Who will be receiving National Day Awards 2010?

National Day Awards are a means of recognising various forms of merit and service to the nation.

Recipients of National Day Awards are encouraged to wear the insignia at national and important functions, such as the National Day Parade, National Day Reception at the Istana, National Day Rally, National Day Award Investiture Ceremony, Prime Minister’s Reception for Private Sector Establishments, Prime Minister’s Chinese New Year Garden Party, and the annual People’s Association Awards ceremony.

The guidelines outlined here is for the wearing of insignia on civilian clothing.

Medals should be worn to show the obverse in the front. They are to be positioned centrally on the left side of the outer garment with the lowest edge or point just above the pocket opening. If more than one medal is worn, they are shown full-faced and suspended side by side in precedence order with the highest award placed first from the right of the wearer. If more than 4 medals are worn, the highest award is shown full-faced while the others are overlapped. A Bar to any medal should be attached to the ribbon by which the medal is suspended.

Recipients of an award may wear the collar pins at any time, but not when other insignia are worn. Collar Pins are normally worn by men on the left collar and by ladies on the right collar. Where someone holds more than one award, the collar pin of the most senior award should be worn.

The specially designed neckties with the crescent moon and five stars motif could be worn on any occasion.

The specially designed scarves with the orchid motif could be worn on any occasion.

Visit Prime Minister’s Office website for National Day Awards 2010 details.

Read also: Star Awards 2010 Results & Joanne Peh

China Daily reports that Xiaoshan Airport (Hangzhou, capital of East China’s Zhejiang province) rerouted both inbound and outbound air traffic for several hours after detecting a UFO around 9 p.m. on July 7.

Do you believe it?

Read also: Singaporeans Soon Need Visa To Enter China

Spain won World Cup 2010 final and becomes the new champion after beating the Netherlands 1–0 after extra time in the final.

The 2010 finals marked the first time a European nation had won the tournament outside of its home continent, as well as the first time that two different European teams had become world champions in succession.

With a pool of entrants comprising 204 of the 208 FIFA national teams at the time, the 2010 World Cup shares with the 2008 Summer Olympics the record for most competing nations in a sporting event.

World Cup 2010 Prize Money

The total prize money on offer for the tournament was confirmed by FIFA as $420 million (including payments of $40m to domestic clubs), a 60 percent increase on the 2006 tournament.

Before the tournament, each of the 32 entrants receive $1 million for preparation costs. Once at the tournament, the prize money would be distributed as follows:

• $8 million – To each team exiting after the group stage (16 teams)
• $9 million – To each team exiting after the round of 16 (8 teams)
• $14 million – To each team exiting after the quarter-finals (4 teams)
• $18 million – Fourth placed team
• $20 million – Third placed team
• $24 million – Runner up
• $30 million – Winner

In a first for the World Cup, FIFA made payments to the domestic clubs of the players representing their national teams at the tournament. This saw a total of $40 million paid to domestic clubs. This was the result of an agreement reached in 2008 between FIFA and European clubs to disband the G-14 group and drop their claims for compensation dating back to 2005 over the financial cost of injuries sustained to their players while on international duty, such as that from Belgian club Charleroi S.C. for injury to Morocco’s Abdelmajid Oulmers in a friendly game in 2004, and from English club Newcastle United for an injury to England’s Michael Owen in the 2006 World Cup.

Read also: Download world cup schedule (printable) now!

Vienna retains the top spot as the city with the world’s best quality of living, according to the Mercer 2010 Quality of Living Survey.

Mercer’s Quality of Living index list was revised and now covers 221 cities compared to 215 last year, which means direct trend comparison will not be possible until 2011.

Zurich and Geneva follow in second and third position in the Global Liveable Cities Index, respectively, while Vancouver and Auckland remain joint fourth in the rankings.

