13 February 2022
From Europe to Neighbours RI Begins to Make Peace with Omicron
Writer: Thea Fathanah Arbar
Many Make Peace with Omicron, from Europe to Indonesia's Neighbours
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Several countries in the world have begun to lift the Covid-19 restrictions to stem the Omicron variant. This step is carried out with case claims that have passed the peak and the vaccination rate, including booster, is quite high.
Most of these countries are in Europe. Easing, including not wearing masks outside, rules for gathering until normal hours for some sectors, have even been carried out since the end of January 2022.
The UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, France, Norway, Italy and Sweden are the countries in Europe that have lifted the restrictions. However, this revocation was carried out when the spike in cases of Omicron infection was high in each country.
Not only in Europe, countries in Asia also plan to follow the existing 'trend'. The easing of Covid-19 was carried out by at least two of Indonesia's neighbours, namely Malaysia and the Philippines.
In Malaysia, the government will prepare a scheme for tourist arrivals without quarantine starting March 1. This was conveyed directly by the National Recovery Council (NRC) earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the Philippines has also opened its doors to foreign tourists since Thursday. This is an attempt to save the economy, tourism and industry after almost two years.
Foreign travelers from 157 countries on a visa-free arrangement with the Philippines can enter the country. However, they must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and tested negative for coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for easing measures to be carried out slowly and carefully. Moreover, the fact is, in many countries, there are still many individuals who have not received the vaccine and are vulnerable.
"We urge caution as many countries have not yet passed the Omicron peak. Many countries have low vaccination coverage rates with highly susceptible individuals in their populations," WHO Technical Lead Maria Van Kerkhove said in an online briefing last week.
"So now is not the time to relax everything at once. We always urge, always be very careful, in implementing interventions and withdrawing those interventions slowly, step by step. Because this virus is quite dynamic."
https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20220212154345-4-314930/dari-eropa-hingga-tetangga-ri-mulai-berdamai-dengan-omicron
Many Make Peace with Omicron, from Europe to Indonesia's Neighbours
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Several countries in the world have begun to lift the Covid-19 restrictions to stem the Omicron variant. This step is carried out with case claims that have passed the peak and the vaccination rate, including booster, is quite high.
Most of these countries are in Europe. Easing, including not wearing masks outside, rules for gathering until normal hours for some sectors, have even been carried out since the end of January 2022.
The UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Finland, Denmark, France, Norway, Italy and Sweden are the countries in Europe that have lifted the restrictions. However, this revocation was carried out when the spike in cases of Omicron infection was high in each country.
Not only in Europe, countries in Asia also plan to follow the existing 'trend'. The easing of Covid-19 was carried out by at least two of Indonesia's neighbours, namely Malaysia and the Philippines.
In Malaysia, the government will prepare a scheme for tourist arrivals without quarantine starting March 1. This was conveyed directly by the National Recovery Council (NRC) earlier this week.
Meanwhile, the Philippines has also opened its doors to foreign tourists since Thursday. This is an attempt to save the economy, tourism and industry after almost two years.
Foreign travelers from 157 countries on a visa-free arrangement with the Philippines can enter the country. However, they must be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 and tested negative for coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) called for easing measures to be carried out slowly and carefully. Moreover, the fact is, in many countries, there are still many individuals who have not received the vaccine and are vulnerable.
"We urge caution as many countries have not yet passed the Omicron peak. Many countries have low vaccination coverage rates with highly susceptible individuals in their populations," WHO Technical Lead Maria Van Kerkhove said in an online briefing last week.
"So now is not the time to relax everything at once. We always urge, always be very careful, in implementing interventions and withdrawing those interventions slowly, step by step. Because this virus is quite dynamic."
https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20220212154345-4-314930/dari-eropa-hingga-tetangga-ri-mulai-berdamai-dengan-omicron
07 February 2022
International COVID-19 border closures to end, full reopening by February 21
By political reporter Georgia Hitch
Almost two years after the government closed Australia to the world, the international border is set to reopen to those who are fully vaccinated.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said after new medical advice, the new border rules would come into place on February 21.
"The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia," he said.
"That's the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it."
The news will be welcomed by tourism bodies, which have been crying out for movement on the border closure that has hampered some businesses.
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said unvaccinated travellers would still need to apply for a travel exemption to come to Australia and have to undergo hotel quarantine if they were granted permission to enter the country.
Mr Morrison said the government's definition was that people need to have a full course of a vaccine, which in most cases is two doses but for some international vaccines is only one, to be considered vaccinated.
For example, the Johnson and Johnson vaccine — which is approved for use in Australia — involves only one dose.
The expert panel on vaccines, ATAGI, has flagged though that it is considering whether to still use the term "fully vaccinated" or instead move to "up to date with vaccinations" like is used with childhood vaccines.
If the definition is changed, it could mean that booster shots are included when considering if someone is "up to date" or not.
Mr Morrison made it clear, with a reference to the recent Novak Djokovic saga, that even if people had the correct visa to enter Australia, if they were not fully vaccinated — or had an exemption — they would not be allowed to enter.
"I think events earlier in the year should have sent a very clear message to everyone around the world that (that) is the requirement to enter into Australia," he said.
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said the announcement meant Australia was "finally back open for business".
"This is fantastic news for our people and our customers," he said.
"There are a lot tourism operators in city centres and the regions that have been doing it really tough over the past couple of years and this will see more tourists come to their town, spend money and get local economies going again.
"We will be looking at our schedules to see if we can restart flights from more international destinations sooner or add capacity to those routes we are already flying. We have the flexibility to ramp up flights in response to demand."
There are around 660,000 people working in the tourism industry in Australia.
The government shut the international border to everyone except Australian citizens and residents in March 2020 amid what was then the emerging coronavirus pandemic.
