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No pardon: Pres Biden declares no presidential clemency for Hunter if found guilty

International

Gemma Iso

June 8, 2024

No pardon: Pres Biden declares no presidential clemency for Hunter if found guilty

In a candid interview on Thursday, President Joe Biden firmly stated that there is no pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, if found guilty of federal gun charges.

Speaking to ABC’s David Muir, the President was unequivocal when asked if he would rule out clemency for Hunter, responding with a resolute, “Yes.”

Hunter Biden‘s legal woes stem from allegations of illegally purchasing and possessing a firearm while battling addiction. First Lady Dr. Jill Biden has been a steadfast presence in the courtroom, showing her support before departing for France to participate in D-Day commemoration activities alongside the President.

‘No pardon’

The White House has consistently maintained that President Biden would not intervene in his son’s legal proceedings. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre reiterated this stance in December, asserting, “The President is not going to pardon his son.”

Despite the legal challenges, President Biden has expressed unwavering support for his son. In a statement, Biden remarked, “I am the President, but I am also a Dad. Jill and I love our son, and we are so proud of the man he is today.”

The president is also a dad

He continued, highlighting Hunter’s journey of recovery: “Hunter’s resilience in the face of adversity and the strength he has brought to his recovery are inspiring to us. A lot of families have loved ones who have overcome addiction and know what we mean. As the President, I don’t and won’t comment on pending federal cases, but as a dad, I have boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength.

As the legal dramas unfold, the nation watches closely, witnessing history in the making with profound implications for both the Biden family and the broader political landscape.

Saga of Hunter Biden: Personal crossroads to impeachment inquiry

The post No pardon: Pres Biden declares no presidential clemency for Hunter if found guilty appeared first on The Independent News.

Forum letter praising Singapore’s pragmatism draws mixed reactions online

Singapore News

Anna Maria Romero

June 8, 2024

Forum letter praising Singapore’s pragmatism draws mixed reactions online

SINGAPORE: A local delegate to the Rotary International Convention held in Singapore at the end of May wrote a letter to the Straits Times Forum praising Singapore’s pragmatism.

However, others who read the letter did not 100 per cent agree with its writer.

Jack Sim Juek Wah wrote in a letter published on June 6 (Thursday) that the foreign delegates at the convention were amazed by a number of things in Singapore, including organization, efficiency, safety, cleanliness, transport infrastructure, housing policy, national reserves, and multiculturalism, to name just a few.

When asked for the secret behind Singapore’s success, Mr Sim talked about the great strides the country has taken since 1965, attributing its swift progress to having a stable government from the same political party for the past seven decades.

Mr Sim added that this shocked his listeners who proceeded to ask if Singapore is a democracy or otherwise. He said that in Singapore, leaders are judged not based on ideology but “according to the improvements in our quality of life.”

Because life has continued to improve, the governing party has continued to win elections. This is how he defined pragmatism as applied to the Singapore system.

He added that citizens are called upon to participate in nation-building, noting the presence of opposition parties “to keep the ruling party honest” and social media “letting us voice our views.”

However, when the letter was shared on Reddit, some commenters raised questions about Mr Sim’s points.

On the matter of the improved quality of life causing the governing party to keep on winning at the polls, one Reddit user asked, “So, what’s going to happen when a generation finds their lives are harder than in their parents’ generation?”

Another netizen opined, “Yes quarter billion dollars on a founder’s memorial taking up scarce land is very pragmatic.”

One commenter countered Mr Sim’s points with a quote from 2013 from then Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who said that the People’s Action Party (PAP) would “always stand for and defend” its democratic socialist ideals.

The netizen then asked what had happened to these ideals and, like other commenters, asked who the pragmatism referred to in the letter was for.

“Is this pragmatism for the rich billionaires who money launder here? Or is it pragmatism for the working class?”

