modern USChina relations, from the people accompanying Donald Trump to the political baggage arriving with the American delegation, almost every layer, this visit carries something unprecedented. Here's a report.

[00:17:35]Two men, three days, and red carpeted steps that may decide the temperature of the global economy.

[00:17:44]In Beijing, choreography is never accidental. Every stride is political, every pause is strategic, and every camera angle is calculated.

[00:17:58]As Chinese President Xiinping walks down the grand staircase of the great tool of the people to welcome US President Donald Trump, the world will be watching.

[00:18:12]>> The pomp and pageantry will be in focus as will be the many firsts. Because in diplomacy, firsts matter. They signal shifts. They rewrite rules. Donald Trump's visit to Beijing is dripping with them.

[00:18:30]This is Trump's first visit to China since 2017. So, it has been nearly a decade since the US president visited China.

[00:18:39]Trump last sat down with Xinping in Beijing during his first term as a new president still feeling out the relationship. A lot has happened since then.

[00:18:54]a trade war, a pandemic, tariffs that hit 145%, chip bans, rare earth controls, and by returning, Trump joins a very exclusive club. He is now only the third US president in history to visit China twice.

[00:19:13]Since former President Richard Nixon cracked open the door in 1972, eight presidents have made the journey.

[00:19:21]But Trump will become only the third to visit Beijing more than once. George W.

[00:19:26]Bush visited China four times between 2001 and 2008, the most by any sitting US president. And Barack Obama traveled there on three occasions between 2009 and 2016.

[00:19:42]Then there's Marco Rubio. He is now the first sanctioned US Secretary of State to ever visit China. China slapped sanctions on Rubio. not once but twice when he was a senator fiercely championing human rights in Beijing.

[00:19:57]Countries don't usually roll out the red carpet for the people they formerly punished. And yet here he is. How Beijing pulled off quite a diplomatic slight of hand. Before Rubio took office in January last year, the Chinese government began using a different linguistic character to represent the first syllable in his surname. Analysts believe that Beijing made the change because Rubio was under sanctions. This includes an entry ban, but only under the old spelling of his name. So, this is a linguistic workaround that let both sides say face and move forward.

[00:20:37]It's not unusual for Western public figures to have more than one Chinese transliteration of their names. Trump also has two Chinese names. The government and state call him Tangu, but he is often referred to as Chu, a slightly different transliteration.

[00:20:56]>> Next is Pete Hexith, Secretary of War.

[00:20:59]>> In some cases, >> this is the first time a US defense secretary has set foot in China in nearly 8 years. The last one was James Mattis in June 2018.

[00:21:11]Hexith is also making history as the first US defense chief in decades to accompany a sitting president on a state visit to China. That's a major departure from established diplomatic practice.

[00:21:24]Defense secretaries have always arranged their China trips separately, deliberately, carefully simply because militarytoilitary relations with Beijing were treated as highly sensitive. With this visit, Hexith is breaking that tradition.

[00:21:41]So there it is. One trip, three firsts, and counting. The United States and China have often treated each other like economic partners, trapped inside a strategic rivalry. They trade with one hand and sanction with the other. And in many ways, the rest of the world is caught in the middle, watching Washington and Beijing compete over the future of technology, influence, and global leadership.

[00:22:06]>> Our meeting last night The countdown begins to the Trump X she summit amid the war in West Asia. The world's two largest economies at odds for years. Trillions in trade tangled in tariffs.

[00:22:28]A global power contest over technology and Taiwan.

[00:22:33]The agenda is long. The trust is thin.

[00:22:36]The world will be watching. and what's at stake for India. The news, the nuance, the analysis. We'll bring you all the top updates >> from the Trump Summit from Beijing only here on First Post.

[00:22:49]>> Stay tuned.

[00:22:58]>> And while global attention remains fixed on that crucial Trump summit in Beijing, the battlefield in West Asia is still burning. US Iran tensions remain high on day 75 of this war. Iran says US must accept its peace plan or face failure.

