Kamala Harris set to name running mate ahead of swing state tour - Newstrends
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Kamala Harris set to name running mate ahead of swing state tour

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US Vice-President Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris set to name running mate ahead of swing state tour

WASHINGTON: A new poll confirmed Sunday that Kamala Harris — set to name her vice presidential pick imminently — has drawn level with Donald Trump, transforming a White House race that the Republican had been increasingly confident he was going to win.

As the November 5 election rapidly approaches, Harris has erased the growing lead that Trump was building before President Joe Biden dropped his reelection bid.

According to the CBS News/YouGov poll released Sunday, Harris has a one percent advantage on Trump nationwide — compared to Trump’s previous five point edge on Biden.

In the swing states that decide the Electoral College contest in US elections, Harris and Trump — who shocked the world with his 2016 presidential victory but was beaten by Biden in 2020 — are equal.

These are considered good numbers for a Democratic candidate who parachuted into the race only last month, when Biden bowed to mounting concerns over his mental acuity and ability at 81 years old to serve a second term.

But Harris, who is Biden’s vice president and the first Black and South Asian woman ever in the role, is in a sprint to define herself to voters before Trump does.

A big moment in that process will be when Harris announces her choice for running mate in a historic bid to become America’s first female president.

“It’s her first major decision that she’s making as an executive, so it tells you about her thought process,” Amy Walter, a polling expert from Cook Political Report newsletter, told CBS News.The CBS poll, which echoes numerous other surveys indicating rapid gains by Harris, shows that Trump is still favored by voters on the key issue of the economy.

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Only 25 percent said they expected to be better off financially if Harris wins, compared to 45 percent who said so about Trump.

However, when it comes to trust in the candidates’ temperament, the poll shows voters prefer the former California prosecutor to Trump, a convicted felon who has made a career out of publicly insulting those who oppose him — including while president.

The issue of cognitive health, which used to bedevil Biden, is now a liability for 78-year-old Trump, the poll found. Only 51 percent of respondents thought Trump is mentally capable for the presidency, compared to 64 percent for Harris.

The Democrats believe that if you “make this referendum on Trump rather than a referendum on the current state of the economy, then we have a real opportunity to win,” Cook said.

Trump was riding high politically last month after surviving an assassination attempt at a rally, then using the Republican convention to highlight his image of vigor against the physically frail Biden.

But with Biden’s dramatic exit and Harris’s fast start, he’s scrambling to recalibrate.

At a rally on Saturday in the swing state of Georgia, Trump called Harris a “Marxist” and a “radical left freak,” claiming she would cause an “economic crash.” On Wednesday, he shocked many when he told an audience of Black journalists that Harris had “turned Black” out of political expediency.

On Saturday, the Harris campaign said Trump was “scared” to debate her after he turned down a previously scheduled televised debate on ABC, while saying he’d be ready to debate her on Fox News — a network that has for years given him support.

Who will she choose as runningmate?

All paths to the White House run through a handful of swing states, and Harris will kick off her five-day run Tuesday in the largest — Pennsylvania — as she builds momentum for her showdown with Republican Donald Trump on November 5.

Expectations are that Harris will pick a white man to balance the ticket — and likely a moderate Democrat who would help counterweigh attacks on Harris from Republicans that she is too far to the left.

The three figures seen as heading the short list — Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro and Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona — were all visiting Harris in Washington on Sunday, The Washington Post reported.

“At this moment, we face a choice between two visions for our nation: one focused on the future and the other on the past… This campaign is about people coming together, fueled by love of country, to fight for the best of who we are,” she posted on X.

Fresh from winning enough delegate votes to secure the Democratic nomination, the country’s first female, Black and South Asian vice president heads into the national convention in Chicago in two weeks in total control of her party.

In a campaign that is barely two weeks old, the 59-year-old former prosecutor has obliterated fundraising records, attracted huge crowds and dominated social media on her way to erasing the polling leads Trump had built before President Joe Biden quit the race.

Next on the agenda is a vice presidential pick, with an announcement expected any time before her rally Tuesday evening alongside the mystery nominee in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s largest city.

