The Leading Professional and Representative Body for the Real Estate Industry

The Leading Professional and Representative Body for the Real Estate Industry

DAILY NEWS

 

Daily News 24, 25 & 26 May 2025 (Sat, Sun & Mon)

Singapore Real Estate / Built Environment

 

The top floor of the car park will be transformed into an urban farm by the end of the year. Marsiling plans to add more facilities in the next five years.

In the next five years, Marsiling will see more development and new facilities. An urban farm where residents can grow vegetables together will be opened at the end of the year. Parks, community clubs, fitness and play spaces will also be added to promote exchanges among residents and strengthen community cohesion. Senior Minister of State for Defence and Sustainability and the Environment Zaqy Mohamad announced the five-year development plan for Marsiling from 2025 to 2030 when he spoke at a community event at the ground floor of Block 160, Woodlands Street 13 on Sunday (May 25).

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20250525-6466347

 

Young forest in Bukit Batok to be cleared for housing; study proposes retaining some vegetation

Nestled in the HomeTeamNS Adventure Centre in Bukit Batok is a young forest earmarked for housing, where a songbird that has been poached close to extinction worldwide has been spotted.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/environment/young-forest-in-bukit-batok-to-be-cleared-for-housing-study-proposes-retaining-some-vegetation

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20250525-6464669

 

Ultra-luxury condo sales in Singapore see uptick in Q1 2025 despite economic headwinds

The ultra-luxury condominium market in the Republic appears to be regaining some traction, with 17 sales recorded in the first three months of 2025.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/ultra-luxury-condo-sales-in-spore-see-uptick-in-q1-2025-despite-economic-headwinds

 

School proximity may boost home prices – but not everywhere: DBS report

Property developers such as GuocoLand could benefit from a potential rise in home prices near popular primary schools, particularly in emerging areas like Tengah New Town. Still, DBS Group Research cautioned in a report, titled “Primary school premium: Fact or Fiction?”, that price appreciation also depends on factors such as transport access, tenure, and project attributes.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/property/school-proximity-may-boost-home-prices-not-everywhere-dbs-report

 

 

Singapore Economy

 

New Cabinet’s priority is to secure Singapore ‘an assured place in this changed world’: PM Wong

Govt will always put S’poreans at the centre of all it does, says PM Wong

The new government’s priority is to secure for Singapore “an assured place in this changed world”, said Prime Minister Lawrence Wong at the swearing-in of his Cabinet on Friday (May 23) evening.

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/new-cabinets-priority-secure-singapore-assured-place-changed-world-pm-wong

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/new-govts-top-priority-is-to-secure-for-singapore-an-assured-place-in-a-changed-world-pm-wong

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/politics/govt-will-always-put-sporeans-at-the-centre-of-all-it-does-says-pm-wong

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/lawrence-wong-pm-cabinet-reshuffle-pap-swearing-istana-government-5149146

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20250524-6456775

https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3311614/singapore-cabinet-sworn-pm-lawrence-wong-vows-steer-country-through-new-world-order

 

Singapore’s core inflation inches up to 0.7% in April; headline inflation is unchanged at 0.9% 

Singapore’s core inflation came in higher than expected in April, driven by higher food and services prices, while headline inflation stood pat, data from the Department of Statistics showed on Friday (May 23).

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/singapores-core-inflation-inches-0-7-april-headline-inflation-unchanged-0-9

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/singapore-core-inflation-rises-to-0-7-in-april-snapping-six-months-of-decline

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/core-inflation-rises-april-mas-mti-5149006

 

Need for fiscal, monetary policy reset as US tariffs throw global economy off course: MAS economist

With US tariffs disrupting the global economy’s path to equilibrium, fiscal and monetary policies are due for a reset, said Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) chief economist Edward Robinson on Friday (May 23).

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/need-fiscal-monetary-policy-reset-us-tariffs-throw-global-economy-course-mas-economist

 

Chee Hong Tat takes over as chairman of Chinese Community Liaison Group from Edwin Tong

Minister for National Development Chee Hong Tat has been appointed chairman of the Chinese Community Liaison Group (CCLG), a group tasked to deepen the Government’s relationship with Chinese community organisations and to strengthen cooperation among the various Chinese community groups.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/chee-hong-tat-takes-over-as-chairman-of-chinese-community-liaison-group-from-edwin-tong

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/chee-hong-tat-chinese-community-liaison-group-chairman-5149266

 

 

Other News

 

Competition watchdog fines two contractors S$4.6 million for rigging People’s Association tenders

Two contractors found to have engaged in bid-rigging for public-sector tenders were dealt fines totalling S$4.6 million from the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (CCCS).

