fishing x
CHENNAI: Nobody had any right to dictate how a woman should live; it is her life, her body, and her choice, said the Madras High Court, while hearing a batch of petitions in connection with the sexual assault of a student of Anna University . While the accused in the heinous crime is a roadside biryani vendor, the court said the people and society were responsible for victimising women, which was the root cause of sexual crimes. “It is never the fault of the woman; it has always been the society, which has dictated her life. She should rise above these societal stigmas and judgements,” said a vacation bench of Justices SM Subramaniam and V Lakshminarayanan on Saturday. Noting how the FIR was circulated, which is against the law, and the social media was conducting a trial blaming the survivor for being out with her friend, the bench said the society should feel ashamed for shaming a woman in this manner. “Societal stigma is paving ways for crimes against women, as the perpetrators find shelter in victim-blaming and shaming,” the court said. It wholeheartedly appreciated the courage of the survivor for coming forward to report the crime. "Unless victims come forward to report, the perpetrators will continue with committing such crimes," the judges noted. Terming the language used in the FIR as deplorable, the bench said, "The language employed in the FIR is shocking, as it is more a case of victim blaming. It is the duty of the police officials to assist the [survivor] by employing a language which does not infringe her right to dignity.” During the hearing, Advocate General (AG) PS Raman vehemently criticised the media for revealing the identity of the survivor. "Media also holds social responsibility. If the FIR leaked as claimed, the media should pull up the government for the lapse rather than publishing it,” he said, adding that action would be taken as per cyber rules against the 13 individuals who accessed the FIR from the web portal. On December 23, the accused, Gnanasekaran videographed the girl and her boyfriend at an isolated place inside the university campus. Using that, he threatened the girl saying he would release the video that would bring her shame. Later, he sexually assaulted her and captured that too on camera to blackmail her into meeting him whenever he called. However, the woman did not succumb to the threat and instead lodged a complaint. Also Read: TN Guv asks Anna University to ensure students' safety Also Read: Anna University sexual assault: NCW constitutes fact finding panel, team to visit Chennai Dec 30 Also Read: Anna University sexual assault: Madras HC asks govt to initiate action against Chennai police commissionerEvery car discontinued in Australia in 2024
Seven new big-name brands joined the popular shopping complex in 2024, including the likes of Nike, Primark, Ninja Warrior, and PureGym. Major construction work has been happening across the park throughout the year, not only for new stores in 2024 but for upcoming brands soon to arrive in the new year. Catherine Furlong, centre director at Teesside Park, told The Northern Echo this week: "What a year 2024 has been for us", "Seven new brands have joined the Teesside Park family as well as the new golf concept in Hollywood Bowl. "We have delivered some amazing community initiatives including our Bright Lights and Young Readers programmes which have supported more than 200 local young people with both employment and education. "There's been so much positive feedback from our visitors and we're super excited about lots more to come next year!" So as the year comes to a close, we've rounded up all the changes at Teesside Park this year, and what shoppers can expect in 2025. Nike Unite Sportswear giant Nike was the first to open its new store at Teesside Park in 2024, taking over the former New Look in February. Nike at Teesside Park (Image: Teesside Park) Nike Unite is a newer concept rolled out by the chain, which aims to better represent the community its branch is located in. Stocking a variety of sportswear for men, women and children, the 11,855 sq ft location offers "everyday essentials" alongside select seasonal items. Hollywood Bowl revamp Hollywood Bowl relaunched in March this year following a huge £2 million makeover. Hollywood Bowl at Teesside Park The site is now home to a 12-hole minigolf course, 31 bowling lanes, a new bar and a refreshed amusement area, after taking over the former Imperial City restaurant next door. It also added a five-lane VIP section for those who wanted to bowl in luxury. Primark Hundreds of shoppers flocked to Teesside Park in May after Primark opened its doors for the first time inside the former Mothercare... Alex O'Leary
