K-pop girl group I.O.I is getting ready to return to the stage.
The 11-member act shared a teaser image with the question “Miss Me?” on the group’s official social media channels Tuesday morning.
The image also includes the date Oct. 17, which fans have speculated online could be the date when the group releases a new album.
I.O.I’s first subunit of seven members — Kim Do-yeon, Kim So-hye, Kim Chung-ha, Lim Na-young, Jeon So-mi, Zhou Jieqiong, and Choi Yoo-jung — released the hit track “Whatta Man” in August.
On Aug. 15, the group also unveiled a remake of “Hand in Hand,” the theme song of the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul.
Created through Mnet’s reality K-pop survival show “Produce 101,” which ran earlier this year, I.O.I is a temporary project girl group made up of members from different entertainment agencies.
I.O.I’s upcoming release is expected to be the last of its activities as a group before its members disband to pursue individual activities.
In an interview with Ellen Degeneres, Khloe Kardashian shares that her sister Kim’s still shaken from the incident in Paris.
“I mean, she’s not doing that well and it’s incredibly traumatic what happened to her,” she says. “But our family is super close and great, and we’ll get through it together.”
Ellen also asks if the Kardashian-Jenner family will tone down their social media use.
“In that aspect, yeah,” Khloe answers. “We just want to make sure that we’re protected as possible. But like I said, we’re a family and we’ll work on this together. It’s important for us to make those adjustments and to pull back a bit.”
331140
Photo Gallery
Kim Kardashian back in New York after robbery in Paris
After the incident, reports said that Kim won’t be sharing her extravagant belongings on social media anymore.
Some people, including Karl Lagerfeld, also blamed Kim’s social media use for what happened. (Which is unfair, to be honest.)
There’s also a report that Kim might lose $1 million (S$1.4 million) per month due to her social media hiatus.
Khloe is one of the first in the family to speak up in a TV interview.
Meanwhile, older sister Kourtney previously tweeted out a Bible verse days after the incident. Jonathan Cheban also spoke out in a video by Us Weekly, saying that Kim was “not so good” that day.
These include new roles in digital manufacturing, such as positions for robot coordinators and industrial data scientists, says Trade and Industry (Industry) Minister S Iswaran.
To say Pokemon GO is ‘life-changing’ is probably an exaggeration by most of us. However, for a particular Singaporean, the game has proved to be the best medication.
Just this morning, Singaporean Facebook user Keshvin G-Waren posted his very personal story on the (still) highly-active Pokemon GO Singapore group, which is usually filled with contributions from players on nests, tips, sightings of rare Pokemon around the island, and even funny anecdotes during Pokemon hunting trips.
His post, however, was vastly different from the rest.
Here’s what he shared in full:
I don’t have any pictures to share with you. I don’t have any recent pokemon caught in the last week.
Instead I have a story to tell you. On December 13th of last year I was hospitalised in imh for attempted suicide. I had a fateful encounter with the paranormal two years prior and this was the 2nd time I landed in imh. The first was that I was possessed. Doctors declared me schizophrenic after my second stay. My faith healers diagnosed that I was simply driving myself nuts due to the fear of ghosts. I believe the latter to be true more that the former.
Before pokemon go I was experiencing sleep paralysis and still having the fear of ghosts. When pokemon go released, I started cycling for pokemon with my brother Fai Zal.
That’s when everything changed overnight I went from telling my friends I couldn’t go out after dark, to cycling through bedok reservoir at 3am. I was single minded in my quest for pokemon. Within 2 weeks I stopped taking my anxiety medication and halved my dosage of antipsychotics. I dropped from 113kg to 106kg at present. I became fearless. I didn’t care about ghosts, I just wanted snorlax. I now have 4.
Now that the maps are down, I started playing nerf again and started learning how to skateboard. Next month I’m taking up snorkeling and lightsaber dueling.
The lessons learnt from my story are simple:
1) If You are Singaporean, you are born a Lion. How you find that courage and will to say that you are one does not matter. Stop thinking you are a mouse.
2) Stop fearing what you cannot control, instead totally disregard it. Focus on the task at hand and give it your all. You only get one shot sometimes.
3) Never say its impossible, I couldn’t cycle 10 km in 6 minutes before this but I’ve done it for snorlax and Muk. I couldn’t go out after dark at first . I checked my fear at the door and cycled through some of the worst places to go to at night.
4) If you have suffered from depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts. Stop the cycle of repeating it in your mind. Break the habit and pour yourself into physical activity, give it 110 per cent. Within a week you will feel the difference. Take your medicines, pray hard and sweat hard.
5) Never underestimate the value of your life. You may feel small but trust me you are capable of great things. You won’t know it until you push yourself.
