Singapore: Why Lee Kuan Yew Resigned from the Cabinet

From the epochal to the mundane, the decisions of Singapore’s Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew have steered the history of his island nation for more than half a century. But as the political party Lee founded in 1954 seeks to shore up its sliding fortunes with a younger and more politically outspoken electorate, the 87-year-old man regarded as modern Singapore’s founding father has withdrawn from day-to-day governance by quitting his Cabinet post along with Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong, who succeeded Lee as Prime Minister in 1990

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Essay: IN PRAISE OF MAY-DECEMBER MARRIAGES

They come out on the world with lips shining,Flocks and generations, until timeSeems like nothing so muchAs a blinding snowstorm of virginity,And a man, lost in the perpetual scurry of white,Can only close his eyesIn a resignation of monogamy.—Christopher Fry's Venus ObservedMORE and more older men refuse to be resigned. Despite today's much-heralded split between generations, which should guarantee coeval marriages, the number of old-young alliances may be increasing.

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Controversial former Japanese finance minister found dead

Former Japanese Finance Minister Shoichi Nakagawa, who resigned from his post after appearing intoxicated at a news conference earlier this year, was found dead in his home Sunday, police told CNN. Tokyo police found Nakagawa, 56, lying face down on a bed on the second-floor of his home, Kyodo reported.

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Sanford’s wife: ‘His career is not a concern of mine’

Jenny Sanford said Thursday that her husband Mark Sanford’s political career is "not a concern of mine" and that she’d be just fine — regardless of whether their marriage survives. She would not speculate whether her husband would resign as South Carolina governor

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UK lawmakers slammed over expenses secrecy

Anti-secrecy campaigners have criticized a decision by UK lawmakers to censor a report on their expenses claims, some of which was leaked earlier amid huge public outcry. The online publication on Thursday is the result of a newspaper filing a freedom of information request to see the claims by MPs, but some of the information is blacked out. The redaction prompted criticism from campaigners seeking transparancy.

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Comment: UK Speaker’s resignation first step to clean stables

Michael Martin, forced to resign as Speaker of the British parliament, has become the highest profile victim of the expenses scandal which has dominated public life in Britain now for nearly two weeks. Martin has suffered because as Speaker he not only chaired debates in the Commons chamber but was in effect parliament’s chief executive. In that role he was responsible for the Fees Office.

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Church gives fresh meaning to ‘offering’ plate

The pastor of a non-denominational church in Argyle, Texas, passed around the collection plate to his congregants earlier this year — and asked them to take money from it. Martin said lawmakers had let the public down “very badly indeed,” adding: “To the extent that I have contributed, I am profoundly sorry,” said Martin.

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UK lawmakers call for speaker to quit over expense scandal

Michael Martin, the speaker of the House of Commons, rebuffed calls from lawmakers for his resignation Monday amid widespread public anger about improper expense claims by UK members of parliament. Martin said lawmakers had let the public down “very badly indeed,” adding: “To the extent that I have contributed, I am profoundly sorry,” said Martin

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