Just before we were forced to spend 24 hours a day inside of our home, we finished with the last major piece of renovation that it required: a new bathroom. It was an opportunity to put my pledge to the test in the most substantial way yet, and finally fix up a room not only to be modern and nice-looking but also sustainable.

In fact, the process served only as a reminder of the difficulties faced by anyone trying to be green. Trying not to cost the Earth can mean costing a lot of money.

It is, of course, the most immense privilege to be able to have bathroom and the ability to re-decorate it, and one that I am grateful for each day. But, it turns out, even more privilege is required if you want to do that in a eco-friendly, green way.

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Examples are everywhere you turn. It's true at the most disposable end of the market: if you want a shower gel that's made sustainably, for instance, or comes in a bottle you can re-use, then you're going to have to pay up. At the other end of the market comes the big ticket items, such as showers, many of the most expensive of which boast special technology to keep water use down but require you to spend a lot more to actually get it.

Our shower is resolutely normal, surely using up a fair whack of water, since we couldn't spend a fair whack on buying it. Likewise, our lights switch off and on at the tug of a string, with not a motion sensor or WiFi connection in sight. Our heating system is nothing smarter or greener than a radiator.

The bathroom is not even the most egregious room of the house for it. New windows and solar panels would make our home much more green, but would require the kind of investment that we can't afford even in the best of times; new televisions promise energy efficient panels but would of course require you to throw away your old one first, and them stump up for a new one.

None of this is to whinge or moan. People have products to sell, and those products need new features; it is certainly something to be celebrated that those new features are things that make the products more sustainable rather than less.

But it will surely be to the detriment of the environmental movement if green credentials turn into little more than a feature, and one you have to pay up for. It is wonderful that people are hankering after green bathrooms and not just clean ones but it would be great if people did not have to hanker at all.

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20 pledges for 2020: When it comes to home renovations, why do we have to choose between costing the Earth and costing a lot of money? - The...

Renovation works for Housing Board flats and private homes that were disrupted can restart in phase one of the post-circuit breaker period, the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) said yesterday.

Suspended building works for single-dwelling landed residential properties will also be able to resume from June 2.

The BCA said that new renovation works for residential units, including new building works for landed homes, will be allowed to commence only at a later date.

The construction sector has largely been in limbo since circuit breaker measures kicked in on April 7. But it will return to life soon, with works allowed on critical projects with safe management guidelines.

All firms intending to restart suspended renovation and building works will have to seek BCA's approval, and have to show photos of suspended works and contractual agreements with home owners.

Approval will only be granted when firms show they can comply with the Ministry of Manpower's Safe Management Measures and BCA's Covid-Safe Restart Criteria, which include the following:

- the use of contact tracing apps

- the testing of workers before the resumption of works, followed by regular testing once every two weeks

- the training of workers who are carrying out construction-related activities to ensure familiarity with Covid-Safe measures; and

- the provision of dedicated accommodation and transport between worksite and accommodation for workers

The cost of swabbing for existing projects will be paid by the Government until August, the BCA said in a circular yesterday. Beyond that, the Government will work out the arrangements on how the cost of testing should be shared fairly among parties. Subsequently, if workers who are working are found to have missed regular testing, any approval given for resumption of works may be withdrawn, it added.

Those restarting building works at landed properties will have to use digital check-in system SafeEntry, as well as appoint safe-management officers to enforce the measures. Companies that are carrying out renovation works in HDB units will also need to apply to the board for the necessary permits after receiving approval from BCA.

A copy of BCA's approval has to be displayed outside the premises undergoing renovation. The contractor will be responsible for implementing the required safeguards.

Mr Richard Yea, 43, chief executive of interior design firm Design 4 Space, said his firm had around 70 projects with suspended works, which would need official approval. But he said it was unlikely works would resume on June 2 as seeking the necessary approvals takes time.

He said: "I'm definitely happy but there are many rules to follow and things to apply for, which I understand, but it makes restarting quite complicated."

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Disrupted home renovation works can restart from June 2 - The Straits Times

Now halfway through the month, new clients must wait about five weeks because of the backlog.

"It's typical of a summer. It's not unusual for me to be five and six weeks deep," Matthews said. "It's stressful, but I'm blessed I have clients who will wait for me."

