In Short:
– Federal authorities are investigating the shooting of Charlie Kirk, who was killed at Utah Valley University.
– A manhunt for the actual shooter is underway; two men have been questioned and released without charges.

Federal authorities are investigating the shooting of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk, who was killed while speaking at Utah Valley University.

The incident occurred around 12:20 PM when Kirk was shot in the neck, leading to a chaotic scene as attendees fled. Kirk, a father of two, died shortly after being taken to a local hospital.Investigators believe the shooter fired from a building approximately 200 yards away.

During the aftermath, two men, one of whom claimed to have fired the shot, were taken into custody but later released without charges. A manhunt is ongoing for the actual shooter.

Utah Governor Spencer Cox stated that those responsible will be held accountable, outlining the state’s commitment to justice.

President Donald Trump condemned the political climate surrounding Kirk’s death, blaming extreme rhetoric and violence.

In a statement, he remembered Kirk as a patriot who advocated for open debate. Following the incident, vigils were held nationwide, and classes at the university have been cancelled.

Ongoing Investigation

As investigations continue, American flags will fly at half-staff until Sunday in honour of Kirk.

“I want to be very clear that this is a political assassination,” Utah Governor Spencer Cox, a Republican, told a news conference.

“And I just want to remind people that we still have the death penalty here in the state of Utah.

The Utah Department of Public Safety said that its State Crime Lab was “working with multiple active crime scenes”.

“These were identified based on where the victim was shot, as well as the locations where the suspect and victim travelled,” a department statement said.

“The shooting is believed to be a targeted attack. The shooter is believed to have fired from the roof of a building down to the location of the public event in the student courtyard.”

Eyewitness account

Attendee Tiana Lao said the shooting came as a shock in what otherwise felt like an= normal event.

“We didn’t realise it was real at first and then everyone began rushing out, shouting to get down in panic and distress,” she told ABC News.

“People were excited. There were some opponents like there usually are at these events … but they were peaceful, so this was a total shock.”

In Short:
– Oracle shares rose 43% to $345.69, nearing a trillion-dollar valuation after multi-billion-dollar contracts were announced.
– Co-founder Larry Ellison’s net worth increased to $392.6 billion, making him a contender for the world’s richest person.

Oracle shares surged 43% to a record high of $345.69, putting the company close to joining the trillion-dollar club.

This spike follows the announcement of four multi-billion-dollar contracts on Tuesday, indicating a shift towards increased computing capacity necessary for AI development.

The surge boosts co-founder Larry Ellison’s net worth to approximately $392.6 billion, making him a contender for the world’s richest person, currently held by Elon Musk at $439.9 billion.

Oracle expects to see a market valuation around $913 billion if gains hold, contributing an additional $234 billion.

Market Dynamics

Oracle’s significant contracts include one with OpenAI for about $300 billion in computing power over five years.

The partnership is critical as Oracle aims to expand its market share, currently dominated by Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, which collectively hold 65%.

The company also supports AI startups, including xAI, founded by Musk, affirming its essential role in upcoming large-scale AI infrastructure projects, projected to reach $500 billion.