WASHINGTON: News of President Donald Trump's COVID-19 diagnosis has upended the United States presidential election campaign entering its final month and roiled stock markets, raising questions about succession and prompting White House aides to insist that Trump would keep a busy, if modified, schedule. Trump's diagnosis was announced on early Friday (Oct 2) morning, but a close adviser to the president tested positive a day before. Over the weekend, more prominent Republicans have been added to the list of those who have tested positive for COVID-19. WHO IN TRUMP'S CIRCLE HAVE TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19? Hope Hicks, a close adviser to the president who often travelled with him on the Air Force One and Marine One presidential aircraft, tested positive for the disease caused by the novel coronavirus on Thursday. After Trump tweeted he and his wife, Melania , tested positive for COVID-19 early Friday morning, Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel, who has … [Read more...] about Trump White House, campaign staff who have tested positive for COVID-19
Flagstaff houses
Commentary: Too many Hong Kong residents want affordable housing but there are too few flats
HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s housing is the most unaffordable in the world. Median income households have to spend 20 years of their earnings to buy a 60 sq m flat at an average cost of US$1.24 million. The biggest hurdle for buyers is the huge 40 per cent down payment on the value of the flat. Even then, they still have to devote nearly 60 per cent of their monthly income repaying the mortgage. Renting is equally expensive, and so multiple occupant flats are in high demand among lower income households. These sub-divided units (SDUs) are small partitioned units within a converted flat, usually in old tenement buildings. They offer cramped and unhealthy living conditions, with tenants in the cheapest SDUs also having to share toilets. But sadly, it is the only choice for many households. READ: Commentary: Why property prices remain high in Hong Kong despite protests and violence READ: Commentary: Have Hong Kong's bloated property giants had a change of heart? In … [Read more...] about Commentary: Too many Hong Kong residents want affordable housing but there are too few flats
Government maintains ‘moderate supply’ of land for private housing; new sites at one-north, Tampines Street 62
SINGAPORE: The Government released on Thursday (Dec 3) the Government Land Sales (GLS) programme for the first half of 2021, with sites capable of yielding about 7,045 private residential units, 101,200 sq m of gross floor area of commercial space and 1,070 hotel rooms available. Four sites in this GLS programme are new: Two parcels at Slim Barracks Rise in one-north are on the Confirmed List, while one at Jalan Tembusu, off Mountbatten Road, and another at Tampines Street 62 are on the Reserve List. The other nine sites - made up of five residential sites, three mixed-use White sites and one hotel site - have been carried over from the Reserve List in the second half of this year. Planned and announced every six months, GLS programmes release state land for private development. This GLS programme comprises a total of 13 sites, of which four are on the Confirmed List and nine are on the Reserve List. Land on the Confirmed List is launched for sale at pre-determined dates, … [Read more...] about Government maintains ‘moderate supply’ of land for private housing; new sites at one-north, Tampines Street 62
Government cuts private housing supply on confirmed list of land sites due to COVID-19
SINGAPORE: The Government has reduced the supply of private residential units on the confirmed list of its land sales programme for the second half of this year, due to the economic impact from the COVID-19 pandemic. Three private residential sites - including one executive condominium site - have been added to the confirmed list of the Government Land Sales (GLS) Programme for the second half of 2020, said the Ministry of National Development (MND) in a news release on Wednesday (Jun 24). Together, the three sites can yield about 1,370 units, including 615 executive condominium units. The total number of homes that can be developed, however, is nearly 23 per cent less than the 1,775 units under the confimed list in the GLS programme for the first half of the year. The supply was “calibrated to take into account the global COVID-19 situation”, said MND. “Given the economic contraction and uncertain business outlook, the Government has decided to reduce the supply of private … [Read more...] about Government cuts private housing supply on confirmed list of land sites due to COVID-19
US House passes Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill
The US House of Representatives approved a $1.9 trillion (€1.57 trillion) coronavirus stimulus fund in the early hours of Saturday morning. Lawmakers passed the bill — aimed at giving money to individuals, businesses, states and cities hit hard by the pandemic — on a narrow, near party-line vote of 219 to 212. President Joe Biden has been pushing for the relief package, saying it will be used to stimulate the economy and create new jobs. All Republican representatives voted against the bill, which will now go to the Senate, where many progressive Democrats are also keen on resuscitating a drive for an increase to the minimum wage. Joe Biden returns to Munich Security Conference in new role 2009: The vice president meets the chancellor Weeks after being sworn in as vice president of the United States, Joe Biden made his first visit to the 45th Munich Security Conference in 2009. There he met German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who at that time had already led … [Read more...] about US House passes Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief bill