Buildfax also expects maintenance and remodeling to rebound over the second half of the year as the economy returns to a semi-normal state.

While Matthews was able to string together jobs and now sees a rush of business, other contractors aren't so lucky. Rick Hitt, who works solely on commercial properties, had just three work orders over the past six weeks. There doesn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel, however.

"I've been starving here," said Hitt, who's done work in the past for Target, FedEx and other large companies in the metro area. "If I didn't know how to manage my money, I don't know where I'd be right now.

"The good Lord above takes care of me, and I take care of my money so I'm not in trouble yet. But I'm gonna be pretty soon."

Compounding the problem, Hitt said he never received his economic stimulus check from the federal government and can't file for unemployment.

He's been a contractor in Oklahoma City for the past 25 years. As he approaches 60 years old, Hitt said it's probably too late to consider another career if business doesn't pick up soon.

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Home, business repairs halted during the brunt of pandemic, leaving contractors out of work - Oklahoman.com

Law enforcement personnel dressed in riot gear used tear gas to disperse protesters near the White House as a curfew neared in the nation's capital. (June 1) AP Domestic

Attorney General William Barr ordered protesters to be cleared from a park near the White House, setting the stage for authoritiesto break up a peaceful demonstration ahead of President Trump's surprise visit to a nearby church, a senior Justice Department official said Tuesday.

The official, who is not authorized to comment publicly, said the decision to expand the security perimeter around Lafayette Square was made Monday morning, after previous protests scorched the area andbefore it was known that Trump would walk to historic St. John's ChurchMonday evening.

The official said Barr was "surprised" that the security perimeter had not been expanded when he visited the area just before Trump's scheduled speech at the White House. It was then, the source said, that Barr was informed of Trump's planto visit the church, prompting the attorney general toorder federal authorities to clear the area ofprotesters.

Historic church: St. John's Church has intersected with Donald Trump at key moments of his presidency

President Donald Trump walks past police in Lafayette Park after he visited St. John's Church across from the White House on June 1. Part of the church was set on fire during protests the night before.(Photo: Patrick Semansky, AP)

Barr was not involved in planning the staged photothat enraged church officials and was condemned by some lawmakers, the official said.

Earlier Tuesday, Barr vowed that Monday's show of force involving more than a dozen law-enforcement agencies was only a warm-up for what is to come.

After offering thanks Tuesday to a legion of military and law enforcement officials, including Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Joint Chiefs Chairman Mark Milley, for their efforts Monday, Barr warned that "even greater law enforcement resources" would be deployed to keep the peace in D.C.

"The most basic function of government is to provide security for people to live their lives and exercise their rights, and we will meet that responsibility here in the nations capital," Barr said in a statement.

In addition to military units, the attorney general referred to a long list of forces that would probably make a return appearance Tuesday night. At least a dozen agencies in all have been thrust into the mix, with more to come.

Among them: the FBI; the Secret Service; the U.S. Park Police; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; the Drug Enforcement Administration; the U.S. Marshals Service; the U.S. Capitol Police; at least two Department of Homeland Security agencies; the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and "others."

'Domination': Trump calls for officials to 'dominate the streets' in response to protests

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The government's aggressive enforcement action Monday prompted criticism from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser,and religious leaders assailed President Donald Trump for clearing the streets so he could be photographed in front ofSt. John's Church, ahistoric worship center on the edge of Lafayette Square, just north of the White House.

D.C., like dozens of other cities, has been the scene of violent protests after the death of George Floyd, a black man who died in the custody of Minneapolis police. An officer who pinned Floyd's neck to the ground with his knee was charged with murder and manslaughter.

A protester treats a friend injured by a police projectile in Washington, D.C. on June 1, 2020. (Photo: Hannah Gaber, USA TODAY)

Critics hammered Trump for using police, armed with flash grenades and shields, to clear protesters from the Lafayette Square area to provide him cover for Monday night's brief event outside the church, where the president posed with a Bible.

"Tear-gassing peaceful protesters without provocation just so that the president could pose for photos outside a church dishonors everyvalue that faith teaches us," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said in a joint statement.

The U.S. Park Police has disputed that tear gas was used on the crowd.