It was an unprecedented step up from the travel bans that had been in place for anyone from China, Iran, Italy and South Korea in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Australia.
The government has slowly begun to reopen to certain countries and people, first with the New Zealand travel bubble and most recently allowing tourists from Japan and South Korea, along with some visa holders, back into Australia.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-07/international-covid-borders-to-reopen-scott-morrison/100810580
Almost two years after the government closed Australia to the world, the international border is set to reopen to those who are fully vaccinated.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said after new medical advice, the new border rules would come into place on February 21.
"The condition is you must be double vaccinated to come to Australia," he said.
"That's the rule. Everyone is expected to abide by it."
The news will be welcomed by tourism bodies, which have been crying out for movement on the border closure that has hampered some businesses.
Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said unvaccinated travellers would still need to apply for a travel exemption to come to Australia and have to undergo hotel quarantine if they were granted permission to enter the country.
Mr Morrison said the government's definition was that people need to have a full course of a vaccine, which in most cases is two doses but for some international vaccines is only one, to be considered vaccinated.
For example, the Johnson and Johnson vaccine — which is approved for use in Australia — involves only one dose.
The expert panel on vaccines, ATAGI, has flagged though that it is considering whether to still use the term "fully vaccinated" or instead move to "up to date with vaccinations" like is used with childhood vaccines.
If the definition is changed, it could mean that booster shots are included when considering if someone is "up to date" or not.
Mr Morrison made it clear, with a reference to the recent Novak Djokovic saga, that even if people had the correct visa to enter Australia, if they were not fully vaccinated — or had an exemption — they would not be allowed to enter.
"I think events earlier in the year should have sent a very clear message to everyone around the world that (that) is the requirement to enter into Australia," he said.
Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce said the announcement meant Australia was "finally back open for business".
"This is fantastic news for our people and our customers," he said.
"There are a lot tourism operators in city centres and the regions that have been doing it really tough over the past couple of years and this will see more tourists come to their town, spend money and get local economies going again.
"We will be looking at our schedules to see if we can restart flights from more international destinations sooner or add capacity to those routes we are already flying. We have the flexibility to ramp up flights in response to demand."
There are around 660,000 people working in the tourism industry in Australia.
The government shut the international border to everyone except Australian citizens and residents in March 2020 amid what was then the emerging coronavirus pandemic.
It was an unprecedented step up from the travel bans that had been in place for anyone from China, Iran, Italy and South Korea in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Australia.
The government has slowly begun to reopen to certain countries and people, first with the New Zealand travel bubble and most recently allowing tourists from Japan and South Korea, along with some visa holders, back into Australia.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-02-07/international-covid-borders-to-reopen-scott-morrison/100810580
02 February 2022
Real Estate Metaverse Floods Of Interest, Is It Safe To Invest?
Writer: Ferry Sandi, CNBC Indonesia
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Real estate sales in the metaverse reached US$ 500 million or equivalent to Rp. 7.17 trillion (exchange rate of Rp. 14,350/US$) last year and could double this year, according to data from investors and analytics firms.
MetaMetric Solutions said real estate sales across the four major metaverse platforms reached US1 million in 2021. Meanwhile sales in January this year had reached US million (Rp 1.22 trillion), the metaverse data provider said. With this rate, this year's sales are projected to reach nearly US$ 1 billion (Rp 14.35 trillion) this year.
The recent spike in sales was fueled by Facebook's announcement late last October that it was changing the company's name to Meta to focus on the metaverse. In November or right after the rebranding, real estate sales on the metaverse jumped nearly ninefold, to 3 million, according to data from MetaMetric. Sales growth has faded since then, but total January sales will still be more than 10 times their January 2021 level.
A report from BrandEssence Market Research found that the metaverse real estate market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31% per year from 2022 to 2028.
"There's a big risk, but the potential payoff is huge," said Janine Yorio, CEO of Republic Realm, a metaverse real estate investor and advisory firm.
Developers 'big four' dominate
Republic Realm paid a record .3 million for land on the largest metaverse real estate platform, Sandbox. The company is developing 100 islands, called Fantasy Islands, with their own villas and associated boat and jet ski markets. Ninety islands sold in the first day for US,000 each and several are now listed for resale for over US0,000.
For investors, the big question is how to assign value and risk to assets that are artificially scarce and whose futures are still empty.
More than a dozen platforms are now selling real estate in the metaverse, with new ones popping up almost every week. So far, real estate sales are concentrated in the "Big Four" - Sandbox, Decentraland, Cryptovoxels and Somnium.
There are a total of 268,645 fields across the four platforms, all of varying sizes.
Sandbox dominates the market, holding 62% of combined land across four platforms and three-quarters of all land sales by 2022, according to a report from Republic Realm. The sandbox has 166,464 fields, each measuring 96 meters by 96 meters, and each sold in Ether which cost the equivalent of US$ 12,700 in December.
Decentraland has 90,600 fields, which measure 16 meters by 16 meters, and are sold in Ether which costs the equivalent of US$ 14,440 each.
A rush of companies, big brands, and investors flooded the new artificial land, hoping to become a new digital city like Manhattan or Monaco. Yorio says the value of land in the metaverse will be determined by what the owner does with the property - such as designing popular attractions, museums or features - rather than location.
"You can teleport anywhere so location doesn't really matter," he said.
Yet other investors say that just like in the real world, location in the metaverse is everything in real estate. Prices for plots of land near the virtual world of Snoop Dogg's planned partnership in the Sandbox are at a premium, along with plots of land near the Atari development.
Andrew Kiguel, CEO of Toronto-based Tokens.com, recently raised million to invest in metaverse real estate, nearly all of which has been earmarked for buying land and hiring staff. The company recently spent .4 million on land in the Decentraland fashion district, where it plans to host fashion events and retail stores.