European cities continue to dominate amongst the top 25 cities in the index. In the UK, London ranks at 39, while Birmingham is at 55 and Glasgow at 57. In the US, the highest ranking entry is Honolulu at position 31, followed by San Francisco at position 32. Singapore (28) is the top-scoring Asian city followed by Tokyo at 40. Baghdad, ranking 221, remains at the bottom of the list.

This year’s ranking also identifies the cities with the best eco-ranking based on water availability and drinkability, waste removal, quality of sewage systems, air pollution and traffic congestion. Calgary is at the top of this index (score 145.7), followed by Honolulu in second place (score 145.1) and Ottawa and Helsinki in joint third (score 139.9). Wellington in New Zealand (5), Minneapolis (6), Adelaide (7) and Copenhagen fill the next four slots, while Kobe, Oslo and Stockholm share ninth place. Port-au-Prince in Haiti ranks at the bottom of this table with a score of only 27.8 (see attached table).

Most Livable Cities in Asia Pacific

Auckland (4) retains its position as the highest-ranking city for quality of living in the region. Sydney follows at 10, Wellington at 12, Melbourne at 18 and Perth at 21. At 26, Canberra is new to the index. Singapore remains the highest-ranking Asian city at 28, followed by Japanese cities Tokyo (40), Kobe and Yokohama (both at 41), Osaka (51) and Nagoya (57). The region’s lowest-ranking cities are Dhaka in Bangladesh (206) and two cities new to the list – Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan (209) and Dushanbe in Tajikistan (210).

Source: Mercer

Read also: Cost of Living in Singapore

Luanda in Angola is the world’s most expensive city for expatriates, according to Mercer’s the latest Cost of Living Survey.

The mercer worldwide cost of living survey 2010 covers 214 cities across five continents and measures the comparative cost of over 200 items in each location, including housing, transport, food, clothing, household goods and entertainment.

Tokyo is in second position, with Ndjamena in Chad in third place. Moscow is in fourth position followed by Geneva in fifth while Karachi is ranked as the world’s least expensive city. The survey found that Luanda is three times as costly as Karachi.

Top 10 Most Expensive Cities by Mercer Survey

For the first time, the ranking of the world’s top 10 most expensive cities includes three African urban centres: Luanda (1) in Angola, Ndjamena (3) in Chad and Libreville (7) in Gabon. The top ten also includes three Asian cities; Tokyo (2), Osaka (6) and Hong Kong (jointly ranked 8). Moscow (4), Geneva (5) and Zurich (joint are the most expensive European cities, followed by Copenhagen (10).

Mercer Survey 2010: Cost of Living in Asia Pacific

Two Japanese cities, Tokyo and Osaka, are the region’s most expensive cities. Other highly ranked Asian cities are Hong Kong (8), Singapore (11), Seoul (14), Beijing (16), Nagoya (19) in Japan, Shanghai (25) and Taipei (78). A total of seven Chinese cities appeared on the 2010 rankings, highlighting the increased commercial importance to multi-nationals of locations other than just Beijing Shanghai and Hong Kong.

New Delhi (85) is India’s most expensive city followed by Mumbai (89) and Bangalore (190). Elsewhere, Jakarta in Indonesia ranks 94, followed by Vietnam’s Hanoi and Thailand’s Bangkok (both at 121) and Kuala Lumpur (138) in Malaysia. Pakistan’s Islamabad (212) and Karachi (214) are the region’s two least expensive cities.

Sydney (24) is Australia’s most expensive city followed by Melbourne (33) and Brisbane (55) while Adelaide (90) is the country’s least expensive city. Auckland (149) is the most expensive city in New Zealand while Wellington (163) is the cheapest. The Australian Dollar and the New Zealand Dollar have strongly strengthened against the US Dollar, which has moved the cities up in the ranking.

Source: Mercer (photo credit: Christopher Chan)

Read also: Cost of Living in Singapore

Your favorite team may be on their way home; don’t be too sad, it’s getting more exciting with 2010 FIFA World Cup™: Round of 16!

