TY - JOUR T1 - Worldwide news and comment JF - Tobacco Control JO - Tob Control SP - 371 LP - 374 DO - 10.1136/tobaccocontrol-2014-051931 VL - 23 IS - 5 A2 - , Y1 - 2014/09/01 UR - http://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/23/5/371.abstract N2 - Singapore is the latest country to see a major tobacco trade fair cancelled. The official reason given by organisers was lack of government commitment, however it is likely the threat of civil society action played a part, given a rising tide of protests. World Tobacco Asia 2014 had originally been planned for April in Jakarta, Indonesia, but was relocated to Singapore and rescheduled to November after the Inter-tabac Asia Trade Fair planned for February in Bali was cancelled abruptly under orders of the provincial governor following international protests. Daily Singapore broadsheet the Straits Times had slammed the event being held in Singapore in an editorial published on 26 May. It described as ‘absurd’ Singapore being the site of the fair, given the country had successfully hosted the World Conference on Tobacco or Health in 2012, and the government's commitment to reduce smoking prevalence to below 10% by 2020. All articles written by Marita Hefler unless otherwise attributed. Ideas and items for News Analysis should be sent to: marita.hefler@menzies.edu.au The trade journal Tobacco Journal International published an upbeat interview with World Tobacco Sales Manager Colin Case on 5 May 2014, in which he described Singapore as “…the ideal place … Just about everyone we've spoken to is very happy with the move (from Jakarta)…we expect another great event.” His optimism was in stark contrast to the curt article published in the same publication just 6 weeks later on 17 June, which announced the event had been ‘cancelled due to a negative government response.’ A World Tobacco representative was quoted as stating: “From here forward such an event in Asia looks less likely than ever”—welcome news in a region which bears a huge health and social toll from tobacco. The cancellation leaves a decreasing number of options for tobacco trade fairs, most of … ER -