Daily roundup: More firms raise salaries in 2024 than in 2023 — and other top stories today, World News
Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today.
1. More firms raise salaries in 2024 than in 2023
More firms increased their employees' wages in 2024, compared to the year before, said the Ministry of Manpower (MOM) in a report on Wednesday (May 28).
The proportion of firms that raised employees' wages increased to 78.3 per cent in 2024, up from 65.6 per cent in 2023, according to MOM's report on wage practices for 2024... » READ MORE
2. Skyworth K review: A car that's as effective as a household appliance
I first came across the brand Skyworth at Giant Hypermarket Tampines.
It was many years ago, and I happened to see a Skyworth TV on sale there for a very attractive price. The family's TV set needed replacing anyway, so I figured there was little harm in giving this low-priced option a try... » READ MORE
3. Francis Ng's son claps back at negativity about his appearance: 'Don't waste your words'
Celebrities often get comments about their looks, and it seems that not even their children are exempt from criticism.
Recently, a netizen in Hong Kong ran into Feynman Ng, the son of veteran actor Francis Ng and his Singaporean former actress wife Ong Lay Pheng, and posted a photo with him on Xiaohongshu... » READ MORE
4. Special offers and wildlife experiences at Mandai attractions in celebration of SG60
Mandai Wildlife Group is rolling out a series of offers and wildlife experiences at the Singapore Zoo and other attractions at Mandai Wildlife Reserve to celebrate Singapore's 60th birthday... » READ MORE
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Straits Times
2 hours ago
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Megan, half-Singaporean member of Katseye, comes out as bisexual
Megan shared that she realised she was attracted to women as early as the age of eight. PHOTO: MEGANSKIENDIEL/INSTAGRAM Megan, half-Singaporean member of Katseye, comes out as bisexual Megan, a member of the global girl group Katseye, has publicly come out as bisexual. During a live broadcast on fan platform Weverse with fellow member Lara on June 6 , the 19-year-old shared her identity with fans, stating: 'I'm coming out. I'm bisexual.' The two celebrated the moment together, jumping in place with joy. Megan, who has a Singaporean-Chinese mother and American-Swedish father, debuted in the US with the six-member group in 2024. This marks the second coming out within the group. Back in March, Lara revealed her sexual orientation through a Weverse live broadcast. She shared that she realised she was attracted to women as early as the age of eight, and confessed that she was deeply afraid when auditioning. 'I didn't know if people would accept me. I was scared it might ruin my chances,' she wrote at the time. With both Lara and Megan now openly identifying as members of the LGBTQ+ community, Katseye stands out as a rare example of queer representation in the K-pop scene. The sextet is a multinational and multi-ethnic K-pop girl group formed by South Korean entertainment company Hybe in collaboration with American label Geffen Records. The group will return with its second EP Beautiful Chaos on May 27. THE KOREA HERALD/ASIA NEWS NETWORK Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
AsiaOne
8 hours ago
- AsiaOne
'You worried about us too much': Tay Ying has heart-to-heart talk with mum Hong Huifang before marriage
In an Instagram Reel uploaded yesterday (June 5), local actresses Hong Huifang and Tay Ying sat down together to have a heartfelt talk about their relationship as mother and daughter. It's just in time before Tay Ying's wedding to celebrity chef Wu Sihan, which will be happening this month. Using a mini gacha machine to draw out questions, Huifang, 64, asked Tay Ying, 29: "What is one thing I didn't do well as a mother?" After a moment of contemplation, Tay Ying replied: "You don't love yourself enough. When we were younger, you worried about us too much — and then you forget about yourself. So I think in this season of life, it's time to love yourself more." "I think I will, because I left not too long anymore," Huifang joked, drawing a loud "Aiyoh" from Tay Ying. Huifang and her actor husband Zheng Geping, 61, also have son Calvert, 25, who's a singer-actor. When asked to share their proudest moments of one another, Tay Ying talked about her mother starring in Singaporean-South Korean film Ajoomma (2022). It was when Huifang attended a gala screening and many people in the showbiz industry gathered around her in applause. "In that moment I also felt so proud of myself," Huifang reminisced. Her proudest moment of Tay Ying is knowing that she's about to get married. She said fondly: "I'm so happy you finally found the man of your dreams." This left Tay Ying sighing: "Done so many good things in my life as a daughter but this is the only one." Huifang added: "This is your happiness. It's most important. I spent the first half of my life taking care of you and now someone else is taking care of you in my second half." Thereafter, Tay Ying asked Huifang: "Is there ever a moment where you wanted to leave your relationship?" Huifang incredulously said: "No." Advising the soon-to-be wife on maintaining a relationship, she said: "Both parties grew up in different environments — his and your habits are bound to be different, and so will your tempers. If you