World Cup 2010 Stage 2 Matches (Top 16)

World Cup 2010: Stage 2 Match Schedules

Which of the Top 16 will become winner of World Cup 2010?

Source: FIFA.com

Read also: Download world cup schedule (printable) now!

Duanwu Festival(端午節) also known as Chinese Dumpling Festival. Duanwu Festival is traditionally celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar.This year, it is officially celebrated on June 16, 2010.

History

Duanwu commemorates the life and death of the famous Chinese scholar Qu Yuan, he was a loyal minister that served the King of Chu during the Warring States Period in 3 centuries BC. Initially, his sovereign favored Qu Yuan, but over time, his wisdom and erudite ways antagonized the other court officials. And then he was Trumped up a charge of conspiracy, and ejected by his sovereign. During the exile, Qu Yuan made many poems to express his anger and sorrow of his sovereign and people.

In the year 278 B.C., at the age of 37, Qu Yuan drowned himself in the Milo River. He clasped a heavy stone to his chest and leaped into the water. Knowing that Qu Yuan was a righteous man, the people of Chu rushed to the river to try to save him. The people desperately searched the waters in their boats looking for Qu Yuan, but they were unsuccessful in their attempt to rescue him. Every year the Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated to commemorate this attempt at rescuing Qu Yuan.

When it was known that Qu Yuan had been lost forever, the local people began the tradition of throwing sacrificial cooked rice into the river for their lost hero. However, a local fisherman had a dream that Qu Yuan did not get any of the cooked rice that was thrown into the river in his honor. Instead, it was the fish in the river that had eaten the rice. And so, the locals decided to make zongzi to sink into the river in the hopes that it would reach Qu Yuan’s body. The following year, the tradition of wrapping the rice in bamboo leaves to make zongzi began.

There is also another version of the story. When it was known that Qu Yuan had been lost to the river, the local fisherman had a dream that the fish in the river were eating Qu Yuan’s body. The local people came up with the idea that if the fish in the river were not hungry, then they would not eat Qu Yuan’s body. People thus began throwing zongzi into the river to feed the fish in hope that Qu Yuan’s body would be spared.

Activities

Three of the most widespread activities for Duanwu Festival are eating (and preparing) zongzi, drinking realgar wine, and racing dragon boats.

Other common activities include hanging up icons of Zhong Kui (a mythic guardian figure), hanging mugwort and calamus, taking long walks, and wearing perfumed medicine bags. Other traditional activities include a game of making an egg stand at noon, and writing spells. All of these activities, together with the drinking of realgar wine, were regarded by the ancients as effective in preventing disease or evil and promoting health and well-being.
In the early years of the Republic of China period, Duanwu was also celebrated as “Poets’ Day,” due to Qu Yuan’s status as China’s first poet of well renown. zongzi are no longer thrown into rivers, but people still eat them as a holiday tradition and testament to Qu Yuan’s self-determination.

Source: wikipedia.org

Read also: Dragon Boat Festival

World Cup 2010 fans, if you are following the results closely, you need to print World Cup 2010 Wall Chart.

Print out the results chart in A3 size paper and stick it on the wall! Download below (PDF):

Classic wall chart (shown above)

World Cup 2010 Results Chart [Bracket]

Here is another wall chart for A4 size printing.

Read also: Singapore 2010 Odyssey: 3D Virtual World for 2010 Youth Olympic Games

On 12 Jan 2010, HDB announced that with effect from 1 Feb 2010, flat owners who lease rooms in their HDB flats will have to register with HDB within 7 days of doing so.

They are also required to notify HDB when they renew or terminate their subletting contracts, and when there are changes to their subtenants’ particulars. There is no need to seek prior approval for subletting of rooms.

Those who sublet their rooms before 1 Feb 2010 are advised to register early to avoid a last minute rush. Registration can be done online at www.hdb.gov.sg or at the HDB Branch Offices, where HDB staff will be on hand to guide residents on the process.

