Malaysia expects to seal Singapore deal for special economic zone in September; Taiwan pivots to Southeast Asia as China arrivals decline: Singapore live news

A Bishan HDB flat sold for $1.568 million, marking the highest price for the area and the fourth most expensive in Singapore.

Located in the high floors of Natura Loft, this 13-year-old block offers excellent amenities and proximity to top schools, making it highly desirable.

This follows a recent $1.538 million sale in the same block, highlighting the area's growing value.

The highest HDB sales in Singapore are two units on Boon Tiong Road and Henderson Road, each at $1.588 million.

Find out more about the record-breaking sale here.

The mural of a "Samsui" woman holding a cigarette in Singapore has caused controversy.

Despite criticism and the lack of a permit, authorities decided to retain the mural while addressing concerns.

The mural, created by artist Sean Dunston, represents early 20th-century Chinese immigrants known for their labor-intensive work.

The building owner was fined S$2,000 for not complying with conservation regulations.

Read more here.

Malaysia said it is close to finalising an agreement with Singapore to develop a special economic zone (SEZ) between the two countries.

Malaysia's Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli said the Southeast Asian neighbours “should be able to sign a deal” and unveil the zone in September.

Singapore and Malaysia signed a memorandum to develop the SEZ in January this year. The neighbours hope that the zone will bring in new investment and stimulate economic growth.

Singapore and Malaysia share the world's busiest land border via the Causeway link, where thousands of Malaysians residents in Johor travel daily to the city-state for work.

Read more here.

Vietnam remains the most affordable expat destination, excelling in financial satisfaction, job satisfaction, and work-life balance.

Vietnam also ranks high in overall expat happiness and job satisfaction.

The top 10 affordable countries include several Southeast Asian nations, with expats praising their cost of living and housing.

Here's why Vietnam is rated highly by expats.

Taiwan is shifting its tourism focus towards Southeast Asia as Chinese tourist arrivals decrease.

Despite strained relations across the Taiwan Strait, visitors from Southeast Asia, including Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia, are increasing.

Data show that Thai visitors are up by 12%, Singaporeans by 10%, and Malaysians have returned to pre-pandemic levels.

Hotel revenues have also surpassed pre-pandemic figures, indicating a positive trend despite the continued low numbers of Chinese tourists.

Southeast Asian tourists, particularly from Singapore and Malaysia, are contributing to Taiwan's tourism recovery by choosing unique and high-priced accommodations, significantly boosting hotel revenues.

Read more here.

An old photo of Lionel Messi with baby Lamine Yamal has recently gone viral, showcasing an unexpected connection between the two football stars.

Captured in 2007 by freelance photographer Joan Monfort for a charity calendar, the image was recently shared on social media by Yamal’s father with the caption: “The beginning of two legends.”

At the time, Messi was already on his path to stardom, while Yamal was just a few months old.

Monfort had predicted Messi's success but had no idea the baby in the photo would also become a football sensation.

Fast forward to 2024, Lamine Yamal is making headlines at the Euro 2024 tournament, having become the youngest scorer at a Euro or World Cup tournament at just 16.

His goal against France helped Spain advance to the finals where they will meet England.

More on the Messi-Yamal viral photo here.

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy Watch Ultra and the Galaxy Ring, integrating AI to enhance health monitoring.

Both devices utilise AI to analyse biometric data and provide personalied health assessments and recommendations.

These wearables emphasise health features, with the watch capable of detecting sleep apnea and the ring having longer battery life.

Find out more here.

Morning coffee is a common ritual for some people to wake up to. They see coffee as an important part of their routine, whether to boost their energy or a way to mingle with other people.

But when can you tell that you've consumed more coffee than you should?

Find out the signs that you've drank too much coffee here.

A Pew Research Centre poll reveals divergent views towards China between high-income and middle-income countries.

Among high-income nations, 15 out of 18 expressed unfavourable opinions of China, with Japan and Australia leading with over 80% negative views.

In contrast, 14 out of 17 middle-income countries, particularly Thailand, held favourable views, with 80% of Thais viewing China positively.

This survey highlights the stark difference in perceptions, especially pronounced in the Indo-Pacific region where concerns about China’s territorial ambitions are prevalent.

Nations like the Philippines, Japan, and South Korea showed significant concern over China's territorial disputes.

Around 90% of Filipinos, a similar percentage of South Koreans and Japanese, and about 80% of Australians expressed apprehensions.

Conversely, Thailand showed minimal concern, with only 40% worried about territorial issues and 80% viewing China as a contributor to global peace.

The survey also highlighted contrasting views on Chinese President Xi Jinping’s role in global affairs.

Japan had the least confidence in Xi, with 90% expressing little to no confidence, while Thailand and Singapore showed higher confidence, with about 60% trusting him to do the right thing.

More on the contrasting China perceptions here.