Latest news with #Cake
New Straits Times
a day ago
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
PM's fuel cut and RM100 aid hailed as lifeline by e-hailing drivers, consumers
KOTA BARU: Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim's move to cut fuel prices and offer a one-off RM100 cash aid has been hailed as a lifeline by e-hailing drivers in Kelantan and consumer advocates, who say it brings much-needed relief amid mounting living costs. Full-time drivers Daniel, 27, Arif, 24, and Mustakim, 21, said every sen counts. "The RM100 may seem small to some, but for us, it goes a long way. It is a much needed boost that helps us keep going," Daniel told NST. Meanwhile, the Consumers Association of Kedah (Cake) praised the decision to reduce the price of subsidised RON95 petrol from RM2.05 to RM1.99 per litre under the new targeted subsidy mechanism. Its president, Yusrizal Yusoff, said the public now awaits clarity on who qualifies. "Those left out of the scheme may end up bearing market prices. For those who qualify, this is a vital lifeline — fuel is a basic necessity," he said. Daniel, a full-time e-hailing driver, said fuel is one of his biggest operational costs, alongside expenses for vehicle maintenance. Meanwhile, Arif said, "We hope this is just the beginning, and that more initiatives to support the rakyat, especially those in the gig economy, will follow." Mustakim, the youngest of three siblings, said he would use the RM100 to buy daily necessities for his home. "I'll get groceries for my mother's kitchen — especially sugar, milk, and vegetables," he said. () Among the initiatives are all Malaysians aged 18 and above will receive a one-off RM100 credit via their MyKad under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) programme and under a new targeted fuel subsidy mechanism, Malaysians will enjoy RON95 petrol at RM1.99 per litre. This is expected to benefit around 18 million drivers and riders, including youth and gig workers. Meanwhile, consumer activist Yusrizal said the association welcomed the government's announcement, describing it as a move that puts money back into the people's wallets through fuel savings. However, he urged the government to take a careful and inclusive approach when finalising the subsidy mechanism, warning that any missteps could trigger a domino effect that might unintentionally impact other sectors of the economy. The full details of the new subsidy mechanism are expected to be announced by the end of September. The initiatives are projected to benefit around 18 million vehicle users, including youths and gig economy workers. Commenting on the RM100 aid under the Sumbangan Asas Rahmah (Sara) programme which will be distributed to all adult Malaysians from Aug 31 to Dec 31, Yusrizal said it would provide immediate relief, particularly for the low and middle income groups. He advised recipients to use the aid wisely. "This one-off aid can at least help them purchase essential items. For many, this might feel like a routine form of assistance because they have received similar handouts before. But even so, it helps, even if only a little," he said. Yusrizal also welcomed the restructuring in electricity tariffs, which is expected to benefit 85 per cent of consumers starting this month. "The reduction is based on a restructuring of the tariff calculation. While it will lower the cost of living for most, those with high electricity usage may still see an increase due to certain unavoidable cost components. "Nonetheless, we welcome the move as a step towards easing the financial burden on the rakyat," he said.
