"Slingshot," a gritty film about the poverty and desperation of a Manila squatter slum by Filipino director Brillante Mendoza, dominated the 21st Singapore International Film Festival's Silver Screen Awards on Sunday.
It walked away with the top prize in the Asian Feature Film category, best director and the Netpac (Network for the Promotion of Asian Cinema) Award.
Boo Junfeng, a film student at the Puttman School of Film at Lasalle College of the Arts, also took home three awards in the Singapore Short Film category for "Keluar Baris" (Malay for "fall out"). The 16-minute film about an 18-year-old Singaporean who is enlisted in the army just days after returning from his studies in Europe, won best film, best director and best cinematography for Sharon Loh.
Other SIFF winners in the Asian Feature Film Category were "Out of Coverage," a comedy from Syrian director Abdellatif Abdelhamid, which received the special jury award, and actress Inessa Kislova for her performance in Kazak director Abai Kublai's coming-of-age film "Swift."
In the Singapore Short Film category, Michael Tay won for "Wet Seasons" (special jury prize), Muhammad Eysham Ali for "My Home, My Heaven" (special achievement award) and Magdalene Tan for best performance "Silent Girls."
Monday, October 27, 2008
Singaporeans don't attach much importance to EU ties
The average Singaporean does not attach much importance to ties with the European Union even though the EU is the city-state's second-largest trading partner following Malaysia, a published survey said on Saturday. The group of 27 European countries is viewed mainly as an economic bloc and less as a political power.
The findings reported in The Straits Times are included in a new book on the EU's image by the Asia-Europe Foundation and the National University of Singapore's European studies programme.
The 400 Singaporeans surveyed ranked the EU sixth on a list of important partners, behind China, the United States, Asia, Japan and India.
Only 1 per cent of the respondents saw the EU as a model for the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The EU "is often considered a distant 'other,'" the newspaper quoted Barnard Turner of the university's European studies as saying. The United States has the greatest influence and clout in global relations, he said, and Asia in trade.
In contrast survey respondents in China ranked the EU as second on their list of key partner countries following the United States.
The survey suggested the legacy of colonialism as a reason for the EU's lack of visibility in Singapore.
The findings reported in The Straits Times are included in a new book on the EU's image by the Asia-Europe Foundation and the National University of Singapore's European studies programme.
The 400 Singaporeans surveyed ranked the EU sixth on a list of important partners, behind China, the United States, Asia, Japan and India.
Only 1 per cent of the respondents saw the EU as a model for the 10-member Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The EU "is often considered a distant 'other,'" the newspaper quoted Barnard Turner of the university's European studies as saying. The United States has the greatest influence and clout in global relations, he said, and Asia in trade.
In contrast survey respondents in China ranked the EU as second on their list of key partner countries following the United States.
The survey suggested the legacy of colonialism as a reason for the EU's lack of visibility in Singapore.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Singapore police fed up with hoax calls to hotline
Fed up with hoax calls to the 999 hotline, police in Singapore are putting up posters in English, Chinese, Malay and Tamil warning against the offence, officials said on Thursday.
Prank calls number about two every minute in Singapore.
Those who call emergency numbers intending to harass can face up to a year's jail or a fine, or both, police said.
Nearly 1.05 million of the 1.62 million calls made to police last year were hoaxes. Based on 2005 figures, one in five of such calls were made by children.
The posters, to be put up in primary schools and preschools and displayed at events, depict designs warning against prank calls such as a friend warning a boy who is dialing the hotline.
Prank calls number about two every minute in Singapore.
Those who call emergency numbers intending to harass can face up to a year's jail or a fine, or both, police said.
Nearly 1.05 million of the 1.62 million calls made to police last year were hoaxes. Based on 2005 figures, one in five of such calls were made by children.
The posters, to be put up in primary schools and preschools and displayed at events, depict designs warning against prank calls such as a friend warning a boy who is dialing the hotline.
