Singapore

SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong called on Monday for greater integration between Southeast Asian countries at a time when multilateralism is under threat. His remarks came at a business summit on the sidelines of meetings this week between the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and external partners, including the United States and China, which are locked in a bitter trade war. "ASEAN has great potential, but fully realising it depends on whether we choose to become more integrated, and work resolutely towards this goal in a world where multilateralism is fraying under political pressures," Lee said at the ASEAN Business and Investment Summit. Lee has previously warned that the U.S.-China trade war could have a "big, negative impact" on Singapore, and the city-state's central bank has warned it could soon drag on growth. Notably absent from this week's meetings in Singapore is U.S. President Donald Trump, who has said several … [Read more...] about Singapore calls for closer South Eeast Asia, says multilateralism under threat

By Jack Kim SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong suggested on Sunday a general election may be called next year, more than a year before his government's mandate ends, as the city-state braces for growing economic uncertainty amid global trade tensions. Lee's People's Action Party (PAP) has dominated Singapore's politics over the five decades since the republic's independence, winning all the elections with significant majorities, and faces no real challenge to its power. But it has tried to address signs of voter discontent by vowing to ease wealth disparity and improve social mobility, while moving ahead with a leadership transition to pick a successor who will take over from Lee in coming years. "This may be the last party conference before the next general election," Lee told the PAP convention. "The new CEC (Central Executive Committee) will be leading the party into the final stretch, gearing up to put our record before the voters," Lee said. The annual … [Read more...] about Singapore PM Lee hints at early election next year

By Jack Kim and Aradhana Aravindan SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Facebook has rejected a Singapore government request to remove a post of an online article that the government said was "false and malicious", prompting its Law Ministry to say the case illustrated the need to introduce legislation to stop fake news. Singapore's central bank said on Friday it had filed a police report against an online article by an Australia-based independent blogger about Singapore banks and Malaysia's scandal-linked 1MDB state fund. Web access in Singapore to the website of the States Times Review (STR) has been blocked by internet service providers as directed by Singapore's telecom and media regulator IMDA, which said it had determined the website carried prohibited content. "IMDA has assessed that the article undermined public confidence in the integrity of the Singapore Government and is objectionable on grounds of public interest," Infocommm Media Development Authority (IMDA) said in a statement. STR … [Read more...] about Facebook refuses Singapore request to remove post after critical website blocked