Odisha Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) has scheduled a meeting on May 11, 2026 with a delegation of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) with regards to latter’s allegation regarding “illegal” issuance of second ballot to two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLAs during Rajya Sabha election
Prabhas-starrer Fauzi shoot halted after fatal accident kills crew member, 5 injuredThe big-budget film faces indefinite production suspension after a tragic accident resulted in one death and multiple injuries near Hyderabad. May 6, 2026, 16:21:20 IST Written by Monica Yadav Share via Copy link
Himanta to return? Who will be Assam's new chief minister after BJP's poll win?BJP secured a majority in the state, winning 82 of the total 126 seats in the Assam Assembly. Published on: May 06, 2026 4:52 PM IST By Arya Mishra Share via Copy link The Bharatiya Janata Party has managed to retain
‘BJP won’t let funds reach us’: Akhilesh Yadav on why Samajwadi Party cut ties with I-PACFounded by political strategist-turned-politician Prashant Kishor, I-PAC is known for managing high-profile election campaigns across the country. Updated on: May 06
JAC class 12 results: Girls dominate in commerce and arts, boys outshine in scienceJAC class 12 results: Girls dominate in commerce and arts, boys outshine in science Published on: May 06, 2026 4:23 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Ranchi, Girls dominated commerce and arts streams in the class 12
Land dispute pits BJP MLAs against each other in UP's UnnaoLand dispute pits BJP MLAs against each other in UP's Unnao Published on: May 06, 2026 4:24 PM IST PTI Share via Copy link Unnao , A land dispute in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district has pitted two Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs against each
‘Nobody wanted to talk to me’: Harvard-educated VC on failure and feeling like an outsiderAmy Wu Martin, a Harvard-educated venture capitalist, has opened up about her childhood as an immigrant in the United States. Updated on: May 06, 2026 4:02 PM IST By Sanya Jain Share via Copy link A
The U.S. Military launched another strike on Tuesday (May 6, 2026) on a vessel suspected of transporting drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing three men. The attack came a day after U.S. forces struck an alleged drug boat in the Caribbean Sea, killing two people.The U.S
The CIA officer had worked in American intelligence for more than 20 years. In 2016, as the country's top intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia, she oversaw the production of a report, which described how Russia had meddled in that year's presidential election in favour of Donald Trump. A few years later she returned to the agency as a senior manager, overseeing the cia's operations and analysis relating to Russia and the former Soviet Union.
The CIA officer had worked in American intelligence for more than 20 years. In 2016, as the country's top intelligence officer for Russia and Eurasia, she oversaw the production of a report, which described how Russia had meddled in that year's presidential election in favour of Donald Trump. A few years later she returned to the agency as a senior manager, overseeing the cia's operations and analysis relating to Russia and the former Soviet Union.
On August 19th her career came to an abrupt end, when Tulsi Gabbard, America's director of national intelligence, revoked her security clearance, along with those of 36 other serving and former officials accused of “betray[ing] their oath to the Constitution”. Mr Trump's administration has previously used its control over clearances as a political cudgel against retired officials. But the cia officer in question, along with two others involved in that 2016 report, Shelby Pierson and Vinh Nguyen, are some of the most senior serving career intelligence officials to be purged under Mr Trump. These steps mark a sharp escalation in his war on American spooks.
The Economist understands that the removal of the cia officer, who oversaw hundreds of analysts and other personnel, prompted alarm among many current and serving intelligence officials. To lose a clearance is a “career ender”, says Larry Pfeiffer, a former cia officer who had his own clearance yanked on January 20th. “Even the cleaning crews have clearance.” Many officers also rely on security clearances after retirement to seek consulting positions. The cia officer was thought to be close to retirement age. “Who will want to work on some controversial issue or go out on a limb analytically?” asks an insider. “It is one thing to speak truth to power in the abstract, and another when your career and family livelihood is very much on the line.”
In April an aide to Ms Gabbard pushed analysts to rewrite an assessment on Tren de Aragua, a gang, to suit Mr Trump's policy. In June Mr Trump also attacked leaked intelligence assessments by the Defence Intelligence Agency which contradicted his claim to have destroyed Iranian nuclear sites. The cia has a long history of delivering unwelcome news to presidents—its dissenting analysis during the Vietnam war in the 1960s and the Iraq war in the 2000s resulted in repeated clashes between Langley and the White House—but this level of retribution is unprecedented. “It is hard to overstate the impact on morale,” says a former colleague of the cia officer. “Everyone is so afraid and looking over their shoulder, asking am I next?”
Many of the 37 targeted officials had worked on Russia only tangentially and a long time ago. Mr Nguyen was the chief data scientist at the National Security Agency (nsa), America's signals-intelligence service. Weeks earlier insiders had told The Economist that he was “the most thoughtful person on ai in the federal government”. That agency's director, General Tim Haugh, and its top lawyer, April Doss, were fired in April and July respectively. Others appear to be on the list for no other reason than their criticism of Mr Trump. Ted Gistaro, a former cia officer who served as Mr Trump's main intelligence briefer from 2016 to 2019, had made mildly derogatory comments about Mr Trump. Most others appeared on a list published by Laura Loomer, a far-right activist, on July 29th.