Kiguel said he would announce deals with two North American clothing brands in which he leases space on his property to develop a storefront or experience. Kiguel says there are real commercial opportunities in the land of the metaverse – renting space and hosting events for companies looking to advertise to a younger digital audience. He says he has been in talks with accounting firms, investment banks, podcasters and mutual funds to build a presence in the metaverse.
Tokens.com purchased 12 waterfront properties on Somnium which they said would increase in value because of their rarity and visual appeal, Kiguel said.
However, others say metaverse land is just the latest iteration of a crypto ponzi scheme, luring unwitting investors into projects that may ultimately prove worthless. While real land has natural rarity - so the old adage of old ownership is not the same as virtual land which is so easy to code. There is no limit to the number of new metaverse platforms that can be launched. Even large existing platforms can create more land, as Sandbox did when it decided to increase the size of its plots.
"Metaverse land sales are generally pyramid schemes and have been going on for more than 20 years," said Edward Castronova, professor of media at Indiana University. "Metaverse is El Dorado for internet startups. They chased him into the woods and died."
While older investors may scoff at the land of the metaverse, Kiguel said, younger consumers and investors alike can see the appeal right away.
"The problem a lot of people have is that there's a generation that has a hard time associating values with things that are digital, that you can't hold onto and that don't hold weight," says Kiguel. "Young people don't mind. Like NFT, blockchain technology allows things to be digital, irreplaceable and rare. You can hold them, store them, display them and sell them."
https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/market/20220202003816-17-312127/real-estate-metaverse-banjir-peminat-aman-buat-investasi/1
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Real estate sales in the metaverse reached US$ 500 million or equivalent to Rp. 7.17 trillion (exchange rate of Rp. 14,350/US$) last year and could double this year, according to data from investors and analytics firms.
MetaMetric Solutions said real estate sales across the four major metaverse platforms reached US1 million in 2021. Meanwhile sales in January this year had reached US million (Rp 1.22 trillion), the metaverse data provider said. With this rate, this year's sales are projected to reach nearly US$ 1 billion (Rp 14.35 trillion) this year.
The recent spike in sales was fueled by Facebook's announcement late last October that it was changing the company's name to Meta to focus on the metaverse. In November or right after the rebranding, real estate sales on the metaverse jumped nearly ninefold, to 3 million, according to data from MetaMetric. Sales growth has faded since then, but total January sales will still be more than 10 times their January 2021 level.
A report from BrandEssence Market Research found that the metaverse real estate market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 31% per year from 2022 to 2028.
"There's a big risk, but the potential payoff is huge," said Janine Yorio, CEO of Republic Realm, a metaverse real estate investor and advisory firm.
Developers 'big four' dominate
Republic Realm paid a record .3 million for land on the largest metaverse real estate platform, Sandbox. The company is developing 100 islands, called Fantasy Islands, with their own villas and associated boat and jet ski markets. Ninety islands sold in the first day for US,000 each and several are now listed for resale for over US0,000.
For investors, the big question is how to assign value and risk to assets that are artificially scarce and whose futures are still empty.
More than a dozen platforms are now selling real estate in the metaverse, with new ones popping up almost every week. So far, real estate sales are concentrated in the "Big Four" - Sandbox, Decentraland, Cryptovoxels and Somnium.
There are a total of 268,645 fields across the four platforms, all of varying sizes.
Sandbox dominates the market, holding 62% of combined land across four platforms and three-quarters of all land sales by 2022, according to a report from Republic Realm. The sandbox has 166,464 fields, each measuring 96 meters by 96 meters, and each sold in Ether which cost the equivalent of US$ 12,700 in December.
Decentraland has 90,600 fields, which measure 16 meters by 16 meters, and are sold in Ether which costs the equivalent of US$ 14,440 each.
A rush of companies, big brands, and investors flooded the new artificial land, hoping to become a new digital city like Manhattan or Monaco. Yorio says the value of land in the metaverse will be determined by what the owner does with the property - such as designing popular attractions, museums or features - rather than location.
"You can teleport anywhere so location doesn't really matter," he said.
Yet other investors say that just like in the real world, location in the metaverse is everything in real estate. Prices for plots of land near the virtual world of Snoop Dogg's planned partnership in the Sandbox are at a premium, along with plots of land near the Atari development.
Andrew Kiguel, CEO of Toronto-based Tokens.com, recently raised million to invest in metaverse real estate, nearly all of which has been earmarked for buying land and hiring staff. The company recently spent .4 million on land in the Decentraland fashion district, where it plans to host fashion events and retail stores.
Kiguel said he would announce deals with two North American clothing brands in which he leases space on his property to develop a storefront or experience. Kiguel says there are real commercial opportunities in the land of the metaverse – renting space and hosting events for companies looking to advertise to a younger digital audience. He says he has been in talks with accounting firms, investment banks, podcasters and mutual funds to build a presence in the metaverse.
Tokens.com purchased 12 waterfront properties on Somnium which they said would increase in value because of their rarity and visual appeal, Kiguel said.
However, others say metaverse land is just the latest iteration of a crypto ponzi scheme, luring unwitting investors into projects that may ultimately prove worthless. While real land has natural rarity - so the old adage of old ownership is not the same as virtual land which is so easy to code. There is no limit to the number of new metaverse platforms that can be launched. Even large existing platforms can create more land, as Sandbox did when it decided to increase the size of its plots.
"Metaverse land sales are generally pyramid schemes and have been going on for more than 20 years," said Edward Castronova, professor of media at Indiana University. "Metaverse is El Dorado for internet startups. They chased him into the woods and died."
While older investors may scoff at the land of the metaverse, Kiguel said, younger consumers and investors alike can see the appeal right away.
