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In this episode of 5 Live, the focus is on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's historic 2-day Israel visit.
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00:02Hello and welcome here with Five Live. I'm Solal Behr-Ottar Kapoor.
00:05As we speak, the Prime Minister has landed in Israel.
00:09This is a two-day visit which is very, very critical.
00:12But what exactly makes it so important?
00:15Over the next half an hour, we'll try and decode that.
00:18And then in the second half of the programme, we talk about something absolutely important.
00:23We keep talking about HPV vaccines in girls.
00:27But do boys also need it?
00:30After all, it is one that is transmitted with contact.
00:33The whole decoding of understand whether or not an HPV vaccine is meant for your boys.
00:41Spinner on that coming up in the second half of the programme.
00:44First up, let's take you through all the top headlines at this hour.
00:50Prime Minister Narendra Modi has landed in Israel for a crucial two-day visit,
00:54a first since Gaza war began.
00:55Both the Prime Ministers are expected to hold talks on defence, technology and trade.
01:01From possible Iron Dome collaboration to fast-tracking the FTA,
01:05the visit carries significant strategic weight and is being closely watched, even globally.
01:11After NCRT's new Class 8 book listed corruption in judiciary, a massive backlog as well as challenge,
01:19preparations are underway to remove the portion that sparked controversy.
01:24Government sources are now telling us that the portion will be removed.
01:27This is after CGI Surikant reportedly stressed that the court won't allow anyone to defame the institution.
01:36Prime Minister Modi to visit Madurai on the 1st of March,
01:39likely to offer prayers there at the Murugan Temple amid the Deepam Rao.
01:44Ahead of Prime Minister's, you know, Sanatan push, DMK hits out at him,
01:49says Prime Minister's repeated visits may actually result in a big defeat for the NDA Alliance.
01:57Expelled AIADMK leader, Sassi Kala floats a new party ahead of polls.
02:02She also unveils a party flag that features portraits of the Dravidin icons,
02:07CN, Anadurai, MG, Ramachandran and even Jai Lalita.
02:13The TTV, Dhinakarans mocked the aunt Sassi Kala's political party launch,
02:17also likens it to instant sambar or instant idli.
02:24Now, hours after seven people lost their lives in Jharkand air tragedy,
02:28shocking details emerge that the Redbird Airways Private Limited,
02:31the Beechcraft C-90, has crashed and Jharkand had no black box at all.
02:37Now, according to civil aviation rules, cockpit voice records or flight data records
02:42are not mandated for aircraft with maximum takeoff weight below 5,700 kg.
02:47So now, will the mystery never be solved?
02:53In Goa's Asagao, a speeding Thar has ramped into a car near Happy Bar Junction,
02:58killing 65-year-old tourists from Bhopal on the spot.
03:01The video shows the accused stepping out moments after the crash.
03:04Eyewitnesses claim there was an attempt to switch seats after the accident
03:08and the police are now investigating the exact sequence of events.
03:15Days after three women from Harunachal Pradesh were racially abused in Delhi's Malwia Nagar,
03:20the accused woman has been now arrested.
03:22Chief Minister of Delhi, Rekha Gupta, on the other hand,
03:25has also met with them and has assured action.
03:31In-Bell updates coming in as a setback for Kerala story,
03:35two filmmakers, the Kerala High Court has put a stay on the release of the contentious movie for now,
03:42citing that the grievances by the complaints appeared genuine.
03:45No release of the film till the court decides on the petition now.
03:52Bill Gates has apologised to foundation staff on Epstein ties,
03:58says it was a huge mistake.
03:59According to an exclusive report by the Wall Street Journal,
04:03Gates has also told employees during the town hall
04:05that he did nothing illicit and saw nothing illicit as well.
04:13Meanwhile, Pakistan's Obsendur lies are busted yet again.
04:17Donald Trump reveals Pakistan Prime Minister pleaded to stop the war.
04:21The US President also says that Pakistan PM pleaded 35 million people will die.
04:26He reiterated that he stopped India-Pakistan war.
04:37For over seven decades, India and Israel existed in a kind of deliberate distance.
04:43Diplomatic ties withheld, public solidarity with Palestine maintained,
04:48and arm steel conducted very quietly in the shadows.
04:52And then in 2017, Prime Minister Modi did something
04:55no Indian Prime Minister had ever done before.
04:58He landed in Tel Aviv.
05:01The walk on the beach with Benjamin Netanyahu,
05:04both of them barefoot trousers rolled up,
05:05was just a photo op.
05:07And it was actually, that went on after that,
05:11was a signal to the world that a new chapter has begun.
05:15As we speak, Prime Minister Modi is back.
05:18His second visit to Israel happening right now as we speak,
05:22on the 25th and 26th of February, 2026,
05:26comes at perhaps the most geopolitically loaded moment
05:30in the relationship that has been,
05:33and the intense history that the two nations share.
05:37What also is on talks right now is that a lot has happened.
05:42Gaza, Iran, Pakistan.
05:44So there's a lot to be unpacked from this visit.
05:48And what exactly does this visit really mean for you and me?
05:52What's on the table?
05:53What does India actually gain from standing so close to Israel right now?
05:58Let's break down all of this with our experts.
06:04But as we speak, let me give you a quick update.
06:08Prime Minister landed just moments ago.
06:10He has been greeted there by the Prime Minister and his wife himself.
06:13We heard national anthems from both the countries.
06:16So this is a very statesman and a very high degree welcome
06:19that we have seen as well.
06:21Take a glimpse of how it went.
06:22And speak, let me see what happens.
06:38I've never proceeded.
07:03You see what you want?
07:10Look at her color.
07:40You see what you want?
08:25You see what you want?
08:26You see what you want?
08:28Look at her color.
08:34And I miss India.
08:37What is all that?
08:41Wonderful.
08:43You're a wonderful viewer.
08:45I know.
08:46It's because of you.
08:48It was wonderful.
08:52And welcome.
08:53Welcome, my friend.
10:19narrative being broken.
10:21We're also looking at how the post-Operation Sindhur context
10:25actually plays out in the middle of all of this.
10:28And also India's very, very balancing act.
10:32Because remember, just days before this visit,
10:34India had joined the 100 nations in condemning Israel's expansion
10:37in occupied West Bank.
10:39And now this visit comes in and he's been called a friend.
10:41So there's a lot to be decoded as we speak.
10:44Let me bring on our guest.
10:46Like I said, Gaurav Savant is here with us.
10:48Pranay Upadhyay joins us for a global perspective.
10:51And joining us from Tel Aviv at the moment is Yonatan Adhiri.
10:55He is a seasoned political strategist and former chief technology advisor
11:00to the president.
11:03And with deep ties across Israel, political, diplomatic and tech circles as well.
11:09Thank you so much for your time.
11:11I will, you know, go across to our guests here in India
11:15and all our reporters and journalists here as well.
11:17But let me give you the first word, Yonatan.