[00:23:15]Trump says the United States will win the war peacefully or otherwise. This amid reports that suggest US military is considering rebranding the war from Operation Epic Fury to Operation Sledgehammer.

[00:23:29]Here's where things stand right now.

[00:23:31]Iran's leadership has sharply escalated the war rhetoric. Parliament Speaker Galibbuff says the United States is only one viable path. Accept Iran's 14-point peace proposal. That plan reportedly includes an end to fighting across all fronts, a halt to the US naval blockade, and the release of frozen Iranian assets. Theran says anything less will fail. But Trump has rejected Iran's counter offer as totally unacceptable, saying that the United States will secure what he calls complete victory.

[00:24:05]So at this point, neither side is willing to back down. But neither side seems eager to return to full-scale war either.

[00:24:14]What does that mean? It means the ceasefire may not hold for long.

[00:24:19]Meanwhile, the cost of war is rising for the United States and the world. The Pentagon now says the war has cost the United States nearly $29 billion in just over two months. That's already around $4 billion higher than estimates from two weeks ago. As a result of this, the straight of our moves through which roughly 1/5 of global oil and gas supplies pass remains under severe pressure. Iran continues to restrict maritime traffic through the strait. It has discussed toll mechanisms and according to US intelligence still retains access to 30 of 33 missile sites along the strait.

[00:24:58]This report says Iran has restored operational access to its missile sites and that could threaten American warships.

[00:25:08]Also, oil tankers transiting the narrow waterway. This coupled with the fact that Iran still feels about 75% of its mobile launchers across the country and has retained roughly 71 pardon me that's 70% of its pre-war missile stockpile including both ballistic missiles and cruise missiles.

[00:25:28]This is a major source of worry for us.

[00:25:31]Not to mention that these findings also undercut months of public assurances from Trump and his war secretary Pete Hged who have told Americans in the world that the Iranian military was decimated and no longer a threat.

[00:25:45]Meanwhile, Hormuz remains the biggest global flash point. Oil prices are still volatile. Shipping security is under threat and fears of a prolonged supply shock only continue to grow. Just look at what's happening. An Emirati tanker linked to Adno, which is Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, ADNO, has bled a small amount of oil into the coast of Oman. After coming under Iranian drone attack last week, the name of the tanker is MV Baraka. It is still anchored off the coast of Oman.

[00:26:17]Don't forget the Lebanon front. It is heating up again. Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon continue. Lebanese officials say hundreds have been killed since the truce began. Hezbollah meanwhile says disarmament is off the table and its leader is warning that if fighting expands the battlefield will become hell. This matters because it raises the risk of wider multifront war one that could pull in Israel, Iranbacked proxies, Gulf actors and western militaries all at once.

[00:26:47]The entire world is on edge. Britain, France, Italy and Australia are now discussing or prepositioning defensive maritime missions and Gulf states are warning Thran not to weaponize the waterway. The situation is so dire that even China as it hosts the US president in Beijing for the ski summit is now telling Pakistan to step up and mediate to help stabilize Hormuz. In all of this, Trump says he wants peace, but his language is deeply confrontational. As I told you earlier, Trump has said the United States will stop Iran's nuclear ambitions peacefully or otherwise.

[00:27:28]And according to NBC News, the Pentagon is exploring changing the name of the conflict, Operation Sledgehammer, if fighting resumes.

[00:27:37]Now, while that may sound symbolic, experts say that could have legal and political significance. It could potentially reset congressional authorization timelines if military action expands again. So, here's where the crisis stands right now. The ceasefire is on the brink of collapse.

[00:27:54]Hormus continues to be under pressure.

[00:27:57]Lebanon front is escalating. And major powers are being pulled deeper and deeper into crisis management of a war they did not ask for.

[00:28:10]Now Russia has unveiled a new nuclear capable missile. President Vladmir Putin calls it the most powerful missile in the world. It is known as the RS28 Sarmot. In the west it is also called the Satan 2. This is an intercontinental ballistic missile, a weapon designed to carry nuclear warheads across continents. Moscow says it can evade modern missile defense systems and the timing is significant. The last major nuclear arms treaty between Russia and the United States is already expired and fears of a new arms race are growing.

