Warehouse Sale up to 80% on Branded Fragrances and Cosmetics

Branded Fragrances and Cosmetics will be on sale on the following dates:

Date: May 4-6 2011
Time: 10:30AM - 07:00PM
Location: 6 Jalan Kilang, Dadlani Industrial House Singapore 159406

• Versace
• Moschino
• Alessandro Dell’Acqua
• Antonio Banderas
• Armand Basi
• Paul & Joe
• Ferrari
• Banana Republic
• GAP
• Mango
• Guess
• Givenchy
• Charriol
• Luciano Soprani
• ST Dupont
• Jessica Simpson
• Paris Hilton
• FCUK
• Jaqs Fath
• 4711
• Beyonce
• Liz Clairborne

Cash, Nets, Visa and MasterCard are accepted.

NOTE: Items sold are not exchangeable or returnable.

Philippine Immigration officers barred 34 prospective overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) bound for Thailand

Immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) barred from leaving the country 34 prospective overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) bound for Thailand.

In a report to Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Ricardo A. David Jr., BI airport operations division acting chief Lina Andaman Pelia said the passengers were offloaded last April 7 as they were about to board a Philippine Airlines flight to Bangkok.

Pelia said the passengers were prevented from boarding their flight after intense questioning by immigration officers forced them to confess that they were actually OFWs disguised as business travelers.

“They were offloaded for not having the required clearances and employment permits from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA), Pelia said. Immigration Officer Marlene Pedrealba, who heads the NAIA-BI’s Travel Control and Enforcement Unit (TCEU) added that the passengers admitted during the interviews that they were going to work in Bangkok.

“In fact, many of them are former OFWs who had worked in Dubai,” Pedrealba stressed.

It was Pedrealba’s team that interviewed the 34 passengers after they were referred to the BI by the PAL supervisor on duty at the counter where the “tourist workers” had checked-in for their flight.

David commended the TCEU members for their vigilance even as he exhorted them to step up their vigilance and be on the lookout for similar passengers departing in large groups.

The names of the passengers were not divulged as the anti-human trafficking law prohibits the public disclosure of both the traffickers and their victims.

Investigation revealed that the OFWs were going to work for the Super Giant Touring Carnival owned by Apirom Properties Company Ltd., an affiliate of the Big Fun World company based in Dubai and where many of the passengers had already worked.

The passengers were allegedly traveling on a business visa that was provided by a company in Dubai which was supposed to process their work permits in Thailand.

Manny Pacquiao vs Shane Mosley’s fight to be shown on StarHub Channel 202

This is good news! For those who are on Starhub, we got  confirmation that they will be showing the fight live on May 8 starting 09:00AM SGT.

Thank you for your email.

We would like to inform you that the live fight between Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley will be shown live on SuperSports on 8 May at 9 am.

Should you have further questions, please feel free to send us another e-mail at this address or fax in to 6720 5000. We would be glad to assist you.

Best regards

Lim Tsu Ern
Customer Affairs

Housing and Development Board (HDB) stepped up enforcement against unauthorized subletting of flats

The Housing and Development Board (HDB) stepped up its enforcement against unauthorized subletting of flats in 2010. This comes after 7,000 flat inspections conducted in 2010 (an increase from the 3,000 done in 2009).

Of the 95 flat owners owners caught by the HDB for illegal subletting, 39 had their flats acquired.

Of the 7,000 flats inspected, 95 flat owners had action taken against them by the HDB in relation to unauthorized subletting. The actions taken include compulsory acquisition of the flats and imposing of financial penalties.

The public's feedback played a greater role in the HDB's inspections, with public feedback leading to 1,800 inspections (of the total of 7,000). This is almost double the number received in 2009.

Under current HDB rules, flat owners who wish to sublet their entire flats must meet the Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) and obtain the HDB's approval before doing so.

Minimum Occupation Period (MOP) -- HDB flat owners must have physically occupied their flats for a period of time before they are eligible to sell or sublet/rent it in the open market.

HDB will continue to step up inspections and is welcoming public feedback on suspected unauthorized subletting, which it promises to keep strictly confidential. The public can report such suspected cases by calling the dedicated hotline 1800-555-6370.

Singapore honor the current Philippine President by naming orchid after him

Singapore on Friday named an orchid with bright golden yellow petals after President Benigno Aquino, an honor accorded to visiting heads of state.

President Benigno S. Aquino III graces the orchid breed naming ceremony at the National Orchid Garden in the Singapore Botanic Gardens Friday

The island-state's National Parks Board named the orchid Ascocenda Benigno S. Aquino in a ceremony at the Singapore National Orchid Garden on Friday morning.

"This is a vigorous and free flowering hybrid. It bears flowering sprays with 10 to 12 flowers each. The flowers are 7 to 8 cm across. Petals and sepals are bright golden yellow with many distinct reddish-brown spots and tessellations," the board said in a statement.

President Benigno Aquino 3rd holds a picture of an orchid named after him—Ascocendra Benigno S. Aquino 3rd—during an orchid breed-naming ceremony at the National Orchid Garden in the Singapore Botanic Gardens on Friday

Aquino's late revered mother, former President Corazon Aquino, also had an orchid named after her but it was not in bloom this season.

Immigration and Checkpoint Authority rejected about 2% of PRs’ re-entry permits annually

For the past three years, the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoint Authority (ICA) has rejected about 2 per cent of re-entry permit applications from permanent residents (PRs).

This was revealed by the Home Affairs Minister, K. Shanmugam, in response to a question from Nominated Member of Parliament (NMP) Audrey Wong, on the number of PRs who could not renew their re-entry permits.

According to The Straits Times, PRs are required to have a valid re-entry permit if they wish to travel out of Singapore, so they can retain their PR status while away from the country. They are required to renew the re-entry permit on a periodic basis.

However, Mr Shanmugam said that reasons for rejection of applications included an applicant’s prolonged absence from Singapore, lack of gainful employment at the time of a renewal application or lack of family roots in Singapore.

In addition, for PRs who are dependents such as spouses or elderly parents, the loss of the PR status of their sponsor would mean that their re-entry permit applications would also be rejected.