HDB may impose a penalty on those who flout the rule. The penalty may involve a fine of up to $3,000 or, for recalcitrant cases, compulsory acquisition of their flats. Register by 31 July 2010.

Source: HDB

Read also: HDB Subletting Requires Registration from Feb 1 2010

GST Credits help Singaporeans with the impact of the GST increase. All adult Singaporeans receive GST Credits over 4 years. Those who earn less or live in smaller homes receive more GST Credits.

If you qualify, you will receive a letter from CPF Board in end-May this year informing you of the amount of GST Credits/Senior Citizens’ Bonus you stand to receive in 2010. You will need to sign up once to receive the GST Credits/Senior Citizens’ Bonus if you have not done so for previous years.

If you have not received your GST Offset Package notification letter, you may login to the GST Offset Package website (using your Singpass) to check your allotment and your sign-up status.

If you are eligible to receive GST Credits/SCB in 2010, you will receive a notification letter from CPFB in end May 2010 stating the amount of GST Credits/SCB that you will receive in 2010. You can also check online the amount of GST Credits/Senior Citizens’ Bonus you receive at www.gstoffset.gov.sg from 31 May 2010.

Your payouts would be determined based on the AV of your home in 2007 if you have stayed in the same residence since then. If you newly qualify (i.e. new citizen or newly turned 21), your payouts would be determined based on the AV of your home in the preceding year if you stayed in the same residence.

If you have changed your address, the AV of your new home in the year of change would be applied in determining your payouts from the subsequent year onwards after the change is reflected in your NRIC. For instance, if your NRIC address is changed in 2009, the AV of your new home in 2009 would be used for your 2010 payout.

The final deadline for you to sign up for the 2010 GST Credits/Senior Citizens’ Bonus payouts is 31 December 2010, but we encourage you to sign up early by 18 June 2010 so you can get your payment on 1 July 2010.

www.gstoffset.gov.sg

Read also: GST Offset 2009

Yes, dear American Idol fans, American idol season 9 results are out! Now you’re wondering whether he won or she won. The winner is… someone shot a video from the TV, you can see below.

American Idol Season 9 Winner

Quality not so good; but better than nothing

So, Lee won. I like both of them though I’ll vote for Crystal if I can only choose one. Who will you pick as the winner if you could?

Read also: Sylvia Ratonel Won Singapore Idol? Sezairi Sezali Did.

LTA has completed its review of ERP rates for the June 2010 school holidays; ERP rates at certain roads (in the table above) and expressways during the specified time periods will be reduced by $1.00 per PCU (except where the current ERP rate is $0.50 per PCU ).

The revised rates will apply from Saturday, 29 May 2010 to Saturday, 26 June 2010. The ERP rates will revert to the pre-school holiday period from 28 June 2010 onwards. The rates for the other gantries will remain unchanged. The next ERP rate review will take place in August 2010 for the third quarterly rate review of year 2010.

Read also: Unemployment Rates Around The World

Everyone is good at something; every country is the best at something. Very interesting visual chart demonstrates this.

International Number Ones

Read also: Singapore ranked world’s 3rd least-corrupt country

Interest Rate For Ordinary Account (OA)

The Board will continue to pay 2.50% interest per annum for members’ CPF savings in their Ordinary Account (OA) from 1 July 2010 to 30 September 2010. The computed CPF interest rate derived from the major local banks’ interest rates for the three-month period, 1 February 2010 to 30 April 2010, worked out to be 0.41 % per annum. However, the higher rate of 2.50% will be paid as the CPF Act provides for a minimum CPF interest rate of 2.50% per annum.

HDB’s Mortgage Rate

The concessionary interest rate for HDB mortgage loan, which is pegged at 0.1 percentage point above the CPF interest rate for the OA, will remain unchanged at 2.60% per annum from 1 July 2010 to 30 September 2010.The detailed computations of the CPF OA interest rate and the HDB mortgage loan interest rate are :

Extra Interest of 1%.