[00:28:45]Our next report is all the details.

[00:28:54]>> A launch deep inside Russia. A fireball tearing into the sky and a message aimed far beyond Ukraine.

[00:29:02]On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin unveiled what he called the most powerful missile on Earth. The nuclear capable weapon built to strike across continents and built for a world where the old nuclear rules no longer apply.

[00:29:17]Russia says the missile is called the RS28 Sunat. In the West, it's better known as Satan 2. The Kremlin says the latest test was successful and Putin claims the system will enter active combat service before the end of this year.

[00:29:38]First, it is the most powerful missile system in the world, comparable in capability to the Vivoda missile system currently in our arsenal, which as just noted dates back to the Soviet time. The total weight of the delivered payload exceeds that of any existing Western counterpart by more than four times.

[00:29:57]>> The Sarmat is an intercontinental ballistic missile, also known as an ICBM. These are weapons designed to travel thousands of kilome carrying nuclear warheads. Russia says the Sarmat can travel more than 35,000 km. That range would allow it to strike targets across Europe or the United States. But distance is only part of what makes it significant. The missile can carry several nuclear warheads at once and each one can be directed towards a separate target.

[00:30:30]Putin also claims it can evade modern defense systems. Normally, ballistic missiles follow predictable paths through space. Moscow claims the Sarmat can alter that trajectory mid-flight. In simple terms, it may approach from unexpected directions that could make interception far more difficult.

[00:30:50]The missile can travel not only along a ballistic trajectory but also along a suborbital one. This thirdly makes it possible to ensure a range of more than 35,000 km while at the same time doubling its accuracy. Finally, it has the ability to penetrate all existing and future anti-missile defense systems.

[00:31:09]By the end of this year, Sarmat will indeed be placed on combat duty.

[00:31:15]This launch comes at a critical moment.

[00:31:17]Back in February, the final nuclear arms treaty between Russia and the United States expired. That agreement was known as New Start. It's short for the strategic arms reduction treaty.

[00:31:28]For years, it placed limits on how many nuclear warheads and launch systems both sides could deploy. Those restrictions are now gone.

[00:31:37]And with them, the last formal break on a nuclear arms race.

[00:31:44]Since the Ukraine war began in 2022, Moscow has repeatedly used nuclear warnings to push back against Western support for Keefe.

[00:31:54]Russia also rewrote its nuclear doctrine. The new version lowers the threshold for when Moscow could consider using nuclear weapons. It now includes scenarios involving conventional attacks backed by nuclear powers. Russia says it's responding to growing military pressure from the West.

[00:32:13]After US withdrew from the anti-bballistic missile treaty in 2002, we were forced and I want to stress this forced to think about ensuring our strategic security in the new reality and about the need to maintain a strategic balance of forces.

[00:32:30]But critics call it nuclear blackmail dressed up as doctrine. At the same time, Moscow is also rapidly expanding its arsenal beyond the Sarmat.

[00:32:40]that includes hypersonic glide vehicles, new submarines, underwater drones, and longrange missile systems.

[00:32:49]So, the Sarmat launch was not just a weapons test. It was a statement that nuclear deterrence is back at the center of global politics. And unlike the Cold War, where the US and Russia agreed to restrict their arms race, there are now fewer guard rails holding that competition in place.

[00:33:18]India has 60 days of crude oil in reserve, 60 days of natural gas, 45 days of LPG. That is the buffer between normaly and a very uncomfortable conversation about energy. The straight of moose, the narrow waterway that carries a fifth of the world's oil and gas is disrupted. Crude prices have hit $120 a barrel and one of India's top banker is asking citizens to prepare for the worst. We're talking about UD Kotak.

