DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Son of founder of modern Singapore says he is now a political refugee
▼ + stars: | 2024-10-22 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

SINGAPORE — Lee Hsien Yang, the youngest son of the founder of modern Singapore, Lee Kuan Yew, said Tuesday that he is now a political refugee from Singapore under the U.N. Refugee Convention. I remain a Singapore citizen and hope that someday it will become safe to return home,” he said. Britain’s high commission in Singapore did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The government said in response that it would consider issues related to the property in due course.

Persons: Lee Hsien Yang, Lee Kuan Yew, Lee, Lee Hsien Loong, ” “, ”, ChannelNewsAsia, Lee Wei Ling Organizations: Refugee, Guardian Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, Britain

☆ Pope Francis arrives in Singapore, last stop on 12-day Asia tour
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-11 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

SINGAPORE — Pope Francis arrived in Singapore on Wednesday from East Timor, on the final leg of an ambitious 12-day journey across Southeast Asia and Oceania. The pope will also hold private meetings with President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, and former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong. Francis is only the second pope to visit Singapore, following a brief five-hour layover by the late John Paul II in 1986. On landing in Singapore, Francis was met by Edwin Tong, the Minister for Culture, Community and Youth, and received flowers from local schoolchildren. Francis’ 12-day tour has also included stops in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.

Persons: Pope Francis, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Lawrence Wong, Lee Hsien Loong, Francis, John Paul II, Edwin Tong, Francis ’ Organizations: Aero Dili, Culture ,, Youth Locations: SINGAPORE, Singapore, East Timor, Southeast Asia, Oceania, Dili, East Timor’s, Rome, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea

☆ India's Modi expected to usher in new era of bilateral agreements in Singapore visit
▼ + stars: | 2024-09-04 | by ( Charmaine Jacob | In Charmainemariajacob | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the launch of BJP membership campaign on Sept. 2, 2024 in New Delhi, India. Modi will also be meeting Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Senior Minister and former Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, and Emeritus Senior Minister Goh Chok Tong during his two-day visit. Dean Kassim | Afp | Getty ImagesEarlier this week, the Indian prime minister made his inaugural trip to Brunei where he met Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. Modi is India's first prime minister that has made a bilateral visit to the oil-rich country. The Indian prime minister had also visited Italy for the G7 summit, Russia, Ukraine and Poland in the last three months since his reelection.

Persons: Narendra Modi, Lawrence Wong, Modi, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Lee Hsien Loong, Goh Chok Tong, Anit Mukherjee, Mukherjee, Dean Kassim, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Omar Ali Saifuddien, Nirmala Sitharaman, Jaishankar, Wong, Vivian Balakrishnan, Balakrishnan Organizations: Indian, Hindustan Times, Getty, Singapore, Senior, King's College London, CNBC, Imports, Brunei International, Afp, High Commission of, Institute of South Asian Studies, Finance, Foreign Locations: New Delhi, India, Singapore, Asia, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, High Commission of India, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lion City

☆ Singapore’s Lawrence Wong sworn in as new prime minister — the first leadership change in 20 years
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Lawrence Wong was sworn in on May 15 as Singapore's new prime minister, after Lee Hsien Loong stepped down following two decades in office. Edgar Su | Afp | Getty ImagesSINGAPORE — Singapore's Lawrence Wong was inaugurated as the city-state's fourth prime minister on Wednesday, taking over from former prime minister Lee Hsien Loong, who has led Singapore for 20 years. Trade and industry minister Gan Kim Yong will be promoted to deputy prime minister and work alongside current DPM Heng Swee Keat. Lee, the eldest son of Singapore's founding Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew, announced last month he will hand over power to the new prime minister in mid-May. Wong also served as principal private secretary to then prime minister Lee Hsien Loong from 2005 to 2008.

