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BTS RM’s LOST music video wins international awards for Best Production Design and Alternative Video at UK MV Awards 2024

Lydia Koh
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BTS RM’s LOST music video wins international awards for Best Production Design and Alternative Video at UK MV Awards 2024

KOREA: As reported by PINKVILLA, on Oct 25, the UK Music Video Awards 2024 honoured some of the industry’s most innovative talents, with BTS’ RM taking home awards for Best Production Design and Alternative Video International for his music video LOST!

This dual recognition delighted fans, as RM celebrated the moment on Instagram, marking a significant milestone in his artistic path.

May 24, 2024, saw the release of LOST! derived from his second studio album and lead single for Right Place, Wrong Person.

It delves into themes of self-improvement and disillusionment. The song’s introspective lyrics, including “I thought that I was special and we would be together, but I’ve never been so wrong.

Now I’m lost, lost, lost, lost,” resonates with listeners facing the challenges of expectation and self-realization.

RM’s emotive delivery and whimsical yet upbeat sound create a powerful contrast that draws listeners into his reflective journey.

Photo: Wikipedia/RM

Self-acceptance and identity

Directed by Aube Perrie, the video for LOST! beautifully visualizes the song’s themes.

It portrays multiple versions of RM navigating a surreal landscape, each representing different facets of his personality as they search for self-balance.

The video’s symbolic environment, filled with whimsical and reflective elements, mirrors the complex path of self-acceptance and identity.

The video, also recognised for its cinematography at the Berlin Commercial Awards, showcases the skill of Director of Photography Sehoon Jang and the creative direction of San Yawn, alongside RM, Audrey Kang, David H. Lee, and others.

Their combined talent brought dynamic visuals to life, using light and shadow to reflect RM’s emotional landscape.

LOST! reinforces RM’s reputation as an artist who seamlessly blends music with striking visual storytelling, securing his place as a trailblazer in both realms.

BTS member

RM, also known as Kim Nam-joon, is the talented leader, main rapper, and songwriter of the globally renowned boy group BTS.

Born on Sept 12, 1994, in Seoul, South Korea, RM has been passionate about music since a young age.

He started his career in the underground Korean hip-hop scene before joining Big Hit Entertainment and debuting as a member of BTS in 2013.

BLACKPINK’s Rosé makes history with ‘APT.’—Scores highest chart ranking for female K-Pop act in the UK!

Lydia Koh
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0
BLACKPINK’s Rosé makes history with ‘APT.’—Scores highest chart ranking for female K-Pop act in the UK!

KOREA: According to Soompi, BLACKPINK’s Rosé has broken new ground for K-pop in the United Kingdom!

On Oct 25 (local time), the U.K.’s Official Charts—often seen as the British counterpart to the U.S. Billboard charts—revealed that Rosé’s latest collaborative single with Bruno Mars, “APT.,” entered the Official Singles Chart at No. 4.

Photo: Instagram/Rosé

Historic achievement

This accomplishment marks a historic achievement for Rosé, setting a new benchmark as the highest-ranking female K-pop artist on the Official Singles Chart, including group performances.

In addition to this chart entry, “APT.” reached No. 1 on the Official Singles Downloads Chart this week and also debuted at No. 3 on the Official Singles Sales Chart.

Rosé previously made waves on the Official Singles Chart three years ago, becoming the first female K-pop solo artist to ever appear on it when her debut solo single, “On The Ground,” landed at No. 43.

Congratulations to Rosé on setting another remarkable record!

Catchy music

YG Entertainment formed the South Korean girl group BLACKPINK.

They debuted in 2016 and quickly gained international recognition for their catchy music, powerful performances, and stylish visuals. Jisoo, Lisa, Rosé and Jennie are the group’s four members.

The group is known for their “girl crush” concept, which emphasizes confidence, independence, and strong female energy.

Their songs frequently have provocative lyrics, strong beats, and appealing hooks. Among their most well-known songs are “How You Like That,” “Kill This Love,” “DDU-DU DDU-DU,” and “Pink Venom.”

Unique vocal style

Rosé, also known as Park Chae-young, is a talented singer and dancer from BLACKPINK. Born in New Zealand to Korean parents, she spent her early years in Australia before moving to South Korea to pursue her music career.

Known for her unique vocal style and captivating stage presence, Rosé has quickly become a beloved member of BLACKPINK.

Her smooth vocals and powerful high notes have earned her recognition as one of the best female vocalists in K-pop.