Yet the attorney general appeared more than satisfied with the outcome.

Last night was a more peaceful night in the District of Columbia," Barr said. "Working together, federal and local law enforcement made significant progress in restoring order to the nations capital."

Hiding out:Trump briefly taken to underground bunker as protests grew outside White House

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Attorney General Barr ordered park protesters cleared before Trump's visit to St. John's church - USA TODAY

New modelling released on Wednesday by the Community Housing Industry Association and National Shelter found a four-year social house building program of 30,000 homes would create on average up to 18,000 full-time equivalent jobs each year.

Association chief executive Wendy Hayhurst said the Social Housing Acceleration and Renovation Program (SHARP) would not only deliver better homes to those in need but also secure jobs for thousands of Australians.

Ms Hayhurst said the main benefit would fall where the job losses had been greatest in Sydney and Melbourne but also create jobs in regions and towns.

"With the period 2021-22 earmarked as an anticipated economic weak point, the program would create up to 24,500 jobs both on-site and in the wider building services industry," Ms Hayhurst said.

"The federal government has stated that we have to maintain a laser-like focus on jobs to get Australia moving and this new modelling shows that SHARP does just that".

"Whether it be new investment in social housing, or whether it be upgrades and renovations of social housing. And it should not be forgotten as part of a comprehensive package which is needed."

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It is estimated SHARP would raise output in Australia by at least $15.7 billion over the four years of construction and increase GDP by anywhere between $5.8 billion to $6.7 billion.

SGS Economics and Planning partner Terry Rawnsley, who led the modelling, said building homes had wide reaching impact beyond on site jobs and would call on services from equipment hire to waste removal.

"All this activity will have positive multiplier effects through local and regional economies, as construction and local supplier employees spend their newfound wages at local cafes, stores and even a weekend away," Mr Rawnsley said.

The Morrison government has so far ruled out an increased investment in social housing, instead leaving it to state governments, and focusing on a post-September commercial housing build when the industry says the current pipeline of projects will run dry.

Labor leader Anthony Albanese said the federal government was "ignoring" support for community housing.

"Social housing is an investment that produces a return, of course, for government. Because it's an asset," Mr Albanese said.

Rob Harris is the National Affairs Editor for The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, based at Parliament House in Canberra

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Social housing package proposed as government finalises new home grants - Sydney Morning Herald

Before the coronavirus lockdown, 70 per cent of Brits had never worked from home, according to the Office for National Statistics. Fast forward nine weeks and this life-altering global threat has resulted in an estimated 20 million people swapping crowded and long journeys for smooth 10-second commutes to makeshift workspaces on kitchen worktops or the living room table.

While lockdown restrictions are just starting to ease, for many British businesses, allowing employees to work from home at least some of the time will be the new normal.

The big tech firms have started the ball rolling. Twitter recently announced it will allow some of its workforce to continue working from home "forever" if they choose. Facebook expects up to half of its staff to transition to working from home within the next five to 10 years.

Many more large businesses are likely to follow suit as flexibility and work-life balance become key to a happier workforce.

Big lessons have been learned from home during lockdown. We are now more aware than ever of the need for multifunctional spaces for living, working, exercising and schooling.

Houzz, the leading online platform for home renovation and design, analysed search data and consulted home interiors and renovations professionals to predict how the coronavirus pandemic could shape homes of the future.

It is crucial for future homes to be designed with multiple uses in mind, such as carving out dedicated workspaces or gyms, or creating rooms that are reconfigurable depending on the time of day.

After lockdown measures were introduced in March, searches on Houzz for small offices rose by 82 per cent, garden offices by 72 per cent and desks by 69 per cent.

Huge emphasis now needs to be placed on setting up space for remote working, even if its only a fold-up desk squeezed into an unused corner.

Richard Hobden, director, RHJB Architects said: Making spaces work for multiple occasions is critical to being able to utilise every centimetre of space in the home. A comparatively easy win is to replace a divan or fixed-frame bed in the spare room with a simple folding bed. This can be a stand-alone piece of furniture or built into a storage wall, disguised as wardrobes. This will free up space elsewhere to create a multipurpose study, home gym or playroom."