The Keystone State is the most prized real estate among the closely fought battlegrounds that decide the Electoral College system.

It is part of the “blue wall” that carried Biden to the White House in 2020, alongside Michigan and Wisconsin — two states where Harris is due to woo crowds on Wednesday.

Pennsylvania is governed by 51-year-old Democrat Shapiro, a frontrunner in the so-called “veepstakes” shortlist.

Later in the week, Harris will tour the more racially diverse Sun Belt and southern states of Arizona, Nevada, Georgia and North Carolina, as she seeks to shore up the Black and Hispanic vote that had been peeling away from the Democrats.

Just a month ago, Trump was in cruise control, having opened a significant lead in swing state polling after a dismal debate performance by Biden, with the Republican tycoon keeping the country in suspense over his own vice presidential pick.

Trump’s White House bid was upended on July 21 when 81-year-old Biden, facing growing concerns about his age and lagging polling numbers, exited the race and backed Harris.

Energetic and two decades younger than 78-year-old Trump, the vice president has made a fast start, raising $310 million in July, according to her campaign — more than double Trump’s haul.

While Biden made high-minded appeals for a return to civility and the preservation of democracy, Harris has focused on the future, making voters’ hard-fought “freedom” the touchstone of her campaign.

She and her allies have also been more aggressive than the Biden camp — mocking Trump for reneging on his commitment to a September 10 debate and characterizing the convicted felon as an elderly crook and “weird.”

While she has disavowed some of the leftist positions she took during her ill-fated 2020 primary campaign, Harris hasn’t given a wide-ranging interview since jumping into the race, and rally-goers will look for more detail on her plans for the country.

Meanwhile Trump and his Republicans have struggled to adapt to their new adversary or hone their attacks against Harris — at first messaging that she was dangerously liberal on immigration and crime, before suggesting she was lying about being Black.

 

Kamala Harris set to name running mate ahead of swing state tour

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Gunmen Injure 12 in Shooting Near Ohio Festival in US

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Gunmen Injure 12 in Shooting Near Ohio Festival in US

Gunmen Injure 12 in Shooting Near Ohio Festival in US

At least 12 people were injured in a shooting near a community festival in the U.S. state of Ohio, prompting a major police response and an ongoing manhunt for the suspects involved.

The incident occurred on Saturday evening near the Old West End Festival in Toledo, according to the Toledo Police Department, one of the city’s largest annual cultural events celebrating the historic Old West End district.

Police said officers responded to reports of gunfire at about 5:37 p.m. local time near the festival grounds around the intersection of Delaware Avenue and Robinwood Avenue, where large crowds had gathered for music, food vendors, and community activities.

Authorities confirmed that multiple victims were struck during the shooting, and emergency responders quickly transported the injured to nearby hospitals for treatment.

In an update, officials said 10 victims were in stable condition, while two others remained in critical condition as medical teams continued to provide care.

Speaking on the incident, Toledo Deputy Police Chief Joe said preliminary investigations suggest the shooting may have stemmed from an exchange of gunfire between two individuals.

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“It appeared that two people fired weapons and they were probably shooting at each other,” he said, adding that victims ranged in age from 16 to 61 years.

Earlier, Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz told local broadcaster WTOL 11 that all injured victims were expected to survive, describing the attack as a disturbing disruption to a long-standing community celebration.

The Old West End Festival is a two-day annual event that attracts thousands of attendees and features live music, food stalls, house tours, and cultural exhibitions across one of the largest historic districts in the United States.

Following the incident, police cordoned off parts of the festival area and launched an intensive investigation, focusing on the surrounding streets where the shooting occurred. Officers are reviewing surveillance footage and eyewitness accounts to identify those responsible.

Videos circulating on social media showed festival-goers running for safety as multiple gunshots rang out, while emergency responders attended to victims and transported some on stretchers. Authorities said the footage is being reviewed as part of the investigation, though it has not yet been independently verified.

Reacting to the shooting, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine expressed concern and offered support to victims and law enforcement officials.

“I am deeply concerned about the situation in Toledo tonight,” he said. “Summer festivals should be safe spaces for families… and we are confident that law enforcement will locate the suspects involved in this senseless crime.”

