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Mint
a minute ago
- Mint
Gabbard Unveils Plan to Slash Top Spy Agency by 40% This Year
(Bloomberg) -- Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard announced plans to shrink her agency by 40% by the end of the year in what she called an effort to make the office more efficient, even as she clashes with the national security community she leads. The overhaul would save taxpayers $700 million per year by eliminating 'redundant missions, functions and personnel' at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, Gabbard said in a statement. The ODNI oversees the US's 18 intelligence agencies. Instead, the ODNI will invest in areas that 'support the President's national intelligence priorities, and focuses on rebuilding trust, exposing politicization and weaponization of intelligence, and holding bad actors accountable,' the statement said. Bloomberg previously reported that the White House was pressing ahead with plans to slash the top spy agency. Officials from both parties concede that the ODNI has become too bloated over the years and that the agency often duplicates work carried out by the independent intelligence agencies it oversees. Senator Tom Cotton, a Republican from Arkansas who leads the intelligence committee, welcomed the announcement as 'an important step towards returning ODNI to that original size, scope, and mission.' But the effort comes as Gabbard has been openly confrontational with the workforce she leads. The spy chief has sought to root out 'politicization' by referring intelligence officers for prosecution over alleged leaks of classified information. Earlier this week, Gabbard suspended the security clearances of 37 current and former national security officials, continuing Trump's trend of revoking clearances as a means of political retribution. Two top officials from the National Intelligence Council were also reportedly fired in May after the release of a declassified memo that contradicted Trump's basis for deporting alleged Venezuelan gang members. Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said that while lawmakers broadly agree ODNI is 'in need of thoughtful reform,' Gabbard has a 'track record of politicizing intelligence.' The Virginia Democrat added in a statement he has 'no confidence that she is the right person to carry out this weighty responsibility.' --With assistance from Jamie Tarabay and Nancy Cook. More stories like this are available on
Hindustan Times
a minute ago
- Hindustan Times
Ludhiana: Redevelopment work on Rose Garden to be re-tendered soon
The much-hyped Rose Garden redevelopment project in Ludhiana has hit a roadblock, with the Municipal Corporation (MC) now planning to cancel the tender. The ₹8.9-crore project, aimed at giving a facelift to the iconic city park, is under a cloud after the arrest of superintending engineer (SE) Sanjay Kanwar by the Vigilance Bureau in a corruption case earlier this year. Sources in the MC confirmed that senior officials have initiated the process to cancel the tender, citing irregularities and the ongoing vigilance inquiry. (HT Photo) The project, which was supposed to be completed in a phased manner, had promised new landscaping, a musical fountain, a children's play area, upgraded walking tracks and improved lighting infrastructure. The tender was floated last year under the Ludhiana Smart City Mission to boost green spaces and offer better public amenities. However, following the arrest of SE Sanjay Kanwar in April this year, the project has been under scrutiny. Kanwar was accused of irregularities in the tendering process and allegedly accepting bribes to favour certain contractors. Sources in the MC confirmed that senior officials have initiated the process to cancel the tender, citing irregularities and the ongoing vigilance inquiry. 'Since the matter is already under investigation by the Vigilance Bureau and several aspects of the project are under question, the administration is not keen on going ahead with it in its current form,' said a senior official on condition of anonymity. The redevelopment plan was initially welcomed by residents and environmentalists, who had long demanded better maintenance and facilities at the garden, which attracts hundreds of visitors daily. However, delays, allegations of corruption, and lack of transparency have now left the project hanging. A member of the Finance and Contract Committee (F&CC) said the cancellation of the tender is the most likely outcome, but the final call will be taken in the next F&CC meeting. 'No one wants to touch a tainted project at this stage. It is better to scrap it and float a fresh tender later with stricter checks in place,' the member said. As the fate of the redevelopment hangs in the balance, residents have expressed disappointment. 'We were hoping for better facilities, but now the entire project is uncertain. The authorities must act fast to clear doubts and relaunch the project properly,' said Jaspreet Singh, a daily visitor to the garden. Despite repeated attempts, MC commissioner Aaditya Dachalwal was not available for comments.
Time of India
19 minutes ago
- Time of India
Japan's SoftBank to take $2 billion stake in computer chip maker Intel
Japanese technology giant SoftBank Group plans to take a $2 billion stake in computer chip maker Intel as it deepens its involvement in U.S. semiconductor manufacturing and other advanced technology in the United States, the companies said Monday. Shares in both companies fell Tuesday after the announcement, which coincided with unconfirmed reports that President Donald Trump is considering having the U.S. government buy a stake in the chip maker. SoftBank invests in an array of companies that it sees as holding long-term potential. It has been stepping up investments in the United States since Trump returned to the White House. In February, its chairman Masayoshi Son joined Trump, Sam Altman of OpenAI and Larry Ellison of Oracle in announcing a major investment of up to $500 billion in a project to develop artificial intelligence called Stargate. SoftBank plans to buy $2 billion of Intel's common stock, paying $23 per share. "Semiconductors are the foundation of every industry, Son said in a statement. "This strategic investment reflects our belief that advanced semiconductor manufacturing and supply will further expand in the United States, with Intel playing a critical role." Intel helped launch Silicon Valley but has fallen behind rivals like Nvidia Corp. and Advanced Micro Devices Inc. and is shedding thousands of workers and slashing costs under its new CEO, Lip-Bu Tan. Intel plans to end the year with 75,000 "core" workers excluding subsidiaries, through layoffs and attrition, down from 99,500 core employees at the end of 2024. The company previously announced a 15% workforce reduction. Trump recently said Tan, who was made CEO in March, should resign but after meeting with him last week said he had an "amazing story." SoftBank's shares were down 2.2% Tuesday in Tokyo, while Intel's dropped 3.7% on Monday in New York.
