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Maduro Declared Winner Amid Disputed Venezuelan Election Results

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Maduro Declared Winner Amid Disputed Venezuelan Election Results

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been declared the winner of the country’s presidential election, according to partial results announced by the National Electoral Council (CNE). Elvis Amoroso, head of the CNE and a close ally of Maduro, stated that with 80% of ballots counted, President Maduro had secured 51% of the vote, while his main rival, Edmundo González, received 44%.

However, the Venezuelan opposition has rejected the CNE’s announcement as fraudulent, claiming that their candidate, González, actually won with 70% of the votes and should be recognized as the rightful president-elect. They argue that vote tallies, exit polls, and quick counts indicate that González led Maduro by a significant margin of 40 percentage points.

The opposition, having united behind González in an effort to unseat President Maduro after 11 years in power, pointed to opinion polls conducted prior to the election that suggested a decisive victory for González.

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The outcome of this election carries significant implications beyond Venezuela’s borders, as the nation of 29.4 million people continues to grapple with economic and political turmoil. Over the past decade, approximately 7.8 million Venezuelans have fled the country due to the crisis under Maduro’s administration. Pre-election polls suggested this exodus might continue, with one survey indicating that a third of the population would consider emigration.

The election results are of particular interest to neighboring Latin American countries and the United States, where immigration remains a contentious issue. Venezuela’s vast oil reserves also make its political trajectory critical for global economic relations. Under Maduro, Venezuela has developed closer ties with countries like China, Iran, and Russia, while blaming US sanctions for its economic struggles.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed skepticism about the election results, highlighting “serious concerns that the declared outcome does not reflect the will or the votes of the Venezuelan people.” The CNE, dominated by government loyalists, has faced criticism for its handling of the election process.

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Meanwhile, President Maduro celebrated the outcome as a “triumph of peace and stability,” commending the Venezuelan electoral system and dismissing his opponents. The opposition had deployed thousands of witnesses to polling stations nationwide in an effort to validate their vote count independently.

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Politics

Sri Lanka swears in new left-leaning president

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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.

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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.

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Okpebholo Secures Victory in Edo Governorship Election

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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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Suspect in Alleged Trump Assassination Attempt Faces Gun Charges

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Suspect in Alleged Trump Assassination Attempt Faces Gun Charges

Ryan Routh, the suspect in the alleged assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump, has been charged with federal gun crimes. During a brief court hearing in Palm Beach, the 58-year-old was charged with two offences: possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, which carries a potential sentence of up to 15 years, and possession of a firearm with an obstructed serial number, punishable by up to five years.

Routh, dressed in a blue prison jumpsuit and with his hands cuffed, spoke to a public defender for several minutes before the hearing began. Initially displaying a calm demeanor with occasional smiles, he turned expressionless once the court proceedings got underway, responding to the judge’s questions with, “Yes, your honor.”

In a series of personal questions to assess his eligibility for a public defender, Routh revealed that he had “zero funds” in his bank account, made about $3,000 monthly, and owned two trucks in Hawaii, each valued at around $1,000.

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Routh was brought into the courtroom just before 10:00 (14:00 GMT) and observed the scene, which included other defendants, press members, and attendees. After his brief hearing, he was escorted out as proceedings for other cases began.

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