Persons: Lawrence Wong, Lee Hsien Loong, Edgar Su, Singapore's Lawrence Wong, Lee, Gan Kim Yong, Heng, Kim Yong, Swee Keat, Wong, Gan, Ong Ye Kung, helming, Singapore's, Lee Kuan Yew Organizations: Afp, Getty, SINGAPORE, Trade, Monetary Authority of, Party Locations: Singapore, Monetary Authority of Singapore, Gan

☆ Singapore’s Riches Grew Under Its Leader. So Did Discontent.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Sui-Lee Wee | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

He made Singapore even more prosperous by largely following the semi-authoritarian and free-market model pioneered by his father, Lee Kuan Yew, the country’s first leader. On Wednesday, Singapore gets a new leader for the first time in nearly 20 years. But there are concerns that the vaunted “Singapore model” is failing more and more people. Singapore is one of the most expensive cities in the world, but it does not have a minimum wage. The strains are exacerbated by the need for overseas workers; about 40 percent of Singapore’s nearly six million people are not citizens.

Persons: Taylor Swift, Lee Hsien Loong, Lee Kuan Yew, Lee, Lawrence Wong Locations: Singapore, United States

☆ Singapore's incoming PM Wong appoints new deputy PM in minor reshuffle
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Singapore's Finance Minister Lawrence Wong will be promoted to deputy prime minister, in a cabinet reshuffle announced on June 6. Singapore's incoming prime minister Lawrence Wong announced a minor cabinet reshuffle on Monday ahead of assuming the top post later this week, with the biggest change the promotion of the trade minister to become his deputy, local media reported. Trade Minister Gan Kim Yong, 65, was given the additional title of deputy prime minister and was made Wong's replacement as chair of the central bank, media said. Wong will take over the premiership from Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, 72 on Wednesday. Wong will become only the fourth prime minister of the 59-year-old nation, which has been ruled by one party since 1959.

Persons: Lawrence Wong, Gan Kim Yong, Wong, Lee Hsien Loong Organizations: Singapore's, Trade

☆ Tim Cook visits Singapore amid Apple's Southeast Asia expansion efforts
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Dylan Butts | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Tim Cook, chief executive officer of Apple Inc., center, arrives at Apple Developer Academy at Binus University in Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia, on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Apple's Tim Cook is in Singapore for the latest leg of his whirlwind tour around Southeast Asia as the CEO pivots toward the region for expansion and sales growth amid struggles in China. Cook's arrival in the city follows Apple's announcement of plans to invest over $250 million into its operations in Singapore. While the tech giant already employs 3,600 people in the country, Apple said the expansion will provide space for new roles, including in artificial intelligence. Apple did not immediately respond to a CNBC request for comment about Cook's itinerary.

Persons: Tim Cook, Apple's Tim Cook, Cook, Cook's, Lawrence Wong, Lee Hsien Loong, Lee, Wong, Apple, Joko Widodo Organizations: Apple Inc, Apple Developer Academy, Binus University, Bloomberg, Apple, CNBC Locations: Tangerang, Banten, Indonesia, Singapore, Southeast Asia, China, state's, Cupertino , California, Vietnam

☆ Singapore's new Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will take office on May 15
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-15 | by ( Lee Ying Shan | In Ying-Shan-Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore's new prime minister Lawrence Wong will be sworn in on May 15, 2024. SINGAPORE — Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong will step down on May 15 and hand over the power to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, the Prime Minister's Office said on Monday. Wong, who will be sworn in at 8 p.m. local time that day, will be Singapore's fourth prime minister since its independence in 1965. Lee has served as prime minister since 2004. Wong, who is 51, entered politics after being elected a member of parliament during the 2011 General Election.

Persons: Lawrence Wong, Lee Hsien Loong, Wong, Lee Organizations: SINGAPORE — Singapore's, Minister's, Action Party, Finance, Monetary Authority of Locations: SINGAPORE, Monetary Authority of Singapore

☆ Debate heats up as Singapore prime minister says exclusive Taylor Swift deal isn't 'unfriendly'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Monica Pitrelli | Marylou Costa | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Tuesday that a closed-door deal for Taylor Swift to perform in the city-state ensured she would not perform in other Southeast Asian countries during her Eras tour. The statement is the first confirmation from the city-state that the agreement for Swift to perform in Singapore contained exclusivity terms preventing her from performing in other countries. He also did not reveal the size of the grant to Swift, but stated the amount is "not anywhere as high as speculated." During her first three concerts in Singapore, Swift asked her audience to applaud — first the locals, then those who had traveled from overseas to come to the show. Edwin Tong Singapore Minister for Culture, Community and YouthSome liken the deal to how cities vie to host major sports events, such as the Olympics, the Super Bowl and the World Cup.

