Why are fewer Singaporeans going to the cinema? It’s not about cost but value

Despite their legitimateness, I believe these outside factors serve only as catalysts for the decline in movie viewing and enjoyment.

In my watch, the real reason is that we tend to take movies like strong food: We’re simply looking for a quick and filling experience, not necessarily one that’s exciting. &nbsp,

Interests AND Choices

For some so- called useful Singaporeans, going to the theaters is an unneeded indulgence. One of the first few products to be taken from our monthly expenditures in our search for fire is the fat we cut when we have to stretch our purse strings. Who cares where and how we watch the movie as long as we also getting to see it in the end? &nbsp,

I personally choose to avoid outrageous S$ 30 ( or even S$ 20 ) brunch trips and to refuse to pay for my gym membership so I can watch a movie whenever I want to. Even if the film did n’t really live up to the hype, I usually leave the theater auditorium so mentally stimulated and eager to spend the next 10 hours watching YouTube essays about the show’s cast style or browsing 5, 000 word video views about a particular picture. &nbsp,

If I watch a movie at home, which I do frequently, I continue down these hare holes. However, I do have to make a decision based on the film. I prefer to watch the psychological tear-jerkers on the big screen, and I usually prefer to save the action movies and psychological thrillers to my computer. &nbsp,

Even though I enjoyed the narrative, I could just discern muted emotions when I watched Oscar-nominated Past Lives on my web computer after missing it in theaters. Instead of being immersed in the author’s inward battle, torn between dedication to the life she’s built and a longing for part of her history, I just made out a half- hearted, brief semblance of melancholy. Truly, some films demand to be seen and felt in the cinema. &nbsp,

Even if I had a world class surround sound system at home, I would n’t be able to replicate the cinema experience. Going to the cinema is also, ultimately, about having a third place – a place to relax and hang out beyond the workplace or the private, domestic space of one’s home.

Understandably, the things I prioritise might be what others forgo, and vice versa. However, Singapore’s highly efficient and pragmatic culture permeates every aspect, as do our fairly uniform lifestyle preferences and priorities – just look at our cookie-cutter shopping centers. So we might, in fact, eventually have one or two cinema halls left in Singapore. &nbsp,

In the meantime, the simple joy of going to the cinema is still there for the taking. It would be regrettable if we denied ourselves the few luxuries of life that we can afford, but it would be even more repulsive if we later discover we ca n’t afford them.

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Commentary: How to make up for lost time before Grandma dies

People ARE MESSY

How To Make Millions Before Grandma Dies details on general interfamilial issues almost anyone can connect to, such as sibling conflict, favouritism, and decisions about who’s more paternal or effective.

M’s oldest brother, who has a small supermarket job and lives far away with his wife and young child, has to pay for both his wealthy home and his daughter’s worldwide education, and his youngest uncle, who is also unemployed and deeply in debt.

Particularly when elderly relatives become extremely sick and require assistance with daily tasks like showering or regular hospital visits, the tension between filial piety and individual commitments is exposed.

As M’s calmly sarcastic cousin Mui points out, what older people need most, is what their children the n’t provide them- period.

It’s something that Singapore’s hamburger technology, generally aged between 35 and 59, relate to as they balance caring for their children and ageing parents, while holding down jobs, keeping their homes in order, carving out time for self- attention and maintaining some semblance of a social life.

The film also makes a point of considering the best course of action for ailing parents when deciding between the problems older children experience and the potential for dispute among siblings.

May the elder be kept informed or protected from certain difficult truths like how many months or weeks of life they have left? Are they better off age in spot, moving into a friend’s house ( if therefore, which one? ), or being confined to a nursing home? &nbsp,

The film serves as the ideal starting point for discussion of these crucial issues with your family. More importantly, it’s a warning that old folks price period with their older children and their children. And since grandchildren have more time than their wedged parents, Gen Z might want to step up and stop using their computers and mobile phones. &nbsp,

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Woman cheated of S,000 in fake gold ingot scam, 3 men arrested

SINGAPORE: Three men have been arrested for allegedly using fake gold ingots to cheat a woman of S$ 4, 000 ( US$ 2, 900 ), police said on Friday ( Jun 21 ).

On Wednesday, around 3.15 p.m., a girl was allegedly duped into paying her money after two men gave her the golden ingots for” safekeeping.”

