Cynthia Koh cheekily fulfils promise to ‘wear nothing at all’ if she wins a Star Award

Anna Maria Romero

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May 1, 2022

Cynthia Koh cheekily fulfils promise to ‘wear nothing at all’ if she wins a Star Award

When she was nominated for this year’s Top 10 Most Popular Female Artistes award at the Star Awards last Sunday (Apr 24), actress Cynthia Koh, 48, proclaimed that she would “wear nothing at all” if she won.

Making reference to a daring gown she had worn on a previous red carpet event, Ms Koh joked, “I know everyone saw that blue dress I wore, and it must have been memorable. If you vote for me, maybe I’ll wear nothing.”

In December of last year, the actress turned heads at the Asian Academy Creative Awards red carpet in a blue Michael Kors gown constructed with gold rings that showed plenty of skin.

Maybe her little quip ended up being her lucky charm, but Ms Koh ended up bagging her third award in three decades last Sunday.

“This is my best present in 30 years of acting. I don’t think it comes late. It comes in exchange for patience and hard work,” CNA reports the actress as saying after the show.

In an Instagram post on Saturday (Apr 30), Ms Koh showed that she had not forgotten what she said when the nominations for the Star Awards were announced.

She captioned it, “A night to remember…..

I know I promised everyone that if I win 我什么都不穿。

Scroll to the last picture. If you are under 18 , please seek parental guidance. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣”

The photos showed Ms Koh in the beautiful multicolored gown she wore to the award, along with members of her styling team as well as fellow honorees and other friends from the entertainment industry, but the last photo she posted was a very special one.

The final photo is a picture, in sepia, of baby Cynthia in a bathtub. Of course, in this context it’s fitting that she wore “nothing at all.”

The photo drew cheers from friends and fans alike.

/TISG

Star Media Awards: Lin Meijjao wins best-supporting actress for My Star Bride

Mega supercar meet in Kallang brings car enthusiasts together but police on motorbikes join the scene

In the Hood

The Independent

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May 1, 2022

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Mega supercar meet in Kallang brings car enthusiasts together but police on motorbikes join the scene

People of all backgrounds and vehicles of all setups gathered on Friday (Apr 29) for a Mega Meet organised by car enthusiast website Basement 1.

“Everyone is welcomed. All makes, all vehicles, photographers, enthusiasts, spotters or whoever you may be!” said Basement 1 in its Facebook post of the event, noting it has waited two years to make it happen.

Based on a TikTok video uploaded on Saturday (Apr 30) by @mcspicyumyum, car enthusiasts and vehicles, vintage and modern, showed up for the event.

From a Lancer Evo VII, Porsche 911, Audi R8 and Subaru STI to a 7th Gen Toyota Corolla and the iconic Toyota Sprinter Trueno AE86 from Initial D, the consecutive sound of engines revving gave car enthusiasts much satisfaction and excitement.

Amid the cheer and celebration, three Traffic Police officers on motorcycles arrived at the scene.

“We got visitors,” wrote TikTok user @yarobthebob in a separate video.

Basement 1 did note in its announcement to “expect law enforcement to be there” due to the changes in Covid-19 regulations.

“We cannot promise that it will be a night without them, but if we all come in peace and do our part without being a nuisance, we believe it wouldn’t get us in trouble,” it said.

The organisers reminded everyone to refrain from blocking traffic going in and out of the Kallang carpark and to be considerate to the patrons of the nearby commercial establishments.

In an Instagram post on Saturday, Basement 1 said it was aware of the TP’s presence at the event.

“They did not take action as they actually already knew of this event and gave the green light to proceed as it was very clear that no rules were being broken to organise a meet.”

However, people were being irresponsible at the end of the meet; therefore, law enforcement had to take action, said Basement 1.

“The purpose of the meet was for all automotive enthusiasts to socialise and enjoy each other’s cars and bikes parked at the venue,” it noted.