The author of pragmatism in Singapore, of course, is the country’s founding Prime Minister. Mr Lee Kuan Yew once famously said:

“We are pragmatists. We don’t stick to any ideology. Does it work? Let’s try it, and if it does work, fine, let’s continue it. If it doesn’t work, toss it out, try another one. We are not enamored with any ideology.”/TISG

Ex-NMP asks how NUS ranks above CalTech in global university rankings

Education

Anna Maria Romero

June 8, 2024

Ex-NMP asks how NUS ranks above CalTech in global university rankings

SINGAPORE: While most Singaporeans were likely to celebrate the National University of Singapore ranking eighth among the top universities in the world earlier this week, former Nominated Member of Parliament Calvin Cheng has a different take and was unafraid to say so.

“What kind of ridiculous ranking puts NUS (ZERO Nobel prizes ) ahead of Caltech (46 Nobel Prizes)??” Mr Cheng asked in a comment on a Facebook post covering the UK-based Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) World University Rankings 2025 on June 5.

Although Mr Cheng’s stint in Parliament ended over a dozen years ago, he continues to be active on social media and outspoken on local and global social and political issues. While his FB comment had its share of detractors, others agreed with him.

He even got into a tiff with another commenter, who endeavoured in good faith, at least initially, to explain NUS’ high ranking. Mr Cheng, however, said that the netizen was just “very good at copy and pasting.”

Over on Reddit, a commenter said he had the same question as the former NMP and asked others to clarify the matter.

A Reddit user explained that the ranking is heavily influenced by research but may not necessarily reflect “undergrad outcomes” and teaching quality.

One commented that Singaporeans should “stop putting ourselves on a pedestal” because of high rankings.

“I have a lot more respect for the folks that made it into the likes of China’s Peking/Tsinghua, Korea’s SKY, India’s IIT, etc. than our local uni grads, even if we’re technically ranked ‘higher,’” they added.

A commenter who claimed to be a longtime academic noted that students in Singapore have a very low bar to pass and very little incentive for rigorous study.

The commenter added that professors “dumb down” when they teach out of fear of receiving poor teaching evaluations. They also claimed to have raised the topic of “manipulated” rankings multiple times, “but we would rather look good than be good. It’s a shame.”

Many other commenters on Facebook and Reddit have called the rankings “absurd” and “meaningless.”

Others, however, implied that Mr Cheng had a sour grapes attitude since his alma mater, Oxford University, considered to be one of the most prestigious institutions in the world, had ranked only third on the list, behind Massachusetts University of Technology (first) and Imperial College London (second). /TISG

Texas moves to halt Biden admin’s demolition of border fencing

International

Gemma Iso

June 8, 2024

Texas moves to halt Biden admin’s demolition of border fencing

In a heated session on Thursday, a U.S. appeals court panel signalled a move to block the Biden administration’s efforts to dismantle razor-wire fencing along the Texas-Mexico border.

The fencing, erected by Texas, has become a flashpoint in a legal battle in which the federal government is accused of trespassing.

The New Orleans-based 5^th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, consisting of three judges, heard arguments for nearly an hour.

This session was pivotal in Texas’ appeal against a previous ruling that declared that the state’s trespassing laws could not be enforced against federal authorities.

The Texas move

Texas initiated the lawsuit last year in response to federal border agents frequently using bolt cutters and forklifts to remove the wire fencing along a 29-mile stretch of the Rio Grande. This area is a common crossing point for migrants entering the U.S. illegally.

Judge Duncan argued that the federal officials’ actions were not in line with their duties. “Border Patrol wasn’t cutting the fence to apprehend immigrants or prevent illegal entry; it was quite the opposite,” he remarked.

Representing the U.S. Department of Justice, Melissa Patterson countered that border patrol agents are tasked with apprehending and processing migrants who may apply for asylum, not repelling them.

In response, Texas Solicitor General Aaron Nielson insisted that agents have the authority to deter migrants from crossing in the first place, highlighting that the fencing was a preventive measure.