S’poreans wonder if Grab’s full return to office is a ‘retrenchment exercise’ or ‘indirect layoffs’

Anna Maria Romero
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S’poreans wonder if Grab’s full return to office is a ‘retrenchment exercise’ or ‘indirect layoffs’

SINGAPORE: It’s back to pre-pandemic days for the employees of Grab Singapore beginning from Dec 2. The company told workers they will need to go back to the office full time, five days a week, at a town hall meeting on Thursday (Oct 24).

“Increasing face-to-face collaboration will accelerate progress and enhance integration across our ecosystem and business units,” Anthony Tan, the company’s CEO, wrote in an email.

He added that going back to work every day aligns with Grab’s goals to achieve more for its mission as well as drive faster growth.

The gap between the announcement allows employees to have an adjustment period before full-time work-from-office starts on the first Monday of December, especially for those with personal or caregiving duties.

“We understand that this may feel like a significant shift after three years of hybrid work, and it may require adjustment for some of us,” CNA quotes Mr Tan as saying in an email.

However, flexible hours are not completely off the table for Grab employees with special circumstances.

Mr Tan’s email said that workers with urgent personal or family situations may request to work offsite or from their homes.

CNA reported that the move to a full WFO situation for Grab does not come as a surprise, as the company appears to have been getting its employees more and more ready for it beginning last year.

An employee quoted by CNA said that Grab had become stricter regarding working from the office, saying that the company had warned of disciplinary action for those who fail to comply with return-to-work orders.

Grab appears to be following in the footsteps of other tech companies that have implemented full WFO, including Amazon.

Amazon announced in September that the hybrid scheme it put in place during Covid days would end by Jan 2, 2025.

“We’ve decided that we’re going to return to being in the office the way we were before the onset of COVID,” Amazon CEO Andy Jassy wrote.

Some commenters on Reddit wondered, however, if the move to full WFO is a “retrenchment exercise.”

One said that the current market is in favor of the employers, who are in the position to demand that workers be physically present.

Another opined that if this is so, it may be to the disadvantage of employers since only employees who can’t find work elsewhere are guaranteed to stay.

“Every time companies do ‘indirect layoffs’ like this, they are getting rid of their capable workers that can find other jobs,” another opined. /TISG

Read also: Can Amazon’s back-to-office announcement mean layoffs are coming? Singaporeans weigh in

Shrinkflation: Diners are saying KFC chicken pieces are smaller than condiment packets

Anna Maria Romero
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0
Shrinkflation: Diners are saying KFC chicken pieces are smaller than condiment packets

SINGAPORE: Over the past week, a couple of netizens online have complained that the chicken pieces at KFC have shrunk, though prices have not.

A Facebook user named Kenneth Tan posted on the COMPLAINT SINGAPORE Facebook page a photo of the breakfast he ordered at the popular fast food chain, where the piece of chicken isn’t very big.

He held a packet of chili sauce beside the chicken piece, and the condiment packet was even longer.

For comparison’s sake, Mr Tan also posted a photo of the image of the meal offer, which showed a chicken piece that was significantly bigger, even longer than the diameter of the pancakes in the meal, quite unlike the meal Mr Tan was served.

FB screengrab/ COMPLAINT SINGAPORE/ Kenneth Tan

The post author wrote that he was unsurprised that KFC has “so few customers,” and asked whether he received a chicken nugget rather than an actual chicken piece.

A number of commenters on Mr Tan’s post wrote that they noticed the same, not only with KFC but also with other fast food companies such as Burger King.

However, the majority of commenters took KFC to task for what they perceived as smaller portions of its food servings.

“Even the original chicken seems to be smaller than before, for a price at $4.35 per piece,” wrote one.

Another noted that its takeaway mashed potato and coleslaw are only half the size they used to be.

“Everything about KFC has shrunk. Not worth it,” a Facebook user wrote.

In a Reddit Singapore thread, another netizen posted a photo of a chicken drumstick that was roughly the same length as a chili sauce packet.

Reddit screengrab/ u/NappyPika

The post author asked, “How’s everyone’s experience with shrinkflated food / fast food / restaurant 😅?”

One commenter wrote that the only thing he still enjoys are the S$5 combo specials available on weekdays, and other than that, prices at KFC have gotten expensive.

However, a Reddit user answered by saying that the S$5 bowl has “shrunk like 20 per cent from the last time” and that their rice buckets, which used to be meal-sized, are now only snack-sized.

“Visit every other fast food chain and you will be surprised their chicken is all bigger than KFC’s,” wrote another.

