Do you still use AXS kiosks? This is why some Singaporeans can’t do without them

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In Singapore, an AXS shop is a well-known view. However, whether you’ve had a job since the mid-2000s or whether you were born before or after, or whether you’ve had to give your own expenses for the past 25 years or so, will determine how well you know how they operate. &nbsp,

According to class CEO Jeffrey Goh, the latter class accounts for the majority of calls to Press whenever a system is removed.

” There is actually a great hoo-ha.” They’ll ask their MPs ( Members of Parliament ) to “do not remove,” he continued, comparing the situation to having a store they’ve frequented suddenly vanish.

How many Singaporeans believe that AXS shops are a public good that the government runs for their comfort, according to Mr. Goh, complicating issues.

Not everyone had a pc with internet access at home when the Singapore-based company was founded in 2000. The 57-year-old recalls that post offices remained empty until 8:30 p.m. on Wednesday to allow for working adults to pay their bills. &nbsp,

How many times do you want to operate down to the post office, best?- Having multiple bills meant several due dates.

This idea served as the foundation for AXS’s key business model, which is both bill payments and payment aggregation. The business was even given a name to resemble how “access” is pronounced.

A longer list of items you can now pay for using AXS’ services includes utility bills, phone bills, credit card bills, medical bills, road tax, income taxes, membership membership fees, school fees, traffic fines, season parking fees, car loans, shipping costs, service and conservancy fees, and insurance premiums.

The government’s digital services were being provided for the people by this, but it’s being run by a secret company, not a government initiative, according to Mr. Goh. &nbsp,

Today, there are still about 640 AXS restaurants or facilities in Singapore, making up about 35 % of all trades. The remainder are accomplished online.

There were almost 800 AXS facilities at one stage scattered throughout the area. Mr. Goh was open to the difficulties of keeping these physical shops about; together, they cost” a bunch” in book, that is, millions of dollars. &nbsp,

Planning UPON THE Expenses

AXS made a brief appearance in the media earlier this year when dessert financing, a financial services company, removed its Visa debit card from the transaction platform in March, less than a fortnight after the collaboration began.

Users of Chocolate debit cards could immediately earn two miles per dollar on all purchases, including those that were typically exempted from the program like college expenses, bills, and AXS payments.

However, the relationship became “unsustainable” due to the surge in bill payment, particularly from AXS, according to Chocolate founder and CEO Walter de Oude. &nbsp,

People typically turn into AXS clients when they begin working, homeownership, and bill payments, according to Mr. Goh. &nbsp,

Paying energy, credit cards, and telco bills are AXS’s three most well-liked activities.

According to Mr. Goh, who gladly demonstrated paying his own expenses on his phone, almost all the features at a shop can also be accessed on AXS’ m-Station software. &nbsp,

However, even those who use wireless internet finance apps to pay their bills might be using AXS solutions without realizing it. &nbsp,

AXS processes the bills paid through the banks ‘ own internet banking functions for 11 banks in Singapore, including Standard Chartered, HSBC, and Maybank, according to Mr. Goh. &nbsp,

” We are the ones who provide all of these links,” the statement goes. Due to the fact that they only connect with AXS, it’s even simple for the billers, right? If not, they must communicate with 11 businesses, he said, noting that doing so increases productivity overall. &nbsp,

Essentially, AXS makes its money by charging bank and billers costs for sorting out all the necessary trades.

A twist has been added to the proliferation of online&nbsp scams as well: some customers are returning to natural AXS kiosks because they feel more secure entering their PIN numbers and receiving a notice right away. &nbsp,

REQUIRED FOR RECORDING

Mr. Goh was a member of the team that co-founded AXS 25 years earlier. Five years later, he left to lead the electronic payment service provider NETS, which was a DBS company. &nbsp,

After working for Grab for eight countries on payment infrastructure, he returned to AXS as part of a deal that saw the private equity firm Tower Capital Asia seizing control of a 77.8 % stake in the business from DBS. &nbsp,

” We need to reevaluate and completely change the business,” said Mr. Goh. &nbsp,

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In Trump we do not trust – Asia Times

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We must then add a monetary problems, one capable of making the others little, much worse, to a political crisis and an economic crisis. President Donald Trump abruptly retreated from his tariff policy to the worst version, a retreat that any ordinary leader would have found humiliating. This was because he and his Wall Street supporters realized that by midweek US economic markets were on the verge of disaster, a disaster that could rival or even surpass the 2007-08 crash.

Trump was persuaded to move back a few feet from the rock’s border to which he had taken America and the world, but that threat has been for the time being. However, the mountain is still standing and is still standing. Trump’s business war has caused a loss of faith in US government bill, but that is where the biggest danger lies.

The lira sovereign debt crisis of 2010 appears to be much more recent. US Treasury securities have been viewed as the safest of all economic assets, just like German government bonds were back then by the most reliable of governments. Interest has turned to the now shattered believe as a result.

    to America’s$ 36 trillion common loan, which is four times as large as Japan’s loan and is 12 times as large as Italy’s.

  • to how a good recession would affect that debt,
  • to the resulting increase in interest expenses, and
  • to whether the Trump presidency might use the US dollar and public debt as negotiations leverage.

Additionally, the fact that Trump has already declared a total siege against imports from China by imposing a 135 percent price may increase the chances that China may dump its US Treasuries in answer, even if it would suffer a significant reduction in doing so. China is one of the largest foreign holders of US Treasuries. The$ 759 billion of US Treasuries it held at the end of 2024 represent an obvious weapon since Beijing has stated it is willing to fight the trade war” to the end.”

Trade taxes are bad enough, but this economic collapse poses a serious threat to consumers. Businesses are incredibly dependent on the endurance and great belief of the counterparties with whom business is conducted, many of whom have looked powerful because of their holdings of US Treasuries. When healthy assets begin to appear illegal, all financial institution risk factors start to change, and one’s financing costs start to rise.

A similar trend may be occurring in America today, just as the decline of the Lehman Brothers investment bank in 2008 led to a number of other crises. The US Federal Reserve Board can still be relied upon to help the financial structure by purchasing Treasuries, just as the European Central Bank did by promising to get German bill after 2010; however, the country’s chaotic state makes it impossible to rely on the US Treasury and White House in the same way.

Several fundamental information about Trump must be kept in mind. He has filed for bankruptcy four days to mistake on his debt as a business. He is a globe expert at using energy for self-advancement and knowing everything about international trade and finance.

