Latest news with #SG60Nets
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Andie Chen urged by fellow actors not to feel discouraged after Best Actor loss
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Actress Hong Huifang urged actor Andie Chen to keep persevering and not be discouraged by his loss at the Star Awards. SINGAPORE – Local actor Andie Chen may have missed out again on the Best Actor accolade at the Star Awards on July 6, but veteran actors Hong Huifang and Chen Hanwei believe what he lacked was a bit of luck. Andie Chen, 40, was nominated for his role as a strict father in family drama Born To Shine (2024). He lost to Christopher Lee, 53, who played a father whose daughter was killed in crime mystery drama Kill Sera Sera (2024). The Best Actor nomination was Chen's fourth at the Star Awards. He has been nominated six times for Best Supporting Actor. On July 12, Hong, 64, shared on social media photos of her meet-up with Chen and other artistes, such as his wife Kate Pang; Felicia Chin and her husband Jeffrey Xu; and Aileen Tan. 'You were the winner of Star Search 2007, and along the way, we have seen you working hard consistently,' Hong wrote, addressing Chen. 'Although you have missed out on the awards many times, it is not because you are not good enough, but sometimes you just lack a little bit of luck.' Hong, who was nominated for Best Leading Actress for the film Ajoomma at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards in 2022, urged him to keep persevering and not be discouraged. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore to train more aviation and maritime officials from around the world Singapore Special edition SG60 Nets card now on sale for $10 Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat Business Singapore's economy sees surprise expansion in Q2 despite US tariff uncertainty: Advance estimate Singapore Jail, caning for man who had 285 child porn videos, including those that show infants Singapore Jail for woman who opened bank accounts that received over $640.7m, including scam proceeds Singapore Driver assisting with police probe after e-bike rider injured in hit-and-run in Hougang Sport After Olympic heartbreak, Singaporean swimmer Chantal Liew turns pain into inspiration 'I believe that one day, the applause for you and the trophy will arrive, and you will finally stand on the stage meant for you,' she wrote. Chen Hanwei, one of the most decorated actors in Star Awards' history, shared similar sentiments on social media on July 7. ' You are good, but you just lack a little luck,' the 55-year-old wrote, sharing a photo with Andie Chen. 'Don't be discouraged, maintain your attitude and positive energy, as your attitude is your best fengshui. Keep going, believe in yourself and one day, you will find your own success.' Andie Chen admitted in a social media post on July 7 that he felt a twinge of loss and loneliness after missing out on the award . 'But I didn't lose heart,' he wrote. 'Because over the years, I have my family, team, friends, and you who have always supported me. Every time you speak up for me, it is my motivation to keep working hard. Thank you.' He added: 'Putting aside my own little drama, I'm actually happy for my friends when I see them winning awards. Who isn't working hard for their dreams?'
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Sport
- Straits Times
Rory McIlroy switches focus to British Open after runner-up finish at the Scottish Open
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy in action during the final round of the Scottish Open at The Renaissance Club in North Berwick on July 13. NORTH BERWICK – Rory McIlroy was delighted with his form at the Scottish Open after finishing runner-up to American Chris Gotterup on July 13 and the Northern Irishman said his game is in a good place heading into the British Open at Royal Portrush this week. McIlroy was looking to become the first player to win the US Masters and Scottish Open in the same season but finished two shots behind world No. 158 Gotterup at the Renaissance Club, tied with Marco Penge for second place. The 36-year-old has struggled to find his best form after completing the career Grand Slam at the Masters in April and said in June he had not known how hard it would be to stay motivated. However, after a strong performance in North Berwick, the five-time Major champion said he was now ready to fully focus on the Open from July 17 to 20 in Northern Ireland. 'I'm really happy with where everything is,' McIlroy, who won the 2014 British Open, told reporters. 'Looking forward to getting to Portrush tonight and getting out onto the golf course early tomorrow and just turning my attention to that. 'I'm really happy with where my game is, the way I played over the weekend, the shots that I hit, how I controlled my ball flight. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore to train more aviation and maritime officials from around the world Singapore Special edition SG60 Nets card now on sale for $10 Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat Business Singapore's economy sees surprise expansion in Q2 despite US tariff uncertainty: Advance estimate Singapore Jail, caning for man who had 285 child porn videos showing over 400 children, including infants Singapore Jail for woman who opened bank accounts that received over $640.7m, including scam proceeds Singapore Driver assisting with police probe after e-bike rider injured in hit-and-run in Hougang Sport After Olympic heartbreak, Singaporean swimmer Chantal Liew turns pain into inspiration 'It has been a great week. Missing the trophy, that's about it,' added the world No. 2, who missed the cut at the 2024 British Open at Royal Troon. On July 13, Gotterup's four-under 66 to finish on 15 under 265 was too good for McIlroy. 'This is awesome,' Gotterup said, fighting back tears. 