Floating Body Found In Luggage Trolley Bag At Sentosa - Murder Suspect Arrested

Swift action by Police has resulted in the arrest of a 44-year-old Chinese Singaporean man in connection with the suspected murder of a 28-year-old Chinese Singaporean man whose body was found in a luggage trolley bag at Sentosa on the morning of 16 April 2011.

On 16 April 2011, at about 8.40am, Police received a call informing us that a luggage trolley bag containing a decomposed male body was found floating near the shore in the waters off the Sentosa Gate construction site. The deceased was established to be Wong Teck Siong, a 28-year-old male Singaporean.

Police immediately commenced intensive investigations into the case. Despite the condition of the body, the officers from the Special Investigation Section of the Criminal Investigation Department managed to establish the identity of the suspect and swiftly placed him under arrest this afternoon.

Director of the Criminal Investigation Department, Assistant Commissioner of Police Hoong Wee Teck commended his officers for their perseverance, resourcefulness and excellent investigative skills that led to the successful arrest. AC Hoong said, “Murder is a capital offence. The Police will spare no effort to ensure that those responsible for such crimes are brought swiftly to justice. I wish to commend the officers for their skill and perseverance in securing the necessary evidence and promptly arresting the suspect despite the challenges posed by the decomposed state of the body. ”

The suspect will be charged in Court on 18 April 2011 for the offence of Murder under Section 302 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224, which carries the death penalty.

Singapore's economy rebounded last year, wages up 5.6%

Well according to government statistics wages are up 5.6% so did you make the cut? Higher or lower?…

Employees earned 5.6 per cent more amid a tighter job market, according to latest government figures

SINGAPORE'S economy rebounded last year, employees earned 5.6 per cent more amid a tighter job market, according to latest government figures.

The average earnings of a worker rose to $4,089 from $3,872 in 2009.

But work in last year's inflation of 2.8 per cent, and the real earnings growth moderates to 2.7 per cent.

These earnings figures, released on Tuesday by the Manpower Ministry (MOM) in its quarterly labour market report, are derived from data on workers' contributions to the Central Provident Fund.

They reflect the average incomes of full-time and part-time local workers, including permanent residents but excluding the self-employed.

The report also showed that Singapore created more jobs than estimated earlier, with 115,900 jobs added instead of 112,500. Most of the new jobs are in the service sector.

Singapore successfully developed a vertical farming system prototype

Singapore has successfully developed a vertical farming system prototype, which could help the land-scarce Republic maximize its production of leafy vegetables.

Vertical farming is a technique of producing agricultural products at multiple levels, conserving land space in the process.

A six-meter tall structure rotates at one millimeter per second, distributing sunlight to all the plants.

Water powers the system and is constantly being recycled, keeping energy consumption low.

The system is also affordable too. One of the frames costs about S$10,000.
The prototype was developed by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority and private firm DJ Engineering.

During his visit to the farm, Minister for National Development Mah Bow Tan said he is impressed with the system.

Mr Mah said: "It can produce about five times the output of a normal farm, using the same area - per square metre of space, it's actually able to produce five times (more). So it's very suitable for Singapore's condition.

"So far, very encouraging. And hopefully, this will then be expanded and help us to achieve our target - we're trying to achieve 10 per cent local production of leafy vegetables."

 

Mr Mah and other visitors also had a chance to sample some of the vegetables.

Owner of DJ Engineering, Jack Ng, has set up the company Sky Greens to drive the commercialization of vertical farming.

Sky Greens expects the first crop of produce from the system to be available in major supermarkets by this year.

Holy Week and Earth Day Special Issue (April) of Bagong Bayani Magazine

This info came from Mary Jane Salomon, publisher of Bagong Bayani Magazine.

I am pleased to announce that the Holy Week and Earth Day Special Issue (April 2011) of Bagong Bayani Magazine with Rev. Father ANGEL Luciano, Filipino Missionary and Master Keeper of Christian Faith in Singapore on the cover, is now out and available for FREE, as usual!
 
BAGONG BAYANI (MODERN-DAY HERO) MAGAZINE is published monthly in English and Filipino by Salomon Publishing Singapore Pte. Ltd.,with 10,000 copies in circulation. This 52-page with 230 gsm/128 gsm paper, glossy and laminated, perfect bound magazine is distributed for FREE, at the Philippine Embassy, Filipino Stores and Restaurants, Remittance Centres, Churches, MRT stations amongst its distribution points and soon will be uploaded to the web as we are in the process of creating a digital copy, in order to ensure that every Overseas Filipino Worker will not be deprived of the opportunity to read and have a copy of the magazine and get him/herself involved in a noble and worthy cause.
 
Substantial. Accessible. Inspiring. This is BAGONG BAYANI magazine.
 
I enjoin you, FILCOM LEADERS and everyone to do your share of public service by helping us ensure the widest dissemination of this magazine to members of the Filipino community here in Singapore. We need your support and patronage. Please do not hesitate to email or get in touch with us for ADVERTISING enquiries or for any other matter. Looking forward to our future collaboration, for and in the service of the Filipino people worldwide.
 

Maraming salamat po!

Salomon Publishing Singapore Pte. Ltd.
Mobile: +6593886515
Office: +6562358153
04-65 Lucky Plaza, 304 Orchard Road, Singapore
Email: Info@iambagongbayani.com

Singapore Police busted syndicate distributing pirated games and providing illegal modification services

Police have arrested seven men, aged between 19 and 34, who are believed to be members of a syndicate involved in distributing pirated games and providing illegal modification services which allowed pirated games to be played on modified game consoles.

In a 13-hour long operation which commenced on 13 April 2011 at about 1pm, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) raided three retail shops located in Jurong West, Taman Jurong and Boon Keng. During the raid, modified game consoles from Nintendo DS, Wii and Sony PlayStation Portables, pirated games, counterfeit accessories, laptops, hard disks, and memory sticks containing circumvention programs used to modify the game consoles were found in all three retail shops. The estimated street value of the infringing items was close to S$36,000/-.