"The problem a lot of people have is that there's a generation that has a hard time associating values with things that are digital, that you can't hold onto and that don't hold weight," says Kiguel. "Young people don't mind. Like NFT, blockchain technology allows things to be digital, irreplaceable and rare. You can hold them, store them, display them and sell them."
https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/market/20220202003816-17-312127/real-estate-metaverse-banjir-peminat-aman-buat-investasi/1
24 January 2022
Indonesia announces safe travel corridor for visitors from Singapore to enter Batam and Bintan
Writer: Kiki Siregar
JAKARTA: Indonesia is opening a safe travel corridor allowing people from Singapore to travel to Batam and Bintan, said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto on Monday (Jan 24).
Speaking in a virtual press conference, Mr Hartarto said the Indonesian government decided to establish the travel bubble since the COVID-19 cases in Batam and Bintan are now under control.
“The government is pushing for a travel bubble between Batam, Bintan and Singapore to encourage tourism activities in Batam, Bintan,” said Mr Hartarto.
He added that the entry points will be Nongsapura ferry terminal in Batam and Bandar Bentan Telani ferry terminal in Bintan.
“The requirements for travellers are they must be vaccinated twice, and have a negative PCR test taken within three days (prior to travel),” said Mr Hartarto.
Travellers must also have insurance worth S,000 and use the Indonesian COVID-19 tracing programmes PeduliLindungi and Blue Pass.
At the same press conference, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan said that the travel bubble will be evaluated every week. “If we think it is good, we continue. If not, we stop," he said.
The two Indonesian ministers did not elaborate on the quarantine and other testing requirements of the safe travel corridor. They also did not specify when will this travel bubble start.
Without tourists from Singapore, Bintan's resorts get creative to make ends meet amid COVID-19.
At that time, Singapore’s Transport Minister S Iswaran said that the VTL with Indonesia would be unilateral for the moment since the latter had remained closed to general travel.
“We hope that Indonesia will likewise soon reopen its borders to travellers from Singapore,” he said then.
On Nov 16, a statement by the Indonesian foreign ministry wrote that both foreign ministers “agreed to continue discussions on VTL arrangements bilaterally (reciprocally)”.
The next Singapore-Indonesia Leaders’ Retreat will be held in Bintan on Tuesday.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/indonesia-singapore-travel-bubble-batam-bintan-2455481
JAKARTA: Indonesia is opening a safe travel corridor allowing people from Singapore to travel to Batam and Bintan, said Coordinating Minister for Economic Affairs Airlangga Hartarto on Monday (Jan 24).
Speaking in a virtual press conference, Mr Hartarto said the Indonesian government decided to establish the travel bubble since the COVID-19 cases in Batam and Bintan are now under control.
“The government is pushing for a travel bubble between Batam, Bintan and Singapore to encourage tourism activities in Batam, Bintan,” said Mr Hartarto.
He added that the entry points will be Nongsapura ferry terminal in Batam and Bandar Bentan Telani ferry terminal in Bintan.
“The requirements for travellers are they must be vaccinated twice, and have a negative PCR test taken within three days (prior to travel),” said Mr Hartarto.
Travellers must also have insurance worth S,000 and use the Indonesian COVID-19 tracing programmes PeduliLindungi and Blue Pass.
At the same press conference, Coordinating Minister for Maritime Affairs and Investment Luhut Pandjaitan said that the travel bubble will be evaluated every week. “If we think it is good, we continue. If not, we stop," he said.
The two Indonesian ministers did not elaborate on the quarantine and other testing requirements of the safe travel corridor. They also did not specify when will this travel bubble start.
Without tourists from Singapore, Bintan's resorts get creative to make ends meet amid COVID-19.
At that time, Singapore’s Transport Minister S Iswaran said that the VTL with Indonesia would be unilateral for the moment since the latter had remained closed to general travel.
“We hope that Indonesia will likewise soon reopen its borders to travellers from Singapore,” he said then.
On Nov 16, a statement by the Indonesian foreign ministry wrote that both foreign ministers “agreed to continue discussions on VTL arrangements bilaterally (reciprocally)”.
The next Singapore-Indonesia Leaders’ Retreat will be held in Bintan on Tuesday.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/asia/indonesia-singapore-travel-bubble-batam-bintan-2455481
18 January 2022
Legitimate! Indonesia has a new capital city called Nusantara
Writer: Editorial Team, CNBC Indonesia
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Plenary Session of the House of Representatives (DPR) has officially approved the Draft Law (RUU) for the State Capital (IKN) to become a law. The capital of moving to Kalimantan has finally become a reality.
"Does the bill regarding the capital city of this country, all members agree," asked the Chairperson of the Session, Puan Maharani at the DPR Building, Tuesday (18/1/2022)
"Agreed," replied the members present.
The previous IKN Bill meeting began with a special committee meeting with experts ranging from public experts to spatial planning. Then followed by a committee meeting to discuss four things.
The first is related to the status of the IKN, whether it is an authority or a special local government. Second, regarding IKN financing, which is requested so as not to burden the APBN.
Indonesian President Jokowi accompanied by Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono, and Minister of Defense Prabowo while reviewing the IKN road section (Lukas - Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau) Photo: Indonesian President Jokowi accompanied by Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono, and Minister of Defense Prabowo while reviewing the IKN road section (Lukas - Biro Presidential Secretariat Press)
Indonesian President Jokowi accompanied by Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono and Minister of Defense Prabowo while reviewing the IKN section of the road (Lukas - Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat)
Third, regarding the master plan or master plan for IKN development. Where the special committee of the DPR hopes that IKN development will not become a stalled project.
Fourth is land. For this cluster, it is requested not to cause problems with the community around IKN, so the Ministry of ATR/BPN must coordinate and go to the field.