Sad to say, he is capable of deciding that forcing a renewal of its debts would be wise for America and of overriding experts who might have been averse to do so.

This leaves America and the rest of the world dealing with three difficult realities: one about trade, one about confidence and uncertainty, and one about how the countries ‘ current relationships are becoming at least as significant as their interactions with the world’s most powerful nation, the United States.

Trump’s tax surrender has essentially changed the label for his trade policy from “disastrous” to “hugely damaging.” The imports tax of 10 %, which will now be applied to virtually all nations but China, is also three times as high as it was when he took office, and the additional tariffs he has placed on steel, aluminum, and cars also indicate that the general barrier he is putting in place is higher than America has been for a century.

The doubt that the plan is creating is also devastating. No big business, whether domestic or international, can easily plan long-term investments in the United States with the understanding that Trump might have major changes at any time.

Just weeks after declaring that the 90-day “pause” did not reduce tariffs on Chinese goods, he abruptly announced that all exports of phones and other electronic items would gain from the delay, before confirming that this digital deduction would only be for a short period of time. 80 % of Apple’s smartphones are built in China. Nobody is aware of their position.

The deterioration of the rule of law through attacks on courts and big law firms also raises the risk of conducting business in America. Trump may believe that his trade legislation will encourage hordes of businesses to set up factories inside his tax walls, but the doubt and lack of trust are actually causing a lot of people to leave.

The rest of the world is becoming distant from America, who was once a powerful ally and significant business for everyone, both politically and economically. An separation is not always permanent, as in a relationship, but it fundamentally alters behavior and leaves behind long-term harm.

Second fact: This alienation must be resolved by developing new associations with others. Countries must look for ways to establish and maintain international organizations without the influence of America.

Because trade blocs like the European Union, Mercosur in Latin America, and the Trans-Pacific Partnership in Asia now exist and you bargain collectively, that is fairly simple. China won’t get a full participant of those groups, but discussions with it will be simpler than they currently are with Trump’s United States, because typical interests will be simpler to get.

Because the US dollar will be the world’s major reserve currency and the importance of British banks may be difficult and costly to tremble off, the task is more difficult and takes longer. Making sure our personal financial institutions are strong enough to survive a problems is what must be the first task. Countries will need to consider ways to reduce their dependence on the US dollars and reduce their risk of being exposed to American economic bullying over the long term.

Prior to the US’s restrictions, countries like China, Russia, and Iran felt threatened about this. We are certainly in a completely new world.

Bill Emmott, who was previously The Economist’s editor-in-chief, is already president of the&nbsp, Japan Society of the UK, the&nbsp, International Institute for Strategic Studies, and the&nbsp, International Trade Institute.

This post, which was previously published in La Stampa in Italy on April 12, has been republished with kind agreement.

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GE2025: PAP unveils Sengkang GRC slate led by Lam Pin Min

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The People’s Action Party ( PAP ) officially announced its slate of four candidates for the Workers ‘ Party-held Sengkang GRC in the upcoming General Elections on Sunday ( Apr 13 ).

They are original mature minister of state Lam Pin Min, 56, Elmie Nekmat, 43, Theodora Lai Xi Yi, 39, business development director, and Bernadette Giam, 38, business director.

The PAP’s Sengkang West tree, which is located at Block 303A Anchorvale Link, was led by team president Lam. &nbsp,

Our staff has equitable gender picture and an average period of 43. Despite having different professional backgrounds, he said,” we all have the same desire to win back Sengkang people ‘ believe.” &nbsp,

” A vote for our group means experienced management, renewed enthusiasm, and a&nbsp, unwavering support for Sengkang’s progress,” says the statement.

Dr. Lam, an optician and CEO of Eagle Eye Centre, was formerly a member of the Sengkang GRC crew, where he represented the ruling party in the 2020 General Election.

Additionally, the 2020 squad included attorney Raymond Lye, older attorney Raymond Lye, and labor chief Ng Chee Meng, senior senator for household affairs and wellness Amrin Amin. &nbsp,

With 52 % of the ballot, the WP largely defeated the PAP. The ruling party accounted for 47.28 % of the GRC’s population. &nbsp,

Dr. Lam stated,” I’m still committed to serving the residents of Sengkang West Branch as a community consultant and branch chairman.”

Dr. Lam made his political comeback in 2016 as a member of a five-person PAP team competing in the Ang Mo Kio GRC, and he eventually won the seat in Sengkang West in 2011 and both in 2015.

He served from 2017 to 2020 as the Senior Minister of State for Health and Transport, and he is currently serving as a local adviser in Sengkang. Dr. Lam will be the only candidate to enter the upcoming surveys alongside the preceding team.

In 2024, he was even chosen to serve on the PAP’s Central Executive Committee. The commission is the group’s main system for making decisions. &nbsp, &nbsp,

NEW SYSTEMS

No one of the three people introduced on Sunday has any prior knowledge winning the general election. They are one of the roughly 30 fresh candidates to become fielded by the PAP in the upcoming election, which has its largest slate of fresh heads in recent history.

Assoc Prof. Elmie, a PAP advocate since 2016, teaches contacts and new media at the National University of Singapore’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.

He serves on a number of sheets and authorities, including the Media Literacy Council, the National Library, and the Singapore Sports Council.

He serves as assistant director in the group’s Malay Affairs Bureau and serves as an assistant to the ruling party’s Young PAP.

In terms of Ms. Lai, she began her activism in the group in 2009 and served as the PAP Policy Forum chairwoman from 2019 to 2020. &nbsp,

Moringa Ventures, a venture capital firm, is led by Ms. Lai. She serves as the principal of Tembusu Partners, a private equity firm. &nbsp,

She is also the former chairperson and founding member of the Young Women’s Leadership Connection, a network that aims to motivate and link younger women leaders. &nbsp,

Despite being a relatively new political figure, Mrs. Giam is currently the director of Creative Restaurant, a neighborhood food and beverage company with a long list of companies under its awning, including Bangkok Jam and Suki-Ya.

She succeeds Marcus Loh, a communications expert, as tree chairman of the ruling side’s Sengkang East division on January 23.

From 2016 to 2022, Mrs. Giam was a part of Nanyang Polytechnic’s Business Management Advisory Committee and served on the Women’s Register of the Singapore Council of Women’s Organizations.