The successful operation came after several months of intensive intelligence operations, where CID officers established the identities of the suspects who were members of a local syndicate that provided the illegal modification services for game consoles. The syndicate’s retail shops had legitimate shop-fronts with typical counters, racks and shelving to display retail goods. However, behind partitioned walls, illegal modifications to game consoles were carried out and pirated games were downloaded.

Head of the Intellectual Property Rights Branch of the CID , Superintendent of Police Loh Kah Wai, said, "Police take a serious view of such intellectual property rights violations, and will continue to clamp down on syndicates involved in the modification of game consoles and the sale of counterfeit games in Singapore. Circumvention of built-in anti-piracy controls carries a heavy fine and imprisonment, and offenders will be prosecuted in Court.”

Persons found guilty of providing counterfeit products shall be liable to a fine not exceeding $10,000 for the article or for each article in respect of which the offence was committed or $100,000, whichever is lower, or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years, or to both.

Thief responsible for house break-ins around Punggol Drive nabbed

Police have arrested a 38-year-old man who is believed to be responsible for a series of break-ins at newly-completed units located along Punggol Drive.

This what we usually call “akyat bahay”. 

The term used to refer to notorious criminal gangs who rob houses by scaling through the roof, window, or any part of the house that allows access inside it.

Also refers to the manner of stealing by surreptitiously entering a victim’s house by climbing its walls to gain access to a window or force an opening through the roof or the wall.

Between January 2011 and April 2011, a number of break-ins were reported at newly completed units which were undergoing final renovation works along Punggol Drive. The culprit would usually target units that were secured by combination padlocks, and break in to steal newly purchased electrical appliances such as televisions, media entertainment systems and other household and personal items of value.

Through extensive enquiries and follow up investigation, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division managed to establish the identity of the suspect. On 8 April 2011 at about 1.30pm , the suspect was arrested at the vicinity of Woodlands Ring Road. Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspect is believed to have broken into at least seven units and had stolen items worth a total of about S$30,000/-.

The suspect will be charged in Court on 9 April 2011 for Housebreaking and Theft by Night under Section 457 of the Penal Code which carries a maximum of 14 years' imprisonment.

Commander of Ang Mo Kio Police Division HQ, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Hsu Sin Yun advised home owners to ensure that their units are properly secured with strong locks.

2 FM Frequencies up for grab to operate commercial or not-for-profit radio stations in Singapore–MDA

The Media Development Authority is conducting a three-month long public tender to allocate two FM frequencies -- FM 89.3 and FM 92.0 -- to operate commercial or not-for-profit radio stations in Singapore.

The tender follows an earlier ‘Expression of Interest’ (EOI) exercise conducted by MDA in April 2010. More than 20 parties registered their interest at the close of the EOI exercise in May 2010.

Based on market interest, MDA now seeks formal proposals from interested parties to operate FM 89.3 and FM92.0. The three-month public tender exercise will close on 28 June 2011.

As part of the tender exercise, MDA welcomes new ideas and does not intend to limit the future station(s) to any particular genre, in order to encourage a variety of proposals. The tender also aims to encourage new players to enter the market as well as to provide more choices for listeners, resulting in a greater spread of local radio content for different segments of the population.

MDA will evaluate the bids submitted based on the following criteria:

• programming innovation, characteristics and quality;
• financial standing and business plan; and
• ability to produce and promote local content that aids the development of Singapore’s media industry.

In addition, for tenderers who intend to operate commercial radio stations, there would be a monetary bid component, while not-for-profit radio stations will be evaluated on the social impact of their offerings.

The tender is now posted on GeBiz, under ITT No. MDA000ETT11000022. Interested parties can submit their proposals according to the instructions in the tender before 4pm 28 June 2011.

Results of the tender will be made known by September 2011.

If successful in their bids, the operators of FM 89.3 and 92.0 will add to the already vibrant radio industry here. According to the Nielson Media Index (survey done in the period Jul 09 – Jun 10), 93% of the population aged 15 and above tuned in to radio in the past week. There are now 20 FM radio stations in Singapore. FM radio services in Singapore play a significant role in nation building, and serve public and social interests. FM radio services in Singapore are complemented by digital radio services; MediaCorp Radio currently operates five Digital Audio Broadcasting (DAB)-only stations and eight simulcast DAB stations, and Rediffusion offers 15 DAB channels.

Malacanang created Overseas Preparedness and Response Team to handle crises situations affecting Filipinos abroad

 

Malacañang has created a new, high-level team to strengthen the government’s ability to respond to the needs of overseas Filipino workers faced with political conflict and natural disasters in the countries where they toil.

Executive Order No. 34, signed on April 6 by President Benigno Aquino III and Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa Jr. establishes the Overseas Preparedness and Response Team under the Office of the President. It replaces the Middle East Preparedness Team that was formed in 2002 to deal with the evacuation of thousands of Filipino workers in the Middle East during the crisis in Iraq.

The EO mandates that the OPRT be composed of the executive secretary as chairperson and the presidential adviser on overseas Filipino workers’ concerns and the secretaries of the Departments of Foreign Affairs, Labor and Employment, National Defense, Justice, the Interior and Local Government, and Budget and Management as members.

The presidential adviser on migrant workers is Vice President Jejomar Binay.

The high-level crisis team has been tasked to draw up strategies and programs and to formulate policies to appropriately respond to crisis situations affecting Filipinos abroad. It shall develop and adopt interactive operating arrangements among agencies to effect maximum coordination.

The panel may call upon any department or agency of the government or private-sector group and coordinate with bilateral and multilateral partners in the formulation and implementation of plans, programs and policies.

“Natural disasters, civil unrest, armed conflicts and similar crises in foreign countries expose overseas Filipinos to immediate hazards and risks,” Ochoa said in a statement regarding the EO.

“So, it is only imperative that we establish a measure and a system that would ensure the safety and welfare of our countrymen abroad,” he added.

26-year-old pickpocket arrested in Harbourfront Centre

A SERIAL thief who stole from his victims by slitting their pockets with a razor blade, was caught on Monday.

The 26-year-old man struck mostly in the Ang Mo Kio area, targeting those who were napping in void decks or pavilions within the estate. Using a razor blade, he slit open their pockets and made off with the victims' valuables.

