World
Kamala Harris clinches Democratic ticket for US presidential election
US Vice-President Kamala Harris has been formally nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate ahead of the election.
Harris became the nominee on Friday after securing the support of 2,350 delegates, the threshold required to earn the nomination.
Although the online voting process—known as a virtual roll call—does not formally end until Monday, Jaime Harrison, Democratic national committee chairperson, said Harris had garnered the needed number of votes to clinch the party’s ticket.
Harris said she will formally accept the nomination next week after the virtual roll call is complete.
The US vice-president had already secured the support of a majority of Democratic delegates, including former President Barack Obama after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, which set her on course to become the nominee of the party.
This means Harris will become the first Black woman and first Asian American to lead a major-party ticket.
Biden said one of the best decisions he made was picking Harris as his vice president.
“Now that she will be our party’s nominee, I couldn’t be prouder,” he said.
The US vice president is expected to name her running mate on Monday.
World
Possible assassination attempt on Trump deeply disturbing, says Kamala Harris
US Vice President Kamala Harris has condemned the shooting that took place at the Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on Sunday.
Donald Trump was playing golf in the vicinity as the gunshots rang out.
The Secret Service ferried Trump to safety and said it is investigating the incident as a possible assassination attempt.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said an “apparent assassination attempt” on Trump was thwarted, with a man arrested and an assault rifle recovered.
Ric Bradshaw, Palm Beach county sheriff, said a Secret Service agent who was patrolling the course, spotted a rifle barrel emerging from a perimeter fence.
“He immediately engaged that individual, at which time the individual took off,” Bradshaw said.
It is unclear if the suspect shot first, fired a round at all, or whether it was only the agent that fired.
“We are not sure right now if the individual was able to take a shot at our agents,” Rafael Barros, special agent in charge of the Secret Service’s Miami field office, said.
SUSPECT NAMED
The suspect has been identified as 58-year-old Ryan Wesley Routh. He was arrested after his car was stopped by local police.
Skynews reports that officers later searched the area where Routh was spotted and found an AK-47-style rifle with a scope, two rucksacks and a GoPro.
The White House said in a statement that President Joe Biden and Harris had been briefed and that they were “relieved” to learn of Trump’s safety.
In a separate statement, the Democratic Party presidential nominee said she was “deeply disturbed by the possible assassination attempt” on the former president.
“As we gather the facts, I will be clear: I condemn political violence. We all must do our part to ensure that this incident does not lead to more violence,” she said.
“I am thankful that former President Trump is safe. I commend the U.S. Secret Service and law enforcement partners for their vigilance.
“As President Biden said, our administration will ensure the Secret Service has every resource, capability, and protective measure necessary to carry out its critical mission.”
Biden said the suspect was in custody and commended the Secret Service and other law enforcement agencies for their vigilance and efforts to keep Trump safe.
The incident comes about two months after the former president survived an assassination attempt during a rally.
The bullet grazed Trump’s ear.
World
First all-civillian space team returns to earth after historic mission
SpaceX’s Polaris Dawn crew has returned to earth after five days in orbit.
The US team was led by Jared Issacman, a billionaire, alongside Sarah Gillis of Space X, Anna Menon, and Kidd Poteet.
The historic mission saw the team reach the highest altitude than any other human in five decades. It also marked the first time such an endeavor has been completed by a privately funded and operated mission.
An event live streamed by SpaceX showed the Dragon capsule land off the coast of Florida on Sunday morning.
“Splashdown of Dragon confirmed! Welcome back to Earth,” SpaceX said on X
Returning to earth is among the most dangerous stretches of any space mission.
On its orbit back, the spacecraft reached extremely hot temperatures as it seared through the thickest parts of earth’s atmosphere because of the pressure and friction caused by hitting the air while still traveling around 17,000 miles per hour.
However, the crew was protected by the Dragon’s heat shield.
The spacecraft eventually landed in water before waiting rescue crews hauled it out of the ocean and onto a special boat known as the Dragon’s nest.
Final safety checks took place there before the crew disembarked from the capsule and began the journey back to dry land.
The US’ National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said the mission represented “a giant leap forward” for the commercial space industry.
World
Gunshots fired in Donald Trump’s vicinity at golf course
Gunshots have been fired in the vicinity of former United States President, Donald Trump, his campaign has said on Sunday.
“President Trump is safe following gunshots in his vicinity. No further details at this time,”Steven Cheung, his campaign spokesman said in a short statement.
According to the New York Post, two people exchanged gunfire outside the former president’s golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida.
The outlet reported the gunfine was not “targeting Trump”.
Trump was golfing at the resort on Sunday, which is a short distance from his main residence, Mar-a-Lago, according to US media outlets.
It comes just two months after an assassination attempt on the Republican presidential candidate.
Gunman, Thomas Crooks, fired multiple shots at Trump at a rally in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13. One bullet grazed the ex-president’s ear.
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