Express Tribune
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Begging for survival
By now, with so many artists in the entertainment industry having gone public about production houses' inability to compensate them on time, it will surprise nobody to learn that for an actor in Pakistan, relying on paid work remains a pipe dream. Last week, it was director Mehreen Jabbar who poetically but bluntly remarked that artists have to chase their employers "like beggars" to be paid; now, veteran actor and screenwriter Mohammad Ahmed has entered the fray, backing Jabbar's every word with crystal clear precision. Joining the chorus "Mehreen has spoken very clearly about the system and the drama industry, and it makes me so glad," began Ahmed in a video posted on his Instagram handle. "She said plainly what I have been quietly saying for years. The truth is, [production houses] expect us to be punctual and stick to whatever is outlined in our contract – and yes, we do this." Having begun his showbiz career as a screenwriter in 1995 with Tum Se Kehna Tha and taking on acting roles over the years, Ahmed will be familiar to viewers from television dramas Zard Patton Ka Bunn and Sunn Mere Dil last year. With thirty years devoted to showbiz in some form or other, here is a professional who is familiar with the inner workings of the entertainment industry – and with that familiarity comes a strict personal code of ethics. Giving personal examples of the respect he has for his coworkers, Ahmed continued, "I don't think anybody can truthfully say that I have never been late to a set, nor have ever skipped a day of shooting, or left town and disappeared for days on end. I have tried my utmost to be professional and ethical." The Cake star swiftly pointed out, however, that his employers do not reciprocate or adhere to this same level of professional ethics – certainly not when money is involved. Having devoted decades to the industry and now being left with a bedrock of well-earned bitterness to show for it, Ahmed minced no words as he noted, "When it comes to payment schedules, other than the odd production house, I have never seen people being paid on time. A delay of three to four months is extremely normal." Backing up Jabbar's beggar analogy, the unimpressed actor continued, "You have to pretty much clasp your hands together and beg them to pay you. Then they dispense a cheque your way, all the while giving the impression that they are doing you a massive favour, just because they have deigned to pay you. In every project, I feel their aim is to make actors beg for money. It destroys your dignity." Shining a harsh light on the very real need for timely payments in an increasingly difficult financial climate rife with bills and inflation, Ahmed took issue with the ideal notion that an artist's work is above money. "Money is everyone's biggest need," stressed the actor as though pointing out the obvious. "Especially for those people who have no form of income other than showbiz. A production house will make you do a 15 – to 20-hour shoot, but when it comes to giving you a cheque, they either refuse to pick the phone or give you a ridiculous reason for not doing so." For Ahmed, there is only one silver lining in this dire state of affairs: the fact that he is no longer alone in calling out production houses. "Thank you, Mehreen, for saying what you did," he said, a note of warmth entering his voice. "I'm glad that people have started speaking up." Rising dissent If Ahmed sought comfort in Jabbar's slam-dunk takedown of production houses, actor Faizan Khawaja in turn found solace in Ahmed's no-holds-barred summation of the entertainment industry. The Dulhan actor has been absent from screens in recent years, and he propped up Ahmed's scathing verdict in an Instagram Story to explain just why. As a bonus, Khwaja also used Ahmed's words as an eye-opener as to why we are now witnessing an increasing number of news stories of actors spending their last years in poverty. "To all those people who aren't in the media who keep asking me why actors die alone and poor, here is your answer," began Khwaja. "Finally someone had the guts to call them out publicly. And to all those people who keep messaging me saying, 'Why have you stopped working? Why don't you appear on TV?' Well, honestly, some of us don't have the patience to endure such bull**** treatment." With both Jabbar and Ahmed having painted a picture of actors begging for money (a picture that those who have spoken up insist is accurate), Khwaja added that he would rather walk away from a career on camera than sacrifice his self respect. "I'd rather not act than beg for my dues and give another human to flex his managerial position on me," he finished. Khawaja, Ahmed and Jabbar are only the most recent actors calling out the entertainment industry's financial abuse. Last year, Dunyapur stars Khushhal Khan, Ramsha Khan also took to either an interview or Instagram to slam the lack of ethics displayed by production houses. "It's disrespectful not to pay on time because we're there on time," Khushhal had stressed in an interview with the BBC Asian Network last year, a comment that was subconsciously echoed in Ahmed's latest video. "We're giving 110 per cent every single day. The least we expect is to be paid on time." In the same interview, Ramsha added that being financially compensated was a necessity. "I have to pay my bills, man," she had remarked. Unlike Ahmed and his commitment to appearing on set, however, Ramsha illustrated that she had hit upon the perfect solution. "You either clear my cheque or I'm not coming on set," she had noted. Can there be a shift in the way an actor's rights are respected? Will production houses ever be held accountable? Jabbar had bluntly commented that she had witnessed no change in her thirty years in the industry. But perhaps now, with veterans and newcomers alike raising their voices, artists could be closer to a change today than they were thirty years ago.
