Lee Hsien Loong
A Muslim couple wearing face mask and face shield while waiting for vaccine for the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) at a vaccination centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Monday, May 31, 2021. An exhibition center in Malaysia has been turned into the country's first mega vaccination center as the government aims to speed up inoculations amid a sharp spike in infections. (AP Photo/Vincent Thian)
Asia Today: Vietnam to test high-risk groups in largest city

May. 31, 2021 12:11 AM EDT

FILE - In this Wednesday, May 22, 2019 file photo, Singapore's Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat attends a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Han Zheng, at Diaoyutai state guesthouse in Beijing. Singapore’s designated future leader, Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat, has taken himself out of the running in a surprise decision, saying in a letter released Thursday, April 8, 2021 that a younger person with a “longer runway” should become the next prime minister. (Florence Lo/Pool Photo via AP, File)
Singapore's designated future leader steps aside, citing age

Apr. 08, 2021 12:35 PM EDT

Young Catholic devotees wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus stand try to get a glimpse of the the Black Nazarene at the Santa Cruz Church in Manila, Philippines a day before it's feast day on Friday Jan. 8, 2021. The annual Jan. 9 procession attended by tens of thousands of devotees has been cancelled amid the threat of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in one of Asia's biggest religious events. Several Black Nazarene replicas have been placed around churches as the government asks devotees to pray at their communities instead of going to downtown Quiapo where the original image stays. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)
Asia Today: China city offers cash for tip on test evaders

Jan. 07, 2021 10:06 PM EST

FILE - In this June 30, 2020, file photo, people are dwarfed against the financial skyline as they take photos of the Merlion statue along the Marina Bay area in Singapore. Singapore has approved the use of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine and the first shipment will arrive by end of this month, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Monday, Dec. 14, 2020. (AP Photo/Yong Teck Lim, File)
Singapore approves use of Pfizer's COVID-19 vaccine

Dec. 14, 2020 05:58 AM EST

Voters observe social distancing while lining up at the Dunearn Secondary School polling station in Singapore Friday, July 10, 2020. Wearing masks and plastic gloves, Singaporeans began voting in a general election that is expected to return Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's long-ruling party to power. (AP Photo/Royston Chan)
Safety protocol, job fears, family feud in Singapore polls

Jul. 09, 2020 09:42 PM EDT

Wheelchair-bound voters, wearing face masks, leave the Alexandra Primary School polling center after casting their votes in Singapore, Friday, July 10, 2020. Wearing masks and plastic gloves, Singaporeans began voting in a general election that is expected to return Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's long-governing party to power. (AP Photo)
Singapore's ruling party holds on to power but faces setback

By Eileen Ng And Ee Ming Toh Jul. 09, 2020 08:05 PM EDT

Heng Swee Keat, Singapore Deputy Prime Minister and First Assistant Secretary-General of the People’s Action Party, wears a face mask while speaking to residents at the Bedok South market during the final day of the election campaign Wednesday, July 8, 2020, in Singapore. Singaporeans go to the polls on July 10, 2020, in Southeast Asia's first election since the coronavirus pandemic began, with the health crisis and an economic recession expected to bolster Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong's party and extend its unbroken rule. (AP Photo/Royston Chan)
Singapore governing party set to extend power in elections

By Eileen Ng And Ee Ming Toh Jul. 08, 2020 08:56 PM EDT

People's Action Party Secretary-General and Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, right, fields questions from the media at a nomination center ahead of the general election in Singapore, Tuesday, June 30, 2020. Campaigning began Tuesday for Singapore's general elections, with the opposition hoping to dent the ruling party's supermajority in parliament with support from Prime Minister Lee's estranged younger brother. (AP Photo/Yong Teck Lim)
Singapore election campaign begins, PM's brother not running

By Ee Ming Toh Jun. 30, 2020 04:38 AM EDT

Lee Hsien Yang, left, brother of Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, meets with opposition party's candidates in Singapore Wednesday, June 24, 2020. Lee Hsien Yang said Wednesday he has joined the Progress Singapore Party because he is concerned about issues such as governance and transparency, but declined to say whether he will run in the July 10 polls. (Risa Suzuki/Kyodo News via AP)
Singapore PM's brother joins opposition party ahead of polls

Jun. 24, 2020 05:58 AM EDT

In this photo provided by Singapore Ministry of Communications and Information on Tuesday, June 23, 2020, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong makes an announcement about general elections in Singapore. Lee called for early elections to seek a fresh mandate despite the coronavirus pandemic. (Singapore Ministry of Communications and Information via AP)
Singapore leader calls early elections despite pandemic

By Royston Chan Jun. 23, 2020 04:37 AM EDT

Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong calls for general elections amid coronavirus pandemic to seek fresh mandate

Jun. 23, 2020 04:23 AM EDT
SINGAPORE (AP) — Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong calls for general elections amid coronavirus pandemic to seek fresh mandate. ...

A woman walks her dog past a hand sanitizer positioned in an amulet market in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, June 2, 2020. Amulet markets were allowed to reopen on Monday, June 1, 2020 as the Thai government continues to ease restrictions related to running business in the capital Bangkok that were imposed weeks ago to combat the spread of COVID-19. Believers in amulets say they can bring good fortune, true love or just about anything else. Sign reads as "Stop. Use hand gel before walking in. Please cooperate. Step beneath to pump" (AP Photo/Gemunu Amarasinghe)
Asia Today: South Korea clamps down again as virus rebounds

Jun. 01, 2020 11:42 PM EDT

In this Sunday, May 10, 2020, photo, the S11@Punggol complex of dormitory buildings for foreign workers are seen behind a row of trees in Singapore. A second wave of coronavirus infections in tightly packed foreign workers' dormitories has caught Singapore off guard, and exposed the danger of overlooking marginal groups in a health crisis. (AP Photo/YK Chan)
'Tale of 2 outbreaks': Singapore tackles a costly setback

By Eileen Ng May. 11, 2020 01:24 AM EDT

In this handout photo taken and released Tuesday, Apr. 21, 2020, by Singapore's Ministry of Communication and Information, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong provides an update on the COVID-19 situation in the city state. Singapore has announced that it would extend its lockdown by another four weeks after a sharp upsurge in COVID-19 cases in recent days. (Singapore Ministry of Communication and Information via AP)
Singapore prolongs virus lockdown until at least June 1

Apr. 21, 2020 07:52 AM EDT

A volunteer sprays disinfectant on people queueing for free food in Bangkok, Thailand, Tuesday, April 21, 2020. A month-long state of emergency remain enforced in Thailand to allow its government to impose stricter measures to control the coronavirus that has infected hundreds of people in the Southeast Asian country. (AP Photo/Sakchai Lalit)
Asia Today: Singapore extends lockdown amid surge in cases

Apr. 21, 2020 12:15 AM EDT

People walk along the balconies of the S11@Punggol complex, a dormitory building for migrant workers in Singapore on Monday, April 20, 2020. Singapore announced their biggest single-day spike in new coronavirus cases on Monday, as the crisis intensifies in parts of Asia. The city state reported a record 1,426 new coronavirus cases on Monday, mostly among foreign workers. The S11 Dormitory@Punggol is one of two foreign worker dormitories that have been announced as isolation areas, which means that foreign workers who stay there are under quarantine. (AP Photo/YK Chan)
Singapore reports a record 1,426 new cases, total past 8,000

Apr. 20, 2020 05:25 AM EDT

A motorist wears a protective face mask to help curb the spread of the coronavirus in Kabul, Afghanistan, Saturday, April 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)
Asia Today: Singapore sees huge surge in new virus cases

Apr. 17, 2020 11:42 PM EDT