11:19While all of us look at this visit with great significance,
11:23like all those reasons that I mentioned before,
11:26the Global South narrative, the post-Operation Sindhu narrative as well,
11:29defense ties and larger one-on-water pollution as well
11:32that I've been very keenly watching.
11:34How is Israel looking at this visit beyond just the photo orb?
11:39What is it that you get out of this relationship and in a moment like this?
11:44So first of all, thank you very much for having me.
11:47And this is truly a historic moment.
11:50I think there are two vectors through which the Israeli public sees this
11:56and experiences Prime Minister Modi's visit.
12:00Truly historic moment.
12:01People here are waiting to hear what the Prime Minister has to say later today at the Parliament.
12:06And there are two lens.
12:08One is the personal one, sheer admiration to Prime Minister Modi himself,
12:14what he has been able to do over the last decade in terms of marching India
12:20through a decade of phenomenal economic growth,
12:23now the third largest economy.
12:27Israelis are seeing a lot of kinship in the way in which Prime Minister Modi led India
12:33in this decade, plus vis-a-vis technology, vis-a-vis innovation.
12:37We also see, and this is sort of vector number one,
12:40is the Prime Minister himself as a persona.
12:42I'm finishing publishing a book in a few weeks.
12:45It has an entire chapter about the formative leadership of Prime Minister Modi
12:51because the Israeli public wants to learn more and to know more.
12:54That's one vector.
12:55The second vector has a lot to do with what India symbolizes for Israel.
13:00Israelis followed closely the White House National Security Doctrine
13:05published by President Trump a few weeks ago,
13:08as well as the Pentagon security policy.
13:13In it, India has a unique role of an independent, strong player
13:19within the greater Middle East, or what Foreign Minister Jay Shankar said
13:23a few weeks ago in Munich, the west of Asia,
13:27as he looks at Israel and our region.
13:30So we look to India as the anchor of Israel's next 20-plus years,
13:37as it nears its 100 years.
13:38You know, you have your 2047, we have our 2048.
13:43That has a lot to do with defense, with an air of trust,
13:47with academia, with innovation.
13:49Israel has its diaspora, Jewish diaspora, leading companies,
13:54tech companies in the U.S. and in Europe.
13:56It is not by chance that 10 of the leading CEOs in the biggest companies
14:01encompassing over a $10 trillion market cap are all of Indian descent
14:05at the bleeding edge.
14:07So we look at India with kinship, we look at India with a very innate
14:13and profound sense of trust, and I truly believe,
14:16and so do, I would say, politicians and leaders across the political spectrum
14:23in Israel, which is really hard to do these days,
14:25are unified in understanding how critically important this visit is
14:30and the future is.
14:32Right, a unified trust in India, something that is rare to be found
14:36in the current demographic, in the current geopolitical climate,
14:40I think that's an interesting way to put it.
14:42Gaurav Savant and Praneh is also with us.
14:44Gaurav, I have to come to you.
14:45When we talk about innate trust, you have reported extensively
14:49about what happened during Operation Sindhu as well.
14:52A lot of our tech, a lot of our defense services also were Israeli
14:56at the point that helped us catapult that entire situation,
14:59changed the way we looked at the whole situation as well.
15:01Take us through your most significant sort of takeaways
15:05and perhaps key stakes on the table here.
15:08So, I was in Israel on the 8th of October 2023,
15:12a day after the worst terror attack in Israel,
15:14and that was the time that Hamas terrorists were still inside
15:17Sedrot and Eshkalon and several kibbutz that the terrorists had attacked.
15:21That's the time Israeli forces were striking back,
15:23and that's the time that Israelis actually turned around
15:27and told us that India is our most reliable strategic partner ever.
15:32And that's a big statement for Israel to make
15:35because Israel usually is seen as extremely close to the United States of America.
15:39When it comes to India, it's people-to-people cooperation,
15:42apart from government-to-government cooperation,
15:44that's extremely strong.
15:46India is the only country in the world,
15:47as Jews tell us,
15:49that Jews have never been persecuted.
15:51There's no anti-Semitism in India,
15:53and this is something they really like.
15:55Strategic partnership, very close.
15:57But India has a much bigger footprint in the region.
16:01It's not just India, Israel.
16:02While it's extremely significant now,
16:05just last month,
16:06UAE's President,
16:08Mohammed bin Zayed Al-Nayan,
16:09he was in India.
16:10Just before that,
16:11you had foreign ministers of all the Arab countries.
16:14They were in India.
16:16India, remember during India's G20 presidency,
16:19the entire conversation was around the India-Middle East-Europe economic corridor,
16:23IMEC,
16:23which passes through India,
16:26UAE,
16:26then goes across the Gulf countries,
16:28then goes to the most crucial Haifa port in Israel,
16:31and then goes into Europe,
16:34you know,
16:34where there's talk of partnership with Greece,
16:37Cyprus,
16:37Italy,
16:38France,
16:38then across the Atlantic Ocean to the United States of America.
16:41So, India, in a way,
16:43is anchoring a very, very crucial partnership with this region,
16:49in West Asia region,
16:50for peace,
16:51for stability,
16:52for dialogue.
16:53India's very close to Iran.
16:54India's very close to this entire region,
16:56and that's the effort.
16:58Cooperation with Israel,
17:00at the same time,
17:00very strong ties with other countries of the region.
17:03Right.
17:04And also,
17:05you know,
17:05I'll come back to you,
17:06Gaurav,
17:06and speak a little bit more
17:07about the laser weapons,
17:09the next-gen sort of drones,
17:11the anti-missile systems
17:12that we are going to talk about in this visit.
17:14But hold on to that thought,
17:15because I have Prane also with me.
17:17And Prane,
17:18you know,
17:19there is this Nitin Yahoo,
17:20you know,
17:21hexagon strategy of alliance
17:23that we often talk about,
17:25which is what makes India
17:26a very strategic player there.
17:28Explain to our viewers
17:29what exactly is this hexagon alliance
17:31and why it is so significant.
17:35So,
17:35if you see
17:36what Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
17:38is trying to do,
17:39he is trying to build
17:39alternative alliances,
17:41alternative poles
17:42for catapulting the situation
17:45and changing the West Asia situation,
17:48changing the dynamics
17:48of the West Asian politics,
17:50and bringing the economic centers of power
17:53in that region.
17:54And that's for,
17:55therefore,
17:55not only the India Middle East
17:56economic corridor,
17:58Europe economic corridor
17:59is important,
17:59but besides that,
18:00Prime Minister Netanyahu
18:01has proposed an idea
18:03of building
18:03a hexagonal alliance
18:04which includes Cyprus,
18:06which includes Greece,
18:07which includes India,
18:08which includes some of the nations
18:10from African region
18:11and Arab region.
18:12So,
18:12clearly indicating that
18:13how Prime Minister Netanyahu
18:14has envisaged an idea
18:17that how India and Israel
18:19can actually change
18:20the dynamics
18:21of the entire region
18:22by building and forging
18:23a stronger economic partnership.