Police confirmed that no arrests had been made as of the latest update, but said active efforts were ongoing to track down the suspects and determine the exact motive behind the shooting.

Authorities urged members of the public with information to come forward as investigations continue.

Gunmen Injure 12 in Shooting Near Ohio Festival in US

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How a Nigerian Man Bypassed TSA, Boarded United Flight Using Fake Boarding Pass

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How a Nigerian Man Bypassed TSA, Boarded United Flight Using Fake Boarding Pass
Abdulrahman Oluwatumike Oriyomi

How a Nigerian Man Bypassed TSA, Boarded United Flight Using Fake Boarding Pass

A major security scare erupted at a United States airport after a man allegedly bypassed boarding procedures and boarded a departing passenger aircraft, forcing authorities to halt the flight and launch an extensive security operation. The suspect, Abdulrahman Oluwatumike Oriyomi, now faces a felony charge for the May 18, 2026, incident at George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas.

According to court documents and investigators, Oriyomi passed through a Transportation Security Administration (TSA) checkpoint at Terminal C after presenting identification and having his photo taken. Despite possessing an invalid boarding document, he was allowed through security screening into the sterile area of the airport. He then moved between different sections of the terminal and attempted to access multiple departure gates.

Authorities said he unsuccessfully tried to scan a boarding pass at several gates. His first attempt was for a 7:18 a.m. United Airlines flight to Los Angeles, which failed. More than an hour later, he appeared at another gate where United Flight 469 was preparing for departure to the same destination. Investigators allege that while gate agents were attending to passengers, Oriyomi took advantage of the distraction, pretended to show his boarding pass, slipped past the podium, and proceeded down the jet bridge onto the aircraft without authorization.

Once on board, witnesses reported that Oriyomi initially sat in an aisle seat next to a female passenger before moving around the cabin. The passenger later realized the seat had already been purchased by another traveler. Court records indicate Oriyomi then retreated to a restroom as the plane pushed back from the gate and began taxiing for departure.

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The security breach was not discovered until the aircraft had already begun taxiing away from the gate. Flight attendants were alerted that someone was inside an aircraft restroom. When they made contact with Oriyomi, he identified himself as “Mr. Lopez” and reportedly asked to sit in the jump seat because the flight was full. A flight attendant checked the passenger manifest and discovered no authorized passenger under that name. The crew immediately notified the cockpit, prompting the captain to order the aircraft back to the gate.

The incident triggered a large-scale response involving airport police, the FBI, the TSA, airline security officials, the Houston Police Department’s Explosive Detection K-9 Unit, and other law enforcement agencies. Passengers were ordered off the aircraft while security teams searched the plane and conducted precautionary checks, including screening for possible explosives. No explosives or other threats were found.

The disruption delayed the Los Angeles-bound flight for approximately three hours and affected normal airport operations.

Investigators later reviewed surveillance footage and examined the boarding document allegedly used by Oriyomi. A boarding pass image recovered from his mobile device was determined to be fraudulent because key information and the scannable QR code required for verification were missing. A Bush Airport representative concluded the document was fake, and authorities determined that Oriyomi’s original airline reservation had been canceled due to nonpayment.

Following the investigation, prosecutors charged Oriyomi with impairing or interrupting the operation of a critical infrastructure facility, a felony offense under Texas law that alleges he disrupted both airport and airline operations. Prosecutors argued that the alleged incident delayed a flight carrying a full plane of passengers for approximately three hours and prompted responses from multiple law enforcement and security agencies.

A judge set his bond at $25,000 and imposed conditions prohibiting him from entering any airport, surrendering any passports or travel documents, refraining from possessing firearms, and submitting to electronic monitoring if ordered by the court. If convicted, he could face significant penalties under Texas law.

Aviation security experts have raised concerns about the incident, pointing to multiple failures in airport screening procedures. Michael Matranga, a former Secret Service agent who now runs the consulting group M6 Global Defense, told ABC7 that TSA agents should never have allowed Oriyomi through security without a valid boarding pass. “I think this is a pretty significant breach, not just because of the fact that he ended up on the plane; it’s the multiple layers and failures to even get on the plane,” Matranga said. He suggested that at a minimum, the agents directly involved and potentially the entire cadre of agents at the airport need to be retrained on policy and consistency.