I would like to thank @nianticlabs and #nintendo for changing my life for the better. #PokemonGoSocial for being a passionate group of hunters.#PokemonGoSingapore for the community. #Instituteofmentalhealth for the initial care and treatment given My navigator and riding partner Fai Zal for being there with me, pushing me for every hunt. Most of all my family, for being there when I had given up and never giving up on me.
Please share this story, I owe part of my recovery to this game.
Let #niantic know that they are doing god’s work. Let those that have given up know that if you dig deep, focus and push yourself recovery is possible. Let every Singapore born know that there is a lion inside each and every one of us, it’s just waiting to get out.
Keshvin’s post has garnered over 500 likes within just one hour of posting.
Personally, I follow the group and have users’ posts (some also very ‘like’-able) pop up on my feed from time-to-time, but I can safely say that this is one of the most well-received posts on the group so far – and for very good reasons.
Not only was he brave enough to reveal the intimate details of his story, he also used the chance to share the lessons he got from the process with the rest of us – all of which are definitely useful.
What was even more heartwarming were the responses from those in the group:
“Don’t stop sharing your story with people who may need it.”“I feel so much happiness for you.”“This is a breath of fresh air and inspiration.”“Being able to share is a big step towards recovery.”“U the man la!”“Never let anyone belittle you or tell your otherwise ok?”
When we got in touch with Keshvin, he kindly shared with us this advice for our readers:
“Please share it, let those that have been written off know that if you dig deep you will overcome anything.”
Not “Just A Game”
The game has been getting a negative reputation due to cheaters and players with absolute disregard for their surroundings, but as a player myself, there are also many plus points to the game, and the community spirit that comes along with it.
Pokemon Go health hazards
Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source:
The Straits Times, Shutterstock.com, pixabay
Strangers become momentary friends when there’s a sighting and everyone’s frantically tipping each other off; friends become even better friends when you’re spending your weekends walking around parts of Singapore you’ve never thought of going to before.
And Facebook groups become a place for all to share their stories, and also one where we can send words of encouragement, even without being Facebook ‘friends’.
Keshvin’s post definitely set the tone for the rest of our week, and we hope it set yours too.
Vulcan Post is all about living life with a digital edge, up and coming startups, and people who inspire conversations. Visit Vulcan Post for more stories.
Singapore is a foodie paradise and the Singaporean appetite has fed local food success stories like Ya Kun Kaya Toast and BreadTalk.
In recent years, these homegrown brands have also taken Singapore food overseas. The latest food brand to expand overseas is barbecued pork chain Bee Cheng Hiang, which opened in Tokyo’s posh Ginza district last month (September). Japan is its 11th overseas market.
Here are some other local brands that have taken Singapore food places.
1. WEE NAM KEE HAINANESE CHICKEN RICE
First overseas branch: Makati district, Manila, 2010
Photo: Wee Nam Kee Chicken Rice Restaurant
The chain, which has four outlets in Singapore, also recently opened a second outlet in Grand Indonesia, Jakarta. It boasts counters at two Lotte Department stores in South Korea, which were opened in 2015. Wee Nam Kee’s first outlet in Japan celebrated its first anniversary last month.
A 2010 Straits Times article on the Manila franchise reported that Wee Nam Kee’s owners believe in a full transfer of food knowledge. This meant that they taught the cooks at the Filipino outlet to prepare everything from scratch, including the chilli dip, using fresh local ingredients, rather than shipping pre-packaged spices or marinades over to the franchise.
While the Singapore outlets offer only a few accompanying dishes beyond the tried and trusted chicken rice dish, the overseas branches are slightly more adventurous. For instance, the Manila branch has introduced other Singapore dishes like laksa, salted egg yolk prawns and even char kway teow to the menu.
2. YA KUN KAYA TOAST
First overseas branch: Jakarta, Indonesia, 2003
Photo: The Straits Times
Ya Kun has been expanding rapidly overseas since its first outlet opened in Indonesia in 2003. It now counts China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Myanmar, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand and the Philippines among the list of countries it has expanded to. There are plans to open outlets in Cambodia and Japan too, to make it a total of 10 countries where its signature kaya toast is now available.
Besides running outlets, Ya Kun also supplies a supermarket chain in South Korea with jars of kaya jam.
3. MR BEAN
First overseas branch: Shibuya, Japan, 2010
Photo: The Straits Times
Soya milk drinks are familiar to the Japanese who consume soy in many forms. And that familiarity was a plus for soya milk chain Mr Bean when it ventured into the notoriously-difficult Japanese market with its freshly brewed soya milk and pancakes. Its products are a hit, and the outlet at the busy Shibuya station has become a landmark meeting point for Japanese commuters.
