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Kamala Harris: On The Cusp Of History, Ready To Shatter America’s Last Glass Ceiling

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Kamala Harris: On The Cusp Of History, Ready To Shatter America's Last Glass Ceiling

For years Kamala Harris faced criticism that she was not up to the job of being a heartbeat away from the presidency. Now, she finds herself feted by Democrats as their best hope to stop Donald Trump’s comeback.

Despite blazing a trail as the first woman, Black and South Asian vice president in US history, the 59-year-old Democrat long struggled with approval ratings as bad or worse than President Joe Biden’s. The last 12 months, however, have revealed a transformed Harris.

And with Biden’s endorsement of Harris after stunning the world by dropping his own reelection bid Sunday, she’s suddenly on the cusp of history.

As the ageing Biden faded over the last year, his “veep” emerged as a force on the campaign trail, pushing for abortion rights and reaching out to core voters, including suburban women and Black men.

Harris will hope she has done the hard work to earn her full party’s backing in the midst of the crisis.

With a fondness for the f-bomb and her family nickname of “Momala” going viral, she has also finally started to cut through the noise to voters who previously barely paid attention.

She has also won plaudits in party circles by staying loyal to the 81-year-old president during the last few weeks, even as political vultures circled over his candidacy.

She now is likely to face Trump — a brutal battle against a candidate who defeated Hillary Clinton in her bid to become the first female commander-in-chief in 2016.

The fact that Harris has blamed much of the criticism of her by Republicans on racism and sexism would likely make a win feel even more vindicating for her.

Trump and other Republicans have notably stepped up their attacks on her as Biden’s position weakened and polls showed Harris would fare better against him than Biden.

A child of immigrant parents — her father was from Jamaica and her mother from India — Harris grew up in Oakland, California, in an activist household that saw her attend her first rallies in a stroller.

Her focus on rights and justice saw her build an impressive CV, becoming California’s first Black attorney general and the first woman of South Asian heritage elected to the US
Senate.

Harris then went up against Biden in the 2020 primaries. In one stinging attack, she criticized him for allegedly opposing the bussing of students to segregated schools.

“There was a little girl in California who was part of the second class to integrate her public schools, and she was bussed to school every day. And that little girl was me,” she said in a barbed attack on her future boss.

But as his running mate, she consolidated the coalition that helped defeat the incumbent Trump in 2020. Her transition to the White House, however, proved difficult.

Critics said she was underwhelming and gaffe prone in a job that has been known to flummox many officeholders.

Struggling to carve out a role, she was tasked by Biden with getting to the roots of the illegal migration problem, but fumbled and then got defensive in response to a question during a visit to the Mexican border. Unusually high staff turnover fed rumors of discontent in the vice presidential office.

And Republicans relentlessly targeted her as being unfit to take over should the worst happen to America’s oldest-ever president, often resorting to stereotypes her supporters branded as sexist and racist.

Harris told the Wall Street Journal in February: “I am ready to serve. There’s no question about that.” Things began to change as the 2024 race got underway.

The Biden campaign repeatedly deployed her to battleground states to hammer home the party’s message on abortion rights, with Harris becoming the first vice president to visit an abortion clinic. Gradually, she began to draw warm and fired-up crowds.

Some of the outreach was, however, cringe-inducing. Earlier this year, she was mocked after she told chat show host Drew Barrymore her family sometimes called her “Momala,” and
Barrymore replied: “We need you to be Momala of the country.”

But voters seemed to be switching on.

A clip of her quoting her mother as often saying “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” became a meme, with a rising sense among supporters that now could be her time.

If elected, Harris would break one of the highest glass ceilings left for women in the United States — that of occupying the country’s top office.

Her husband, Douglas Emhoff, would also be breaking new ground, moving from being the current Second Gentleman to the country’s first First Gentleman.

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Diaspora

Diaspora Watch – Vol. 91

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Diaspora Watch - Vol. 91

Diaspora Watch Newspaper Releases it’s 91st Edition.

Diaspora Watch Newspaper is proud to announce the release of its 91st edition, delivering a compelling blend of international headlines, geopolitical analysis, and cultural commentary that reflect the dynamic realities shaping the global community.

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Leading this edition is a major diplomatic spotlight: “Trump Hosts King Charles, Queen Camilla at White House, Hails ‘Unbreakable’ US-UK Ties.” The story examines renewed transatlantic relations and the strategic implications of high-level engagements between the United States and the United Kingdom.

Also featured prominently is Nigeria’s strong diplomatic response to rising tensions in Southern Africa, as the Government summons South Africa’s envoy over reported attacks on its citizens. This development underscores ongoing concerns about the safety and welfare of Nigerians in the diaspora.

In security and defense, the edition reports on the disappearance of two United States troops during military drills in Morocco, raising questions about operational risks and international military cooperation.

On the economic and developmental front, Caribbean leaders take decisive steps toward reducing import dependence through a new food security framework under CARICOM, while the Santa Marta Summit provides fresh momentum for a global transition away from fossil fuels.

Energy discourse is further amplified as the African Petroleum Producers’ Organization advocates for the establishment of regional energy hubs to drive investment in Africa’s oil and gas sector, signaling a strategic shift toward intra-continental collaboration.

In another major geopolitical development, the United States imposes sanctions on former DR Congo President Joseph Kabila over alleged links to the M23 rebel group, reflecting growing international scrutiny over instability in Central Africa.

Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East deepen as the United Arab Emirates issues a stern warning on Iran’s reliability in managing the Strait of Hormuz, highlighting concerns over global energy security amid escalating US–Tehran relations.