The four points of discussion were approved by all members of the special committee of the DPR, DPD and also the government. With some notes from the special committee members and also the DPD RI.
"Thus, we submit the IKN Panja report so that it can be continued in the discussion of decision making at level I in the working meeting at the Special Committee for the IKN Bill," said Deputy Chair of the IKN Panja Saan Mustopa who attended the meeting until dawn this morning.
IKN is not really a new thing. This discourse was taken seriously by Jokowi in 2019, in the annual session of the DPR/MPR. Jokowi said that the capital city would move to East Kalimantan with all the reasons he felt were urgent.
After that, the government began to draft the IKN Bill. The period is quite long. In addition to the very complex discussion, in 2020 Indonesia will be faced with the COVID-19 pandemic. So that all attention cannot be diverted from Covid-19.
However, believe it or not, now moving the capital city is no longer a dream, but a real reality. After the passage of the bill, the government will gradually build a new capital city in North Kalimantan until 2024.
https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20220118133427-4-308348/sah-indonesia-punya-ibu-kota-negara-baru-bernama-nusantara
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The Plenary Session of the House of Representatives (DPR) has officially approved the Draft Law (RUU) for the State Capital (IKN) to become a law. The capital of moving to Kalimantan has finally become a reality.
"Does the bill regarding the capital city of this country, all members agree," asked the Chairperson of the Session, Puan Maharani at the DPR Building, Tuesday (18/1/2022)
"Agreed," replied the members present.
The previous IKN Bill meeting began with a special committee meeting with experts ranging from public experts to spatial planning. Then followed by a committee meeting to discuss four things.
The first is related to the status of the IKN, whether it is an authority or a special local government. Second, regarding IKN financing, which is requested so as not to burden the APBN.
Indonesian President Jokowi accompanied by Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono, and Minister of Defense Prabowo while reviewing the IKN road section (Lukas - Presidential Secretariat Press Bureau) Photo: Indonesian President Jokowi accompanied by Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono, and Minister of Defense Prabowo while reviewing the IKN road section (Lukas - Biro Presidential Secretariat Press)
Indonesian President Jokowi accompanied by Minister of PUPR Basuki Hadimuljono and Minister of Defense Prabowo while reviewing the IKN section of the road (Lukas - Press Bureau of the Presidential Secretariat)
Third, regarding the master plan or master plan for IKN development. Where the special committee of the DPR hopes that IKN development will not become a stalled project.
Fourth is land. For this cluster, it is requested not to cause problems with the community around IKN, so the Ministry of ATR/BPN must coordinate and go to the field.
The four points of discussion were approved by all members of the special committee of the DPR, DPD and also the government. With some notes from the special committee members and also the DPD RI.
"Thus, we submit the IKN Panja report so that it can be continued in the discussion of decision making at level I in the working meeting at the Special Committee for the IKN Bill," said Deputy Chair of the IKN Panja Saan Mustopa who attended the meeting until dawn this morning.
IKN is not really a new thing. This discourse was taken seriously by Jokowi in 2019, in the annual session of the DPR/MPR. Jokowi said that the capital city would move to East Kalimantan with all the reasons he felt were urgent.
After that, the government began to draft the IKN Bill. The period is quite long. In addition to the very complex discussion, in 2020 Indonesia will be faced with the COVID-19 pandemic. So that all attention cannot be diverted from Covid-19.
However, believe it or not, now moving the capital city is no longer a dream, but a real reality. After the passage of the bill, the government will gradually build a new capital city in North Kalimantan until 2024.
https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/news/20220118133427-4-308348/sah-indonesia-punya-ibu-kota-negara-baru-bernama-nusantara
10 January 2022
Retail property outlook: Can malls woo digital shoppers with experiences they can't find online?
Writer: Chor Khieng Yuit
The COVID-19 shakeup is only the latest in a series of challenges faced by Singapore’s retail property sector. Money Mind looks at what it will take to attract shoppers back to the malls.
Writer: Chor Khieng Yuit
SINGAPORE: Avid shopper Kelly Chiew has not been to a bricks-and-mortar mall in two years.
The 28-year-old buys everything online – from everyday consumer goods to big ticket items including S,000 worth of renovation items.
Kelly is not alone. More shoppers are going online - and this has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), retail property prices have been on a general downtrend since the first quarter of 2016.
On the e-commerce end, the proportion of online spend has tripled in the past three years.
This lower footfall is pressuring rentals. Retail rents started falling at the beginning of 2020 and have been declining for seven straight quarters, according to URA data.
Despite this, Cushman & Wakefield’s Wong Xian Yang believes that a retail recovery could come in 2022.
“What will support rents further is a limited supply of new retail space," said Mr Wong, who is Cushman & Wakefield’s head of research in Singapore.
"New retail supply will only come in at about half a million sq ft per annum over the next few years. This compares to about 1 million sq ft from 2016 to 2019. Retail rents could recover by about 1 to 2 per cent, with suburban malls taking the lead.”
SUBURBAN AND CITY FRINGE MALLS
Suburban and city fringe malls have been more resilient during this current downturn.
URA data showed that median rentals for this region have decreased around 12 per cent since the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to a 16 per cent decline for malls in the Orchard area, and a 14 per cent decline for CBD malls.
At the same time, the vacancy rate at suburban retail spaces is also lower than that at the Orchard and downtown core areas.
"Suburban vacancy rates, they are at their lowest in about five years, at about 4.8 per cent as of the third quarter of 2021. This compares to about 8.1 per cent for islandwide vacancy. I mean, to give you some additional context, Orchard, and downtown core vacancy rates remain relatively high at about over 11 per cent as of third quarter of 2021," said Mr Wong.
The drivers are in place for suburban malls to continue to grow.