plant a tree, you must water it. You can't leave it there. Otherwise, it'll die. So you have to manage [your relationship] for it to last long." She also revealed when she found that she and Geping's spark has gone out, she suggested they go "find some spark", such as going on vacation together. Tay Ying also asked Huifang on what her biggest fight with Geping was, which happened to revolve around teenage Tay Ying. Mum explained: "Papa spoiled you a lot, and I wanted to beat you because you did something wrong. I didn't in the end, even though I wanted to — I couldn't bear to do it." Huifang is starring in the upcoming film A Good Child, which stars Richie Koh and Cheryl Chou. Tay Ying has been nominated for Star Awards 2025 in two categories: Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes and BYD Favourite Female Character. [[nid:718802]]
New Paper
8 hours ago
- New Paper
S'porean actor Sunny Pang on filming Netflix's Havoc: 'They rehearse until everything is on point'
You might expect Hollywood heavyweights like Tom Hardy and Forest Whitaker to breeze through their scenes with effortless charisma and minimal prep. But that wasn't what Singaporean actor Sunny Pang observed on the set of Havoc, a recently released Netflix film. "They rehearse and rehearse until everything you see is on point," Pang, 53, said in a recent interview with The New Paper, describing the actors' meticulous approach to their craft. Pang, who has been in the industry for 23 years, had a front-row seat to observe the work ethic of industry giants like Hardy and Whitaker after landing a role in Havoc, an action thriller directed by Gareth Evans. Pang plays the character Ching, a loyal sidekick of the movie's main antagonist, Mother, portrayed by Malaysian actress Yeo Yann Yann. What struck him most was not their star power, but their humility and discipline. "It was very humbling when you see a person like that, with such high status - obviously highly paid - but without an ego at all," he said. "He [Whitaker] even sat down with us to talk about things, like, 'How are you? Where are you from?' You know, [he was] curious about things, curious about you." Their professionalism challenged any assumptions he might have had about celebrity behaviour. Pang recounted how the cast hung out on several occasions, sharing conversations and laughter. Whitaker even treated the team to drinks, he added, and it was such gestures that helped foster a strong sense of camaraderie among the team. On one occasion, the cast went out to watch Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings together, and Pang recounted the fond memory with a smile. "It was like a family," he said. "You step into a set that you don't know what to think, because you've been on an Asian set, never a Hollywood set. I was like, 'Okay, try not to panic'. And I see my friends (Yeo being one of them), and we start [saying] jokes and everything, and we know that we'll have a good time." For Pang, the journey to Hollywood has been anything but typical. He began his career as an actor in local productions such as Mediacorp's Code of Law. He was also a stunt choreographer for local short films before earning international recognition for his performances in Indonesian action films Headshot (2016) and The Night Comes for Us (2018). Those roles caught the attention of Evans, who later created Ching in Havoc specifically with Pang in mind. Sunny Pang in an interview with The New Paper. PHOTO: THE NEW PAPER Even on a global stage, Pang remains grounded. He vividly remembered his first encounter with Whitaker, a long-time idol of his, describing it with awe. Recounting how professional and down-to-earth Whitaker was, Pang said: "Usually those Hollywood actors will not stay there for your reaction. That means the camera is on me, and I'm supposed to see everyone while giving lines to Yann Yann. But he stayed there. When asked if he wanted to retire and sit, he said, 'No, no, Sunny needs my eyeline.'" He also recalled receiving praise from Whitaker himself: "When I walked past him when I was done, I went to shake his hand and thank him. He said, 'What you did was cool, man. Keep it up!' I immediately texted my wife, 'Wah! Forest Whitaker said my acting is cool!' "I mean, it's such a rewarding time to see an Oscar-winning person give you that praise first, and to see him work. And you learn a lot of things," he added, describing the whole experience as a "masterclass" for him. Although the film is set in a fictional American city, it was shot primarily in Wales. After spending four months there immersed in filming and the local culture, Pang said the experience left a lasting impression - one he hopes to carry into Singapore's creative scene. "If you open your eyes a little bit more, you'll see a different side of what we can do. When I learn something from my time overseas, I come back, I don't keep it to myself. I want Singapore to evolve as well." He emphasised the need to encourage local talent to think differently and take creative risks. "What we lack is encouragement," he said. "Never doubt yourself, and always find ways to create opportunities." Looking ahead, Pang is turning his attention toward action directing. "Up to a certain point, you just have to let go (of acting)," he said. "You have to let the new generation evolve, using what you have experienced to let them evolve into something greater than what it is right now."