Illegal crossings

The backdrop of this legal tussle is a broader political context. President Biden recently imposed a sweeping asylum ban targeting migrants who illegally cross the U.S.-Mexico border. Republican critics have blamed Biden for the surge in illegal border crossings, leading to multiple legal confrontations between his administration and states like Texas.

As the legal battles intensify, the decisions made by the courts will undoubtedly shape the future of U.S. border policy and immigration enforcement.

Cover Photo: Depositphotos

Border battle escalates, Texas authorities blocking rescue efforts

The post Texas moves to halt Biden admin’s demolition of border fencing appeared first on The Independent News.

Defeat in Nov election mean prison for Donald Trump?

International

Gemma Iso

June 8, 2024

Defeat in Nov election mean prison for Donald Trump?

As former President Donald Trump approaches his 78th birthday next week, his fate hangs precariously on the upcoming November 5 presidential election. According to former federal prosecutor Harry Litman, Trump’s defeat in his bid for reelection could result in a lifelong prison sentence.

Litman, who previously served as the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Pennsylvania, shared his stark prediction on a recent podcast episode. “If he doesn’t win, he has an appreciable chance of dying in prison.”

Does defeat in November mean prison?

He emphasized that November’s election is a critical juncture for Trump, marking a “do-or-die moment” for the former president to regain power and avoid spending the remainder of his life behind bars.

Trump’s legal troubles are extensive. While his Manhattan trial ended last week with a guilty verdict on charges related to a hush-money cover-up, this is just the tip of the iceberg. Trump faces three more criminal trials: two federal cases and one state case in Fulton County, Georgia. These upcoming trials pose far more severe penalties than the New York case.

In the federal cases, Trump is charged with four felony counts related to election interference and 37 felony counts for allegedly mishandling classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate. However, if Trump wins the presidency, he could order the Department of Justice to drop the charges or even pardon himself if convicted before taking office.

Despite the potential for a maximum 20-year sentence following his recent New York conviction, experts suggest that as a first-time offender, Trump might serve significantly less time, if any.

It’s the White House or jail

However, former FBI general counsel Andrew Weissmann believes that Trump’s conduct during the trial could still land him in prison. Weissmann pointed out Trump’s persistent lack of remorse and multiple violations of a gag order as factors that might influence Judge Juan Merchan’s sentencing decision on July 11.

As Trump’s legal battles continue to unfold, the stakes for the former president have never been higher. The outcome of the November election could very well determine whether he spends his twilight years in the White House or behind bars.

Cohen testimony directly implicates Trump in hush-money trial

The post Defeat in Nov election mean prison for Donald Trump? appeared first on The Independent News.

Senior Counsel dubbed Workers’ Party’s “trump card” as election approaches

Singapore Politics

Anna Maria Romero

June 8, 2024

Senior Counsel dubbed Workers’ Party’s “trump card” as election approaches

SINGAPORE: Senior Counsel Harpreet Singh’s commentary on how the country needs a stronger opposition has gotten much attention online since it was published in the online magazine Jom on May 31.

Mr Singh, who joined the Workers’ Party and who has been seen on the ground at WP activities, was even dubbed “WP’s trump card” in a June 4 post on r/SingaporeRaw, which is perhaps unsurprising, given his high profile.

WP's trump card, Harpreet Singh on the need for stronger opposition.
byu/louiebails inSingaporeRaw

While he has been seen along with fellow lawyer Fadli Fawzi and WP Youth Wing President Nathaniel Koh on the ground at Marine Parade, the party may decide to field Mr Singh elsewhere in the upcoming General Election.

At this point, however, Marine Parade GRC appears to be a solid option for the WP. The party performed fairly well there in the last two GEs. In 2015, led by former NCMP Yee Jenn Jong, it won nearly 36 per cent of the vote. In GE 2020, the WP saw an increase of 6.31 per cent from the previous election, obtaining 42.24 per cent of the vote in what had been the bulwark of former Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong.

