Trump says he's inviting Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan to next year's G20 summit in Miami
West Palm Beach (AP): President Donald Trump said he will be extending invitations to next year's US-hosted Group of 20 summit to Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan as the Republican administration looks to deepen its relationship with the Central Asian nations.
Trump announced the plan on Tuesday after holding separate phone calls with Kazakhstan President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev and Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Neither country is a member of the G20, but the host country of the annual leaders' gathering of major economies often invites non-members to attend the summit. The 2026 gathering is planned for Trump's golf club in Doral, Florida, near Miami.
“The relationship with both Countries is spectacular,” Trump said in a social media post about the calls. Trump is currently on vacation at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida.
The Kazakh and Uzbek leaders visited Washington last month along with the leaders of Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan for talks with Trump.
The administration is giving greater attention to Central Asia, which holds deep reserves of minerals and produces roughly half the world's uranium, as it intensifies the hunt for rare earth metals needed for high-tech devices, including smartphones, electric vehicles and fighter jets.
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Central Asia's critical mineral exports have long tilted toward China and Russia.
During last month's visit, Tokayev announced that his Muslim-majority country will join the Abraham Accords, the Trump administration effort to strengthen ties between Israel and Arab and Muslim majority countries.
The largely symbolic move came as the administration is trying to revive an initiative that was the signature foreign policy achievement of Trump's first term, when his administration forged diplomatic and commercial ties between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.
Trump last month announced that he is barring South Africa from participating in next year's summit at his Miami-area club and will stop all payments and subsidies to the country over its treatment of a US government representative at this year's meeting.
Trump chose not to have an American government delegation attend this year's summit hosted by South Africa, saying he did so because its white Afrikaners were being violently persecuted. It is a claim that South Africa, which was mired for decades in racial apartheid, has rejected as baseless.
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BJP 'favours only rich' while we care for poor: CM Siddaramaiah
Davanagere (Karnataka) (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the BJP, accusing it of "favouring the rich", while asserting that his government stands firmly with the poor.
Interacting with reporters after a campaign event in Davanagere South constituency, Siddaramaiah said the BJP subscribes to an economic model that benefits the wealthy, while the Congress government is committed to welfare measures aimed at uplifting the underprivileged.
“There are two economic theories – Trickle down theory and Universal Basic Income theory. BJP supports trickle-down—meaning they favour the rich. While we believe in Universal Basic Income, which supports the poor,” he said.
The CM said the public response to the ongoing campaign had exceeded expectations and reflected growing awareness among voters.
“In the campaign, people are responding beyond our expectations. People have realised that the BJP, despite being in power for four years, did nothing,” he said, alleging that the previous government “carried out no development work and only looted the state.”
Defending the government’s flagship guarantee schemes, Siddaramaiah said they have been implemented successfully over the past three years and have restored public confidence.
“Every year, we are spending around Rs 52,000 crore. Up to March 31, Rs 1.31 lakh crore has been spent. So there is no question about these schemes—we will continue them,” he said, dismissing the BJP’s claims that the programmes would bankrupt the state.
Rejecting criticism over rising debt, he said borrowings remain well within permissible limits. He added that the state’s fiscal deficit is also under control at 2.95 per cent, in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act norms.
The Chief Minister attributed the revenue deficit to reduced central transfers rather than welfare spending.
According to him, Karnataka lost around Rs 10,000 crore due to changes in GST implementation and the Centre had not released Rs 11,495 crore in dues and grants.
On allegations of corruption in welfare schemes, Siddaramaiah said the charges were "baseless" as funds are directly transferred to beneficiaries.
“The money is directly transferred to beneficiaries’ accounts. Where is the scope for bribes?” he said, citing the Gruha Lakshmi scheme under which Rs 2,000 is credited to women beneficiaries.
He also countered claims regarding unpaid dues to contractors, saying the previous BJP government had left behind significant liabilities.
“They left Rs 29,000 crore unpaid. We have already cleared Rs 24,000 crore,” he said.
Responding to BJP state president B Y Vijayendra’s demands for a White Paper on the state’s finances, Siddaramaiah said all details had already been presented in the Budget and debated in the Assembly.
“Why ask for a White Paper again? Isn’t the Budget itself a White Paper?” he said, adding that he had replied to the discussion for over four-and-a-half hours.
On fuel pricing amid global uncertainties, including tensions involving Iran, the Chief Minister said petroleum pricing is under the Centre’s purview.
Reaffirming the government’s stand on social justice, Siddaramaiah said it is committed to internal reservation and criticised the BJP’s stance on AHINDA, which is an acronym for minorities, backward and Dalits.
“When did the BJP ever show concern for AHINDA? They only talk about Hindutva,” he said.
On employment, the CM announced that large-scale recruitment would continue despite concerns over finances.
“This year, we will fill 56,432 posts. Around 2.5 lakh vacant posts will be filled,” he said.
Addressing concerns over the functioning of the Karnataka Public Service Commission, Siddaramaiah said it is an independent body and that certain interviews were postponed to ensure transparency and proper procedure.