18:25And if you see
18:26the India Middle East
18:26Europe economic corridor,
18:28IMAC,
18:28whose foundation
18:29was basically laid in India
18:31on the sidelines
18:32of the G20 summit,
18:33is a game changer
18:34for the entire region.
18:35And, you know,
18:36India is also part
18:37of another quad
18:38in which Israel
18:39is also a partner
18:40and in which
18:41there is an I2-U2 quad
18:43which were in India
18:45is there,
18:45United States,
18:46Arab Emirates
18:48and Israel is there.
18:49So,
18:49India has always been
18:50a great votary
18:51of multipolarity
18:52and bringing
18:53the economies
18:55based on interest
18:56to come together
18:57to forge greater
18:58partnerships.
19:00And,
19:00if you see,
19:01as a strong economy,
19:03as a fastest growing
19:04big economy,
19:06India comes
19:06as a great partner
19:07for Israel.
19:08And that's why
19:08this bond,
19:09the bonding you see
19:11in these visuals,
19:12this is actually
19:13a friendship
19:14which brings
19:14great dividends
19:16and benefit
19:16for the mutual victory
19:18and mutual benefit
19:19for both the countries.
19:21Right.
19:22Let me go back
19:23to Yonatan on this one.
19:24Yonatan,
19:25what happens is that
19:26I'm giving you
19:27an India perspective
19:28over here,
19:29okay?
19:29And then I have a trivia
19:31that I want to throw
19:32open for everybody
19:33here on the panel
19:33and our viewers
19:34as well.
19:35with special thanks
19:35to Pranay Upadhyay
19:36who brought it
19:37to my notice.
19:38But how India seizes,
19:39we see that
19:40with China
19:41arming Pakistan,
19:42right?
19:43Pakistan-China
19:44ties deepening
19:45as well.
19:46India-Israel
19:47defense access
19:48essentially becomes
19:49like our counter-China
19:50play in a way.
19:51Right?
19:52That's how we are
19:52seeing it unfolding.
19:53Is that the right
19:54sentiment to see
19:55how Israel
19:56in all its awareness
19:57is sort of
19:58going ahead
19:59with this relationship
20:00as well?
20:01Well, look,
20:02I think you're spot on,
20:03but it's bigger
20:05than that.
20:06Let me quote
20:06Prime Minister Modi's
20:07comment on Twitter
20:08X earlier this week
20:10where his thoughts
20:12and plans
20:12for the visit,
20:13and I think we will
20:14hear that echoed
20:15in the speech today,
20:16are to expand
20:17this relationship
20:18beyond security
20:19and defense
20:20into a multifaceted
20:21relationship
20:22around innovation
20:23and progress.
20:25We look at India,
20:27we look at
20:27Prime Minister
20:28Jaishankar's
20:29comments in Munich,
20:31we look at
20:31Prime Minister Modi's
20:32strategy
20:33and we see
20:35India,
20:35you know,
20:36buying submarines
20:37and expanding
20:38at $40 billion
20:39its Navy strategy
20:42in the region.
20:43We are seeing
20:44the visit
20:44of Emmanuel Macron
20:46a few weeks ago
20:47and the decision
20:48to expand
20:48on the Rafale jet.
20:51So it is very clear
20:52that India
20:52is building
20:54a more resilient
20:56and broad
20:57national security
20:58strategy
20:58and military build-up
21:00as a result
21:01of Operation Sindor.
21:02We are proud
21:03partners,
21:04we are explicit
21:05about this.
21:06When President Erdogan
21:08of Turkey
21:08supported Pakistan
21:10unequivocally
21:11during the time
21:13of Operation Sindor,
21:14sending weapons
21:15and so on,
21:16Israel stood
21:16by India
21:17unequivocally,
21:18openly.
21:19This partnership
21:20is an anchor,
21:23if you will,
21:23as the gentleman
21:24said,
21:25the hexagon strategy,
21:26we call it
21:26the diamond strategy.
21:28India is Israel's
21:30anchor
21:30and most important
21:31regional partner
21:32in area
21:33where we thought
21:34it would be
21:34Saudi Arabia
21:35or when we thought
21:36it could be
21:36an expansion
21:37vis-a-vis Turkey,
21:38etc.
21:38I think
21:38where the Middle
21:39East is forming
21:40in the broader
21:41sense,
21:42the region
21:42between Ethiopia
21:43where Prime Minister
21:45Modi visited
21:45just a couple
21:46of months ago
21:47and our president
21:48is now visiting.
21:50The region
21:51is changing shape
21:52and we believe
21:53India will be
21:54the most important
21:55country in the
21:56broader region.
21:57Right.
21:58That's good to know
21:59that the sentiment
22:00really seems to be
22:02the same on both
22:02the sides.
22:03But before I move on
22:04and I have a question
22:04for Gaurav as well,
22:05I have a little bit
22:06of trivia for everybody
22:07to sort of look through.
22:09And gentlemen,
22:10I'm going to play
22:10a music for you,
22:12a piece of music
22:13and if my producers
22:14can up that sound really
22:15and I want you
22:16to go back
22:17and tell me
22:17what the story is.
22:18This is a quick
22:20trick question
22:21for Gaurav
22:22and for Prane as well
22:24to understand
22:25what exactly is this.
22:26The hint I can give you
22:27is this.
22:28The melody
22:29is the one
22:30that all of us
22:30in India
22:31actually grew up on.
22:32It played every morning
22:34at the crack of dawn.
22:35It is something
22:36that all our grandfathers,
22:38fathers,
22:38even I grew up to.
22:39And it has a very peculiar
22:42and there you go.
22:43Gaurav,
22:44I hope you're listening in
22:45because this is
22:46that piece of music
22:49that a lot of Indians
22:51woke up to for decades.
22:53And this has a peculiar
22:55Israel connection.
22:58Prane brought it to my notice
22:59right before the broadcast
23:00so I had to break it open
23:01for everybody.
23:02Gaurav,
23:02have you guessed
23:02what this is just yet?
23:04This is the signature tune
23:05of all India radio.
23:07The signature tune
23:08that all of us
23:09grew up to.
23:09There was no television
23:10when we were growing up.
23:12Television by and large
23:13came during Asian games
23:14and we are the pre-Asian games
23:15generation.
23:16So every morning,
23:176 in the morning
23:18when this music would come,
23:20you know,
23:22it's by an Israeli composer
23:24in India.
23:25And if I may,
23:27you know,
23:27when we were talking
23:28about no anti-Semitism
23:29in India,
23:30that's when people,
23:31you know,
23:31even the Baghdadi Jews
23:32or Jews from across the world,
23:34they came,
23:34when they came
23:35and settled in India,
23:36they've always been
23:37safest here.
23:38Yes.
