Daily Briefing: Singapore charges fifth person involved in 1MDB Scandal; Gov't to acquire Raffles Country Club land for HSR

And here are five thins to know before you buy a HDB.

A Swiss banker was charged in Singapore on Thursday with money laundering and other offences related to an international corruption scandal involving neighbouring Malaysia's state fund 1MDB. Allegations that huge sums were misappropriated from the Malaysian state fund triggered a scandal which has embroiled Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak, who has so far weathered the resulting political storm. Read more of the story here. 

The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) gazetted the acquisition of the land occupied by Raffles Country Club (RCC) in Tuas on Wednesday (4 January), so that it can be used for the facilities of the upcoming Kuala Lumpur-Singapore High Speed Rail (HSR) and future Cross Island Line’s (CRL) western depot. “The RCC site is the most suitable location to run the at-grade HSR tracks immediately after the bridge crossing, and to place the tunnel portal leading to the underground tunnels that would take the HSR to the Jurong East terminus,” said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in a statement. Check out the rest of the story here. 

Buying a house is a dream harboured by every adult. Having your own home is a matter of pride and gives a sense of security. But along with all the happiness, it is also one of the most important financial decisions you will make in your life. Unless you have inherited buckets of cash, it is extremely crucial that you understand all the basics of property buying before you venture out to buy your home so you don't waste a single cent. After all, every penny counts! In here are five things you need to know before buying a Singapore HDB.