“Every individual person at the venue who decides to be irresponsible should understand that actions have consequences, and no matter how small these actions are, it will be a reflection of the entire meetup and the people who attendee for the intended reasons,” said Basement 1, noting it would host more events but require the cooperation of everyone to act responsibly./TISG

@mcspicyumyum

mega meet #tiktoksg #cartok #bsmnt1 #carsoftiktok #fyp #intothenight

♬ original sound – honeycomb – honeycomb

10-month-old boy diagnosed with acute hepatitis, origin unknown, MOH investigating case

Singapore News

The Independent

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May 1, 2022

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10-month-old boy diagnosed with acute hepatitis, origin unknown, MOH investigating case

The Ministry of Health (MOH) said on Saturday (Apr 30) that it was investigating a case of a 10-month-old baby boy diagnosed with hepatitis (liver inflammation) of unknown cause.

The child was brought to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital Emergency Department on Apr 25 and has been warded at the hospital for investigation.

It was reported that the child and his household contacts are well.

In its statement, MOH said that it was investigating the case to determine if it is similar to the other cases of acute hepatitis of unknown cause reported by the World Health Organization (WHO).

On Apr 5, WHO said it was notified of 10 cases of severe acute hepatitis of unknown aetiology in children under the age of 10 years across central Scotland.

By Apr 8, 74 cases were identified in the United Kingdom.

WHO said on Apr 23 that there have been continuing further reports of such cases, and investigations are ongoing for the causative agent.

As of Apr 21, at least 169 cases have been reported worldwide, affecting children aged one month to 16 years old.

Approximately 10 per cent or 17 children have required liver transplantation, and at least one death has been reported, said WHO.

MOH also revealed that the infant was infected with Covid-19 in December last year, but there is no evidence to date that acute hepatitis is linked to the virus.

“Laboratory testing has determined the case to be negative for the common viruses that cause hepatitis,” said a MOH representative in a Straits Times report.

“MOH is monitoring the situation closely and has informed all medical practitioners to be vigilant to young children presenting signs and symptoms of hepatitis for which a cause cannot be identified.”

MOH urged parents and guardians to be alert to the signs of hepatitis such as dark urine, pale, grey coloured faces, jaundice, itchy skin, fever, nausea, muscle or joint pain, vomiting or abdominal pain or loss of appetite.

They are advised to seek early medical attention should symptoms arise.

“Normal hygiene measures such as hand-washing and good respiratory hygiene help to reduce the spread of many common infections, including adenovirus infection,” added MOH./TISG

MOH: NUH did not contribute to the miscarriage of woman who allegedly lost her baby after being left unattended for two hours

Town Council on leave? Pile of trash blocks hallway in Yishun

The Independent

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May 1, 2022

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Town Council on leave? Pile of trash blocks hallway in Yishun

A concerned resident in Yishun questioned the presence of his town council after spotting a large pile of trash in their common lobby.

“This was seen at 426C Yishun Avenue 11. The town council on leave,” wrote Facebook page Complaint Singapore member Steven Tan on Saturday (Apr 30).

He attached a photo of a pile of trash, consisting of a couple of bulky items like a bed, shelf and fridge.

Photo: FB screengrab/Complaint Singapore

Members of the online community commented on the post, asking why the man blamed the town council or cleaners when it should be the residents’ responsibility to dispose of their trash properly.

“Why blame the town council? You mean they have sixth sense to stand by their cleaners where they have seen visions of trash being thrown? Moreover, it’s a super long weekend. Cleaners are human beings too. They need their rest. The onus is on the people dumping their trash, not the TC,” said Facebook user Francesco Mikhail.

Others noted how complacency could occur from being too reliant on the cleaners or TC.

“Just goes to show how the residents are too complacent having TC to clean up after their mess. Don’t blame TC for having a rest day,” said Facebook user Afiqah Binte Yusof.

Meanwhile, other netizens highlighted another possible issue: scavengers.

“This one looks like it was thrown properly in bags. But at night, people open the plastic bags to ransack and find things and leave them in a mess,” said Facebook user Diana Dee.

“It’s the scavengers. I have seen people disposing properly in bags or boxes, but these people dig through and then throw them aside after taking what they wanted,” added Facebook user Angelica Sera.

Residents with furniture and other bulky items needing disposal can call their respective TC during office hours to request the service. Most allow up to three moveable items per household per month free of charge./TISG

HDB trash buildup by inconsiderate residents blocks chute, common problem for many

Viral Video: Groom watches livestream of bride walking down the aisle from outside because of change in Covid rules

Anna Maria Romero

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May 1, 2022

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Viral Video: Groom watches livestream of bride walking down the aisle from outside because of change in Covid rules

A sudden change in Covid-19 testing regulations forced one groom in China to watch the beginning of his own wedding being live-streamed as he sat outside the venue on Apr 26.

