Forum: Parade brought many elements together perfectly
I want to congratulate the organisers of the 2025 National Day Parade, a complex mega-event.
The event featured air, sea and land elements coordinated perfectly.
Creative director Boo Junfeng's focus on diversity and multiculturalism was world class and full of panache. The choreography was good, and pairing seasoned and newer singers blended the generational gaps very well.
The parade was a wonderful way to celebrate Singapore's 60th birthday, and I am sure the whole nation is proud. Well done, Singapore.
Hua Tye Swee

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
J-pop idol Kenshin Kamimura found guilty of indecent assault in Hong Kong
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox FILE PHOTO: Kenshin Kamimura, a former member of the Japanese boy band ONE N' ONLY, arrives at West Kowloon Magistrates' Courts over his charge of indecent assault in Hong Kong, China, April 15, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo HONG KONG, August 13 - J-pop star Kenshin Kamimura was found guilty by a Hong Kong court on Wednesday of the indecent assault in March of a woman who served as his interpreter during a fan event. Kamimura, 26, was previously a member of the six-member boy group One N' Only. He pleaded not guilty in April and chose not to testify during the trial in July. Magistrate Peter Yu said that Kamimura's behaviour showed obvious disrespect towards women, noting that his touches suggested a sexual undertone. "Such behaviour should be condemned," Yu said, fining him HK$15,000 ($1,923) after his lawyer in mitigation urged a financial penalty rather than jail. On hearing the sentence, Kamimura hugged his court translator, while a handful of fans wept in the public gallery. Dozens more waited outside after the hearing ended as Kamimura left court without saying anything. The victim, identified only as X, testified in July that Kamimura and actor Junsei Motojima hired her as an interpreter to translate during a fan meeting in Hong Kong on March 1. The group then attended a celebratory dinner at a restaurant in the city's Mong Kok district. She told the court Kamimura moved to sit beside her during a toasting session and started repeatedly brushing and patting her thigh before suggesting they visit the bathroom together. He asked both in Chinese and Japanese if she knew what he meant, she added. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore NEL, SPLRT disruption: Electricity surge shut down backup power switchboard, says LTA Singapore HSA seeks Kpod investigators to arrest abusers, conduct anti-trafficking ops Opinion The 30s are heavy: Understanding suicide among Singapore's young adults Singapore Jail for man who scammed at least 5 people over illegal cross-border taxi services Singapore Lawyer who sent misleading letters to 22 doctors fails in bid to quash $18,000 penalty Singapore 4 taken to hospital after accident near Sports Hub, including 2 rescued with hydraulic tools Asia Malaysia's anti-graft agency busts arms smuggling ring masterminded by senior military officers Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story X said she declined, telling him, "If you want to go, you can go by yourself." She said she then moved away to get some tea, but Kamimura blocked her path and again asked her to go outside. She told the court she refused. After X returned to her seat, Kamimura also came back and sat beside her. He apologised and said, "Forget what just happened," she recalled in her testimony. The singer also asked her about her relationship status and whether she planned to marry her boyfriend, she said. Kamimura then brushed her inner thigh again with the back of his right hand, X told the court. She shrank away, but he repeated the action about two to three times. Kamimura's lawyer said in mitigation that his client did not intend to coerce or threaten and that alcohol might have affected his judgment. The magistrate said that Kamimura had paid a huge price for the incident, saying he was immediately fired by his company and forced to leave the band. REUTERS

Straits Times
2 hours ago
- Straits Times
Actress Rebecca Lim says husband brought her peace, security she's never had
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – Local actress Rebecca Lim never had the desire to become a mother. Not once in her past relationships did she entertain thoughts of starting a family with her partners. But the 38-year-old star began thinking she could be a parent after marrying Mr Matthew Webster. She married Mr Webster, a Singaporean of British-Chinese descent, in 2022. The couple now have a 1½-year-old son. Lim opened up about her life struggles in a candid interview on the podcast Who We Are With Rachel Lim. The hour-long episode with the co-founder of local fashion brand Love, Bonito was streamed on YouTube and Spotify on Aug 12. '(Matthew) gave me the peace and security I never had, and it made me think maybe I can have a family with this man,' Lim said. The actress also discussed her ongoing issues with mum guilt when she returned to the entertainment industry to film a long-form English drama in July 2024. Her son was then about seven months old. Filming went on for nine months, and Lim found herself crying and struggling with inadequacy in the initial weeks. Besides not being able to memorise her lines because of 'brain fog', she felt stressed because 'physically, you don't look 100 per cent'. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Business Singapore banks face headwinds in rest of 2025, but DBS is pulling ahead: Analysts Singapore HSA seeks Kpod investigators to arrest abusers, conduct anti-trafficking ops Singapore Yishun man admits to making etomidate-laced pods for vaporisers; first Kpod case conviction Opinion The 30s are heavy: Understanding suicide in Singapore's young adults Asia Malaysia's anti-graft agency busts arms smuggling ring masterminded by senior military officers Singapore 4 taken to hospital after accident near Sports Hub, including 2 rescued with hydraulic tools Asia Mixed reactions among Malaysia drivers on S'pore move to clamp down on illegal ride-hailing services Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story 'Then while I'm at work, I don't feel 100 per cent a mother because I'm leaving my son at home,' she said, adding that she was 'not here, not there'. 'I felt terrible, guilty and inadequate as an actor and as a mother then. It took me a few months to slowly get back into the swing of things. I think what motherhood has taught me is to be 100 per cent present.' Lim, who recently hosted the variety show With Love, Becks (2024), also addressed the image pressures she faced post-partum, especially when she made her first public appearance at Star Awards 2024. 'It was two months after giving birth, and you face your female colleagues who all looked gorgeous,' she recalled. 'Why do I still look like that? Why can't I find a dress to fit into? I underestimated the stress of having to turn up looking good for the event.' Lim admitted that, in hindsight, she should not have emphasised how she looked and stressed herself out. She has now found a 'new equilibrium' as a mum, and also learnt to embrace ageing gracefully. She said: 'That sense of insecurity will never go away because you're constantly exposed. But what's important is how you snap out of it.'

Straits Times
4 hours ago
- Straits Times
Gonna be golden: K-pop girl groups are taking over Singapore amid KPop Demon Hunters success
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox K-pop girl group I-dle (top right) will take the stage at the Bubbling & Boiling Music and Arts Festival Singapore on Sept 13 while 2NE1 will be performing at the 2025 edition of music festival Waterbomb Singapore on Aug 30 and 31. SINGAPORE – The season of K-pop girl groups is officially upon Singapore. Not only have fictional trio Huntrix from the hit animated movie KPop Demon Hunters become the first girl group to hit No. 1 on US Billboard's Hot 100 singles chart – for their ubiquitous banger Golden – since America's Destiny's Child almost 25 years ago, but a slew of South Korean all-female acts are also set to perform in Singapore every month until the end of 2025.