Politics
Georgia Judge Halts Hand Counting of Presidential Election Ballots
A Georgia judge has blocked an order that would have required ballots in November’s presidential election to be counted manually, citing concerns over the lack of training for poll workers and the potential for “administrative chaos.” The ruling, issued by Judge Robert McBurney, prevents the implementation of the hand-counting mandate, which was passed by the Georgia election board’s pro-Trump majority last month.
Judge McBurney expressed that poll workers, untrained for such a large-scale operation, would face overwhelming challenges in handling millions of ballots, especially with early voting already underway. This decision comes at a crucial time, as Georgia’s voters have turned out in record numbers, with over 328,000 people casting their votes in person or by post on the first day alone, surpassing the previous 2020 record of 136,000.
The ruling has been welcomed by Democratic candidate Kamala Harris and other opponents of the hand-counting order. Georgia, a key battleground state, played a significant role in the 2020 election, where Democrat Joe Biden won by just under 12,000 votes out of nearly five million cast.
With early voting already in progress and Election Day set for November 5, the ruling ensures that the state’s usual machine-counting process will remain in place, avoiding any disruption that could have impacted the electoral process.
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.
-
Spotlight3 days ago
Discover the Best Hotels in Ojodu: A Stay at Mountain Top Suites and Apartments
-
Politics3 days ago
Trump Vows to Impose Massive Tariffs to Protect American Car Industry
-
Entertainment3 days ago
Chris Brown Concert Sparks Debate on Gender-Based Violence in South Africa
-
News3 days ago
Over 60 Injured in Drone Strike on Northern Israel
-
Sports3 days ago
Sinner Triumphs in Shanghai, Denies Djokovic’s 100th Title Bid
-
Entertainment5 days ago
Coldplay’s ‘Moon Music’ Dominates UK Charts, Outselling Entire Top 40
-
Sports3 days ago
England Bounce Back with a Late Surge to Defeat Finland in Helsinki
-
News5 days ago
Officials Urge Caution in Aftermath of Hurricane Milton: ‘Don’t Go Sightseeing’