International News
US; Clinton Passes Torch to Kamala Harris As Democrats Eye Historic Presidency
On the opening night of the Democratic National Convention (DNC) in Chicago, Hillary Clinton took the stage to reflect on her 2016 presidential bid, where she shattered one of America’s toughest glass ceilings by becoming the first woman to win a major party nomination for president.
“When a barrier falls for one of us, it clears the way for all of us,” she declared, echoing her words from eight years ago.
Despite her historic achievement, Clinton’s campaign ended in a loss to Donald Trump. Now, as the Democratic Party gears up for another attempt to elect the first female president, Clinton urged the crowd of thousands to embrace the next phase of this journey.
“Together, we’ve put a lot of cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling,” she said. “On the other side of that glass ceiling is Kamala Harris raising her hand and taking the oath of office as our 47th President of the United States.”
Clinton’s speech highlighted how much has changed since her run. Back then, her gender was a central theme of the campaign—a strategy that Vice President Harris appears to be avoiding. According to several female delegates and politicians at the 2024 DNC, the political landscape has evolved, but the question remains whether it has shifted enough for Harris to reach the nation’s highest office.
“Hillary Clinton shattered a lot of glass for many people,” said Minyon Moore, chair of the Democratic National Convention Committee. However, she added, “It’s not easy. We’re trying to shift the mindset of people.”
Women in politics still face significant barriers. Mallory McMorrow, a state senator from Michigan, recalled being asked whether she planned to have children when she first ran for office in 2018. “She told me to my face, this is not a job for a mom,” McMorrow said. She went on to become the second senator in Michigan history to give birth while in office.
Judy Mount, the first African-American female chair of the Florida Democrats, noted that it took years for women to serve as chairs of their state political parties. “People just do not want to see a woman in charge of anything,” she said.
Clinton’s 2016 campaign was fraught with personal attacks, many of which focused on her appearance, voice, and relationship with her husband, former President Bill Clinton. Deloris Hudson, an Ohio delegate, believes that many women judged Clinton for staying with her husband after his affair with Monica Lewinsky.
Clinton’s loss to Trump in 2016 sparked women’s marches across the country and motivated a record number of female candidates to run for office in 2018. The number of women in the House of Representatives has since risen to 28.5%, compared to 19.1% in 2017, according to the Pew Research Centre.
Over the past decade, the percentage of Americans who believe men are better suited for politics than women has steadily declined, according to the University of Chicago’s National Opinion Research Centre.
Today, Harris doesn’t face the same pressure to be “everything to every woman,” as McMorrow put it. “Since then, we’ve seen more women running and winning at every single level, allowing us more freedom and flexibility to be ourselves,” she said.
While Harris’s allies have acknowledged the sexism she has faced, she has largely focused on her record rather than her gender identity. Unlike Clinton’s 2016 campaign slogan, “I’m with Her,” Harris has steered clear of centering gender in her campaign. This approach, according to McMorrow, may be both intentional and a reflection of progress: “There are so many more of us [women politicians] that I don’t think you have to mention it anymore.”
Instead, the conversation around gender has been championed by Harris’s supporters, particularly women and voters of colour who have helped raise millions for her campaign. They frame Harris as a younger, fresh alternative to the 78-year-old Trump, one who brings much-needed momentum to the Democratic ticket just two and a half months before the election.
For some, like U.S. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell of Michigan, Harris’s rise to the top of the ticket symbolises the strides women have made in politics. But Dingell cautions that there is still more to achieve. “We need to make sure that we include everybody, that no demographic feels left behind because someone else succeeds,” she said. “As a country, I think that’s something we’ve got to continue to work at.”
Jeremy Doku insisted Manchester “will keep on fighting” in the Premier League title race despite their “painful” draw with Everton on Monday.
City drew 3-3 with the Toffees at Hill Dickinson Stadium, with Doku scoring a 97th-minute equaliser, having also scored the opening goal.
Doku’s equaliser (96:49) is City’s third-latest goal on record (since 2006-07) in a Premier League game after John Stones’ strike against Arsenal in September 2024 (97:14) and Gabriel Jesus’ goal against Everton in February 2019 (96:52).
Doku has had a hand in six goals across his last five games for City in all competitions (four goals, two assists), as many as in his previous 22 games combined (one goal, five assists).
The Belgian also created the most chances in the match against Everton (four), completed the most dribbles (5/7) and won the most duels (14/19).
City avoided defeat in a Premier League game despite trailing by 2+ goals as late as the 82nd minute for the first time since March 2012 against Sunderland (3-3).
They went on to win the league title in 2011-12, and Doku believes City can still beat Arsenal to the trophy this season.
“First half, we played well and created a lot of chances. We know if we don’t score those chances, it is going to get difficult at the end,” said Doku.
“Obviously, they are at their own stadium, they create chances, and they are dangerous, and they scored two goals, but I think we gave them the game.
“Good that we came back because one point is not bad in games like this.
“We will see. It feels painful now. There is still a lot of games to go. We lost two points, but we know that one point can be important at the end.
“We will keep on fighting. We owe it to ourselves and to our fans.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Nigerians interested in repatriation from South Africa will be responsible for the cost of their return trip to Nigeria.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, stated this during a press briefing on Monday in Abuja.
The briefing came shortly after a closed-door meeting between the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Dunoma Ahmed, and the South African Acting High Commissioner, Lesoli Machele.
Mr Ebienfa said the process will be self-funded and not state-funded, as it is a voluntary decision that the Nigerian government will only facilitate and coordinate.
In the recent past, such reparations have been sponsored by Nigerian airline owners, particularly Allen Onyema, the CEO of Air Peace.
The Nigerian government, on Sunday, indicated its readiness to repatriate its citizens from South Africa due to xenophobic violence.
The effort primarily targets Nigerians who feel threatened by the xenophobic violence and tension in parts of South Africa, as the protests against black immigrants in the country continue. Two Nigerians were killed last month.
Since the announcement, about 130 Nigerians in South Africa have expressed a willingness to return home voluntarily.
Mr Ebienfa stated that the return of the Nigerians depends on their financial capacity, as they would be expected to fund their trip back home individually.
He said, “Those willing to leave are expected to approach the high commission and, given that their decision is voluntary, have the resources to fund their return to Nigeria.”
The government will not “provide an aircraft from Nigeria to convey them.”
He also noted that the speed of the repatriation process will be determined by the availability of funds.
“Yes, 130 as of this morning have registered, but actualisation would be required to have their flight ticket to move back to Nigeria.”
Mr Ebienfa also explained that Nigerians who have so far expressed interest are motivated either by concerns about threats to their lives or by fear of arrest by South African law enforcement agencies.
“There are two groups of Nigerians who want to come back. One group feels the country is not safe for them and wants to come. They have all their papers intact.
“Then there is also the second group that has travel document violations or resident permit violations. And instead of running away from law enforcement, they are appealing that the government facilitate their movement back to Nigeria,” he explained.
However, he noted that the process is still being worked out and that the government would step in to provide aircraft or other needed assistance if tensions rise and the situation becomes more volatile.
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