But perhaps what may be in WP’s favor is that some voters in the constituency may be feeling somewhat let down by the ruling party. Last year, the charismatic former House Speaker, Tan Chuan-Jin, who had represented Kembangan–Chai Chee in Parliament from 2011 to 2023, stepped down after an inappropriate relationship was disclosed between him and Tampines MP Cheng Li Hui.

Nevertheless, the PAP team at Marine Parade still has several high-profile members, including two ministers, Tan See Lang and Edwin Tong, as well as Seah Kian Peng, who was appointed speaker after Mr Tan resigned, and the WP may want to situate the Senior Counsel in a battle where it is more sure of a win.

If the opposition party wants to hedge its bets, it could field Mr Singh in either of the GRCs it currently holds, as both are one person down. The WP lost Aljunied GRC’s Leon Perera and Sengkang’s Raeesah Khan, who resigned in 2023 and 2021 respectively, under controversial circumstances.

Could the WP use Mr Singh at Aljunied? Maybe. On the one hand, WP chief Pritam Singh is facing legal troubles due to the Raeesah Khan scandal, and his trial starts on Oct 14. Should the election be called around that time, the Senior Counsel’s weight would help the WP team at Aljunied.

The same could be said for the fight the Sengkang slate would face. However, current MPs—He Ting Ru, Louis Chua, and Assoc Prof Jamus Lim are considered to be doing well in their first term and are popular in their wards. /TISG

CapitaLand Ascendas REIT issues clarification in response to article on Changi Business Park

Anna Maria Romero

June 8, 2024

CapitaLand Ascendas REIT issues clarification in response to article on Changi Business Park

SINGAPORE: CapitaLand Ascendas REIT (CLAR) has clarified to The Independent Singapore that it has a well-diversified portfolio, after Bloomberg reported on the occupancy rate of one of its properties at Changi Business Park.

CLAR owns Hansapoint, a seven-story development within Changi Business Park. The Bloomberg piece noted that after the financial firm UBS downsized at the business park, Hansapoint’s occupancy was only at 36.5 at the end of last year, after having been nearly full previously.

In our coverage of the issue, TISG reported that some units at Changi Business Park have been offered at a 3-for-2 rate, which means that if renters sign a new lease for three years, they get a full year of rent free of charge. The Bloomberg article noted that some of these units are at Hansapoint and other CLAR properties.

CLAR clarified on Friday (7 June) that its properties boast higher than average occupancy rates, with its business space and life sciences portfolio staying robust with positive rental reversions as well as a stable occupancy rate.

“The properties that are owned and managed by CLAR in Changi Business Park each contribute less than 4 per cent to CLAR’s monthly revenue figures,” a spokesman from CLAR told TISG.

Perhaps more importantly, CLAR is in active discussions with prospects for Changi Business Park, the spokesperson told TISG, adding that CLAR “consistently employs a wide range of innovative incentives to engage with its extensive network of prospects and existing tenants.”

The spokesman added: “As of 31 December 2023, the occupancy rate of CLAR’s business space and life sciences portfolio in Singapore was 83.8 per cent. This occupancy rate exceeds the industrial average of 78.0 per cent for business parks, based on JTC’s latest 1Q 2024 quarterly market report.”

The company also has a global network comprising of 1,790 tenants from more than 20 industries.

CLAR has also taken proactive measures to enhance the performance of its business space and life sciences properties. At business space property The Alpha, a gross revenue of S$9.4 million was recorded last year after its asset enhancement initiative (AEI) was completed in September, marking a 29 per cent uptick from 2019’s gross revenue of S$7.3 million.

At present, CLAR has five properties in the country that are seeing redevelopments and AEI to refresh existing spaces and draw in new tenants. 1 Science Park Drive should be ready by the second quarter of 2025, and 27 IBP by the first quarter of 2026.