[00:33:48]He was speaking at the CIA annual summit in New Delhi yesterday. It's a high level annual business conference that brings together global leaders, government officials and industry experts to deliberate on economic policy, investments and industrial growth. And there Kotak pointed to the ongoing crisis in West Asia, the volatile region from which India imports the bulk of its oil. He called it a much bigger, much more complex problem than it sounds. And then he warned that a shock is coming soon. Listen to this.

[00:34:24]>> It's coming and it's coming big and the consumers have not felt the pressure at all. The shock is coming. I don't think you're very far away from the shock unless Iran war stops tomorrow morning and we have been hoping for it from February 28th.

[00:34:42]Kak also backed Prime Minister Modi's recent call for austerity. Remember on Sunday, Prime Minister Modi called on Indians to cut down on fuel, foreign travel and gold buying for at least a year. Kotak said the country must not live beyond its means. He said, and I'm quoting, there are some simple things the country can do. moderate unnecessary consumption. I will see it in terms of the country's profit and loss balance sheet. A balance sheet is a snapshot of what you own versus what you owe. Kotak is saying look at India's finances the way you would look at companies. He also warned that India has financialized too early. Meaning we have become too focused on the stock market and short-term gains instead of building real long-term competitiveness.

[00:35:29]Glamour over grit. In other words, Kotak warned of tough times ahead and asked Indians to be ready for it.

[00:35:37]>> We must hope that tough times do not come or remain. But we must prepare for the worst. Therefore, it is about preparation. Be ready for tough times rather than waiting for the shock to hit us.

[00:35:54]>> Now, here's the reality check. India imports 85 to 90% of its crude oil. We are the world's third largest oil importer. Our crude oil import bill jumped from $137 billion in financial year 25 to 174 billion in financial year 26. That's not a small number. That is money leaving the country at scale. Our government, to its credit, has kept petrol prices steady for over 18 months.

[00:36:22]But here's the uncomfortable truth. Oil marketing companies are reportedly losing up to a,000 cr rupees. That's roughly $120 million every single day. I am not saying this. Our petroleum minister Hardep Singhpuri posted about it on social media. You cannot bleed that much money for long and not feel it. So India is taking steps. Prime Minister Modi has now asked his security detail, the SPG, which is the elite force that protects him, to cut his convoy size by 50%. He wants more electric vehicles, no new purchases, and a slimmer, leaner presence on the road.

[00:37:02]Other ministers are following suit. This includes Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who has downsized the number of vehicles in his convoy by less than half. Defense Minister Rajnat Singh has also downsized his convoy. An Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Aditinat has directed an immediate 50% reduction to his fleet.

[00:37:21]In the broader level, ministries are being pushed to hold meetings online instead of flying officials around the world. And officials have been advised to limit discretionary spending, including fuel usage. All this to conserve the forex reserves.

[00:37:37]Think of it like the money that the government keeps with its with itself for imports. It includes foreign currencies including the dollar and right now they are depleting. Our forex reserves are fallen by almost $7 billion in the week ending the 1st of May.

[00:37:53]Moreover, our current account deficit which is the gap between what we earn from the world and what we pay to it is expected to widen sharply. More expensive oil means a bigger gap. A g bigger gap here puts pressure on the rupee. A weaker rupee makes imports costlier, which makes oil more expensive. And round we go. Economists are already warning that voluntary austerity, people choosing to cut back, will offer only limited relief.

[00:38:23]The math simply doesn't add up unless global oil prices ease or India diversifies its energy sources and does so fast. In 1973, Arab oil producing nations cut off oil supplies to the West. It became known as the oil shock and it rerode the rules of global economics overnight.

[00:38:42]That was 50 years ago. Today, a different crisis in a different part of West Asia is threatening the world's oil supply.

[00:38:50]Odair Kotak said something worth sitting with. Prepare for paranoia before the event. Hope that tough times do not come, but prepare for the worst. That is not pessimism. That is wisdom with a plan. In times like these, it is easy to swing between blind optimism and paralyzing panic. Neither serves you.

[00:39:14]What serves you is clarity. Clarity about what is happening and why it matters and as citizens what we can do.

