#real estate malaysia

[theroofrealty]

Which is More Profitable: Investing in REITs or Real Estate?

Are you confused about where to invest in REITs or Real Estate? If yes, you need to understand both terminologies and their objectives first. Afterward, you need to identify some important factors associated with them such as property investmentpurpose, time, risks, financial status, eligibility, etc. Hence, all the things need to be assessed well by the applicant before investing. The better idea to be aware of all such points is to consult with a genuine real estate broker. The brokers can help you understand the difference between REITs and Real Estate investments in the industry.

Read more: https://whizolosophy.com/category/the-search-for-happiness/article-poetry/which-is-more-profitable-investing-in-reits-or-real-estate

[clicksrealeestate]

Real Home Estate Malaysia

Reliable Real Home Estate Services in Malaysia!

At Clicks Real Estate, we provide professional and reliable real home estate services in Malaysia that enable you to find the perfect home for your needs.

With a wide selection of properties in the most sought-after locations, you can be sure to find your dream home with us.

[tansrialexooi]

Tan Sri Alex Ooi - Real estate developer

Tan Sri Alex Ooi is the founder of Ideal Property Group.

[metproperty]

Malaysia Property Market News

Latest Real Estate Trend: An Outlook For Malaysia's Property Sector In 2023

Malaysia property market news is always abuzz with the latest information about the property sector.

The Malaysian property market is among Asia's most vibrant and dynamic and offers investors a wide range of opportunities to make money from residential and commercial properties.

The first half of 2023 posed significant challenges for Malaysia's property market, characterized by buyer resistance to rising prices and seller struggles amid economic uncertainties.

However, analysts are painting a more optimistic picture for the second half of 2023 as the year progresses.

This article will examine the economic factors influencing this positive outlook and explore the latest real estate trend in different property segments.

Economic Factors And Recovery

Despite moderate economic growth influenced by external factors, Datuk Sr Firdaus Musa, the president of the International Real Estate Federation (FIABCI), believes Malaysia's property market is on the path to recovery.

This recovery journey began in 2022 and is set to continue in 2023, marked by a mix of positive and negative elements.

One significant driver of this optimistic outlook is the easing of pandemic restrictions and the resumption of economic activities. The increased market activity has prompted previously hesitant buyers to regain confidence, leading to a gradual recovery in transaction volumes.

Loan Applications Surge

Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) reported a noteworthy surge in loan applications for property acquisition, climbing by 26.6% month-on-month in February 2023 after five consecutive months of decline. This data indicates a reversal of the declining trend and a peak in loan applications within six months.

Residential Market Resilience

Malaysia Property News indicates that residential properties continue to dominate transaction volumes in an uncertain property market.

Malaysia's resilient residential market has grown and expanded significantly since the previous year.

However, the first quarter of 2023 witnessed a 6.6% decrease in market activity compared to 1Q22.

This decline can be attributed to an increase in the Overnight Policy Rate (OPR) and a 9.7-point year-on-year decrease in the Consumer Sentiment Index.

Commercial Real Estate Challenges

Commercial segments of the property market are still grappling with the aftermath of the pandemic, particularly concerning rental and occupancy rates.

According to the National Property Information Centre (Napic) 1Q23 report, private purpose-built offices and shopping complexes have witnessed modest improvements in occupancy rates. However, significant office and retail space still need to be occupied.

Industrial Property On The Rise

The industrial property market is experiencing growth, with sales totaling approximately RM5.02 billion in 1Q23.

The demand for advanced industrial buildings, particularly those equipped with logistics and warehouse facilities, has surged, driven in part by the rapid growth of the e-commerce sector.

Ensuring compliance with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) standards has also become crucial in meeting the evolving demands for industrial property infrastructure.

Looking Ahead To 2024

Despite the optimism, concerns about a constant OPR hike and its impact on property supply and recovery persist.

The recovery period is expected to extend into 2024, contingent on sufficient government initiatives to stimulate the economy and boost stability and demand for property transactions.

Cautious Optimism In Specific Sectors

Kit Au Yong, the MD of Asiacap Valuers & Property Consultants Sdn Bhd, is cautiously optimistic about specific property sectors for the remainder of 2023, mainly residential and industrial properties.

Increased demand for rental condominiums in Kuala Lumpur's city center and interest in owner-occupier purchases for landed residential properties and affordable housing are encouraging signs.

Positive Outlook Continues

According to various Property News, the property market in Malaysia is poised for a more positive outlook in the second half of 2023 and is expected to spill over into 2024.

The challenges of the first half, including concerns about the resurgence of the pandemic, materialized differently than expected. With state elections on the horizon, the property market will likely see increased buoyancy as uncertainties are resolved, making way for a more optimistic future.

Investors and homebuyers should monitor market developments closely and consider seizing opportunities in the evolving landscape.

Choosing The Right Property In Bukit Jalil contact MET Property today!

