SYDNEY: Approvals to build new homes in Australia surged by the most in over seven years in April as the hard-hit apartment sector made a welcome comeback, cementing the outlook for a construction boom this year.

Other data out on Wednesday, May 5, showed sales of new vehicles ran red-hot in April while the country's service sector returned to growth as sales and employment revived.

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysia-Singapore Joint Ministerial Committee (JMC), which was set up to explore avenues for collaboration between the two countries, could provide a boost to Iskandar Malaysia.

KUALA LUMPUR: SBC Corporation Bhd has terminated a joint land development agreement with TM Facilities Sdn Bhd (TMF) with immediate effect due to the failure in obtaining approvals from the relevant land authorities for the proposed project.

PUTRAJAYA: About RM600 million will be saved in the construction of six Universiti Technologi Mara (UiTM) campuses through the Private Finance Initiative (PFI).

PENANG: Datuk Keramat state assemblyman Jagdeep Singh Deo from DAP on May 4, expressed concern over financial implications that the state may face, to build the proposed Penang International Convention Centre (PICC).

Jagdeep said building the PICC may have financial implications to the state as the cost of building the PICC would be borne by the local council.

KUALA LUMPUR: The first nuclear power plant is expected to start operations in 2021, said Energy, Green Technology and Water Minister Datuk Seri Peter Chin Fah Kui.

He said his ministry has been given approval by the Economic Council to start identifying suitable sites for the plant, adding that the countdown for nuclear power began three weeks ago.

SHAH ALAM: Naza TTDI Sdn Bhd, the property arm of Naza Group of Companies has sold an office tower en bloc at its Laman Seri Business Park in Shah Alam for RM60 million.

KUALA LUMPUR: Crest Builders Holdings Bhd (Crest Builders) and Triplc Bhd entered into separate Concession Agreements with the Ministry of Higher Education Malaysia, by way of Private Finance Initiative, on Tuesday, May 4. The agreements will see Crest Builders and Triplc Bhd develop Universiti Teknologi Mara (UiTM) in Tapah, Perak, and the second phase of UiTM in Selangor respectively.

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang state government has set up a Class F contractors consultative council with participation from the various agencies and departments to help the 1,316 Class F bumiputra contractors in the state.The council, headed by state executive councillor Abdul Malik Abdul Kassim, consists of six representatives from the Penang Bumiputra Class F association and the heads of state-own

HONG KONG: Property investor and developer Chinachem Group yesterday (May 3) launched its third Hong Kong hotel, underlining its active return to business after winning a legal battle over the ownership of the estate of its former chairman, the late Nina Wang Kung Yu-sum.