Latest news with #WEIBO
Straits Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Singapore actor Ayden Sng gets publicity boost in China for upcoming shows
Singaporean actor Ayden Sng is represented in China by Chinese production company Huanyu Entertainment - co-founded by Yu Zheng. PHOTO: YU ZHENG/WEIBO Singaporean actor Ayden Sng's career in China has been given a boost after top Chinese producer and screenwriter Yu Zheng posted about him on social media. Sng, 31, is represented in China by Chinese production company Huanyu Entertainment – co-founded by Yu – as part of a partnership between Huanyu and Mediacorp's artiste management arm The Celebrity Agency. 'Recently, many friends have noticed our artiste Ayden Sng , who is one of the top 100 handsome faces in the world,' Yu wrote on May 24. The 47-year-old was referring to the Mediacorp artiste placing ninth on TC Candler's The 100 Most Handsome Faces list released in December 2024. 'He looked cool in his previous magazine photoshoot, but I didn't realise that he could be so thoughtful when he was making coffee offline,' Yu added. Sng recently acted in Chinese period romance drama Perfect Match, his first production in China, which aired in January and February. Best known for helming the period drama Story Of Yanxi Palace (2018), Yu said that many netizens have since noticed that Sng was the actor who played the role of Yan Zimei in Perfect Match. 'Now that you know, please pay more attention to Ayden Sng's Weixiao Yihaodian and Feud,' Yu said, referring to Sng's upcoming shows. Sng thanked Yu under the post, writing: 'I will definitely work hard and live up to your trust.' The actor is set to appear in Chinese upcoming reality show Weixiao Yihaodian, which can be translated as Smile Cafe No. 1. The series features 35 celebrity trainees who will go through almost a month of professional training before they are divided into groups. They will then go to different cities in China to run beverage stores, and take part in product development and store operations, according to a synopsis of the show. The reality show is led by veteran Chinese actor Tang Guoqiang, who is best known for portraying Chinese leader Mao Zedong in movies and TV series. Sng, who has changed his Weibo name to 'Ayden Sng of Weixiao Yihaodian', shared about the reality series on his account. 'I will do my best to develop food and beverages and present perfect works for you,' he wrote in Chinese, posting a promotional poster of himself on the show. Sng will also act in upcoming Chinese fantasy series Feud, which stars Chinese actress Bai Lu and Chinese actor Joseph Zeng. In Singapore, Sng has been nominated for Most Popular Rising Star Award at Mediacorp's Star Awards, with the ceremony scheduled for July 6. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
4 days ago
- General
- Straits Times
Large blast hits chemical plant in China's Shandong; no report of casualties yet
There were no immediate details of casualties. PHOTO: SCREENGRAB FROM WEIBO Large blast hits chemical plant in China's Shandong; no report of casualties yet - A large explosion took place at a chemical plant in China's eastern province of Shandong on May 27, state media said, but gave no immediate details of casualties, while unverified social media images showed smoke billowing high overhead. Emergency services swung in to begin rescue and treatment efforts after the blast, which came just before noon in the workshop of Shandong Youdao Chemical, broadcaster CCTV said, but gave no further details. Some fled while others ducked for cover as grey smoke blanketed the sky in a video on Chinese social media platform Weibo, while other posts showed shattered glass in nearby villages, where residents said they felt the blast's vibrations. Shandong Youdao Chemical is owned by Himile Group, which also owns listed Himile Mechanical, shares of which were down nearly 4 per cent on May 27 afternoon. Youdao was set up in August 2019 in the Gaomi Renhe chemical park in the provincial city of Weifang, its website says, sprawling across more than 47ha, with more than 300 employees. It develops, produces and sells technology for pesticides, pharmaceuticals and related fine chemical intermediates. Blasts at chemical plants in China in recent years have included one in the north-west region of Ningxia in 2024 and another in the south-eastern province of Jiangxi in 2023. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
15-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Late singer Khalil Fong bags five posthumous Golden Melody Awards nominations