Once seen as just neighbourhood centres, they have transformed into destination shopping areas with luxury and international brands, said Mr Wong.
The continued adoption of remote working will also support footfall in suburban commercial areas.
However, Mr Wong said Orchard Road remains Singapore’s prime shopping destination, with large international brands still seeing it as the preferred location for their flagship outlets.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/money-mind-retail-property-shopping-malls-consumers-online-2424566?cid=internal_sharetool_androidphone_02022022_cna
The COVID-19 shakeup is only the latest in a series of challenges faced by Singapore’s retail property sector. Money Mind looks at what it will take to attract shoppers back to the malls.
Writer: Chor Khieng Yuit
SINGAPORE: Avid shopper Kelly Chiew has not been to a bricks-and-mortar mall in two years.
The 28-year-old buys everything online – from everyday consumer goods to big ticket items including S,000 worth of renovation items.
Kelly is not alone. More shoppers are going online - and this has accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to data from the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), retail property prices have been on a general downtrend since the first quarter of 2016.
On the e-commerce end, the proportion of online spend has tripled in the past three years.
This lower footfall is pressuring rentals. Retail rents started falling at the beginning of 2020 and have been declining for seven straight quarters, according to URA data.
Despite this, Cushman & Wakefield’s Wong Xian Yang believes that a retail recovery could come in 2022.
“What will support rents further is a limited supply of new retail space," said Mr Wong, who is Cushman & Wakefield’s head of research in Singapore.
"New retail supply will only come in at about half a million sq ft per annum over the next few years. This compares to about 1 million sq ft from 2016 to 2019. Retail rents could recover by about 1 to 2 per cent, with suburban malls taking the lead.”
SUBURBAN AND CITY FRINGE MALLS
Suburban and city fringe malls have been more resilient during this current downturn.
URA data showed that median rentals for this region have decreased around 12 per cent since the fourth quarter of 2019, compared to a 16 per cent decline for malls in the Orchard area, and a 14 per cent decline for CBD malls.
At the same time, the vacancy rate at suburban retail spaces is also lower than that at the Orchard and downtown core areas.
"Suburban vacancy rates, they are at their lowest in about five years, at about 4.8 per cent as of the third quarter of 2021. This compares to about 8.1 per cent for islandwide vacancy. I mean, to give you some additional context, Orchard, and downtown core vacancy rates remain relatively high at about over 11 per cent as of third quarter of 2021," said Mr Wong.
The drivers are in place for suburban malls to continue to grow.
Once seen as just neighbourhood centres, they have transformed into destination shopping areas with luxury and international brands, said Mr Wong.
The continued adoption of remote working will also support footfall in suburban commercial areas.
However, Mr Wong said Orchard Road remains Singapore’s prime shopping destination, with large international brands still seeing it as the preferred location for their flagship outlets.
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/money-mind-retail-property-shopping-malls-consumers-online-2424566?cid=internal_sharetool_androidphone_02022022_cna
04 January 2022
Australian property prices surged 22pc last year, its biggest jump since the 1980s
Writer: Samuel Yang
Record low interest rates have driven Australian housing prices up 22 per cent last year — its sharpest rise in three decades.
The nation's median property price has risen for a 15th straight month. It comes after another 1 per cent gain in December, according to the latest figures from CoreLogic.
But prices have been rising at a slower pace each month, as property became increasingly unaffordable for first-home buyers.
Last month, Australia's median price rose by 1 per cent to 9,803.
Sydney had a small increase, by 0.3 per cent, while prices in Melbourne fell by 0.1 per cent in December.
"A surge in freshly advertised listings through December has been a key factor in taking some heat out of the Melbourne and Sydney housing markets," CoreLogic's research director Tim Lawless said.
Prices in Australia's two most expensive capitals were also affected by "demand headwinds caused by significant affordability constraints and negative interstate migration," he added.
While the pace of capital gains has been easing in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, prices in other capital cities have lifted sharply.
Prices in Brisbane and Adelaide went up by 2.9 per and 2.6 per cent in December, showing a two-speed market emerging across capital cities.
For the second year in a row, prices in regional areas went up at a much faster rate, compared to the capital cities.
Since March 2020, housing values across regional Australia were up 32 per cent, compared to a 20 per cent lift in values seen across the combined capitals.
However, AMP chief economist Shane Oliver said "storm clouds are gathering for the property boom".
"We expect a further slowing in national home price gains ahead of a peak and then price falls from later this year and in 2023," he said in a note.
Mr Oliver added that reflected poor affordability, rising mortgage rates and higher interest rate buffers in Australia.
"It's unclear what impact the latest COVID wave, driven by the Omicron variant, will have on the property market. It will likely reduce buyer confidence, but it could also dampen listings," he said.
"The 25-year bull market in capital city property prices is likely to come under pressure in the years ahead, as the 30-year decline in mortgage rates is now likely over.
"The collapse in immigration over the last two years may help remove the chronic undersupply of Australian housing, and the work-from-home phenomenon may take pressure off capital city prices."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-04/australia-house-prices-corelogic-data-december-2021/100737080
Record low interest rates have driven Australian housing prices up 22 per cent last year — its sharpest rise in three decades.
The nation's median property price has risen for a 15th straight month. It comes after another 1 per cent gain in December, according to the latest figures from CoreLogic.
But prices have been rising at a slower pace each month, as property became increasingly unaffordable for first-home buyers.
Last month, Australia's median price rose by 1 per cent to 9,803.
Sydney had a small increase, by 0.3 per cent, while prices in Melbourne fell by 0.1 per cent in December.
"A surge in freshly advertised listings through December has been a key factor in taking some heat out of the Melbourne and Sydney housing markets," CoreLogic's research director Tim Lawless said.