Instead of being sad, however, the groom, who has been identified as a Mr Deng, can be seen grinning widely at his bride walking down the aisle as he watches on his mobile phone, sitting on a kerb outside the hotel where they had booked their wedding.

Neither is he lonely, as he seemed to be surrounded by friends who were taking photos and videos of him and laughing.

“The wedding has started but the groom is outside,” one of the people who were with the groom can be heard saying.

The nine-second video of Mr Deng has gone viral on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, where it’s been viewed over 210 million times, according to a story on insider.com.

The video carried the hashtag “the groom did not get a Covid test and squatted outside to watch wedding live stream,” the story added.

On Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, the bride and groom themselves clarified what happened on their wedding day.

“We were told that we only needed to have a negative Covid PCR test result done within four days to enter the venue. But at 12 noon on April 26, the hotel told us that everyone had to have a negative test result that was done within 48 hours,” he said.

Since his test had lapsed by then, he suddenly had to rush to the nearest clinic to get another one done, along with around 20 guests who were also not allowed to enter the hotel as their PCR tests were outdated by the time the wedding began.

Hence the need to wait outside the venue until Mr Deng’s results arrived.

Nevertheless, the wedding schedule got delayed, and because the guests were getting impatient, he and his bride, Ms Xiaojie, opted for her to walk down the aisle escorted by her parents.

Breaking tradition, the wedding began with a banquet so that guests would not have to go hungry. Ms Xiaojie’s parents also told the guests what was going on and made their thank-you speeches while waiting for the groom’s results.

Mr Deng was finally allowed into the hotel at 4:43 pm, and the couple tied the knot at 6:00 pm, four hours after the scheduled start of the ceremony.

/TISG

Filipino maid, 27 years of service, left her S’pore employer 3 years ago, was like the bride’s second mother, secretly flown back to surprise bride at her wedding so that she can meet her yaya again

Man often dines in alone but orders for 8, setting up table for his ‘family’

In the Hood

The Independent

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May 1, 2022

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Man often dines in alone but orders for 8, setting up table for his ‘family’

An image of an elderly man dining alone with the seats around him all set up for a meal is circulating online, sparking comments that there could be more to the scene than meets the eye.

Radio station Facebook page ZAYAN posted the heartwrenching images on Apr 25, noting that the man was at an eatery in Malaysia.

Nearby customers spotted the man carefully arranging the plates and drinks and fixing the chairs to ensure that everything was in order.

He also ordered enough food for eight individuals. However, after some time had passed, no one arrived to join the elderly man.

He then ate alone, as if nothing was amiss.

Other customers then asked the restaurant staff for more information, and it was revealed that this was not the first time the man had ordered eight dishes and drinks. In fact, he would do so two to three times a week.

The restaurant staff said the man could be sharing a meal with his family. “That’s just him. He does this all the time by ordering eight portions of food and drinks. He said he’s dining in with his family, but we don’t know if they’re still alive,” said the restaurant waiter.

The customer also noticed the man talking to himself as if he was having a conversation with people around him in the otherwise empty seats.

At one point, another customer bumped into one of the chairs, causing the elderly man to reposition the seat calmly and resume his meal.

The post noted that this could be a coping mechanism or a way for the man to relive the precious moments with his family as they gathered around the table.

The scene tugged on the hearts of the original poster and many netizens who wished the man all the best as he enjoys the peaceful moment with his family./TISG

Heartwarming story of Chinese elderly couple making sure chocolate is halal before buying it for Malay neighbour

Buy Term Invest the Rest: What it Means & Why People Are Opting For It

Personal Finance

valuechampion

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May 1, 2022

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Buy Term Invest the Rest: What it Means & Why People Are Opting For It

In recent years, the “Buy Term Invest the Rest (BTIR)” strategy has been the mantra of many financial advisors and insurance agents.

But why is the BTIR strategy gaining traction in Singapore? Simply put, it is an alternative to regular insurance plans in Singapore where you purchase insurance at lower premiums and use the difference to invest instead.

