KJ

Following are the highlights of the 2014 Budget themed “STRENGTHENING ECONOMIC RESILIENCE, ACCELERATING TRANSFORMATION AND FULFILLING PROMISES” which was tabled by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak in Parliament on 25th Oct 2013. * The domestic economy is projected to grow at a stronger pace of between 5.0 per cent to 5.5 per cent. * The unemployment rate is estimated at 3.1 per cent while the inflation rate will remain low at between 2 per cent and 3 per cent. * Goods exports are expected to grow 2.5 per cent due to improving external demand while on the supply side, the construction sector is expected to grow 9.6 per cent. * The per capita income for 2014 is expected to reach RM34,126 compared with RM24,879 in 2009, an increase of 37 per cent over six years. * It is even possible that Malaysia will achieve developed nation status much earlier than 2020. * The 2014 Budget allocates a total of RM264.2 billion to implement programmes and projects. * Of this amoun...

Iceland leads four Nordic countries at the top of the table, while the Philippines joins the top five for the first time in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap 2013 report, published today. The report ranks 136 countries on their ability to close the gender gap – making sure women are not held back – in four key areas: health and survival, education, politics and economic equality. 1. Iceland holds the top spot for the fifth consecutive year, continuing to boast the narrowest gender gap in the world. Iceland’s overall score moves up due to improvements in economic participation and opportunity, as well as political empowerment. 2. Finland continues to hold the second position despite slight losses in its overall score due to a decrease in economic opportunity and participation. 3. Norway follows next, with a light increase in its overall score. Norway has just appointed a female prime minister, Erna Solberg, and is also one of the top 10 countries for the numbe...

Squeeee! Prince William and Duchess Kate pose with their excited little prince. The portraits were taken in the Morning Room, which dates back to 1825, when it was designed as a "Breakfast Room" for the Duke of Clarence. The world got a rare glimpse of 3-month-old Prince George — and his chubby cheeks — outside of St. James’s Palace just before his christening on Wednesday. Now be prepared to enjoy his little baby face four more times with the official set of christening photos released by the palace Thursday. One of the photos is history in the making: the newest heir to the British throne, Prince George, pictured with his three elder generations for the first time. Four generations: Prince William, 31, holds his 3-month-old son, George, while standing next to Prince Charles, 64, and Queen Elizabeth, 87. The portrait is reminiscent of another historic photo of British royalty taken after the christening of Prince Edward of York, the future Edward VIII, in 1894. T...