Persons: Lee Hsien Loong, Taylor Swift, Swift, Edwin Tong, Srettha Thavisin, Joey Salceda, Lee, Ashok Kumar, —, Selena Oh, de Boer, Irene Hoe, — haven't Organizations: Singapore, Reuters, Thai, Swift's, Philippine, Getty, Edwin Tong Singapore Minister, Culture ,, Super Bowl Locations: Singapore, Southeast Asia, Melbourne, Bangkok, ASEAN, Tokyo, Asia, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Asia — Tokyo, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Philippines, Cambodia, what's, Edwin Tong Singapore

☆ Eras Tour: Singapore defends Taylor Swift’s exclusive Southeast Asia stop after neighbors cry foul
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-05 | by ( Kathleen Magramo | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Singapore is drawing fans from all over Southeast Asia and beyond to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, much to the annoyance of the city-state’s regional neighbors. “[Our] agencies negotiated an arrangement with her to come to Singapore and perform and to make Singapore her only stop in Southeast Asia,” Lee said at a press conference in Melbourne while on a state visit to Australia. I don’t see that as being unfriendly.”“If we had not made such an arrangement, would she have come to more places in Southeast Asia? Southeast Asia fans dig deep to see SwiftThe Eras Tour is a multi-continent extravaganza that surged to become the highest-grossing tour of all time – and Swift is making Singapore a lot of money. I never really spent big like six-digit (Philippine peso) amounts for someone else, just Taylor Swift,” Suizo said.

Persons: Taylor, Swift, Joey Salceda, Lee Hsien Loong, “, ” Lee, Edward Tong, ”, Srettha Thavisin, Taylor Swift, hasn’t, Edmund Ong, Yun Liu, Errol De Asis, Gilliane, Christel Kaye Kuan, Yedda Mendoza, ” Suizo, it’s, Granada, That’s Organizations: CNN, Southeast, Singapore –, ”, Singapore, Coldplay, World Bank Locations: Singapore, Southeast Asia, Melbourne, Australia, Bangkok, Thailand, Philippines, Asia, Maybank, ASEAN, Gilliane Granada, China, Granada

☆ Singapore transport minister resigns after being charged with corruption in a first for the city state
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Singapore’s Transport Minister S. Iswaran has resigned after being charged with corruption on Thursday, the prime minister’s office said, confirming a historic development for a city state that prides itself on having a squeaky-clean government. The charges against Iswaran are part of the biggest corruption probe to engulf Singapore’s ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) in decades. Singapore’s anti-graft agency, the Corrupt Practices Investigation Bureau (CPIB), which reports directly to Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, has been leading investigations into Iswaran’s case. Lee is the eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s first prime minister and founding father. The corruption probe into Ong and Iswaran comes at a sensitive time for Lee as he plans to step aside after nearly 20 years leading the country.

Persons: Iswaran, Tan Kiat Pheng, Ong Beng Seng, Ong, Lee Hsien Loong, Lee, ” Lee, Lee Kuan Yew, Singapore’s, ” Eugene Tan, ” Organizations: CNN, Singapore’s, Iswaran, Action Party, Singapore, Prix, Practices, Party, Government, Ong, Singapore Management University Locations: Singapore

☆ In a Rare Move, Singapore Charges a Government Minister With Corruption
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( Sui-Lee Wee | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

It was an unprecedented set of events in Singapore: a government minister charged with corruption and then hauled to court. Allegations of impropriety involving Mr. Iswaran became public in July. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong ordered him to take a leave of absence while the authorities investigated Mr. Iswaran’s dealings involving a billionaire who helped bring the Formula 1 auto race to Singapore. The charges unveiled against him include two counts of corruption and one charge of obstructing justice. He is also facing 24 counts of “obtaining, as a public servant, valuable things” worth more than hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Persons: Hamilton, Iswaran, Lee Hsien Loong Locations: Singapore, Britain