The latest steps are part of a broader campaign to impugn officials and documents critical of Mr Trump. In July John Ratcliffe, the director of the cia, took the unusual step of publishing an internal review of the analytical “tradecraft” in the Russia report of 2016. The review praised many aspects of that report, but found that it had been written too quickly and with too much involvement from agency heads. That same month, Ms Gabbard also declassified a much older House Intelligence Committee review into the same report. The review, co-authored by Kash Patel, who is now the director of the fbi, included verbatim quotes from intercepts and descriptions of human sources in Russia, and was declassified over the objections of the cia.
On August 20th Ms Gabbard also announced that she would reduce her own Office of the Director of National Intelligence (odni), which co-ordinates the work of America's 18 agencies, by 50%, in part with the aim of cutting bureaucracy and “rooting out deep state actors”. The odni was created after the September 11th attacks to ensure that intelligence was shared properly across America's government. Ms Gabbard's pruning is dramatic, but even many of Mr Trump's critics acknowledge that the odni has grown too large and failed to stamp its authority on the agencies it oversees.
The administration is also using harsher legal means to strike at critics. In July it was reported that Mr Ratcliffe had made a criminal referral of John Brennan, one of his predecessors, to the fbi for allegedly lying to Congress. Mr Brennan, who had his clearance revoked in Mr Trump's first term, was cia director at the time of the Russia report and clashed with the president in the early days of his first term. The Justice Department said it had also opened a criminal investigation into James Comey, the fbi director at the time of the report. Mr Comey had already been investigated for a social-media post in May which the Trump administration portrayed as an assassination threat.
“This is uncharted territory,” says Mr Pfeiffer, “particularly in terms of the numbers of people and the lack of detail about what they did wrong.” Mark Warner, the senior Democrat on the Senate intelligence committee, speaking to The Economist shortly before the recent purges, said that the situation was worse than he had expected. “I thought Gabbard would be bad,” he observed. “I didn't expect this bad.” In private, he noted, Republican colleagues on the intelligence committee, fearful of sticking their head above the parapet, had encouraged him to speak out in public. “I've literally had [allied] Five Eyes partners say: what's going on?”
On August 20th Bill Burns, Joe Biden's cia director, wrote an open letter to the “discarded” officials in the Atlantic, a magazine. “If intelligence analysts at the cia saw our rivals engage in this kind of great-power suicide, we would break out the bourbon,” he wrote. “Instead, the sound we hear is of champagne glasses clinking in the Kremlin and Zhongnanhai.”
Get 360° coverage—from daily headlines
to 100 year archives.
Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: Ex-CIA Officer Reveals How Osama Bin Laden Escaped From Afghanistan Disguised As A Woman This Indian-American exec at $270B company once worked as a waiter to survive Arsenal Is A CIA Experiment To See How Far Ex-CIA on Pak seeking apology over ‘India will win’ remark Ex-CIA Agent Reveals Pentagon Controlled Pakistan’s Nukes The Movie first look shows John Cena as CIA agent on undercover mission Aldrich Ames, CIA turncoat who sold US secrets to the Soviets, dies in prison at 84 A Chinese firm bought an insurer for CIA agents - part of Beijing's trillion dollar spending spree Did CIA carry out US strikes on Venezuelan land
"We're not just a story. We're not just headlines, we're people with families, with lives, with people waiting for us at home," said a tearful Jake Rosmarin. For the American travel vlogger on board the luxury cruise liner MV Hondius in the Atlantic ocean, a dream voyage has taken a deadly turn
1 hours ago
Pakistani sportspersons will be able to participate in multilateral events in India, but will not be allowed to take part in bilateral tournaments held in the country, stated the Union government on Tuesday. The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports said in an office memorandum: “In so far as
2 hours ago
Sanjay Raut and NCP (SP) back Mamata Banerjee's decision not to resign as West Bengal Chief Minister. They allege democratic processes were subverted and central agencies misused to influence the assembly poll outcome. Raut calls for unity against the Centre's dictatorship and the Election
2 hours ago
Delhi’s notoriously toxic air may appear to be cleaner these days, but it could be hiding a bigger, quieter problem. According to a report in The Indian Express, while the national capital’s nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide levels have gradually declined over the years
1 hours ago
Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi has called for the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened "as soon as possible" in talks with his Iranian counterpart. The pair met in Beijing on Wednesday on what is Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi's first trip to China since the Iran war began
1 hours ago
The Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations (CISCE) on Thursday (April 30, 2026) announced the results of the ICSE (Class X) and ISC (Class XII) main examinations for 2026 with girls outperforming boys in both classes. Over 3.6 lakh students across India and abroad sat for the
1 hours ago
Spirit release date postponed? Makers clarify on Sandeep Reddy Vanga film with Prabhas and Triptii DimriAmid ongoing speculations that the release date of Spirit has been postponed, the makers have issued a statement. The film stars Prabhas in the lead. May 6, 2026