The target claimed at around 1pm on Wednesday that they had discovered gold ingots during an excavation at an undisclosed location in Singapore, according to preliminary investigations that two men approached her on Tras Street.

The men claimed that they wanted to return the silver ingots to China but were unaware of the legal procedure. They finally offered the silver ingots to the target for” safekeeping” in exchange for cash as security.

A little gold ingot and a document in Chinese writing that resembled an old will were also produced by the men, according to the police.

The victim took the two males to a smith purchase along Eu Tong Sen Street to check the integrity of the tiny gold aluminum. The item was verified to be true.

The two guys then returned the real gold ingot to the sufferer, telling her to give S$ 4, 000 as security.

When the survivor returned to the same goldsmith shop to verify the various gold ingots, it was discovered that they were fake.

She called the police after realizing she had been duped and that the two gentlemen had left the area.

On Thursday, police located the two gentlemen and held them in Aliwal Street.

Additional inquiries also resulted in the arrest of an accomplice and the seizure of more items, including six gold-colored mini Buddha statues, plus more than 80 small gold-colored ingots, and a piece of paper with Taiwanese writings.

The three people, who are between the ages of 52 and 62, may face charges in court on Saturday for conspiring to lie.

If convicted, they may be jailed for up to 10 times and fined.

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Pakistan: Tourist accused of blasphemy killed by mob

After being charged with blasphemy, a holiday in north-western Pakistan was dragged from a police stop and killed by a crowd.

The police had been making an effort to stop the man from the huge crowd in the Swat district’s Madyan area.

The crowd had gathered after the guy was accused of desecrating the Quran, Islam’s holy text, on Thursday.

Massacres are not surprising after an allegation of heresy, which is punishable by death in Pakistan.

A Christian gentleman was attacked next month after being accused of burning the Quran’s chapters, and he died soon afterward.

In Pakistan, the latest incident’s film has sparked outrage on social media. The man’s brain is paraded through the streets before being set on fire.

Authorities confirmed that the visitor had been” torched” and some 11 people were injured in the event.

Mohammad Ali Gandapur, the local police chief for the Malankand division, claimed that the dome at the neighborhood was encouraging people to gather after police arrived to rescue the guy, who was apparently visiting the Swat Valley, a popular summer destination.

Eight officials were among the injured, he claimed to Reuters news agency.

Police in the Swat area, Dr. Zahidullah, reported to BBC Urdu that police made a conscious effort to clear the irate crowds of people from the evening of Thursday.

Police claim they have opened a circumstance against hundreds of people who were in the affair, some as young as 13 years old. Since then, local officials have deployed more security forces in the area.

Resorts in the area had been overflowing, but visitors were now running out, according to BBC Urdu.

Since Pakistan’s sacrilege was made a murder by a 19th-century law brought in by the American and made punishable by death in the 1980s, violence fueled by religion has risen in the country.

Yet erroneous accusations does stoke protests and crowd violence against alleged offenders. Human rights opponents have long asserted that immigrants are frequently the objective of charges.

Around 96 % of Pakistan’s population is Muslim. Other countries, including Iran, Brunei, and Mauritania even impose capital sentence for insulting faith.

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Citing unhappiness among minority investors, SIAS seeks clarification from OCBC on Great Eastern offer

SINGAPORE: Citing “unhappiness” among minority shareholders of Great Eastern, the Securities Investors Association Singapore ( SIAS ) has posed questions to OCBC about the bank’s privatisation bid for its insurance arm.

The retail investor watchdog on Friday ( Jun 21 ) advised companies that intend to delist in the future to “provide an offer price that is truly” fair and reasonable” to all shareholders, describing the offer as creating a “dilemma” for Great Eastern’s smaller investors.

A RECAP OF OCBC’S BID FOR GREAT EASTERN

OCBC, Singapore’s second- biggest lender, on May 10 announced a S$ 1.4 billion ( US$ 1.03 billion ) offer to buy the 11.56 per cent stake in Great Eastern that it does not own, with the aim to delist the insurer.

The banks made an offer amount of S$ 25.60 per communicate, which it said represents a subscription of 36.9 per share over Great Eastern’s next traded amount of S$ 18.70.

Last year, Ernst &amp, Young – the independent financial adviser appointed to the bargain – described the words of OCBC’s give as” no fair but acceptable”. It did, however, advise Great Eastern’s independent directors to advise that minority shareholders support the recommendation.

