Politics
FBI: Trump Gunman Acted Alone; Motive Still Unclear
U.S. authorities have confirmed that Thomas Crooks, the man who attempted to assassinate former President Donald Trump, acted alone and without any foreign involvement. However, FBI officials, during a news briefing on Wednesday, emphasized that Crooks’s motive remains unknown. They described the 20-year-old assailant as having a “mixture of ideologies” and revealed details of his search history, including his interest in both Trump and President Joe Biden’s campaign events.
On July 13, Crooks attempted to shoot Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, grazing the former president’s ear. The attack resulted in the death of one person and left two others seriously injured. Kevin Rojek, head of the FBI’s Pittsburgh office, disclosed that Crooks had begun searching online for Trump campaign events as early as September 2023, targeting both Trump and Biden events, and even seeking information on the Republican and Democratic national conventions.
As the Trump rally in Butler was announced, Crooks became fixated on it, registering for the event a week in advance. His search history showed an eerie fascination with historical assassinations, including how far Lee Harvey Oswald was from John F. Kennedy when he shot the president in 1963. Additionally, Crooks sought out bomb-making instructions and ingredients, further indicating his intent to carry out a detailed attack.
Despite this extensive planning, the FBI remains unsure of Crooks’s exact motivations, leaving questions unanswered as the investigation continues.
Politics
Trump Vows to Impose Massive Tariffs to Protect American Car Industry
In an interview with Fox News’ Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Futures, former President Donald Trump doubled down on his economic strategy to impose steep tariffs on foreign carmakers, a plan he says is essential for protecting U.S. automakers. Trump suggested raising tariffs on foreign vehicles by 200%, or even as high as 500%, to prevent overseas manufacturers, particularly those from China and Mexico, from competing with American car companies.
“I’ll put 200 or 500%, I don’t care, until they can’t sell one car here,” Trump declared, emphasizing that his goal is to stop foreign automakers from undermining U.S. manufacturing. He stressed that allowing foreign-made cars to dominate the market could lead to the collapse of the remaining U.S. car companies.
Trump’s proposal comes amidst criticism from several quarters, including conservative outlets like The Wall Street Journal, which warned of the potential negative impact such tariffs could have on the economy. The former president dismissed these concerns, arguing that the tariffs would not only bring car production back to the U.S. but also strengthen American manufacturing.
“We have the golden market. We have the money,” Trump said, warning that without drastic action, the U.S. risks losing its economic edge in car production. His plan is part of a broader economic agenda aimed at reshoring American industries and reducing dependency on foreign goods.
Politics
Sri Lanka swears in new left-leaning president
Anura Kumara Dissanayake has been sworn in as Sri Lanka’s new president, pledging to bring “clean” governance as the country continues to recover from its deepest economic crisis. The left-leaning leader, known for his stance against corruption, sees his election as a call for change and transparency in a country long troubled by political cronyism.
Dissanayake’s election follows the ousting of former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa in 2022 after mass protests driven by economic hardships. In his inaugural address, the 55-year-old president emphasized the need for a new political culture that restores public trust. “We need to establish a new clean political culture,” he said, while committing to safeguard democracy.
His speech underscored the importance of unity, with representatives from Sri Lanka’s Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, and Christian communities attending the ceremony. Dissanayake promised good governance, economic reform, and a focus on manufacturing, agriculture, and IT development. He also pledged to uphold Sri Lanka’s agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF), aiming to reduce the burden of austerity on the country’s poorest citizens.
Dissanayake’s swearing-in was preceded by the resignation of Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, setting the stage for a parliamentary dissolution as the nation embarks on this new political chapter.
Politics
Okpebholo Secures Victory in Edo Governorship Election
Okpebholo Monday, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has been declared the winner of the Edo State governorship election after receiving 291,667 votes. He defeated Asue Ighodalo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who secured 247,274 votes, and Labour Party (LP) candidate Olumide Akpata, who finished third with 22,761 votes. Fourteen other candidates also contested but received fewer votes.
Prof. Faruk Kuta, the Returning Officer from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Technology, Minna, officially declared Okpebholo the winner at 09:27 pm at the collation center in Benin City, Edo State’s capital, amidst applause from APC supporters.
Okpebholo’s victory was dominant in over 10 out of the state’s 18 local government areas, while Ighodalo achieved marginal wins in the remaining councils. The APC also claimed control in two of the three key senatorial districts in Edo State.
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