Avatar photo

Lily Chang

3061 Posts
Kemi Badenoch named new leader of the Conservative Party

Kemi Badenoch named new leader of the Conservative Party

On 2 October 2024, Kemi Badenoch was elected as the new leader of the British Conservative Party, marking a significant change in the party's direction after a major election defeat. Badenoch, who previously served under former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, successfully defeated Robert Jenrick, receiving 53,806 votes to Jenrick's 41,388 in a contest characterized by intense competition and tactical voting among Conservative Members of Parliament (MP). Voter turnout for the leadership election was 72.8%. In his maiden speech as leader, Badenoch expressed his gratitude for the role, stressing the need for the party to recognize its past mistakes and adapt…
Read More
Unemployment rates show mixed trends in October

Unemployment rates show mixed trends in October

In October, the unemployment rate for white Americans saw a slight increase, rising to 3.8% from 3.6% the previous month, according to the latest data from the Department of Labor. This increase contrasts with the overall national unemployment rate, which remained stable at 4.1%, unchanged from September, and reflects a varied picture across different demographic groups. For Black and Hispanic workers, unemployment rates remained stable at 5.7% and 5.1%, respectively. Meanwhile, Asian Americans saw a decrease in their unemployment rate, falling from 4.1% to 3.9%. Both white men and women reported rising unemployment rates in October. For men the rate…
Read More
Donald Trump’s campaign faces challenges in the final stretch

Donald Trump’s campaign faces challenges in the final stretch

Former President Donald Trump is enduring a tumultuous final week in his presidential campaign against Vice President Kamala Harris, marked by a series of controversial statements and missteps that could undermine his appeal with voters. As Democratic attacks intensify and legal issues loom, Trump's message risks being overshadowed. Over the course of this week, Trump's campaign has heavily promoted his policy proposals, which include universal tariffs, extensive tax cuts and aggressive deportations of immigrants. However, it was not these policies that attracted the most attention. Instead, media coverage focused on a comedian's disparaging remarks in Puerto Rico, Trump's aggressive rhetoric…
Read More
U.S. homeowners begin to tap into home equity as rates shift

U.S. homeowners begin to tap into home equity as rates shift

An aerial perspective of existing homes alongside new construction in the Chatsworth neighborhood of Los Angeles on September 8, 2023, highlights a significant moment in the real estate market. Recent data indicates that U.S. homeowners have a significant amount of home equity, but soaring interest rates over the past two years have made many reluctant to tap into that value. This trend, however, appears to be changing. In the third quarter of this year, homeowners accessed $48 billion in home equity, marking the highest volume of withdrawals in two years, following the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes. While mortgage rates…
Read More