[00:39:28]Dramatic scenes unfolded inside the Philippine Senate after gunshots rang out as Senator Ronald Delar Rosa wanted by the International Criminal Court sought refuge in the building. A former police chief and close ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte as Duterte's top enforcer in his deadly war on drugs.

[00:39:47]Delar Roa has wanted for alleged crimes against humanity. Now, major questions have emerged over who fired the shots, whether the Philippines government will cooperate with the ICC, and how deeply Duterte's anti-drug crackdown is now being legally challenged. Here's a report.

[00:40:11]cover amid chaos over attempt to arrest a top senator wanted by the International Criminal Court. It was unclear what was happening or who fired the shots, but at least five shots rang out minutes after more than 10 military personnel in camouflage fatigues with rifles and protective gear went up the stairs of the legislative building.

[00:40:37]Oh my god. Oh my god. Oh my god.

[00:40:43]The dramatic scenes unfolded as the sitting senator Ronald Darosa outran government agents who chased him through the Senate's hallways and staircases. He managed to reach the building chamber where the Senate President Alan Peter Cayatano barred government agents from arresting Varosa. Cayatano said on his official Facebook page that he did not know who fired the shots. Military personnel were seen arriving inside the Senate building, some carrying assault rifles.

[00:41:18]Later, he was seen being taken to a different part of the Senate building as loud noise was heard in a nearby hallway. Amid the chaos, journalists were seen crying and scrambling. Another senator, Robin Padilia, urged reporters to evacuate.

[00:41:38]In the aftermath, the secretary of Philippine Department of Interior and local government said that the perpetrators have been verified and he had not come to arrest the Lar Roa but to secure him.

[00:41:52]>> We have not verified who the perpetrators were.

[00:41:55]>> We will I am here to make sure of everyone's safety.

[00:41:59]>> Okay. I cannot answer anymore until I go inside. My only order so far was to secure the senators and to secure the CCTV room so we can make sure who entered where they entered from. If after that I have no further information and I am not here to arrest Senator B.

[00:42:14]Okay. I am here to say not to secure him.

[00:42:17]>> The director of the National Bureau of Investigation whose agents had attempted to arrest Darosa at the Senate on Monday also denied that his officers had fired their guns. Melvin Matibag told media that his agents were on a standown. He also said that there were no NBI agents inside the Senate when the shooting occurred.

[00:42:41]Dear Rosa, the chief enforcer in former Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte's deadly war on drugs has been hunkered down in his Senate office for three days, fearing he would be arrested. The ICC unsealed an arrest warrant on Monday for the former police chief dated November on charges of crimes against humanity.

[00:43:02]The same crimes 81-year-old Duterte is accused of as he awaits trial in the Hague following his arrest last year. He showed up at the Senate on Monday for the first time since disappearing from public view in November and appealed to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. not to hand him over to the ICC.

[00:43:22]Earlier on May 12th, he had told media that he would never surrender to an international court, even calling on people to gather in front of the Senate to block his arrest.

[00:43:34]>> My fellow men in uniform should express their sentiment. The government should not hand me over to foreigners.

[00:43:41]In a copy of the warrant issued in November, but made public only late Monday, Dear Rosa is accused of the crime against humanity of murder along with Duterte and other co-perpetrators.

[00:43:54]Dear Rosa, better known as Batau, served as national police chief from 2016 to 2018 during the early phase of former President Duterte's anti-drug campaign.

[00:44:06]Duterte faces three counts of crimes against humanity with prosecutors alleging his involvement in at least 76 murders between 2013 and 2018. The true number of killings during his campaign in the Philippines is thought to be in the thousands and lawyers for the victims have argued that a full trial could encourage more families to come forward.

[00:44:30]Human rights monitors say that his crackdown left thousands dead, many of them drug users and low-level narcotics peddlers. Duterte was arrested in March of last year, flown to the Netherlands on the same day, and is detained in the Hague where he awaits trial. And as his top lieutenant, Del Rosa, oversaw the fierce crackdown.