[orangesoftsdnbhd]

Creating Digital Impressions: Malaysia Real Estate Web Design by OrangeSoft

In the dynamic realm of real estate, a strong online presence is paramount. Malaysia's real estate market is no exception, and the key to success lies in effective web design. This is where OrangeSoft comes into play, revolutionizing Malaysia's real estate industry with innovative web design solutions.

Tailored Real Estate Web Design

OrangeSoft understands that every real estate venture is unique. They offer tailor-made web design solutions that cater to the specific needs and objectives of real estate professionals in Malaysia. Whether you're a realtor, developer, or property manager, OrangeSoft should be your choice in Malaysia for real estate web design. They can create a website that showcases your properties and services in the most appealing and user-friendly way.

User-Centric Design for Optimal User Experience

In the digital age, user experience is paramount. OrangeSoft designs real estate websites with user-centric principles in mind. This ensures that potential buyers and investors can easily navigate your listings, view property details, and access essential information, fostering a seamless and engaging browsing experience.

Mobile Responsive Designs for Maximum Reach

With the majority of property searches happening on mobile devices, OrangeSoft ensures that their real estate web designs are fully responsive. Your website will look and function flawlessly on smartphones and tablets, expanding your reach to potential clients on all platforms.

Elevate Your Real Estate Business

In a competitive market like Malaysia, your online presence can make all the difference. OrangeSoft's expertise in Malaysia real estate web design can help you stand out, attract more clients, and achieve your business goals. Take your real estate venture to the next level with a captivating, user-friendly website by OrangeSoft. Explore their services at OrangeSoft today.

[windcitytropicana]

Overseas Real Estate Malaysia - Windcity Tropicana

Looking for a property with exceptional standards of living? Look no further than Windcity Tropicana, the premier overseas real estate development in Malaysia. Offering breathtaking views, top-notch amenities, and beautifully designed homes, Windcity Tropicana is the perfect place to call home for those seeking a luxurious lifestyle. With its prime location, state-of-the-art facilities, and lush landscaping, Windcity Tropicana is the epitome of sophisticated living.

[seninrehman]

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[nattawinlove-andmygaytea]

When asked about his future as an actor and as a budding entrepreneur, @tul_pakorn says, "When I was younger, I had all these different dreams, and real estate was a big one. But as I got more into acting, that dream kind of took a backseat. Still, I wasn't ready to let it go completely."

"I've been thinking about ways to improve communities, like providing cosy shelters, better access to fresh air, or boosting education support - you know, stuff that makes life better. And I've got this dream of leading my own sustainable housing project."

If you're a fan of @tul_pakorn, you know that he and Mew are inseparable buddies and he shares, "He's been there for me through thick and thin, especially since I made the call to head to the States for my studies. Missing those laid-back hangouts with him is hitting me hard.

"Our chats usually span across time zones; I'll be having my morning coffee while he's winding down for the night, and then it flips around the next day."

Despite the physical distance, they make it a point to reunite every three months, with Mew visiting Tul in NYC and Tul reciprocating the gesture with trips to Thailand. Their bond, it seems, knows no bounds.

Amidst the hectic schedule, Tul prioritizes fitness, dedicating time to gym sessions to maintain his physique. "My aim for 2024 is to achieve a leaner, healthier body," he shares, acknowledging that while his physique may be admired by many, he sets personal standards higher. When probed about his definition of "sexy," Tul offers a nuanced perspective. "To me, sexiness transcends mere physical appearance; it's rooted in one's mindset, personality, and physical attributes," he explains. And when pressed further about who embodies this definition, a mischievous grin appears. "Tul Pakorn," he quips, punctuating his assertion with laughter. "Some might call it narcissism, but I think it's all about owning your allure. I mean, if you can't appreciate your own sexy, who else will?" he jests.

"I can't believe I shamelessly proclaimed myself sexy," he quips...

Tul Pakorn by L'Officiel Malaysia

[weatherman667]

Forest City: China Built a $100bn City in Malaysia... and No One Lives T...

China takes a strong stance against anything financial, as that what parasites do.

China has nothing to invest their money in, while having the same fun with inflation we do.

Only thing they have to invest in is housing.  Most of their owned housing are not even finished, as finished apartments share the feng shui of the previous tenants.  So, they buy the apartment, and live with their parents.  Because China going to China.

Crash the local real estate bubble.  What do you do now?  Build one in Malaysia.

Hoes does Winnie-the-Pooh react, you ask?  Limiting China citizens to $50,000 per year in foreign investments.  Because they have to prevent the Chinese from having the illusion they have a way to protect their family from Chinese financial bullshit.

Runtime:  16:20

[mariacallous]

On an island in the Singapore Strait, a thicket of apartment blocks peers mournfully over the sea. A corps of green-shirted gardeners dutifully tends the lawns and herbaceous borders along the roadside. A few cars slip along smooth roads to a commercial center with gleaming marble floors. Amidst the hundreds of closed shopfronts three restaurants are open—a fried chicken chain, a small café, and a gleaming and empty hot pot restaurant. Five duty-free shops are doing better business; some young men are stocking up on beer and Copper Dog whiskey at 11 a.m.