Several of such cases had been reported in February and April.

However, the man was arrested at Harbourfront Centre on Monday, and is currently suspected of being responsible for nine more similar cases in Ang Mo Kio.

He will be charged in court on Wednesday.

Handbag snatcher on a stolen motorcycle arrested

Not even Singapore is safe with this kind of petty crime activity anymore…..

Singapore Police have arrested a 44-year-old man who is believed to be involved in a case of snatch theft using a stolen motorcycle.

A 32-year-old woman was walking along Akyab Road when a man riding a motorcycle suddenly snatched her handbag and sped off.

Through extensive enquiries and follow-up investigation, officers from Tanglin Police Division managed to establish the suspect’s identity and arrested him at his home on 4 April 2011 . Preliminary investigations reveal that the suspect had stolen the motorcycle that was used to commit the snatch theft. The victim’s handbag and the stolen motorcycle were successfully recovered. The suspect is believed to be involved in other similar cases and police investigations are ongoing.

The suspect will be charged in Court on 6 April 2011 for the offences of Snatch Theft and Theft of a Motor Vehicle under Section 356 and Section 379A of the Penal Code respectively. If convicted, the suspect faces a jail term of up to 7 years and caning.

Commander of Tanglin Police Division, Deputy Assistant Commissioner of Police Koh Yak Leng advised motorcycle owners to park at well-lit areas, lock their motorcycle before leaving even if it is for a short while, and secure their motorcycle using additional strong locks.

Philippine Bureau of Immigration step up vigilance and intensify campaign against human trafficking

Bureau of Immigration (BI) Commissioner Ricardo A. David Jr. urged immigration officers at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) to step up their vigilance and intensify the agency’s campaign against human trafficking.

David made the appeal during a dialogue with the bureau’s head supervisors and personnel assigned at the premiere port last Monday.

David directed Lina Andaman Pelia, BI airport operations division chief, to institute measures that will not only stop victims of illegal recruitment from leaving but also prevent the smuggling of illegal aliens.

He said the campaign against human trafficking should also target the syndicates that use the Philippines as a transit point for smuggling illegal aliens to other countries.

“Although we should be proud of our success in stopping thousands of undocumented OFWs from leaving, more efforts should likewise be exerted prevent the entry of illegal aliens who are later smuggled abroad by the syndicates that recruited and victimized them,” the immigration chief added. Immigration officers at the NAIA have been offloading thousands of passengers since August last year when it launched its intensified drive against human trafficking.

Most of the offloaded passengers were prospective OFWs bound for Asian destinations such as Singapore, Malaysia, Hongkong, and the Middle East but did not have the required overseas employment certificate from the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA).

David said the BI will soon be deploying more immigration officers to the NAIA to augment the personnel who process and screen passengers.

He also stressed the need to conduct more training programs that will bolster the capability of BI personnel in profiling suspected illegal aliens and detecting fraudulent travel documents.

“Deploying more immigration officers will not serve its purpose unless we are sure that they have the capability and the know-how to perform their jobs,” he added.

Film Finance Forum 2011 @ ScreenSingapore to be hosted by Winston Baker

Winston Baker, a global producer of film finance conferences, announces the inaugural Film Finance Forum @ ScreenSingapore on Sentosa Island in Singapore. The event will be hosted in association with Variety, the world’s leading content provider for the entertainment industry.

FILM FINANCE FORUM @ScreenSingapore is a conference dedicated to film finance, production, distribution, and digital innovation and will be held on June 7, 2011 at the Cappella Singapore Ballroom during the week of ScreenSingapore 2011. The speaking faculty will include leading executives from Hollywood to Singapore and seasoned veterans within the Asian film market.

"With Asian filmmakers and distributors increasingly participating at international film markets, this conference will provide strategies to bolster continued growth for this region of the world. The speaking faculty will address film finance techniques, new government incentive options, co-production opportunities, alternative distribution avenues, and ways to monetize on 3D and digital innovation," said Amy Baker, Managing Partner of Winston Baker. “We are thrilled to be offering such a crucial forum in Asia as part of ScreenSingapore’s lineup of events.”

"As the market grows, it is critical that Asian producers, distributors, and film executives stay well-informed on the current finance landscape and the latest innovative strategies. It is also important for financiers from around the world to understand the emerging opportunities within the Asian film market. The Film Finance Forum @ ScreenSingapore provides a perfect platform to foster such discussions," said Ashok Amritraj, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Hyde Park Entertainment Group, Member of ScreenSingapore’s Board, and Chair of the upcoming Film Finance Forum in Asia.

What: Film Finance Forum @ ScreenSingapore 2011

When: Tuesday, June 07, 2011 7:30 AM - 7:30 PM (Malaysia, Singapore Time)

Where: Capella Singapore, 1 The Knolls, Sentosa Island, 098297, Singapore

Registrations Rates:
Early Registrations : $495.00 USD (through April 15, 2011)
Sandard Registrations : $595.00 USD (through June 6, 2011)
Onsite Registrations : $695.00 USD (on June 7, 2011 - NO EXCEPTIONS)
Group Registrations : Contact group@winstonbaker.com for details.

Singaporeans and Permanent Residents of Singapore will receive a special rate of USD $247.50 if they register by May 31, 2011.

Registrants will have access to the following:
- Film Finance Forum @ ScreenSingapore on June 7 at Capella Singapore
- Expo@ScreenSingapore (trade expo and buyer-seller marketplace)
- Opening Gala Party on June 5 at Capella Singapore
- WIPO Masterclass on June 8 at Capella Singapore
- ‘In Conversation’ Masterclasses on June 6, 9 & 10 at Capella Singapore
- Red Carpet Gala Premieres (space is limited and tickets will be distributed on-site on a first-come-first-served basis)

The Film Finance Forum Series has been offered in Los Angeles, Cannes, New York, and Zurich as well and has hosted the most notable names in the business. For additional program details, visit the Film Finance Forum.

For more information, visit Screen Singapore.

Singapore giving underground Nuclear Power reactors a closer look

Nuclear power is going to be a tough sell going forward given the ongoing radiation leaking from Japan's Fukushima Daiichi power plant, but what if future reactors were buried underground?

