Record high million-dollar HDB flat sales in Q3; Dyson lays off Singapore staff with 1 day's notice: Singapore live news
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Market data showed that sales of HDB flats priced above $1 million hit a new record of 328 units in the third quarter. (PHOTO: Getty Images)
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Hello to all our readers, Yahoo Singapore will be bringing you live news updates today.
Million-dollar HDB flat sales hit a record high in the third quarter of this year. Market data showed that sales of HDB flats priced above $1 million hit a new record of 328 units in the third quarter, compared to 128 in the same period in 2023. The number of million-dollar flats sold this year is expected to double that of last year.
Dyson Singapore conducted a round of 'surprise' layoffs with employees feeling shocked. They give one day's notice. Dyson did not reveal how many employees were laid off and how they were assisting affected staff.
Malaysia started enforcing its VEP requirement on 1 Oct and daily traffic from Singapore dropped by 20%. Authorities noticed the decline but told Malaysian news publication The Star that it was too early to attribute it to the VEP.
Singapore ranks third on a list of 25 least affordable countries in the world. The countries were ranked based on cost of living, with personal income tax rates as a secondary metric.
Tanjong Pagar Plaza Market & Food Centre will be closing for two months. One notable stall that will be missed is Celebrities Big Prawn Noodle – it often sees long, snaking queues. Be sure to visit your favourite stalls before the closure.
The FairPrice Return Voucher promotion will start from Wednesday (3 Oct). With this, Singaporeans can maximise their savings and stretch their dollar further. To find out how it works, read on.
A fly approached Donald Trump during his rally speech and he didn't seem pleased. An audience member blamed Kamala Harris for it while Trump said things are "changing rapidly" and people "can't take it any longer". He remarked, "See, two years ago, I wouldn’t have had a fly up here."
A viral video of Moo Deng shows her biting her caretaker's thigh and retaliating against him. Talk about 'waking up and choosing violence'. To see it for yourself, head on over here.
Samsung conducted a round of layoffs in Singapore on Tuesday (1 Oct). According to people familiar with the situation, staff across different teams were called into private meetings. The South Korean company is planning cuts in different markets but not their home market.
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Bryan Lim
Record high million-dollar HDB flat sales in Q3
Million-dollar HDB flat sales hit a record high in the third quarter of this year. (PHOTO: Getty Images)
Private home sales might have seen a dip, but demand for public housing – especially the million-dollar flats – in Singapore has only grown.
According to market data, the number of units sold so far this year has surpassed 2023, hitting a record high in the third quarter.
Real estate agency OrangeTee Group shared that sales of HDB flats priced above $1 million hit a new record of 328 units in the third quarter, compared to 128 in the same period in 2023. Across 2024, 747 units sold for more than $1 million, compared to 469 in 2023.
The Housing Development Board (HDB) also estimates that the resale price index of all public flats increased by 2.5 per cent in the third quarter of this year from the second quarter.
Christine Sun, chief researcher at OrangeTee, expects the number of million-dollar flats sold this year to double that of last year.
Sun said, "Furthermore, if there is limited supply in the market, people may still have to pay more due to increased competition for housing."
'Surprise': Dyson lays off Singapore staff with 1 day's notice
Dyson Singapore conducted a round of 'surprise' layoffs with employees feeling shocked. (PHOTO: Joseph Nair/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Dyson conducted a round of layoffs in Singapore on Tuesday (1 Oct). The move came as a "surprise" to employees who felt shocked and were left in a state of "low morale".
An employee who was retrenched spoke to CNA on condition of anonymity and said the exercise was done "very discreetly". Those involved received an email informing them of a one-on-one meeting.
The employee revealed that a HR representative was in the room and the reason given was "the job is redundant" and they had to "pack our things and prepare to leave". They didn't know who would be called into the room and they saw "lots of envelopes".
Another employee who was laid off told CNA anonymously that those let go were from the manufacturing and procurement departments.
The employee said, "People are shocked and have low morale, as they aren't sure when their turn might come."
Workers are reportedly worried as the July layoffs in Britain were done "department by department and over a few weeks".
In response to CNA queries, a Dyson spokesperson said, "We constantly evolve the composition of our teams and take steps to ensure we have the right skills in the right places. Our ambitions in Singapore remain unchanged, and we anticipate that we will continue to grow here in the medium term."
They did not address how many employees were laid off and how the company was supporting those who were retrenched.
The United Workers of Electronics and Electrical Industries (UWEEI), a union affiliated with the National Trades Union Congress (NTUC) said, “UWEEI was disappointed that the union was only given one day’s notice of the retrenchment exercise, leaving insufficient time for meaningful discussion between both parties. UWEEI has escalated the matter to the Ministry of Manpower (MOM)."
