He could brush his teeth only at 10. Now 13, this S’porean is a music honours student at a top Aussie uni

A Singaporean boy named Nathanael Koh is enrolled in an honours programme at the Australian National University, despite being only 12 years old. He is majoring in music composition and enjoys studying. Nathanael has global developmental delay, which affects cognitive and physical development. He was homeschooled by his parents and tutors and scored high marks in five GCSE O-level and two GCE A-level exams in science and maths. He completed a Bachelor of Music programme in two years, with a 3.86 out of 4 GPA. He also completed his diploma in music theory from Trinity College London at the age of nine.

He enjoys swimming, cycling, playing board games and video games.
He has composed about 200 pieces, with 10 commissions so far.
He volunteers composing and rearranging pieces for concerts by various ensembles.
He wishes to further his studies in science and maths but doesn't know what the future holds.
His father urges parents to let their children develop at their own pace.
Nathanael was bullied in Sunday school and youth group, but he is over that now.

Source: The Straits Times

新加坡副总理黄循财于2月24日在国会2023年度预算案辩论闭幕时，为新加坡低税负担和紧缩的财政立场辩护。他强调，新加坡需要在2024年进行第二次商品和服务税（GST）上调，以照顾不断增长的老年人口。

新加坡税负低

相比其他发达的经济体，新加坡的税收占国内生产总值（GDP）比率要低得多，仅为14％。这种低税负奖励辛勤工作的员工和企业，让人民和企业能够保留大部分所得。

增加政府收入的替代方案

反对党提出了替代收入来源，包括财富税、公司税和土地销售收入。然而，黄循财表示，在确保新加坡的健全和稳定的公共财政下，需要对收入、消费和资产征收混合税。财富税在现实中难以实行；公司税则面临竞争；将土地销售收益视为租约期间收入分割不太可能产生更多相比新加坡今时今日已获得的收入。

社会流动和解决不平等问题的必要性

在周三的开幕演讲中，反对党领袖毕丹星警告说，在没有采取更多措施解决不平等问题的情况下，将出现“两个新加坡”。在他周五的闭幕演讲中，黄循财回应了呼吁采取更多行动以解决不平等问题的呼声。为确保低薪工人的实际工资可持续增长，国人需要为他们的同胞提供的服务支付更多费用来增加工资。

结论

新加坡副总理黄循财为上调GST辩护，并强调了对收入、消费和资产征收混合税以提供新加坡健全与稳定的公共财政的必要性。他还回应了呼吁采取更多行动解决不平等问题的呼声，以确保社会流动仍然是“健全而有活力”。

He could brush his teeth only at 10. Now 13, this S’porean is a music honours student at a top Aussie uni

新加坡政府坚持提高消费税（GST），尽管税收负担较低且公共服务质量高，引发国民的欢欣鼓舞。