Two leaders who shaped their respective countries have very different legacies

Without an official poverty line, it's difficult to say whether it exists or not, but forums and studies keep throwing thought-provoking analysis

While local banks are consistently ranked among the strongest in the world, allegations of secrecy remain

As tourism declines, are casinos Singapore's best bet?

Data from a recent survey by Institute of Policy Studies illustrates that 2 in 3 Malays and 3 in 5 Indians have faced discrimination at least at some point while applying for jobs in Singapore. 

Edusave

The Government started the scheme in1993 by setting up the Edusave Endowment Fund with an initialcontribution of $1 billion. The capital sum reached the targeted $5billion by 1997. This fund is invested and the interest earned isdisbursed as grants and awards to schools and students to pay forenrichment programmes and fund additional resources.

Afterthe National Day Rally announcement, any Singaporean child who isstudyingfull-time in a government, government-aided or independent school,junior college, centralised institute, Institute of TechnicalEducation or special education school, or enrolled in madrasahs,privately-funded schools, as well as children who are home-schooledorresidingoverseas, can benefit from Edusave. 

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• The Suara Musyawarah committee's reporthighlighted “perception of unequal opportunities” amongSingaporean Malays.

• The committee also heard several personalaccounts suggesting that “employment discrimination is notuncommon”.

• Concerns that the Malay community is notfully accepted as an equal and integral part of society, and thatcertain stereotypes, generalisations and negative perceptions of thecommunity exists, were raised.   

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• Generalconcerns such as high immigration, healthcare affordability and PSLEwere mentioned.

• Specificconcernssuch as job discrimination, housing issues due to HDB's ethnic quotapolicy and educational under-performance were also brought-up.  

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The word 'Allah' is used by Muslims, Christians, Mizrahi Jews, Maltese and even Sikhs the world over. Most notably in Egypt, the Coptic Christians begin their Christmas Mass with “Bismillah” (in the name of God) and use the word 'Allah' throughout

On September 21, Sri Lanka will hold its first Northern Provincial Council elections in a quarter century, with about 714,488 people registered to vote. This has generated considerable interest all over the world, particularly in the Tamil-speaking population, and is providing a critical chance for reconciliation in post-war Sri Lanka

Dealing with asylum-seekers coming to Australia by boat was a major issue in the just concluded elections with the out-going Rudd Government putting in place the “Final Solution” in July this year; With Abbott coming to power, “By Boat, No Visa” policy set to get stricter

• Housing:Is $20,000 “not so small” or “not much more”? PM used bothphrases to describe the same amount, whenhe acted as the “housing agent” for all Singaporeans.

• Health:MediShield Life to cover all Singaporeans regardless of pre-existingillnesses for life, but premiums will go up leaving existentialquestions of healthcare affordability unanswered.

• Education:“Every school is a good school”, he repeated MOE's mantra, whileadding “it is also good that we have top schools nationally”,leaving doubts whether the scramble for “top schools” willcontinue.  

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• Penaltiesfor terror financing brought at par with money laundering offencesafter more than 10 years of TSOFA enactment
• Maximumimprisonment remain unchanged at 10 years
• Nocomprehensive anti-terrorism legislation as yet

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