Latest news with #Tay
The Star
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Star
Two relatives of wanted Hong Kong activist Joseph Tay taken in for questioning
A cousin of wanted Hong Kong activist Joseph Tay and her husband were taken away for questioning on Thursday morning, the Post has learned. A source said the couple were escorted to Tsing Yi police station to assist with an investigation into the Canada-based activist's alleged national security law violations. 'They were expected to leave Tsing Yi police station at around 11am,' the insider said. The source later confirmed that the pair left around that time. Tay, a 62-year-old former actor and founder of Canada-based non-profit Hongkonger Station, was among six activists in December last year who had HK$1 million (US$127,600) bounties placed on their heads for allegedly violating the 2020 national security law. He is among 19 activists wanted on suspicion of contravening the Beijing-decreed legislation. Tay has been charged with inciting secession and collusion with foreign forces after he allegedly posted videos calling for international sanctions on social media platforms via his channel between July 2020 and June last year. The Canadian national left Hong Kong before the national security law came into force. Earlier this year, he stood as a candidate for the Conservative Party in the country's federal elections. Earlier this month, national security police questioned another of Tay's cousins and the relative's wife. - South China Morning Post
The Star
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Star
Celebrated Malaysian artist makes his mark in Paris
Artisti-que impression: Tay (right) describing his artwork to Eldeen (left) who attended his first solo exhibition in Paris, which will be happening until tomorrow. JOHOR BARU: Malaysian artist Tay Poi San is turning heads in the international art scene with his first solo exhibition in Paris, a career milestone that is decades in the making. Titled 'Les Rivières de l'Encre: L'Héritage en Mouvement de Tay Poi San' (Rivers of Ink: The Flowing Legacy of Tay Poi San), the exhibition held at the Vanities Gallery from May 20 until June 2 showcases his signature blend of tradition and innovation. The gallery described Tay, 72, as 'one of the leading contemporary masters of ink painting'. Tay said being able to hold an exhibition in Paris, a major art capital, is a great honour for him. 'Having my works displayed (in Paris) is a spiritual milestone in my artistic life. 'It reflects the strong foundation and creative strength of Johor's art scene as we possess not only solid techniques but also the ability to transform our local culture into an artistic language with a global perspective,' said the artist from Ayer Hitam. The exhibition features representative works from his career spanning over 50 years. It showcases the evolution of his personal style and also conveys his philosophical belief that 'tradition should flow like a river'. Tay said it also highlights how he uses ink as a medium to bridge traditional eastern techniques with modern expressive forms. His art inherits the subtle essence of traditional Chinese landscape painting while infusing a dynamic contemporary aesthetic, creating poetic worlds that balance the real and abstract, he added. Tay noted that Malaysia's cultural diversity has given local artists a unique South-East Asian aesthetic and life experience. 'I hope this exhibition will also inspire younger artists not to imitate but to create from the heart and discover their own voice. 'When we stay true to our roots and dare to dream, we have the power to bring Malaysia's unique artistic spirit to the world,' he said. Tay began his artistic journey under calligraphy master Wong Tham Sing. He was later mentored by Kao Bing Yee and in the 1990s, he studied under ink painter Cheah Thien Soong, who taught external courses in ink painting at the Malaysian Institute of Art. He also trained under US-based artist Tan Chin Long (Chen Long). Since the 1980s, Tay has continuously innovated his ink language, becoming one of the key inheritors of the Nanyang art tradition. Malaysian ambassador to France Datuk Eldeen Husaini Mohd Hashim, who attended the opening of the exhibition on May 21, praised his contributions to the promotion of eastern art. Over the years, Tay has received various international recognition. For instance, he was selected among the Top 500 Global Artists at the Hong Kong Global Ink Art Festival in 2021. He has also exhibited his work at biennales in Shenzhen (2022) and London (2023).