Welcome to Forest City: planned residents, 700,000; current residents, roughly 9,000. Launched in 2014 as part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative, the mega-project is headed by once-real estate giant Country Garden, a behemoth that now sits on the edge of bankruptcy.

At first glance, the project seems yet another tale of a ghost-city built on the back of a Chinese real estate bubble—and then doomed by the COVID-19 pandemic and economic slowdown. Yet Forest City’s story is also a deeply Malaysian tale, involving property-speculating sultans, nationalist politicians, and the country’s complex relationship with Beijing and its own ethnically Chinese minority.

Building a new city to lodge hundreds of thousands of residents on four new artificial islands in the Singapore Strait was always an ambitious venture. But the main market was not locals, but rather speculative buyers from the People’s Republic of China. When sales opened in December 2015, buyers flooded in, many of them buying “pre-sales” of uncompleted apartments. “You’d have buses coming over from Singapore every day filled with people who just landed,” said Tan Wee Tiam, head of research at KGV International Property Consultants. “There were over 1,000 agents in the sales hall, and it still wasn’t enough. … You felt like you were in China.”

Buyers were often looking for not a permanent residence but an investment that could also be a potential holiday home, or accommodation for children who were headed to study in Singapore. Some were reportedly even offered the opportunity to buy a flat in China and get one free in Forest City, said Christine Li, head of research in the Asia-Pacific for Knight Frank.

Yet this reliance on the Chinese buyers also left the project brutally exposed to changes in Chinese policy. The first blow came in 2017, when the Chinese government suddenly imposed capital controls preventing individuals from moving more than $50,000 out of the country annually. The minimum price of a Forest City apartment sits at around $75,000 and can be as much as $3.5 million. Then came the pandemic years which froze international travel—and stamped hard on Chinese real estate and growth.

Yet, Forest City’s staff seem to be holding out hope. Shane Lim, a hire from Singapore, showed me around and assured me that the place is working to attract buyers from across the world, including the Middle East, Indonesia, and Thailand. Still, he estimated that about 70 percent of his colleagues in the sales team are from China.

Halfway through my tour, a Malaysian man calling himself Ozzy introduced himself and his two wives. Now living in the United States, he’s searching for a place to buy in Malaysia that he can use to visit his daughter in Singapore and rent out when he’s away. Looking around, though, he’s unconvinced.

“Look at how empty this place is,” he said. “I’d only be able to rent it out for one or two months a year. … When I visited in 2018 this place was packed. Now there’s no one here. It’s like it’s haunted.” Lim stared at his shoes until Ozzy moved off. He then firmly assured me that the sales hall is busier on weekends.

A wet Wednesday afternoon might not be a peak sales period, but it is hard to escape the reality that the putative new city is barely lived in. Surveying one of the towers I descend from the 34th floor to the first, looking for signs of occupancy—a pair of shoes at the door, furniture seen through the windows that face the corridor, or even just curtains drawn over said windows. The place is eerily well maintained but empty. Just 25 of the 390 flats show any signs of current occupancy.

I met a single resident, a Malaysian Indian woman who said she lived in Forest City with her husband. Declining to give her name, she informed me a neighboring tower is busier. That would not be hard to believe. Some floors in this tower were completely empty with flats whose doors open to the touch, revealing light-filled marble interiors into which dead leaves have blown. Others had notices of a residents’ meeting dated October 2022 still taped to the door.

According to Li, there are signs that buyers may be slowly coming back. But she also suggested that Country Garden might have aimed too high, used to China’s experience of breakneck speed urbanization, supported by strong government support for infrastructure development. That policy created plenty of “ghost cities” in China itself—but until the recent real estate crisis, also huge profits.

Forest City has also suffered from being a political football since its launch, something Country Garden may well not have anticipated. “I did notice Chinese developers tend not to focus on the political climate,” Li said. “They are not used to the idea of general elections, change of government, and change of policies overnight.”

Despite its vast scale, the first time locals heard about Forest City was in 2014, when fisherman woke up one day to find barges dumping sand off the coast. Newspapers dug into the story, revealing that Country Garden’s main partner was none other than the sultan of Johor state, Ibrahim Ismail.

The tie made sense. Many businesses take on Johor royals as partners, benefiting from the influence they wield in the state. The Malaysian government is also bent on transforming southern Johor into a new economic hub, the Shenzhen to Singapore’s Hong Kong. The city was made a duty-free zone. When further investigations also revealed rushed environmental reviews, it took diplomatic protests from Singapore for the central government to intervene and ensure the proper process was followed.