The province is providing $30,000 to regional health authorities for needle cleanup plans. Read this article for free: Already have an account? To continue reading, please subscribe: * The province is providing $30,000 to regional health authorities for needle cleanup plans. Read unlimited articles for free today: Already have an account? The province is providing $30,000 to regional health authorities for needle cleanup plans. Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith told the legislature Monday that the provincial government is not providing any more funding to rural harm-reduction activities until cleanup plans are in place “As we help Manitobans in need, we also have a shared responsibility to ensure that our efforts to support people struggling with addictions also makes our community safer and healthier,” Smith told the house before question period. MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES Housing, Addictions and Homelessness Minister Bernadette Smith sent a letter Friday “mandating that all regional health authorities develop comprehensive disposal and cleanup plans as a condition for provincial funding for harm-reduction activities.” “This is why we are requiring that regional health authorities develop comprehensive disposal and cleanup plans as a condition for provincial funding for harm-reduction activities,” said Smith, after reports of needles handed out for harm-reduction were littering rural communities such as Swan River. “We are providing $30,000 in new funding to each rural health authority to help develop cleanup and safety plans so that our efforts to help people make healthier choices also keeps our communities healthy.” The minister sent a letter Friday to the heads of Southern Health, Prairie Mountain Health, Interlake-Eastman Regional Health and the Northern Health Region “mandating that all regional health authorities develop comprehensive disposal and cleanup plans as a condition for provincial funding for harm-reduction activities.” Funding, the letter said, “may be used to install disposal containers in public spaces, launch needle cleanup teams and facilitate safe disposal initiatives tailored to the needs of each region. Proper disposal plans will help stop the spread of infectious diseases, thereby reducing patient loads and hospital wait times and strengthen public safety.” After question period, Smith told reporters that the health regions are all on board with the needle cleanup mandate, and that the former Tory government had no plan or policy in place for disposal and cleanup of needles being distributed in the communities. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. On Friday, Prairie Mountain Health announced that the Swan Valley Health Centre emergency department stopped handing out needles after the province said it was funding a new RCMP unit in the area to target violent and organized crime, including drug trafficking. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Carol Sanders is a reporter at the legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. . Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Carol Sanders is a reporter at the legislature bureau. The former general assignment reporter and copy editor joined the paper in 1997. . Every piece of reporting Carol produces is reviewed by an editing team before it is posted online or published in print — part of the ‘s tradition, since 1872, of producing reliable independent journalism. Read more about , and . Our newsroom depends on a growing audience of readers to power our journalism. If you are not a paid reader, please consider . Our newsroom depends on its audience of readers to power our journalism. Thank you for your support. Advertisement AdvertisementEditorial: As Virginia begins budget debate, officials must guard against uncertaintyThere is growing evidence that it can help with pain, depression and more T IMES ARE good in the hypnosis business. On YouTube, channels such as UltraHypnosis offer videos featuring candles, swirling patterns and slow voiceovers, with titles like “Hypnosis to Declutter your Mind Before Deep Sleep”. Some have tens of millions of views. At a recent conference of hypnosis experts in California, David Spiegel, one of the speakers, noted the success of his hypnosis app, “Reveri”, which has gained more than 214,000 users in the past year, and 650,000 since its launch in 2020. More from Science & technology Academic writing is getting harder to read—the humanities most of all We analyse two centuries of scholarly work Giving children the wrong (or not enough) toys may doom a society Survival is a case of child’s play Earth is warming faster. Scientists are closing in on why Paradoxically, cleaner emissions from ships and power plants are playing a role Humans and Neanderthals met often, but only one event matters The mystery of exactly how people left Africa deepens Machine translation is almost a solved problem But interpreting meanings, rather than just words and sentences, will be a daunting task AI can bring back a person’s own voice And it can generate sentences trained on their own writing
None
