Ng Teng Fong (1928 - 2010) was Singapore’s 11 Billion Dollars Man. The late Teng Fong owns the development companies Far East Organization in Singapore and Sino Group in Hong Kong. His company also controls Singapore-listed food and drinks maker Yeo Hiap Seng (Yeo’s). At the time of his death, Sino Group was one of Hong Kong’s largest real estate developers, and Far East Organization remained one of the largest landholders in Singapore. Far East Organization also owns The Fullerton Singapore and numerous other landmark hotels and other properties. Wake was held at his mansion, his home for the last 40 years, at Watten Estate Road and he was buried in Chua Chu Kang Christian Cemetery.

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The Singapore Airshow 2010 is a 6-day event, taking place from 2 to 7 February 2010. The first 4 days of the Singapore Airshow are exclusively for trade attendees and the final 2 weekend days are open to general public at large. Show visitors are treated to an extra 30-minute aerobatic flying display taking place at this year’s Singapore Airshow over the public weekend on 6 and 7 February. This is in addition to the 60-minute aerial display.

Singapore Management University (SMU) turns 10 this year. SMU started off as the first government-funded private university, and over the years, it has groomed leaders and entrepreneurs who have made their mark in Singapore and abroad. Over the last 10 years, SMU has produced more than 5,000 graduates on a different beat. SMU has come a long way from its beginnings at its Bukit Timah campus. The university has enrolled some 7,000 students, up form its initial 300 students 10 years ago. The current city campus is also home to six schools and 16 research centres and institute.

Raymond F## Y## M##, 32, and M####### Shaiful I#####, 30, were separately caught early yesterday morning (around 12:30am) at the Woodlands Checkpoint for having insufficient fuel and tempered fuel gauge.  Their cars fuel gauges indicated the tank was full. But a close inspection by the customs officer, it showed that the fuel tanks were almost empty.  It was believed that both of them used a remote control to adjust the gauge. For cars crossing over to Malaysia from Singapore, the Singapore Law requires cars to have filled up to least 3/4 (three quarter) full tank of fuel. They were each fined $500 and jailed two weeks.

There has been a number of vandalised mailboxes reported over the New Year weekend, first in Holland Village, then in Bukit Batok, Ang Mo Kio and even Orchard Road. The notorious vandal who goes by the name of “Inkman”, preys on SingPost mailboxes. Could his new year resolution be to vandalise as may mailboxes as possible? The police is looking at the case now, so it will be clear when he is caught soon!

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The Boon Lay extension of the Mass Rapid Transit system start operating the 3.8-kilometre stretch along the East-West Line will consist of two stations - Pioneer and Joo Koon. This section will benefit Jurong West residents as well as those working in the Jurong Industrial estate. Their travelling time is expected to be cut by up to 15 minutes. The extension will also give commuters direct access to the MRT system.

The nationwide smoking ban is extended to hotel lobbies and carparks, among other areas. It will include non-air-conditioned offices, lift lobbies, multi-storey carparks and anywhere within five metres of the entrances and exits of buildings. The ban, part of a drive to stamp out smoking that began nearly four decades ago. Singapore is among the close to 150 countries that have signed the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The Republic already meets its mandatory requirements, including a ban on tobacco advertising and health warnings on cigarettes.

But the San Qing Gong Taoist Library is its first in Singapore, and its 3,000 volumes of religious texts - often abstract and mellifluous in nature - will surely provide enough hours of study for disciples of the Tao. About half of the texts in San Qing Gong Taoist Library were donated from private collections, and from local and Chinese schools, including Sichuan University and Xiamen University. The other half were purchased. The San Qing Gong Taoist Library is part of the new Taoist College offering a diploma programme in Taoist studies.

Ong Beng Seng, the man that is instrumental in bringing the Grand Prix to Singapore, receivied the International Automobile Federation (FIA) Promoter of the Year trophy on behalf of Singapore GP, which he controls, in the aptly named Salle des Etoiles (Room of the Stars) at Monaco’s Sporting Club. Singapore GP was selected for ‘its magnificent effort in organising the sport’s first-ever night race’ in September 2008. The FIA award, the most prestigious in Formula One.

To meet the demand for pre-school education professionals in the next five years, a Centre for Continuing Education and Training has been appointed for the sector by the Workforce Development Agency (WDA).  These training centres will be rolling out various programmes to train more than 1,500 individuals including mid-career professionals over the next three years. There are about 750 childcare centres and 480 kindergartens. Over the next five years, another 200 centres are expected to open. This will provide more job opportunities in this particular education sector.

Holland Town Council and Bukit Panjang Town Council, both People’s Action Party (PAP) town councils, had invested $12 million in troubled in the Lehman Brothers-linked Minibonds and the Merrill Lynch Jubilee Series 3. The 2 PAP) town councils send out a detailed explanation of their investments to about 53,000 households under their care.

A man, known as Barry on Internet Chatline, who cheated four women he came to know on Internet chatlines of nearly $40,000 was jailed for 27 months. The 29 year-old, Tan Sze Leong (aka Barry) boasted that he came from a very wealthy family, was living in Bukit Timah. Two of his victims were conned after he said he was looking for a personal assistant who would get $15,000 to $20,000 a month to run his errands. His ploy was to get his “personal assistant” to pay for his expenses first and he promised to reimbursed them later. Both victim handled over some of their savings. After that, Rich Barry disappeared.

A fake classroom set up opposite Raffles Place MRT station greeted workers during their lunch breaks. The “classroom” were part of the Ministry of Education’s (MOE) four-day drive to recruit mid-career teachers. MOE (Ministry of Education) used to hold recruitment seminars at hotels for mid-career entrants to the teaching force. But time round, MOE is probably out to looking out for interested applicants that may be leaving their currently industry due to the slow down in the economy and mid-career professionals consider joining teaching force.

Singapore has suspended the import and sale of all pork and pork products from Ireland. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority’s (AVA) decision comes after the Irish government recalled all Irish pork products following the presence of dioxins in samples tested by Irish authorities. Dioxins are environmental contaminants. Singapore importers and retailers have been instructed to recall the products from the market immediately. Consumers who have bought pork products from Ireland were advised to discard them. According to AVA, Singapore import about 200 Metric Tonnes of Irish pork a month.

10 passengers were killed when the Super Nice Grassland Express bus overturned along the North-South Expressway. The accident happened between Tangkak and Pagoh at the Kilometre 146 waypoint on E2. Fourteen victims including the driver and co-driver were treated at Sultanah Fatimah Specialist Hospital in Muar (Johor, Malaysia). The bus left Pantai Remis, Perak at 7pm on Friday night heading for Singapore. Seven hours into the journey, at around 2am it skidded off the highway, overturned several times, smashed into a tree and plunged into a shallow ditch.