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/competition-watchdog-fines-two-contractors-s4-6-million-rigging-peoples-association-tenders

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/two-construction-firms-fined-4-6m-for-rigging-tender-bids-to-upgrade-community-clubs

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/construction-firms-fined-bid-rigging-peoples-association-cccs-5146761

 

335 people being investigated after scam victims lose close to $15.4 million

The police are investigating 335 people for suspected involvement in scams as scammers or money mules after victims reportedly lost close to $15.4 million. The suspects – 119 women and 216 men – are aged between 16 and 81, said the police on May 24.

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/335-people-being-investigated-after-scam-victims-lose-close-to-15-4-million

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/singapore/story20250524-6462862

 

Dengue outbreaks averted in past two years, public urged to stay vigilant in 2025: NEA

Large dengue outbreaks were averted in 2023 and 2024, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Sunday (May 25), adding that vigilance is needed to prevent a surge this year. In its dengue outlook for 2025, the agency said close to 2,000 cases have been reported to date.

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/dengue-aedes-mosquito-vigilant-2025-outbreaks-averted-past-2-years-5152001

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/news/singapore/story20250525-6465998

https://www.zaobao.com.sg/realtime/singapore/story20250525-6465715

 

 

Global Economy / Real Estate News

 

US dollar tumbles as Trump’s EU tariff talk spurs investor flight

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/forex-us-dollar-tumbles-trumps-eu-tariff-talk-spurs-investor-flight

 

Trump targets Samsung, Apple phones with 25% tariff threat

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/companies-markets/telcos-media-tech/trump-targets-samsung-apple-phones-25-tariff-threat

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/trump-says-his-tariffs-apple-will-also-apply-samsung-5150191

 

Trump recommends 50% tariff on the European Union goods, starting June 1

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/global/trump-recommends-50-tariff-european-union-goods-starting-june-1

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/trump-tariffs-reigniting-trade-fear-european-union-5150326

 

Harvard sues US over Trump foreign student ban

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/harvard-sues-us-over-trump-foreign-student-ban

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/harvard-sues-trump-administration-block-enrolment-foreign-students-5149616

 

Confused and nervous, Singapore students at Harvard told to ‘wait for updates’ on US ban

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/singapore/confused-and-nervous-singapore-students-harvard-told-wait-updates-us-ban

https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/confused-nervous-told-to-wait-for-updates-singapore-students-at-harvard-react-to-us-ban

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/trump-harvard-international-students-singaporean-visa-revoked-5149371

 

US new-home sales jump to highest since 2022 as prices fall

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/property/us-new-home-sales-jump-highest-2022-prices-fall

 

Australia begins clean-up after floods kill 5, damage 10,000 properties

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/australia-begins-clean-after-floods-kill-5-damage-10000-properties

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/australia-flood-clean-up-homes-damaged-5150766

 

Australia’s new haul of Chinese online goods helps tame inflation

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/australias-new-haul-chinese-online-goods-helps-tame-inflation

https://www.straitstimes.com/business/economy/more-chinese-online-shopping-apps-enter-australia-helping-to-tame-inflation

 

Germany and Hong Kong look to lure students exiled from Harvard

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/germany-and-hong-kong-look-lure-students-exiled-harvard

https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/harvard-hong-kong-universities-international-students-5150786

 

As Hong Kong office rents plummet, landlords upgrade with video walls to lure tenants

https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3311713/hong-kong-office-rents-plummet-landlords-upgrade-video-walls-lure-tenants

 

Hong Kong homebuyers flock to latest Sierra Sea units as mortgage rates ease

https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3311663/hong-kong-homebuyers-flock-latest-sierra-sea-units-mortgage-rates-ease

 

Hot Shanghai property market defies national slump as luxury units sell quickly

https://www.scmp.com/business/china-business/article/3311551/hot-shanghai-property-market-defies-national-slump-luxury-units-sell-quickly

 

Capital from Hong Kong, mainland China sets sights on Dubai, Abu Dhabi property

https://www.scmp.com/business/article/3311619/capital-hong-kong-mainland-china-sets-sights-dubai-abu-dhabi-property

 

Indonesia to launch economic stimulus to boost consumption

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/indonesia-launch-economic-stimulus-boost-consumption

 

Asean finalises two key trade deals ahead of October signing, says Malaysia’s trade minister

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/asean/asean-finalises-two-key-trade-deals-ahead-october-signing-says-malaysias-trade-minister

 

Uniqlo founder Tadashi Yanai to buy 300 million euro Milan building

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/property/uniqlo-founder-tadashi-yanai-buy-300-million-euro-milan-building

 

Spain considers new 21% VAT on short-tourism rentals, double the hotel rate

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/property/spain-considers-new-21-vat-short-tourism-rentals-double-hotel-rate

 

Political uncertainty and global headwinds could weigh on Thai market: CGSI

https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/international/global/political-uncertainty-and-global-headwinds-could-weigh-thai-market-cgsi

 

 

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