US President faces criticism for conceding Putin’s “election meddling” remark
In a major development in the international political arena President of US Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin have committed for improving relations between the two major countries, with Putin saying there was no longer any reason for tensions between their countries.
However, media in both the countries indicate that Trump has lost the battle against Russia while US political circle call it a bad performance by their president in Helsinki.
The two leaders met in the Finnish capital Helsinki on Monday to talk about “everything from trade to military to missiles to China”.
“There are no objective reasons for difficulties [between Russia and the US]. The Cold War is a thing of the past, the situation in the world has drastically changed,” said Putin.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump blamed his country’s past “foolishness and stupidity” for the two powers’ hostile relations.
At a press conference following the summit, Trump praised their “direct, open and deeply productive dialogue” and emphasised the need for continued diplomacy over confrontation. “A productive dialogue is not only good for the United States and good for Russia, but it is good for the world,” he said.
“Our relationship has never been worse than it is now, however that changed as of about four hours ago… To refuse to engage would not accomplish anything.”
Putin said the two countries would need to work together to cope with challenges such as terrorism, international crime, the economy and the environment, while pointing to counterterrorism and cyber security as areas in which they are already doing so.
“As major nuclear powers, we bear special responsibility for maintaining international security,” he said.
Putin said the US and Russia could collaborate to “establish peace and reconciliation” in Syria, with Trump adding by working together to end the conflict, the US and Russia could “save hundreds of thousands of lives”.
The two leaders also committed to securing Israel’s border with Syria in accordance with the 1974 Agreement on Disengagement between Israel and Syria.
However, quick scanning of Russian and American media indicates that Trump has won while US has lost during the Helsinki summit. Russian media has been appreciative of Putin’s moves while US media and political leaders have started criticizing Trump of being “caved” under Putin’s prowess.
The Moscow Times published its lead story “Trump says ‘No reason to believe’ Russia hacked US election” with a hand-shake picture depicting Putin scaring into Trump’s eyes, give lots of score in favour of Putin.
The story intro say, “US President Donald Trump said on Monday he saw no reason to believe Russia had hacked the 2016 US presidential election to help him win, and Vladimir Putin “was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today.”
Moscow Times further reports, “At a rambling news conference after a one-on-one meeting with the Russian president, Trump said not a single critical word about Russia on any of the issues that have brought relations between the Washington and Moscow to a post-Cold War low.”
The Russian daily said, “Asked if he trusted U.S. intelligence agencies which concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election, he said he had been told by his CIA chief that it was Russia, but that he saw no reason to believe it.”
However, one of the several tweets Donald Trump posted during transatlantic flight taking him to Washington, his words seemed changed:
As I said today and many times before, “I have GREAT confidence in MY intelligence people.” However, I also recognize that in order to build a brighter future, we cannot exclusively focus on the past – as the world’s two largest nuclear powers, we must get along! #HELSINKI2018
Russian official TASS news agency report says, “Russian President Vladimir Putin has called his summit talks with US President Donald Trump the first move towards “clearing the backlog” of problems in relations between the two countries.
It quoted Putin saying, “Of course, numerous problems persist, and we have failed to clear the backlog in full, it was impossible to do this, but I believe we have made the first important step in that direction.”
Putin said, “The talks with President of the United States Mr. Donald Trump were held in a frank, business-like atmosphere,” he said. “I view them as successful and useful.”
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On the other hand CNN reports that after President Donald Trump’s stunning news conference with Russian President Vladimir Putin, members of Congress including some powerful Republicans were quick to rebuke Trump’s performance on the world stage and Trump’s refusal to call Putin out for interfering in the US election.
House Speaker Paul Ryan, a Republican from Wisconsin, contradicted several comments Trump made during his Helsinki news conference, most notably backing the US intelligence community assessment that Russia meddled with the US 2016 presidential election.
Ryan said, “There is no question that Russia interfered in our election and continues attempts to undermine democracy here and around the world. That is not just the finding of the American intelligence community but also the House Committee on Intelligence.”