It may sound like a crazy idea, but Singapore, a tiny island country whose population would have no place to go in the event of a wide-scale evacuation, is giving buried nukes a closer look.

The thinking is that you could bury a small reactor in a shallow layer of bedrock, perhaps 30-50 meters underground. Then, if things at the plant go south for any reason, the granite will provide natural containment; simply cement in any access tunnels going down to the facility and walk away.

The idea was first floated last fall by Hooman Peimani an energy security specialist at the National University of Singapore. Countries with nuclear power typically build large-scale reactors 15 to 20 km away from heavily populated residential areas. Singapore, a country of roughly 700 square kilometers, doesn't have a potential site even 3 km from residential areas, Peimani says.

(Hyperion Power Generation)

Going underground would significantly increase the costs of any reactor. Peimani says only small reactors 30-50 megawatts in size, one-twentieth the size of conventional large-scale reactors, would be cost effective.

Several designs for such "mini reactors" have been proposed by companies like TerraPower and Hyperion Power. And while their proponents argue they could provide cheap, reliable, and safe sources of energy, they are still years away from being plugged into any electrical grid.

(Hyperion Power Generation)

Earthquake prone areas or regions with high water tables wouldn't work. The limitations would rule out much of Japan but wouldn't preclude Singapore, Peimani says.

Singapore is currently dependent on natural gas imported from Indonesia and Malaysia for much of its electricity production but is building a massive liquefied natural gas terminal that would allow the country to import the fuel from anywhere in the world.

The Singapore government authorized a feasibility study for underground reactors last year without setting a timetable for completion. Peimani says recent events in Japan may help push the idea forward.

 

source: New Scientist

“Isang Bangkang Malaya”: FDS & FilCom Fun Race for 113 Years of Independence

An Invitation from the Filipino Dragons (Singapore) to join the upcoming Filipino Dragons (Singapore) Independence Day.

“Isang Bangkang Malaya”: FDS & FilCom Fun Race for 113 Years of Independence
Newbie Training Sessions, Fun Race, Competitive Dragonboat Race, Post-Race Party.

VENUE : Kallang River Park
DATE and TIME :  18 June 2011, at 1.00pm.

PROGRAME

Registration: 1.00 pm - 1.30 pm
Dragon Boat Newbie Training Sessions: 1.30 pm - 2.15 pm
Fun Race (FilCom Members) Race Distance: 200m 2.30 pm - 3.00 pm
Competitive Race (Filipino Dragon Members):  3.00 pm – 3:30 pm
Awarding and Program:  3.30 pm - 4.00 pm
Ambassador’s Address and Post-Race Party:  4.15 pm onwards

To register your interest to participate on this fun event, please RSVP to: events@filipinodragon.org

Places will be confirmed by 4th June 2011 with priority given to FilCOm Members and Supporters.

For more info contact Mickee Nadal Balagot, Events Committee of Filipino Dragons (Singapore at +65 9337 2280.

GIRO your tax and win up to $20,000 cash in “GIRO Your Tax” Lucky Draw

The Lucky Draws are open to individuals who pay income and property tax by GIRO. There will be 3 annual draws from 2011 to 2013. The longer one stays on GIRO, the higher the chances of winning in the Lucky Draws! Taxpayers now paying their tax on GIRO are already eligible for the Lucky Draws.

Top prize $20,000 to be won in the “GIRO Your Tax” Lucky Draw on 17 May 2011! Sign up for GIRO before 30 Apr 2011 to qualify for the 1^st year Draw with $65,000 cash prizes to be won!

Meet Michelle Chia, MediaCorp artiste at 'GIRO Your Tax' Roadshows
@ Eastpoint Mall on 2 Apr 2011 (Sat), 12pm to 4pm
@ Jurong Point on 3 Apr 2011 (Sun), 12pm to 4pm
@ Marina Square, Central Atrium on 17 May 2011 (Tue), 2pm to 5pm

Games and attractive prizes await you!

First Year Lucky Draw in May 2011

A pre-draw will be conducted in the presence of external auditors at 55 Newton Road, Revenue House, Singapore 307987. The following will be drawn at the pre-draw:
a) 100 winners for the cash prize of $100 each,
b) 83 winners for the cash prize of $200 each, and
c) 20 winners to be invited to a "Live" Lucky Draw event on 17 May 2011, where the top three (3) winners will be picked for the top 3 cash prizes. The remaining 17 will get cash prize of $200 each.

Easy ways to sign-up for GIRO

1. Instant approval if you sign-up at any AXS station (for DBS/POSB customers) or through Internet banking (for DBS/POSB or OCBC customers); or

2. Complete and send the GIRO application form (14 days to process); or

3. Sign-up for GIRO using the Payment Voucher enclosed with your tax bill.

Benefits of GIRO

Convenient
GIRO is an electronic cashless mode of payment.

No more queues
You do not have to spend time queuing at payment kiosks.

No more late payment
You will not miss the payment due dates.

Interest-free installments
You can enjoy up to 12 monthly interest-free installments, or opt for one-time GIRO deduction.  

Faster tax refund
You can receive tax refund faster as it will be credited directly to your bank account.  You do not have to wait for your refund to be posted to you in cheque.

Full control over GIRO with IRAS’ e-Services
You can adjust or cancel your GIRO plan just by calling IRAS on 1800 356 8300.
You can also view your GIRO plan and tax balance simply by logging in to myTax Portal.
     To view your installment plan > select ‘Payments->View Payment Plan’
     To view your tax balance > select ‘View Account Summary’

GIRO Promotion Lucky Draw

The GIRO Promotion Lucky Draw period is from Apr 2010 to Mar 2013. Sign up for GIRO before 30 April 2011 to be eligible for the first Lucky Draw in May 2011.

