Hong Kong tests student housing land sales as office market slowdown curbs tenders
AdvertisementHong Kong propertyBusinessHong Kong tests student housing land sales as office market slowdown curbs tendersGovernment invites interest in three sites for student hostels, signalling a shift from office sites to education-focused development
Reading Time:2 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPPeggy YePublished: 2:00pm, 22 Jan 2026Hong Kong is testing purpose-built student housing as an alternative land-sale model, as weak demand for commercial sites pushes the government to explore uses that can still attract investor interest.The Development Bureau on Tuesday invited expressions of interest (EOI) for student hostel development on three commercially zoned sites in Kai Tak, Siu Lek Yuen in Sha Tin, and Tung Chung East, marking the first time the government had proposed selling land through open tender with use restricted exclusively to student accommodation.
The move comes after the government effectively halted commercial land sales due to high office vacancy rates and ample exist..
Trump says ‘framework of a future deal’ discussed on Greenland as he backs off tariffs threat
Trump says 'framework of a future deal' discussed on Greenland as he backs off tariffs threat3 hours agoShareSaveBernd Debusmann JrWhite House reporterShareSaveWatch: The BBC's Faisal Islam on how Trump's Davos speech was receivedPresident Donald Trump says the US is exploring a potential deal on Greenland after talks with Nato as he backed off threats to tariff European allies that had opposed his plans for America to acquire the island.
On social media, Trump offered few details about a discussion that both he and Nato described as “very productive”.
After rattling the transatlantic alliance with weeks of rhetoric, the US president said the meeting had led to the “framework” of a potential agreement.
But there was no suggestion of a deal that might meet Trump's demand for “ownership” of Greenland, an ambition he restated at the World Economic Forum in Switzerland, while also ruling out military force.
On Truth Social on Wednesday, the US president said: “We..
Trump’s jibes are wearing thin for many of Europe’s leaders
Trump's jibes are wearing thin for many of Europe's leaders11 hours agoShareSaveNick BeakeEurope correspondent, BrusselsShareSaveAFP via Getty ImagesDonald Trump delivered a wide-ranging speech at the Davos summit in Switzerland”Without us, right now you'd all be speaking German,” President Donald Trump told his audience at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alps on Wednesday.
He may well have forgotten German is the most widely spoken of the four official languages in Switzerland.
Many people – from Brussels to Berlin to Paris – will have found his speech to be insulting, overbearing and inaccurate.
In it, he presented the idea that Europe is careering down the wrong path. That is a theme Trump has frequently explored, but it has a different impact when delivered on European soil to the faces of supposed friends and allies.
There is undoubtedly huge relief across Europe that the US president ruled out the use of military force to take Greenland at the forum in Davos…
Usha Vance announces fourth baby: How did she and US Vice Prez JD Vance meet? Yale Law romance goes viral
JD Vance and Usha Vance Expecting Fourth Child: A Look at Their Family Journey Today the spotlight is on Usha Vance and US Vice President JD Vance, as the couple joyfully announced recently that they are expecting their fourth child, a baby boy due in July 2026. The news that has captivated media and social feeds worldwide and we can't help but go down their relationship journey, from law school beginnings to life in the political spotlight.JD Vance and Usha Vance's announcement that broke the Internet
Vice President JD Vance and his wife Usha Vance shared the pregnancy news in a heartfelt post across social media platforms including X (formerly Twitter) and Instagram, expressing excitement about welcoming their fourth child and gratitude for the support of military medical staff and their team. The couple, who already have three children (sons Ewan and Vivek and daughter Mirabel), said that they are thrilled and looking forward to late-July arrival.Taking to her X handle, ea..
Looking for a job in the UAE? Sharjah announces 2,000 government posts under 2026 budget
Sharjah unveils major employment plan for 2026, with 2,000 government jobs / image: file In a move that has sparked excitement across the emirate, His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah, has officially approved the hiring of 1,000 Emirati men and women into government positions. This isn't just a small hiring spree; it brings the total number of job opportunities announced under the Sharjah 2026 budget to a staggering 2,000 positions.Specifically designed to accommodate newly graduated degree holders, this initiative spans all cities and regions of the emirate. The message from the leadership is clear: no graduate will be left behind. By focusing on the youth, Sharjah is ensuring that its next generation of professionals has a direct path into the workforce, supporting the wider national goal of a stable and prosperous community.Sharjah’s 2026 jobs surge: What’s happening?If you are a job seeker, you won't have to wait long. The Sharjah Depart..