This next-gen indoor autonomous system brings smarter mobility to everyday spacesThe Philadelphia Eagles have to make sure they don’t beat themselves. A nine-game winning streak helped the Eagles (11-2) clinch their fourth consecutive playoff berth with a home game against the Pittsburgh Steelers coming up Sunday. Philadelphia is seeking an NFC East title and still have a chance at catching Detroit (12-1) for the NFC’s No. 1 seed. But an ugly win over Carolina in which Jalen Hurts only threw 21 passes for 108 yards left wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith in a bad mood. He made it clear the offense, specifically the passing attack, wasn’t playing up to standard. He’s right. Hurts has thrown for fewer than 200 yards in three straight games. But Saquon Barkley is running at a record-setting pace, so the Eagles haven’t had to rely on Hurts throwing to Brown and Smith as much as they have in the past. Brown caught four passes on four targets for 43 yards, and Smith had four catches on six targets for 37 yards and one touchdown against the Panthers. That led to Brown bluntly responding “passing” when asked by a reporter after the game what needs improvement. Veteran leader Brandon Graham added fuel to the drama on his radio show Monday night by implying there’s friction between Brown and Hurts. The two were close friends long before they became teammates, and Hurts is the godfather for Brown’s daughter. “The person that’s complaining (needs) to be accountable,” Graham said of Brown. “I’m just being honest. ... Like and he (knows) this. I don’t know the whole story, but I know that (Hurts) is trying. And I mean, (Brown) could be a little better with how he responds to things and they were friends before this. It’s like, man, but things have changed, and I understand that because life happens, but we gotta — it’s the business side that we have to make sure that we don’t let the personal get in the way of the business, and that’s what we gotta do better at right now because we know it’s the issue. “Everybody is saying some things, but we need to be able to talk things out as men, you know what I’m saying? But, we need to let personal stuff go and let’s get right for this game because man, it’s like most of the time it’s just a conversation that just (needs) to be had, but the person with the problem (has) to want to talk to the person other than others. That’s all I’m saying.” Graham, who is sidelined with a triceps injury, clarified his comments later to an ESPN reporter, saying he made the wrong assumption about the relationship between Hurts and Brown and planned to apologize to both players. But the damage was done. Or was it? While social media ran wild with news that there’s more trouble in Philadelphia, the Eagles have been here before. They fell apart last year after a 10-1 start, dropping six of their final seven games, including a lopsided loss in the playoffs to Tampa Bay. There were questions about Hurts’ leadership, his relationship to teammates and the team’s locker room dynamic. Plus, coach Nick Sirianni was harshly criticized for the team’s failures. They overcame a tumultuous offseason and are 11-2 and in position to make a Super Bowl run. All they have to do is get along, put the team first and focus on the overall goal of winning a championship instead of pouting about individual statistics. One breakout passing game can change everything.
Shoppers despair as Easter eggs found on supermarket shelves in DecemberToday, on International Human Rights Day , we celebrate the enduring vision of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, adopted in 1948. Despite progress over the past 75 years, much remains to be done to realize these rights for everyone, everywhere. As we navigate the complexities of the 21st century, generative artificial intelligence emerges as an intriguing tool to finally bridge the gap between human rights ideals and the lived experiences of people worldwide. Time is overdue, but are our mindsets ready? The Unfinished Journey Toward Universal Human Rights Global poverty reduction has reached a near standstill, with the decade from 2020 to 2030 projected to be a lost period in the fight against poverty. Today, nearly one in ten people live on less than $2.15 per day, the extreme poverty line for low-income countries, according to the World Bank . Additionally, 44% of the global population, around 3.5 billion people, live on less than $7 per day, which is the poverty line for upper-middle-income countries. While we are excited about the fast-paced technology that changes life as we know it, billions of people lack access to clean water and healthy food, health care, and education. To make this gloomy picture even darker, unjustifiable gender disparities continue, as do exploitation, violence, and abuse. Generative AI: A Tool For Human Advancement Generative AI, capable of producing human-like text, images, and other media, offers innovative solutions to these complex problems plaguing society for centuries. Some examples: Education Accessibility : AI-powered platforms like Khan Academy use AI tutors to provide personalized learning experiences, helping bridge educational gaps. Their new initiative, Khanmigo, uses AI to simulate prosocial AI-powered one-on-one tutoring for students worldwide. Healthcare Innovation : AI is changing healthcare diagnostics. For instance, DeepMind's AlphaFold has predicted the 3D structures of over 200 million proteins, accelerating drug discovery and disease understanding. Eventually, advancements of this type can lead to treatments for diseases that disproportionately affect underserved populations and that have received little funding in the past. Human Rights Monitoring: The Human Rights Data Analysis Group employs