OCBC then stated in a separate statement that its offer price was “final” and that it had extended the offer’s closing date to July 12 as a result.

The bank’s statement “omitted any reference” to the independent financial adviser’s opinion, said SIAS founder- CEO David Gerald on Friday.

He added that the retail investor watchdog has since received “numerous inquiries” from shareholders of Great Eastern” seeking clarity and transparency” from OCBC.

Several long- term shareholders have also previously told SIAS, as well as in the public through media interviews, that” they will not accept ( OCBC’s ) offer because they feel that ( Great Eastern ) has been trading below the true value for the longest time”, said Mr Gerald.

A group of about 125 minority shareholders, led by former remisier Ong Chin Woo, told CNA last week that they are “disappointed” with OCBC’s decision to not budge on its offer price.

As such, Mr Gerald from SIAS hopes that OCBC’s board can “respond adequately” to the concerns of these minority shareholders.

Questions were asked on Friday in a letter addressed to OCBC’s chairman Andrew Lee and the board of directors, including whether the bank had taken the independent financial adviser’s advice into account when it made the decision to decline to raise the offer price.

Mr. Gerald also inquired about the key factors that led to the price of OCBC’s offer, how the bank justified what it perceived as an “unfair” offer, and whether the bank had any feedback from its own shareholders regarding the potential reputational risks associated with this deal.
 

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Repairing snapped booms, treating oil-slicked sand: Oil spill clean-up efforts continue a week on

CNA observed a group from T&amp, T Salvage Asia at work on Friday, laying a&nbsp, 200m- much black- brown containment boom along the exterior coastline of Siloso Beach.

” It was poor weather, quite strong stormy rain early in the morning. So one or two boom snapped, but it was soon taken treatment of”, Capt Anuj&nbsp, said, noting that the larger growth was being deployed just as a precaution.

He explained that some injury, such as wear and tear, is already taken into account when deploying boom.

The new boom consists of 3m-long segments that must be fully inflated with air in order to float on the water. Capt. Anuj remarked that the deployment is labor intensive and necessitates more cooperation and workforce.

” These are bigger boom. They are much more durable and stronger. They will last much longer. But deployment takes a little bit longer, he continued.

Each 3m section weighs about 100kg when fully inflated. It is launched from a boat and towed into place by a smaller boat, which can move more quickly and getting closer to the shore.

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Pope told by student to stop using anti-LGBTQ language

A student from a Filipino Catholic school has instructed Pope Francis to” stop using unpleasant language” toward LGBTQ individuals.

In a video screen with other Catholic school students and the pontiff, Jack Lorenz Acebedo Rivero said,” Slurs cause immense pain.”

His comments come after reports that the Pope used extremely offensive language against gay men during a closed-door meeting last month with bishops.

He later apologised to those who were “hurt” and the Vatican said he did not mean to offend anyone.

The Pope reportedly said gay men should not be allowed to train for the priesthood, adding there was already an air of frociaggine, which translates as a highly offensive slur.

Some were shocked by this, as the Pope frequently expressed his concern for queer people in public.

He just confounded Catholic reactionaries by claiming that priests should occasionally be able to love same-sex people and has usually mentioned that gay people are welcome in the Church.

The forum, which was broadcast live on social media on Thursday, had the theme “Building Bridges” in a region of diverse religions and ethnicities. It brought together Catholic university students from across different countries.

The scholar from Ateneo de Manila University claimed to have been “outcasted and bullied because of my homosexuality, subject, personality, and being the child of a second family.”

He then called on him to:” Stop using offensive language against the LGBTQIA community”.

Mr Rivera, who wore a rainbows- brown ribbon over his standard Filipino gown, even asked the Pope to “allow breakup in the Philippines”.

The Philippines is the only nation in the world where marriage is forbidden, aside from the Vatican. The Roman Catholic Church has a powerful influence over it, which is why.

Before responding, the Pope waited for all three individuals in Mr. Rivera’s party to speak.

He did not specifically target Mr. Rivera’s issues, but he said through a speaker that he was telling him to tell the difference between real love and false love.

” Often find true love”, he said.

The Pope added to this statement by reaffirming to the team that “women are the best people, no matter how society treats them as next to people.”

He recalled a discussion with a feminine Western leader who he claimed told him that “maternal potential” gives her the advantage over people.

A man can scarcely go on their own because many people have brought babies on their own. A woman, only, can certainly develop her household. This is the glory of people”.