“Singapore remains a vibrant hub for diverse business sectors, continuously attracting leasing interest from various industries. We are confident of the resilience of our business space and life sciences portfolio and remain committed to providing high-quality locations that address the changing market and tenant requirements,” CLAR’s spokesman added. /TISG

Clutter and laziness: The hidden reasons behind your messy home

Lifestyle

Gemma Iso

June 7, 2024

Clutter and laziness: The hidden reasons behind your messy home

Step into your home: dishes teetering in the sink, clothes staging a revolt on the floor, and that elusive key hiding beneath a pile of junk mail on your desk. Does the clutter scenario sound familiar?

Before you label yourself lazy, consider this: clutter has layers. It’s a canvas painted by life stages, personality quirks, and even mental health. To unravel the mystery of your mess, we consulted experts who decode clutter like detectives. Here’s what they’ve uncovered:

Chaos in the Brain

If your home resembles a whirlwind, ADHD might be the culprit. Terry Matlen, psychotherapist and author, explains how ADHD hijacks executive functioning—your brain’s taskmaster. Picture this: You enter your abode, only to be lured away by your furry friend, leaving keys abandoned on a chair. It’s not negligence; it’s a brain wired for distraction, leaving tasks half-done.

Natalie Christine Dattilo, a psychologist at Harvard Medical School, adds that mundane chores are Everest for ADHD brains, lacking the sparkle of novelty or urgency.

Clutter as mirror

Depression saps motivation, making a cleaning spree feel like scaling Everest. Anxiety amplifies, morphing molehills into mountains. And those piles? They’re breeding grounds for stress hormones like cortisol, cranking up the tension.

When life throws curveballs

Life changes—big ones—can derail even the most organized. Moving, marriage, or the rollercoaster of parenthood can hurl your habits into disarray. Psychosocial stressors like these can derail your organizational mojo, leaving chaos in their wake.

Memories lurk in every corner

Each object tells a story—a trip, a romance, a moment frozen in time. Joseph Ferrari, a psychology professor, understands the tug-of-war between clutter and sentimentality. Letting go feels like erasing memories, so the junk mail stays and the clutter grows.

Trapped in limbo

Paralyzed by choices, we stash items instead of deciding their fate. Should it stay or go? The indecision breeds clutter, trapping us in a purgatory of possessions.

Is being messy being lazy?

But when does messiness cross the line? When it’s more than a nuisance—when it disrupts life, strains relationships, or suffocates well-being.

Clutter isn’t just unsightly; it’s a silent saboteur of happiness.

The good news? Help is at hand. Whether it’s a pro-organizer or a mental health expert, support exists. And remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all solution. Embrace your clutter tolerance; it’s as unique as you are. After all, as Tompkins wisely notes, the problem isn’t the mess—it’s our reluctance to accept our differences.

Cover Photo: Depositphotos

Decluttering and tips on maintaining an orderly home

The post Clutter and laziness: The hidden reasons behind your messy home appeared first on The Independent News.

Sylvia Lim reveals WP MPs paid tribute at funeral of ‘driving force’ Lim Ee Ping

Featured News
Singapore Politics

Anna Maria Romero

June 7, 2024

Sylvia Lim reveals WP MPs paid tribute at funeral of ‘driving force’ Lim Ee Ping

SINGAPORE: In a video posted earlier this week, Workers’ Party chair Sylvia Lim showed the WP MPs paying tribute at the funeral of Lim Ee Ping, who died on May 29. Mr Lim had joined the WP at the age of 20 over six decades ago and was still an active member when he passed away.

In Ms Lim’s Instagram video, former WP Secretary General Low Thia Khiang can be seen leading mourners, including many of the current WP MPs, in bowing thrice before Mr Lim’s coffin, in keeping with Chinese traditions.

“We bid our final farewell yesterday to our beloved and most respected Honorary Member, Mr Lim Ee Ping, aka ‘lao Hokkien’. He has been a driving force keeping WP moving since he joined in 1959,” wrote Ms Lim in the caption to her post.