She has also served on the Alumni Association of the Convent of the Holy Infant Jesus ( CHIJ) and the Business Management Advisory Committee at Nanyang Polytechnic ( NYP ) since 2016.

SENGKANG GRC&nbsp,

Before the 2020 General Election, there was no four-member district. &nbsp,

It was created by combining parts of the former Sengkang West Single Member Constituency ( SMC), Punggol East SMC, and Pasir Ris–Punggol GRC before the polls.

WP’s campaign group, which includes attorney He Ting Ru, capital research scientist Louis Chua, cultural advocate Raeesah Khan, and associate professor of economics Jamus Lim, won the district in 2020. &nbsp,

Compared to the rest of the country, Sengkang’s community is comparatively younger. Official data indicates that only 19.2 % of its residents are older than 40 years old, compared to 19.2 % of those who are older than that.

The Electoral Boundaries Review Committee’s statement from last month made no changes to the constituency’s restrictions.

After admitting making unfounded allegations in parliament on numerous occasions, Ms. Khan after resigned from WP and her status as MP for Sengkang GRC. &nbsp, &nbsp,

Residents of the district can expect new society spaces, enhanced features in their area, such as a dog work, butterfly temple, and a rooftop garden, according to the Sengkang GRC MPs ‘ new five-year expert strategy for the district last week. &nbsp,

By November 23rd of this year, the second General Election may be held. Following the release of the nation’s updated political chart last month, the results are anticipated to be released quickly.

Updates may be made to this content. Choose reload for the most recent.

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Punch drunk traders across Asia ready for another week of drama and also skipping sleep

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After a year in which Asian stocks posted both their biggest-ever decline and their largest one-day obtain since 2008, place investors are working weekends, skipping sleep, interfering with business trips, poring on social media, and focusing on short-term trades, aware that one man at the world’s furthest reaches may destroy markets again at any moment.

No wonder the region’s economic experts are hysterical. In addition to the uncertainty in stocks, Japanese government bonds posted their worst day ever on Tuesday, credit expands blew out the worst in a row since 2000, the Chinese yuan dropped to its weakest levels since 2007, and the Indonesian rupiah hit an all-time small. &nbsp,

The American penny dropped the most in a moment on Friday before the global financial crisis.

All those maneuvers shifted with regard to US President Donald Trump’s decisions regarding business and officials ‘ responses to those in Asia Pacific. And that’s why it’s proving to be so destructive to regional areas.

Forex traders will be the first to respond as markets reopen on Monday morning, regional time, after the dollar fell against almost all of the main counterparts.

This past year was “horribly tiring and emotionally draining because a new level of mad hits you,” according to Vishnu Varathan, head of economics and strategy at Mizuho Bank,” as soon as a set of parameters that’s put in front of you, as mad as that set is, a new level of mad hits you.” &nbsp,

The global financial crisis was” a lot more severe, much more urgent.” The main difference was that it was designed by us as a team rather than just one person’s desires. That’s how it’s different.

Even though last weekend’s events terrified investors, the market reaction was more extreme than many expected.

Nearly half the portfolio had been transferred into cash by Nick Ferres, chief investment officer of Vantage Point Asset Management in Singapore, which runs a global macro fund with an emphasis on Asia. &nbsp,

As markets began, he realized this wasn’t enough. We were defensive, he said, but” I wish I had done more.” In its three-decade history, MSCI’s Asia Pacific Index experienced the worst decline. &nbsp,

” I worked Sunday through Monday, working.” This week, Ferres reported that I have averaged three hours of sleep per night.

People” completely underestimated the scale and scope of change Trump was going to bring,” said Prashant Newnaha, a Singapore-based strategist at TD Securities, “until the headlines.” They weren’t prepared for it, which is important.

By Wednesday, Vantage Point’s Ferres had spotted a turbulence in the Asian trading market that would compel the administration to soften its grip on tariffs. When yields suddenly spiked on fears of an unwind to the basis trade, the market was in turmoil. &nbsp,

He was correct. Trump’s decision to halt some tariffs for 90 days caused Wall Street to rise and eased jitters in the bond market.

He claimed that” the stress in the bond market contributed to the pivot.” However, he still questioned whether a rebound would last long, and he instead chose to use the rally to divert more risk. The call was successful. The rally had reverted by Thursday in New York. He claimed that he put more risk into the rally than the other way around.

The more the episode drags on, the more your chances of seeing a decline in growth and profits are. It will result in a fundamental shock that is still being weighed against the market, according to Ferres.

The most enthralling aspect of Trump’s policy is the potential for quick turnarounds.

However, it’s odd because one person can flip the switch at any time, which is unusual for multi-strategy hedge fund GAO Capital in Singapore. &nbsp,

According to Trump,” the recession genie has been let out of the bottle so people are going to be more careful,” and traders may now opt to stay up at night and avoid Truth Social for hints on Trump’s next action. &nbsp,

After the rally, we witnessed profit-taking, with few people rushing in to take on new positions. We are still trading short-term and are acting reactively rather than fundamentally long-term.

All that volatility is also affecting regional business plans, aside from the markets. Indonesia’s markets fell on reopening following the weeklong Eid holiday, and Brian Tan, the head of non-China EM Asia economics research at Barclays Plc in Singapore, was in Jakarta for a business trip during the week.

After Trump announced the 90-day pause, he had to squeeze in time to deliver a note to clients early on Thursday morning. He then hopped into his car to juggling a few meetings.

Kok Hoong Wong, Maybank Securities ‘ head of institutional equities trading, said,” Everyone is still on edge.” It appeared as though the financial world was about to end on Wednesday morning, with stocks falling, stock futures falling, and the yen strengthening sharply. We experienced some panic buying at the open on Thursday morning, and by Friday it appeared that people had reacted to the rising sentiment.

” The awareness that Trump may not be the bottom has begun to percolate. Perhaps we will experience a longer-than-expected adjustment period following this trade tariff episode.

According to Louis Gave of Gavekal, a group that runs the Hong Kong-based asset-allocation consultancy Gavekal Research and some global funds, the volatility may have a positive effect.

In a note dated April 10, he wrote,” The past week has demonstrated that the ice investors are skating on is much thinner than most had believed.” &nbsp,

Trump had to significantly reduce his threat of a trade war to stop the crisis. This implies that the majority of tariffs are currently back in the box. Trump is now aware that if he reopens the box, he will run the risk of another equity and bond market collapse. In consequence, it appears likely that the box will remain closed.

