AN INTERIM national squad of wrestlers - Singapore's first - has been formed.

The 11 wrestlers were identified during a monthly qualifier held by Wrestling Federation of Singapore at the Budo Academy on Sunday.

They earned their places after finishing first within their respective weight categories, something athletes are required to do for two consecutive qualifiers in order to earn - and keep - their spots on the squad.

PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday joined Asean leaders in reaffirming the need to ensure free flow of goods, services and investments and to facilitate movement of labour, as the two-day Asean Summit in Thailand drew to a close.

Speaking to Singapore media on the sidelines, he called protectionism 'counterproductive' and urged speedier integration of the region's economies.

HONG KONG - WHEN times were booming, Asia's factories would sometimes struggle to keep pace with the global demand for cars, semiconductors and electronics goods.

But as the worldwide recession has taken hold, the region's export-dependent economies have been hit especially hard - and they are now finding that domestic demand cannot possibly make up for the decline in sales overseas.

HUA HIN (Thailand) - SOUTH-EAST Asian leaders called on Sunday for urgent cooperation and reform to tackle the global financial crisis, as they pushed on with their dream of forming an EU-style community by 2015.

Leaders from the 10-member Association of South-east Asian Nations (Asean) issued a joint statement on the meltdown on the final day of a summit that has been dominated by concerns about their export-driven economies.