1 hours ago
Vivek Ramaswamy will run for the position of Ohio governor in November, after the staunch ally of US President Donald Trump emerged victorious in one of a series of primary contests held in the US Midwest. Projected results on Tuesday night showed the health-tech entrepreneur had defeated Casey
1 hours ago
Two sides, both jolted out of rhythm just when they seemed unstoppable, now collide in a high-stakes showdown as Sunrisers Hyderabad locks horns with Punjab Kings at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium. The hosts were riding a wave of confidence
2 hours ago
Should you avoid stepping out between 11 am and 4 pm in summer? Doctor shares 8 reasons your body can't handle the heatKnow why this common medical advice actually holds up and what changes your body undergoes when exposed to extreme heat during these hours. Published on: May 06
1 hours ago
Bengaluru-based loyalty and customer engagement firm reported a 26% year-on-year (YoY) rise in operating revenue for the March quarter, driven by expansion within its existing customer base, new annual contracts, and integration of the Kognitiv business acquired last year
1 hours ago
In 105 seats that the Bharatiya Janata Party won in West Bengal, the total number of voters deleted during the special intensive revision exceeds its margin of victory, according to a data analysis by Scroll. Of these, 86 are seats that the BJP has never won before
2 hours ago
The rupee appreciated by 23 paise to 94.95 against the U.S. dollar in early trade on Wednesday (May 6, 2026) as Brent crude prices retreated from their elevated level after U.S. President Donald Trump hinted at a possible deal with Iran. Forex traders said oil prices fell to $108 per barrel
2 hours ago
Synopsis: The Future of Knowledge Work Summit 2026 in Bengaluru explores how AI is transforming knowledge work and redefining roles and skills. This exclusive summit brings senior leaders together to understand the shift from automated tasks to the rising importance of human judgment, creativity
1 hours ago
New Delhi, May 6 (PTI) Multi-brand restaurant operator Trimex Foods on Wednesday said it has bagged franchise rights for American Chinese dining brand Panda Express in India from a subsidiary of Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. Through this alliance
1 hours ago
The Jharkhand Board on Wednesday announced Class 12th results on the official website of the Jharkhand Academic Council (JAC). Students who took the exams can access their results on jac.jharkhand.gov.in, jacresults.com by entering their roll number, roll code, and choosing their respective stream
2 hours ago
Editorial independence is core to our work. Some links may earn us a commission, without influencing our opinions.The 5 secrets to choosing the perfect rug for your homeRugs shape spaces. The size, material, colour and texture can make all the difference to your personal space
2 hours ago
Oil prices have dropped following reports that the US and Iran are close to a deal to end the war. Brent crude futures, the global benchmark oil price, fell to below $102 (£75) a barrel after the reports. The price was over $108 earlier in the day
2 hours ago
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam chief Vijay has staked a claim to form the government in Tamil Nadu. The party emerged as the single largest in the Assembly elections. Vijay met the Tamil Nadu Governor to formalize the claim. The Congress party has pledged its support to TVK
2 hours ago
Kyle Rittenhouse says ‘felons deserve the right to own guns'; sparks debateKyle Rittenhouse has sparked a debate with a post on X, where he suggested that felons should be given the right to own guns if they serve their time. Published on: May 06
1 hours ago
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi condemned US-Israel military actions as "illegitimate" during talks with Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Beijing. The meeting, part of Tehran's broader diplomatic tour, focused on a regional ceasefire, maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz
1 hours ago
Passengers on a routine international flight got something no one expects to witness: a baby being born mid-air. The incident happened on an ITA Airways flight travelling from Dakar to Rome. About an hour after take-off, while the aircraft was cruising at around 34,000 feet, a pregnant passenger
2 hours ago
In a landmark decision aimed at bridging the educational divide in Maharashtra’s most challenging terrains, the Maharashtra State Cabinet has officially sanctioned the expansion of 24 tribal ashram schools. The meeting chaired by CM Devendra Fadnavis approved a strategic plan to upgrade five
1 hours ago
The Ministry of Education will write to the Chief Secretaries of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, urging them to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for implementation of the Centre’s PM SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme in state-run schools at the earliest
2 hours ago
Mumbai, May 6 (PTI) Logistics player MOVIN on Wednesday said it has opened a new facility in Surat, as it aims to serve businesses across key sectors and enhance the capabilities of over 40,000 MSMEs in the region. Leveraging the city’s multi-modal logistics advantages
2 hours ago
The Aam Janata Unnayan Party led by former West Bengal minister Humayun Kabir has moved the Calcutta High Court alleging large-scale violence in Murshidabad district following the Assembly elections, Live Law reported on Wednesday. Kabir had been suspended by the Trinamool Congress in December
1 hours ago
Pakistan athletes allowed in India, but bilateral sports ban stays as Government clarifies multilateral event policyIndia maintains a bilateral sporting ban with Pakistan but allows Pakistani teams to compete in multilateral events hosted in India. Published on: May 06
1 hours ago