Even so, for traders trying to figure out how and where to invest their money after the week’s wild swings, the risk of a rebound is almost as dangerous as that of a new selloff.

” We started covering shorts in a lot of names and closing some short positions during the falling market on Monday,” said Jun Bei Liu, lead portfolio manager at Ten Cap, a long-short equity fund with a focus on Australian equities in Sydney. &nbsp,

The fund increased the number of long positions it found to be less fortunate from a trade war, including those held by Australian companies like Fisher &amp, Paykel Healthcare Corp., Cochlear Ltd., and Pro Medicus Ltd.

However, it’s impossible to be complacent.

The market is “oversold on this pessimism,” she said, adding that even the slightest positive attitude is causing the market to move so quickly. Shorts are dangerous in this sector because some businesses are oversold and we have no idea how quickly they will recover.

–With the assistance of Cormac Mullen, Ruth Carson, Winnie Hsu, Abhishek Vishnoi, Prima Wirayani, and Winnie Hsu.

— ©2025 Bloomberg L. P.

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Why many 2nd-generation Asian Canadians plan to vote Conservative – Asia Times

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The Liberal Party of Canada is beginning to recover after months of social deterioration, which some claim is driven by a wave of national pride in response to Donald Trump’s price battle and threats to American sovereignty.

The Conservative Party of Canada’s ( CPC )’s ) growing appeal among immigrants and their children is obscured by this apparent rebound, which is more surprising.

The centrist Liberal Party has usually been supported by immigrants and members of apparent minority groups. Chinese and South Asian Canadians have long been a significant part of the Liberal base in the Greater Toronto Area ( GTA ), where over half of all residents identify as “visible minority” ( the category used by StatCan ).

However, recent polling reveal a unique perspective. According to a survey conducted in October 2024, 44 % of immigrants have changed their political affiliations since immigrating to Canada, with several then leaning Conservative.

In addition, another national survey from January 2025 found that the majority of East Asian ( 55 % ) and South Asian ( 56 % ) respondents voted in favor of the Conservative Party, far outpacing the Liberals or the NDP.

The two largest populations in Canada are South Asians and Chinese Canadians, accounting for more than 26 % of the country’s population.

The couple available data points suggest a significant shift, despite the rarity of detailed cultural breakdowns in American voting. This style also reflects a wider pattern: South Asian and Chinese Indians in the GTA are becoming more socially active, with a rise in voter participation and a broader political split.

Increasing awareness

For its part, the Conservative Party has taken see. Under Pierre Poilievre’s leadership, the CPC has constantly recruited racial candidates and increased awareness to residential swing ridings, specially through ethnic media ads and messages centered on family values and financial self-reliance.

This racial voter’s shift to the right perhaps seem counterintuitive. Under Stephen Harper’s leadership from 2006 to 2015, the Conservative Party has previously represented white, wealthy voters, and has implemented policies that have overwhelmingly harmed racial communities.

Why, then, do racialized Canadians extremely turn to the right?

In a study I just published, I spoke with 50 white, South Asian, and black children who were born in the Greater Toronto Area ( GTA ) through a study I recently conducted. This change, in my opinion, is not in contradiction with the previous one but provides a glass into how racial groups deal with inequality, isolation, and the research for belonging.

Although there are many reasons why second-generation racist Canadians may back the Conservative Party, this study provides one unexplored explanation. Second-generation South Asian and Chinese Canadians may seek approval when power is related to white by voting for a right-wing party that represents the interests of light, wealthy citizens.

the added costs associated with appropriate in

In other words, many of these racist Canadians don’t voting Traditional because they are ignorant of inequality. They choose to be Traditional because they are navigating it.

The younger people I interviewed watched their immigrant families face deskilling and upward mobility despite having professional certifications and growing up in dangerously middle-class families.

They were pressured by their families to” Canadianize” their titles and accents, only to be let down by companies who also supported white.

And they were raised in a society that frequently ignores structural racism while celebrating historical symbols.

In this environment, supporting the Conservatives reflects a way to overcome exclusion rather than ignorance of it. Having a proper alignment is a sign of belonging.

One younger South Asian American gentleman put it this way:

You’ve arrived, I tell you. You are a French. Thus, begin casting your ballot like a fool.”

This apprehension to relate doesn’t manifest in a pump. It is shaped by cultural scripts that compensation compliance and punish dissention, most notably the design minority stereotype.

Acceptance comes at a price.

Eastern Canadians are portrayed as diligent and silently effective by the model minority stereotype. It appears to be acclaim at first. In reality, it conceals inequality and needs silence in exchange for contingent belonging.

That tolerance is delicate. Some South Asians, especially those who were perceived as Muslims, were immediately recast as dangerous outsiders after Sept. 11, 2001.

Similar themes surfaced again during the Covid-19 pandemic, when racial harassment in Eastern People dramatically increased. In both instances, those who were once hailed as “model” residents were abruptly threatened.

Social caution, such as keeping silent or avoiding protest, can serve as a survival tactic in some situations. However, that’s not what I observed in this review.

The second-generation Canadians I spoke with were not socially calm. They vehemently backed the Conservative Party. Voting Conservative was a way for them to show they were already there, not by requesting incorporation, but by demonstrating they did not need to. Conservative conservatism became a sign of success, independence, and connection to the people who were at the heart of American life.

This idea is reinforced by Canada’s established embrace of multiculturalism. Multiculturalism is unclear how racism actually operates, despite being frequently praised as a regional strength. Behind feel-good stories of addition, architectural restrictions are hidden.

Reconsidering belonging

Race, school, and dignity are frequently the factors that influence who belongs in Canada. Racially divided folks must not only show that they are diligent and upholding the law, but also that they have “fit in.” Voting Conservative is a way for some to demonstrate that they have done the same, as saying,” I’m not like them. One of you is me.

However, this approach has a price. Racialized voters perhaps gain personal recognition while promoting the very structures that marginalize them while furthering social exclusion. And they might avoid the procedures that would contribute to the development of a more just community by rejecting equity-based platforms.

This fluid is not limited to the next generation. Four in five newcomers, according to a recent CBC study, think Canada has accepted to many immigrants and foreign students without appropriate planning.