In this article, we get down to the nitty-gritty of BTIR so that you can decide if it is right for you. From the definition of BTIR to the pros and cons of this strategy, here’s all you need to know.

What “Buy Term Invest the Rest” Means

Before we dive right into the details of a BTIR strategy, it is paramount to understand the distinction between term life and whole life insurance in Singapore. It is because the BTIR strategy is an extension of these two types of life insurance plans.

Product

What is it

Term Life Insurance

The fundamental purpose of term life insurance is protection. Term life insurance provides insurance coverage for a fixed period of time, usually between 10 and 30 years or up to a specific age.
If you invest in a term life policy of 15 years, you will pay insurance premiums throughout this period. If a claimable event occurs within those 15 years, your family will receive a lump sum payout.
Should you not claim anything during the period, the policy will terminate, and you will not receive any payouts.
Additionally, you will not get any cash returns at the end of the policy. For these reasons, term life insurance is cheaper than whole life insurance.

Whole Life Insurance

Whole life insurance provides lifelong protection for you. Cash value is built through the investment of part of your premium, allowing you to grow your savings.
However, it depends on whether you invest in a participating, non-participating, or investment-linked policy. You also have the option of paying your premiums in advance. For these reasons, whole life insurance is typically more expensive than term life insurance.

With a better understanding of term life and whole life insurance, you must wonder, how is it related to the BTIR strategy? BTIR is the idea of purchasing term insurance with the same coverage as whole life insurance and investing the difference in annual premiums.

Term life insurance has lower annual premiums than whole life insurance while offering similar coverage to whole life plans.

With a lower premium, buying term life insurance allows you to use the difference in premiums for investments. Theoretically, you should be able to yield better investment returns if you invest the difference at a higher rate of return.

Thus, the value of the invested difference should surpass the cash value of the whole life plan at the end of the period.

How “Buy Term Invest the Rest” Can Help You

The BTIR strategy offers a myriad of benefits. Some of which include flexibility, lower costs and the ability to grow your savings. Here, we give you a quick rundown of the benefits that you will gain from employing the BTIR strategy.

It Is More Flexible Than Life Insurance

Early termination of whole life insurance policies might result in a loss due to hefty premiums or surrender charges.

Unlike life insurance, you have the flexibility to cease your BTIR coverage anytime you need to. Should you encounter an unexpected financial emergency, the ability to stop your investment and liquidate your funds comes in handy.

You will be able to meet your cash demands at short notice. Best of all, you can keep your insurance coverage and not incur penalties or additional charges.

Cheaper Annual Premiums

Term life insurance is significantly cheaper than whole life insurance plans. For a 35-year-old non-smoking male with a policy term of 20 years and a S$400,000 sum assured, you are looking to pay:

Term Life Insurance
Policy	Annual Premium	Coverage
Singlife with Aviva (MyProtector-Term Plan II)	S$521	Death, TPD & Terminal Illness
AIA (AIA Secure Flexi Term)	S$448	Death, TPD & Terminal Cancer
TokioMarine (TM Term Assure II)	S$412	Death, TPD & Terminal Illness

Whole Life Insurance
Policy	Annual Premium	Coverage
Income (Star Assure)	S$10,224	Death, TPD & Terminal Illness

As seen from the tables, the average annual premium for term life is S$460 for a policy term of 20 years with a sum assured of S$400,000.

With a similar sum assured, you are looking to pay about S$10,000 in annual premiums for whole life insurance.

From this example, you can see that term life insurance is more affordable than whole life insurance. Following the BTIR model, you can then invest the difference between the premiums of both plans.

Grow Your Savings Even More

What should you do with the savings you earn using the BTIR model? You’ll need to invest the premiums saved to make the BTIR model potentially worthwhile. For one, you can put the savings into your CPF Special Account. By doing so, your savings will compound at a rate of 4% per annum.

Alternatively, if you are a seasoned investor, you can also invest your premium saved in the stock market for potentially higher returns. By using some of the best online brokerages, you can earn significantly higher returns from the stock market if you invest correctly.

The BTIR model gives you absolute control over your investment strategy as you can choose options that will best suit your personality, lifestyle and risk appetite.

Drawbacks of “Buy Term Invest the Rest”

Undoubtedly, any investment strategy comes with its drawbacks. What are some disadvantages of adopting the BTIR strategy?