Home gym space is also being prioritised, with equipment such as exercise bikes, dumbbells and yoga mats now needing dedicated temporary space - along with smart storage options to hide them away when not in use.

Interior designer Samantha Watkins McRae said: One of the most effective and flexible design solutions for making your home work harder is found with bespoke joinery. Smart, well-considered bespoke furniture will always improve living and aesthetic, but now more than ever this can be used to transform a room into different functions.

Spending more time in our homes - and paying higher utility bills - means many of us will prioritise energy efficiency and sustainability. According to Houzz research, energy efficiency is a top priority for 40 per cent of renovating homeowners.

Samantha Watkins McRae said: The most efficient way to conserve energy with any conversion or work to a home is through effective insulation. A properly insulated home will ensure that energy does not get wasted and that thermostats don't constantly need changing.

Low-VOC paints, recycled homewares and eco-friendly building materials are some examples of how this trend could manifest in the home.

"When it comes to ethical materials, we have seen cork become more popular, used in flooring and wall solutions for both residential and commercial projects. It is an incredibly ethical, durable material with amazing acoustic properties so it is perfect for flooring, and with its innate renewability, it is becoming more used in furniture. Natural grain, tinted or stained it is incredibly durable with a raw and timeless appeal, adds Watkins McRae.

After being confined to homes with little or no outdoor space, some clients have declared to architect Tommaso Giunchi that they will never again live in a house that does not have at least a small outdoor space.

Many homeowners in the same position will agree, particularly after this year's sunniest spring on record. Demand for homes with balconies and gardens has surged during lockdown, while applications to adapt rooftop spaces for outdoor use are likely to rise.

"We are now finding that with families spending more time at home, the volume of space this offers, together with the intrinsic links we seek to create between home and garden, have become invaluable. Although somewhat cliched, the merging of internal and external environments provides the impression of greater space and significantly reduces the feeling of confinement, said Richard Hobden of RHJB Architects.

Homes have also become safe havens amid the Covid-19 pandemic and this sentiment is likely to become more literal with interiors designed to provide comfort, security and calming wellness spaces.

Houzz says that less than a week into lockdown, searches were spiking for meditation rooms and yoga rooms.

More here:
Flexible spaces:how the Covid-19 lockdown will affect the design of our future homes - Homes and Property

Plant pots strike a happy medium between interiors splurge and practical buy.

Whether you fill them with trailing greenery, letterbox flower deliveries or youre sticking with faux for the foreseeable, planters are an easy way to add character to any empty shelf or neglected corner of your home.

Clustered in twos and threes, marble and glazed planters can create a quick-fix focal point.

Play with heights and sizes to add variety, or place in corners to soften the edges of a room.

Bringing plants and interesting, good-looking planters into your home shows the care that you have for the space that you live in, said interior designer Daniel Hopwood during a recent tour of his own London apartment.

Online home renovation and design platform Houzz saw a 77 per cent increase in searches for garden planters in the period from March to May compared to the same time last year.

Planter searches have risen by 57 per cent, says Houzz, while house plants and plant pot have featured in the most popular searches so far this year but didnt in the first half of last year.

So perhaps in lockdown you finally splashed out on that Big Ken palm youve been coveting, only to leave yourself short of time and funds to find your dream grey concrete planter.

The more organised among us will be curating their collection bit by bit a chic hanging pot here, or a quirky ceramic there.

Whether youre trying to find a stylish planter before your bulk house plant order arrives, or youre slowly building a collection that will be the envy of social-distancing visitors, weve put together our top plant pot picks for sale in our gallery above.

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Best plant pots for indoors: choose from concrete, glazed or hanging planters to transform a corner of your home - Homes and Property

Adding additional bathroom space to your home or renovating an outdated lavatory can improve your homes usability and increase its value, too. To get the most practical benefits and value out of your new space, there are several factors to consider.

Before you get started, take into account these considerations about the design and function of your new bathroom from the remodeling experts at the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

Space

A primary consideration is the available footprint to create your new bath. This is often a concern as children reach their teen years and also with expanding families. If there arent enough bathrooms in the house, you may want to add another, or it may be that you simply need to improve the layout and features to make better use of the existing space. For example, if the bath will be shared by multiple members of the family, a separation of the sinks from the rest of the room may be helpful.