Trump doubles down on Greenland ahead of Davos visit, saying there is ‘no going back’
Trump doubles down on Greenland ahead of Davos visit, saying there is 'no going back'7 minutes agoShareSaveTabby WilsonShareSaveWatch: BBC asks if breakup of Nato is price Trump willing to pay for GreenlandUS President Donald Trump has doubled down on his threats to take control of Greenland, saying there is “no going back”.
Asked at a news conference how far he was willing to go to acquire the semi-autonomous Danish territory, he replied: “You'll find out.”
It comes after French President Emmanuel Macron warned of a “shift towards a world without rules”, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said the “old order is not coming back”.
Trump was due to arrive in Davos ahead of his speech at the World Economic Forum on Wednesday, but a minor electrical issue on Air Force One forced the plane to turn around.
It was unclear how the delay would impact his schedule. The White House said the plane turned around and that Trump would fly to Switzerland on another aircraft.
Trump..
Why Southeast Asia is wary of Trump’s ‘pay-to-play’ global peace board
AdvertisementUS-Asean relationsThis Week in AsiaPoliticsWhy Southeast Asia is wary of Trump’s ‘pay-to-play’ global peace boardNations are likely to try to avoid early commitment while steering clear of outright rejection to minimise US retaliation, analysts say
Reading Time:4 minutesWhy you can trust SCMPKolette LimandAidan JonesPublished: 2:30pm, 21 Jan 2026Southeast Asian countries invited to join Donald Trump’s proposed “Board of Peace” should think carefully before entering what looks like a “more exclusive version” of the United Nations Security Council with the US president in ultimate control, analysts caution.Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam are among about 60 countries that have reportedly received invitations, alongside South Korea and India.The initiative, presented by Trump as a new international body to promote global stability, was initially authorised by the United Nations Security Council to help oversee the Gaza peace plan and post-war reconstruction. But dra..
Australia’s 12-year-old shark attack victim named as family disclose ‘devastating injuries’
A 12-year-old mauled by a shark in Australia’s Sydney Harbour has been identified as Nico Antic, with a family friend saying the boy had suffered “devastating injuries”.
Antic was attacked on Sunday afternoon while swimming with friends near Shark Beach in Vaucluse, an affluent harbourside suburb in Sydney’s east.
The incident happened shortly after 4.20pm as the boys were jumping from rocks along the Hermitage Foreshore Walk, a popular coastal path.
Police believe a bull shark – a species known to inhabit murky, brackish waters – was responsible. The boy was bitten on both legs.
Antic was taken to Sydney Children’s Hospital in Randwick, where he remains in a critical condition.
On Wednesday morning, the hospital said it could not provide an update on his condition, the Guardian reported.
A GoFundMe appeal launched by Victor Piñeiro, who described himself as a close friend of the family, said the boy had suffered “devastating injuries”.
“Despite all efforts, this heartbreaking event ..
South Korea’s ex-PM Han gets 23 years in prison for insurrection tied to martial law
AdvertisementSouth KoreaAsiaEast AsiaSouth Korea’s ex-PM Han gets 23 years in prison for insurrection tied to martial lawA judge said Han Duck-soo failed to hold a lawful cabinet meeting needed for martial law under South Korean rules
Reading Time:1 minuteWhy you can trust SCMPReutersPublished: 2:26pm, 21 Jan 2026Updated: 2:43pm, 21 Jan 2026A South Korean court on Wednesday sentenced former prime minister Han Duck-soo to 23 years in prison for charges including engaging in key action of insurrection concerning ex-president Yoon Suk-yeol’s short-lived declaration of martial law in December 2024.
The Seoul Central District Court found Han guilty on the charge because he was considered instrumental in setting up the outward appearance of a cabinet meeting that worked to facilitate the martial law declaration, a judge said.
Han, 76, is the first former cabinet minister to be handed a ruling by a lower court on criminal charges directly related to martial law.
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