[00:44:55]All right, for the latest in what's happened in the Philippines, the Senate shooting, we have Daniela here with us.

[00:45:00]Daniela, what can you tell us?

[00:45:02]>> All right, so what we know is that gunshots were heard um inside the Senate building. We know this because there are a lot of journalists that are always camped outside of the Senate building.

[00:45:12]We first they first heard one gunshot followed by several rounds of gunshots.

[00:45:17]Now, the big question is who fired these gunshots? We're getting the latest that first of all, the National Bureau of Investigation Director Melvin Matibug says he does not know who used guns. He says there's 100% no order to arrest um Senator Batau. Um he says that they are in close coordination with Senate President Alan Peter Kayano who as we know is a staunch ally of former President Rodrigo Duterte that there will be full coordination before an arrest actually happens. You also now have PNP, that's the Philippine National Police Chief Jose Melucian Artis Jr. now entering also saying that the police, the National Police did not fire these rounds of gunshots. So the main question is who did that? You now also have the president of the Philippines, so Bang Bong Marcos um calling the senators making sure they're safe. So that question that you know the government may have been a part of this. No one knows where the senator Bod Rosa is right now. Some media outlets have reported they've seen him ride an elevator and there's around 1,7 1,700 police deployed outside the Senate building. For now, no casualties have been reported.

[00:46:29]The war on drugs was the key platform that swept Duterte to power in 2016 as a tough-talking mayor who during televised public speeches promised to kill thousands of drug dealers while repeatedly daring the ICC to come after him. Duterte's defense team at the ICC has said he maintains his innocence and his tough rhetoric was designed to instill fear among criminals. Now, the very thing that catapulted him to power is turning out to be a double-edged sword for Duterte and the men who worked for him.

[00:47:08]When did muddy knees become the exception and glowing screens become the norm? Think about that for a second.

[00:47:15]When you were a kid, childhood had a smell. Fresh air, grass, maybe a little mud. Now, childhood has a glow, a blue, buzzing, neverending glow. From 5 more minutes of playtime to 5 more minutes of screen time, we've come a long way. And do you know what those screens are doing to your child's brain? Because the science is clear. And what it's saying, every parent needs to hear.

[00:47:43]Nearly half of all children under eight already own a tablet or a mobile phone.

[00:47:48]They're spending about two and a quarter hours a day on screens.

[00:47:53]That's the little ones. The ones who should be learning to stack blocks, not swipe feeds. For pre-teens aged 8 to 12, it's 5 hours a day. For teenagers, 8 hours. That's almost the same time that most of us spend at work.

[00:48:09]Our child's longest relationship right now might not be with you. It might be with the device. And here's the part that really gets me.

[00:48:19]We didn't hand them this habit. We modeled it. Parents are on their phones.

[00:48:24]Children watch. Children copy. Now, let's talk about what's actually happening inside that little skull behind those eyes glued to the screen. A landmark study from the National Institute of Health tracked children over time. Children spending more than two hours a day on screens were scoring lower on language and thinking tests.

[00:48:44]And children at seven plus hours a day, the brain's cortex, the part responsible for critical thinking and reasoning, was literally getting thinner.

[00:48:54]You see, young children need to explore the world in three dimensions. They need texture, weight, they need resistance, the way a block feels when it tips over, that's early problem solving, that's learning. A video of a block falling is just entertainment. It teaches nothing.

[00:49:14]And language, language explodes between 8 months and 3 years, but it only grows through real conversation, back and forth, eye contact, facial expressions, the messy, beautiful chaos of talking to another human being. A screen cannot give a child that. It never will.

[00:49:33]And the effects show up fast. Within days or weeks, every screen usage can result in sleep disruption. Blue light exposure, especially late at night, can delay melatonin release. It's a natural hormone your bra your brain produces that helps control your sleepwake cycle.

[00:49:52]So, any disruption to this makes it harder for kids to fall asleep. It reduces the qual quality of sleep.