Some newcomers are becoming more and more expressing their anti-social opinions, frequently toward those who have arrived more just. This also embodies ambitious politicians. And it demonstrates how vehemently intertwined are culture, precarity, and belonging today in Canada.

None of this imply that conservatives who are racialized are nave. Their choices frequently reflect a thorough knowledge of how electricity functions.

But if we want a fairer political future, we must consider how race, class, and nationalism affect belonging, not just at the polls but also in the narratives we tell about who qualifies as” Canadian.”

Inclusion shouldn’t be seen as an act of generosity, as sociology Ruha Benjamin reminds us. It’s not about “helping” the underprivileged; rather, it’s about acknowledging that we are all interconnected. Everyone suffers when fear is removed from public policy and commodities.

Emine Fidan Elcioglu is a University of Toronto associate professor of sociology.

This content was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Learn the article’s introduction.

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Australian house prices: Why are they so high?

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a minute ago
Yang Tian

Reporting fromSydney

Buying or renting a home has become unaffordable for the average Australian, driven by a perfect storm of astronomical house prices, relentless rental increases and a lack of social housing.

With less than a month until the federal election, housing remains among the top issues for voters, and the country’s two major parties – the Labor Party and the Liberal-National Coalition – have both pledged to tackle the crisis in a range of ways.

Australians are now dealing with rising living costs and anticipating Donald Trump’s impact on the world economy. And whether either party’s campaign promises to restore the American dream did win the election.

Why are property prices so high in Australia?

Getty Images A woman in a flower patterned dress, white shoes and carrying a grey bag walks past a homeless person lying on the street. The homeless person is wearing a blue shirt, black pants and lying on a blue and orange striped towel with a blue bag near placed near their head.Getty Images

Just put, Australia hasn’t been producing sufficiently homes to meet the needs of its rapidly expanding people, leading to a shortage that makes any available house more expensive to purchase or lease.

The issue is exacerbated by Australia’s restrictive planning regulations, which prevent new homes being constructed in areas like big cities where the majority of people want to survive.

Popular urban areas like Melbourne and Sydney are significantly less deep than comparable-sized cities around the world due to red tape.

People are being pushed into poverty or overcrowded living conditions as a result of the steadily declining public enclosure market and the exploding waitlists that are currently filling the air.

Numerous other places are becoming increasingly unlivable as a result of natural disasters like wildfires and severe hurricanes destroying large swathes of land.

Home ownership has been commercialized in the wake of ages of government policies. The notion of owning a home, when viewed as a proper in Australia, has now become an investment opportunity.

What is the cost of buying or renting a house in Australia?

In essence, it depends on your location.

According to a 2023 Demographia International Housing Affordability study, Sydney is now the second-least cheap city in the world for purchasing real estate.

The most recent data from CoreLogic, a provider of property analytics, shows that the average Sydney home costs almost A$ 1.2 million ( £570, 294,$ 742, 026 ).

The average home price in each of the nation’s capital cities is really over A$ 900,000.

Overall, house prices in Australia have increased by 39.1 % over the past five years, and wages have struggled to keep up.

According to a report from the 2024 Status of the Housing System, the typical prospective renter now needs about 10 years to save the 20 % loan needed to purchase a typical household.

Getty Images A row of detached bungalow homes behind a white picket fence on a suburban street. One house has a bright red door and the other has a yellow door, with green trees in their front yards.Getty Images

Prices have increased by 36.1 % nationwide since the start of Covid, or an equal increase of A$ 117 per week, which is negated by the rental market.

Sydney topped the tables, according to CoreLogic’s most recent hire evaluation, with a median regular book of A$ 773. The second-highest prices, Canberra at A$ 667 per year, were paid for in Perth, with average prices of A$ 695 per month.

Are international buyers and immigration causing housing stress?

Immigration and buying of foreign real estate are frequently cited as the causes of Australia’s housing crisis. However, researchers contend that they don’t mathematically contribute significantly.

According to Michael Fotheringham, head of the American Housing and Urban Research Institute, many people who move to Australia are temporary immigrants, such as foreign students who live in designated student housing more than attempting to buy real estate.

According to Mr. Fotheringham,” The impact ] of migrants on the housing market is not as significant as some observers have suggested.”

According to Brendan Coates, a public policy think container from the Grattan Institute, home buying are” a very small problem” with little significant impact on housing pressure.

Homes purchased by international buyers in 2022-23 represent less than one cent of all income, according to the most recent information released by the Australian Taxation Office.

According to the current international funding regulations, it’s already very difficult for foreigners to buy homes. They are content to a wide range of income, especially in some states, Mr. Coates explains.

What have the main functions of Australia promised?

Labor and the Coalition both pledged to invest in more houses, with the Coalition promising to uncover 500,000 while Labor offered 1.2 million by 2029.

In their most recent finances, Labor made a$ 33 billion housing investment plan that promises to assist first-time consumers in getting shared-equity money to buy properties with smaller deposits.

Additionally, they have pledged to increase social enclosure and grant incentives to aid low-to-moderate-income people in renting and owning more comfortably.

Cutting movement, reducing the number of foreign students, and enforcing a two-year restrictions on international investment in existing properties are key components of the Coalition’s housing affordability strategy.

Additionally, they have promised a$ 5 billion boost to the infrastructure to pay for the construction of housing development sites ‘ water, power, and sewerage costs.

Getty Images Prime minister Anthony Albanese wearing a black suit and orange tie gestures with his hands during a debate. Opposition leader Peter Dutton stands to his left with his hands clasped in front and wearing a black suit and pink tie.Getty Images

Meanwhile, the Greens ‘ policies have focused on lowering renters ‘ demands by calling for national rent caps and freezes.

Additionally, they have stated that they will work to reform taxes incentives for owners in the event of a minority government.

What are the experts ‘ opinions regarding the guidelines of each party?

In summary, according to experts, neither Labor nor the Coalition’s guidelines are effective at resolving the housing crisis.

According to Mr. Coates,” a combination of the parties ‘ systems may get better than what we’re seeing individually.”

According to an Urban Development Institute of Australia statement from 2025, the federal government may fall short of delivering its goal of 1.2 million new houses by 2029, or about 400,000.

According to Mr. Coates, the Coalition’s efforts to reduce emigration will only contribute to Australia becoming less affordable in the long run while reducing the cost of cover.