The Independent Singapore has reached out to Mr Tan, as well as to KFC, for further comment or updates. /TISG

Read also: “So-called butter” — Diner shocked at tiny pieces of butter served at $41M Tampines coffee shop; says “shrinkflation had seriously set in Singapore”

S’porean asks what salary is liveable for 2024, but others say it depends on one’s lifestyle

Anna Maria Romero
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S’porean asks what salary is liveable for 2024, but others say it depends on one’s lifestyle

SINGAPORE: When a local Reddit user asked what others on the platform considered to be a liveable salary in 2024, they did not get a direct answer.

Instead, netizens said this depends on one’s lifestyle choices.

“Given the high cost of living, what is considered as a liveable salary in Singapore? We can include or exclude mortgage in the discussion,” wrote u/oieric on r/askSingapore on Friday (Oct 25).

“Livable is all dependent on your lifestyle,” wrote a Reddit user in the most upvoted comment, adding that some people are able to support a housewife and three children on a monthly salary of S$3,000.

This would mean, however, that their family would need to live on a tight budget, where even hawker food would be considered a salary.

The commenter added that nevertheless, they know someone in this situation who finds joy in this situation, though they make no unnecessary purchases and consume no beverages except for water. Neither do they go on holiday or own high-end phones.

This prompted another Reddit user to note that they live healthier lives than others who drink soda and eat junk food.

Read related: Man with a wife and kid asks if there’s a way to survive in Singapore on his S$1.9K take-home salary; Singaporeans say, “It’s impossible!”

A woman who had quit working for some years to raise a child said that her family made it on her husband’s salary of S$6,000 a month.

She found it very fulfilling to stay home with the baby, although their lifestyle was somewhat constrained. Those years, however, taught her that “quality of life doesn’t need to come from spending money.”

Another commenter wrote that the amount of salary is not the issue, instead, it’s people’s spending habits.

They added that “lifestyle creep” is a reality and is something everyone should look out for.

“Humans are quite flexible tbh. You make do with the income that you have,” wrote another.

A Reddit user whose combined take-home income with their spouse is around $6266 said that they believe a minimum take-home pay that would still allow people to live a life would be S$3500.

Interestingly, they wrote that “food does take up a good chunk” of their monthly expenses.

One opined that the median income would be a good benchmark for livability, writing, “That means a comfortable income will be approx S$4,400 before excluding CPF / including employer CPF.” /TISG

Read also: “Have salaries inflated, or fresh grads are just delusional?” — HR asks after SG jobseekers with only 1-year experience ask for $5.5K salary now

GrabFin head who drove drunk offered to be road safety ambassador instead of serving jail time

Anna Maria Romero
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GrabFin head who drove drunk offered to be road safety ambassador instead of serving jail time

SINGAPORE: A Grab director with a previous record of misdeeds on the road was involved in a case of drink driving on Aug 17, 2023, and ended up crashing into a traffic light.

Wong Wenbin, 42, was given a 12-day jail sentence and slapped with a fine of S$$5,000. He is also not allowed to drive for 36 months, reported The Straits Times on Oct 24.

Wong is the head of GrabFin, the company’s fintech arm.

What caught the attention of Singaporeans on Reddit is that in mitigation, Wong’s lawyer suggested an alternative to a jail term, as well as the judge’s snappy and sharp answers to him.

The lawyer asked for 120 hours of community service for Wong instead of the GrabFin director being sent to prison, suggesting that he could be an ambassador for road safety for the purpose of influencing others.

Saying this would allow Wong to “make an impact in society,” the lawyer added that “when someone does something wrong, he is in a position to help other people to not make the same mistake as him.”

The judge on Wong’s case did not appear to be amenable to the suggestion, however, asking the lawyer what was stopping Wong from volunteering to be an ambassador of road safety even without a court order.

The lawyer acknowledged that he had made a “slightly unusual” request, but added that the traffic light his client had bumped into had been fixed by the next morning and hadn’t caused inconvenience to many motorists.

District Judge Shawn Ho then told him that he did not see this as a mitigating factor, and credited the quick repair to the Land Transport Authority.

Wong had at least 63 microgrammes of alcohol in 100ml of breath, while the prescribed limit is 35 microgrammes.

ST added that the prosecution had sought two to four weeks for Wong, calling him a serious offender because he had driven while drunk and was the cause of an accident less than an hour after consuming his last drink.

He also has a previous record for failing to stop at a red light as well as speeding.

For the offence of drink driving, Wong could have been fined between $2,000 and $10,000 or given a jail sentence of as long as a year. Two years is the maximum jail time and S$20,000 is the maximum fine for repeat offenders.