The chain also has two outlets in the Philippines. The made-on-site pancakes, a local favourite, have been just as popular with overseas customers.
4. TAI SEI HEI (LAO BAN)
First overseas branch: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, 2011
Photo: The Straits Times
Another chain offering products from soya beans, Tai Sei Hei took its soya beancurd (produced under the brand Lao Ban) to Vietnam in its overseas debut.
The humble Singapore hawker snack is made in a small cafe called Xiao Ban in Ho Chi Minh city. Besides soya beancurd, the menu also offers gelato, milk tea and coffee and waffles, in a departure from its Singapore offerings.
5. CRYSTAL JADE CULINARY CONCEPTS
First overseas branch: Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam, 1996
Photo: Crystal Jade
The chain, which serves traditional Chinese dishes and earned its first Michelin star this year for its Crystal Jade Golden Palace eatery, first ventured overseas in 1996.
Since then, it has ventured far and wide, and today operates outlets in 10 countries. The chain, which was acquired by French luxury group LVMH in 2014, also opened a much-hyped US$14-million (S$19.2-million) outlet in San Francisco which can seat 400 people. The posh restaurant, an addition to the more than 100 restaurants the group has across Asia, also features a bar and lounge.
6. JANICE WONG
First overseas branch: Kennedy Town, Hong Kong, 2016
Photo: The Straits Times
Singaporean pastry chef Janice Wong, owner of popular 2am:dessert bar in Holland Village, expanded her reach to Hong Kong and Japan in quick succession in March and April this year.
She has also expanded her repertoire beyond desserts, creating savoury dishes for her 82-seat casual fine-dining restaurant in Hong Kong.
Her new direction is reflected in her new flagship, Janice Wong Singapore, which opened at the National Museum of Singapore in August.
This article was first published on October 10, 2016. Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.
National netball technical director and head coach Ruth Aitken will step down at the end of the year, having taken up a job back in her native New Zealand.
The 60-year-old, widely regarded as one of the best coaches in the sport, will become the performance manager for New Zealand’s Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, a professional team who play in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship.
She will be overseeing their elite coaching programme as well as the development of the players, coaches and umpires in the Waikato region.
Aitken, a popular figure among players since she joined Singapore in 2013, said family was the main reason behind a move back home.
She said: “I have absolutely loved my three years with Netball Singapore and the national team, but the time has come for me to return home to my family commitments in New Zealand.
“I leave with many fantastic memories and friendships and am delighted that Netball Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic would like to work towards building a close connection with Netball Singapore in the future.
“I look forward to being able to liaise between the two organisations for the benefit of both.”
Under Aitken, Singapore were crowned champions at the 2014 Asian Netball Championship and last year’s SEA Games on home soil. Singapore also rose from 21st to 17th in the world rankings.
SEA Games: Women’s netball Jun 6
Click on thumbnail to view photos. Source:
AFP, The Straits Times
In acknowledging Aitken’s contributions, Netball Singapore president Jessica Tan said: “Ruth has played an instrumental role in shaping the success of the national team and in widening the pool of developmental players. She is an approachable and dedicated coach and she has instilled belief in the team that they can win.
“It will be hard to replace someone of such calibre but we wish her the very best in her new role.”
TOKYO – Tomokazu Suzuki wants to open a sushi restaurant in Hawaii with his father, a sushi chef. “That has always been my father’s dream,” Suzuki said. “It’s mine now, too.”
This wasn’t his initial plan. After graduating from a vocational college, he started cooking for a Chinese restaurant chain. Suzuki had been put off a career in sushi early in life, when his father was running his own restaurant. Things did not always go well, and Suzuki’s father could take his frustrations home with him.
“But working in the same restaurant industry has made me realise why my father was acting like that,” Suzuki said. “And I realised I had always felt somewhere in my heart an admiration for my father’s work. That’s why I decided to jump ship.”
Suzuki, now 23, hopes to open a restaurant in Hawaii when he’s in his 30s. In the world of sushi, this can be considered a moonshot. Like so much of Japanese society, the sushi industry still sticks to a seniority system, one that is especially strict.
It is said that a new chef at a high-end sushi restaurant spends his or her first year only cleaning up and doing other odd jobs. The second year is spent chopping vegetables, the third year is devoted to prepping fish. The sixth year is for cooking rice. Not until the eighth year is the chef allowed to do nigiri, make sushi. Finally, in the 10th year, he or she is allowed to serve customers.
It is no longer just about pushing out digital services and wait to see if citizens bite. Channel NewsAsia tours GovTech’s innovation lab and finds out hive minds are not desired when it comes to developing today’s e-Government services.