23:38Pranay,
23:39this man is actually
23:40called Walter Kaufman
23:41if I'm getting
23:42that pronunciation right.
23:44And this was back
23:45in 1907
23:46and such a beautiful,
23:48truly Indian one
23:49but nobody,
23:50such a beautiful piece
23:51to actually bring
23:51the two relationships
23:52together, right?
23:53Absolutely,
23:53absolutely.
23:54And this actually
23:55brings nostalgia
23:56in everyone
23:57of our generation
23:58at least
23:58because we all,
23:59you know,
24:00woke up with this
24:01morning tune
24:02of All India Radio's
24:02signature tune
24:03and this tune
24:04is almost 90 years old now.
24:07It was composed
24:08in 1937
24:09and,
24:10you know,
24:11it is still since then,
24:12it's a signature tune
24:13of All India Radio
24:13and recently
24:14on the World Radio Day,
24:16the Indian Embassy
24:17in Israel
24:18posted this
24:18on social media as well
24:20and in fact,
24:21this is the way
24:21that India and Israel
24:23bond.
24:23This is not
24:24a new partnership,
24:25this is not
24:25a new bond
24:26but this goes
24:27back to centuries,
24:28this goes back
24:29to many years
24:30and this is how,
24:32you know,
24:32we have all
24:34recalled this
24:35morning tune.
24:36Yes,
24:37you know,
24:38this is a quick one
24:39and Yonatan
24:39come in on this one
24:40because you don't
24:41have context
24:41to this tune
24:42which now
24:42we have established
24:43for you
24:43but when I was
24:44playing this tune
24:45out in the newsroom
24:46everybody stood still
24:47for a second
24:48a very, very fiery,
24:50noisy newsroom
24:51went quiet
24:51and they were like,
24:52where is that music
24:53coming from
24:54and it's so nice
24:55to know
24:55the connection
24:56that it actually has.
24:57Quick thoughts on that
24:58before I go to Gaurav?
24:59Yeah,
25:00I will say just to
25:01resonate with what
25:01Gaurav said,
25:02my personal story,
25:03my grandfather
25:04who is Iraqi
25:05of Iraqi descent,
25:07his family used to
25:08go back and forth
25:08from India,
25:09from Baghdad
25:10and his family name
25:11was Najee,
25:12an Arabic name,
25:13an Arabic Jewish name
25:14and the family name
25:14was Babu.
25:15My mother's side,
25:17the original name
25:17made the name
25:18is that
25:18and we have
25:19quite a heritage
25:20also in India.
25:21There are many
25:21Israelis who do
25:22and it's true,
25:24a lot of the kinship
25:25that is felt
25:25between the peoples
25:26of our country
25:27also has to do
25:28with that piece
25:30of our history together.
25:32Yes,
25:32yes.
25:32And now that history
25:33is forming,
25:34but all those
25:36good fun trivia aside,
25:38I want to come back
25:39to the major question here
25:40and let me take that
25:40to Gaurav.
25:41Gaurav,
25:42the joint development agenda
25:44sounds very ambitious.
25:45It talks of laser weapons,
25:47it talks of next-gen drones,
25:49anti-missile system,
25:50but India,
25:51you know,
25:52has a history
25:52of long procurement
25:54timelines as well.
25:55Is there a real plan
25:57to actually build
25:58these together?
25:59Is there a plan
26:00to import them?
26:02What exactly
26:03are we going to see
26:04beyond just the optics
26:06in this meeting?
26:07So India-Israel,
26:09clearly way,
26:10way beyond symbolism
26:11and optics
26:12because both
26:12Prime Minister Narendra Modi
26:14and Israel's Prime Minister
26:15Benjamin Netanyahu,
26:16they know
26:16this is a very important
26:18strategic partnership.
26:19It's a special strategic
26:20partnership
26:20which will benefit
26:22each other
26:23and by and large
26:24benefit democracies
26:25and peace-loving world.
26:27You know,
26:27ironic as it may sound
26:29to some,
26:29but then,
26:30you know,
26:30that's the civilizational
26:31philosophy of this land
26:32that it's peace
26:33through strength.
26:34So when you talk
26:35about the Iron Dome system,
26:37remember India's
26:38anti-missile defense shield,
26:40it performed extremely well
26:41during the recent
26:42Operation Sindur.
26:43None of the Pakistani
26:43missiles or aircraft
26:44succeeded in causing
26:46major damage
26:47on the Indian side.
26:48Why?
26:48Because we have
26:49a missile defense system.
26:50How do you improve it?
26:51How do you build on it?
26:52How do you make it
26:53even stronger?
26:54Because we have
26:54a huge, huge India-Pakistan
26:56border, India-China
26:58line of actual control.
26:59So basically,
27:00you intensify,
27:01you get a new
27:02technology.
27:03Israel has the technology.
27:05India has both
27:06size and scale.
27:07So you make in India,
27:09manufacture in India
27:09and export to the world.
27:11That is something
27:12that India wants
27:12to move forward on.
27:14We are told Israel
27:14is equally keen.
27:16There's some conversation
27:16that's already taken place.
27:18We should see
27:18some forward movement
27:19on high-tech innovation,
27:22technology,
27:22artificial intelligence,
27:24quantum computing
27:24in many, many areas.
27:26These two countries,
27:26cyber security,
27:27these two countries
27:28will be cooperating
27:29a lot more
27:29in times to come.
27:30In times to come.
27:31I'm told you
27:32I've got to jump off
27:33and get into another
27:34very important interview.
27:35So I'll let you go
27:36for the moment.
27:36Thank you so much
27:37for your time.
27:37Let me go to Pranay next.
27:39Pranay, we were speaking
27:40earlier on the program
27:41on the key
27:42sort of geopolitical
27:44fallouts of this meeting
27:45or the key stakes
27:47that are on the table.
27:48One thing
27:48that we have
27:49constantly talked about
27:50is the way
27:51India is approaching
27:52this beyond
27:53just defense as well.
27:55Take me through
27:56today when the Prime Minister
27:57addresses the Parliament.
27:58What do you think
27:59are the top
28:00three or four things
28:01which will be
28:01on the top
28:01of his agenda
28:02that he takes
28:03to Israeli people?
28:05So for long
28:06India has been
28:07a key stakeholder
28:07in the West Asia
28:09politics and
28:09West Asia
28:10peace process as well.
28:12India recognized
28:13Palestine.
28:14India has been
28:14a key partner
28:15with Israel
28:15and this is
28:17the strategic autonomy
28:18of India
28:18that is the
28:19independence
28:20of Indian foreign
28:21policy as well
28:21and this is
28:23well recognized
28:24by both Israel
28:24and Palestine
28:25despite their
28:26differences,
28:26their conflict.
28:27But if you see
28:28what is happening
28:29here that
28:30why India has
28:31emerged as a
28:31key stakeholder
28:32that we have
28:32a sizable
28:33population.
