Latest news with #Safra
AsiaOne
21-07-2025
- Politics
- AsiaOne
'If you don't buy, others will': Woman lists NDP tickets for $25 each, Singapore News
The National Day Parade (NDP) organising committee has warned of scams involving the unauthorised sale of NDP 2025 tickets. This comes after listings surfaced online offering "official" tickets for as much as $25 each. One such listing, posted on Facebook on Sunday (July 20) and since removed, advertised tickets for the NDP at the Padang on Aug 9. The seller claimed she had successfully secured four tickets through a Safra ballot earlier this month. "Sure can enter. If you don't buy now, others will," she told an AsiaOne reporter posing as a potential buyer. But checks by AsiaOne found that Safra did not organise any balloting of NDP tickets for the Padang show. Instead, its ticket balloting was for NDP celebrations on Aug 2 and 9 at Bayfront Event Space, which organisers previously said is part of an "expanded canvas" to mark Singapore's 60th year of independence. Other sites which are part of the celebrations in the Marina Bay area include The Promontory, The Meadow at Gardens by the Bay, Marina Barrage and the Singapore Sports Hub. AsiaOne has contacted Safra for comment. The NDP executive committee clarified that there is no official sale or reselling of tickets. "If you see tickets being sold online, it's likely a scam," the committee said on Sunday via its official NDPeeps accounts on Facebook and Instagram. It also advised the public not to respond to such listings by sharing their personal details and making any payments. In a reply on the AskGov platform, the committee reiterated that tickets obtained through unauthorised channels will be rendered void. This means that those holding to such tickets will be denied entry. Ticket applications to the parade have closed. Successful applicants should have been notified between June 20 and 25 via SMS and email. [[nid:719925]] chingshijie@
Straits Times
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
NDP 2025: Carnival games, street performances at expanded Marina Bay area celebrations
These are meant to give the opportunity to as many people as possible to take part in the celebrations marking Singapore's 60th National Day. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI SINGAPORE – Those who have not been successful at securing tickets for the National Day Parade live show at the Padang on Aug 9 will still get the chance to soak in the atmosphere and enjoy various activities around Marina Bay. These will include carnival festivities, live screenings of the show and interactive experiences scattered throughout the Bay area meant to give the opportunity to as many people as possible to take part in the celebrations marking Singapore's 60th National Day. Audiences attending the spectacle at Marina Bay can also expect to see the State Flag Flypast and the Jump of Unity – a display during which parachutists from the Republic of Singapore Navy jump and div e into the Bay. A display of the nation's seaborne assets will also form part of the mobile column in this year's celebration. Speaking to the media on June 30, Lieutenant Colonel Cephas Ong , chairman of the 2025 Bay celebrations committee, said the activities will let those at the Bay have a front row seat to witness the show segments on the waterfront. 'All of this will make Marina Bay a very bustling area on Aug 2 and 9. The entire event is not ticketed. We welcome Singaporeans and members of the public to join us at the Bay to participate in celebrations,' said LTC Ong. The NDP committee said celebrations at the Bay area, including at The Promontory, Bayfront Event Space, The Meadow at Gardens by the Bay, Marina Barrage and the Singapore Sports Hub, will offer distinct festivities. On Aug 9, no ticket will be required to walk into The Meadow at Gardens by the Bay, Marina Barrage and the Singapore Sports Hub to enjoy the celebration. Tickets are available for ballot for those who want to participate in partner activities with NTUC and Safra at The Promontory and Bayfront Event Space. Ms Natasha Choy, director of youth development at NTUC, said those at The Promontory can expect to see a line-up of performances by young local talent, including by rapper Shigga Shay and singer Estelle Fly. Meanwhile, those at Safra's Bayfront Event Space will be treated to a post-parade party. Those with tickets to the space and Safra members will also be able to enjoy discounts at the Uncle Ringo Carnival. For people who want to enjoy the festivities at Marina Bay, there is the Bay Discovery Trail, a thematic walk spread across three zones that highlight the nation's heritage and multiculturalism through interactive booths and activities. On Aug 2 and 9, the first 5,000 participants to complete the trail each day will also be rewarded with an NDP pack. Participants can also look forward to performances along the Bay, including by 11-year-old violinist Anastasha Suchin and singers from the Singapore Institute of Technology's Vocalist Insight. Anastasha, who will be performing at the DBS foundation outdoor theatre, said she had prepared a medley of songs for the audience. 'I chose the local favourites to remind us of where we started off, because most of them are from quite long ago, and the NDP songs are to show how far we have come from there and how far we have yet to go,' she said. Anastasha Suchin, who will be performing at the DBS foundation outdoor theatre, said she had prepared a medley of songs for the audience. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Visitors will get the chance to dine at a food market and play games at the Uncle Ringo carnival as part of the experience, and stop at handicraft stations where they can receive henna tattoos. They can also play chapteh – which has its roots in ancient China – and other traditional games at specialised stations outside the ArtScience Museum. Mr Benjamin Tan, creative director for the NDP 2025 show, said those at the Bay area will receive a 'complete' experience on Aug 9. 'There will be speakers installed around the entire Bay Area. There will be LED screens, and this is accompanied by a record-breaking multimedia projection on UOB Plaza and Fullerton hotel,' said Mr Tan, adding that they have catered specific segments of the firework show for those at the Bay. He revealed that the light projection in collaboration with UOB and Fullerton Hotel has already broken three Guinness World Records, including for the brightest, longest and tallest projection on a building globally. Undergraduates from SIT Vocalist Insight Lucas Lian (right), together with Soo Yi Wei, during the NDP 2025 Media Event 5 on June 30. ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI Participants will be able to take in the light projections on buildings in the surroundings and be delighted by fireworks, allowing t hose at the Bay area to feel synchronised with the live show at the Padang. 'This integrated celebration allows more Singaporeans to participate in Singapore's 60th National Day celebrations as one united audience across both the Padang and the Bay,' said the NDP organising committee. Those who are planning to attend the celebrations in the Bay area are advised to arrive early to avoid the crowds, as organisers expect some 200,000 people to participate. The organisers urge those taking public transport to arrive through Raffles Place, Esplanade, Promenade, Bayfront, Marina Bay, or Downtown MRT stations. Superintendent Dennis Lim, who is assistant director for the major security events division at the Singapore Police Force, said the expanded celebrations will come with a larger crowd. The authorities are expecting the events at the Bay to pull in some 200,000 people. 'So with more crowds, you can expect that certain areas will need to be closed off for the safety of the public, as well as to maintain the safe capacity of the area,' he said. Supt Lim added those looking to join the celebrations can use an information portal called Crowd@MarinaBay that will be made available to provide real time crowd levels as well as area closures. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
CNA
29-06-2025
- Business
- CNA
SAFRA Bayshore to provide more affordable services, set to open in 2030
Safra Bayshore, Singapore's largest NSmen clubhouse, will open in 2030, replacing Safra Tampines. It aims to offer more affordable services and incorporate public feedback.
Straits Times
29-06-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Safra Bayshore targeted to open in 2030 next to TEL's Bedok South station: Zaqy
Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad said the new clubhouse will replace the existing Tampines clubhouse. PHOTO: LIANHE ZAOBAO Safra Bayshore targeted to open in 2030 next to TEL's Bedok South station: Zaqy SINGAPORE - Come 2030, national servicemen (NSmen), regulars from the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and full-time national servicemen (NSFs) can look forward to participating in activities at the largest Safra clubhouse in Bayshore. The new Safra Bayshore clubhouse, which is targeted for completion in 2030, will replace the existing Tampines clubhouse, said Senior Minister of State for Defence Zaqy Mohamad on June 29. Safra Bayshore will be located next to the Thomson-East Coast Line's (TEL) Bedok South MRT station, which is slated to open in 2026. The new clubhouse will also be Safra's largest, with a gross floor area of at least 30,000 sq m – the equivalent of about four football fields. ' That is double the size of the current Safra Tampines... It will offer a wider range of modern and affordable facilities ,' said Mr Zaqy at Safra Toa Payoh, where he launched initiatives to appreciate NSmen as Singapore celebrates its 60th year of independence. The Tampines clubhouse, built in 1988, is Safra's oldest. Safra Bayshore , to be built behind Temasek Secondary School, will be the eighth clubhouse providing activities for servicemen and their families. Plans to build the clubhouse were first announced in March. Mr Zaqy, who is also Safra president, said the social and recreational organisation has been engaging NSmen living in the east to determine the mix of facilities and activities at Safra Bayshore, and a committee has been formed to develop the club. 