Features

Determining how you will use your bathroom dictates the features youll want to include. A guest or hall bath is likely to have far fewer features than a master bath but may share some similarities with a kids bathroom. First, youll need to make decisions about basics like lighting, the number of sinks and amount of counter space youll need.

If you like baths, youll need to decide between a tub and shower combination unit or separate facilities. With a separate tub, the style you prefer may guide your overall design. The aesthetic for a bathroom with a focal point like a claw-foot tub is likely different from a jetted tub.

Storage

Storage is one of the biggest concerns in any design, particularly in rooms as small as typical bathrooms. Carefully consider this aspect of the room during your pre-planning phase. To help determine how much space you need, make a list of all the items you need to store in the bathroom, including cleaning agents, toiletries, linens, first aid items and medications.

Its a good idea to also think about where in the room you would like to store each of these items. You may want some of the toiletries in the shower area, while others will be used near the sink or dressing area.

Sustainability

Many contemporary bathroom fixtures are designed with sustainability in mind, so you can manage your water usage while still enjoying a water-rich environment. You can find water-saving features on everything from toilets to shower heads to even sink faucets.

Accessibility

Applying universal design principles to your project can promote safety and increase your homes appeal to a wider range of buyers in the future. In the bathroom, you can improve safety by incorporating non-slip flooring surfaces and ensuring the space is well-lit.

Other ideas include adjusting counter and toilet heights to make bathrooms more accessible (wall-hung toilets should be approximately two inches higher). You could incorporate structural bracing around the tub, shower and toilet for grab bars. You might also consider a walk-in tub or stand-up shower with no threshold, levered handles for faucets and an adjustable showerhead.

Find more ideas and inspiration for your bathroom design at remodelingdoneright.com.

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Make the Most of Your Bathroom Renovation Pasadena Weekendr - Pasadena Now

The cost of a home renovation in Singapore can range from $30,000 to $70,000 depending on the size of your property and how much renovation you will require.

Before shelling out thousands of dollars on your home renovation, you should first do your own due diligence by checking out various interior design (ID) companies.

This will help you to make a better decision when it comes to choosing an ID you can trust. The due diligence could start with a simple check on their customer reviews and past projects, to get a better idea of what you can expect.

Here are the renovation comparison platforms available in Singapore:

At the top of the list is Qanvast, a renovation platform that connects homeowners with trusted interior designers. Clean and easy to navigate, this site has everything you need when it comes to your home renovation. You can filter to view projects based on property type, style and number of rooms.

What you can find on Qanvast:

Discover local interior ideas, complete with renovation costs and photos from like minded homeowners. Similar to Pinterest, you can save your favourite projects onto your very own Qanvast board. This helps you to consolidate your favourite home designs to help you discover your idea of a dream home.

On Qanvast, each ID has a profile page of their own and you can read the reviews contributed by homeowners that have completed their renovation with the firm. Companies are also rated based on criteria such as professionalism, workmanship, design and project management.

Something that makes this platform stand out from the rest, Qanvast safeguards your renovation deposit with a free $50,000 Qanvast Guarantee.

ALSO READ:How much should you pay for a home renovation in Singapore?

Renopedia is an online home renovation portal for Singapore homeowners to find inspiration, solutions, tips, ideas and the right interior designers for your dream home. Besides providing you with inspiration for your renovation, it also features reviews by homeowners and offers various promotions.

What you can find on Renopedia:

Called RenoTube, Renopedia hosts a collection of home interior design videos. These range from videos that offer a look at different interior designs, tips for homeowners as well as light-hearted videos centred around renovation.

Similar to Qanvast, Renopedia also offers a renovation calculator on their website. This helps you to come up with a lower and upper limit of the budget you could be looking at for your home renovation.

Filling in the form for a free quote on Renopedia will also reward you with a free e-magazine, renovation checklist and more.

HomeRenoGuru (HRG) is an online renovation marketplace for both residential and commercial properties under one roof. Besides viewing residential projects for inspiration, you can also find interior designers for both residential or commercial properties.

Take a home tour with different homeowners in Singapore through HRGs dream homes tour. Each video is unique, featuring different families, houses and renovation types. This will give you some inspiration for the type of home you would like based on the house type and budget.