28:34We have our
28:34own concern
28:35if there is
28:36a war-like
28:37situation
28:38or a war
28:38breaks out
28:39between
28:39United States
28:40Israel on
28:41one side
28:41and Iran
28:41on another
28:42side
28:42because we
28:43have around
28:4490 lakh
28:45Indians
28:45working in
28:46various Gulf
28:47countries.
28:47So therefore
28:48these issues
28:49will be on
28:49agenda
28:50will be
28:50of concern
28:51for Prime
28:52Minister
28:52Narend
28:52Modi
28:52to take
28:53up with
28:53Prime
28:53Minister
28:54Benjamin
28:54Netanyahu
28:54to gauge
28:55the situation
28:55with what
28:56exactly is
28:57happening
28:57and he
28:58will be
28:58holding
28:58these talks
28:59and as
29:00Prime
29:00Minister
29:00Narend
29:00Modi
29:00repeatedly
29:01said
29:02that
29:02India
29:03is
29:03not
29:05on any
29:06fringe.
29:07We are
29:07rather a
29:07stakeholder
29:07and we are
29:09the votary.
29:09We are on
29:10the side of
29:11peace.
29:11We want
29:12issues to be
29:12resolved by
29:13dialogue and
29:14diplomacy
29:14and therefore
29:15if we can
29:16do anything
29:16to facilitate
29:18the dialogue
29:18process,
29:19we are ready
29:19for that
29:20because we
29:21have our
29:21people there,
29:22we have our
29:22interests there
29:23and we are
29:23for the
29:24economic benefit
29:25of the region.
29:26We want to
29:26be a stakeholder,
29:27we want to
29:27be an investor
29:28of that region
29:29and that
29:29is also
29:30well recognized
29:31by Israel
29:32as well.
29:33You see
29:33the poor
29:34project of
29:35Haifa,
29:36the way
29:36Israel has
29:36invited
29:37various Indian
29:37companies
29:38in the
29:39Tel Aviv
29:39Metrorail
29:39project,
29:40the way
29:41Israel is
29:43inviting
29:43Indian
29:44infrastructure
29:44companies
29:45to partner
29:45in over
29:4610 billion
29:47infrastructure
29:48contracts
29:49of Israel.
29:50So clearly
29:50Israel has
29:51extended a
29:53hand of
29:54friendship
29:54and also
29:55this is a
29:56win-win
29:56partnership
29:56because
29:58India needs
29:59technology and
29:59innovation from
30:00Israel and
30:00on the other
30:01side,
30:02India can
30:02offer scale
30:03and skill
30:03to Israel.
30:04Yes,
30:05yes.
30:05I want to
30:06give the last
30:06word to
30:07Yonatan on
30:08this one.
30:09Yonatan,
30:09this is also
30:09a bit of a
30:10balancing act
30:11that India
30:11has done
30:11as we were
30:12pointing out
30:12earlier.
30:14You know,
30:14just days
30:14before India
30:15joined 100
30:15nations in
30:16actually condemning
30:17Israel's
30:17expansion in
30:18occupied West
30:19Bank,
30:19but then
30:20comes this
30:20visit and
30:21you know,
30:21you have
30:22the Prime
30:22Minister
30:23Nityahu
30:23calling
30:24Prime Minister
30:25Modi his
30:26dear friend.
30:27How exactly
30:27is this
30:28balancing act
30:29being seen
30:29in Israel?
30:32I think
30:33the most
30:33important piece
30:34is trust.
30:35Sorry,
30:36Israelis
30:36recognize the
30:38nature of
30:39the strategic
30:41alignment between
30:42both countries,
30:43the kinship,
30:43and so
30:45India has
30:46a broader
30:49space or
30:50if you will,
30:50a capacity
30:51to manage
30:52some
30:52contradictions
30:53when it
30:53comes to
30:54its
30:54relationship
30:55with Israel.
30:56Some
30:57tactical
30:57differences
30:58do not
30:59and cannot
30:59change the
31:00profound
31:01strategic
31:02alignment
31:03between
31:03both countries
31:04and the
31:04strong sense
31:05of friendship
31:05between
31:06these two
31:07people.
31:07You know,
31:07I had the
31:08privilege of
31:09working and
31:10serving my
31:10country under
31:11President
31:11Shimon Peres
31:12and I
31:13caught to
31:13see how
31:14in real
31:15genuine
31:16statescraft
31:16this relationship
31:17between the
31:18leaders really
31:19helps dictate
31:20to everybody
31:20else the
31:21direction of
31:23policy.
31:24And maybe
31:24let me just
31:25conclude by
31:25this.
31:26For Israel,
31:27the United
31:27States is
31:28its strategic
31:29partner and
31:31it has a
31:31special
31:32relationship
31:32with the
31:33United States.
31:34Traditionally,
31:35since the
31:35days of
31:35David Ben
31:36Gurion in
31:361948,
31:37Israel had
31:38alongside its
31:39relationship with
31:40a global
31:40superpower,
31:42a strong
31:43special
31:43relationship
31:44with a
31:44regional
31:45superpower
31:46that sees
31:47things in
31:48the same
31:48way and
31:49that is
31:49aligned.
31:49And I
31:50think and
31:51I hope
31:51that what
31:51will come
31:52out of
31:52the speech
31:52tonight and
31:54of the
31:54visit in
31:55total is
31:56the next
31:56step in
31:57our
31:57relationship
31:57will be
31:58forming a
31:58special
31:59relationship
31:59that is
32:00reserved just
32:01for two
32:01nations in
32:03this region,
32:04that is
32:04Israel,
32:05if you will,
32:05the Indo-Abrahamic
32:06Forum,
32:07Israel,
32:07UAE,
32:08and India.
32:10That's
32:10interesting.
32:11Yandertan,
32:11stay back
32:12with us.
32:12And for
32:13all our
32:13viewers as
32:14well,
32:14let's sort
32:15of decode and
32:16unpack in
32:16simple terms
32:17for you.
32:18If there
32:18were some
32:18four or
32:19five reasons
32:19why this
32:20entire visit
32:21is so
32:22significant,
32:22let's bring
32:23them to
32:23you next.
32:24All right?
32:25Let's try and
32:26understand and
32:26decode all of
32:27those.
32:28Now, why is
32:29this entire
32:30visit so
32:31significant?
32:32Firstly, it's
32:32a rare
32:33global south
32:34endorsement,
32:35meaning that
32:36most of the
32:36world, especially
32:37the developing
32:37world, has
32:38turned sharply
32:39against Israel
32:40since October
32:417th, 2023
32:42and the
32:42subsequent war
32:43in Gaza.
32:44Very few
32:45global south
32:46leaders have
32:47actually visited
32:48Netanyahu.
32:49Modi's visit is
32:50a powerful
32:50sort of counter
32:52narrative that
32:52is being built.
32:53It signals that
32:54India is willing
32:55to be distinct
32:56from the crowd,
32:57even at a
32:58diplomatic risk.
