Singapore budget increases handouts in critical election year

SINGAPORE -- Singapore on Tuesday announced its budget plan for the next fiscal year starting April, focused on bringing down living costs with generous handouts ahead of a critical election, while boosting investments in infrastructure such as green energy and aviation.

The draft budget comes as a key step for Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, who became the city-state's fourth leader in May, and his ruling People's Action Party in preparing for the nation's general election, which is due by November.