US President Donald Trump is a danger to the world who must
be removed from the White House before things get even worse, German
news magazine Der Spiegel has argued.
“Donald
Trump is not fit to be president of the United States. He does not
possess the requisite intellect and does not understand the significance
of the office he holds nor the tasks associated with it,” Klaus
Brinkbäumer wrote in an editorial published by the magazine on Friday.
“He
doesn't read. He doesn't bother to peruse important files and
intelligence reports and knows little about the issues that he has
identified as his priorities. His decisions are capricious and they are
delivered in the form of tyrannical decrees,” it added.
Last
month, a group of American psychiatrists warned that Trump has a
"dangerous mental illness" and is unfit to lead the country.
Over
thirty mental health experts noted that Trump was “paranoid and
delusional” and that they were responsible for warning Americans about
the “dangers” Trump poses.
“We have an ethical responsibility to warn the public about Donald Trump's dangerous mental illness,” they said.
Trump has been on defense for reportedly sharing classified
information with Russian officials and allegedly trying to quash an FBI
investigation into possible collusion between his presidential campaign
and Moscow.
According to a report, Republicans on Capitol Hill are
growing frustrated with Trump’s conduct in office, realizing that his
deepening scandals could cost them re-election.
Many Republicans
have in recent days joined Democrats in calling for a special prosecutor
to take over the investigation, while others want a select
congressional committee to be appointed. Some are even beginning to
speculate about impeachment.
Trump faces accusations that he obstructed justice with his dismissal
of FBI Director James Comey, who reportedly authored a memo that said
the president asked him to drop an inquiry about former national
security adviser Michael Flynn’s alleged ties to Russia.
The Der Spiegel
editorial called Trump a “miserable” person. “He fired the FBI director
simply because he could. James Comey had gotten under his skin with his
investigation into Trump's confidants. Comey had also refused to swear
loyalty and fealty to Trump and to abandon the investigation. He had to
go.”
Friday
Polls close in Iran presidential election
The polls closed at 24:00 local time (1930 GMT) on Friday after voting hours were extended several times. More than 56 million people were eligible to vote in the election. Preliminary results are expected to trickle in throughout the next hours.
The main competition was between Rouhani and Hojjatoleslam Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi, who is the current custodian of the Holy Shrine of Imam Reza (PBUH) in the northeastern Iranian city of Mashhad.
This year’s presidential race also featured two low-key contenders - former deputy judiciary chief and member of Iran’s Expediency Council Mostafa Aqa-Mirsalim, and former vice president, Mostafa Hashemi-Taba.
Two more candidates, Tehran Mayor Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Vice President Es’haq Jahangiri, dropped out of the race on Monday and Tuesday, respectively.
Qalibaf withdrew candidacy in favor of Raeisi and Jahangiri pulled out in favor of Rouhani.
Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who cast his vote immediately after the polls opened, said, "Everyone should vote in this important election."
The 5th Islamic City and Village Council Elections were also held across Tehran on Friday.
The competition in Tehran was between reformist candidates campaigning under the slogan of “Hope”, who had aligned themselves with Rouhani, and Principlists who make up the majority in the Islamic City Council of Tehran.
Mohsen Hashemi, the son of the late Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, was the main figure of the Hope list.
The principlist list was led by Mehdi Chamran, the current chairman of the Council.
Any group that wins most seats in the 21-member council can decide who will be Tehran’s next mayor.
Dozens injured by Israeli forces in Palestine protests
Thousands rally in occupied West Bank and Gaza in support of hundreds of Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails.
Dozens of Palestinians have been injured during protests in various parts of the West Bank, occupied since 1967 by the Israeli army, and near the security barrier that seals off the Gaza Strip.
The Israeli forces used tear gas, rubber bullets and live fire against thousands of protesters on Friday, the Palestine Red Crescent Society said.
About 1,500 people protested in Hebron, in the southern West Bank, while demonstrations also took place in other towns and villages.
The Palestinians were demonstrating in support of hundreds of prisoners in Israeli jails who have been on hunger strike since April 17, demanding better conditions.
In Gaza, which has been under a rigorous Israeli blockade for more than 10 years, hundreds of people waving Palestinian flags approached the concrete and metal barrier that separates it from Israel and threw stones and burned tyres.
The health authorities in Gaza said eight people were wounded by bullets and about 30 suffered the effects of tear gas inhalation.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)