How to Qualify for the Lucky Draw and Get Higher Chances of Winning

As long as you have paid your income tax and/or property tax through GIRO during the qualifying periods, you are eligible for the draws.  You will get higher chances of winning if you continue to pay your income tax and/or property tax through GIRO during the promotion period, as illustrated below:

 

	1st Draw May 2011	2nd Draw May 2012	3rd Draw May 2012
Qualifying periods*	1 Apr 2010 - 31 Mar 2011	1 Apr 2011 - 31 Mar 2012	1 Apr 2012 - 31 Mar 2013
GIRO payment	Number of Chances
Income Tax	1	2	3
Property Tax	1	2	3
Total Chances	2	4	6

*For tax billed or payment made during these periods.

Lucky Draw Terms and Conditions (78.6KB)

Cash Prizes	1st Draw May 2011	2nd Draw May 2012	3rd Draw May 2013
1st prize	$20,000	$30,000	$50,000
2nd prize	$10,000	$15,000	$25,000
3rd prize	$5,000	$10,000	$15,000
Consolation Prizes	100 prizes of $200 each	200 prizes of $200 each	300 prizes of $200 each
Consolation Prizes	100 prizes of $100 each	200 prizes of $100 each	300 prizes of $100 each
Total Prizes	$65,000	$115,000	$180,000

FAQs on the Lucky Draw

Singapore Young Artist Award–Recognizing and Nurturing Young Talents

The Young Artist Award was introduced in 1992 to encourage the development of young artistic talent in Singapore. Recipients of this Award would have shown promise of artistic excellence and potential to make a distinction in our nation's arts and culture.

Prize
Recipients of the Award will receive a trophy, a certificate and a grant of up to $10,000 to undertake arts projects or studies.

Eligibility
All nominees must be Singapore citizens or permanent residents of Singapore, and must be 35 years or below on 31 December 2011.

Selection Criteria
The selection criteria are as follows:

1. Candidate should be recognized for his/her artistic work and contribution to the artistic development of Singapore.
2. Candidate should show potential to excel in his/her field of work.
3. Candidate should demonstrate, through a body of works pursued through a number of years, creative originality and professional maturity in one or more disciplines as specified in the scope of the award.
4. Candidate should be an inspiration and role model to other young artists in the arts community.

Assessment Procedure
The National Arts Council may, at its discretion, make additional nominations and/or defer or reject any nomination received from the public, and shall not be bound to give any reason for doing so.

The nominations supported by the National Arts Council will be submitted for further assessment to Specialist Panels, comprising persons established in the various artistic fields, appointed by the National Arts Council.  The Arts Award Ceremony will be held in November 2011.

Scope of Award
The nominees' area(s) of achievement should be in the fields of literary arts, performing arts, visual arts and film.

The scope of these art forms is as follows:

Art Form	Scope (includes, but is not restricted to)
Literary Arts	play, poetry, fiction and non-fiction
Performing Arts	theatre, dance, music and technical theatre (e.g. set design, lighting design, sound design)
Visual Arts	painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture, installation and multimedia
Film	film-making

How to Nominate
The nomination process involves the following steps to be taken in order for the nomination to be complete. Incomplete nomination will not be considered.

Process	Action	Closing Date
Step 1	Submit an online nomination here. To facilitate the online nomination process, nominators may wish to gather information of the nominees in advance. For a list of requisite information, please click here.	Tuesday, 26 April 2011, 6pm
Step 2	Submit portfolios and supporting documents by nominators or nominees to the National Arts Council at the following address: Young Artist Award Nomination National Arts Council 90 Goodman Road Goodman Arts Centre Blk A, #01-01 Singapore 439053 Guidance on submission of portfolios and supporting documents are available here.	Friday, 6 May 2011, 6pm

 

For enquiries, please contact Yap Zi Wei at tel: (65) 6346 9431 or email: NAC_artsawards@nac.gov.sg

What is IRAS No-Filing Service

If you have received a letter from IRAS informing you that you are selected to benefit from the No-Filing Service, you do NOT need to submit an Income Tax Return.

IRAS, Inland Revenue Authority of Singapore, will issue you a tax bill (Notice of Assessment) based on your relief claims for last year, and the income details sent by your employer who participates in the Auto-Inclusion Scheme (AIS) for Employment Income. However, reliefs may be adjusted if you have been informed that you do not meet the eligibility criteria.

IRAS is to Singapore as BIR is to Philippines, get it.

You need to submit an Income Tax Return only if you:

1. have additional income to declare. For e.g. you changed employer in year 2010 and your new employer is not in the AIS and/or received rental or other taxable income in year 2010; or
2. have additional reliefs to claim. For e.g. you have a new child born in the year 2010; or
3. need to remove pre-filled reliefs for which you are no longer eligible. For e.g. your child started working and had income exceeding $4,000 in the year 2010.

Are you on NFS?

Please log into myTax Portal to check whether you are on No-Filing Service. Find out more from the User Guide  (226KB).

Singapore launches Super Yacht Show at Sentosa

Singapore has taken a major step towards becoming the Monaco of the East, with the launch of the inaugural Singapore Yacht Show. This makes the island only the third city, after Monaco and Abu Dhabi, to stage both the F1 Grand Prix and the super yacht show.

Twelve luxury yachts are part of the line-up for the inaugural show at One Degree 15 in Sentosa. From a stunning 57-metre motor-sailor with huge masts to a traditionally-built sailing yacht, for a more nostalgic feel.

The organisers put the show together at short notice and showed that they could deliver.

Andy Treadwell, Managing Director of the Informa Yacht Group, said: "Three months is absolutely not enough time to organise a proper yacht show.

"But for lots of reasons to do with our stakeholders and our own take on the need to launch a show now means that we have done it and we are very pleased. Lots of interest and looking forward to a really fantastic show in 2012."

The fledgling super yacht industry is set to create spin-offs for other supporting services.

Arthur Tay, Chairman of One Degree 15 Marina Club, said: "Retrofitting, interiors, F&B, sales of the boats, some of the conference things like cruising grounds, tourism aspects all have a part to play with this."

The three-day event was officially opened by the Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry, S. Iswaran, who said that Singapore has the potential to be the "third destination" for super yacht owners, after the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

It looks smooth sailing for this industry, with 81 unique super yacht visits to Singapore last year, a five-fold increase from 2006. And that is why this show is looking at doubling the number of boats to 25 for the 2012 edition.