'Special attention will also be given to the club design in achieving high sustainability standards, as well as providing sheltered communal spaces for national servicemen and their families to gather for various arts, sports, music events and fairs,' he added. Mr Zaqy said the new clubhouse's location will allow those living in the east of Singapore to access its facilities more conveniently through public transport. Bedok South MRT station had initially been targeted to open by 2025, but construction challenges, including tunnelling near existing critical infrastructure, had delayed works. The station will be part of an integrated transport hub, which will also house a bus interchange. Some 10,000 homes, including about 7,000 Housing Board flats, will be built in Bayshore as an extension of Bedok town in the coming years. Appreciating servicemen Mr Zaqy also announced the launch of a host of new initiatives aimed at appreciating NSmen in the lead-up to SAF Day on July 1 and National Day on Aug 9. These include a variety of deals and discounts for NSmen and Safra members come July 1, including discounts on booking fees for some Safra club facilities and membership fees for selected interest groups. More than 4,000 burgers will also be given away islandwide by fast-food chain Burger King to NSmen on July 1 to celebrate SAF Day. Between July 2 and July 6, the Burger King at Safra Choa Chu Kung will also give away 300 burgers to servicemen and members. Safra also organised a video competition, collaborated with Temasek Polytechnic on a short film, and organised an art jam with more than 35,000 pre-school children, to reflect its appreciation for servicemen in Singapore. Said Mr Zaqy: 'Given how our national servicemen have contributed to Singapore's defence and security over the years, it is right for us to express our appreciation for their sacrifices and commitment. ' 'It does not always take grand gestures. Even the smallest interactions in our daily lives can affirm their sacrifices.' Mr Zaqy, who has served as Safra president since 2020, will hand over the reins of the organisation to Minister of State for Defence Desmond Choo in July. ' I am confident that under his leadership, Safra will continue to make inroads to further strengthen efforts to appreciate national servicemen, and to meet their evolving family lifestyle needs and life stage needs ,' he said. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Yahoo
31-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Innovative vineyard discovers game-changing new method that almost works too well: 'Farmers are standing in line to get our solution'
It's a good problem to have when your tech almost works too well in a way that concerns regulators. That is the unique conundrum faced by SolarWine and its entrepreneurial founders Eli Safra and Dan Goldblat. ISRAEL21c profiled the company, which combines solar panels and winegrowing in a more expansive and sophisticated fashion than just about anyone else. While agrivoltaics in vineyards isn't novel, the extent to which SolarWine leverages the panel's capabilities to adapt to the weather is unique. SolarWine uses machine learning to guide the folding panels on when to provide needed shade for the grapes or take in excess energy. The panels can also be used as protection against heavy rainfall and wind. It all amounts to a win for farmers, who can control the weather and generate passive income as they do it. "What we're doing with machine learning is to control the panels in order to balance and optimize the energy of the sun," Safra explained to ISRAEL21c. "Exactly the right amount goes to the grape, and any excess goes to generating electricity." The setup also works seamlessly into the infrastructure of the vineyard. It uses the already-standing poles that bolster vines and don't impede harvesting machines. If that all sounds too good to be true, the Israeli government is worried that it is. Safra said that "farmers are standing in line to get our solution." That level of interest could have an unintended consequence. "On the one hand, the country needs a lot more energy, but on the other hand, they block you from putting up solar panels because they are afraid about food security," Safra noted. "The [Israel] Ministry of Agriculture is concerned that farmers will see they're getting more income from selling energy, so they will stop cultivating their fields." The company is addressing that concern by linking up with an energy company in Israel to navigate those hurdles and get on the same page with the government. SolarWine's inventive use of agrivoltaics and machine learning is another example of how farmers can creatively use the panels on their lands. Israel is no stranger to heat waves, and using the panels to contend with those and create a microclimate could pay huge dividends. Agrivoltaics has also shown a ton of promise for grazing sheep and cultivating olive production. It also helps bolster clean energy production and eases the transition from dirty energy that heats the planet. As farmers face challenges from the changing climate, it can help create more favorable conditions for crops and generate revenue. For SolarWine, it is on the verge of signing a contract for 120 megawatts of energy in the next four years, per ISRAEL21c. The company is growing deliberately from a 500-square-meter (5,382-square-foot) initial installation to a setup six times larger in the future. It's also looking to expand globally in other winemaking areas in California and Europe. If you were to install home solar panels, which of these factors would be your primary motivation? Energy independence Lower power bills Helping the planet No chance I ever go solar Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