☆ Brunei comes to a standstill for royal wedding of Prince Abdul Mateen
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-15 | by ( Heather Chen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Life in the tiny oil-rich kingdom of Brunei came to a standstill Sunday for a grand royal wedding attended by heads of state and royals from Bhutan and Middle Eastern countries, the highlight of 10 days of celebrations. The lavish ceremony saw Prince Abdul Mateen, the tenth child and fourth son of Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, wed his long-time partner, Yang Mulia Anisha Rosnah, the granddaughter of a royal adviser. Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty ImagesThe 32-year-old prince, a British-trained and educated military officer in the Brunei Royal Armed Forces who’s sixth in line to his father’s throne, has become the modern face of Brunei’s royal family. Iqbal Selamat/AFP/Getty ImagesThe royal wedding at Brunei's Istana Nural Palace. To Their Majesties Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah and Queen Raja Isteri, our warmest congratulations on this happy occasion.”Prince Mateen kneels before his father, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, after the solemnization ceremony.

Persons: Prince Abdul Mateen, Brunei’s, Brunei’s Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Yang Mulia, Rosnah, Nurul Iman, Bandar Seri Begawan, Mateen, Mohd Rasfan, Michael Jackson, Britain’s, Prince Charles, Teh Firdaus, –, Iqbal Selamat, Lee Hsien Loong, Hassanal Bolkiah, Raja Isteri, ” Prince Mateen, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Mateen’s, Hassanal Organizations: CNN, Nurul, Royce, Getty, Brunei Royal Armed Forces who’s, Abaca Press, United Arab, Singapore Prime, AP, of Defense Locations: Brunei, Bhutan, Middle, Brunei’s Sultan, Bandar Seri, Bandar Seri Begawan, AFP, British, Malaysian, Nural, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Borneo, Britain

☆ APEC's 'San Francisco Principles' on sustainability, inclusiveness
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The so-called "San Francisco Principles on Integrating Inclusivity and Sustainability into Trade and Investment Policy" are aimed at considering "economic, social and environmental dimensions in a balanced way" in APEC members' policies. -- Strengthening data collection and research on trade and investment policies to monitor economic, environmental and social impacts. But the final language in the San Francisco Principles accounts for differences among the 21 diverse APEC economies that include China, the U.S. and Brunei. "Measures should consider economic, social and environmental dimensions in a balanced way, in line with economies' circumstances, and should not exacerbate inequalities." Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Chizu NomiyamaOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Joe Biden, Yoon Suk, Fumio Kishida, Joko Widodo, Lee Hsien Loong, Vo Van, Bongbong Marcos, David Lawder, Chizu Organizations: South, Japan's, FRANCISCO, Asia, Economic Cooperation, Trade, Investment, APEC, San Francisco, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Vietnam, Vo Van Thuong, Philippines, China, U.S, Francisco, San Francisco, Brunei

The 2023 Earthshot Prize winners:This year’s winners were chosen from a shortlist of 15 finalists by Prince William and the Earthshot Prize Council, chaired by Christiana Figueres, a former UN climate chief, who played a key role in negotiating the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. The Prince of Wales speaks with the winners of the 2023 Earthshot Prize following the awards ceremony on Tuesday night. Irwin added that the Earthshot Prize offers “hope,” which “is something we all need to hang on to.”The Singapore skyline was lit up in green to celebrate the Earthshot Prize on Monday. Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty ImagesFigueres, who is also an Earthshot Prize trustee, told CNN that it was “such a joy” to work with the Prince of Wales. The prince said he was “thrilled” to be in Singapore for the third Earthshot Prize ceremony and outlined his vision for supporting this year’s shortlist of finalists.

