Karnataka branch of KKMA holds general body meeting, election of office-bearers
Kuwait: The general body meeting of the Karnataka branch of Kuwait Kerala Muslim Association (KKMA), the largest social and community service organization of the Indian diaspora in Kuwait, was held at the Indian Community School Khaitan Auditorium on Friday, February 02.
The meeting started with a beautiful recitation of the Holy Quran by Master Mohammed Saihaan.
Nizam N, Vice-president of the KKMA Central Committee (Social Projects and Benefits), inaugurated the program while Karnataka branch General Secretary Mohammed Amin Sheik delivered the welcome address.
In his presidential address, Branch President Yusuf Rasheed highlighted the achievements of KKMA in various charitable social activities, including Family Benefit Scheme (FBS), Educational Scholarship Program (ESP), Kidney Dialysis Centers (KDC), Medical Assistance Program (MAP), Home for Homeless Deserved Families and Housing Improvement Program (HIP) and Magnet Team Service for the expat patients in Kuwait and repatriation of corpse to their home country. He also appreciated and thanked the team members for their selfless, dedicated service in the charitable activities.
Branch senior leader and Central Committee Development Vice-president Abdul Jabbar Gurpur presented the annual report detailing the past two-year’s activities and achievements of the branch. The finance report, which was presented by branch senior leader and Central Committee CFO Sayed Rafik, was unanimously approved by the members.
Active members of the branch Noushad Hussain, Firoz Abdul Samad, Najmuddin Usman Takey, D M Ansar and Irshad Nazeer Ahmed were felicitated for their excellent performance. Shoukath Shirva Waseem Hisham, Najmuddin and Mabiya Adam were awarded for their contribution to the membership campaign.
The existing committee was dissolved by President Yusuf Rasheed, following which, the new committee for 2024-25 was formed under the supervision of returning officer Muneer Kuniya, Treasurer, KKMA Central Committee. Yusuf Rasheed was unanimously elected as the new president of KKMA Karnataka Branch for the next two years.
The newly elected president Yusuf Rasheed expressed his gratitude for the opportunity provided by KKMA. He also thanked the State President SM Farook for his selfless service and sincere support in implementing the various socio-community services back home.
KKMA Karnataka Branch senior leader and Central Committee working president BM Iqbal briefed the various privileges available for KKMA members in Kuwait as well as in India from the various business firms such as clinics, hospitals and hypermarkets.
State President SM Farook, in his message after the election, congratulated the new office-bearers and highlighted the importance of charity and team work. One of the senior well-known social worker Janab Hassan Yusuf Kankanady complimented the newly elected management committee, and stressed on the importance of teamwork as it makes 'dream work'.
The new office-bearers of all six zones of the Karnataka Branch were introduced on the occasion. Senior leaders Mohammed Nazeer Bolar, Azhar Sheik, Syed Manipur, Abdul Latheef Shedia Nasser AV, Abdul Rahiman and audience members Mohammad Yusuf, Abdul Razzak and Abdul Sattar congratulated the new committee and extended their support.
KKMA Central President Ibrahim Kunil, General Secretary KC Rafiq, City Zonal Secretary Mohammed Rayies also graced the occasion.
The program was compered by Abdul Jabbar while FBS Vice-president Mohammed Yusuf Muniyam proposed the vote of thanks.
A large number of members, leaders and well-wishers attended the event, which was followed by a buffet dinner.
The newly appointed office-bearers for the year 2024-2025 are as follows:
Yusuf Rasheed – President
Abdul Rahiman Kana – Working President
Mohammed Amin Sheik – General Secretary
Sharief Ahmed Mulki – Treasurer
Vice-presidents:
Abdul Azeez Ghouse –Membership, Health Scheme, Privilege Card
Mohammed Yusuf Muniyam – FBS, MWS
Naushad Hussain – Relief Cell, KDRC
Mohammed Noufal – Magnet, Legal Cell, Employment Cell
Imthiyaz Abdul Kareem Surinje –Arts & Sports, Event Management
Hashim Ramlan – Skill Development, Moral Development (Religious)
Mabiya Adam Kadaba – Students Development, Family Club
Secretaries:
Shoukath Hussain Abba Shirva – Administration
Irshad Mulki – Communication
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Republicans going public with their growing worries about Trump's tariffs
Washington (AP): Manufacturers struggling to make long-term plans. Farmers facing retaliation from Chinese buyers. US households burdened with higher prices.