[00:49:58]Fast-paced content can also make it harder to sustain focus on slower tasks like studying or reading, causing attention issues. More sedentary time can lead to low energy, weight gain, weaker fitness habits, and some children may prefer screens over face-to-face interaction, reducing realworld social practice. Short videos and fast-paced games are literally rewiring how the brain pays attention.

[00:50:26]It starts craving speed. Sitting through a slow book, a quiet classroom, a dinner conversation, it all starts to feel unbearable.

[00:50:35]We're raising a generation that's bored by real life because we handed them a highlight reel instead.

[00:50:42]And over time, the effects compound. For example, it can cause less reading, homework time, and sleep can affect learning and performance. The brain's reward system can become conditioned to constant stimulation, making it harder to disengage.

[00:50:59]Studies show correlation between heavy screen usage and higher rates of anxiety and depression. And finally, there are also risks of poor posture, eye strain, long-term sedentary lifestyle patterns.

[00:51:11]But how much is too much? What do experts say about this? What do they have to say about safe screen usage for kids in a digital first world? Let's find out. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no screens for children under two.

[00:51:27]1 hour of highquality content for ages 2 to 5 and no more than 2 hours of entertainment for older kids. I know in this digital age, you can't push for zero screen time. But if your kid already measures time one reel at a time, how would you stop that? It's not going to happen overnight. It's a habit.

[00:51:48]And habits don't just disappear. You need to take some consistent steps.

[00:51:53]First, watch with them. If your child is going to be on a screen, sit next to them, ask them questions, comment on what's happening. When the show ends, talk about it. You turn passive screen time into something that is shared, and something that sticks. Number two, protect certain hours fiercely. Meal time, bedtime, family time. These are sacred, non-negotiable.

[00:52:18]And finally, how to make up.

[00:52:21]discovering what boredom feels like and what creativity blooms from it. Screens are not going anywhere. We know that.

[00:52:29]But who your child becomes, that is still in your hands.

[00:52:38]India has achieved something remarkable.

[00:52:40]Over 50 years ago, the tiger was on the brink of extinction. Hunting was rampant, forests were shrinking and the numbers were falling fast. Today, India has become home to nearly 70 to 75% of the world's wild tigers. No other country even comes close. The tiger population has gone from 1,411 in 2006 to nearly 3,682 today. This is one of the world's greatest wildlife comeback stories. So, how did India do it? Our next story explains.

[00:53:16]There was a time when India feared it was losing its tigers forever. The animal that once ruled India's forests, rivers, grasslands, and mangroves was disappearing at an alarming pace.

[00:53:33]Hunting was widespread. Forests were shrinking. Porting networks were growing. And by the early 1970s, the tiger had reached the brink.

[00:53:44]Fast forward to today. India is now home to nearly 70 to 75% of the world's wild tigers. No other country even comes close.

[00:53:55]According to the latest all-India tiger estimation, India's tiger population now stands at around 3,682.

[00:54:03]Back in 2006, that number was just 1,411.

[00:54:10]That turnaround is now being seen as one of the world's biggest wildlife conservation success stories. But this recovery did not happen overnight.

[00:54:20]It took decades of sustained effort. The turning point came in 1973.

[00:54:26]That was when India launched Project Tiger. At the time, the idea was simple.

[00:54:32]Protect large forest areas where tigers could survive and breed safely.

[00:54:39]The program started with just nine tiger reserves. Today, India has 58 tiger reserves spread across 18 states.

[00:54:47]Together, they cover more than 84,000 km. That is larger than many countries.

[00:54:55]But protecting the tiger meant protecting far more than one animal.

[00:54:59]Tigers sit at the top of the food chain.

[00:55:02]Scientists call them an umbrella species. That is because protecting tigers also protects everything around them. Tigers need huge forests with clean water, healthy prey populations and undisturbed habitats. So when forests are protected for tigers, thousands of other animals and plants living there also survive.

[00:55:23]That includes deer, elephants, birds, and even rivers flowing through those forest.

[00:55:30]In simple terms, save the tiger and you end up saving an entire ecosystem with it.