BTIR Only Works If You Invest

The main benefit of adopting the BTIR model is that you must actually invest the premiums you save. If you do not do so, the BTIR model renders ineffective. Unfortunately, active investment requires time and effort and is easier said than done as it requires constant market analysis. Understanding the various valuation and investment Strategies can also be challenging.

Moreover, it can be tempting to spend the money saved on premiums instead. Even if you do not end up spending it, you might leave it idle in a bank account. If the bank account offers low-interest rates, the cash might lose value to inflation.

Investments Can Be Risky

Have you heard of the phrase – high risk, high reward? That’s right, even though some investments promise high rewards, it usually comes with high risks. There is no guarantee that you will make money on your investments.

In fact, you should be prepared for losses as well. More often than not, behavioural biases lead individuals to make poor investment decisions, such as jumping into the latest “hot stock” or being reluctant to abandon a stock when it is not doing well since they have invested heavily in it.

Additionally, the volatility and unpredictability of the market can also contribute to your losses. Hence, it is imperative that you equip yourself with investing knowledge if you want to adopt the BTIR strategy and invest on your own.

Might Have Inadequate Coverage in the Long Run

The success of the BTIR model lies in your capability to manage your investments over a prolonged period across various market conditions. You will also need to achieve a rate of return that is sufficiently higher than what you will get from whole life insurance.

If you fail to do so, you might find yourself in a vulnerable position without adequate coverage for your retirement. By then, you will not be able to buy term life or whole life insurance at a reasonable cost.

In this scenario, it would have been better for you to purchase a whole life policy when you were younger.

alt=”insurance policy paper” width=”480″insurance-policy-paper.jpg[/image

It Is Time to Start Planning for Your Retirement

Ultimately, it is up to your discretion when choosing an investment strategy for your retirement.

Discovering what works best for you and your personal needs will aid your decision-making. If you can actively invest in the premium difference, the BTIR strategy might be suitable. If not, you might want to stick to term life or whole life insurance.

We hope that we have helped put you in a better position to evaluate the BTIR strategy in determining if it is what’s best for you. Looking for insurance quotes from some of the best insurance companies in Singapore? Check it out here.

Read Also:

The article Buy Term Invest the Rest: What it Means & Why People Are Opting For It originally appeared on ValueChampion.

ValueChampion helps you find the most relevant information to optimise your personal finances. Like us on our Facebook page to keep up to date with our latest news and articles.

Lawrence Wong and team begin anew with LKY debt already overpaid

Tan Bah Bah

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May 1, 2022

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Lawrence Wong and team begin anew with LKY debt already overpaid

Singapore is at mid-term between its general elections and a year away from the next presidential election. There is still some time before GE2025 though it is not that far off, especially as the ruling party has only just settled its leadership transition mini-crisis caused by the inadequacy of the 4Gers’ first choice as Prime Minister-designate. PE2023 seems a less problematic challenge.

The establishment has no lack of contenders to replace Halimah Yacob, the incumbent office-holder. As I speculated last week, current People’s Action Party chairman, Khaw Boon Wan, seems a strong possibility to be the next establishment candidate. Someone reacted to the column and suggested Lim Boon Heng, Temasek Holdings chairman. Cannot be ruled out, of course. But that was immediately shot down by another astute political observer. He said Lim has been rewarded enough collecting big gaji in Temasek. Time to let someone else be rewarded.

The PE is still an evolving office and much at the mercy of a one-party dominant government. Wikipedia: “Since the constitutional amendments made in 2016, a presidential election will be reserved for a community in Singapore if no one from that community has been president for any of the five most recent terms of office of the president. The communities are the Chinese community, the Malay community, and the Indian or other minority communities. Candidates are required to satisfy the usual qualification criteria. The 2017 election was the first reserved election and was reserved for the Malay community.”

Next year is necessarily an open race competition, unless it is determined, for whatever reason, that Eurasians have not had their turn since Benjamin Sheares in 1971-1981. Hard to tell. Maybe, new rules will pop up – like, not for those with surname Tan? (Satirical comment here).

Whether it is PE2023 or GE2025, do I detect a certain slight swagger in the demeanor of the People’s Action Party?