He continued, “The president must appreciate that Russia is not our ally. There is no moral equivalence between the United States and Russia, which remains hostile to our most basic values and ideals. The United States must be focused on holding Russia accountable and putting an end to its vile attacks on democracy.”
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell spoke briefly with reporters Monday, giving his support to the US intelligence community.
Former Vice President John McCain, a Republican senator from Arizona, who has consistently criticized the President, said Trump’s comments were “one of the most disgraceful performances by an American president in memory.”
Senate Foreign Relations Chairman Bob Corker said the President “made us look like a pushover” and that Putin was probably eating caviar on the plane home.
“I was very disappointed and saddened with the equivalency that he gave between them (the US intelligence agencies) and what Putin was saying,” said Corker.
Several Republicans in both the houses, even some typically seen as allies of the President, said, in the hours following the Helsinki press conference, that they were concerned over what they heard on Monday.
Senator Tim Scott, a South Carolina Republican, Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican, Trey Gowdy, a South Carolina Republican, Senator Susan Collins, Maine Republican and many more spoke against Trump’s performance during the summit.
“I am confident former CIA Director and current Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, DNI Dan Coats, Ambassador Nikki Haley, FBI Director Chris Wray, Attorney General Jeff Sessions and others will be able to communicate to the President it is possible to conclude Russia interfered with our election in 2016 without delegitimizing his electoral success,” Gowdy said in a statement.
Meanwhile, New York Times report said,“For nearly two years, Republicans have watched uncomfortably, and often in silence, as President Trump has swatted away accusations that Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential race, attacked his own intelligence agencies and flattered President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia.”
Stephen Collinson, a CNN analyst writes, “For as long as history remembers Donald Trump, it will be a day that will live in infamy.” He further said, “The President’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki on Monday is already one of the most notorious moments in the tortured relations between Washington and Moscow.”
At one point, Collinson writes, “It was his hubris and desire to be unchained from his staff that led him to meet Putin alone for nearly two hours in Helsinki — fueling rumours that he is under the Russian leader’s spell.”
A January 2017 assessment bby theoffice of the Director of National Intelligence (CDN) stated that Russian leadership favored presidential candidate Donald Trump over Hillary Clinton, and that Russian president Vladimir Putin personally ordered an “influence campaign” to harm Clinton’s electoral chances and “undermine public faith in the US democratic process”.
JAAC leader Sardar Aman Khan has appealed to India for humanitarian assistance, alleging shortages of food and medicines amid Pakistan’s crackdown on protesters in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The leader of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC), Sardar Aman Khan, has appealed to India for humanitarian assistance amid the ongoing unrest in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), claiming that the region is facing severe shortages of essential supplies following a crackdown by Pakistani authorities.
According to Khan, residents are struggling to access food and medicines as security operations against protesters continue. He also urged India to consider opening the Line of Control (LoC) to allow humanitarian assistance and provide civilians with the option of crossing into India if the situation worsens.
JAAC chief calls for humanitarian assistance
Speaking at a public gathering, Khan claimed that an economic blockade imposed after the crackdown had created serious hardships for people in the region.
In a video that has circulated widely on social media, he is heard saying that PoK residents need India’s assistance due to shortages of essential commodities.
He also appealed for the opening of crossing points along the LoC, particularly in the Poonch and Doda sectors, alleging that the ongoing restrictions had further intensified the humanitarian situation.
During the rally at Rawalakot’s Eidgah Ground, Khan asked the crowd whether they should move towards the Line of Control. The gathering repeatedly responded in support of the proposal.
He further warned that if public demands continued to be met with force, people could consider other options.
It is important to note that the authenticity of the viral video, reportedly from Khan’s June 30 rally, has not been independently verified.
Protests continue across PoK
The appeal comes as demonstrations continue across Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, where protests against the Pakistani administration have been ongoing since last month.
During a recent rally at Eidgah Ground, protesters raised slogans including “PoK is not part of Pakistan” and “We want freedom,” indicating that the movement has expanded beyond demands for reforms to include calls for independence from Pakistan’s political control over the region.
