Trump questions Kamala Harris’ racial identity, sparking controversy
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Friday, 02 August 2024
VOL: 01 • ISSUE: 39
IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk
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ormer President Donald Trump has stirred controversy by questioning the racial identity of Vice President Kamala Harris during a speech at the National Association of Black Journalists (NABJ) convention in Chicago. In his remarks, Trump said, “She [Harris] was always of Indian heritage and she was only promoting Indian heritage. I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black.” Trump continued, “So, I don’t know, is she Indian or Black?... I respect either one but she obviously doesn’t.”
02 AUGUST 2024
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India will not be a formal ally of the US but can have strong ties on the global stage, says Campbell IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk
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eputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell has stated that India will “never be a formal ally or partner” of the United States, emphasizing that while India is a major power with its own interests and beliefs, the two nations can still cultivate a strong partnership on the global stage. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Tuesday, Campbell noted that not being a formal ally “doesn’t preclude us from having the strongest possible relationships as allied nations on the global stage.” He added, “I do believe that we have significantly influenced India’s trajectory in ways that align with our interests.”
Harris, who is the first Black woman and Asian American to serve as Vice President, is the daughter of a Jamaican father and an Indian mother, both of whom immigrated to the United States. Throughout her career, Harris has been an advocate for civil rights and was a member of the Congressional Black Caucus during her time as a senator.
Campbell underscored that the relationship with India is “probably the most important relationship for the United States to get right.” His comments reflect India’s policy of strategic autonomy, as articulated by External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, emphasizing India’s approach to balancing its own interests with international partnerships.
Michael Tyler, communications director for Harris’ campaign, responded sharply to Trump’s comments. “The hostility Donald Trump displayed on stage today is consistent with the hostility he has shown throughout his life, during his presidency, and in his current campaign for president,” Tyler said. “Trump has repeatedly made personal attacks and insults towards Black journalists, just as he failed Black families and left the country in disarray.”
Biden calls swap of prisoners a ‘feat of diplomacy’
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also condemned Trump’s remarks, stating, “It’s insulting and no one has any right to tell someone who they are or how they identify.”
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n Thursday, Russia released American journalist Evan Gershkovich and former Marine Paul Whelan in what has been described as the largest prisoner exchange since the Cold War. The swap involved at least two dozen detainees from seven countries: the US, Norway, Germany, Poland, Russia, Belarus, and Slovenia. The deal, mediated by Turkey, was finalized at Ankara airport. President Joe Biden praised the exchange, calling it a “feat of diplomacy.” He highlighted that the negotiation led to the release of 16 individuals from Russia, including five Germans and seven Russians who were political prisoners. “Some of these individuals have been unjustly held for years. All have endured
India and Vietnam unveil new plan to strengthen strategic partnership
unimaginable suffering and uncertainty. Today, their agony is over,” Biden said. He added, “I will not stop working until every American wrongfully detained or held hostage around the world is reunited with their family. My administration has now brought home over 70 such Americans, many of whom were in captivity before I took office.” Evan Gershkovich, a 32-year-old Wall Street Journal correspondent, was arrested by Russian authorities in March 2023 on espionage charges and sentenced to 16 years in a high-security prison last month. Paul Whelan, a 54-year-old former Marine, was detained in December 2018 on similar charges and was serving a 16year sentence.
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IndoUS Tribune Newsdesk
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rime Minister Narendra Modi announced on Thursday that India and Vietnam have adopted a “new plan of action” to enhance their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. This development is aimed at accelerating mutual growth and expanding cooperation under India’s ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ and Vietnam’s ‘Vision 2045’. During a press briefing with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at Hyderabad House in New Delhi, Modi highlighted several new initiatives, including increased collaboration in defense and security. He noted the inauguration of the Army Software Park in Nha Trang and the provision of a US$300 million credit line to bolster Vietnam’s maritime security. The two nations also agreed to intensify cooperation in counterterrorism and cyber security. Modi and Chinh also held bilateral talks, followed by a luncheon hosted by Modi for the high-level Vietnamese delegation, which included several ministers and business leaders.
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