
Russians and Belarusians back at Wimbledon as war in Ukraine continues
Players from Russia and Belarus are back competing at Wimbledon a year after they were barred by the All England Club because of the invasion of Ukraine
2023-07-03 23:47

Accuser describes Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey as 'slippery, snaky difficult person'
One of Kevin Spacey's accusers described the actor as a “slippery, snaky, difficult person” and says his escalating sexual assaults caused him shame, anxiety and depression
2023-07-03 23:23

What's 'Bidenomics'? The president hopes a dubious nation embraces his ideas condensed into the term
President Joe Biden has long struggled to neatly summarize his sprawling economic vision
2023-07-03 23:19

US envoy to Russia meets with detained journalist Gershkovich -WSJ
The U.S. ambassador to Russia was granted access on Monday to jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich,
2023-07-03 22:56

Iga Swiatek wins on Day 1 at Wimbledon, Novak Djokovic, Venus Williams and Coco Gauff in action
Top-ranked Iga Swiatek advanced despite a rain delay as Wimbledon got started with some of the biggest names in tennis in action, including Novak Djokovic, Venus Williams and Coco Gauff
2023-07-03 22:55

Harvard sued over ‘legacy admissions’ after Supreme Court targets affirmative action
Days after the US Supreme Court struck down race-conscious university admissions, civil rights groups have filed a federal lawsuit targeting so-called “legacy” admissions at Harvard University. The lawsuit, alleging widespread discrimination at the college in violation of the Civil Rights Act, is the latest challenge to the practice of prioritising university admissions for the children of alumni. “There’s no birthright to Harvard. As the Supreme Court recently noted, ‘eliminating racial discrimination means eliminating all of it.’ There should be no way to identify who your parents are in the college application process,” said Ivan Espinoza-Madrigal, executive director of Boston-based Lawyers for Civil Rights, which filed the complaint on 3 July. “Why are we rewarding children for privileges and advantages accrued by prior generations?” he said in a statement. “Your family’s last name and the size of your bank account are not a measure of merit, and should have no bearing on the college admissions process.” The group filed the lawsuit on behalf of the Chica Project, the African Community Economic Development of New England and the Greater Boston Latino Network. Last week, the conservative supermajority on the nation’s highest court ruled that private and public colleges and universities may not consider race as a factor in admissions, striking down the precedent affirmed in the 2003 ruling in Grutter v Bollinger. Civil rights advocates and justices who supported the decades-long precedent, intended to promote racially diverse college campuses, derided what they argue is the court’s ongoing perversion of the 14th Amendment and the foundational concept of equal protection. The latest lawsuit points to Harvard data finding that 70 per cent of the college’s donor-related and legacy applicants are white. So-called “legacy” applicants have a roughly six times greater chance of admission, according to records, pointing to a “custom, pattern and practice” that is “exclusionary and discriminatory” and “severely disadvantages and harms applicants of color,” plaintiffs argued. The complaint calls on the US Department of Education to initiate a federal investigation into Harvard’s application process and for the federal government to declare such practices illegal. “Harvard’s practice of giving a leg-up to the children of wealthy donors and alumni – who have done nothing to deserve it – must end,” Lawyers for Civil Rights litigation fellow Michael Kippins said in a statement accompanying the complaint. Following the Supreme Court ruling, Democratic lawmakers and President Joe Biden urged universities to reconsider their legacy admissions, which he said “expand privilege instead of opportunity.” The Independent has requested comment from Harvard. Read More Biden condemns Supreme Court striking down affirmative action: ‘This is not a normal court’ Biden reveals ‘new path’ to student debt relief after Supreme Court strikes down president’s plan Pence ‘doesn’t believe’ racial inequality exists in schools as he celebrates SCOTUS affirmative action ban
2023-07-03 22:55

Roger Federer will be celebrated at Wimbledon. A pregnant Serena Williams declined an invitation
Roger Federer will be back on Centre Court at Wimbledon on Tuesday
2023-07-03 22:25

India's Reliance Jio to launch $12 internet-enabled phones
(Reuters) -Reliance Jio Infocomm Ltd, the telecom arm of Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani's Reliance Industries Ltd said on Monday it
2023-07-03 21:56

Protesters close Israeli seaport, eye airport as judicial crisis simmers
HAIFA, Israel Demonstrators briefly shut off access to a major Israeli seaport on Monday ahead of a planned
2023-07-03 21:54

Turkey country profile
Provides an overview of Turkey, including key dates and facts about this transcontinental country.
2023-07-03 21:51

Activists spurred by affirmative action ruling sue Harvard over legacy admissions
A civil rights legal group is challenging legacy admissions at Harvard University, saying the practice discriminates against students of color by giving an unfair boost to the mostly white children of alumni
2023-07-03 21:51

The Democratic Party promised to overhaul its primaries. Doing that has been anything but simple
Nearly six months after the Democratic Party approved President Joe Biden’s plan to overhaul which states lead off its presidential primary, implementing the revamped order has proven anything but simple
2023-07-03 21:25