Samsung makes job cuts in Singapore as part of layoffs across Asia
Samsung conducted a round of layoffs in Singapore on Tuesday. (PHOTO: Seung-il Ryu/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
It's not just Dyson that's having layoffs in Singapore.
Samsung Electronics also conducted a round of layoffs in Singapore on Tuesday (1 Oct). It was reported that staff across different teams were called into private meetings with HR managers and their reporting managers.
They were informed of the retrenchment and severance package details.
According to people familiar with the situation, Samsung is conducting layoffs in Southeast Asia, Australia, and New Zealand as part of a plan to reduce global headcount.
However, the South Korean company isn't planning any cuts in their home market.
Moo Deng 'chose violence', bites zoo worker in viral video
A viral video of Moo Deng shows her biting her caretaker's thigh and retaliating against him. (PHOTO: Carola Frentzen/picture alliance via Getty Images)
Internet famous baby hippo Moo Deng is biting the leg that showers her. Well, literally.
In a viral video that was recorded late September, the baby hippo can be seen retaliating against her caretaker who was attempting to hose her down.
The caretaker caught her attention by spraying her down with a hose, and when he touched her, she didn't take it well. The feisty girl tried to bite his hand, failing which, she bit his thigh and latched on while pushing against him.
Donald Trump takes offence with a fly during rally speech
A fly approached Donald Trump during his rally speech and he didn't seem pleased. (PHOTO: Jim Vondruska/Getty Images)
A fly had the audacity to approach Donald Trump during his rally speech his Wisconsin.
While telling a story about a hat, Trump spotted a fly on his lectern and said, "Oh there’s a fly. I wonder where the fly came from?"
An audience member shouted, "Kamala!"
Trump continued, "See, two years ago, I wouldn’t have had a fly up here. You’re changing rapidly. We can’t take it any longer."
It's not clear who or what he was referring to, or if he had heard Harris' name from the audience.
This bizarre interaction had many drawing comparisons to former vice-president Mike Pence when a fly sat on his head for about two minutes during his 2020 debate with Harris.
The American Bridge 21st Century, who describe themselves an a Republican accountability group, said, "Trump is exhausted and struggling to stay on track. He begins a story about a hat, but gets distracted by a fly and never finishes."
Singaporeans to get $4 with every $50 spent with the FairPrice Return Vouchers
The FairPrice Return Voucher promotion will start from Wednesday (3 Oct). With this, Singaporeans can maximise their savings and stretch their dollar further. (PHOTO: FairPrice Group)
It will distribute a S$4 FairPrice Return Voucher for every S$50 nett spend in a single receipt across all FairPrice, FairPrice Finest, FairPrice Xtra and Unity stores (excluding Unity stores in Changi Airport).
This promotion is to help Singaporeans stretch their dollar and will run for a week from 3 Oct to 9 Oct.
These vouchers will be redeemable across the month of October. This tranch of vouchers marks the third time FPG has provided Singaporeans with Return Vouchers to maximise savings.
Vipul Chawla, Group CEO, FairPrice Group, shared, "Keeping daily essentials within reach for all in Singapore has been our guiding mission for over 50 years. Through the Return Voucher initiative, we want to assure Singaporeans that we will continue to support them in times of need, and strive to make their daily lives and access to healthy and nutritious food a little better every day."
Bryan Lim
Tanjong Pagar Plaza Market & Food Centre closes for 2 months
Tanjong Pagar Plaza Market & Food Centre will be closing for two months. (PHOTO: SethLui.com)
A lunchtime haunt for CBD workers is closing for two months.
Tanjong Pagar Plaza Market & Food Centre will be closed from 14 Oct 2024 to 14 Dec 2024 for maintenance and cleaning. This is part of the Repairs and Redecoration (R&R) programme which is conducted every 6 to 8 years.
One notable stall that will be missed is Celebrities Big Prawn Noodle. It doesn't just coast by on the numerous celebrity endorsements, though. The stall often see long snaking queues.
Singapore ranks third among the 25 least affordable countries in the world
Singapore ranks third on a list of 25 least affordable countries in the world. (PHOTO: Getty Images)
Is it a surprise that Singapore makes the list of "most expensive cities" or "least affordable countries"?
In a latest ranking of the latter from Insider Monkey, the city state appeared near the top of the list. The ranking was done by analysing cost of living primarily, with personal income tax rates as a secondary metric.
The ranking aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on affordability, capturing both everyday living costs and the impact of taxation.
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