The party is pretty confident that it has come out on top of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis. There is a feeling that the new leaders have bonded with voters, the way that 1G and 2G leaders, especially the founding 1Gers, have earned their spurs. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong seized on the word “trust”: “This trust is a most precious resource. It is the fundamental reason why Singaporeans were able to come together during the pandemic, instead of working against each other.” He was referring primarily to trust in the healthcare system but it was also OPO (Ownself Praise Ownself) for the Multi-Ministry Task Force.

This brings us to Lawrence Wong, now chosen as leader of the 4G team to take over from PM Lee and his team.

And predictably, perhaps to his discomfit, mainstream media has gone to town on his background as it tries to tell more about Singapore’s fourth PM-in-waiting. One can now imagine Wong doing a heavy metal guitar duet with Indonesian President Joko Widodo, who is a well-known Metallica fan, one day at an ASEAN meeting.

I wish Lawrence Wong and his team well. But, let them not misjudge the political mood and, much more significant, the unswerving determination of younger Singaporeans to have a less PAP-dominated Parliament.

The PAP made a number of mistakes in GE2020. It persisted in forcing Heng Swee Keat onto the electorate when clearly he was not up to it, nor was the voters interested. That was shown by the results for East Coast GRC.

It thought holding GE2020 in the midst of a crisis could put the Opposition at a disadvantage. The decision simply forced the Workers’ Party and others to be more creative and do better. And they did with their fresher and more personalised online campaigns.

Above all, the PAP totally misinterpreted the swing back in 2015 from 2011 as voters came back to their senses. Not so. Singaporeans were simply paying their debt to Lee Kuan Yew who passed away that year. In fact, Singaporeans have already overpaid in supporting his son.

Lawrence Wong and his team will start anew. They must not take over with the misinterpretation that Pritam Singh and the Workers’ Party have been crippled. The mood for a political change, for a more inclusive society, has not been dampened by the Raeesah Khan saga. It has been strengthened.

Tan Bah Bah, consulting editor of TheIndependent.Sg, is a former senior leader writer with The Straits Times. He was also managing editor of a local magazine publishing company.

Justin Lin, Fast & Furious Director, Announces Departure from FAST X

The Independent

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May 1, 2022

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Justin Lin, Fast & Furious Director, Announces Departure from FAST X

Despite the fact that the new Fast X filming has already started, its director Justin Lin has left the set, stating that he will no longer be directing the tenth installment of the Fast and Furious franchise. Lin said his reason for leaving was due to “creative differences”.

The director who co-wrote Fast X with Dan Mazeau said, ”With the support of Universal, I have made the difficult decision to step back as director of Fast X while remaining with the project as a producer.

Over 10 years and five films, we have been able to shoot the best actors, the best stunts, and the best damn car chases. On a personal note, as the child of Asian immigrants, I am proud of helping build the most diverse franchise in movie history,” said the director in a statement explaining his departure.

Meanwhile, production of the film will come to a standstill as replacements for Lin are considered.

Justin Lin’s involvement with the Fast & Furious franchise started with The Fast & Furious: Tokyo Drift in 2006. He then went on to direct four more installments in 2009, 2011, 2013, and 2021.

His contribution to the franchise includes introducing the fan-favorite character Han in Tokyo Drift and reuniting the core cast in the follow-up film. Justin Lin’s work on the fifth and sixth installments helped make the franchise a cultural mainstay.

Fast X will see the return of franchise favorites such as Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriquez, Sung Kang, Ludacris, and Tyrese Gibson with new additions like Brie Larson and Jason Momoa who plays a villain. Charlize Theron will also return as Cipher, the cyber-terrorist.

Though the franchise has seen ups and downs of late, it remains profitable, with Fast & Furious 9 raking in $700 million at the global box office despite being released during the height of the pandemic.

The friction that has caught the most attention in the media is the feud between Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson. The two action heroes have exchanged harsh words in social media captions and interview quotes, although Vin Diesel did try to get Johnson to put aside their differences and return for the final installment.

This altercation has also fuelled rumors that issues with Diesel and Lin could have caused Justin Lin’s exit.

The post Fast & Furious director Justin Lin quits Fast X appeared first on The Independent News.