AI to analyze data from conflict zones, identifying patterns of human rights abuses that might be overlooked. This assists international organizations in holding perpetrators accountable. Economic Inclusion : AI-driven financial services are extending credit to underserved communities. Companies like Branch use machine learning algorithms to offer microloans via mobile platforms, reaching millions without access to traditional banking. Two shifts are needed to harness the social benefits. One is material, starting with the actual access to the internet for those who are excluded from the virtual world. Today, 2.6 billion people do not have access to the internet. Taking the benefit of generative AI to scale means Increasing connectivity to ensure everyone who wants to go online can do so. Digital inclusion is not abstract. The second shift is mental; from the ambition of AI as merely a driver of commercial profitability, we need to zoom in on the aspiration of positive social outcomes. Seizing The Opportunity: AI As A Means To An End To harness AI effectively to address the issues listed earlier, we must approach it as a means to achieve human rights goals, not an end in itself or a mere instrument for commercial benefit. Pro-social and pro-business are not an either-or equation; instead, they can be mutually beneficial – making them a win-win-win-win for the people we are, the communities we belong to, the countries we are part of, and the planet we depend on. However, in pursuing an expressed ambition of human rights respect as a prime concern rather than a secondary consideration, the priorities are reversed, and the need to focus systematically on ethics and inclusion becomes evident. Ethics: As evidenced ever and again by cases where AI systems have exhibited racial and gender discrimination in hiring or lending decisions, the old saying garbage in, garbage out still holds – biased data leads to biased outcomes. Moving towards an AI-saturated future, it is important to ensure that AI systems are systematically designed to be unbiased. Inclusion : Developing AI solutions that consider the needs of marginalized communities requires us to expand the scope of interest beyond the usual target audience or people in high and middle-income countries. For example, UNICEF's Innovation Fund invests in open-source AI projects that address challenges faced by children worldwide, particularly in low-income countries. Reframing The AI Welfare Debate The AI welfare discussion, which dives deep into the moral considerations for advanced AI systems and the potential rights of future sentient entities, presents an opportunity to refocus our attention on human well-being. Rather than diverting resources from pressing human rights issues to speculate about the rights of hypothetical AI beings, this heightened interest can reinforce our commitment to empowering humanity. By contemplating the ethical dimensions of AI, we are reminded of the importance of addressing the challenges people worldwide face today. While ethics and inclusion may appear as abstract lofty goals, they start with practical, straightforward actions by those who create and utilize these technologies. Diverse development teams are essential for building unbiased AI systems that serve everyone equitably. When people from different backgrounds contribute to AI development, the resulting technologies are more likely to be fair and inclusive. Transparency and accountability in AI practices foster trust and encourage responsible use, ensuring that AI systems are held to ethical standards. Furthermore, educating users about AI empowers them to make informed decisions, enhancing the likelihood that technology positively influences society. Double literacy, combining a holistic understanding of our natural intelligence and artificial assets, is central to that endeavor. Building Collaborative Frameworks For ProSocial AI As we observe International Human Rights Day amid the relentless hype surrounding generative AI technologies like ChatGPT, it's important to recognize that while AI holds immense potential for humankind, its ultimate value lies in how we harness it to advance human rights and global well-being. The concept of ProSocial AI — AI systems that are tailored, trained, tested, and targeted to bring out the best in and for people and the planet — embodies this philosophy. By focusing on ProSocial AI, we commit to developing technologies that are: Tailored to address specific challenges different communities face, ensuring relevance and effectiveness. Trained on diverse and representative data to eliminate biases and promote fairness. Tested rigorously to ensure safety, reliability, and ethical compliance. Targeted toward initiatives that promote social good, environmental sustainability, and global equity. ProSocial AI offers a pathway to leverage technology that uplifts humanity, reduces inequalities, and fosters shared prosperity. It aligns with the urgent need to accelerate progress on human rights, especially in light of recent stagnation in poverty reduction and rising inequalities. Now, we have the means – do we have the desire?‘Gladiator II’ review: Are you not moderately entertained?
