
Singapore Home Prices Fall for First Time in Three Years
Singapore home prices fell for the first time in three years in the second quarter, suggesting the market
1970-01-01 08:00

Yellen set to travel to Beijing as part of ongoing efforts to stabilize relationship with China
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will travel to Beijing later this week as part of ongoing efforts by the Biden administration to deepen communication between the US and China after what has been a particularly fraught and unstable time, the Treasury Department announced Sunday evening.
1970-01-01 08:00

A $30 Billion Disaster Is Just the Tip of a Deadly Climate Cycle
When night falls in the refugee camp outside Karachi, Shanawaz Khoso worries about snake bites. The 38-year-old and
1970-01-01 08:00

IBM Throws Weight Behind Japan Chip Startup It Sees as Vital
International Business Machines Corp. is prioritizing helping Japan’s chipmaking startup Rapidus Corp., with a senior executive describing the
1970-01-01 08:00

Pence ‘doesn’t believe’ racial inequality exists in schools as he celebrates SCOTUS affirmative action ban
Mike Pence cheered the end of affirmative action in US colleges and universities on Sunday in the wake of the Supreme Court’s ruling outlawing the practice. The former vice president discussed the issue on CBS’s Face the Nation and said that the time for policies aimed at improving outcomes for minority students in general had passed. A candidate for the presidency in 2024, Mr Pence is gunning for the GOP nomination against his own former boss, Donald Trump, and other conservatives like Florida Gov Ron DeSantis and former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley. His comments came as activists and authorities in the higher education field vowed to keep fighting to ensure that diversity would remain a core value in student recruiting. “Fundamentally, do you believe that there are racial inequities in the education system in the United States?” asked host Margaret Brennan. “I really don’t believe there is [racial inequality in US schools]. I believe there was,” Mr Pence said. “I mean, it’s — there may have been a time when affirmative action was necessary simply to open the doors of all of our schools and universities, but I think that time has passed.” His response drew immediate backlash on Twitter, with many questioning whether Mr Pence’s children had attended schools and colleges with diverse student bodies. The three Pence children, Michael, Charlotte and Audrey, attended Purdue, DePaul, and Yale Universities. The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that universities and colleges may not consider race as a specific factor when choosing to admit individual students. They may, however, continue to take into account how race plays into the individual experiences that those prospective students describe in their applications, such as in personal essay prompts. “[T]he student must be treated based on his or her experiences as an individual—not on the basis of race,” wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the majority. The suit was brought on behalf of a group of Asian American students who argued that they were discriminated against by admissions staff at Harvard University. Critics of the ruling say it will gut efforts to improve representation of minority students in college classes. College enrollment rates remain noticeably lower among Black and Hispanic students compared to white and Asian American students. In addition, an analysis of US education data has shown that about 40 per cent of Black children attend schools where 90 per cent or more of the students are nonwhite. President Joe Biden responded to the ruling on Thursday after news of the decision broke, telling reporters simply: “This is not a normal court.” Read More Biden reveals ‘new path’ to student debt relief after Supreme Court strikes down president’s plan The Supreme Court risks inflaming the prejudices that America sought to banish In 370 days, Supreme Court conservatives dash decades of abortion and affirmative action precedents Mike Pence claims Biden is rehabilitating the Iran nuclear deal Trump returns to campaign rallies, draws thousands to small South Carolina city ahead of July 4 Biden blames GOP for student loan ruling as 2024 political consequences loom
1970-01-01 08:00

Will Hurd says he 'can't lie to get access to a microphone' at RNC debate
Republican presidential candidate Will Hurd said Sunday he was working toward "hitting all the requirements" to qualify for next month's first GOP primary debate in Milwaukee. But when it came to the requirement to pledge support for the eventual GOP nominee -- even if that is former President Donald Trump -- Hurd said, "I can't lie to get access to a microphone."
1970-01-01 08:00