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Mediacorp’s Star Search returns after a five-year hiatus

After a five- time break, Mediacorp’s skills finding programme Star Search returns this time. The hunt will begin with three rounds of empty interviews scheduled for July 6 and 7 at Funan and July 13 at Orchard Central.

Since its founding in 1988, Star Search has been instrumental in investigating and nurturing some of Singapore’s most favorite artists, including Zoe Tay, Chen Hanwei, Chew Chor Meng, Christopher Lee, Qi Yuwu, Felicia Chin, Desmond Tan and more. The previous success, again in 2019, was Zhang Zetong, who later went on to win Best Supporting Actor at this year’s Star Awards.

Candidates between the ages of 17 and 30 must first demonstrate their ability to become the next great sensation through a series of challenges. Especially, they will first be tested on their ability to express various emotions, followed by an opportunity to advertise their personality through natural strength and endurance, as well as their brains and information.

Application needs and interview details can be found at&nbsp, mediacorp.com. sg/starsearch2024. &nbsp,

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New Zealand woman sues partner for not taking her to airport

A person’s state against her then-boyfriend was dismissed by a New Zealand court after he failed to take her to the aircraft, leading to her missing her journey ahead of a musical with companions.

She claimed that at the moment, her boyfriend had breached a “verbal deal” that stipulated that he would take her to the airport, reside in her home, and glance after her puppies.

According to a legal document which only gives the applicant and respondent’s initials, the woman (CL) said she asked her boyfriend (HG) to collect her from her home and take her to the airport between 10:00 and 10:15am.

But he failed to do so, she told New Zealand’s Disputes Tribunal, which deals with small claims up to$ 30, 000 ( £14, 529 ).

In consequence, CL claimed she missed her flight and was required to pay for extra expenses, including dog sitting the next day.

In her state, she went on to detail the difficulties she encountered, including expenses for a shuttle service to the airports.

Up until the debate, the pair had been together for six and a half years.

Before the case was dismissed, the judge examined whether the victim’s boyfriend had signed a deal to get her to the aircraft and care for her puppies.

The judge looked into whether the two men had forged agreements whereby the boyfriend had promised to pay for a split ferry excursion to visit the woman’s sons.

Cation said she paid for hers and her partner’s boat charges, and wished to get reimbursed for the cost of his seat.

The jury looked into whether the boyfriend broke the alleged agreement in terms of both of those being correct.

The study found that, unlike CL and HG,” there must be an intention to create a constitutionally bound relationship” for an arrangement to be legally bound.

According to court umpire Krysia Cowie,” Partners, associates, and coworkers make social arrangements, but it’s unlikely they can be legitimately enforced unless the parties perform some action that demonstrates an objective that they will be bound by their promises.”

The other party may endure economic harm from friends breaking their promises, but it might not be their fault that they cannot be financially compensated for the loss.

The referee concluded that” the nature of the claims was exchanged as a typical give and take in an intimate relationship” and that they were not actually a deal.

“CL has not demonstrated that she is entitled to the order that she seeks, and her state is dismissed because I have determined that the events reached their arrangement in the framework of their companionship.”

The court’s decision was taken in March, but just published on Thursday.

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Taiwan braces for protests as controversial bill pushed forward

After Taiwan’s ruling party advanced with a highly contentious” hatred of parliament” costs, tens of thousands of supporters are expected to obtain outside parliament on Friday.

The new law, according to the opposition Kuomintang party ( KMT ), is urgently needed to correct the power imbalance between the legislature and Taiwan’s extraordinarily powerful presidency.

However, the ruling Democratic Progressive Party ( DPP ) claims that it is an unlawful power grab and is intended to avenge the DPP-led government, which is led by President William Lai Ching-te.

The bill will give Taiwan’s parliament more authority to question and question the professional, as well as lawsuit government officials and private people, which could make them compelled to turn over sensitive files to legislators.

Additionally, it includes a” hatred of the legislature” provision that may impose penalties and even a year in prison for officials who defame the government. Legitimate researchers have criticized the final provision a lot, saying it goes far beyond what is accepted in other democratic nations.

When the act was first introduced in Taipei in May, intense demonstrations erupted as tens of thousands of people crowded the country’s legislature for days. However, there was a pause when it was submitted for review at Mr. Lai’s company.