Rounding off the edition on the back page is a cultural reflection from global music icon Jay-Z, who emphasizes authenticity in hip-hop culture with the thought-provoking stance: “Hip-Hop Must Stay Real, Not Trendy.”

Stay informed and ahead of the curve with the 91st edition of Diaspora Watch where we the complex dynamics shaping our world and provide insights into the stories that matter.

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Trump Hosts King Charles, Queen Camilla at White House, Hails ‘Unbreakable’ US-UK Ties

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Trump Hosts King Charles, Queen Camilla at White House, Hails ‘Unbreakable’ US-UK Ties

 

President Donald Trump on Wednesday hosted King Charles III and Queen Camilla at the White House in what marked the first state visit by a British monarch to the United States in nearly two decades.

 

The visit featured a ceremonial arrival, bilateral talks, and a state dinner, underscoring what both sides described as enduring diplomatic, cultural and strategic relations between the United States and the United Kingdom.

 

Speaking during the arrival ceremony, Trump reflected on the historical ties binding both nations as the US prepares for the 250th anniversary of its independence.

 

“Honouring the British King might seem an ironic beginning to our celebration of 250 years of American independence — but in fact, no tribute could be more appropriate,” Trump said.

 

He noted that long before the United States declared independence, its early settlers had inherited cultural and political traditions rooted in Britain, including what he described as a longstanding commitment to liberty, justice and moral courage.

 

The US leader also emphasised the shared history of both nations, tracing it from early English legal traditions to the American Revolution, and described the alliance as one that had endured through centuries of global conflicts and cooperation.

 

“In the centuries since we’ve won our independence, Americans have had no closer friends than the British,” he added.

 

“We share the same language, values, and together our forces have defended the same civilisation.”

 

At the state dinner held in honour of the royal visitors, Trump reiterated the importance of the US-UK partnership, describing it as “unbreakable” and rooted in a common heritage.

 

“We’re preparing to celebrate the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence. It’s only natural that Americans begin this commemoration by paying tribute to the bond we share with the nation that Thomas Jefferson called our ‘mother country,’” he said.

 

Trump further argued that America’s founding ideals were shaped not in isolation but through centuries of shared legal and philosophical traditions with Britain.

 

In his remarks, King Charles III highlighted the long-standing military and historical cooperation between both countries, particularly during global conflicts.

 

The British monarch presented Trump with a symbolic gift — a historic bell from HMS Trump, a British submarine commissioned during the Second World War.

 

“There was one particular vessel launched from a UK shipyard in 1944 that played a critical role during the war in the Pacific,” the King said. “Her name was HMS Trump. Tonight, I am delighted to present to you the original bell from that vessel as a testament to our shared history and future.”

 

The high-profile visit is seen as part of ongoing efforts by both countries to reaffirm diplomatic and strategic ties amid evolving global challenges.

 

Diaspora Watch Newspaper reports that the United States and the United Kingdom have long maintained close cooperation in defence, intelligence, and trade, often describing their relationship as a “special relationship” grounded in shared democratic values and mutual interests.

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CARICOM Targets Import Dependence with New Food Security Framework

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CARICOM SG Congratulates Dr. Jennifer Geerlings-Simons on Historic Election as Suriname President

CARICOM Targets Import Dependence with New Food Security Framework

 

Ministers of Agriculture of the CARICOM have endorsed a coordinated regional strategy aimed at cushioning the impact of the ongoing Middle East conflict on food security and economic stability across member states.

 

The ministers, under the Special Ministerial Taskforce on Food Security and Food Production, approved a comprehensive response matrix designed to address both immediate and long-term vulnerabilities confronting the region.

 

The move follows growing concerns over the Caribbean’s heavy dependence on imported fuel, fertilisers, food, and maritime logistics, which experts say has heightened the region’s exposure to external shocks triggered by geopolitical tensions.

 

In a statement after their meeting last week, the ministers stressed that “coordinated short- and long-term strategies are essential to safeguard food security and economic stability,” noting that the new framework would guide policy responses across member states.

 

The endorsed matrix outlines a holistic policy approach linking global disruptions to targeted interventions, while ensuring effective sequencing of actions and stronger regional coordination.

 

According to the ministers, the framework combines short-term stabilisation measures with long-term structural reforms aimed at building resilience and reducing dependence on imports.

 

Key recommendations include boosting regional food production, strengthening supply chains, improving maritime logistics, and enhancing collaboration among CARICOM countries on agricultural and economic policies.

 

The strategy identifies six major pressure points affecting the region. These include rising energy prices, which increase production costs and drive inflation, and disruptions in fertiliser supply, leading to reduced agricultural productivity.

 

Other concerns highlighted are shipping and logistics challenges, including higher freight costs and delays; global food price inflation, which raises import bills; macroeconomic pressures such as exchange rate instability; and the growing threat of food insecurity, particularly among vulnerable populations.

 

Officials warned that without decisive intervention, these factors could significantly undermine agricultural output and worsen economic conditions across the Caribbean.

 

By endorsing the matrix, the ministers pledged to accelerate implementation of the proposed measures, with a focus on strengthening domestic agricultural capacity and improving resilience against external shocks.

 

They also emphasised the need for sustained regional collaboration to mitigate the ripple effects of global crises on Caribbean economies.

 

The development marks another step in CARICOM’s broader push to enhance food sovereignty and reduce import dependence, amid increasing global uncertainty.

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