Singaporeans commenting on the story also drew attention to Wong failing to take a Grab home when he was drunk, despite his being an executive with the company. /TISG

Read also: GrabGrab delivers chicken rice to Loh Kean Yew in Denmark, but not everyone is amused

S’poreans shocked & dismayed at clinic that provided teleconsultations lasting 1 minute or even less

Anna Maria Romero
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S’poreans shocked & dismayed at clinic that provided teleconsultations lasting 1 minute or even less

SINGAPORE: The Ministry of Health announced on Thursday (Oct 24) that it intends to revoke the licence of a medical clinic that had provided short teleconsultations, with some lasting only a minute.

MOH said that MaNaDr Clinic is no longer able to provide outpatient medical services in a clinically and ethically appropriate manner.

Moreover, 41 doctors who had given teleconsultation services at the clinic are being referred by MOH to the Singapore Medical Council (SMC) for inquiries into possible professional misconduct.

MOH had already had MaNaDr Clinic stop its outpatient medical services via teleconsultation by Aug 16 and carried out investigations afterwards.

It discovered that “a very large number of cases” seen by doctors at the clinic involved teleconsultations with video calls lasting one minute or even less. Despite these short teleconsultations, doctors still prescribed medications and issued medical certificates (MCs).

MOH said this raised issues about the safety and quality of the care the clinic’s doctors provided to their patients — whether the medicines prescribed and MCs issued by the doctors were based on sound medical grounds. Some patients had even been given several MCs within a short time.

The ministry also found that the doctors kept questionable and poor documentation of their patients’ consultations.

“Based on these findings, there is reason to believe that there is an entrenched culture of disregard for the applicable clinical and ethical standards within MaNaDr Clinic,” MOH added.

As for the 41 doctors referred to the SMC, 13 had worked as locum practitioners giving teleconsultations at MaNaDr Clinic but at the same time were employed by MOH Holdings or public healthcare facilities.

MOH cited their breach of employment terms as they had conducted secondary clinical activities without their employers’ consent and added that most had provided teleconsultations while on active duty in public healthcare institutions.

The ministry’s full statement on MaNaDr Clinic may be found here.

Commenting on a local Reddit thread, Singaporeans expressed shock and dismay at the news about MaNaDr Clinic. One called it “really quite an extreme case of malpractice by a clinic”.

Another noted how helpful teleconsultations are for people with limited mobility, such as disabled individuals, and said that “black sheep” such as MaNaDr Clinic’s doctors “severely abused the system”.

One commenter said that what the clinic’s physicians had done had “set back telemedicine a few years”.

A Reddit user, however, raised the point that this type of breach of conduct from physicians could have been avoided if the “culture of distrust” among employers towards employees diminished and if employees were encouraged to take a proper recuperation period when they did fall ill. /TISG

Read also: Workers seek more understanding from bosses on telemedicine MCs

AEW offloads Admirax in Woodlands for S$155M to family office; Bendemeer Centre sparks bidding war with S$145M price tag

Gemma Iso
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AEW offloads Admirax in Woodlands for S$155M to family office; Bendemeer Centre sparks bidding war with S$145M price tag

SINGAPORE: The industrial property scene in Singapore is buzzing. A hot prospect on the market is Admirax, a seven-storey light industrial gem in Woodlands. Global real estate investment manager AEW is reported to be selling it for approximately S$155 million to a family office.

This building, per the report of the Business Times, boasts a nearly 80% occupancy rate across its 476,480 square feet of lettable space, drawing attention from savvy investors. The anticipated net yield of around 6%, based on current rental income, makes this an attractive investment.

Admirax and its diverse tenant mix

Located at 8 Admiralty Street, Admirax operates on a 60-year leasehold that commenced in October 2000, leaving a healthy 36 years on the clock.

Its diverse tenant mix includes urban farming innovator Sustenir and the medical device manufacturer Quasar Medical, along with amenities like a food court and childcare facilities, making it a vibrant hub for businesses.

Having undergone significant upgrades in 2021 after AEW acquired it from BlackRock for S$142 million, Admirax features modern enhancements that elevate its appeal.

Knight Frank has been instrumental in brokering this sale.

Bendemeer Centre

In parallel, Bendemeer Centre, situated on the city fringe, is also generating buzz. The expression of interest (EOI) exercise for its sale closed on October 23, with an asking price of S$145 million and a healthy number of bids already in the mix.

This seven-story property, adjacent to Bendemeer MRT station, offers 170,000 square feet of lettable space and is currently 70% occupied.