Crackdown follows ban on JAAC
The unrest intensified after Pakistani authorities banned the Joint Awami Action Committee on June 5, designating the grassroots organisation as a terrorist group.
According to a recent report by the International Centre for Peace Studies, Pakistan has historically exercised significant political control over Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Pakistan-occupied Gilgit-Baltistan through mainstream political parties aligned with Islamabad.
The report also noted that the ruling party in Islamabad has consistently won elections in both regions, suggesting a long-standing pattern of political influence.
Meanwhile, several analysts have argued that the ongoing crisis reflects growing dissatisfaction among local residents with the regional administration, which they describe as lacking independent authority. They also contend that the ban on the JAAC and the use of force against protesters are part of broader efforts to suppress the expanding protest movement.
Death to Trump chants heard during Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s funeral appearance in Iran
Crowds at a funeral ceremony attended by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei chanted “Death to Trump” as regional tensions remained high following the recent Iran-Israel conflict.
Crowds attending a funeral ceremony in Iran raised chants of “Death to Trump” as the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, made a public appearance during the event.
The slogans were heard as thousands gathered to pay tribute to those killed during the recent conflict involving Iran and Israel. The ceremony also marked one of Ayatollah Khamenei’s notable public appearances after the military escalation that had heightened tensions across the region.
Anti-US slogans raised during ceremony
Videos circulating from the funeral ceremony showed mourners chanting “Death to America” and “Death to Trump” while Ayatollah Khamenei attended the event. Such slogans have long been associated with state-backed public gatherings in Iran and were repeated during the ceremony attended by senior Iranian officials and large crowds.
The funeral was held to honour military commanders, nuclear scientists and other individuals who Iran says were killed during the recent conflict. The gathering drew thousands of people to the capital, where processions and official tributes were organised.
Public appearance after recent conflict
Ayatollah Khamenei’s appearance came after weeks of heightened tensions in the Middle East following Israeli strikes on Iranian targets and subsequent military exchanges between the two countries. The conflict also saw the United States carry out strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, further escalating regional tensions.
The funeral ceremony was among the Supreme Leader’s most significant public appearances since the conflict, with state media extensively covering the event.
Regional tensions remain high
Relations between Iran, Israel and the United States remain strained despite the ceasefire announced following the recent hostilities. Officials from the three countries continue to exchange strong statements over the military operations and the future of Iran’s nuclear programme.
The funeral ceremony reflected the continuing anti-US and anti-Israel sentiment expressed by sections of the Iranian establishment and supporters attending the event.
The United States of America is observing its Independence Day on July 4 with celebrations taking place across the country. Public events, parades, concerts, and fireworks have been organized in several cities as Americans mark the nation holiday.
Large gatherings have been reported in cities including Washington D.C., New York, Boston, and Philadelphia, where thousands of people are participating in officials and community-led celebrations. Public parks, streets, and other venues have been prepared to host visitors throughout the day.
Government officials, including US President Donald Trump, extended Independence Day greetings and participated in events celebrating the occasion. Ceremonies honouring military personnel, experts, and first responders have also been held in different parts of he country.
Authorities have stepped up security arrangements at major event locations to manage large crowds. Additional police forces and emergency response teams have been posted, while officials have advised the public to follow safety instructions during the celebrations.
The holiday has also resulted in increased travel activity, with airports, highways, and railway stations experiencing heavy passenger movement. Hotels, restaurants and tourist attractions are seeing a rise in visitors as many people use the long weekend for travel and family gatherings.
Although weather conditions have disrupted a few outdoor events in some areas, most programme are continuing as scheduled. Fireworks displays are expected to take place in the evening at several locations, including major cities known for their annual Independence Day celebrations.
The nation celebrates Independence Day every July 4. It marks the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, when 13 American colonies became independent from British rule. It is one of the most important national holidays in the United States and is celebrated with parades, fireworks, official ceremonies, and community events across the country.
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