Hong Kong singer-songwriter Khalil Fong died in February of an undisclosed illness at the age of 41. PHOTO: FU MUSIC/WEIBO Hong Kong singer-songwriter Khalil Fong, who died in February of an undisclosed illness at the age of 41, has received five nominations for Taiwan's upcoming Golden Melody Awards. Singaporean singer-songwriter Tanya Chua is also in contention for a whopping fifth Best Female Mandarin Singer trophy, after having logged a record four wins in the category. The awards, often known as the Grammys of the Mandarin music scene, will be held in Taipei on June 28. Nominations were unveiled on May 14. Fong's final album The Dreamer, released in October 2024, was nominated for Album of the Year and Best Mandarin Album. One of its songs, Twenty Three, also garnered him nominations for Song of the Year, Best Lyricist and Best Composer. The Dreamer was also given a jury prize by the Golden Melody Awards. Jury chairman, music producer and singer Ting Hsiao-wen told Taiwanese media that it is an outstanding piece of work. 'He was writing songs with his life – it was a musician showing us his life journey and giving fans a gift,' she said of Fong, who had said at the time of the album's release that it was a 'sick' one as it was recorded during various stages of his illness. Following the nomination list reveal, Fong's label Fu Music said in an Instagram post: 'Thank you to the jury and music fans recognising Khalil's work. He will continue to spread healing and peace through his music in this boundless universe.' Fong's death was announced by Fu Music in March. A statement said he 'faced a disease with a positive attitude for five years', without specifying what he was suffering from. Chua's sole nomination, Best Female Mandarin Singer, is for her work on the original soundtrack of Taiwanese drama Imperfect Us (2024). She scored and wrote the entire soundtrack. Singaporean singer-songwriter Tanya Chua is in contention for a whopping fifth Best Female Mandarin Singer trophy at the Golden Melody Awards, after having logged a record four wins in the category. PHOTO: The 50-year-old has four previous wins in this category, the most of any singer in over 35 years of the awards ' history. Her most recent victory was in 2022, for her pandemic-inspired album Depart (2021). Chua is a Golden Melody Awards darling – only one of her 12 studio albums failed to nab a single nomination. She is up against Malaysian star Penny Tai, Taiwanese singer-songwriters Vicky Chen and Waa Wei, as well as Chinese-American hip-hop artiste Karencici in her category. Chua already won Best Original Song for Finland at Taiwan's prestigious television-centric Golden Bell Awards in October 2024. The song is part of the Imperfect Us soundtrack. In the Best Male Mandarin Singer category, Chinese singer-songwriter Li Ronghao, Taiwanese singer Ricky Hsiao , Taiwanese pop singer PoLin, Hong Kong indie singer Terence Lam and Taiwanese rapper Trout Fresh will vie for the prize. Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
The Star
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Star
'I'm in love with China': Singapore actress Eleanor Lee denies making derogatory comments about Chinese people
There has been talk that Eleanor Lee was removed from the cast list of an upcoming Chinese period drama, The Journey Of Legend. -- PHOTO: ELEANOR LEE/WEIBO SINGAPORE (The Straits Times/ANN): Home-grown actress Eleanor Lee has broken her silence on an online storm related to the release of an audio recording, denying that she had made derogatory comments about people in China. 'I'm sorry to have caused so much controversy and taken up public resources,' the 25-year-old China-based star wrote on her social media platforms, including Weibo, Instagram and Facebook, on May 10. 'I was very shocked when I heard the recording. This was definitely not what I said.' The furore began when a netizen claiming to be Lee's former assistant released in April a poor-quality audio recording that lasted about 30 seconds on Chinese social media platform Weibo. In the recording, which features a lot of background noise and some muffled words, a woman is heard saying she is 'doing this not for fame, but for money' and that 'most people in China are idiots'. It is not confirmed if it is Lee's voice in the clip. The incident gained traction after the media in China and Taiwan reported on it in the past few days. Lee – whose parents are Taiwan-born Singapore TV host Quan Yifeng and her former husband, local actor Peter Yu – wrote in her post in Chinese: 'I didn't come forward in the first instance because we are also sorting out the facts, hoping to give a satisfactory answer to people who care about me. I will use my own actions to prove my attitude, and welcome everyone to supervise me in the future.' The Taiwan-born actress added in her statement that she was born in China and has spent nearly half her life in the country after moving there from Singapore at the age of 16. China views Taiwan as its own territory. She first gained prominence in China in 2015 after appearing in an Apple China commercial directed by award-winning Hong Kong film-maker Ann Hui. Lee then began to pursue acting in China and started studying at the prestigious Beijing Film Academy in 2017. She has starred in Chinese TV series such as Solaso Bistro (2017), My Poseidon (2019) and My Love, Enlighten Me (2020). She also featured in the Chinese movie The Enchanting Phantom (2020), a remake of the 1987 Hong Kong film A Chinese Ghost Story. She played beautiful ghost Nie Xiaoqian, who was portrayed by Taiwanese actress Joey Wong in the original classic. 'I have received many opportunities and (much) assistance here, and have been able to shine in my favourite career,' Lee wrote. 