In addition, an extra 1% interest will continue to be paid on the first $60,000 of a member’s combined balances, with up to $20,000 from the OA. The extra interest from the OA will go into the member’s Special or Retirement Account to enhance his retirement savings.

Read also: CPF: One–Year Extension of 4% Floor Rate for all SMA and RA Monies

The Ministry of Manpower announced in August 2003 that the MS will be raised gradually to reach $120,000 (in 2003 dollars) in 2013.

The increase in MS, which includes an adjustment for inflation, is to ensure that Singaporeans set aside sufficient savings for their retirement. In line with this policy, from 1 July 2010, the prevailing CPF Minimum Sum (MS) will be revised to $123,000, up from $117,000.

Members who can set aside the full MS will receive about $1,100 per month when they reach their draw down age¹. The new MS will apply to CPF members who turn 55 from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011.

Medisave Minimum Sum and Medisave Contribution Ceiling

From 1 July 2010,

a. The Medisave Minimum Sum (MMS) will be raised to $34,500 from $32,000. Members will be able to withdraw their Medisave savings in excess of the MMS at or after 55 years old.

b. The maximum balance a member may have in his Medisave Account, known as the Medisave Contribution Ceiling (MCC), is fixed at $5,000 above MMS and this would be increased correspondingly to $39,500, from $37,000.

As announced previously,any Medisave contribution in excess of the prevailing MCC will be transferred to the member’s Special Account if he is below age 55 or to his Retirement Account if he is above age 55 and has a MS shortfall.

The revisions to MMS and MCC are to ensure that Singaporeans have sufficient savings to meet their hospitalisation expenses, and have been adjusted for inflation.

¹The draw down age for members who turn 55 from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2011 is 65 years old.

Celebrating 55! Seminar 2010

The CPF Board turns 55 on 1 July 2010. In conjunction with this special occasion, the Board is inviting CPF members reaching 55 to participate in one of three complimentary mega seminars at the Suntec City on 26 and 27 June 2010.

At each seminar, members will find out what happens to their CPF savings when they reach 55, and learn about the new CPF LIFE scheme. A guest speaker from MoneySENSE will share useful financial planning tips on how to invest in one’s golden years.

Said Mr Soh Chin Heng, Deputy Chief Executive (Services) of the CPF Board who will be one of the speakers at the seminar: “This is the largest series of seminars that the Board has ever organised. We are encouraged by the strong response shown so far, and we urge other CPF members reaching 55 to sign up as well. Come, join more than 4,000 members and celebrate with us! ”

The first session to be held on 26 June, where the Minister for Manpower, Mr Gan Kim Yong, will be the Guest of Honour, is already fully booked. Members who are interested in registering for the two remaining seminars on 27 June can sign up online via the CPF website, AXS or SMS. More details are available on the CPF website.

Source: CPF

Read also: Employer CPF Contribution Rate to Go Up By 1% to Help Workers Build Up Retirement Savings

iPad fans must be excited to know this: Apple plans to release iPad in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore in July.

Apple will announce availability, local pricing and pre-order plans for these nine additional countries at a later date.

Read also: iPhone 4G release date in Singapore?

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has completed its quarterly review of traffic conditions on Electronic Road Pricing (ERP)-priced roads and expressways, and will be revising the ERP rates at the following gantries:

The revised rates will apply from Monday, 3 May 2010. The rates for the other gantries will remain unchanged.

Read also: Unemployment Rates Around The World

MRT Circle Line (CCL) is an orbital line that will link all the existing MRT lines, thereby enhancing connectivity and providing essential connection to the city. Check out the circle line map if you haven’t seen it.