Republican senators are confronting the Trump administration with those worries and many more as they fret about the economic impact of the president's sweeping tariff strategy that went into effect Wednesday.
In a Senate hearing and interviews with reporters this week, Republican skepticism of President Donald Trump's policies ran unusually high. While GOP lawmakers made sure to direct their concern at Trump's aides and advisers — particularly US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who appeared before the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday — it still amounted to a rare Republican break from a president they have otherwise championed.
Lawmakers had reason to worry: the stock market has been in a volatile tumble for days and economists are warning that the plans could lead to a recession.
"Whose throat do I get to choke if this proves to be wrong?” Republican Sen. Thom Tillis told Greer as he pressed for an answer on which Trump aide to hold accountable if there is an economic downturn.
Tillis' frustration was aimed at the across-the-board tariff strategy that could potentially hamstring U.S. manufacturers who are currently dependent on materials like aluminum and steel from China. His home state of North Carolina, where he is up for reelection next year, has attracted thousands of foreign firms looking to invest in the state's manufacturing industries.
Ever wary of crossing Trump, Republicans engaged in a delicate two-step of criticizing the rollout of the tariffs then shifting to praise for the president's economic vision. In the afternoon, Tillis in a Senate floor speech said that the “president is right in challenging other nations who have for decades abused their relationship with the United States," yet went on to question who in the White House was thinking through the long-term economic effects of the sweeping tariffs.
Tillis even allowed that Trump's trade strategy could still turn out to be effective, but said there is a short window to show that it is worth the higher prices and layoffs that will burden workers.
For his part, Greer emphasised to the committee that the US was engaged in negotiations with other countries but that “the trade deficit has been decades in the making, and it's not going to be solved overnight.”
Republican leaders in Congress, as well as a sizeable chunk of lawmakers, have emphasized that Trump needs time to implement his strategy. They've mostly rejected the idea of putting a check on Trump's tariff power, but it is clear that anxiety is growing among rank-and-file Republicans about what's ahead.
Sen James Lankford, an Oklahoma Republican, said there is a company in his state that had spent “millions of dollars" moving its parts production from China to Vietnam. But now that Vietnam is facing steep tariffs, the business is unable to move forward with negotiating prices with retailers.
Lankford pressed Greer for a timeline for negotiations, but the trade representative responded, “We don't have any particular timeline. The outcome is more important than setting something artificially for us.”
Trade agreements between countries typically take months or even years to work out and often require the parties to navigate through a host of legal, economic and business issues. Still, Republicans said they were encouraged by the indications that Trump is entering into negotiations with other nations.
Sen. Steve Daines, a Montana Republican, said at the committee hearing that he was “very encouraged” by news of trade negotiations and attributed a momentary upward tick in the stock market to “hope that these tariffs are a means and not solely an end.”
He told Greer, "Who pays these high tariffs? It will be the consumer. I'm worried about the inflationary effect. I'm worried if there is a trade war that we're going to have markets shutting down for American farmers, ranchers and manufacturers.”
Other GOP lawmakers contended that the pain was worth bearing. Republican Rep. Ralph Norman of South Carolina, a member of the conservative Freedom Caucus, said the president is on the right track.
“It's pain, but it's going to be,” he said. “The president will make the right call. He's doing the right thing.”
Still, traditional Republicans were looking for ways to push back on Trump's tariff plan.
Sen. Chuck Grassley, a senior Republican, has introduced a bipartisan bill to give Congress the power to review and approve of new tariffs, and Republican members in the House were also working to gain support for a similar bill. Such legislation would allow Congress to claw back some of its constitutional power over tariff policy, which has been almost completely handed over to the president in recent decades through legislation.
But the White House has already indicated that Trump would veto the bill, and both Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., and House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., have said they are not interested in bringing it up for a vote.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, a Republican closely aligned with Trump, said on social media that the bill was a bad idea because “Congress moves at the pace of a tortoise running a race.”
“The reason why Congress gave this authority to the president to begin with is because the ability to pivot,” he added.
But the president's unclear messaging has also left lawmakers only guessing as they try to decipher which advisers and aides hold sway in the White House.
Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, said that as he's received calls from the business community in his state, he's had no answers for them besides telling them the prospects for the economy are uncertain. The communication from the president's aides has often been conflicting, Kennedy said even as he voiced support for Trump's long-term goals.
Kennedy told reporters, “I don't think there's any way to double or triple your tariffs on the world when you're the wealthiest country in all of human history without being somewhat shambolic."