Mike Pence makes surprise appearance in Paris
Former Vice President Mike Pence was a surprise guest this weekend at a rally in Paris, France, hosted by Iranian dissidents in support of overthrowing Iran’s regime. Mr Pence, who’s running in the increasingly-crowded 2024 Republican primary, railed against the authoritarian government in Tehran and what he claimed were efforts by the Biden administration to revive the 2015 nuclear accord between Iran, the US, and several European countries. That deal was abandoned by the Trump administration who accused Tehran of violating the deal “in spirit”. “Now, a new administration is threatening to unravel all of the progress we made in marinalising the tyrannical regime in Tehran,” Mr Pence claimed. “They are working overtime to restore the Iran Nuclear Deal, putting Tehran back on the fast track to obtaining nuclear weapons.” The Independent has reached out to the White House for comment on those comments. He also claimed that Iran could develop a nuclear weapon in a year if sanctions were rolled back and the 2015 deal snapped back into place. However, the Biden administration has shown no signs, at least publicly, of reigniting the abandoned agreement. If there was any possibility of restarting Iran negotiations, those would now have likely hit a roadblock with the suspension of Rob Malley, Biden’s special envoy to Iran, over an internal State Department review into whether he mishandled classified material. Sources with knowledge of the situation described Mr Malley as a proponent of the 2015 Iran nuclear deal to The Independent. The State Department has refused to confirm in recent weeks whether talks regarding the nuclear deal are ongoing, and has only said that Mr Malley’s status is under review. Pence appeared at the annual event hosted by the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) just days after an unannounced visit to Ukraine to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky. The dissident group’s event went off without a hitch and was attended by thousands despite an initial refusal by the French government to allow the group a permit for an outdoor rally. That decision was later reversed by a French court. Authorities had warned that the threat of a terror attack necessitated the rally’s cancelation. NCRI’s previous events in Paris have faced similar threats including in 2018 when a diplomat working for Iran’s government and three others were arrested and later convicted of a bomb plot. The former vice president’s European trip comes as his bid for the White House has yet to clear double-digit levels of support in any major polling, though he is likely to qualify for at least one presidential debate. Read More Mike Pence meets with Zelensky in Ukraine Indiana Supreme Court upholds abortion ban, says state constitution gives only limited protections Biden blames GOP for student loan ruling as 2024 political consequences loom Trump leaned on Arizona governor to flip state’s election results after 2020 loss, report says Biden condemns Supreme Court striking down affirmative action: ‘This is not a normal court’ Senator who once worked at a Planned Parenthood warns that Republicans are planning a national abortion ban
1970-01-01 08:00

Buttigieg says Supreme Court case was designed for 'clear purpose of chipping away' at LGBTQ equality
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg on Sunday slammed the Supreme Court's ruling in favor of a Christian web designer in Colorado who refuses to create websites to celebrate same-sex weddings out of religious objections, saying the case was designed "for the clear purpose of chipping away" at LGBTQ equality.
1970-01-01 08:00

Christie calls back-and-forth between Trump and DeSantis a teenage 'food fight'
Republican presidential candidate Chris Christie on Sunday lamented what he called the teenage "food fight" between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis over LGBTQ rights in the 2024 GOP race, as rivals of the two front-runners seek to break out of the crowded race.
1970-01-01 08:00

Pence says he doesn't recall 'any pressure' from Trump in calling Arizona governor
Former Vice President Mike Pence says he doesn't recall "any pressure" from Donald Trump in 2020 asking him to call Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey about their loss in the presidential election.
1970-01-01 08:00

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says justices are 'destroying the legitimacy' of the Supreme Court
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York said Sunday that some Supreme Court justices are "destroying the legitimacy of the court," amid a lack of oversight, calling it "profoundly dangerous" for democracy.
1970-01-01 08:00

Biden to travel to UK next week to meet King Charles
President Joe Biden will travel to the UK next week for two days ahead of a Nato summit in Lithuania. Mr Biden will meet King Charles and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the White House said in a brief statement on Sunday. “President Biden is scheduled to travel to the United Kingdom, Lithuania, and Finland from July 9-13. President Biden will first travel to London, United Kingdom for engagements with King Charles III and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to further strengthen the close relationship between our nations,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. She added: “The President will then travel to Vilnius, Lithuania from July 11-12 to attend the 74th NATO Summit. On July 13, President Biden will visit Helsinki, Finland for a U.S.-Nordic Leaders Summit. More details about the trip will be announced soon.” Mr Biden’s first meeting with King Charles comes soon after the coronation of the British monarch, which he did not attend. First Lady Jill Biden and granddaughter Finnegan represented the US at the historic event. Mr Biden spoke with Mr Sunak and other European leaders last week in the wake of the armed rebellion in Russia by the mercenary army Wagner Group. The British Prime Minister, who is facing waves of political blows at home, travelled to Washington DC last month where he met with the president at the White House. Read More Biden's upcoming European trip is meant to boost NATO against Russia as the war in Ukraine drags on Prosecutor in the Hunter Biden case denies retaliating against IRS agent who talked to House GOP Biden reveals ‘new path’ to student debt relief after Supreme Court strikes down president’s plan
1970-01-01 08:00