'I am completely in love with and grateful for this land, and I will never waver in any of my stances on any issue related to China.' Lee is starring in an upcoming Chinese period drama, The Journey Of Legend. However, there has been talk that she was removed from the cast list after her name did not appear on one of the pinned posts dated April 9 on the show's Weibo account. Based on a novel by Malaysia-born author Woon Swee Oan, The Journey Of Legend also stars Chinese actor Cheng Yi and Chinese actress Gulnazar Bextiyar. Lee plays one of the main characters, Tang Fang. It wrapped up filming in October 2024. The series has not announced its official premiere date, but some netizens speculated that its airing might be affected by Lee's alleged remarks. Lee also uploaded a statement by her agency in her post on May 10. It noted that some users on social media have maliciously spread false information about the actress, which seriously damaged her reputation. 'Eleanor Lee has always respected and loved Chinese culture,' the agency said. 'For many years, she has been actively studying the Chinese language and taking part in Chinese film and TV productions, and is committed to promoting cultural exchanges.' It stressed that the recording and other related content circulating online are fabricated and untrue. It also urged internet users to stop circulating them, adding that it will take legal action against those who continue to do so. - The Straits Times/ANN
Straits Times
11-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
‘I'm in love with China': Actress Eleanor Lee denies making derogatory comments about Chinese people
There has been talk that Eleanor Lee was removed from the cast list of an upcoming Chinese period drama, The Journey Of Legend. PHOTO: ELEANOR LEE/WEIBO SINGAPORE - Home-grown actress Eleanor Lee has broken her silence on an online storm related to the release of an audio recording, denying that she had made derogatory comments about people in China. 'I'm sorry to have caused so much controversy and taken up public resources,' the 25-year-old China-based star wrote on her social media platforms, including Weibo, Instagram and Facebook, on May 10. 'I was very shocked when I heard the recording. This was definitely not what I said.' The furore began when a netizen claiming to be Lee's former assistant released in April a poor-quality audio recording that lasted about 30 seconds on Chinese social media platform Weibo. In the recording, which features a lot of background noise and some muffled words, a woman is heard saying she is 'doing this not for fame, but for money' and that 'most people in China are idiots'. It is not confirmed if it is Lee's voice in the clip. The incident gained traction after the China and Taiwanese media reported on it in the past few days. Lee - the daughter of Taiwan-born Singapore TV host Quan Yifeng and her former husband, local actor Peter Yu - wrote in her post in Chinese: 'I didn't come forward in the first instance because we are also sorting out the facts, hoping to give a satisfactory answer to people who care about me. I will use my own actions to prove my attitude, and welcome everyone to supervise me in the future.' The Taiwan-born actress added in her statement that she was born in China and has spent nearly half her life in the country after moving there from Singapore at the age of 16. China views Taiwan as its own territory. Lee first gained prominence in China in 2015 after appearing in an Apple China commercial directed by award-winning Hong Kong film-maker Ann Hui. The starlet then began to pursue acting in China and started studying at the prestigious Beijing Film Academy in 2017. She has starred in Chinese TV series such as Solaso Bistro (2017), My Poseidon (2019) and My Love, Enlighten Me (2020). Lee also featured in the Chinese movie The Enchanting Phantom (2020), a remake of the 1987 Hong Kong film A Chinese Ghost Story. She played beautiful ghost Nie Xiaoqian, who was portrayed by Taiwanese actress Joey Wong in the original classic. 'I have received many opportunities and (much) assistance here, and have been able to shine in my favourite career,' she wrote. 'I am completely in love with and grateful for this land, and I will never waver in any of my stances on any issue related to China.' Lee is starring in an upcoming Chinese period drama, The Journey Of Legend. However, there has been talk that she was removed from the cast list after her name did not appear on one of the pinned posts dated April 9 on The Journey Of Legend's Weibo account. Based on a novel by Malaysia-born author Woon Swee Oan, The Journey Of Legend also stars Chinese actor Cheng Yi and Chinese actress Gulnazar Bextiyar. Lee plays one of the main characters, Tang Fang. The Journey Of Legend wrapped up filming in October 2024. The show has not announced its official premiere date, but some netizens speculated the airing of the drama might be affected by Lee's alleged remarks. Lee also shared a statement by her agency in her post on May 10. It noted that some users on social media have maliciously spread false information about the actress, which seriously damaged her reputation. 'Eleanor Lee has always respected and loved Chinese culture,' the agency said. 'For many years, she has been actively studying the Chinese language and taking part in Chinese film and TV productions, and is committed to promoting cultural exchanges.' It stressed that the recording and other related content circulating online are fabricated and untrue. It also urged internet users to stop circulating them, adding that it will take legal action against those who continue to do so. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