Sky News AU
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
Jennifer Aniston and hypnotist love interest Jim Curtis seen getting cozy in Big Sur a month before Mallorca vacation
Jennifer Aniston and Jim Curtis got cozy in California weeks before their Spain getaway. A Page Six spy spotted the actress, 56, and the hypnotist at the Ventana Big Sur luxury hotel last month. The 'Friends' alum cuddled up to her rumored new beau while dining at the resort's restaurant in June. Aniston's rep has yet to respond to Page Six's request for comment. This weekend, the pair spent more time together in Mallorca with the 'Morning Show' star's pal Jason Bateman and his wife, Amanda Anka. While Curtis' relationship history is not known, Aniston was previously married to Brad Pitt and Justin Theroux. Aniston introduced Curtis to her friends in photos obtained by the Daily Mail, and the foursome partied on a yacht later that evening. The Emmy winner, notably, is one of the self-proclaimed coach's half a million followers on Instagram, and she regularly 'likes' his uploads. The 'Cake' star also featured Curtis' book 'Shift Quantum Manifestation Guide: A Workbook for Coding a New Consciousness' in a May slideshow. The Golden Globe winner has remained amicable with her exes, famously hugging Pitt, 61, at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in 2020. She and Theroux, 53, even text and FaceTime each other, the 'Leftovers' alum told Esquire in 2021. 'We don't talk every day,' the filmmaker, who recently wed actress Nicole Brydon Bloom, clarified at the time. 'It would be a loss if we weren't in contact, for me personally. And I'd like to think the same for her.' The exes were photographed reuniting for dinner in 2023 — and Theroux has publicly supported Aniston on multiple occasions over the years, from her fertility struggles reveal to her heated back-and-forth with JD Vance over 'childless cat ladies.' Since their split, Aniston has not gone public with any romances until Curtis. While she did send tongues wagging in March for going out to eat with Pedro Pascal, a source insisted to Page Six that their bond is 'strictly platonic.' Originally published as Jennifer Aniston and hypnotist love interest Jim Curtis seen getting cozy in Big Sur a month before Mallorca vacation
Malaysian Reserve
02-07-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Vietnam's leading retailer MWG partners with Cake Digital Bank to launch PayLater service
HO CHI MINH CITY, Vietnam, July 2, 2025 /PRNewswire/ — Cake Digital Bank (Cake) today announced a strategic partnership with Mobile World Investment Corporation (MWG) to launch MWG PayLater, the first branded pay-later service under the MWG ecosystem. As the exclusive provider of both credit capital and technology infrastructure, Cake reinforces its position as Vietnam's leading digital-only bank, recognized for its agility and reliability in deploying large-scale fintech solutions. With financial services provided by Cake, the launch of MWG PayLater marks a new milestone in MWG's retail innovation journey, offering customers across its nationwide retail network—including The Gioi Di Dong, Dien May Xanh, TopZone, and AVAKids—a fully digital, seamless deferred payment experience. With the ability to purchase without down payment, flexible payment options or installment payments up to 24 months, and an interest-free period of up to 90 days, consumers will enjoy a convenient, safe and transparent financial payment experience. 'This is MWG's first fintech product launched under its own brand, and we're proud to be the sole partner powering the entire financial services,' said Nguyen Huu Quang, CEO of Cake Digital Bank. 'We bring proven expertise in digital finance deployment and the ability to co-design tailored customer experiences. Together with MWG, we aim to make MWG PayLater a go-to solution for millions of Vietnamese consumers.' According to Truong Hong Hoang, MWG's Business Development Director–Multicat Category: 'MWG PayLater reflects our ongoing commitment to providing customers with valued, technology-enabled financial solutions. With Cake's robust infrastructure and scalability, we believe this service will quickly become a preferred choice.' MWG PayLater targets mass-market consumers seeking fast, accessible credit—particularly for mobile devices, electronics, home appliances, and family essentials. The service will expand to MWG's full omnichannel footprint, including online platforms and An Khang Pharmacy, by July 2025. The new offering builds on the successful launch of an instant loan product between the two companies in late 2024, which saw rapid user adoption. This next phase of collaboration deepens their strategic alignment in digital finance and customer-centric innovation. For more details, please contact:Ms. Tran Hong NguyenCorporate Communications & PR Team – Cake Digital BankEmail:
Express Tribune
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Abbasi takes on Austen