However, things began to shift when the Malaysian government’s grip on power loosened. Rocked by the world’s largest corruption scandal, the China-linked 1Malaysia Development Berhad, voters turned against it. And at 93 years old, former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad exited retirement to lead an opposition filled with former opponents, previously imprisoned under his watch, against a government coalition he once led for 22 years.

Forest City became one of Mahathir’s favorite targets. Inveighing against government corruption and waste, he accused the government of planning to sell out Malaysia to foreigners. Most provocatively, he claimed that the thousands of mainly Chinese buyers of Forest City apartments would be allowed to settle, become Malaysian citizens, and vote in its elections. In a country where ethnically Chinese make up 23 percent of the citizenry—and are often stereotyped as wielding undue political influence due to their wealth—the claim was explosive.

After his shock triumph in the 2018 elections, then-Prime Minister Mahathir followed through on his threats declaring that foreigners would not be allowed to buy property in Forest City. Despite legal challenges, the announcement apparently hit Forest City sales hard.

Five years and a series of dizzyingly complex political maneuvers later, the current Malaysian government is led by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim. His support is mainly built by ethnic minority-backed parties that triumphed in 2018. To secure his grip on power he needs two things. The first is economic growth. The second is increased support from Malay voters, to which end he has courted the sultans who act as power brokers in their states and take turns acting as Malaysia’s head of state. Perhaps none is more influential than the sultan of Johor, who started his five-year tenure in February this year.

In this context, Anwar seems to have rediscovered the charm of Chinese investment, and Forest City. He has repeatedly praised the Belt and Road Initiative, and in August last year he announced Forest City would be designated a special financial zone with residents offered multiple-entry visas, fast-track entry for those working in Singapore, and a flat income tax rate of 15 percent.

The sultan of Johor has also suggested reviving a proposed high-speed rail link between Malaysia’s capital of Kuala Lumpur and Singapore, with an extra stop at Forest City. And who knows what will happen. After, all the $10.5 billion Melaka Gateway project—launched under the Belt and Road Initiative and apparently scrapped in 2020—is also back underway, after finding new support from the state and federal governments. The developer behind the project recently acquired a major new shareholder, the sultan of Johor.

But the heyday of Chinese investment in Malaysia may well not be coming back. Ten years since China launched the Belt and Road Initiative, it has begun to pull back sharply on its overseas investments. China’s own economic slowdown and business wariness about the increasingly capricious regulatory environment is part of the story. But, the large number of projects gone sour also appears to have made Chinese investors more wary.

Meanwhile, Malaysia is struggling not to get left holding the bag. Should Country Garden go bankrupt, it’s uncertain what will happen to Forest City. At that point the Malaysian government could face the unpalatable option of a potential bailout by the Chinese government, leaving a chunk of Malaysian land in Beijing’s hands. Alternatively, it could step in itself—becoming the proud proprietor of what the developers still proclaim to be “A Prime Model for Future Cities.”

[theroofrealty]

Exclusive Real Estate Opportunities: Find Your Perfect Home in Kuala Lumpur

Looking for your dream home in Malaysia? The Roof Realty offers premium real estate services with exclusive houses for sale in Kuala Lumpur. Our expert team is dedicated to helping you find the perfect property that suits your lifestyle and budget. Explore a range of luxurious homes in prime locations, each designed to offer comfort and convenience. Trust our real estate Malaysia services for a seamless buying experience. Contact us at +603-79837798 to schedule a viewing and start your journey to owning a beautiful home in Kuala Lumpur today.

[clicksrealeestate]

Free Property & Real Estate Listing Malaysia

Best Property Listing Platform in Malaysia!

Reach potential buyers/renters through our network of buyers/sellers/renters in Singapore.

We are one of the best Real Estate and property listing websites in Malaysia. Contact now to find your perfect property with Clicks

[tansrialexooi]

Tan Sri Alex Ooi - Real estate developer

Tan Sri Alex Ooi founded Ideal Property Group, a company which for the last two decades has been responsible for nearly 25,000 units—commercial and residential—on Penang Island, Malaysia.

[brookstonalmanac]

Holidays 5.17

Holidays

Bugloss Day (French Republic)

Children’s Day (Norway)

Constitution Day (Nauru)

Dia das Letras Galegas (Spain)

DIPG Awareness Day

Discovery Day (Cayman Islands)

Dogbert Day (Dilbert)

Dressed to the Nines Day

Falling Off a Log Night

Famine Memorial Day (Ireland)

Firefighters’ Day (Latvia)

Galacian Literature Day (Spain)

International Art of Giving Day

International Child Helpline Day

International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

International Internet Day

International Twm Sion Cati Day (UK)

King Arthur Day

Liberation Day (Democratic Republic of the Congo)

Merry-Go-Round Day [also 7.25]

Minecraft Day

National Book Day (Indonesia)

National Curves Day (Illinois)

National Cyber Safety Awareness Day

National Day Against Homophobia (Canada)

