NEW YORK: Jones Lang LaSalle Inc, one of the world's largest real estate services companies, said earnings rose nearly 62 percent, boosted by a rebound in commercial property sales and leasing, easily beating Wall Street's forecast.

TAWAU (Sabah): The residents of Kampung Titingan, whose houses were razed by fire on Jan 31 are not allowed to build new houses in the area. Sabah Assistant Finance Minister Datuk Tawfiq Abu Bakar Titingan said this was because the area was included in a development plan for Kampung Titingan.

KOTA BARU (Kelantan):The contractor and consultant involved in the construction of the Kelantan Customs Department's office, which is delayed, has been given two more months to complete the project.

SANDAKAN (Sabah): It is necessary to re-map the geological structure of Sandakan district in Sabah to identify high risk landslide prone areas, said Zamri Ramli, a geologist with the Sabah Mineral and Geosciences department.

PUTRAJAYA : The Federal Territories and Urban Wellbeing Ministry will table the Kampung Baru Development Corporation Bill for the second and third reading in Parliament this year, its minister, Datuk Raja Nong Chik Raja Zainal Abidin said.

WASHINGTON: The percentage of empty privately owned US homes rose in the fourth quarter, while rental vacancies fell sharply, a government report showed on Monday, Jan 31.

PUTRAJAYA: Applauding the Federal Territories as a dynamic and modern region, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin today called for continuous improvement to the quality of life in the area and in the provision of economic opportunities to the people.

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration's main housing rescue program showed further signs of stabilization in December as those receiving permanent mortgage modifications during the month outnumbered those dropped from the program.

KUALA LUMPUR: Tower Real Estate Investment Trust (Tower REIT) has posted a net profit of RM8.5 million for its fourth quarter (4Q) ended Dec 31, 2010, down 33% from RM12.7 million a year ago.

The fall was despite an 11% increase in revenue to RM13.1 million from RM11.8 million a year ago, it announced to Bursa Malaysia on Monday, Jan 31.

KUALA LUMPUR: As for Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Ahmad Fuad Ismail, the timeline has been set for Kuala Lumpur to emerge as a world class city nine years from now.

The city's administrators are working to improve Kuala Lumpur's ranking from 79 to 20th by 2020 to be within the list of world class cities.