Mr Low then led attendees who queued in a single file to pay their respects. Seen in the video are WP chief Pritam Singh and his fellow Aljunied GRC MPs Sylvia Lim and Faisal Manap, the party’s vice chair; Sengkang GRC MPs Louis Chua and He Ting Ru, and Hougang SMC MP Dennis Tan.

Gerald Giam and Jamus Lim were seemingly absent at the ceremony. All were dressed in the light blue Workers’ Party shirt and black pants or skirts.

As he walked by Mr Lim’s coffin, Mr Singh can be seen laying his hand briefly on it.

Other WP leaders, including Youth Wing President Nathaniel Koh and Fadli Fawzi, were also present.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sylvia Lim (@sylvialim65)

The party issued a statement on the day of Mr Lim’s passing, saying that his greatest legacy and contribution to Singapore was “keeping the flame of democracy alive when times were at their darkest.”

It added, “For the Workers’ Party, Lim Ee Ping showed what commitment to the cause of democracy looked like – A lesson very few in Singapore can say they had the privilege of teaching.”

A number of WP members have since posted tributes to Mr Lim over social media, including Ms He, who is in the younger cohort of the party’s leaders.

In a Facebook post she wrote that she had seen Mr Lim in early May and while he had been tired and in pain, “his mind remained wonderfully sharp.”

She added that he had asked the three Sengkang MPs about the latest happenings on the ground and had been “very keen and happy to see and hear of younger Singaporeans stepping up to volunteer.

“His gentle, constant presence will be sorely missed,” Ms He added. /TISG

Parent raises concerns about son’s platoon being forced to leopard crawl with fieldpack on

Singapore News

The Independent

June 7, 2024

Parent raises concerns about son’s platoon being forced to leopard crawl with fieldpack on

SINGAPORE: A parent’s social media post sparked a debate online after he asked whether or not he should lodge a complaint regarding what their son’s platoon was made to do during national service training.

“My son’s platoon was made to leopard crawl with fieldpack all the way to the main gate of the camp. Complain or not?” asked Iman Treyor on the Complaint Singapore Facebook account on May 30.

The post has since received over 200 comments with some netizens urging the parent to complain and others explaining that this is part and parcel of the son’s training.

NS is a requirement for all qualified male Singaporean citizens and second-generation permanent residents. It entails active service as a full-time National Serviceman (NSF) for two years.

Needless to say, the military training each one undergoes involves strenuous physical activities, which some commenters endeavored to help the post author understand.

“The army is meant to make boys turn into men,” wrote one netizen who urged the parent to not complain.

Others, however, understood that the parent was concerned the activity carried the risk of spinal damage to their son.

One commenter wrote that the trainees may have been made to do an activity that was unsafe as it subjected the spine to a “lot of compression,” which could cause damage to the discs and vertebrae, leading to permanent injury at worst. He urged that the feedback on the “horrendous method” of training should be given to the Ministry of Defense (MINDEF).

Others urged the parent to trust the boy’s superiors, who are acting as his “fathers and mothers” during this time. Another agreed, writing, “If they don’t train hard they will die hard. Training is very important.”

One even said that the parent should be proud of what their son is accomplishing and becoming, as many of the commenters appear to perceive NS to be a rite of passage to adulthood for males.

Others told their own stories of the hardships they went through during their training.

“Once my whole platoon was made to carry our cabinet to the parade square and back because we forgot to lock the gate. Memorable,” wrote one, adding the cry-laugh emoji.

Another commenter chimed in that he had been made to carry his bed from the fourth floor to the ground floor and back.

The Independent Singapore has reached out to MINDEF for further comment. /TISG

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‘No pardon’

The president is also a dad

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The Texas move

Illegal crossings

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Does defeat in November mean prison?

It’s the White House or jail

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Chaos in the Brain

Clutter as mirror

When life throws curveballs

Memories lurk in every corner

Trapped in limbo

Is being messy being lazy?

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