Getty Images An aerial view of the Sydney city skyline with views of the harbour, rows of inner city houses and green spaces. Rows of orange roofs dot the foreground, with the blue water of the harbour running in between white and black skyscrapers and Sydney Tower in the background on sunny day.Getty Images

He claims that the relocation cuts will result in fewer skilled migrants, and Australians may pay more in taxes as a result of the loss of income from those migrants.

Decades of underinvestment in social housing also result in a marked increase in demand in that sector, which, according to Mr. Fotheringham, is considerably lower than supply, which accounts for 4 % of housing inventory.

Additionally, there is problem about grants for second consumers, which increase costs even further.

While he applauds the progress made in taking these issues really, Mr. Fotheringham believes it will take years to get Australia out of a housing crises that has been raging for years.

He claims that the country has been” sleeping into this for a while.” The political class is paying attention, according to the statement,” Now ] the nation is paying attention.”

Kellie Highet provided further monitoring and videos in Sydney.

Following our policy of the 2025 election in Australia.

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Rollback of diversity programmes will ‘deepen divisions’ and ‘exacerbate inequality’: Edwin Tong

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A&#; SINGAPORE: The reduction of diversity, equity, and inclusion ( DEI ) programs will “deepen divisions” and “exacerbate inequality,” according to a report from DEI. Edwin Tong, the minister for culture, community, and youth, said on Friday ( Apr 11 ).

US President Donald Trump’s administration has reverted almost 80 professional orders from the Trump era, many of which were in favor of La programs, since taking office in January.

Big firms like Pepsi, General Motors, and others In response, Google, Disney, Intel, and PayPal have all cut back on or removed DEI links from their quarterly reports to traders.

Dismissing   Defined as” a risk” in La structures “rives risks sending the wrong message to the rest of the world at a time when there are growing conflicts and polarizations, casting doubt on gender equality and equity as an international priority,” Mr. Tong said. at a dinner to raise money for SG Her Empowerment ( SHE), a non-profit organization.

He added that launching a divisive rhetoric of “us” vs.” them” does end years of fought-for benefits.  

He claimed that in recent months, global standards and discussion have been attacked.

There has been a “massive reset” of La programs in the US federal government as a result of changes in the US political leadership, he said, adding that this has spilt into the private business as a result.

The secretary noted that it can include transnational results, particularly when some businesses have operations abroad.

He cited a Financial Times document that claimed some of the biggest players in the S&& market. Since Mr. Trump’s re-election, the P 500 Index has reduced or eliminated DEI words in its annual reports.

What’s troubling me the most is that these businesses have actually axed their La programs because of the shift in social attitudes and mindsets, which suggests to me that the La programs were only created because of optics, and I don’t believe that is acceptable,” he said.

Della supporters defend it on the grounds that it is unfair and ; should be replaced with a “color blind and merit-based ” society, according to Mr. Tong.

This totally misses the purpose of DEI, he continued.

We are aware of the existence of administrative discrimination and invisible biases that prevent the creation of a really fair and meritocratic society in Singapore.

This disregards the lived experience of those that DEI was meant to serve and gain by assuming that the playing area is level to begin with, which may sometimes not be the case. “

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New Zealand: Treaty Principles Bill voted down after widespread outrage

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Kathryn Armstrong

BBC News

Getty Images Members of the Māori community march in a protest rally to criticise the government for its policies affecting the Indigenous Mori population in Wellington.Getty Images

In its second reading, a contentious act that sought to rewrite the founding document of New Zealand, which established the rights of both Mori and non-Mori, was defeated.

The Treaty Principles Bill was defeated 112 to 11 times after a government commission had suggested that it should not be introduced.

The proposed legislation sought to legally define the principles of the 1840 Treaty of Waitangi – causing widespread outrage that saw more than 40,000 people taking part in a protest outside parliament last year.

The bill had already been widely expected to fail, with most major political parties committed to voting it down.

The single MPs to cast a ballot for it at the following checking on Thursday were members of the right-wing Act Party, which sponsored it. David Seymour, Act’s head, has pledged to continue his campaign on the subject.

He wrote on social media that he believed the costs or something similar would move in a day because there were no compelling arguments in favor of its contents.

During a conversation prior to the ballot in November, tensions were high in congress. After refusing to remove a statement in which he called Seymour a “liar,” Labour MP Willie Jackson was ordered to leave.

Labour leader Chris Hipkins said the proposed legislation would forever “be a stain on our country”, while Te Pāti Māori [The Māori Party] MP Hana Rāwhiti Maipi-Clarke – who gained international attention for starting a haka in parliament at the bill’s first reading – said it had been “annihilated”.

Instead of dividing and conquering, this act has backfired and brought together areas across the nation in support of our founding deal and what it represents, according to Green Party co-leader Marama Davidson, who afterward said in a statement.

A limited council, which had been reviewing the proposed policy, released its final report, which revealed that more than 300, 000 entries had been made, the vast majority of which were opposed, leading to the next reading.

The New Zealand legislature has ever received the most extensive answer to legislative proposals.

Getty Images Act leader David Seymour speaks to media after a service to commemorate Waitangi Day at the Waitangi Treaty Grounds on February 06, 2025Getty Images

While the principles of the Treaty have never been defined in law, its core values have, over time, been woven into different pieces of legislation in an effort to offer redress to Māori for the wrong done to them during colonisation.

The primary tenets of the legislation’s proposed regulations were that everyone was equal before the laws and had the right to equal protection, and that the New Zealand government had the authority to govern and have parliament to pass laws.

The bill do” maintain the process of defining the Treaty rules,” according to the group, and would not change the Treaty itself. They believe this may promote social cohesion and promote justice for all New Zealanders.

Ruth Richardson, a former finance minister for the centre-right National Party, was one of those who backed it, telling the select committee that the policy was” a bill of result whose time has come.”

She claimed that the Treaty itself could not be refuted, but that the concept of its rules was a “relatively current matter,” and that these rules had so far been mostly defined by the authorities, rather than congress.

” On the cultural before, there is a new essential in New Zealand: the need to solve and correct the overreach of the Treaty, which has glaringly become wrong and wayward,” she said.

AFP Members of the Maori community and their supporters march through the streets in a protest rally to criticise the government for its policies affecting the Indigenous Mori population in Wellington AFP

Despite this, critics of the bill say it may hurt Mori and lead to more sociable divisions.