This short quiz gets you to choose how you would like your home to look like while taking into consideration your budget. Based on the preferences selected in HRGs 3-min quiz, you will be recommended with three design firms.

Look out for HRGs gift of the month. Currently, you will receive a free smart home lock (worth $960) when you engage any of HRGs top design firms.

ALSO READ:Renovation Singapore costs (2020) - how much should you budget?

Redbrick Homes (previously known as Property Quotient), is a one-stop digital shop for all your home design and refurbishment needs. On Redbrick Homes, you can browse local home ideas from the project gallery and also find local interior designers.

What you can find on Redbrick Homes:

IDMate matches homeowners to IDs. By entering your home details and selecting home interiors you like, IDMate derives your ideal home interior design. It goes a step further to help you select three interior designers based on your requirements.

Receive a free 80-page renovation guide by entering your email. This guide includes a renovation checklist as well as exclusive promotions and deals from Redbrick Homes partners.

Renonation is a renovation and interior design website that provides renovation tips and interior design inspiration. From selecting interior design themes to furniture types and kitchen tiles, RenoNations blog provides you with the latest renovation tips to spruce up your home.

What you can find on RenoNation:

Checking for defects is one of the first things you should do before moving into your new home. You can find a handy HDB defects checklist on RenoNation to help you make sure you cover all grounds when inspecting your flat.

RenoNation holds events from time to time, offering homeowners the latest promotions and products. For example, they have a BTO Group Buy for homeowners to enjoy perks or discounts for home appliances and electronics.

ALSO READ:Home renovation guide: Tips to avoid getting duped when renovating your first place

One that differs slightly from the other renovation platforms on this list, RenoTalk is a renovation platform for people to talk and engage on renovation matters.

Think of this as a forum much like Hardwarezone or Reddit, except purely for renovation conversations. RenoTalk also reaches out to not just the Singapore audience, but also renovators in Malaysia.

What you can find on RenoTalk:

On RenoTalk, you can find ongoing discussions about anything and everything home or renovation related. These forums are sectioned into renovation and ID forums, life after renovation forums and more.

Not quite like videos by Property Lim Brothers that give you a tour of beautiful homes around Singapore, videos on RenoTalk cover topics such as your home design, renovation tips and insights from interior designers.

You can find vendors that offer home-related services on RenoTalk, such as plumbing, landscaping, air conditioning and more.

ALSO READ:5 common misconceptions of home renovations

Its important to set yourself a budget for your renovation, to ensure that you spend within your means while trying to create your dream home. Some of the platforms listed above offer renovation calculators to help you estimate your total renovation cost.

For those facing financial constraints servicing renovation fees, you can consider a renovation loan or personal loan. Apart from comparison platforms for renovation companies, you can use SingSaver to compare personal loans for your renovations.

This article was first published in SingSaver.com.sg.

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Guide to renovation and interior design comparison platforms in Singapore - AsiaOne

SINGAPORE - Catch up on the hottest topics on The Straits Times' weekday talk show.

The Big Story, broadcast every weekday at 5.30pm on Facebook and YouTube, has reporters and senior editors discussing the top stories of the day, in the heart of the newsroom.

The show is helmed by multimedia correspondent Hairianto Diman and assistant video editor Olivia Quay, and airs live from ST's digital studio.

On Thursday's episode (May 28), we speak to Mr Kurt Wee, president of the Association of Small & Medium Enterprises, on how the latest measures announced by Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat in the Fortitude Budget can help SMEs cope with their rental costs.

On Tuesday (May 26), National Development Minister Lawrence Wong said in Parliament that home renovation works which were disrupted during the circuit breaker will be given priority to restart in the first phase of Singapore's safe re-opening.

We talk to a homeowner, Mr Bruno Tay, who is affected by the suspension of renovation works on his new home.

We round up the interview with Singapore Polytechnic graduate, Ms Dian Afiqah Salaihuddin, on how she found it difficult to secure a full-time job to be her family's sole breadwinner amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

Stories covered in previous episodes of The Big Story include the registration for Primary 1 2021 cohort going online and the rise of virtual dates.

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The Big Story: Rental relief for SMEs; suspended home renovation works given priority to restart - The Straits Times