Sound Smarter in Sixty Seconds (SSISS) is a new column by Mothership where we brief you on the important headlines of the day. We will also contribute our views on the issues at hand.

HDB COVs reaches 5-year low at $3,000

The median COV dropped $2,000 last month to $3,000 as reported by the Singapore Real Estate Exchange. Flats that are sold under-valuation have also increased to 173 units, up from 105 in December. Seng Kang and Punggol flats had 22 out of 36 flats sold under-valuation - the highest among HDB estates.

This probably marks the start of a buyers' market as sellers are eager to let go of their flats to maximise capital gains while buyers have more incentives to adopt the wait-and-see approach. This also bodes well for couples who have had bad luck at the BTO draw. They are now given the added option of getting ready-made flats that are more wallet-friendly and potentially in attractive estates.

The hunt for Singapore's 'almost-astronaut' is on

26 individuals are in line to become the first Singaporean to pilot a craft into near-space - more than 20km above sea level. The craft will first be lifted by a helium balloon, much like Felix Baumgartner's record-breaking trip 39km into Earth's stratosphere. The launch date is set as 9 August 2015. The initiative was started by the Science Centre Board, the Singapore Space and Technology Association, and IN.Genius, a local firm focusing on high-tech energy solutions.

Of the 26 individuals, 20 are SIA pilots and there are also three ladies. It is interesting to note that the military is not involved in this project. Space-travel, traditionally, has immense strategic importance for the military - think setting up military satellite surveillance and GPS for war use. While 20km pales in comparison to Baumgartner's 39km, let us hope that Singapore science will benefit from this journey into the sky which will surely cost more than an arm and leg.

Indonesia names two warships after marines convicted for the MacDonald House bombings.

DPM Teo Chee Hean has spoken to his Indonesian counterparts to ask them to take into consideration the feelings of Singaporeans, especially those whose family members were involved in the 1965 bombings. The two marines, Usman Hj Mohd Ali and Harun Said, were convicted and executed in Singapore for the bombing. Following the executions, 400 students in Jakarta burnt the Republic’s flag and ransacked the Singapore Embassy in Indonesia. Bilateral relations were restored in 1973 when then-PM Lee Kuan Yew sprinkled flowers on the graves of the executed marines. When asked whether the ships would be renamed after Singapore registered its concerns, Coordinating Minister for Legal, Political and Security Affairs Djoko Suyanto said that "there's no need ... The Indonesian government has its own rules, procedures and assessment criteria for determining whether to honour a person as a hero. This cannot involve any intervention from other countries."

It is always tricky to navigate bi-lateral relations with any of our ASEAN neighbours. We form mutually-beneficial trade relations with each other that must be maintained while we do a delicate dance around testy issues such as the annual haze, and now, the naming of warships. Unless Singaporeans, in general, protests against the naming, this issue will be swept from their consciousness soon enough.

Top photo from here.  

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