Justin Bieber Live in Singapore Indoor Stadium 2011

He’s the first artist ever to have seven songs from his debut album chart on the Billboard Top 100. He had both Usher and Justin Timberlake clamoring to sign him, and after signing with Usher’s label, now counts the superstar as a close personal friend. He has performed for U.S President Obama and worked with Ludacris, Kanye West and Miley Cyrus amongst others. Oh, and he’s only 17 years old.

He is of course, Justin Bieber, and his story is nothing short of amazing¬–especially when you consider that he really only started singing three years ago. In fact, it was someone else’s belief in the youngster’s talent which alerted Justin Bieber himself to the fact that he might have a little something extra to offer. In 2007, merely a couple of years before tickets for Justin Bieber tour dates became worth their weight in gold, the boy star entered a local talent content in his native Ontario, Canada. Competing against peers who, unlike himself, were vocally trained and preened for the stage, Justin Bieber beat the odds, showcasing a natural talent which was impressive enough to win him second place overall. And thus, a seed was planted.

Wanting to share his success with friends and family, the would-be teen superstar posted video from the competition on YouTube. Encouraged by the enthusiasm of those in his inner circles, Justin Bieber followed up with additional videos of himself singing covers of well-known songs by the likes of Stevie Wonder, Ne-Yo and Usher. In 2008, he was officially signed to Island Records and just three years later, Justin Bieber tour dates are now amongst the most anticipated events on the pop music calendar.

In an effort to share that message with people the world over, Justin Bieber tour dates will be taking the young megastar everywhere from the U.S and U.K, to Europe and Asia. Make sure you don’t miss out by making Eventful YOUR source for all the latest news and up-to-date information on the Justin Bieber concert schedule.

 

Venue : Singapore Indoor Stadium, 2 Stadium Walk, Singapore, Singapore

Performer : Justin Bieber

Cost : from $98.00 to $250.00

Date : Tue 19 April, Open 08:00pm

Singapore MDA started refunding the collected 2011 RTV licence fees

The Media Development Authority of Singapore has begun to refund the 2011 RTV licence fees collected.

Image courtesy of cartoonstock.com

Starting today, some 1.1 million cheques will be mailed in batches to households, non-residential TV licensees (such as hotels, offices, food and beverages and retail outlets that have TV sets), vehicle owners, and dealers engaged in the import or sale of any broadcasting apparatus. The final batch of cheques is expected to be sent by 30 April 2011.

Licensees are advised to bank the cheques into their accounts within six months. Licensees who do not hold a bank account can produce their NRIC/ FIN/ Passport at any United Overseas Bank (UOB) branch to encash the cheque.

Licensees who have paid their 2011 RTV licence fees in full, and have no past outstanding fees for 2010 or earlier, will receive full refunds. Licensees with outstanding fees will have that amount deducted from their refund. If the refund is not enough to offset the outstanding fees, licensees will receive a Final Payment Reminder. They should pay the balance amount by 31 May 2011 at any AXS station or SingPost branch.

Licensees can check their licence account status with their SingPass at MDA Online

For more information on the refund exercise, please visit www.mda.gov.sg or email MDA at feedback@mailbox.mda.gov.sg.

6th Ngee Ann Photographic Exhibition

If you’re into arts and photography, then you still have time to visit this exhibit.

This annual exhibition showcases more than 200 works by professional and amateur photographers, with a special feature on Mr Bey Hua Heng, Photographer of the Year 2011. Mr Bey, recipient of the 1993 Young Artist Award (Photography), will exhibit his recent shots of Nepal.

The Young Artist Award was introduced in 1992 to encourage the development of young artistic talents in Singapore. The award is accorded to young artists aged 35 years and below in the year of award, who have shown promise of artistic excellence in the fields of literary arts, performing arts, visual arts and film.

To date, the Young Artist Award has been conferred on 106 recipients.

Event Type: Photography Exhibition
Exhibition Period: 8 April - 19 April 2011
Venue: Ngee Ann Exhibition Hall
Time: 11am - 7pm daily
Organizers and sponsors: Ngee Ann Kongsi, Ngee Ann Cultural Centre

Eligibility for Primary Care Partnership Scheme

To qualify for PCPS, you must be either:

• A Singapore citizen who is 65 years old or above, with a per capita monthly household income of $800 or below; or
• A Singapore citizen who is disabled i.e. unable to perform at least one of the 6 activities of daily living (ADLs) such as washing/bathing; feeding; toileting; transferring; dressing; and mobility and with a per capita monthly household income of $800 and below and; or
• On the Public Assistance (PA) Scheme.

How do I know if my application is successful?

You or your family member can go to any Community Centre/Club or Community Development Council (CDC) under People’s Association (PA) to register for PCPS. Each applicant must submit his application form along with the following supporting documents:-

• Your NRIC and copies of your family members’ NRIC;

• Proof of your own and your family members’ income, such are your latest pay slip, IRAS or CPF statements, or letters from employers; and

• Documentary proof of other sources of income such as rental payment from tenants etc., if any.

How do I go for disability assessment?(Applicable to Disabled Applicants Only)

If you have a disability, you will also need to undergo a disability assessment. You should submit your PCPS application form to your CC or CDC. If you meet the income criteria, PA will refer you to an MOH-accredited disability assessor who will submit his evaluation to PA directly. The disability assessment process involves a fee. Please call up the assessor of your choice beforehand to check on the fee payable. A copy of the disability assessment form that will be issued to you by your CC/CDC and a list of accredited assessors can be found under Enquiries/Downloads page.

How do I know if my application is successful?

If your application is successful, you will be issued a Community Medical Benefits Card (CMB Card), which is valid for 3 years.

CMB Card Elderly

New Card

Old Card

CMB Card Disabled

New Card

Old Card

From 1 January 2009, CMB cards with a new PCPS logo will start to be issued by the CDCs, but valid CMB cards with old design will still be accepted.

Your CMB card is only for your own use and cannot be used by family members.

If you lose your card, then you should make a police report on the loss of the Card and also report the loss to the CDC that issued you the Card immediately. You will need to make a new application at any CC or CDC. All the necessary documents will need to be submitted again for verification.