Singapore government, ADB push for regional water infrastructure development
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and a Singapore government body, Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE), are aiming to foster cooperation between the public and private sectors to meet Asia's infrastructure needs, particularly in the water sector, the ADB and SCE said Tuesday.
They launched Tuesday Asia Infrastructure Project Development Pte. Ltd. (AIPD), which is expected to facilitate investment in the region's infrastructure development.
'In terms of business opportunities, the AIPD is expected to generate $150 million worth of public-private partnership projects for private companies annually, including Singapore and other international water companies,' said Lim Hwee Hua, Singapore's senior minister of state for finance and transport.
The initiative is timely, given the huge demand for urban infrastructure investment in Asia, Lim said in a speech at the launching of AIPD.
'The initial focus on water and environmental managements fits very well with what Singapore can offer,' Lim said. In Singapore all waste water is collected and treated to produce clean water, he said.
AIPD will initially focus on China, where the Kunming and Harbin municipal governments have agreed to let it assist in waste water collection and treatment projects, water recycling, sludge treatment and solid waste management, said Lim.
China needs about $140 billion in new investment in water and waste water treatment plants and water recycling facilities to hit its target of extending the water supply to 95 percent of the population and waste water treatment services to 70 percent of the population by 2010, the ADB said. Currently only about 40 percent of urban waste water in China is treated and the rest is discharged into rivers, lakes or the sea.
'AIPD will be an innovative one-stop shop that provides the necessary resources and expertise to identify and develop projects from the time they are being drawn up until they are completed and are being considered for public-private partnership undertakings,' said Seethapathy Chander, deputy director-general for private-sector operations at the ADB.
The ADB is investing $4 million in a 40 percent stake in AIPD and three Singapore companies -- United Engineers Singapore Pte. Ltd., Konzen Environment Pte. Ltd. and Crest Spring Pte. Ltd. -- are also investing in the venture, the ADB said.
They launched Tuesday Asia Infrastructure Project Development Pte. Ltd. (AIPD), which is expected to facilitate investment in the region's infrastructure development.
'In terms of business opportunities, the AIPD is expected to generate $150 million worth of public-private partnership projects for private companies annually, including Singapore and other international water companies,' said Lim Hwee Hua, Singapore's senior minister of state for finance and transport.
The initiative is timely, given the huge demand for urban infrastructure investment in Asia, Lim said in a speech at the launching of AIPD.
'The initial focus on water and environmental managements fits very well with what Singapore can offer,' Lim said. In Singapore all waste water is collected and treated to produce clean water, he said.
AIPD will initially focus on China, where the Kunming and Harbin municipal governments have agreed to let it assist in waste water collection and treatment projects, water recycling, sludge treatment and solid waste management, said Lim.
China needs about $140 billion in new investment in water and waste water treatment plants and water recycling facilities to hit its target of extending the water supply to 95 percent of the population and waste water treatment services to 70 percent of the population by 2010, the ADB said. Currently only about 40 percent of urban waste water in China is treated and the rest is discharged into rivers, lakes or the sea.
'AIPD will be an innovative one-stop shop that provides the necessary resources and expertise to identify and develop projects from the time they are being drawn up until they are completed and are being considered for public-private partnership undertakings,' said Seethapathy Chander, deputy director-general for private-sector operations at the ADB.
The ADB is investing $4 million in a 40 percent stake in AIPD and three Singapore companies -- United Engineers Singapore Pte. Ltd., Konzen Environment Pte. Ltd. and Crest Spring Pte. Ltd. -- are also investing in the venture, the ADB said.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Singapore Airlines To Begin Operations At Shanghai Pudong International Airport's Terminal 2
Singapore Airlines flights will operate from Shanghai Pudong International Airport's new Terminal 2 with effect from 29 April 2008.