33:00That was point
33:00number one.
33:01What is point
33:01number two?
33:03Breaking Israel's
33:04isolation narrative
33:06narrative as
33:06well.
33:06Okay, Netanyahu
33:07has used
33:09Prime Minister
33:09Modi's arrival
33:10to pitch a
33:11grand vision.
33:12The one we
33:13spoke about,
33:13what he calls
33:14a hexagon of
33:15alliances linking
33:16India, Israel,
33:18the Arab nations
33:19and the African
33:20nations, the
33:20Mediterranean
33:21nations like
33:21Greece, Cyprus
33:22and the Asian
33:23partners.
33:24Modi's presence
33:25there actually
33:26gives Netanyahu
33:26exactly the
33:28legitimacy boast
33:29that he needs
33:30on the world
33:31stage right now.
33:33Then, let's go
33:34on to point
33:35number three.
33:36There is the
33:36post-Operation
33:37Sindur context
33:38and this is
33:39significant for
33:39India because
33:40India's four-day
33:41military conflict
33:42with Pakistan in
33:43May of 2025,
33:44you'll remember,
33:45changed things.
33:46Israeli equipment
33:47including drones,
33:48missile defence
33:49systems and even
33:51surveillance tech
33:51reportedly performed
33:53well for India
33:54during the conflict
33:55and this visit is
33:56partly but also
33:57about acknowledging
33:58that and deepening
33:59that strategic
34:01relationship,
34:01ensuring that the
34:02pipeline keeps going
34:03and keeps going
34:04strong.
34:05And then there
34:06is act number
34:07four, which is
34:08what I was asking
34:09our guests there.
34:10India's balancing
34:12act.
34:12Just days before
34:13the visit,
34:14India actually
34:14joined over
34:16hundred nations
34:16in condemning
34:17Israel's expansion
34:18in occupied
34:19West Bank.
34:20The Congress
34:20Party had called
34:21the visit sheer
34:22hypocrisy and yet
34:23India's position
34:24has always been
34:25complex.
34:26It maintains
34:27strong ties with
34:28both Israel and
34:29Palestine and with
34:30both US and
34:31Iran.
34:32So this visit
34:34actually tests
34:35that very tight
34:37rope walk
34:38that India's
34:39diplomacy is
34:40actually doing
34:41at the moment.
34:44All right, so
34:45that's how things
34:45get really
34:46interesting over
34:47here.
34:47Let me go back
34:47to our guests
34:48on this one
34:48because I have
34:49a couple of
34:50more questions
34:50that I want to
34:51raise over here
34:52and I want to
34:53come directly to
34:54artificial intelligence
34:55and quantum
34:56computing.
34:57Yanathan, a lot,
34:58India just hosted
34:59a very, very
35:01powerful AI
35:02summit, AI
35:03impact summit
35:04that was called
35:05for here just
35:06a week ago.
35:07A lot of
35:07conversation
35:08happened on
35:09AI here in
35:10New Delhi as
35:11well and
35:11Netanyahu has
35:12specifically flagged
35:14AI and quantum
35:14computing as
35:15areas of deep
35:16cooperation between
35:16the two nations
35:17as well.
35:18In fact, we
35:20are expecting
35:21a few MOUs
35:22being signed
35:22on those lines.
35:24Do you have
35:25any further
35:26details on that
35:26that you can
35:27share with us?
35:28Yeah, so
35:29there is definitely
35:29an expansion
35:31of the relationship
35:32I think to
35:33maybe provide
35:34our listeners
35:35and our viewers
35:35with a map
35:36of how Israel
35:37sees this.
35:38Israel has
35:38now a
35:40march of the
35:41next 25 years
35:42of its
35:42innovation around
35:43six big topics
35:45or scientific
35:46vectors which
35:47you can refer
35:47to as marks.
35:49Materials,
35:50AI, robotics,
35:52quantum computing,
35:53synthetic biology
35:54and space
35:55exploration.
35:56The agenda
35:57between Israel
35:57and India
35:58around space
35:59exploration,
35:59around quantum,
36:00around AI,
36:02around material
36:02science is a
36:03very profound
36:04one.
36:04It relates to
36:05the previous
36:05conversation around
36:06scale as well.
36:09Both countries
36:10have the capacity
36:11to collaborate
36:12around space.
36:12Israel is one
36:13of nine countries
36:14that launch
36:15satellites to space
36:17on a vertically
36:18integrated
36:19technological
36:20framework.
36:21and Israel
36:23recently formed
36:24its AI
36:24bureau,
36:25national AI
36:26bureau,
36:27led by
36:27General Erez
36:29Askal,
36:29one of Israel's
36:30most brilliant
36:31people,
36:32and is now
36:32broadening what
36:34is called
36:34the Pax Silica
36:36of the American
36:37administration,
36:38broadening under
36:39that umbrella
36:40its relationship
36:41with different
36:41countries.
36:42There is a keen
36:43interest that will
36:44be part of the
36:45visit in forming
36:46a unique alliance
36:47with India
36:48around the AI
36:49domain.
36:50When it comes
36:51to quantum,
36:52when it comes
36:52to quantum,
36:53Israel is a
36:54national initiative
36:55in that sense.
36:56All six research
36:58universities are
37:00heavily invested
37:01and involved in
37:02that, and so I
37:02believe that would
37:03also be part of
37:04the innovation
37:05collaboration agenda.
37:07All right.
37:07That's interesting.
37:08A bureau, an AI
37:09bureau that has
37:10been set up there
37:11which looks at
37:12expansion and
37:12cooperation,
37:13that's interesting
37:14to know.
37:15Can we also talk
37:16a little bit about
37:16agriculture?
37:18Agriculture,
37:18water and
37:20sort of climate
37:21technology, very
37:22very central.
37:23I remember the
37:23last time around
37:24the Prime Minister
37:24was there, they
37:25had taken a walk
37:26around the beach,
37:27he drank the
37:28water, talking
37:29about how clean
37:29the water is.
37:30This is a problem
37:31India faces every
37:32day.
37:33We've constantly
37:34been flagging
37:34about, you know,
37:36issuing, and there
37:37has been some
37:38participation in the
37:38past between the
37:39two nations on
37:40cleaning up our
37:40rivers.
37:41Could you give us
37:42a sense of what
37:43exactly this
37:45particular visit
37:46plans to expand
37:47on when it
37:48comes to
37:50initiatives on
37:51cleaning up the
37:51rivers?
37:53So I can't
37:54comment on
37:55cleaning up the
37:55rivers per se,
37:56but I will say
37:57about agriculture
37:57and water, a
37:58very important
37:59dynamic here.
38:01If you look at
38:01the region, from
38:02Syria to Egypt
38:04to Iran and
38:05other countries,
38:06this is an area
38:07in desertification.
38:09Countries have
38:09lost political
38:11integrity due to
38:13water shortages.