Prices in Australia's two most expensive capitals were also affected by "demand headwinds caused by significant affordability constraints and negative interstate migration," he added.
While the pace of capital gains has been easing in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, prices in other capital cities have lifted sharply.
Prices in Brisbane and Adelaide went up by 2.9 per and 2.6 per cent in December, showing a two-speed market emerging across capital cities.
For the second year in a row, prices in regional areas went up at a much faster rate, compared to the capital cities.
Since March 2020, housing values across regional Australia were up 32 per cent, compared to a 20 per cent lift in values seen across the combined capitals.
However, AMP chief economist Shane Oliver said "storm clouds are gathering for the property boom".
"We expect a further slowing in national home price gains ahead of a peak and then price falls from later this year and in 2023," he said in a note.
Mr Oliver added that reflected poor affordability, rising mortgage rates and higher interest rate buffers in Australia.
"It's unclear what impact the latest COVID wave, driven by the Omicron variant, will have on the property market. It will likely reduce buyer confidence, but it could also dampen listings," he said.
"The 25-year bull market in capital city property prices is likely to come under pressure in the years ahead, as the 30-year decline in mortgage rates is now likely over.
"The collapse in immigration over the last two years may help remove the chronic undersupply of Australian housing, and the work-from-home phenomenon may take pressure off capital city prices."
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-04/australia-house-prices-corelogic-data-december-2021/100737080
23 December 2021
How to Buy Clothes and a House on the Metaverse, what to pay for?
Editorial Team, CNBC Indonesia
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Metaverse continues to be a hot topic of conversation among world technology lovers. First, the metaverse can allow internet users to carry out virtual activities with a 3-dimensional view, including buying and owning land.
Metaverse was initially shocked by the Facebook company and it turned out that it was not only Mark Zuckerberg's company that started developing the virtual world of the metaverse. many other companies in this field are involved in developing the metaverse world.
How to Buy Clothes and Homes on the Metaverse
Even though you are currently in Indonesia, you can also buy clothes and houses through this metaverse. Users can shop for clothes and build mansions in the metaverse world.
Indeed, to make transactions in the metaverse is a little difficult. However, how to buy clothes and land or a house in this metaverse can be learned. Let's discuss them one by one.
1. Payment Transactions on Metaverse
In order to open an account and make transactions on the metaverse platform, users need to set up a crypto wallet that will hold all digital currencies. One of the popular wallets that is often used is the MetaMask wallet.
The MetaMask crypto wallet can be set up and downloaded via a mobile phone or a Google Chrome browser extension. With this wallet, you can carry out transactions such as exchanging money into cryptocurrencies with a debit card or credit card.
2. Types of Cryptos Metaverse Uses
The type of crypto used in this metaverse world depends on the platform you use to explore the new world. Each metaverse platform has its own crypto token which is used to make transactions. The types of cryptocurrencies commonly used on the Metaverse platform are as follows:
• MANA: The original cryptocurrency on the Decentraland Marketplace for buying and selling land, avatars, items such as clothes, accessories and interacting with other users. MANA will give you the ability to choose certain specs of the game, such as NFT auction activities and policy updates.
• SAND: This cryptocurrency is similar to MANA which can be used to buy and sell land, play games or conduct NFT auctions on the Sandbox Marketplace.
• AXS: The cryptocurrency used on the popular gaming platform Axis Infinity. It can be purchased through crypto exchanges and also players can earn AXS tokens by allowing digital pets (Axies), a unique NFT, to be used to compete in matches and tournaments.
3. How to Turn Money into Crypto.
There are several popular platforms for buying metaverse cryptocurrencies, including Binance, Gemini and Coinbase. This app will help you to convert fiat currency to metaverse crypto you need.
If you already have cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether, you can immediately exchange them for the metaverse token you need.
4. Buy Land or House in Decentraland
If you want to make a transaction to sell, buy or rent land and houses, please use the official Decentraland marketplace with these steps:
• Visit the Decentraland Marketplace.
• Then please select the available virtual land.
• You can see land prices through MANA tokens, availability information and owner's name.
• Please click buy to make a purchase transaction.
• Connect your wallet to the Decentraland Marketplace because the land will be sent to your wallet as NFT after the sale and purchase transaction is successful and complete. If you don't have one, please download your wallet on MetaMask and Trust Wallet.
• Confirm your virtual LAN.
• Confirm virtual LAND in your digital wallet.
• Make payments using cryptocurrencies.
5. Buy Land or Houses on Earth 2.io
Furthermore, you can make transactions for buying and selling land, houses and other goods using the Earth 2.io Marketplace in the following ways:
• Please visit Earth 2.io page and register.
• You can do a survey of the land to be purchased.
• If you have found it, please click buy land on the homepage.
• Determine the plot of land you want.
• The type of land plot you choose will show the number of plots that can be purchased per property with a maximum transaction of 750 plots with varying prices.
• If it is fixed, please pay for the land to be purchased by clicking Buy Now.
• Payment can be made using PayPal.
How? Did the information above about buying and selling land and goods make you interested in property investment in the metaverse world?
https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/tech/20211223134945-37-301474/cara-beli-baju-dan-rumah-di-metaverse-pakai-apa-bayarnya
Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Metaverse continues to be a hot topic of conversation among world technology lovers. First, the metaverse can allow internet users to carry out virtual activities with a 3-dimensional view, including buying and owning land.
Metaverse was initially shocked by the Facebook company and it turned out that it was not only Mark Zuckerberg's company that started developing the virtual world of the metaverse. many other companies in this field are involved in developing the metaverse world.
How to Buy Clothes and Homes on the Metaverse
Even though you are currently in Indonesia, you can also buy clothes and houses through this metaverse. Users can shop for clothes and build mansions in the metaverse world.