The first flights in and out of the new terminal 2 will be SQ816 into Shanghai from Singapore at 0635hrs and SQ815 departing Shanghai for Singapore at 0805hrs.
Singapore Airlines General Manager China, Ho Yik Wing says: "Singapore Airlines is pleased to be operating from the new Shanghai Pudong International Airport Terminal 2 which has advanced facilities and modern design."
Customers can proceed to Area C for check-In on Singapore Airlines flights. Counters open 2.5 hours, and close 40 minutes before flight departure. Customers are advised to check-in early, preferably 2 hours before flight departure, to avoid congestion.
The first flights in and out of the new terminal 2 will be SQ816 into Shanghai from Singapore at 0635hrs and SQ815 departing Shanghai for Singapore at 0805hrs.
Singapore Airlines General Manager China, Ho Yik Wing says: "Singapore Airlines is pleased to be operating from the new Shanghai Pudong International Airport Terminal 2 which has advanced facilities and modern design."
Customers can proceed to Area C for check-In on Singapore Airlines flights. Counters open 2.5 hours, and close 40 minutes before flight departure. Customers are advised to check-in early, preferably 2 hours before flight departure, to avoid congestion.
Burmese Embassy in Singapore Prepares for Absentee Referendum Voting
The Burmese Embassy in Singapore has sent a letter to Burmese citizens urging them to vote absentee in the constitutional referendum from April 25 to 29, while an anonymous telephone message is urging people to vote "No."
"We the Burmese people can vote "No" at the Myanmar [Burma] embassy…. Please pass this message to all your friends and take this exercise seriously for our freedom," says the telephone message, which is being widely distributed in the Burmese community.
The embassy letter sent to Burmese citizens was dated April 10, urging them to bring their Burmese passport or citizen documents as identification. An estimated 50,000 Burmese citizens live in Singapore.
"The letter was signed by Kyaw Swe Tint, the Burmese counselor," said a Burmese man from Tuas South on the outskirts of Singapore, who received a letter on Thursday.
He said the letter was sent by air mail to Burmese citizens who paid their income tax at the embassy.
Ko Hla, an information technology engineer in Singapore, said Burmese citizens are likely to vote "No" on the referendum or to not vote.
"I haven't heard of anyone who will give a 'Yes' vote," Ko Hla told The Irrawaddy on Thursday.
"As a Burmese citizen, the constitutional referendum is important for me to vote," said Myo Htet a construction engineer in Singapore. "Even the people inside Burma will vote 'No.' Why can't I vote 'No' too?"
A worker at a Singapore shipping yard said he will not go to the embassy to vote.
"I get no leave from my boss, so I can't," he said.
Meanwhile, the Burmese Embassy in the United States of America is collecting names of people eligible to vote based on an income tax list.
Millions of migrants live outside of Burma, but the Burmese regime has not yet announced whether they all will be allowed to vote in the referendum. More than one million Burmese migrants live in Thailand.
"We the Burmese people can vote "No" at the Myanmar [Burma] embassy…. Please pass this message to all your friends and take this exercise seriously for our freedom," says the telephone message, which is being widely distributed in the Burmese community.
The embassy letter sent to Burmese citizens was dated April 10, urging them to bring their Burmese passport or citizen documents as identification. An estimated 50,000 Burmese citizens live in Singapore.
"The letter was signed by Kyaw Swe Tint, the Burmese counselor," said a Burmese man from Tuas South on the outskirts of Singapore, who received a letter on Thursday.
He said the letter was sent by air mail to Burmese citizens who paid their income tax at the embassy.
Ko Hla, an information technology engineer in Singapore, said Burmese citizens are likely to vote "No" on the referendum or to not vote.
"I haven't heard of anyone who will give a 'Yes' vote," Ko Hla told The Irrawaddy on Thursday.
"As a Burmese citizen, the constitutional referendum is important for me to vote," said Myo Htet a construction engineer in Singapore. "Even the people inside Burma will vote 'No.' Why can't I vote 'No' too?"