National Donkey Welfare Day (Kenya)

National Emo Day for Women

National Famine Memorial Day (Ireland)

National Graduation Day

National Graduation Tassel Day

National Idaho Day

National Linda Day

National Numeracy Day (UK)

National Pinkfix Day

National Real Estate Day

National VA2K Walk & Roll Day

National Work From Home Day (UK)

Navy Day (Argentina)

Pack Rat Day

Peasant Day (a.k.a. Agrarian Reform; Cuba)

Pink Shirt Day (New Zealand)

Railroad Day

Raja Day (Perlis, Malaysia)

Royal Ploughing Ceremony (Thailand)

Rubber Band Day

Slottsplassen (Norway)

Spinal Cord Injury Awareness Day (UK)

Supermodel Day

Tell An Umpire "I Love Your Outfit" Day

Uff Da Day (North Dakota)

Walk Safely to School Day (Australia)

Watch A Baby Fall Asleep Day

Wear Your Life Jacket to Work Day

World Horticulture Day

World Hypertension Day

World Information Society Day (UN)

World Necrotizing Enterocolitis Awareness Day

World Neurofibromatosis Awareness Day

World Orienteering Day

World Recycling Day

World Stationary Day

World Telecommunication Day (UN)

Food & Drink Celebrations

National Cherry Cobbler Day

National Mushroom Hunting Day

National Walnut Day

Pinot Grigio Day

Independence & Related Days

Constitution Day (Nauru)

Constitution Day (a.k.a. Seventeenth of May or Syttende Mai; Norway; 1814)

Kappan Empire (a.k.a. Holy Empire of the Kappa; Declared; 2022) [unrecognized]

Syttende Mai (Constitution Day; Norway; from Denmark, 1814)

3rd Friday in May

Arbour Day (Prince Edward Island, Canada) [3rd Friday]

Asakusa Sanja Matsuri begins (Geisha parade) [3rd Friday]

Ascension Friday (Belgium) [Friday closest to Ascension]

Bike-to-Work Day (US) [3rd Friday]

Endangered Species Day [3rd Friday]

Flashback Friday [Every Friday]

Fountain Pen Friday [3rd Friday]

Fry Day (Pastafarian; Fritism) [Every Friday]

International Virtual Assistants’ Day [3rd Friday]

NASCAR Day [3rd Friday]

National Bike to Work Day [3rd Friday]

National Defense Transportation Day [3rd Friday]

National Pizza Party Day [3rd Friday]

National Wear Blue Day [3rd Friday]

Native Nonprofit Day [3rd Friday]

O. Henry Pun Off Day [3rd Friday]

Teacher’s Day (Florida) [3rd Friday]

Wear Red for VEDS Day [3rd Friday]

World Meditation Day (UK) [3rd Friday]

Weekly Holidays beginning May 17 (2nd Full Week)

Mike, the Headless Chicken Weekend [3rd Friday & Saturday]

Festivals Beginning May 17, 2024

Aalborg Carnival (Aalborg, Denmark) [thru 5.25]

Anderson Valley Pinot Festival (Anderson Valley, California) [thru 5.19]

Arizona Restaurant Week: Spring (Statewide, Arizona) [thru 5.26]

Bath Festival (Bath, England) [thru 5.20]

Bayou Bon Vivant Cajun Music, Food & Art Celebration (Norfolk, Virginia) [thru 5.19]

Beaufort Music Festival (Beaufort, South Carolina) [thru 5.18]

Chocolate Fest (Long Grove, Illinois) [thru 5.19]

Crawfish Festival (Fountain Valley, California) [thru 5.19]

Fort Worth Zoo Annual Beastro (Fort Worth, Texas)

Georgia Mountain Fire & Smoke Cooking Festival (Hiawassee, Georgia) [thru 5.18]

Hangout Music Festival (Gulf Shores, Alabama) [thru 5.19]

Hermann Maifest (Hermann, Missouri) [thru 5.19]

Karneval der Kulturen (Berlin, Germany( [thru 5.20]

Magnolia Blossom Festival & World Championship Steak Cook-Off (Magnolia, Arkansas) [thru 5.18]

Manchester Jazz Festival (Manchester, United Kingdom) [thru 5.26]

Moers Festival (Moers, Germany) [thru 5.20]

Morel Mushroom Festival (Muscoda, Wisconsin) [thru 5.18]

Motor City Comic Con (Novi, Michigan) [thru 5.19]

New Jersey Seafood Festival (Belmar, New Jersey) [thru 5.19]

North Carolina Potato Festival (Elizabeth City, North Carolina) [thru 5.19]

OC Greek Food Festival (Anaheim, California) [thru 5.19]

Oregon Homebrew Festival (Corvallis, Oregon) [thru 5.18]

Palm Beach Ribs, Wings & Rock Festival (Palm Beach, Florida) [thru 5.19]

Picklefest (Atkins, Arkansas) [thru 5.18]