On behalf of the Ngti Whtua rkei hap [sub-tribe], Sharon Hawke, the daughter of the late Mori activist and MP Joe Hawke, told the select committee that the legislation” strips the fabric of where we’ve been heading for the last three decades” in terms of improving” Maori’s ] ability to gain education, warm housing, and good health.”

She continued, adding that the act “polluted” the notion of all New Zealanders having a coming together.

” We will continue to show our antagonism to this,” she said.

Members of the public who submitted to the limited committee’s commission identified the key points as being inconsistent with the Treaty’s values and that it promoted equality with equity without taking into account social disparities, such as those brought on by the legacy of colonization.

Concerns were raised over whether the bill complied with international law and whether it would have a negative impact on New Zealand’s reputation abroad.

In addition, supporters of the bill’s supporters cited the present lack of clarity and certainty regarding the Treaty’s fundamental rules and the importance of justice for all.

Additionally, they argued that a vote was necessary to start a conversation about the Treaty, things David Seymour also thinks is necessary.

The strong party in New Zealand’s ruling coalition, National, who had promised to support it as part of a partnership agreement with Act, but no more, supported the Treaty Principles Bill during its first reading in November.

Prior to this, former head of the National Party, Christopher Luxon, the prime minister, claimed there was nothing in the act that he liked. He did not attend the second reading of the legislature, but earlier in the day he said it was time to move on.

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High Court dismisses suit against 2 Chinese news veterans over S0,000 ‘loan’ for failed business venture

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SINGAPORE: The High Court on Wednesday (Apr 9) dismissed a businessman’s suit against two Chinese news veterans over a loan of S$990,000 (around US$733,600). 

Mr Ren Xin Wu had given the purported loan to Mr Chua Chim Kang, the former head of Mediacorp’s Chinese news team, and Ms Lee Kuan Fung, a former news veteran with Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao from Singapore Press Holdings (SPH).

The sum was allegedly a working capital for two businesses that provided tuition and specialised in Chinese-language programmes and events.

The holdings company – called Homing Holdings – was ordered to wind up in January 2021.

Mr Chua stepped down from his role as head and chief editor of Chinese news and current affairs at Mediacorp in February, saying he resigned due to health reasons.

Ms Lee had spent 18 years at SPH before leaving in May 2017, her LinkedIn profile showed. 

In getting Ms Lee and Mr Chua to return the S$990,000 to him, Mr Ren later sued them both, claiming that it was an interest-free loan repayable in three years from 2017 when it was given.

However, Mr Chua and Ms Lee’s lawyers alleged that there was no such agreement. 

Delivering his verdict on Wednesday, Judicial Commissioner Mohamed Faizal said the agreement entered by the three parties bore a clause that specifically stated that the money was loaned “on a no-guarantee” basis.

Given the clear language of the clause of the agreement, he added that the parties agreed to “squarely put the risk of non-return” on Mr Ren if the business did not “blossom” in the way that the parties had hoped. 

BACKGROUND OF THE CASE

The court heard from the defendants’ opening statement that Mr Ren, a citizen of China and a Canadian resident, first met Mr Chua in 2015 when the latter was an executive with SPH.

At the time, Mr Chua had been in the news media industry for about 15 years.

Over a social lunch, Mr Ren mentioned that he wanted to promote and raise the profile of an event for China Minsheng Investment Group, the defence said.

In the capacity of his role at SPH, Mr Chua then introduced Ms Lee to Mr Ren since she was in a position at SPH where she could assist him.

Mr Ren later had a successful project with SPH, the defence said in its opening statement.

The trio later met to celebrate the success and had subsequent lunches, where Mr Ren purportedly persuaded the two news veterans to start a business with him.

Homing Holdings was incorporated in June 2017. It was the holding company for the operating companies Luminaries Holdings and Lulele Learning. 

On July 26 in 2017, the parties entered an agreement, which stated that Mr Ren would invest S$10,000 into Homing Holdings for a 35 per cent share.

Mr Chua and Ms Lee would “commit to management and intellectual property” in return for a 35 per cent and 30 per cent share of Homing respectively.

The agreement also bore a clause stating that Mr Ren would extend a loan of S$990,000 to Homing Holdings on a “no guarantee, interest-free basis for a duration of three years” – above and beyond his equity investment of S$10,000. 

SUIT AGAINST MR CHUA AND MS LEE 

In the written judgment, it was stated that the main issue of Mr Ren’s claim was whether the loan agreement between the three shareholders contained an implied term that sought to impose duties on Ms Lee and Mr Chua to procure the return of the loan from Homing Holdings.

During the civil trial, which opened in the High Court last November, both Mr Chua and Ms Lee denied that the agreement had the effect of a personal guarantee that would render them personally liable, pointing that this would fall within the ambit of a “special promise” under the Civil Law Act.

They argued that since there was no such personal guarantee in writing or that it was signed by Mr Chua and Ms Lee, no action shall be brought against them.

They also submitted that personal liability was never envisioned under the agreement, since one of the clauses specifically provided that the loan was on a “no guarantee, interest-free basis”.

On his part, Mr Ren alleged that sometime in August 2020, he had spoken to Mr Chua over the phone about the return of the loan. 

In his affidavit, he testified that during phone calls on Aug 3 and 4 in 2020, Mr Chua had agreed to a return of the loan by transferring S$210,000 from Homing Holdings to Mr Ren within two days.

The two men would then transfer all of their shares to Ms Lee.

Following that, Homing Holdings would provide a contract to pay Mr Ren a sum of S$765,000 with interest over the next one to three years.

However, Judicial Commissioner Faizal said that because the agreement had a clause that specifically states that the money was being loaned “on a no guarantee” basis, it fortified the conclusion that the loan was provided to Homing Holdings without any assurances, promises or confirmation on outcomes or results.

Turning to an audio file that Mr Ren submitted during the trial – of a conversation between Mr Ren and Mr Chua suggesting that such an agreement did take place – the judge further said that the extract provided “little to no” context to it. 

In his written judgment, he also said it was clear that Mr Ren was “actively painting an inaccurate picture” of the phone conversations between himself and Mr Chua.

He noted that Mr Ren was “literally saying nothing in response … except stock phrases or platitudes”. At times, Mr Ren even persuaded Mr Chua to “think twice about promising such things to his own detriment”.

“Not only does the stark difference between Mr Chua’s and Mr Ren’s responses suggest that Mr Ren was, in essence, laying the groundwork for Mr Chua to say things he was seeking to surreptitiously record, but the entire flow of conversation is impossible to appreciate or understand in the absence of badly needed context,” the judge continued.