Authorities have stated that there is currently no indication the incident was terrorism-related. Investigators have not publicly disclosed a motive for Oriyomi’s actions. Reports indicate he worked as a tax consultant before his arrest and has no known prior criminal record.

Oriyomi was initially questioned and given a trespass warning on the day of the incident, but charges were not filed until June 1, 2026. He was arrested on June 5. The case is pending in Harris County’s 180th District Court. United Airlines declined to comment and referred questions to law enforcement. A response from the TSA was not immediately available.

How a Nigerian Man Bypassed TSA, Boarded United Flight Using Fake Boarding Pass

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Nigerian Man Jailed for Life for Stabbing Friend Over Debt in London

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Nigerian Man Jailed for Life for Stabbing Friend Over Debt in London
Fawaz Abdulkareem and Daniel Manuel

Nigerian Man Jailed for Life for Stabbing Friend Over Debt in London

A 36-year-old Nigerian man, Fawaz Abdulkareem, has been sentenced to life imprisonment for the fatal stabbing of a friend during a dispute over money at a high-rise flat in Vauxhall, south London. Abdulkareem must serve a minimum of 17 years before he can be considered for parole.

Croydon Crown Court heard that Abdulkareem murdered 32-year-old Daniel Manuel on July 5, 2025, following an argument inside the defendant’s 14th-floor flat on Bondway. The court was told that what began as a social evening between friends ended in extreme violence, followed by a clumsy attempt to cover up the crime.

According to prosecutors, Abdulkareem and Manuel had spent the evening together at a nightclub before returning to Abdulkareem’s apartment with a group of friends. In the early hours of the morning, an argument erupted over a debt that Abdulkareem owed Manuel. During the altercation, Abdulkareem armed himself with a kitchen knife and stabbed Manuel three times. One of the wounds, forensic evidence later showed, was inflicted while the victim’s back was turned, undermining the defendant’s later claim of self-defence.

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The Metropolitan Police arrived at the scene at approximately 5:38 am following reports of a stabbing. Officers found Daniel Manuel suffering from serious injuries in the lobby of the apartment block. Despite emergency first aid from police, paramedics, and hospital staff, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators established that after the stabbing, Abdulkareem left the flat with the knife still tucked into his waistband. He removed his T-shirt to hide the weapon as he walked through communal areas. When he realised emergency services were approaching, he discarded the blade by throwing it from the 14th-floor window of the building. The knife was later recovered by police. One of the first officers on the scene noticed blood on Abdulkareem’s clothing and arrested him immediately.

Throughout the trial at Croydon Crown Court, Abdulkareem claimed he had acted in self-defence. However, a jury rejected his account and found him guilty of murder and possession of a bladed article on May 21, 2026. On June 5, 2026, the court sentenced Abdulkareem to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 17 years before he becomes eligible for parole.

In a powerful victim impact statement read to the court, Daniel Manuel’s wife, Zulal, described the profound and lasting damage caused by his death. “Daniel was not just my husband, he was my partner, my home, my emotional safety and the person I built my entire life around,” she said. “Losing him in such a violent and sudden way has completely shattered my world. This loss has affected every part of my life – emotionally, physically, financially. I am still trying to survive the aftermath of it.”

Detective Inspector Luke Hampton, who led the investigation for the Metropolitan Police, spoke after the sentencing. “Daniel was murdered in a moment of extreme violence by a man he thought was his friend,” Hampton said. “Abdulkareem tried to deceive police, recklessly throwing the murder weapon from the window of the 14th floor of a tower block and cruelly claiming it was Daniel who had attacked him. Met detectives saw through his lies and worked hard to secure a conviction. His claims of self-defence were dismissed by the jury.” He added: “Our thoughts remain with Daniel’s family, and we hope this sentence provides them with some measure of comfort.” The Metropolitan Police said the case underscores ongoing efforts to tackle serious violent crime and bring offenders to justice across London.

Nigerian Man Jailed for Life for Stabbing Friend Over Debt in London

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