Monday #sgroundup: 1.6 million Singaporeans to receive 2014 budget benefits

By Jeanette Tan | What's buzzing? – 

Here are today's top trending stories in case you might have missed them:

1.6 million Singaporeans to receive 2014 budget benefits

Some 1.6 million Singaporeans will receive notice of their GST voucher rebates from the government. (Singapore …

Singapore's finance ministry announced on Monday that 1.6 million Singaporeans will be receiving letters in the coming week informing them of their 2014 GSTV Special Payments, the 5-year Medisave top-up, as well as the Service and Conservancy Charges (S&CC) rebates.

1.3 million will receive the GSTV - Cash on 1 Aug, while 660,000 Singaporeans aged 55 and above will receive the GSTV - Cash: Seniors' Bonus, meaning seniors will get double the GSTV - Cash amoun in 2014. According to MOF, the Seniors' Bonus will cost the Government $505 million.

https://sg.finance.yahoo.com/news/comes-mail-1-6-million-045100359.html

China slams Hong Kong democracy poll despite 800,000 votes

Voters enter a polling station in Hong Kong on June 29, 2014

Organisers Monday urged Hong Kong's government to take seriously an unofficial referendum on democratic reform after nearly 800,000 people voted in the Chinese city, but state media in Beijing dismissed the ballot as unpatriotic.

The poll organised by pro-democracy activists that closed late Sunday saw more than 780,000 people voting on how Hong Kong's next leader should be chosen, days before a planned massive protest for greater democracy in the semi-autonomous city.

Some 88 percent of those who voted over 10 days in the referendum urged the city's lawmakers to veto any political reform plans that do not meet "international standards".

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/china-slams-hong-kong-democracy-poll-despite-800-043346401.html

Experts conclude Pistorius not mentally ill during shooting

FILE - In this Tuesday May, 20, 2014 file photo, Oscar Pistorius leaves the high court in Pretoria, South Africa. …

A psychiatric panel and a psychologist have found that Paralympian Oscar Pistorius, who is facing charges of murdering his girlfriend, is not mentally ill, the state prosecutor said Monday.

"Mr Pistorus did not suffer from a mental illness or defect that would have rendered him criminally not responsible for the offence charged," said state prosecutor Gerrie Nel, reading from the psychologist report, one of two reports that said the star runner should be held criminally responsible.

https://sg.sports.yahoo.com/news/experts-conclude-pistorius-not-mentally-ill-during-shooting-075627021.html

"Guardians of the Galaxy" director and cast coming to Singapore

Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn, stars Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista will be in Singapore …

Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy" stars Zoe Saldana, Dave Bautista and director James Gunn will be in town this July. They will be in Singapore as part of the Southeast Asia tour to promote the superhero space adventure movie.

The Singapore leg of the tour will include a red carpet event at Shaw Lido theatre on 12 July, starting from 6.30pm.

Directed and co-written by Gunn, the movie stretches the Marvel universe, taking place in the far corners of space. "Avatar" actress Saldana stars as "Gamora", an orphan from an alien world, while WWE celebrity Bautista plays the warrior "Drax".

https://sg.movies.yahoo.com/blogs/show-buzz/-marvel-s-guardians-of-the-galaxy%E2%80%9D-director-and-cast-coming-to-singapore-084126579.html

Vivian Hsu weds Singapore-based businessman in Bali

Vivian Hsu flashes wedding band

Taiwan actress Vivian Hsu wed hubby Sean Lee, a Singapore-based businessman, in Bali on Sunday.

According to media reports, the couple had a grand poolside wedding at The Edge Resort, where they also performed a song titled, "Till I Met You", to their 100 guests.

It was also said that the song was written by Lee, 36, and that a portion of his lyrics read, "Till I met you/We Believe/What is destiny."

https://sg.entertainment.yahoo.com/blogs/singapore-showbiz/vivian-hsu-weds-singapore-based-businessman-in-bali-093432521.html

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/blogs/what-is-buzzing/monday--sgroundup--1-6-million-singaporeans-to-receive-2014-budget-benefits-094816180.html