Is Jane Austen the gift that keeps on giving? Whatever disgruntled literature students may feel, when you are a filmmaker, there is only one answer to this question, and it is this: yes. And thus, as per Variety, Pakistani director Asim Abbasi – he who brought us Barzakh last year, along with web series Churails (2020), feature film Cake (2018), as well as an episode of Famous Five Season 2 – will be stamping his mark as co-director on a production of BBC and BritBox adaptation of The Other Bennet Sister. Abbasi will work with fellow director Jennifer Sheridan to bring the ten-part series to life, which will be based on Janice Hadlow's novel of the same name. Hadlow's novel, in turn, can be best described as a fan fiction novel paying homage to the plain (and painfully average piano player) Mary Bennet from Austen's Pride and Prejudice. "The series follows Mary as she steps out of her sisters' shadows in search of her own identity and purpose – finding herself in the middle of an epic love story along the way," reads the BBC official synopsis, also shared by Abbasi on Instagram Stories. "Her journey will see her leave her family home in Meryton for the soirees of Regency London and the peaks and vales of the Lake District, all in search of independence, self-love and reinvention." Mary's tale of independence and reinvention looks to premier in 2026, with UK screen heavyweights Ruth Jones, Richard E Grant, Indira Varma, Richard Coyle cast in key roles. Mary, the titular other Bennet sister, will be played by Bridgerton actor Ella Bruccoleri. Readers who stay away from fan fiction but have devoured Pride and Prejudice may (or nay not) be pleased to learn that the rest of the Bennet sisters will also feature in the series, along with their nemesis Caroline Bingley, friend Charlotte Lucas, and even bigger nemesis Mr Collins. Having brought to life Fawad Khan and Sanam Saeed's web series Barzakh last year – a show that got banned in Pakistan within weeks of premiering due to its contentious plot and the choices made by its characters – Abbasi is no stranger to experimenting on the screen and taking on unconventional projects. Churails proved to be groundbreaking in its female-centric story; Cake shone a different lens on family drama and was Pakistan's submission for the 2019 Oscars. Last year, taking on an episode of Enid Blyton's Famous Five series proved the different directions Asim is willing to stretch to; having his name attached to what can ultimately be traced back to Pride and Prejudice highlights the filmmaker's versatility. Whilst it is difficult to categorise a period drama as 'bold' purely due to the subject matter, with Austen's catalogue of work still being particularly relevant to a Pakistani audience, it is only fitting that a director of Pakistani origin will bring his expertise to his latest project. 'Sense and Sensibility' soon It is not just Mary Bennet who is being dragged to the forefront; a much more beloved Austen character, Elinor Dashwood, is also due to have her moment in the sun once again after another film adaptation of Sense and Sensibility starring Daisy Edgar Jones (Normal People) was announced last week. As per the Guardian, production on the film begins next month. The film will be helmed by producers Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, no strangers to Austen, having previously worked together on 2005's Pride and Prejudice starring Keira Knightley and 2020's Emma with Anya Taylor-Joy. The last time Sense and Sensibility was presented to the big screen in 1995, it starred all the names anyone associates with British cinema; Emma Thompson, Kate Winslet, Hugh Grant and (the late) Alan Rickman. Although the film contained a well-known cast, director Ang Lee famously reduced a young Winslet to tears by informing her that she would "get better". In addition, at the time, fans were left unconvinced with Thompson's pairing with a floppy-haired Grant looking eerily similar to his Four Weddings and Funeral role. With all these glaring flaws in mind, news of this latest version of Sense and Sensibility, at least, has not quite upset fans in the same way as Netflix's Pride and Prejudice announcement from April this year. Austen adaptations abound A swift glance at the outpouring of Austen films or series over the past 30 years shows that this Regency author may have died 250 years ago and written a scant six books before doing so, but she continues to be the gift that keeps on giving – despite what disillusioned literature students may have to say about it. Her classic meet cutes and staidly rom-coms – relatable even two-and-a-half-centuries down the line – prove that Austen is the Marvel equivalent of period dramas. There is always another adaptation waiting in the wings. And if the well is running dry vis a vis adaptations, Penguin can always be counted upon for releasing garish, historically inaccurate BookTok-friendly Austen covers in a bid to lure in modern readers. If you want nothing to do with BookTok covers of classics and are also tired of Austen adaptations filling up streaming platforms, you will have surmised by the above that unfortunately 2025 is not the year for you. Not only can we expect The Other Bennet Sister and Sense and Sensibility in the near future, earlier this in April, Netflix dismayed purist fans by announcing that yet another version of Pride and Prejudice is in the works. Meanwhile, straying only slightly further from Austen's work itself, French film Jane Austen Wrecked My Life (telling the story of a woman who yearns to live in Austen's world) unveiled in May. Lesson learned: Austen is here to stay, and has been for a long, long time.