Persons: Wales, Prince William, “, ” William, Christiana Figueres, Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Ernest Gibson, Jack Ma, Prince, Chris Jackson, Nidhi Pant, Emily Owen, ’, Ted Lasso ”, Hannah Waddingham, Sterling K, Brown, Cate Blanchett, Nomzamo, Robert Irwin, OneRepublic, Irwin, ”, Hunter, Steve Irwin, Mohd Rasfan, Prince of Wales, William, we’ve, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Lee Hsien Loong, Catherine, Princess, Prince George Organizations: CNN’s Royal, Singapore CNN, Earthshot, Theatre, MediaCorp, Royal Foundation, WildAid, Technologies, S4S Technologies, CNN, ”, Voices, Getty, Figueres, BBC, PBS, Singapore, Jewel, HSBC Locations: Singapore, India, UN, Paris, Peru, South America, Hong Kong, South African, ”, AFP, Gardens, Kallang

SINGAPORE (AP) — Britain's Prince William took to the waters in Singapore for a morning of dragon boating Monday, ahead of activities for the annual Earthshot Prize awards aimed at promoting solutions for the planet’s environmental threats. Working in pairs, William and the other 19 paddlers rowed vigorously to the steady beat of a drummer standing in the bow. His boat triumphed in a brief race with another boat captained by British High Commissioner Kara Owen. Dragon boat racing, originating from China, can be traced back nearly 2,000 years before it became a modern international sport in 1976. That inspired the prince and his partners to set a similar goal for finding solutions to environmental problems by 2030.

Persons: — Britain's Prince William, Prince, Wales, William, Kara Owen, Kate, Princess, “, Laura Greenwood, Hannah Waddingham, Sterling K, Brown, Robert Irwin, Oscar, Cate Blanchett, Lana Condor, John F, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Lee Hsien Loong Organizations: SINGAPORE, British Dragons, British High, Royal Foundation, Sterling, Singapore, United, Wildlife Locations: Singapore, Kallang, Wales, Canada, China, British, Asia, London, Boston, Kensington, Southeast Asia

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Lawrence Wong delivers the Singapore Energy Lecture during the 15th Singapore International Energy Week, in Singapore October 25, 2022. REUTERS/Isabel Kua/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSINGAPORE, Nov 5 (Reuters) - Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday said he will hand leadership of the ruling People's Action Party to Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong as soon as the party's 70th anniversary in November 2024, a year before an election is due. He has served as party secretary-general and prime minister since 2004 and last year chose Wong, who is also finance minister, as his successor. Therefore, I intend to hand over to DPM Lawrence before the next general election," Lee said at an annual party conference. He served as Lee's principal private secretary from 2005 to 2008 and led the education and national development ministries before becoming finance minister in 2021 and deputy prime minister last year.

Persons: Finance Lawrence Wong, Isabel Kua, Lee Hsien Loong, Lawrence Wong, Wong, Lee, Lee Kuan Yew, DPM Lawrence, Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, Chong Ja Ian, Chen Lin, Michael Perry, Christopher Cushing Organizations: Finance, Singapore Energy, Singapore International Energy, REUTERS, Rights, Singapore Prime, Party, Monetary Authority of, Nanyang Technological University, Still, National University of Singapore, Thomson Locations: Singapore, Rights SINGAPORE, Lawrence, Monetary Authority of Singapore

SINGAPORE (AP) — Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Sunday he planned to bow out and hand over power to his deputy, Lawrence Wong, late next year, before the 2025 general election. He has served as head of the long-ruling People's Action Party, or PAP, and as prime minister since 2004. Therefore, I intend to hand over to DPM (Deputy Prime Minister) Lawrence before the next general election,” Lee said at a party conference. I will do my best to help him fight and win the next GE (general election),” Lee added. Lee is the eldest son of Lee Kuan Yew, who became Singapore's first prime minister and built the resource-poor city-state into one of the world’s richest nations during 31 years in office.