Originally purchased for S$88 million in 2015, the property has seen renovations that enhance its marketability. With a 99-year leasehold initiated in March 1966, it still has about 40 years left, promising ample opportunity for growth. Tenants include tech firms like chipmaker MaxLinear and internet service provider ViewQwest, contributing to a projected net yield just below 5% if fully leased.

Both Admirax and Bendemeer Centre share a crucial advantage: they sit on sites not regulated by JTC Corporation. This opens doors to a broader range of tenants, including those ineligible for JTC sites, significantly enhancing their market appeal.

As Singapore’s industrial property landscape evolves, these prime offerings are set to attract keen investors ready to capitalize on the shifting economic tides.

Travellers at Singapore’s Changi Airport can now breeze through immigration in just 10 seconds!

Mary Alavanza
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Travellers at Singapore’s Changi Airport can now breeze through immigration in just 10 seconds!

SINGAPORE: Travellers at Singapore’s Changi Airport are now able to clear immigration in as little as 10 seconds, thanks to the airport’s advanced facial recognition and iris biometric technology.

The Edge Singapore reported that since the introduction of full facial scanning on Sept 30, the average immigration clearance time for travellers has decreased by 60%, from 25 seconds to just 10, according to a statement posted on Thursday (Oct 24) by Singapore’s Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

Changi Airport, often ranked among the world’s best airports, now offers passport-less clearance at all four terminals.

For Singapore residents, including permanent residents and long-term pass holders, this means they can use facial and iris biometrics for both arrivals and departures, bypassing the need to show a passport.

However, foreign visitors must still present documentation upon arrival in Singapore but can use passport-less clearance for departure.

According to the ICA, as of Oct 15, close to 1.5 million travellers have already used the passport-less system to clear immigration. The airport has reported 49.9 million passengers passing through its terminals in the year up to September, a sign that Changi’s passenger traffic is returning to pre-pandemic levels. 

From July to September this year, Changi Airport’s passenger traffic rose to 16.8 million—a 10% increase from the same period last year—bringing numbers to 97.4% of third-quarter 2019, pre-pandemic levels. /TISG

Read also: Kuala Lumpur International Airport surpasses Singapore’s Changi Airport in getting ranked 4th most Instagrammable Airport in the world

Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)

Bangladeshi, who has worked for 27 years without a day off in Malaysia, has 3 successful kids: A judge, a doctor and an engineer

Gemma Iso
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Bangladeshi, who has worked for 27 years without a day off in Malaysia, has 3 successful kids: A judge, a doctor and an engineer

MALAYSIA: In a remarkable demonstration of hard work and sacrifice, Abu Bakar, a 70-year-old cleaner in Malaysia, has devoted 27 years to his job without taking a single day off, all to provide for his family back in Bangladesh. His tireless efforts have paid off, as his children have risen to impressive heights—one is a judge, another a doctor, and the third an engineer.

In a report published by the South China Morning Post, Bakar, originally from Bangladesh, left his hometown 31 years ago, lured by the promise of better job opportunities in Malaysia. Speaking to Humans of Kuala Lumpur, he reflected on his journey, noting that he was ready to take on any work others might shy away from.

7-days-a-week of hard work for 27 years

For nearly three decades, Bakar has worked seven days a week, diligently sending most of his earnings back home to cover his children’s education and living expenses.

Although his exact salary remains undisclosed, the average cleaner’s monthly pay in Malaysia is around 1,640 ringgit (approximately US$400). In contrast, a family of four in Bangladesh faces monthly expenses of about US$1,200, excluding rent, raising questions about how the family manages.

Bakar shared, “I haven’t returned to Bangladesh since I came here. I miss my family, and they miss me too, but everything I’ve done has been for my children’s better future.” His daily routine is simple: he wakes up, showers, has breakfast, works, calls his family, and rests.

His sacrifices have not gone unnoticed. Bakar’s children have achieved remarkable success, with his daughter now serving as a respected judge and his two sons becoming a doctor and an engineer. “I’m truly grateful for what my children have achieved,” he said proudly.

What keeps him going? 

Recently, Bakar was able to return to Bangladesh for a reunion with his family, a long-awaited moment since he left when his youngest son was just six months old.

His story has captured the hearts of many online, drawing admiration for his dedication. One social media user commented, “What an incredible role model! His unwavering faith and love for his family have kept him going all these years.”

However, his story has also sparked debate. While many celebrate his sacrifices, some critics have pointed out that his children should have brought him home sooner, asserting, “No parent should suffer for their kids’ success.”

Abu Bakar’s journey serves as a powerful reminder of the dignity of labour and the lengths to which parents will go to ensure a brighter future for their children.

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