Hesai Group Reports Third Quarter 2024 Unaudited Financial Results
(The Center Square) – State and national officials lauded former President Jimmy Carter for his public service after learning of his death Sunday afternoon at the age of 100. President Joe Biden said an official state funeral would be held for Carter in Washington. "He was a man of great character and courage, hope and optimism," Biden said. "We will always cherish seeing him and Rosalynn together. The love shared between Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter is the definition of partnership and their humble leadership is the definition of patriotism." President-elect Donald Trump urged everyone to keep the Carter family in their thoughts and prayers. "The challenges Jimmy faced as President came at a pivotal time for our country and he did everything in his power to improve the lives of all Americans," Trump said in a statement released from his campaign. "For that, we all owe him a debt of gratitude." Former president Bill Clinton gave Carter and his wife Rosalynn the Medal of Freedom in 1999. "From his commitment to civil rights as a state senator and governor of Georgia; to his efforts as President to protect our natural resources in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, make energy conservation a national priority, return the Panama Canal to Panama, and secure peace between Egypt and Israel at Camp David; to his post-presidential efforts at the Carter Center supporting honest elections, advancing peace combating disease, and promoting democracy; to his and Rosalynn's devotion and hard work at Habitat for Humanity--he worked tirelessly for a fairer, better world," Clinton and his wife Hillary said in a statement. Former president George W. Bush hailed Carter as a man of deeply held convictions. "President Carter dignified the office," Bush said on social media. "And his efforts to leave behind a better world didn't end with the presidency. His work with Habitat for Humanity and the Carter Center set an example of service that will inspire Americans for generations." Carter served as Georgia's governor from 1971-1975 before becoming president. Under his leadership, the European and Japanese state trade offices were launched, as well as the Georgia Film Commission," Gov. Brian Kemp said. "He and former First Lady Rosalynn Carter's support of the civil rights movement in the place of its birth is also remembered with deep appreciation." Lt. Gov. Burt Jones said Carter exemplified what it meant to be a public servant. "I had the honor of meeting him and his wife, and I will never forget that day," Jones said. "They were kind, wonderful, accepting and exactly what they portrayed every day, two people devoted to lifting up those in their community who needed help the most. President Carter's legacy will live on in the numerous nonprofits, charities and organizations Rosalynn, his family and him started."The World Order Is Dangerously In Flux
Aspiring pastry chefs typically head west for their baptism of fire — cultivating exacting precision to confect puff pastry with hundreds of buttery layers, and mind-bendingly realistic trompe l’oeil desserts in the guise of everyday objects. After decades of honing his ability in French pastry arts, which he channelled into now defunct patisserie-cafe chain Bakerzin, Singaporean chef Daniel Tay is due East. The 54-year-old, who sells traditional Chinese snacks such as ang ku kueh under his recently launched brand Madam Ang KK, will soon travel to Chaozhou, China, to fine-tune his soon kueh making skills. While some may regard the Teochew steamed dumplings filled with turnip and dried shrimps as provincial fare, Tay reveals that they’re fiendishly difficult to master. For one, perfecting the texture of the chewy rice and tapioca flour wrappers is a lesson in patience. Although Tay may count the likes of Pierre Herme and Frederic Bau as his inspirations, he avers that such European pastry chefs are vaunted by the press, at times to the detriment of local culinary heritage. “It might not look glamorous, but those are our traditions, which will be forgotten if nobody talks about them,” said the F&B entrepreneur, who also owns cheesecake brand Cat & the Fiddle plus local heritage bakery Old Seng Choong. Besides his main agenda, he has also got other side quests slated for his upcoming sojourn. Over coffee, he cheerfully mentions a pitstop at his ancestral village close to Fujian province, as well as plans to attend feng shui classes. He’d become a votary of the Chinese practice of geomancy after a particularly painful business failure early in his career. “You don’t always have to hit a brick wall, there are many things you can do to avoid different circumstances. I’ve travelled so much in the past few years that I’ve managed to avoid conflict with my wife,” he quipped. The son of a baker who owned the popular Seng Choong Confectionery at Marine Parade, Tay did not stoke ambitions to succeed the family business growing up — though he occasionally helped at the bakery. Instead, he hopscotched from one pursuit to the other, entertaining the notions of becoming a fashion designer and professional snooker player at different intervals. “All my siblings graduated from universities in the US, while I was this hopeless guy who didn’t study and slept till two in the afternoon,” he recounted, adding that his tendency at the time to space out led family members to suspect that he was using drugs. His paternal grandfather, however, had always pegged