Persons: Lee Hsien Loong, Lawrence Wong, Lee, Wong, “, Lawrence, ” Lee, PAP's, Heng Swee Keat, Heng, Lee Kuan Yew Organizations: SINGAPORE, — Singapore, Party, GE, COVID, Finance, PAP Locations: Lawrence

☆ Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong to lead ruling party before general election
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Lawrence Wong attends the Singapore-India Hackathon ahead of the G20 Finance Ministers, Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) and Finance & Central Bank Deputies (FCBD) meetings in Gandhinagar on July 16, 2023. (Photo by Sam PANTHAKY / AFP) (Photo by SAM PANTHAKY/AFP via Getty Images)Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Sunday that Deputy Prime Minister Lawrence Wong will take over from him as leader of the ruling People's Action Party before the next general election due by November 2025. With the PAP widely expected to continue dominating elections, Wong is likely to become Singapore's next prime minister. Lee, who has served as prime minister since 2004, is the eldest son of Singapore's founding father, Lee Kuan Yew. He announced last year that Finance Minister Wong, 50, would be his successor and promoted him to be his deputy.

Persons: Lawrence Wong, Sam PANTHAKY, Lee Hsien Loong, Wong, Lee, Singapore's, Lee Kuan Yew, DPM Lawrence Organizations: Finance, G20, Ministers, Central Bank Governors, Finance & Central Bank Deputies, SAM PANTHAKY, Getty Images, Singapore, Party Locations: Singapore, India, Gandhinagar, AFP, Lawrence

☆ UK, Singapore partner to boost economic growth, strengthen security
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Companies Atomico (UK) Partners LLP FollowSept 8 (Reuters) - The British government has signed a partnership with Singapore to grow its economy and enhance shared security, Downing Street said on Friday, adding it was the UK's first treaty since leaving the European Union. They said the partnership will give Singaporean companies more confidence to invest in Britain and vice-versa, while also creating jobs. The British government added that the partnership will strengthen security cooperation, science and technology innovation, and research and development, including countering cyber threats, through a partnership between Singapore's Digital and Intelligence Service and Britain. "This new agreement with Singapore will take us even further in delivering our priorities and ensure that, as we map the future of the world economy, we are doing so alongside our closest partners," Rishi Sunak said. Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal in Bengaluru; Editing by Josie KaoOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Downing, Rishi Sunak, Lee Hsien Loong, Rishabh, Josie Kao Organizations: Atomico, Partners, British, European Union . British, Singapore's Digital, Intelligence Service, Britain, Thomson Locations: Singapore, India, Britain, New Delhi, Bengaluru

☆ Factbox: Who is attending the G20 summit in New Delhi?
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