'I'm not going to be able to keep it together.' But he kept it together at key moments in the final round. Gotterup's 15-under 265 total was two strokes better than McIlroy and England's Penge at The Renaissance Club. It was Gotterup's second PGA Tour win and guaranteed him a spot during at the British Open. Penge shot 66 in the final round and McIlroy posted 68. McIlroy, aiming to win the tournament for the second time in three years, led after back-to-back birdies on the fourth and fifth holes. But after a birdie on No. 8, he had pars across each of the last 10 holes. 'Chris played a great round of golf,' McIlroy said. 'He was so solid. Made the bogey on 15 but bounced back with a really nice birdie on 16. Yeah, after he got a couple ahead, I just couldn't claw back.' Gotterup used four birdies on a six-hole stretch ending at No. 12 to move to the top. He held a two-shot edge until his bogey on No. 15, where he hit his tee shot in the rough. But on the next hole, Gotterup rolled in a 10-foot birdie for a two-shot advantage again. He sensed it was a key situation. Denmark's Nicolai Hojgaard (64) and England's Matt Fitzpatrick (67) shared fourth place at 12 under. REUTERS, AFP
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
G20's financial watchdog lays out climate plan but presses pause amid divisions
FILE PHOTO: A man walks at the Cape Town International Convention Centre during day two of the four day G20 Finance Ministers meeting in Cape Town, South Africa, February 25, 2025. REUTERS/Nic Bothma/File Photo LONDON - The G20's financial stability watchdog delivered a new plan on how to tackle climate risks on Monday, but paused further policy work amid a retreat by the United States that has tested efforts to advance a united financial policy on climate-related risks. The U.S. has withdrawn from multiple groups dedicated to exploring how flooding and wildfires and big climate-related policy shifts could impact financial stability. In its medium-term plan, the G20's Financial Stability Board pledged to step up coordination and data sharing on climate-related financial risk. However, it said while progress had been made to integrate climate risks into financial systems, some of its members, who include central bank governors and ministers, were keen to pause further climate work. "While many members feel there is a need for more work, some members feel that the work completed to date is sufficient," the FSB said in an update to its 2021 climate roadmap delivered to G20 finance ministers meeting in South Africa. "Going forward, the FSB will ... make determinations about what projects, if any, it will undertake." U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was set to skip the G20 meeting, Reuters reported last week. The United States is due to head the G20 group, which it helped found in the aftermath of the global financial crisis, next year. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore to train more aviation and maritime officials from around the world Singapore Special edition SG60 Nets card now on sale for $10 Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat Life Pioneer performance artist Amanda Heng to represent Singapore at 2026 Venice Biennale Business Singapore's economy sees surprise expansion in Q2 despite US tariff uncertainty: Advance estimate Singapore Jail for woman who opened bank accounts that received over $640.7m, including scam proceeds Singapore Driver assisting with police probe after e-bike rider injured in hit-and-run in Hougang Sport After Olympic heartbreak, Singaporean swimmer Chantal Liew turns pain into inspiration The FSB said it would continue to consider climate-related topics each year and would focus on its role as a coordinator of international work on climate risks. The watchdog said it did not have plans to do any more significant policy work on integrating climate-related financial risks into its supervisory and regulatory work. Work on this topic is ongoing at many of its member institutions, it said. Earlier this year, the FSB published work on the usefulness of transition plans for financial stability and in 2024 presented a stocktake of supervisory and regulatory work on nature-related financial risks. "Rather than identifying such vulnerabilities a priority for further work, the FSB will leave that decision up to its annual work programme process," it said in the report. The report detailed progress made since 2023 by international standard setters and global banking regulators like the Basel Committee on climate disclosure. It also set out efforts to provide forward-looking data to help banks and companies quantify economic losses from climate shocks such as heatwaves. REUTERS
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Spaniards struggle to enjoy their own beaches in tourist deluge
Find out what's new on ST website and app. FILE PHOTO: Tourists and locals enjoy the Barceloneta beach in the sunset during the autumn weather in Barcelona, Spain September 26, 2024. REUTERS/Nacho Doce/File photo MADRID - International holidaymakers are keeping Spaniards off their own sun-kissed beaches due to ever-rising hotel and rental prices during an unprecedented tourism boom. Spain's top 25 Mediterranean and Atlantic coast destinations saw local tourism drop by 800,000 people last year whereas foreign visitors rose 1.94 million, according to previously unreported official data reviewed by analysis firm inAtlas. The trend looks sure to continue as the world's second-most visited country - after France - anticipates a record 100 million foreign visitors this year. "Prices have risen outrageously. The whole Spanish coast is very expensive," said Wendy Davila, 26. She cancelled an "exorbitant" trip with her boyfriend in Cadiz on the south coast for a cheaper visit to the inland city of Burgos, famed for its Gothic cathedral and the tomb of 11th century commander El Cid. "Now you don't go on holiday wherever you want, but wherever you can," added Davila, who is nostalgic for childhood beach holidays in Alicante on the Mediterranean. With a population of 48 million - half the number of foreign visitors each year - Spain relies heavily on tourism, which contributes more than 13% of GDP. But protests are growing over housing shortages exacerbated by mass tourism - and could be exacerbated by the indignity for Spaniards being priced out of their favourite holidays. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore to train more aviation and maritime officials from around the world Singapore Special edition SG60 Nets card now on sale for $10 Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat Life Pioneer performance artist Amanda Heng to represent Singapore at 2026 Venice Biennale Business Singapore's economy sees surprise expansion in Q2 despite US tariff uncertainty: Advance estimate Singapore Jail for woman who opened bank accounts that received over $640.7m, including scam proceeds Singapore Driver assisting with police probe after e-bike rider injured in hit-and-run in Hougang Sport After Olympic heartbreak, Singaporean swimmer Chantal Liew turns pain into inspiration Hotel prices have risen 23% in the past three years to an average of 136 euros ($159) a night, according to data company Mabrian. Beachfront rentals have also climbed 20.3% since mid-2023, according to price monitoring firm Tecnitasa, with most of them booked out for the summer by the first quarter. "It is becoming increasingly difficult for Spanish holidaymakers to afford beachfront tourism rentals," said Tecnitasa Group President Jose Maria Basanez. Foreign tourists stayed an average of eight nights at top Spanish beaches last year, with locals only affording half that time and spending a quarter of the money, inAtlas said. In fact resort hotels are modifying down their forecasts for this summer, even despite the foreign boom, partly because places where residents tend to take their holidays expect slower sales. Spaniards also made near 400,000 fewer trips to the country's major cities in 2024 compared to the previous year, while foreign tourist visits there increased by almost 3 million. GOING INLAND Aware of the brewing discontent and disparities, Spain's socialist government is encouraging international tourists to explore inland attractions to address overcrowding and diversify. "If we want to continue to be leaders in international tourism, we have to decentralise our destinations," Tourism Minister Jordi Hereu said at the launch of a first campaign to highlight Spain's lesser-known charms in June. "We want Europeans and those from other continents to rethink their idea of the Spain they love and visit so much." Spaniards have a strong tradition of escaping for family holidays in the hot summer months, but they are turning more to Airbnb rentals than hotels, and swapping Catalonia or the Balearic Islands for lesser-known destinations in Andalucia or Castille and Leon where prices are lower and mass tourism is yet to hit. Last year, 1.7 million more Spaniards holidayed in generally more affordable inland areas, according to inAtlas. In the mountain town of El Bosque for example, 100 km from the beaches of Cadiz on the Atlantic, the number of Spanish tourists increased by 22% last year. "There may be a certain displacement effect," said Juan Pedro Aznar, professor and researcher at the Madrid-based Esade business school, noting Spaniards' lower purchasing power compared to British and German tourists. For some Spaniards, it is best to avoid the summer crowds altogether. Nurse Maria de la Jara will stay in Madrid this summer, only going south to visit family in Cadiz once the busy season is over. "I used to go to my family's house, but there are more and more foreign tourists in Cadiz and when a cruise ship arrives, the population doubles," said the 51-year-old. "It's overwhelming." REUTERS
Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
South Korea preparing to order airlines to check fuel switches on Boeing jets
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Fuel switch locks have come under scrutiny after a preliminary report into the crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 jet in June mentioned a 2018 advisory from the FAA. SEOUL - South Korea's transport ministry is preparing to order all airlines in the country that operate Boeing jets to examine fuel switches in accordance with a 2018 advisory from the US Federal Aviation Administration, the ministry's foreign media spokesperson said on July 14. The spokesperson did not give a timeline for the checks. Boeing did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Fuel switch locks have come under scrutiny after a preliminary report into the crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 jet that killed 260 people in June mentioned a 2018 advisory from the FAA. The FAA advisory recommended, but did not mandate, operators of several Boeing models, including the 787, to inspect the locking feature of the fuel cutoff switches to ensure they could not be moved accidentally. Reuters reported on July 13, citing a document and sources, that the planemaker and the FAA have privately issued notifications to airlines and regulators that the fuel switch locks on Boeing planes are safe and checks are not required. The Air India preliminary report said the airline had not carried out the FAA's suggested inspections as the FAA's 2018 advisory was not a mandate. But it also said maintenance records showed that the throttle control module, which includes the fuel switches, was replaced in 2019 and 2023 on the plane involved in the crash. REUTERS Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Singapore to train more aviation and maritime officials from around the world Singapore Special edition SG60 Nets card now on sale for $10 Singapore 18 years' jail for woman who hacked adoptive father to death after tussle over Sengkang flat Life Pioneer performance artist Amanda Heng to represent Singapore at 2026 Venice Biennale Business Singapore's economy sees surprise expansion in Q2 despite US tariff uncertainty: Advance estimate Singapore Jail for woman who opened bank accounts that received over $640.7m, including scam proceeds Singapore Driver assisting with police probe after e-bike rider injured in hit-and-run accident in Hougang Sport After Olympic heartbreak, Singaporean swimmer Chantal Liew turns pain into inspiration