The newly opened stretch comprises 11 stations – Dhoby Ghaut, Bras Basah, Esplanade, Promenade, Nicoll Highway, Stadium, Mountbatten, Dakota, Paya Lebar, MacPherson and Tai Seng – and will connect with the CCL stations between Bartley and Marymount, bringing the total number of operational CCL stations to 16. This stretch of the CCL will enhance access to education, art and culture, shopping, entertainment, as well as sporting and recreational facilities.

With an expected daily ridership of 200,000, commuters can also look forward to significant travel time savings while using the CCL. For instance, commuters travelling from Bishan to Changi can make use of the CCL and transfer at the Paya Lebar Interchange Station to connect to the existing East-West Line.

Similarly, passengers travelling across the island can now bypass the busy City Hall and Raffles Place interchanges with the new connections created by the CCL.

CCL(Dhoby Ghaut to Bartley)

1. Dhoby Ghaut
2. Bras Basah
3. Esplanade
4. Promenade
5. Nicoll Highway
6. Stadium
7. Mountbatten
8. Dakota
9. Paya Lebar
10. MacPherson
11. Tai Seng

CCL(Bartley to Marymount)

1. Bartley
2. Serangoon
3. Lorong Chuan
4. Bishan
5. Marymount

Commuters can also expect a more pleasant journey with unique integrated artwork conceived and created by local artists in the CCL stations as part of LTA’s Art in Transit Programme.

Read also: MRT Circle Line & Circle Line Map

HDB is launching two new BTO projects today in Punggol Town – Punggol Emerald and Punggol Waves, offering a total of 1,429 flats.

The supply comprises 188 units of Studio Apartments (SA), 201 units of 3-room, 609 units of 4-room and 431 units of 5-room flats. 95% of the public supply of 3-, 4- and 5-room flats will be set aside for First-Timers.

Punggol Emerald and Punggol Waves

Punggol Emerald, located at the junction of Punggol Way and Punggol Central, will have 856 standard flats, comprising 188 units of Studio Apartments, 96 units of 3-room, 350 units of 4-room and 222 units of 5-room flats for sale. A mini-mart and a shop have been planned in this development.

Punggol Waves, located south of the future Punggol Town Centre and along Punggol Walk is Punggol Waves – a standard contract with 573 units, comprising 105 units of 3-room, 259 units of 4-room and 209 units of 5-room flats. A Student Care Centre will be provided in this development.

PRICING OF NEW FLATS AT PUNGGOL EMERALD AND PUNGGOL WAVES

The selling prices for the flats (applicable to SC/SC households only) range from:

Punggol Emerald

• $73,000 to $102,000 for a Studio Apartment;
• $166,000 to $200,000 for a 3-room flat;
• $262,000 to $323,000 for a 4-room flat; and
• $333,000 to $403,000 for a 5-room flat

Punggol Waves

• $150,000 to $186,000 for a 3-room flat;
• $243,000 to $301,000 for a 4-room flat; and
• $330,000 to $385,000 for a 5-room flat

The purchase of the Punggol BTO flats will come under the new conditions set in March 2010, to reinforce the privileges of citizenship.

So first-time buyers in a household comprising a Singapore Citizen and a Singapore Permanent Resident will have to pay a $10,000 premium on top of HDB’s selling price.

This covers the $10,000 housing subsidy that’s withheld for the of a new HDB flat or a resale flat with the CPF Housing Grant, and will be restored should the Singapore Permanent Resident family member take up citizenship or if the couple has a Singapore Citizen child while still in ownership of that flat.

Applications for the new flats can be submitted online from April 20 to May 3.

Go to HDB for more details.

Read also: HDB BTO: Punggol Sails and Punggol Ripples

Business people living in or travelling through Singapore and who want to visit China will soon be able to make use of a special visa centre at the Royal Brothers Building on Malacca Street at Raffles Place.

The new China visa centre is scheduled to open in mid-May and will be open from 9am to 3pm for applications and 9am to 4pm for collection.

View Larger Map
Royal Brothers Building on Malacca Street

Read also: Singaporeans Soon Need Visa To Enter China