Hong Kong formally withdraws extradition bill; Singapore's GDP forecast lowered

SINGAPORE (Sept 9): After 13 long weeks of protests in Hong Kong, an end to the political crisis in the Special Administrative Region may be in sight. On Sept 4, the city’s embattled leader Carrie Lam formally announced the withdrawal of the extradition bill, meeting one of the five demands of the protesters.

The other demands are the retraction of the word “riot” to describe rallies, the release of all arrested demonstrators, an independent inquiry into perceived police brutality and the right for Hong Kongers to -democratically choose their leaders. Although Lam had earlier suspended the bill, protesters were not satisfied until it was formally withdrawn.