38:14Israel in 2005
38:15through 2010, I
38:16was then the
38:17CTO to the
38:18president and was
38:19close to those
38:19events, decided to
38:21make a bet on a
38:22desalination
38:23technology.
38:24We realized that
38:25with desertification
38:26there's not going to
38:27be political
38:27stability within
38:29Israel.
38:30We are not going
38:31to be able to
38:31provide clean
38:32water for
38:33irrigation or for
38:34drinking water
38:35for ourselves, to
38:37our Palestinian
38:37neighbors, to our
38:38Jordanian neighbors.
38:39And Israel
38:40embarked on five
38:40years of
38:41transitioning, and
38:42this is very
38:43profound, 95% of
38:44the water we
38:45drink today comes
38:47from desalination
38:48plants, and then
38:48we recycle water
38:50again.
38:50So every drop of
38:51water essentially
38:52becomes three
38:53drops of water.
38:54We are very keen
38:56at collaborating.
38:57The private sector
38:58between our
38:59nations has been
39:00very much active
39:01around these
39:02fields, and I do
39:03believe that part
39:04of the MOUs and
39:05the next generation
39:06of discussion of
39:07the free trade
39:08agreement between
39:09India and Israel
39:09will address and
39:11will facilitate
39:12greater economic
39:14ties around the
39:15agri-tech space, as
39:16you've so cleverly
39:17identified as a
39:18pillar of the
39:19next generation
39:20of this relationship.
39:21All right, so
39:22agri-tech and
39:23water technology,
39:25water management,
39:26that also very
39:27central to this
39:28entire visit.
39:30But that's quite
39:31interesting, apart
39:32from all the
39:33conversation that
39:33we'll have on
39:34defense as well.
39:35I have to thank
39:36you there,
39:36Jonathan, for
39:37joining us and
39:37sharing all those
39:38insightful details
39:39for us.
39:40We look forward to
39:41chatting again and
39:42we look forward to
39:43seeing what that
39:44address in
39:44parliament is all
39:45about.
39:46With great pleasure,
39:47thank you very
39:47much.
39:56Cutting across to some
39:57updates coming in and
39:59this is in regard to
40:00the movie Kerala
40:01Story 2.
40:02High Court has
40:03stayed now the
40:04release of the film
40:05till it decides on the
40:06petition against the
40:08movie.
40:08The court says that
40:09apprehensions raised by
40:10petitioners are probably
40:11genuine.
40:12What exactly was this
40:14petition all about?
40:15Let me cut across to
40:16my colleague, Anisha.
40:21Alright, let me cut
40:22across to my colleague
40:23Anisha joining us for
40:24more on this.
40:25But let me just tell you
40:25the context of the
40:26entire story in a little
40:28bit.
40:29So, Kerala Story 2 is
40:30part 2 of the Kerala
40:31Story series that came
40:33in earlier.
40:33It was said to be
40:34extremely inflammatory.
40:35There were also
40:36allegations that it was
40:37said to incite
40:37religious sentiments as
40:39well.
40:39There were several
40:40petitions filed in this
40:41case.
40:41On this very channel,
40:42we brought you a
40:43detailed interview of
40:45the director, the
40:46producer of the movie
40:47as well.
40:48And now with the case
40:49in court, the High
40:50Court nonetheless
40:51looking into it, the
40:52court has made its
40:54mind very clear.
40:55They are saying there
40:56will be no release of
40:57the film till it
40:58decides on the
41:00petition against the
41:01movie.
41:01So, stay on Kerala
41:04Story 2 till the time
41:05the court takes a call
41:07on whether or not the
41:08apprehensions which are
41:10said to be of being
41:10inflammatory, etc., are
41:12true or not.
41:19back on your screens right
41:20now are excerpts of the
41:21trailer that came out of
41:22Kerala Story 2.
41:24Kerala Story.
41:25Shibhimol joins us for
41:27more details on this
41:28story.
41:28Shibhimol, for our
41:29viewers just joining in,
41:30tell us very quickly what
41:32exactly was the petition
41:34that was filed in the
41:35High Court in which they
41:36have found merit now.
41:39Well, Sonal, the
41:40petition that was filed
41:41before the High Court is
41:42against the screening
41:44of the film saying
41:44that the film intends
41:46to malign a state in
41:47the country saying
41:49that this is not
41:49what is happening in
41:50Kerala.
41:51The filmmaker has
41:52taken accounts from
41:53various parts of the
41:54country and named the
41:55film Kerala Story.
41:56So, why give a title
41:57Kerala Story if the
41:58filmmakers are claiming
41:59that this is happening
42:00across the country?
42:01The petitioners also
42:02claim that this film
42:05has already, the first
42:06part of the film has
42:06already established a
42:07prejudice against Kerala.
42:09We are victims of this
42:11prejudice as wherever we
42:12go people perceive
42:13things, you know, with
42:14misunderstanding and that's
42:16because of films like
42:17this.
42:17This is misinformation
42:19and propaganda that's
42:20been spread against the
42:21state.
42:21So, the screening of the
42:23film should not take
42:24place.
42:24The film's release should
42:25be stalled is what the
42:26petitioners have said
42:27because it maligns the
42:29state and also creates
42:30prejudice against the
42:31state and puts the
42:32state in a wrong light.
42:33state and also said that the
42:36petitioners also argue that
42:37this is cost division among
42:40people.
42:40The first part has created
42:42a lot of communal
42:43polarization and also riots
42:45in various parts of the
42:46country.
42:47So, such misunderstanding and
42:48also such misinformation
42:49against a particular
42:50community should be called
42:52out.
42:53This is not suitable for a
42:54country like us with
42:55diverse population and more
42:57specifically, why is it
42:59named Kerala Story if the
43:00makers are saying that it's
43:01not just happening in
43:02Kerala but different parts
43:04of the country.
43:04So, these are the main
43:05points that the petitioners
43:06have raised.
43:07In fact, one of the other
43:08arguments the petitioners
43:09said was about the press
43:11meet organized by the
43:12makers of the film saying
43:13that these are the victims
43:14of the victims that they
43:16have referred to in the
43:17Kerala story.
43:18So, none of these victims
43:19are from Kerala.
43:20So, why name the state,
43:22name the film Kerala if
43:24none of these victims are
43:25from Kerala is what the
43:26petitioners have asked and
43:27that's what the Kerala
43:28High Court also said that
43:29the feelings and the
43:30emotions of the people of
43:31Kerala should be considered.
43:33All right, Shrivimol, thank
43:34you so much for joining us
43:35with all those details.
43:45All right, cutting across
43:46to some more breaking news.
43:47This time, it's an update
43:49on weight loss drug
43:51revolution that's taking
43:52place in the country.
43:54We're now getting news that
43:56Hyderabad-based Dr. Reddy's
43:58has applied for a trademark
44:01for the generic GLP-1
44:04weight loss drug.
44:05It's called Obeda.
