Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden is expected to roll out his pick for Vice President in the next 24 hours, following months of jockeying and speculation over the name of the woman that could potentially be the nominee in 2024 if the Democrats win in November.
According to the New York Times, Mr Biden's decision could be revealed as soon as today but many Democrats expect it to be on Wednesday. It follows months of vetting, virtual fundraisers and media appearances for more than 10 women candidates, culminating in interviews with the former Vice President in the week.
The process has been shrouded in secrecy and the Biden campaign has managed to keep a lid on meetings and interviews that the nominee has had with the candidates last week.
In March, Mr Biden announced his intent to pick a woman for the post and the campaign examined a list of Governors, Senators and Congresswomen since May.
But it is Senator Kamala Harris, former National Security Advisor Susan Rice, Senator Elizabeth Warren and Governor Gretchen Whitmer that have had one-on-one meetings with Mr Biden on August 2, the New York Times reported.
In the aftermath of the George Floyd killing in May and the Black Lives Matter protests, it is most likely that Mr Biden would pick an African-American candidate for the position to heal the racial divide. That makes both Ms Harris and Ms Rice two favorites for the pick, with the Senator from California holding an edge as a national figure who ran her own campaign and has held elected office, a source in contact with the campaign told The National.
Who could be Joe Biden's running mate?
Mr Biden’s timing of the announcement is consistent with previous nominees who have historically scheduled it few days before their party’s convention.
The Democratic convention is slated to begin in Wisconsin on Monday and will be for the most part virtual due to the pandemic. Mr Biden himself will accept the nomination from a different location that has yet to be announced.
A schedule of the convention released on Tuesday has the party’s biggest stars headlining the event.
Those include former first lady Michelle Obama and progressive Senator Bernie Sanders on Monday; former second lady Jill Biden, former president Bill Clinton, and liberal firebrand Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio Cortez on Tuesday; former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, Senator Elizabeth Warren and former president Barack Obama on Wednesday; Senators Tammy Duckworth, Cory Booker and Kamala Harris on Thursday ahead of Mr Biden’s acceptance speech. If Ms Harris or Ms Duckworth is the pick then the schedule would change.
The campaign also announced a new team to help the incoming Vice Presidential candidate. Those include Liz Allen, a former Biden spokesperson who will be the running mate’s communications director and Sheila Nix, who was former chief of staff for Biden to be a senior adviser. Karine Jean Pierre will be the chief of staff for the VP pick.
Traditionally an early indication is the secret service assigned to the running mate. Those would be dispatched to the potential VP house few hours before the decision and the nominee is expected to travel there for a meeting with their pick. But, due to the pandemic, it is unclear if the rollout will change this year.
Mr Biden continues to lead US President Donald Trump in national and key swing state polls 84 days ahead of the vote on November 3.
The five pillars of Islam
The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
Company Fact Box
Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO
Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Vaccine Progress in the Middle East
Crops that could be introduced to the UAE
1: Quinoa
2. Bathua
3. Amaranth
4. Pearl and finger millet
5. Sorghum
Results
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Winner Al Suhooj, Saif Al Balushi (jockey), Khalifa Al Neyadi (trainer)
2pm Handicap (TB) 68,000 (D) 1,950m
Winner Miracle Maker, Xavier Ziani, Salem bin Ghadayer
2.30pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,600m
Winner Mazagran, Tadhg O’Shea, Satish Seemar
3pm Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,800m
Winner Tailor’s Row, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
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Winner Alla Mahlak, Adrie de Vries, Rashed Bouresly
4pm Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m
Winner Hurry Up, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer
4.30pm Handicap (TB) Dh68,000 (D) 1,200m
UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
Who's who in Yemen conflict
Houthis: Iran-backed rebels who occupy Sanaa and run unrecognised government
Yemeni government: Exiled government in Aden led by eight-member Presidential Leadership Council
Southern Transitional Council: Faction in Yemeni government that seeks autonomy for the south
Habrish 'rebels': Tribal-backed forces feuding with STC over control of oil in government territory
Who is Mohammed Al Halbousi?
The new speaker of Iraq’s parliament Mohammed Al Halbousi is the youngest person ever to serve in the role.
The 37-year-old was born in Al Garmah in Anbar and studied civil engineering in Baghdad before going into business. His development company Al Hadeed undertook reconstruction contracts rebuilding parts of Fallujah’s infrastructure.
He entered parliament in 2014 and served as a member of the human rights and finance committees until 2017. In August last year he was appointed governor of Anbar, a role in which he has struggled to secure funding to provide services in the war-damaged province and to secure the withdrawal of Shia militias. He relinquished the post when he was sworn in as a member of parliament on September 3.
He is a member of the Al Hal Sunni-based political party and the Sunni-led Coalition of Iraqi Forces, which is Iraq’s largest Sunni alliance with 37 seats from the May 12 election.
He maintains good relations with former Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki’s State of Law Coaliton, Hadi Al Amiri’s Badr Organisation and Iranian officials.
What is the FNC?
The Federal National Council is one of five federal authorities established by the UAE constitution. It held its first session on December 2, 1972, a year to the day after Federation.
It has 40 members, eight of whom are women. The members represent the UAE population through each of the emirates. Abu Dhabi and Dubai have eight members each, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah six, and Ajman, Fujairah and Umm Al Quwain have four.
They bring Emirati issues to the council for debate and put those concerns to ministers summoned for questioning.
The FNC’s main functions include passing, amending or rejecting federal draft laws, discussing international treaties and agreements, and offering recommendations on general subjects raised during sessions.
Federal draft laws must first pass through the FNC for recommendations when members can amend the laws to suit the needs of citizens. The draft laws are then forwarded to the Cabinet for consideration and approval.
Since 2006, half of the members have been elected by UAE citizens to serve four-year terms and the other half are appointed by the Ruler’s Courts of the seven emirates.
In the 2015 elections, 78 of the 252 candidates were women. Women also represented 48 per cent of all voters and 67 per cent of the voters were under the age of 40.
The candidates
Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive
Ali Azeem, business leader
Tony Booth, professor of education
Lord Browne, former BP chief executive
Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist
Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist
Dr Mark Mann, scientist
Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner
Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister
Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster
Our legal columnist
Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