[00:55:37]India also moved aggressively on enforcement. Wildlife laws were strengthened. Anti-porting forces were expanded.

[00:55:45]Forest patrols became more technologydriven.

[00:55:49]Camera traps, GPS tracking, and digital systems helped officials monitor tiger movement and detect threats faster.

[00:55:58]India's tiger census is now considered one of the most comprehensive wildlife monitoring exercises in the world. In recent years, tiger conservation has received strong political backing at the highest level. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has repeatedly spoken about wildlife protection. Under his government, India expanded protected habitats. It also increased scientific monitoring and his administration has also launched the international big cats alliance.

[00:56:29]The initiative aims to strengthen global cooperation for the protection of big cats.

[00:56:35]But India's tiger recovery was not built only through policy or diplomacy.

[00:56:41]It also depended heavily on millions of people living near tiger habitats. So authorities increasingly involved villagers through compensation schemes, ecoourism and forestbased livelihoods.

[00:56:55]In many regions, local communities slowly began seeing tigers not just as threats but as valuable parts of the local economy.

[00:57:05]And today Indian tigers roam across remarkably diverse landscapes.

[00:57:10]From the mangroves of the sundabuns to the forests of central India, the Himalayan foothills and the western garts. That is what makes this recovery so remarkable because this happened in the world's most densely populated countries. Still, the challenges are far from over. Human animal conflict remains a serious concern. Forest corridors continue to face pressure from roads, mining, and urban expansion. and climate change is creating new risks and fragile habitats.

[00:57:43]But even with those challenges, India's tiger story stands out globally. It is proof that wildlife recovery is possible when political will, science, and local communities work together.

[00:58:05]Now, India's CBSC class 12th results are finally out. Yes, after weeks of suspense and anxiety and enough website refreshing to crash three browsers and one family relationship across India today, celebrations and emotional damage are unfolding side by side, especially by way of memes online. Obviously, toppers are posting LinkedIn style messages. Hard work and consistency always win. Meanwhile, the rest are posting Bollywood breakup scenes as if math personally betrayed them. To everyone who passed, congratulations. To everyone who did not, don't worry. I understand. Your results may decide your mood for a week, but your relatives will talk about them for the next five years.

[00:58:46]And I'm so sorry for that.

[00:59:03]Heat.

[00:59:29]Hey. Hey. Hey.

[00:59:53]And now it is time for Vantage Shorts.

[00:59:55]Images that tell a story. US Vice President J. D. Vance takes his children to the oval office. AI robots are now being trained to work in South Korean hotels and hundreds of flamingos dancing over Iran's Golthan Bay. Finally, taking you back in history. On this day in 1950, the first ever Formula 1 world champion Grand Prix took place in the UK. It marked the dawn of a new era in motorsport. Today, Formula 1 attracts the world's fastest cars, elite drivers, and more than 800 million fans across the globe. Leaving you on that note.

[01:00:26]Thank you so much for watching. See you tomorrow.

[01:00:52]Mr. Vice President, how are you doing, >> Mr. Vice President?

[01:01:11]Mr. Vice President Heat.

[01:02:17]Heat.

[01:02:35]president to China in nearly a decade.

[01:02:37]And here's how Trump set up this meeting. It's >> going to be a positive. We're going to have a very good meeting. I spoke with President Xi. Uh we look forward, we both look forward to the meeting. It's going to be great. I have a great relationship with President Xi and I think it's going to remain that way. We have a lot of things to discuss.

[01:02:56]>> But this is not just any other diplomatic visit. The summit comes at a fractured moment for the world. There is a war in West Asia, a trade fight between Washington and Beijing, and a battle for AI dominance and growing tensions over Taiwan. So the decisions taken in Beijing over the next two days could shape trade, technology and global stability itself. Trump arrived in Beijing a short while ago and as he was heading to Beijing, he made his message clear to his hosts. Trump says he wants China to open up. Open up to what exactly? To American companies. He says that will be his first request to Xi Jinping.