A worker at a Singapore shipping yard said he will not go to the embassy to vote.
"I get no leave from my boss, so I can't," he said.
Meanwhile, the Burmese Embassy in the United States of America is collecting names of people eligible to vote based on an income tax list.
Millions of migrants live outside of Burma, but the Burmese regime has not yet announced whether they all will be allowed to vote in the referendum. More than one million Burmese migrants live in Thailand.
Monday, October 6, 2008
Singapore’s GIC may pump more cash into UBS
The Government of Singapore Investment Corp (GIC) is considering injecting more cash into Swiss banking giant UBS AG, the Wall Street Journal reported yesterday.
The Singapore sovereign wealth fund was considering taking part in the 15 billion Swiss franc (US$15bil) rights issue UBS announced early in April, the report said.
UBS said earlier this month it would seek new cash to improve its capital position. UBS said it expected to have lost US$12.1bil in the first quarter, including a US$19bil writedown tied to deterioration in the mortgage markets.
The writedowns at UBS for the past nine months total US$37.4bil – so far the largest reported by any bank with exposure to US defaults on risky mortgages.
GIC bought a 9% stake in UBS for US$11bil in December.
The Journal quoted a source as saying GIC would make a final decision after UBS provides the terms on any capital increase. GIC would likely have to decide whether to pump in more cash just to keep its stake at 9% or whether to buy a bigger stake, the source said.
The UBS plan to raise more capital was subject to approval at its annual meeting on April 23, the report said.
The Journal said the capital increase plan was underwritten by a syndicate of banks led by JPMorgan Chase & Co, Morgan Stanley, BNP Paribas and Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
The Singapore sovereign wealth fund was considering taking part in the 15 billion Swiss franc (US$15bil) rights issue UBS announced early in April, the report said.
UBS said earlier this month it would seek new cash to improve its capital position. UBS said it expected to have lost US$12.1bil in the first quarter, including a US$19bil writedown tied to deterioration in the mortgage markets.
The writedowns at UBS for the past nine months total US$37.4bil – so far the largest reported by any bank with exposure to US defaults on risky mortgages.
GIC bought a 9% stake in UBS for US$11bil in December.
The Journal quoted a source as saying GIC would make a final decision after UBS provides the terms on any capital increase. GIC would likely have to decide whether to pump in more cash just to keep its stake at 9% or whether to buy a bigger stake, the source said.
The UBS plan to raise more capital was subject to approval at its annual meeting on April 23, the report said.
The Journal said the capital increase plan was underwritten by a syndicate of banks led by JPMorgan Chase & Co, Morgan Stanley, BNP Paribas and Goldman Sachs Group Inc.
Singapore’s S$70m Masterplan to boost infocomm security
Over the next five years, Singapore's people, public and private sectors will work more closely to ward off emerging cyber threats, under a new strategy.
The Singapore government announced this today, launching a new S$70 million Infocomm Security Masterplan 2 (MP2).
The MP2 follows the first Infocomm Security Masterplan which was launched in 2005 as a strategic roadmap to develop capabilities to prevent cyber security incidents.
"While the first Masterplan1 aimed largely at providing the public sector with measures to counter infocomm security threats, the second Masterplan will expand on that and engage both the public and private sectors even more deeply in securing Singapore's cyber space," said Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports at the annual Infocomm Security Seminar.
The Singapore government announced this today, launching a new S$70 million Infocomm Security Masterplan 2 (MP2).
The MP2 follows the first Infocomm Security Masterplan which was launched in 2005 as a strategic roadmap to develop capabilities to prevent cyber security incidents.
"While the first Masterplan1 aimed largely at providing the public sector with measures to counter infocomm security threats, the second Masterplan will expand on that and engage both the public and private sectors even more deeply in securing Singapore's cyber space," said Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports at the annual Infocomm Security Seminar.
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