Indeed, to make transactions in the metaverse is a little difficult. However, how to buy clothes and land or a house in this metaverse can be learned. Let's discuss them one by one.
1. Payment Transactions on Metaverse
In order to open an account and make transactions on the metaverse platform, users need to set up a crypto wallet that will hold all digital currencies. One of the popular wallets that is often used is the MetaMask wallet.
The MetaMask crypto wallet can be set up and downloaded via a mobile phone or a Google Chrome browser extension. With this wallet, you can carry out transactions such as exchanging money into cryptocurrencies with a debit card or credit card.
2. Types of Cryptos Metaverse Uses
The type of crypto used in this metaverse world depends on the platform you use to explore the new world. Each metaverse platform has its own crypto token which is used to make transactions. The types of cryptocurrencies commonly used on the Metaverse platform are as follows:
• MANA: The original cryptocurrency on the Decentraland Marketplace for buying and selling land, avatars, items such as clothes, accessories and interacting with other users. MANA will give you the ability to choose certain specs of the game, such as NFT auction activities and policy updates.
• SAND: This cryptocurrency is similar to MANA which can be used to buy and sell land, play games or conduct NFT auctions on the Sandbox Marketplace.
• AXS: The cryptocurrency used on the popular gaming platform Axis Infinity. It can be purchased through crypto exchanges and also players can earn AXS tokens by allowing digital pets (Axies), a unique NFT, to be used to compete in matches and tournaments.
3. How to Turn Money into Crypto.
There are several popular platforms for buying metaverse cryptocurrencies, including Binance, Gemini and Coinbase. This app will help you to convert fiat currency to metaverse crypto you need.
If you already have cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin and Ether, you can immediately exchange them for the metaverse token you need.
4. Buy Land or House in Decentraland
If you want to make a transaction to sell, buy or rent land and houses, please use the official Decentraland marketplace with these steps:
• Visit the Decentraland Marketplace.
• Then please select the available virtual land.
• You can see land prices through MANA tokens, availability information and owner's name.
• Please click buy to make a purchase transaction.
• Connect your wallet to the Decentraland Marketplace because the land will be sent to your wallet as NFT after the sale and purchase transaction is successful and complete. If you don't have one, please download your wallet on MetaMask and Trust Wallet.
• Confirm your virtual LAN.
• Confirm virtual LAND in your digital wallet.
• Make payments using cryptocurrencies.
5. Buy Land or Houses on Earth 2.io
Furthermore, you can make transactions for buying and selling land, houses and other goods using the Earth 2.io Marketplace in the following ways:
• Please visit Earth 2.io page and register.
• You can do a survey of the land to be purchased.
• If you have found it, please click buy land on the homepage.
• Determine the plot of land you want.
• The type of land plot you choose will show the number of plots that can be purchased per property with a maximum transaction of 750 plots with varying prices.
• If it is fixed, please pay for the land to be purchased by clicking Buy Now.
• Payment can be made using PayPal.
How? Did the information above about buying and selling land and goods make you interested in property investment in the metaverse world?
https://www.cnbcindonesia.com/tech/20211223134945-37-301474/cara-beli-baju-dan-rumah-di-metaverse-pakai-apa-bayarnya
16 December 2021
Singapore announces new property cooling measures: Higher ABSD rates, tighter loan limits
Writer: Ng Hong Siang
The Government on Wednesday (Dec 15) announced a package of measures to cool the private residential and HDB resale markets.
The measures include raising Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) rates, tightening the Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) threshold and lowering the Loan-to-Value (LTV) limit for loans from the Housing and Development Board (HDB), said the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of National Development and the Monetary Authority of Singapore in a joint press release.
"The Government has been closely monitoring the property market for several quarters," said the statement, which was released to the media just before 11.40pm. It added that the private residential and HDB resale markets have been buoyant, despite the economic impact of COVID-19.
Private housing prices have risen by about 9 per cent since the first quarter of 2020.
HDB resale flat values have also risen by about 15 per cent since the same time, reversing a six-year decline, the authorities said.
"Even though House Price-to-Income ratios remain below their historical averages, there is clear upward momentum. Amid the low interest rate environment, transaction volumes in the private housing market and HDB resale market have also been high despite the COVID-19 situation.
"If left unchecked, prices could run ahead of economic fundamentals, and raise the risk of a destabilising correction later on. Borrowers would also be vulnerable to a possible rise in interest rates in the coming years."
To continue reading, please go to link below:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/property-cooling-measures-absd-tdsr-ltv-loan-hdb-2382301
The Government on Wednesday (Dec 15) announced a package of measures to cool the private residential and HDB resale markets.
The measures include raising Additional Buyer’s Stamp Duty (ABSD) rates, tightening the Total Debt Servicing Ratio (TDSR) threshold and lowering the Loan-to-Value (LTV) limit for loans from the Housing and Development Board (HDB), said the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of National Development and the Monetary Authority of Singapore in a joint press release.
"The Government has been closely monitoring the property market for several quarters," said the statement, which was released to the media just before 11.40pm. It added that the private residential and HDB resale markets have been buoyant, despite the economic impact of COVID-19.
Private housing prices have risen by about 9 per cent since the first quarter of 2020.
HDB resale flat values have also risen by about 15 per cent since the same time, reversing a six-year decline, the authorities said.
"Even though House Price-to-Income ratios remain below their historical averages, there is clear upward momentum. Amid the low interest rate environment, transaction volumes in the private housing market and HDB resale market have also been high despite the COVID-19 situation.
"If left unchecked, prices could run ahead of economic fundamentals, and raise the risk of a destabilising correction later on. Borrowers would also be vulnerable to a possible rise in interest rates in the coming years."
To continue reading, please go to link below:
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/singapore/property-cooling-measures-absd-tdsr-ltv-loan-hdb-2382301