People stand infront of Nataraja, a statue of Hindu lord Shiva as the cosmic dancer, installed next to 'Bharat Mandapam', the main venue of the G20 Summit, in New Delhi, India, September 7, 2023. REUTERS/Altaf Hussain Acquire Licensing RightsNEW DELHI, Sept 8 (Reuters) - Leaders from the Group of 20 (G20) major economies kick off an annual summit meeting on Saturday to coordinate policy on food security, debt problems of vulnerable countries and climate action. Here is a list of those attending and some key leaders who are skipping the meeting in the Indian capital, New Delhi. G20 LEADERS:ARGENTINA'S PRESIDENT ALBERTO FERNANDEZ AUSTRALIAN PRIME MINISTER ANTHONY ALBANESE BRAZIL'S PRESIDENT LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVABRITISH PRIME MINISTER RISHI SUNAK CANADIAN PRIME MINISTER JUSTIN TRUDEAU FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON GERMAN CHANCELLOR OLAF SCHOLZINDIAN PRIME MINISTER NARENDRA MODI INDONESIAN PRESIDENT JOKO WIDODOITALIAN PRIME MINISTER GIORGIA MELONIJAPANESE PRIME MINISTER FUMIO KISHIDA SAUDI ARABIA'S CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMANSOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT YOON SUK-YEOLTURKISH PRESIDENT TAYYIP ERDOGAN U.S. PRESIDENT JOE BIDENEUROPEAN UNION: PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION URSULA VON DER LEYEN AND PRESIDENT OF THE EUROPEAN COUNCIL, CHARLES MICHELSPECIAL INVITEES:BANGLADESH PRIME MINISTER SHEIKH HASINAEGYPT PRESIDENT ABDEL FATTAH AL-SISIMAURITUIUS PRIME MINISTER PRAVIND KUMAR JUGNAUTHNETHERLANDS PRIME MINISTER MARK RUTTE NIGERIA'S PRESIDENT BOLA TINUBU OMAN'S SULTAN HAITHAM BIN TARIK AL-SAID SINGAPORE PRIME MINISTER LEE HSIEN LOONG UAE PRESIDENT SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN ZAYEDOTHERS ATTENDINGU.S. Treasury Secretary Janet YellenThe heads of the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, the World Health Organisation, the World Trade Organisation, the International Labour Organisation, the Financial Stability Board and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. NOTABLE MISSING GUESTSCHINESE PRESIDENT XI JINPING (represented by Prime Minister Li Qiang)MEXICAN PRESIDENT ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ OBRADORRUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN (represented by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov)Sources: Reuters, officials, state media and domestic mediaCompiled by Aftab Ahmed and Shivangi Acharya; Editing by Sanjeev Miglani and Raju GopalakrishnanOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Shiva, Bharat Mandapam, Altaf Hussain, ALBERTO FERNANDEZ, ANTHONY ALBANESE, LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA, JUSTIN TRUDEAU, EMMANUEL MACRON, OLAF SCHOLZ INDIAN, NARENDRA MODI, JOKO, GIORGIA, FUMIO KISHIDA, FUMIO KISHIDA SAUDI ARABIA'S CROWN PRINCE MOHAMMED BIN SALMAN, CYRIL RAMAPHOSA, YOON SUK, TAYYIP ERDOGAN, JOE BIDEN, URSULA VON DER, CHARLES MICHEL SPECIAL, SHEIKH HASINA, ABDEL FATTAH, PRAVIND KUMAR, MARK RUTTE, BOLA TINUBU, HAITHAM BIN TARIK, LEE HSIEN LOONG, SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN ZAYED, Janet Yellen, XI JINPING, Li Qiang, ANDRES MANUEL LOPEZ, VLADIMIR PUTIN, Sergei Lavrov, Aftab Ahmed, Shivangi, Sanjeev Miglani, Raju Gopalakrishnan Organizations: REUTERS, LUIZ INACIO LULA DA SILVA BRITISH, FUMIO KISHIDA SAUDI ARABIA'S CROWN, CYRIL RAMAPHOSA SOUTH, TAYYIP ERDOGAN U.S, OF, EUROPEAN, CHARLES MICHEL SPECIAL INVITEES, ABDEL FATTAH AL, Treasury, United Nations, International Monetary Fund, World Bank, World Health Organisation, World Trade Organisation, International Labour Organisation, Organisation for Economic Cooperation, Development, Foreign, Thomson Locations: New Delhi, India, DELHI, BANGLADESH, SHEIKH HASINA EGYPT, NETHERLANDS, SINGAPORE, LEE HSIEN LOONG UAE, MEXICAN, RUSSIAN

On Wednesday, China's Li warned against starting a "new Cold War" and warned countries against taking sides in any conflict. Harris, attending the meetings instead of President Joe Biden, reiterated a U.S. commitment to the region. "The United States has an enduring commitment to Southeast Asia and more broadly to the Indo-Pacific," she said. A White House official said earlier the U.S. shared interests with ASEAN in "upholding the rules-based international order, including in the South China Sea, in the face of China's unlawful maritime claims and provocative actions". The Chinese premier and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida met briefly on the sidelines of the summit on Wednesday and discussed Japan's release into the sea of treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear plant.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos, Jr, Lee Hsien Loong, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sarun, Pham Minh Chinh, Fumio, Yoon Suk Yeol, Joko, Kamala Harris, Li Qiang, Sergei Lavrov, China's Li, Harris, Joe Biden, Fumio Kishida, Kanupriya Kapoor, Robert Birsel Organizations: Singapore's, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam's, Japan's, ASEAN, Russian, Association of Southeast Asian Nations, White, U.S, Japanese, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Fumio Kishida, South, JAKARTA, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, South China, Myanmar, Korea, Russia, United States, Southeast Asia, China, Laos