Preston Trout Days (Preston, Minnesota) [thru 5.19]

Rhubarb Festival (Intercourse, Pennsylvania) [thru 5.18]

Stockton Flavor Fest (Stockton, California) [thru 5.19]

Taste of Maplewood Street Festival (Maplewood, Missouri) [thru 5.18]

Temecula Valley Balloon & Wine Festival (Temecula, California) [thru 5.19]

Wave-Gotik-Treffen (Leipzig, Germany) [thru 5.20]

The WhiskyX (Brooklyn, New York)

World Expo of Beer (Frankenmuth, Michigan) [thru 5.18]

Feast Days

A.J. Casson (Artology)

Antonius (Positivist; Saint)

Bruno of Wurzburg (Christian; Saint)

Cathan (Christian; Saint)

Dave Sim (Artology)

Dea Dia (Goddess of the Cosmos; Ancient Rome)

Eugene (Muppetism)

Falling Off a Log Night (Shamanism)

Feast of ‘Azamat (Baha'i)

Gio Nicola Buhagiar (Artology)

Giulia Salzano (Christian; Saint)

Karl Burman (Artology)

Laval Homeboy Day (Church of the SubGenius; Saint)

Let Your Star Shine Day (Starza Pagan Book of Days)

Maden of Brittany (Christian; Saint)

Madron (a.k.a. Madern (Christian; Saint)

Maxime Emile Louis Maufra (Artology)

Mifune Matsuri (Boat Festival; Japan)

Neo-Pagan Fertility Ritual (Philippines; Everyday Wicca)

Ogham (Celtic Book of Days)

Paschal Baylon (Christian; Saint)

Restituta (Christian; Saint)

Silave (Christian; Saint)

Single Malt Whisky Day (Pastafarian)

Sjofn’s Blot (Pagan)

William Hobart Hare (Episcopal Church (USA))

Lucky & Unlucky Days

Prime Number Day: 137 [33 of 72]

Sensho (先勝 Japan) [Good luck in the morning, bad luck in the afternoon.]

Tycho Brahe Unlucky Day (Scandinavia) [23 of 37]

Unfortunate Day (Pagan) [25 of 57]

Un Giorno Nero (A Black Day; Italy) [Friday the 17th] (1 of 1 for 2024)

Premieres

About a Boy (Film; 2002)

All Men Are Mortal, by Simone de Beauvoir (Novel; 1946)

At Dawn We Spley, by Gordon W. Prange (Historical Novel; 1982)

Babel-17, by Samuel R. Delany (Novel; 1966)

Bad Blood, by Taylor Swift (Album; 2015)

Blurryface, by Twenty One Pilots (Album; 2015)

Bon Voyage! (Film; 1962)

Catch-22 (TV Mini-Series; 2019)

Cinderella Goes to a Party (Color Rhapsody Cartoon; 1942)

Comic Cuts, by Alfred Harmsworth (UK Comic; 1890) [1st regular comic published]

Don’t Look Back (Documentary Film; 1967)

Five Puppets (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1935)

Gentle On My Mind, recorded by Glen Campbell (Song; 1967)

Godspell (Off-Broadway Musical; 1971)

Grin and Share It, featuring Droopy (MGM Cartoon; 1957)

Groove Me, recorded by King Floyd (Song; 1970)

The Guns of Avalon, by Roger Zelazny (Novel; 1972) [chronicles of Amber #2]

History of Modern Art, by H. Harvard Arnason (Art History; 1968)

Hobo Bobo (WB MM Cartoon; 1947)

If (Animated Film; 2024)

The Importance of Being Earnest (Film; 2002)

In a Lonely Place (Film; 1950)

Information Please (Radio Quiz Show; 1938)

The Inimitable Jeeves, by P.G. Wodehouse (Novel; 1923)

John Wick: Chapter 3 — Parabellum (Film; 2019)

King Porter Stomp, recorded by Teddy Hill, featuring Dizzy Gillespie (Song; 1937)

La Planète des Singes (The Planet of the Apes), by Pierre Boulle (Novel; 1963)

Le Quiet Squad (The Inspector Cartoon; 1967)

The Love Boat (TV Series; 1976)

Mesmerize, by System of a Down (Album; 2005)

Mr. Big Stuff, recorded by Jean Knight (Song; 1970)

My Mortal Enemy, by Willa Cather (Novel; 1926)

The Omnivore’s Dilemma, by Michael Pollan (Book; 2006)

Pink of the Litter (Pink Panther Cartoon; 1967)

Puss in Boots (Ub Iwerks Cartoon; 1934)

Random Access Memories, by Daft Punk (Album; 2013)

A River Runs Through It, by Norman Maclean (Novella’ 1976)

The Rookie Bear (MGM Cartoon; 1941)

See You Yesterday (Film; 2019)

Shéhérazade, by Maurice Ravel (Song Cycle; 1904)

