PRESS DIGEST - Singapore newspapers - May 16

SINGAPORE, May 16 (Reuters) - The following are stories from Singapore newspapers on Friday. Reuters has not verified these stories.

THE STRAITS TIMES

- Lawyers for the Prime Minister and his father argued in the High Court yesterday for a summary judgment in their defamation suit against the Far Eastern Economic Review. They want Justice Woo Bih Li to rule on the case without it going to trial, arguing that the magazine's publisher and editor do not have a defence in the claims brought against them.

- Mrs Lee Kuan Yew, 87, wife of independent Singapore's first prime, is in hospital after suffering a stroke on Monday. However, her haemorrhage has since stabilised and, while her condition is serious, she is able to recognise immediate family members.

- Singapore Workers' Party leader Yaw Shin Leong voted for the ruling People's Action Party candidate in the 2006 general election. Yaw had revealed in his blog that he voted for the PAP's Teo Ho Pin who was contesting the single-member constituency against Singapore Democratic Party Chairman and former opposition MP Ling How Doong.

- Caltex and SPC Singapore Petroleum Co (SPCS.SI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) yesterday raised the price of petrol by S$0.02 ($0.014) a litre, and diesel by S$0.10 a litre, setting new records. The increase is the fourth since last month and the 10th consecutive climb since July last year.

- A 58-year-old retiree was charged in court yesterday over an act of public nuisance: allegedly putting a bicycle chain around the door handles of the National Library's Victoria Street premises on March 15.

- Singapore and Malaysia have set up a joint committee to enforce next week's verdict on the sovereignty dispute over Pedra Branca. The committee will meet today in Kuala Lumpur, a week ahead of the judgment that the International Court of Justice will hand down in the Netherlands next Friday.

THE BUSINESS TIMES