News
US mortgage rates at 2025-low give homebuyers momentum in New Year
1+ hour, 58+ min ago (492+ words) The average for 30-year, fixed loans dropped to 6.15 per cent this week, data from Freddie Mac showed on Wednesday US MORTGAGE rates have reached their lowest point for the year, potentially injecting fresh momentum into a homebuying market that spent…...
Singapore car-sharing service Shariot pauses vehicle rental services ‘until further notice’
11+ hour, 47+ min ago (306+ words) [SINGAPORE] Car-sharing company Shariot announced on Dec 31 that it has paused its vehicle rental services "until further notice. Shariot said in a Facebook post that the move is "part of an internal business restructuring and service review. "This pause allows…...
When a private home becomes larger than itself
12+ hour, 9+ min ago (964+ words) [SINGAPORE] Dr'John Chia'and Dr Cheryl Loh built the house for themselves. "When we bought these two adjoining shophouses, No 4 and 6 on Geylang Lorong 24, we were hoping to someday pass them down to our two children," says Dr Loh, a psychiatrist....
The ‘four’ behind Vietnam: Can 2026 political reset deliver the growth it promises?
12+ hour, 9+ min ago (158+ words) The "four" behind Vietnam: Can 2026 political reset deliver the growth it promises?The Business Times The "four" behind Vietnam: Can 2026 political reset deliver the growth it promises? What investors should know as the country heads into its most consequential leadership…...
The American affordability crisis: Competing diagnoses, divergent remedies
17+ hour, 9+ min ago (122+ words) The American affordability crisis: Competing diagnoses, divergent remedies'The Business Times The American affordability crisis: Competing diagnoses, divergent remedies Finding workable solutions will require moving beyond ideological commitments to evidence-based evaluation A REGISTERED nurse in Phoenix pays US$1,800 monthly for a…...
Mandarin Oriental to distribute One Causeway Bay Sale proceeds in special dividend on Jan 22
1+ day, 2+ hour ago (278+ words) The dividend, at US$0.60 a share, will be paid to shareholders on the registers of members at the close of business on Jan 9, 2026 [SINGAPORE] Mandarin Oriental will pay out a special dividend from the sale of parts of One Causeway…...
Almost 25% of non-textile items shipped from Shein fail safety, labelling standards: French authorities
1+ day, 6+ hour ago (504+ words) Infractions range from counterfeit goods to unlabelled cosmetics and toys that did not meet safety requirements FRENCH authorities have found that nearly 25 per cent of non-textile items shipped from Chinese fast-fashion retailer Shein failed to meet safety and labelling standards....
Daily Debrief: What Happened Today (Dec 31)
1+ day, 6+ hour ago (202+ words) Stories you might have missed From Trump tariffs to Bitcoin's crash: 10 global events that made headlines in 2025 IT'S been a colourful year with Nvidia's record-breaking market caps and an eyebrow-raising Cambodian scam ring. Singapore shares slip 0.2% on final trading day…...
Vietnam’s dominant messaging app faces regulatory scrutiny over data policy update
1+ day, 7+ hour ago (845+ words) The country's antitrust authority has flagged Zalo's new terms amid user privacy concerns [HO CHI MINH CITY] Vietnam's National Competition Committee (NCC) has issued a stern directive to Zalo, the country's leading messaging app operated by local tech giant VNG,…...
Buckle up for a volatile year of Trump-Xi, Taiwan and Kim
1+ day, 11+ hour ago (143+ words) Buckle up for a volatile year of Trump-Xi, Taiwan and Kim'The Business Times Buckle up for a volatile year of Trump-Xi, Taiwan and Kim The region is heading into an increasingly precarious year THIS is the season when columnists turn…...