44:07They have now applied a
44:09trademark for Obeda brand
44:11and logo.
44:12Remember, GLP-1 drugs in the
44:15country are hitting the patent
44:18on this is expiring.
44:19That means a lot of generics
44:20will now be out in the market.
44:23Dr. Reddy is now applying
44:25for that trademark.
44:26Also, the key point here is
44:28that they are claiming that
44:29the cost will be 60% lower
44:32than the existing medicines
44:34that are available in the
44:36market as well of semaglutide
44:38and several other GLP-1
44:40variations.
44:40Sneha, Mordani joins us for
44:42more details on this.
44:44Sneha, if 2025 was the year
44:48of adoption of GLP-1,
44:512026, clearly the year when
44:53it gets democratized.
44:54Absolutely.
44:55This is just first of the
44:56many that we hear of Indian
44:58drug companies, the pharmacy
45:00of the world actually taking it
45:01to many more people and when
45:03it comes to India, a country
45:04like ours, it has to be
45:06affordable.
45:07In fact, Dr. Reddy's not the
45:09only one, several other also
45:11in the pipeline.
45:12Tell us more about how soon
45:14we can actually expect these
45:16generics hitting the market.
45:17Well, I think as early as
45:18March, Sonal, to answer that
45:19question simply put because
45:21that's when the patents
45:22expire and everybody is
45:23moving very swiftly as you
45:25can see.
45:25You rightly pointed out that
45:27there are other companies
45:27as well, CIPLA for example
45:29and of course, Dr. Reddy's,
45:31the Natco, we'll have more
45:33generics in the market.
45:35Sun Pharma, I'd like to tell
45:36you, also with the cheaper
45:37versions of the semaglutide,
45:39you know, otherwise known as
45:41Ozempic really and that's
45:42what is going to break the
45:44monopoly.
45:45The very fact that the patents
45:46expire, costs will come down
45:48in a big way.
45:4960 to 70 percent is what we
45:51are hearing.
45:51Some even say up to 90 percent
45:53which means there will be
45:55more reticence available in
45:57the market and at cheaper
45:58costs.
45:59Accessibility improves in a big
46:01way.
46:01It ends the monopoly.
46:03It's also in perfect line
46:04with what the World Health
46:05Organization has said about
46:07making these weight loss
46:08drugs accessible because at
46:09the end of the day, the
46:10reiteration really is that
46:12obesity isn't a choice, you
46:13know.
46:14It's not a lifestyle problem.
46:15It is very much a disease
46:17just like any other disease
46:18and it should be dealt with
46:19as such.
46:20So good news as far as
46:21accessibility is concerned
46:23with many more companies
46:24now looking at launching the
46:26generic versions.
46:27India is already the generic
46:28medicine capital and the
46:30pharmacy of the world in that
46:31sense.
46:31So what I'm expecting at this
46:33point in time is that there
46:35would be many more players
46:36would be jumping in and in
46:38fact launching these medicines
46:39that become quickly accessible
46:41to a lot of people living it.
46:43with of course the rate of
46:44obesity only going up further
46:46and of course of diabetes as
46:48well in the country and at a
46:49time when there is stress on
46:51making this accessible, this
46:53comes as great news.
46:55Right.
46:56So this is actually, this news
46:58means what for general people
47:00here in India?
47:00It means that weight loss
47:02injections and even pills now
47:04will go beyond just elite
47:06clinics.
47:06Yes.
47:07Will go beyond just tier one
47:09cities, English speaking,
47:11affordable audience cities, but
47:12actually to hinterlands where
47:14we also see the battle of
47:16obesity being fought.
47:17As Seha also pointed out, Dr.
47:19Redis is not the one.
47:20We are hearing of companies
47:21like Sun Farmer as well coming
47:22out with their own generics and
47:24of course you have Sib Plus,
47:25your peak that has already
47:26launched in India.
47:28Thank you so much Neha for
47:29joining us with all those
47:30details on the story.
47:35But let's stick on with the
47:36theme of medicine and health
47:38for some time.
47:39The HPV vaccine in India?
47:41The HPV vaccine in India has
47:44begun with already adolescent
47:46girls aged between 19 to 13.
47:49It's a landmark public health
47:51move aimed at reducing cervical
47:53cancer, a disease for which India
47:54accounts for nearly one third of
47:57the global burden.
47:58But the question I'm making you
48:01think tonight is this.
48:03HPV, is it only for the girls?
48:06Does the virus impact only the
48:08girls?
48:09Well, HPV is the most common
48:11sexually transmitted infection
48:13worldwide.
48:14It spreads through skin to skin
48:16contact.
48:17Most people never really know that
48:19they have it as well.
48:20In women, it causes cervical cancer.
48:22In men, it can cause cancers like
48:25throat, mouth, tongue, penis and
48:28also the anus.
48:30Globally, HPV related throat cancer
48:32in men are rising.
48:33In the United States alone, about
48:3520,000 men are diagnosed with HPV
48:38linked cancers each year.
48:40But here's the sort of
48:42epidemiological challenge here.
48:44If boys are not vaccinated, they
48:46remain part of the transmission
48:48chain.
48:49Even high coverage among girls does
48:52not fully be made to understand
48:54interpret circulation of the virus
48:56in large male population, which
48:58remain unprotected.
49:00That is why more than 50 countries,
49:02including the US, UK, Australia,
49:05Canada, Germany, vaccinate both boys
49:09and girls.
49:10Australia actually introduced gender
49:12neutral vaccination in 2013.
49:14And since then, HPV infection rates
49:16dropped by over 90%.
49:19The science on this is pretty clear.
49:22Vaccination before exposure.
49:24Ideally between the age group of 9 to 13,
49:27providing the strongest protection.
49:29The vaccine has been used globally for
49:32over decades and has strong safety and
49:35effectiveness data as well.
49:36So the real question is not whether
49:38HPV sort of causes cancer or helps in
49:41restrain cancer in men.
49:43Of course it does.
49:44The question is whether we see HPV
49:46vaccination as cervical cancer
49:48prevention alone or cancer prevention
49:50for all children.
49:52But remember, this is not medical advice
49:55at all.
49:55Please go to your own pediatrician.
49:58Go to the doctor you take your kids to
50:00and ask them if your boys need it too.
50:03Remember, for any effectiveness of HPV vaccine,
50:06because some of them are expensive
50:08when available in the private market,
50:10it has to be between the age group of 9 to 13.
50:13So it's the preteens that one has to hit
50:15before exposure.
50:17So next time, you visit a pediatrician
50:18to ask them if your boys need it too.
50:23All right.
50:24With that, an action-packed episode of
50:26Five Live comes to an end.
50:27Thank you so much for tuning in.
50:28We'll see you again tomorrow.
50:29Bye-bye.
50:29Bye-bye.
50:29Bye-bye.
50:29Bye-bye.
50:30Bye-bye.
50:30Bye-bye.
50:30Bye-bye.
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