☆ Myanmar won't be allowed to lead Association of Southeast Asian Nations in 2026, in blow to generals
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

An official ASEAN statement issued Tuesday night confirmed the decision to hand the chair to the Philippines in 2026 and affirmed the group's commitment to a five-point plan for restoring peace and stability in Myanmar. The ASEAN leaders' statement on Myanmar stressed the desire to work with the generals to end the country's crisis, especially in the context of the five-point plan which Myanmar accepted in 2021 but has largely failed to implement. "All of us are aware of the magnitude of the world's challenges today, where the main key to facing them is the unity and centrality of ASEAN," Widodo told fellow leaders. "ASEAN leaders must ensure that this ship is able to keep going, able to keep sailing," Widodo said. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said before flying to Jakarta that he plans to offer assurances of the safety of the ongoing release into the sea of treated radioactive wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear power plant.

Persons: Ferdinand Marcos, Lee Hsien Loong, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sarun, Pham Minh Chinh, Joko Widodo, Sonexay Siphandone, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, Hun Manet, Anwar Ibrahim, Xanana Gusmao, Adi Weda, Aung, Ferdinand Marcos Jr, Marcos, Retno Marsudi, —, Marsudi, bloc's, Widodo, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Li Qiang, Sergey Lavrov, Fumio Kishida Organizations: Singapore's, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam's, Cambodia's, Malaysia's, East Timor's, ASEAN Summit, Afp, Getty, United, Aung San Suu, ASEAN, Indonesia, Associated Press, European Union, Myanmar Armed Forces, Foreign Ministry, ASEAN Chair, Indonesian, Assistance Association for Political, U.S ., U.S, Russian, Japanese Locations: Laos, East, Jakarta, Myanmar, United States, Aung San, Philippines, Philippine, ASEAN, Naypyidaw, South China, U.S, China

☆ ASEAN welcomes world leaders as China-U.S. rivalry overshadows region
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

The United States and its allies have echoed ASEAN's calls for freedom of navigation and overflight and to refrain from building a physical presence in the area. Just before this week's gatherings, China released a map with its "10-dash line" delineating what it considers its waters, that appeared to expand its claims in the South China Sea. The United States has also courted ASEAN countries with varying degrees of success. 'GREAT DANGER'Lina Alexandra, a political analyst at think tank CSIS, said the draft was "very weak on the issues of the South China Sea". President Joko Widodo of ASEAN chair Indonesia warned on Tuesday that members must not become proxies in big-power rivalry.

Persons: Ferdinand " Bongbong, Marcos Jr, Lee Hsien Loong, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sarun, Pham Minh Chinh, Li Qiang, Joko Widodo, Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Xi Jinping, ASEAN's, Lina Alexandra, Alexandra, Wednesday's, Aung, Suu Kyi, Stanley Widianto, Kate Lamb, Kanupriya Kapoor, Robert Birsel Organizations: Singapore's, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnam's, ASEAN, Wednesday, The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, U.S, White, United, Reuters, CSIS, Thomson Locations: Philippines, Laos, JAKARTA, United States, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia, India, South China, States, South, Indonesia, ASEAN, Myanmar, Suu, Brunei, Cambodia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

☆ Singapore picks economic czar Tharman Shanmugaratnam as its next president
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-02 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Former deputy prime minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, 66, will become Singapore's ninth president after winning 70.4% of votes. Roslan Rahman | Afp | Getty ImagesA former member of Singapore's ruling party on Saturday scored a landslide victory to become the city-state's president, in an election seen as a barometer of public sentiment amid economic challenges and high-profile scandals. Former deputy prime minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam, 66, won 70.4% of votes, the elections department said, to become Singapore's head of state. The country is a parliamentary democracy and Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is the head of government. Tharman is as credible as it gets," said political scientist Walid Jumblatt Abdullah of Nanyang Technological University.

Persons: Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Roslan Rahman, Lee Hsien Loong, Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, Tharman Organizations: Afp, Getty, Saturday, Analysts, Action Party, Nanyang Technological University, PAP Locations: Singapore

Search resuls for: "Lee Hsien Loong"

25 mentions found