Shutter Bug (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1963)

Stay (I Missed You), by Lisa Loeb (Song; 1994)

The Sultan’s Cat, featuring Farmer Al Falfa (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1931)

Swiss Ski Yodelers (Terrytoons Cartoon; 1940)

Thank God It’s Friday (Film; 1978)

The Tree of Life (Film; 2011)

Tommy, by The Who (Album; 1969)

Uthal, by Étienne-Nicolas Méhul (Opera; 1806)

Wacky-Bye Baby (Woody Woodpecker Cartoon; 1948)

What About Bob? (Film; 1991)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum (Novel; 1900)

Today’s Name Days

Dietmar, Pascal, Walter (Austria)

Gizela, Heraklije, Paškal, Paško (Croatia)

Aneta (Czech Republic)

Bruno (Denmark)

Taido, Taidur, Taimar, Taimo, Taivo (Estonia)

Maila, Maili, Mailis, Maisa, Rebekka (Finland)

Pascal (France)

Antonella, Dietmar, Pascal (Germany)

Andronikos, Iounia, Junia, Solon (Greece)

Paszkál (Hungary)

Pasquale, Restituta (Italy)

Dailis, Herberts (Latvia)

Bazilė, Gailė, Paskalis, Virkantas (Lithuania)

Harald, Ragnhild (Norway)

Bruno, Herakliusz, Paschalis, Sławomir, Torpet, Weronika, Wiktor, Wiktoriusz (Poland)

Andronic (România)

Gizela (Slovakia)

Pascual (Spain)

Rebecka, Ruben (Sweden)

Pascal, Pascha, Pascual, Turner (USA)

Today is Also…

Day of Year: Day 138 of 2024; 228 days remaining in the year

ISO: Day 5 of week 20 of 2024

Celtic Tree Calendar: Huath (Hawthorn) [Day 6 of 28]

Chinese: Month 4 (Ji-Si), Day 10 (Xin-Si)

Chinese Year of the: Dragon 4722 (until January 29, 2025) [Wu-Chen]

Hebrew: 9 Iyar 5784

Islamic: 9 Dhu al-Qada 1445

J Cal: 18 Magenta; Foursday [18 of 30]

Julian: 4 May 2024

Moon: 72%: Waxing Gibbous

Positivist: 25 Caesar (5th Month) [Antonius]

Runic Half Month: Ing (Expansive Energy) [Day 8 of 15]

Season: Spring (Day 60 of 92)

Week: 2nd Full Week of May

Zodiac: Taurus (Day 28 of 31)

[radio-charlie]

The uwu smol bean self-infantilising brand of shitty person is one of my biggest peeves like, straight up makes me wish i could go back in time to stuff them in trash cans and push them down the stairs in high school. U see this a lot in the groups of social justice karens that dominate our anglophone "progressive" scene. Whiny, dumb, weak, cosmically self-absorbed to the point of ruining lives, does one (1) useful thing and then uses that to purchase social real estate everywhere because someone touched them weird when they were 9 or something, such a special problem, nobody else in Malaysia went through that before. Every conversation is enslaved to whichever trauma they feel like posting 17-message avalanches about at that point in time, if you don't pay appropriate fealty you're some flavor of -ist and will probably get brought up to other idiot wokes ala "idk but something about their behavior is very red flag". The red flag here is the growing period stain in your underwear. Take a xanax and read some articles.

[dreaminginthedeepsouth]

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

November 16, 2023

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON

NOV 17, 2023

The summit of the leaders of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) economies continued today in San Francisco, California. 

Formed in 1989, APEC is made up of the economies of 21 nations around the Pacific Rim: Australia, Brunei, Canada, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, China, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Chile, Peru, Russia, Vietnam, and the United States. Together, these economies make up about 62% of global gross domestic product and almost half of global trade.

David Sanger of the New York Times today noted an apparent shift in the power dynamic between President Joe Biden and Chinese president Xi Jinping, who met yesterday for a four-hour conversation. Earlier in his presidency, Xi was riding on a strong economy that overshadowed that of the U.S. and looked as if it would continue to do so. Then, Xi favored what was known as “wolf warrior” diplomacy: the aggressive defense of China’s national interests against what Chinese envoys portrayed as foreign hostility, especially that of the U.S. 

Under that diplomatic regime, Xi emphasized that liberal democracy was too weak to face the twenty-first century. The speed and momentous questions of the new era called for strong leaders, he said. In early February 2022, Russia and China held a summit after which they pledged that the “[f]riendship between the two States has no limits.” 

Things have changed. 

The U.S. has emerged from the coronavirus pandemic with a historically strong economy, while China’s economy is reeling from a real estate bubble and deflation at the same time that government crackdowns have made foreign capital flee. This summer, Xi quietly sidelined Qin Gang, the foreign minister associated with wolf warrior diplomacy, and in October, he replaced Defense Minister General Li Shangfu, who is under U.S. sanctions for overseeing weapon purchases from Russia. 