Business Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Business Times
Livingstone Health back in the black, logs H2 profit of S$0.4 million from streamlining efforts, higher revenue
[SINGAPORE] Livingstone Health Holdings Limited booked a net profit of S$0.4 million for the second half-year ended Mar 31, a reversal of the net loss of S$2.9 million in the year-ago period. The turnaround came mainly from its ongoing streamlining efforts, the Singapore-based medical group said in a regulatory filing on Thursday (May 29). The mainboard-listed company operates 20 clinics in Singapore; it has 22 medical specialists and practitioners, a health-screening centre, two medical aesthetics clinics and a podiatry clinic. It also provides healthcare consultancy services within the region. Earnings per share likewise rose to 0.07 Singapore cents, from a loss per share of 0.66 cents in the year-ago period. H2 revenue rose 17.9 per cent to S$14.2 million, from S$12 million the year before. This was mainly attributable to higher revenue contribution from all business segments. The latest results bring Livingstone's full-year net profit to S$0.6 million, swinging back into the black from a full-year net loss of S$2.9 million the year before. Full-year revenue grew 9 per cent to S$27.6 million. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up Commenting on the results, the group's executive director and chief executive officer, Wilson Tay, said the retention of its medical professionals helped sustain its revenue. To improve efficiency, Livingstone streamlined its operations and optimised cost structures. This included reducing its spending on employee benefits by S$0.2 million to S$15 million, and other operating expenses by S$0.1 million to S$4.9 million. The company also stepped up on its efforts to collect on accounts receivable, resulting in a net bad-debt recovery of S$43,000 in FY2025, also a turnaround from the net impairment loss of S$0.6 million in FY2024. Livingstone recorded other operating income of S$0.8 million, mainly from government grants, rental income and interest income. It also registered a net other gain of around S$58,000 from the consolidation of its joint venture, Atlas Podiatry. Dr Tay noted that the group completed its acquisition of the remaining 49 per cent stake in Phoenix Medical Group (PMG) in August 2024. He added that an internal reorganisation of PMG's primary-care operations also built a dedicated team to improve clinic efficiency, including at its new outlets. He said these were 'accretive investments' that aligned with Livingstone's strategy of expanding its primary-healthcare segment through PMG's established networks. Livingstone plans to strengthen its operations by reaching more patients and enhancing cross-referral networks among its medical services. It is also exploring new revenue sources, including marketing and business-development initiatives to attract more international patients to its Specialist Healthcare segment. As at 11 am on Friday, shares of Livingstone Health were down S$0.002 or 8.7 per cent at S$0.021.
HKFP
4 days ago
- Politics
- HKFP
Hong Kong nat sec. police question 2 other relatives of wanted activist Joe Tay
Hong Kong national security police have brought in two other relatives of wanted activist Joe Tay for questioning – the second such occasion this month. Tay's cousin and her husband were brought to Tsing Yi Police Station for questioning on Thursday, local media reported. HKFP saw a man and a woman, both wearing caps and face masks, leave the police station in two private vehicles at around 11 am. In response to HKFP enquiries, police said its National Security Department interviewed two individuals on Thursday to 'assist in an investigation.' The case is still under investigation, and no arrests have been made so far, the force also said, without giving any details. Tay's other cousin and his wife were brought in by the police for questioning earlier this month. Tay, 62, currently based in Canada, is one of six overseas activists for whom police issued arrest warrants in December. He left Hong Kong in June 2020. Each wanted person has a HK$1 million bounty on their head for alleged national security violations. Tay is accused of incitement to secession and collusion with foreign forces. He allegedly operated a channel called 'HongKonger Station' between June 2020 and June 2024, where he published numerous videos to incite secession and called on foreign countries to impose sanctions on China and Hong Kong. Apart from Tay, 18 other overseas activists are wanted by the Hong Kong authorities, including former lawmakers Ted Hui and Dennis Kwok, and former student leader Nathan Law. Police have brought in a number of the activists' family members for questioning, including the parents of US-based activist Frances Hui. In early May, police charged Anna Kwok's father, Kwok Yin-sang, with attempting to handle financial assets of an 'absconder.' He is the first family member of a wanted activist to be charged under the Safeguarding National Security Ordinance, more commonly known as Article 23. The 68-year-old stands accused of breaching the domestic security law by attempting to obtain funds from an AIA International life and personal accident insurance policy, with Anna Kwok, based in the US, listed as the insured person. He was granted bail by the High Court last week after being denied bail at a lower court. Separate to the 2020 Beijing-enacted security law, the homegrown Safeguarding National Security Ordinance targets treason, insurrection, sabotage, external interference, sedition, theft of state secrets and espionage. It allows for pre-charge detention of up to 16 days, and suspects' access to lawyers may be restricted, with penalties involving up to life in prison. Article 23 was shelved in 2003 amid mass protests, remaining taboo for years. But, on March 23, 2024, it was enacted having been fast-tracked and unanimously approved at the city's opposition-free legislature.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
