Singapore

Volatile economic environment has forced delay of a number of major public offerings in Asia
A Singapore church has stood by its founder Pastor Kong Hee (R in white shirt)  over a major fraud scandal
City Harvest is one of Singapore's richest churches, with a congregation of more than 30,000
Under a law aimed at pressing Iran over its nuclear program, the US will bar financial institutions buying oil from Iran
Graphic on the world's biggest oil reserves
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton says China and Singapore have "significantly reduced" their Iran oil purchases
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
American billionaire Sheldon Adelson's plans for Spain are controversial
Pastor Kong Hee (white shirt) allegedly used church money to fund the singing career of his wife (L)
The founder of one of Singapore's richest churches has been charged for allegedly syphoning off the congregation's money
Apple has launched its iTunes Store in 12 Asian markets, giving access to millions of songs and movies
A patron is tagged to watch US pop diva Lady Gaga's live concert in Singapore in May 2012
Equestrian contestant Dalma Malhas is likely to be Saudi Arabia's only female athlete to qualify for this summer's Games
Dalma Rushdi Malhas of Saudi Arabia rides on the horse Flash Top Hat at the 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore
An exhibitor demonstrates to access on smartphone for cloud computing, a virtual solution for data storage
A person uses a mobile phone touch screen keypad to write a text message in Singapore
A model holds a mobile phone displaying a stream of text messages on its screen in Singapore
A person uses a mobile phone touch screen keypad to write a text message in Singapore
Singaporean Wilson Raj Perumal
Italy defender Domenico Criscito

Singapore denies being haven for Malaysian tax cheats

Singapore on Friday strongly rejected a whistleblower's allegation that its banks facilitate massive tax evasion by a powerful family in neighbouring Malaysia's Sarawak state.
 

Chinese workers jailed for high-rise demo in Singapore

A Singapore court on Thursday sentenced two Chinese workers to four weeks in jail each for staging a high-rise protest atop construction cranes in December, local media reported.
 

Bangladesh in mourning after president's death

Hundreds of thousands of people flocked to Bangladesh's presidential palace Thursday to pay their last respects to president Zillur Rahman after he died in a Singapore hospital.
 

Oil prices fall on profit-taking

Global crude oil prices turned lower on Thursday as traders banked profits despite strong Chinese manufacturing data.
 

Asian markets lifted by China manufacturing data

Asian markets were mixed Thursday as Chinese data showing manufacturing activity in the world's number two economy picked up in March, while Tokyo was lifted by renewed weakness in the yen.
 

Bangladesh president's body flown from Singapore

The body of Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman was flown to Dhaka on Thursday following his death in a Singapore hospital, national airline Biman said.
 

Bangladesh president dies in Singapore: officials

Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman, a veteran ruling party politician named to the largely ceremonial post in 2009, died Wednesday in a Singapore hospital, officials said. He was 84.
 

New No. 1 Lewis ready to enjoy ranking supremacy

Coming off LPGA victories at Singapore and Phoenix, American Stacy Lewis plays her first event as the World No. 1 of women's golf starting Thursday at the $1.7 million Kia Classic.
 

Bangladesh president dies in Singapore

Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman, a veteran ruling party politician named to the largely ceremonial post in 2009, died Wednesday in a Singapore hospital, officials said. He was 84.
 

Bangladesh president 'dies in Singapore'

Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman, a veteran ruling party politician named to the largely ceremonial post in 2009, died Wednesday in a Singapore hospital, an embassy official said. He was 84.
 

Oil prices recover ground

Global crude oil prices bounced back on Wednesday after eurozone finance ministers and the European Central Bank (ECB) vowed to support Cyprus as a crucial bailout deal stood on the brink of collapse, analysts said.
 

Bangladesh president dies in Singapore: embassy

Bangladesh President Zillur Rahman, a veteran ruling party politician, died Wednesday in a Singapore hospital where he was being treated for kidney and respiratory problems, an embassy official told AFP.
 

Asian markets mixed after Cyprus vote

Asian markets were mixed on Wednesday after Cypriot lawmakers comprehensively rejected a plan to tax savings as part of a crucial bailout deal.
 

Pakistan hopes for Buddhist tourism boost

Religious violence may be on the rise and the Taliban still a threat, but Pakistan is hoping a rich Buddhist heritage will help it boost international tourism to its troubled northwest.
 

French budget minister steps down over Swiss account probe

French Budget Minister Jerome Cahuzac resigned on Tuesday after prosecutors announced a probe into a Swiss bank account he allegedly used to hide assets from the tax authorities.
 

India parliament approves bill toughening rape laws

India's lower house on Tuesday passed a bill toughening punishment for sex offenders, including the death penalty if a victim dies, after the fatal gang-rape of a student that sparked national outrage.
 

Rape fears fuel tourists' anxiety in India

Danish tourist Judith Jensen has a long list of don'ts to help her feel safe during her holiday in India.
 

Indonesia's Lion Air stuns again with Airbus deal

Lion Air, a little-known carrier launched 13 years ago with just one plane, has struck two of the world's largest aircraft orders in a staggering $46 billion bet on Indonesia's air transport boom.
 

Japan seizes nuclear-related materials from N. Korea cargo

Japan has seized aluminium alloy rods which can be used to make nuclear centrifuges from a Singapore-flagged ship which was carrying cargo from North Korea, a government spokesman said Monday.
 

Asian markets tumble on Cyprus bailout concerns

Asian markets tumbled on Monday and the euro sank as eurozone fears returned on news that Cyprus was planning to tax bank depositors as part of a controversial bailout.
 

Facts from the Wikipedia page:

FlagCoat of arms
Motto"Majulah Singapura"  (Malay)
"Onward, Singapore"
AnthemMajulah Singapura
Images, from top, left to right: Merlion by the CBD, Singapore Zoo entrance, Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, Gateway of Sentosa, Statue of Thomas Stamford Raffles, Downtown Core of Singapore, Raffles Hotel
CapitalCity of Singapore
(Downtown Core, Central)1
1°17′N 103°50′E / 1.283°N 103.833°E / 1.283; 103.833
Official languagesEnglish (main)[1]
Malay (national)
Chinese
Tamil
Official scriptsEnglish alphabet
Malay alphabet
Simplified Chinese
Tamil script
DemonymSingaporean
GovernmentParliamentary republic
 - PresidentS.R. Nathan
 - Prime MinisterLee Hsien Loong
 - Speaker of ParliamentAbdullah Tarmugi
 - Chief JusticeChan Sek Keong
LegislatureParliament
Formation
 - Founding29 January 1819[2] 
 - Self-government3 June 1959[3] 
 - Independence from the United Kingdom31 August 1963[4] 
 - Merger with Malaysia16 September 1963 
 - Separation from Malaysia9 August 1965 
Area
 - Total710.2 km2 (187th)
274.2 sq mi 
 - Water (%)1.444
Population
 - 2009 estimate4,987,600[5] (115th)
 - 2000 census4,117,700 
 - Density6,814[5]/km2 (3rd)
17,275.7/sq mi
GDP (PPP)2008 estimate
 - Total$239.146 billion[6] (45th)
 - Per capita$56,226[6] (4th)
GDP (nominal)2008 estimate
 - Total$181.939 billion[6] (44th)
 - Per capita$38,972[6] (22nd)
HDI (2007) 0.944[7] (very high) (23rd)
CurrencySingapore dollar (SGD)
Time zoneSST (UTC+8)
Date formatsdd/mm/yyyy
Drives on theleft
Internet TLD.sg
Calling code+65
1Singapore is a city-state.
202 from Malaysia.