For a list of the services covered under PCPS and more information on seeing a doctor or dentist under PCPS, please  click here

Three Pinoys charge for stealing jewelries in Valuemax Retail Pawnshop

Well, another bad news for the Filipino community in Singapore…..

Valuemax Pawnshop Pte Ltd, 513 Tampines Centra

Police have cracked a jewellery theft syndicate comprising 3 male Filipinos aged 54 to 63 years-old. The trio is believed to have stolen jewellery worth a total of about $120, 000/- from several goldsmith shops and pawnshops.

They are: Balajadia Porfirio Leabres, 54; Valbarez Fidel Iv Martelino, 56 and Banal Eduardo Cruz, 62.

It is believed the trio committed the offence at Valuemax pawnshop at Block 513, Tampines Central 1 at around 3pm on March 26.

In these cases, the trio targeted the shops when they were crowded during the peak hours. The suspects took turns to ask counter staff to show them various pieces of jewellery. While the staff was distracted, one suspect would use his body to block the view of the staff while another took the opportunity to steal jewellery from unsecured display cabinets unnoticed. After committing the theft, the suspects would offer excuses and leave quickly.

Through extensive follow-up investigation, officers from Bedok Police Division managed to establish the identity of the suspects. On 4 April 2011 at about 2pm, Police mounted an operation and arrested the suspects in the vicinity of Geylang Road. Several pieces of jewellery, which are believed to be stolen, were successfully recovered. Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects are involved in a total of 5 similar cases.

The suspects will be charged in Court for Theft in Dwelling under Section 380 of the Penal Code, which is punishable with a jail term of up to 7 years and a fine.

Ministry of Health: More Chronic diseases and dental procedures covered under the Primary Care Partnership Scheme

According to Singapore Ministry of Health - From 1 April 2011, the Primary Care Partnership Scheme (PCPS) will be extended to cover five more chronic diseases:

• Stroke, Asthma
• Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)
• Schizophrenia and Major Depression.

With this, all diseases currently included in the Chronic Disease Management Programme (CDMP) will be covered under PCPS as well. By the end of the year, when we expand Medisave to cover bi-polar disorder and dementia under the CDMP, they will similarly be covered under PCPS.

In addition to the five chronic diseases, two relatively complex dental procedures - root canal treatment and crowning - will also be covered under PCPS.

An estimated 8,000 more elderly Singaporeans are expected to benefit from these extensions.

Under the PCPS scheme, needy elderly patients and those on the public assistance scheme can receive subsidised outpatient care through their neighbourhood GPs or dental clinics. This will make it more convenient for elderly patients who may have difficulty travelling far to receive affordable primary care nearer their homes.

There are currently about 32,100 PCPS card holders. In 2010, GPs provided more than 70,000 clinic attendances for these patients (59,500 for acute medical condition, and 10,550 for chronic disease management) while partnering dentists provided about 14,400 clinic attendances for dental treatments.  In total, patients received about $2.5 million in subsidies under this scheme for their medical and dental expenses.

Singapore jailed three men for using counterfeit money

Three men are jailed for using counterfeit money printed from a home printer.

Three men were jailed for using counterfeit currencies. Narindran Sangara Banoi, 31, who made the Singapore currency notes and passed them to his accomplices, received the highest sentence of eight years. He pleaded guilty to 15 of 55 charges.

Jegathesan Subramaniam, 31, who had 10 charges for conspiring with Narindran in August 2010 on two occasions to use a fake S$50 note to pay for cab fares, was jailed for three years.

A third man, Ramer Rethina Thevar Ramanathan, 42, was sentenced to two years and three months jail after pleading guilty to using fake S$50 notes to pay for a bar of chocolate and a pair of sunglasses.

A fourth accomplice, Segar Ramiah, 37, had his plea rejected earlier. A pre-trial conference date is set for Feb 24.

Local media reported that Narindran used his colour printer to scan and print Singapore currency notes in denominations of S$2, S$10 and S$50, which had a total worth of S$3,970 as he was facing financial difficulties.

He then told Jagethesan, Ramer and his relative, Segar, about the counterfeit notes.

The fake notes were to be used by either himself, or with any one of his accomplices. He also supplied the other three with fake currency for their own use.

They could have been jailed for up to 20 years and fined on each charged.

26 year-old man arrrested in a series of online cheating scams.

Police have arrested a 26 year-old man who is believed to be involved in a series of online cheating scams.

On 22 March 2011 , a 34 year-old man lodged a Police report on his encounter with an online scammer. According to the complainant, he had responded to an online advertisement and befriended a girl. Shortly after, the complainant received an SMS from an unknown person claiming that he was the father of the said girl. The unknown person then accused the complainant of ‘sexually grooming’ his daughter who was underaged and threatened to report the matter to the Police unless the complainant paid him a sum of $3200. Sensing that something was amiss, the complainant decided to report the matter to the Police.

Through extensive follow-up investigations, officers from Ang Mo Kio Police Division managed to establish the suspect’s identity and arrested him at Changi Airport on 24 March 2011 at about 11.00 pm  as he was about to leave Singapore. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is believed to be involved in at least 7 other similar cases where victims were cheated of more than $9,000 in total.

The suspect will be charged in the Court on 26 March 2011 for Cheating under Section 420 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224. If convicted, he faces a jail term of up to 10 years and shall also be liable to be fine.

Mobile phone snatcher caught in Tampines

Singapore Police have arrested a 27 year-old man who is believed to have snatched a woman’s mobile phone at Tampines St 21 this morning.

On 25 March 2011 at about 8.00am, a 27 year-old woman was walking along the void deck of Blk 245 Tampines St 21 when an unknown man came from behind and snatched away her mobile phone which she was holding in her hand.

Following the report, officers from Bedok Police Division conducted follow-up investigations and swiftly established the identity of the suspect. Within 3 hours, the suspect was arrested at a budget hotel in Geylang. Preliminary investigations revealed that the suspect is also believed to be involved in another similar case of snatch theft.

The suspect will be charged in court on 26 March 2011 for snatch theft under Section 356 of the Penal Code, Chapter 224, which carries a maximum punishment of 7 years imprisonment and caning.