The bill was sent back to the legislature for consideration by Mr. Lai, who supported a fragile coalition of the KMT, the smaller Taiwan People’s Party ( TPP ), and independents. It was then approved once more, this time with relative ease.

However, the DPP has been asking for its supporters to show up, even if it is just a metaphorical demonstration of their opposition to the bill. The KMT held a counter-protest on Friday, but the attendance was significantly lower than the DPP’s next month.

The demonstrations, however, have come to indicate a strong political split in Taiwan, between backers of the DPP and the KMT.

For years, KMT, the celebration of the Chinese patriots, ruled Taiwan with an iron fist, brutally suppressing all names for democracy or freedom – many of the older DPP officials were jailed for being radical. The two functions are currently vying for control through the voting booth. However, the outdated concerns are then causing gridlock in congress.

Even though President Lai was simply elected one month ago, his chances of getting something significant done during his first phrase are looking grim now because of the lack of a majority in a divided parliament.

There is real worry about what is happening inside the government on the sidewalks. The hundreds of DPP supporters appear to think that the abuse of the legislature bill is a case of parliamentary coup d’etat.

” The procedure is pretty unfair and has skipped any considerable discussion”, says 33- year- ancient Powei Chang. The act itself lacks clarity and is very risky. Essentially, it allows politicians to increase their authority without the people’s assent.

The fact that the politicians in issue have a majority in parliament is insufficient for Mr. Chang.

The people who have been surrounding legislature are from a mix- part of Taiwan world: young and old, students, professionals, violet- collar workers. They wait patiently for columns of foam chairs to arrive. A constant stream of activists take the camera to blab what is happening inside the chamber on a make-shift stage.

In May, when a great day thundershower washed over the town, organisers handed out cheap ponchos, and the better- prepared raised a jungle of umbrellas. No- one returned.

A strong sense of Chinese identity and a profound hostility of the KMT’s motivations make them two things, they are unified by.

A young woman named Eden Hsu says,” I think what’s happening in Taiwan right now needs to be up against.” We must not allow those who are attempting to sell Taiwan to believe they can do it without criticism.

Buy out Taiwan to who? To China.

She claims that “many rules of the expenses seem to be influenced by the Chinese Communist Party.” ” The Chinese Communist Party intends to… permeate Taiwan with both internal and external help.”

This is a saying that is repeated repeatedly by protesters on level and in the streets. There is a common misconception among those opposed to the expenses that Beijing is now the KMT leadership’s seat of power.

Protesters and activists point to top KMT politicians ‘ frequent trips to China as evidence, both from a legal perspective. Ma Ying-jeou, Taiwan’s aging past KMT leader, is one of them. He has visited China twice in the past six decades. President Xi Jinping himself welcomed him in Beijing in April, but he has resolutely rejected any discourse with Mr. Lai or Tsai Ing-wol. He has steadfastly rejected any dialogue.

One also known DPP lawmaker describes ex- leader Ma as Beijing’s “most significant political asset” in Taiwan.

The KMT Speaker Han Kuo-yu, who DPP supporters frequently derisively refer to as” the Korean Fish,” a homonym on his name in Chinese, are other people who are seen as being “very close to Beijing.”

” He is not really blue]the colour of the KMT party flag ]”, one DPP politician says. ” He’s red ]( the colour of the communist party flag ]”.

Another accused of being “red” is the man in charge of pushing through the” contempt of legislature” bill, KMT caucus leader Fu Kun- chi. Mr. Fu is a powerful power broker with a contentious past, including a stint in prison after being found guilty of insider trading and creating a fraudulent divorce. He visits China frequently, too.

All of this provides useful news to the rumor and innuendo mill. However, it is not conclusive that senior KMT leaders and Beijing conspired. In fact, the KMT leadership has repeatedly criticized its innocence and pointed to its long history of opposition to the Chinese Communist Party.

” I have more reason than the DPP to hate Beijing”, says Alexander Huang the head of KMT’s international department. ” The whole idea]of the bill ] is to make the executive more accountable – that’s it”.

However, when the KMT held control of the legislature and presidency between 2008 and 2016, the DPP, then in charge, opposed opposition demands for a very similar law.

Once the bill becomes law, the KMT has also suggested that it might start looking into DPP leaders.

” For eight years the DPP had a super majority. They had the freedom to obtain anything. According to Mr. Huang, the executive and legislative bodies are working together to benefit Taiwan’s resources.

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