The extract of the recording that Mr Ren put forth had lacked the clarity and nuance necessary to determine the true nature of the interaction.

The jduge added that even if it were taken at face value, it was “immediately obvious” that there was every chance that this was an “intentionally incomplete and misleading” piece of evidence.

Moreover, he noted that Mr Chua could not have promised a transfer of S$210,000 from Homing Holdings to Mr Ren since he could not decide matters for the company on his own.

Judicial Commissioner Faizal said that Mr Ren was “not the most credible” of witnesses, explaining that there was a “marked shift” observed from the evidence he provided in his affidavit to his oral evidence on the stand. 

“In particular, Mr Ren’s evidence in court appeared to be so slanted that it was difficult to accord it any credit,” he added, noting that Mr Ren had adopted conspiratorial stances on “almost anything” that Ms Lee and Mr Chua did over the course of their business venture.  

This included Mr Ren’s stance that the entire business of Homing Holdings was an elaborate hoax engineered by Ms Lee and Mr Chua to defraud him of his money, as well as his suggestion that Ms Lee had “destroyed all the evidence” and was in the habit of “using company funds to resolve her personal issues”.

SUIT AGAINST GOLDCITI AND MS LEE 

On Wednesday, the High Court also dismissed another suit against Ms Lee and Goldciti, a company hired to provide restructuring advice to Homing Holdings when it was threatened with proceedings to wind up the business. 

The suit was filed by liquidators for Homing Holdings, with the suing parties claiming that Ms Lee had caused Homing Holdings to enter into a sham agreement with Goldciti to siphon funds from the former.

Homing Holdings sought to recover the sum of S$40,000 paid under the alleged sham agreement for services that were never rendered, as well as to hold Ms Lee liable for breaching her fiduciary duties as director of the company.

Another accusation was that Ms Lee had conspired with Goldciti to defraud Homing Holdings and caused it to suffer a financial loss.

To support the allegation that it was a sham transaction, the liquidators pointed to the “extremely belated” production of two documents – a proposal between Homing Holdings and Goldciti entered on Sep 30, 2020, and the Goldciti report – which suggested that the documents were manufactured at a later date.

Despite having sought these documents from Ms Lee and Goldciti on numerous occasions, Homing Holdings claimed that the Goldciti report was produced only on Nov 16, 2022, two months after formal legal proceedings began.  

On Wednesday, the judge ruled that the transaction was not a sham because the liquidators did not discharge their burden of proving on a balance of probabilities that this was the case. 

He gave a lot of weight to the testimony of Ms Yessica Budiman, one of the people representing the liquidators for Homing Holdings.

It seemed that she had “accepted” during cross-examination that the arrangements were not likely to be a sham as had been suggested by the contents of her affidavit, the judge added.

His judgment was that her concessions were an “all-but-fatal” turn to the claim.

Addressing the point that the liquidators made about Goldciti and Ms Lee failing to produce an original soft copy of the Goldciti report, the judge said that the misplacement of original soft copies of documents is a “common, unintentional and frustrating feature of our daily lives”. 

The liquidators had alleged that the report was fabricated to legitimise a payment of S$80,000 from Homing Holdings to Goldciti for providing advice on restructuring options.

They also alleged that it was not prepared in November 2020 but was backdated to give an appearance of services rendered.

However, the judge said that such lack of an original soft copy cannot, in and of itself, be grounds for inferring malicious intentions, adding that it was highly unlikely that the report would have been fabricated from scratch. 

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Nobel Laureate touts ‘Three Zero’ theory

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Muhammad Yunus offers advice to young era on building a better planet

Prof Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Laureate economist and chief adviser to the government of Bangladesh, gives the keynote address at the Bimstec Young Gen Forum on Thursday, ahead of the leaders’ summit of the regional group on Friday in Bangkok. (Photo: Muhammad Yunus Facebook account)
Prof Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Laureate scholar and chief adviser to the state of Bangladesh, gives the presentation target at the Bimstec Young Gen Forum on Thursday, ahead of the leaders ’ summit of the local party on Friday in Bangkok. ( Photo: Muhammad Yunus Facebook account )

The “Three Zero Theory ” is a way for the younger generation to a sustainable new society, says Professor Muhammad Yunus, a Nobel Laureate scholar and chief adviser to the state of Bangladesh.

Prof Yunus laid out his strong perception in a keynote talk at the first Bimstec Young Gen Forum: Where the Future Matches, hosted on Thursday in Bangkok by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with TNN World.

He called on budding companies across the Bay of Bengal area represented by Bimstec to reject antiquated systems in favour of new models for growth.

“If we want to create a new culture, we must keep older ideas behind because they were the crib of the old culture, ” he said.

He proposed a creative foundation called “Three Zero”, referring to zero carbon emissions, zero money focus and zero employment.

Prof Yunus argued that company in this new society must not be driven by greed, which he warned eventually leads to success collecting among a select some.

“ When money becomes concentrated, energy follows. And if energy is not shared with the citizens, world collapses, ” he said.

“We usually brand rising success among the few as ‘development’, ‘economic growth’, or a ‘great economy’. But these are, in reality, seeds of decline. Without equal distribution, society may succeed. ”

He criticised present society’s deep-rooted materialism, stating that the attainment of this at all costs has led to unworkable waste and environmental degradation.

“Life should not be about producing spare, but conserving and protecting the environment, ” said Prof Yunus, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for founding the Grameen Bank and founding entrepreneurship and finance.

Central to his idea of zero employment is a definition of what career means.

Instead of seeking standard jobs, he urged community to motivate people, especially the younger generation, to be entrepreneurs.

“Every human being is born with an entrepreneurial talent, ” he asserted, challenging the current education program.

“Schools really teach kids how to be entrepreneurs, never job seekers. Today’s children have far more probable than earlier generations. ”

To help realise his, Prof Yunus encouraged people aged 12 to 35 to shape “Three Zero Clubs”, community activities dedicated to low-carbon life, success capital, and the entrepreneurial spirit.

“This idea must begin small, in communities, ” he said. “If it works, it can be expanded. Life is about building prototypes. Once you have a working model, the rest becomes easy. If one model works, it can be replicated thousands of times.

“Start small. If you succeed on a small scale, you can conquer the world. ”

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