‘I have pieces I've worn for years': Zoe Tay helps open iRoo's first eco-conscious outlet store
Veteran local actress Zoe Tay at the launch of Taiwanese fashion label iRoo's first outlet store in IMM as a VIP guest. PHOTO: IROO SINGAPORE – To veteran local actress Zoe Tay, sustainability does not begin and end with recycling bins or buzzwords. It starts in the wardrobe. 'I have pieces I've worn for years,' says the 57-year-old. 'Even if I rewear them, I'll style them differently. If it's well made and timeless, why not?' Among her favourites is a pair of jeans from Coterie – a label by Malaysia-based Singaporean fashion designer Celest Thoi – that she continues to reach for. While Tay says she has a soft spot for bags, she is just as quick to pass them on. 'Some of them, I give to my niece and nephew, in-laws or assistant,' she says. 'There're so many. I used to keep them all hidden in my wardrobe cabinets. But when I finally displayed them, I realised I had a lot of duplicates.' She has also contributed to donation drives, such as one organised by Channel 8 that collected celebrity fashion items to be resold. 'I think the important thing is when you re-give your items and people enjoy them.' The black-clad Mediacorp artiste was speaking to The Straits Times at the opening of Taiwanese fashion brand iRoo's first outlet store at Singapore's largest outlet mall IMM on May 23. iRoo has opened its first outlet store at IMM in Jurong. PHOTO: IROO The womenswear label founded in 1999, with more than 70 branches in Taiwan, is best known for its fast-turning weekly collections. Its fifth and newest 1,600 sq ft boutique in Singapore – which offers pieces from past seasons' collections at prices at least 40 per cent off – marks a more reflective chapter. Not only is it the brand's first outlet store, but it also introduces iRoo's first tentative steps into sustainability through a creative collaboration with Singaporean eco-innovation company Wynist. Under the initiative, Repurposing Waste For A Greener Future, the IMM outlet store showcases fixtures, hangers and even sunglasses made from compressed textile waste and discarded coffee grounds. Each display table, for instance, is made from 25kg of repurposed fabric waste – none of it iRoo's own, but a symbolic start to a wider ambition. Taiwanese fashion label iRoo's first outlet store in IMM spans 1,600 sq ft. PHOTO: IROO 'I'm drawn to a monochromatic palette – black, white, grey. My wardrobe is full of these colours,' says Tay, who was invited to the launch as a VIP guest, gesturing to the tailored blouse and belted skirt she had selected from iRoo's current collection for the occasion. But the actress' latest role – as formidable matriarch Liu Xiuniang in the Mediacorp Peranakan period drama Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story (2025) – did nudge her out of her monochrome comfort zone. She says each character had a distinct palette, thoughtfully assigned by the production team to reflect his or her personality. 'This was my first time dressing up as a Nonya,' adds Tay, who is Teochew and Cantonese. 'My colour was green.' Actresses Zoe Tay (centre, wearing a green kebaya labuh) and Jesseca Liu (right) in Emerald Hill – The Little Nyonya Story. PHOTO: MEDIACORP Of all her on-screen outfits, one in particular stood out. 'The first one I wore – that long coat – it was very hot,' she says, referring to the kebaya labuh, a traditional full-length kebaya often associated with older women. 'But the colour lent so much vibrance to the character and the whole image.' Tay's openness to evolving with time – and staying true to what feels authentic – mirrors iRoo's new direction. Ms Emily Huang, chief operating officer of iRoo International, says: 'Sustainability often clashes with lifestyle. We travel, we shop – and that creates tension with the idea of a carbon-free blueprint. But we wanted to find a balance.' According to her, iRoo's production model has always diverged from traditional fast fashion. 'We don't do mass production,' she says. 'We release only about 20 styles a week – not 1,000 pieces like other brands – and we produce in limited quantities. If consumers respond well, we replenish. So, there's more variety, but also less waste.' Ms Emily Huang (left), chief operating officer of iRoo International, and actress Zoe Tay. PHOTO: IROO 'Singapore is always the first step for our brand to step out of its comfort zone,' adds Ms Huang, adding that iRoo's debut here in 2010 was a strategic move that established the city as a test bed for international growth. 'That's why our headquarters decided to launch this new concept – sustainability – in Singapore first. The next step is to bring it to other South-east Asian markets such as Malaysia and Vietnam.' Her goal? To one day recycle iRoo's leftover fabrics and unsold goods into store fixtures like hangers and tables. Whether this circular ambition becomes reality remains to be seen. In the store's quiet backroom, rows of conventional plastic hangers still line the racks – a quiet reminder that sustainability, like style, is a work in progress. iRoo's outlet store is at 01-112 IMM, 2 Jurong East Street 21. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