Indeed, China has also been quietly pushing back from its close embrace of Russia. Just weeks after their February 2022 declaration, Russia invaded Ukraine in an operation that Russian president Vladimir Putin almost certainly expected would be quick and successful, permitting Russia to seize key Ukrainian ports and land. Such a victory would have strengthened both Russia and China at the same time it weakened Europe, the United States, and their allies and partners. 

Instead, Ukraine stood firm, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and allies and partners have stood behind the embattled country. As the war has stretched on, sanctions have cut into the Russian economy and Putin has had to cede power to Xi, accepting the Chinese yuan in exchange for Russian commodities, for example. This week, Alberto Nardelli of Bloomberg reported that the European Union is considering another round of sanctions, including a ban on the export of machine tools and machinery parts that enable Russia to make ammunition. 

In a piece at the Center for European Policy Analysis today, Julia Davis, who monitors Russian media, noted that Russia lost an extraordinary 997,000 people between October 2020 and September 2021, even before the war began. Now it is so desperate to increase its population that its leadership claims to have stolen as many as 700,000 Ukrainian children and is urging women to have as many children as possible.  

Holly Ellyatt of CNBC noted that to the degree they even mentioned it, Russian media sniped at the Biden-Xi summit, but it was hard to miss that although Russian president Putin was not welcome to attend, Xi came and engaged in several high-level meetings, assuring potential investors that China wants to be friends with the U.S. Also hard to miss was Xi’s pointed comment that the China-U.S. relationship “is the most important bilateral relationship in the world.” 

Going into this summit, then, the U.S. had the leverage to get agreements from China to crack down on the precursor chemicals that Chinese producers have been shipping to Latin America to make illegal fentanyl, restore military communications between the two countries now that Li has been replaced, and make promises about addressing climate change. Other large issues of trade and the independence of Taiwan will not be resolved so easily. 

Still, it was a high point for President Biden, whose economic policies and careful investment in diplomatic alliances have helped to shift the power dynamic between the U.S. and two countries that were key geopolitical rivals when he took office. Now, both the U.S. and China appear to be making an effort to move forward on better terms. Indeed, Chinese media has shifted its tone about the U.S. and the APEC summit so quickly readers have expressed surprise. 

Today, Biden emphasized “the unlimited potential of our partnerships…to realize a future that will benefit people not only in the Asia-Pacific region but the whole world,… [a] future where our prosperity is shared and is inclusive, where workers are empowered and their rights are respected, where our economies are sustainable and resilient.” 

Biden and administration officials noted that companies from across the Asia-Pacific world have invested nearly $200 billion in the U.S. since Biden took office, creating tens of thousands of good jobs, while the U.S. has elevated its engagement with the region, holding bilateral talks, creating new initiatives and deepening economic partnerships. 

Today, Biden and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo announced that the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, an economic forum established last year as a nonbinding replacement for the Trans-Pacific Partnership former president Trump abruptly pulled out of, had agreed on terms to set up an early warning system for disruptions to supply chains, cooperation on clean energy, and fighting corruption and tax evasion.

In a very different event in San Francisco today, a federal jury convicted David DePape, 43, of attempted kidnapping and assault on account of a federal official’s performance of official duties for his attack on former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband Paul with a hammer on October 28 of last year, fracturing his skull. 

DePape’s lawyers did not contest the extensive evidence against him but tried to convince the jury that DePape did not commit a federal crime because he did not attack Pelosi on account of Representative Pelosi’s official position. Instead, they said, DePape had embraced the language of right-wing lawmakers and pundits and believed in a conspiracy theory that pedophile elites had taken over the country and were spreading lies about former president Donald Trump. 

DePape told jurors he had come to conspiracy theories through Gamergate, a 2014–2015 misogynistic online campaign of harassment against women in the video game industry, which turned into attacks on feminism, diversity, and progressive ideas. Trump ally Steve Bannon talked of pulling together the Gamergate participants behind Trump and his politics. 

Also today, a subcommittee of the House Ethics Committee set up to investigate allegations against Representative George Santos (R-NY) issued its report. The Republican-dominated committee found that Santos had lied about his background during his campaign and, furthermore, that he appears to be a serial liar. Those lies also “include numerous misrepresentations to the government and the public about his and his campaign’s financial activities.” 

That is, the committee found, Santos defrauded his campaign donors, falsified his financial records, and used campaign money on beauty products, rent, luxury items from Hermes and Ferragamo, and purchases at the website Only Fans. The subcommittee recommended the Ethics Committee refer Santos to the Department of Justice, and “publicly condemn Representative Santos, whose conduct [is] beneath the dignity of the office” and who has “brought severe discredit upon the House.” 

Santos says he will not run for reelection.

—

LETTERS FROM AN AMERICAN

HEATHER COX RICHARDSON