Fast and Furious actor slams writer – Singapore News

Brie Larson joins the cast of Fast & Furious 10 – Singapore News

Customers say ‘food is overpriced & taste not worth second try’ but Café owner @ Orchard Central says, ‘price on menu, we don’t pressure buying & we appreciate you never coming back’

The Independent

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May 1, 2022

0

Customers say ‘food is overpriced & taste not worth second try’ but Café owner @ Orchard Central says, ‘price on menu, we don’t pressure buying & we appreciate you never coming back’

Grain Alley, a café at Orchard Central, appears to have missed the memo on business ethics and has gone viral for its comebacks/responses to negative feedback & reviews.

The café has received multiple complaints about its “no laptop, no tablet policy”, which customers deemed a “turn off”, especially for a “half-filled café”.

‘No laptop, no tablet policy, but cafe is totally empty’

When the customer advised the café to put up house rules signs, the café responded, “It doesn’t matter even if we’re devoid of people. We’re a work-free space, and this is stated on every table, and at both entrances, we really don’t know how else to make this more visible.”

“Often wondered about people who write reviews that reflect their objectionable nature and reveal their questionable character,” the business continued.

‘Too expensive’

‘1-Star = Die-die won’t come back here again!’

‘Overpriced? Price clearly on the menu, we don’t pressure buying’

It appears that the café also doesn’t let things pass and would include the original posts of the reviewers who later lowered their ratings to prove their point.

More brutal comebacks!

“Hope this isn’t your modus operandi as your review contains inaccurate information, half-truths and outright lies,” said the Google Business profile moderator on one occasion.

“You’re such an insolent kid. Btw, take a shower; you smell,” it said in another response.

It seems that netizens have caught wind of the savage comebacks and are now leaving reviews focusing on the café’s “foul mouth” and giving them even more 1-star ratings.

Power of social media

“If there’s one thing you didn’t learn in this day and age. It’s how quickly bad ethics get blown off in social media,” said Google local reviewer Song Kwong Wee on Apr 28.

Grain Alley posted its “full and final statement to put everything into context” on Instagram on Thursday (Apr 28), addressing the backlash.

“The main reason we not only survived the pandemic and thrived despite it with its related difficulties is because of them (its staff),” said the 28-month-old café, noting it would always choose its staff over “unreasonable” customers.

“On a final note. While no damage was done as staff morale is higher than usual, and sales have risen dramatically due to the ongoing publicity,” it added.

A quick Google search shows that the café has 944 reviews, with an average 4.7-star rating. This isn’t half bad, given that Google Business profile owners can’t simply delete negative reviews.

The café has numerous 5-star reviews, with customers saying that it offers “one of the best Americano coffees in Singapore.”

For such ratings, the business would urge the customer to show their review on their next visit for a complimentary item.

However, a potential customer looking for a place to eat recently stumbled on the reviews, noting the high ratings appeared to be “incentivized,” which goes against Google’s policies.

The individual then saw how negative reviews were handled, reported Mothership.

Sustaining business image & operation

Those who work in the food and beverage industry know that customer service and taste are crucial to the business’s success. They also know that some customers can indeed transform into unreasonable critics when leaving reviews, even though they were otherwise pleasant to serve when they dined in, while the rest are more reasonable in their reviews than others.

Even so, when a food business can fully justify that a customer is being ignorant and borderline ridiculous with their statements online, there are better and civil ways the management could approach and address the issue.

Slapping back in frustration along with personal attacks on such customers will only portray a poor business image and lack of professionalism in the public eye, and will certainly not help sustain its operation in the long run. /TISG

After rude customer lectures hawker, Kf Seetoh argues, ‘Eateries & hawkers should review customers… they have a right too’

What “Buy Term Invest the Rest” Means

How “Buy Term Invest the Rest” Can Help You

It Is More Flexible Than Life Insurance

Cheaper Annual Premiums

Grow Your Savings Even More

Drawbacks of “Buy Term Invest the Rest”

BTIR Only Works If You Invest

Investments Can Be Risky

Might Have Inadequate Coverage in the Long Run

It Is Time to Start Planning for Your Retirement

Read Also:

‘No laptop, no tablet policy, but cafe is totally empty’

‘Too expensive’

‘1-Star = Die-die won’t come back here again!’

‘Overpriced? Price clearly on the menu, we don’t pressure buying’

More brutal comebacks!

Power of social media

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