him for a budding entrepreneur who would surpass his siblings. So, he was hustled overseas to study baking science and technology at U.S. Wheat Associates in Bangkok. He proved to be a quick study, and soon found his metier as a pastry chef. “I realised that I may not love this, but I need to be in F&B. Years later, I discovered through astrology that it’s my calling to be a businessman,” he proclaimed. IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED... While he may have been slow off the mark, he returned to Singapore on a quest to stake his claim in the industry, starting with reimagining his father’s old school bakery. “I wanted to transform Old Seng Choong into something like Bread Talk — this was way before it existed,” he recalled. The unassuming heartland bakery got a facelift with startling cobalt blue flooring and display. For many longstanding customers, this was a dislocating contrast from the no-frills bakery that was established in 1965. “We were ahead of our time,” he said. As a result, his first venture flamed out, and his father had to sell the shop. “That was 30 years of his hard work gone in that one year I took over, so it was very tough for me,” he reflected. Friends began to shun his father, thinking that he’d gone into rack and ruin, though the elder Tay never held it against him. The pair chalked the failure up to a business misstep and drew a line under the episode. Then, in 1998, under the spectre of the Asian Financial Crisis, Tay took his opportunity to flip the script by launching Baker’s Inn (later renamed Bakerzin). This time, he found a sweet spot, with the bakery chain amassing an appreciative following for its premium yet accessible desserts. “There wasn’t really anyone doing it at the time. Starbucks’ coffee and cakes were horrible, and decent cakes could only be found in hotels, which were expensive,” said Tay, who claims partial credit for inspiring Singapore’s next wave of modern bistros. Bakerzin steadily became a household name, but like many F&B operators, grappled with rising costs including rental over time. Tay sold the business in 2007 to “a very rich Indonesian group” whose identity he wouldn’t disclose, but continued managing it till 2013. “The guy who bought it did not even meet me once, and all the information gets lost when you communicate via a go-between,” groused Tay. The subject apparently hits a raw nerve. “When you get some financial guy to oversee the business, he thinks it’s easy to make money and starts cutting costs. I decided that I still prefer to work for myself.” The founder ventured that he’d offered to buy back the business when he’d heard that it was going into liquidation in 2020, but his overture was rejected. “They didn’t want to sell to me, it would have been too much of an embarrassment.” Bravado aside, Tay isn’t one to flog a dead horse. In 2013, he’d launched food manufacturing company Foodgnostic Pte Ltd, which has five factories — in Singapore, Malaysia and China. They double up as production facilities for Cat & the Fiddle and Old Seng Choong, which were incepted in 2014 and 2016 respectively. The former brand has a franchise in Indonesia, and supplies cafes and restaurants in China. Tay says he’s achieved consistency by investing heavily in quality control. “Our factories in China are super clean and precise, down to workers sorting defective walnuts and raisins. There’s no chance of failure,” he crowed. It’s evident that these gleaming white facilities are his pride and joy, as he shows off videos depicting boxes of cakes streaking by on conveyer belts. For all his brashness, Tay betrays a rare moment of vulnerability when talking about Old Seng Choong, an ode to his father and a chance to preserve his legacy. He recalls being featured alongside his parents in an article about his rebranding of his father’s business, with his ailing dad in a wheelchair. “In tears, my dad told me how his friend called him saying, ‘Wow, you’re back’. He passed on four months later,” he recounted. “At least I did something right.” HOW TO AVERT A CRISIS The COVID-19 pandemic hobbled F&B players, with Singapore Department of Statistics reporting a 26 per cent year-on-year decline in sales in 2020. Tay, on the other hand, noted a bonanza. After implementing initial pay cuts at the start of the pandemic, he shored up the business by pivoting — he churned butter out of surfeit cream from other proprietors, and flogged products such as mushroom soup packs on Facebook Live. A session co-hosted by local food blogger Maureen Ow, who goes by the moniker of Miss Tam Chiak, drew brickbats from netizens who claimed they were flouting safe distancing restrictions. So, he hammed it up for audiences solo, and claims to have raked in five-figure sales nonetheless. Notably, he managed to maintain Old Seng Choong’s tenancy at Marina Bay Sands, in part by fulfilling corporate orders. “The worst thing to do in a crisis is stay still and wait to die. At the bottom of the valley, you just have to keep walking, and you’ll find your footing and way out eventually,” he mused. It’s easy to fathom why the father of three young adults didn’t have much time for his kids in their formative years, given the vicissitudes he’s faced. Beyond work, he’s a shutterbug — having trained his staff to do all their photography inhouse — and tea connoisseur. His most expensive tea purchase is a Pu Er from Banzhang, Yunnan, priced at approximately S$10,000 (US$7,354) per cake. For now, Tay is licking his lips on plans to evolve his businesses — the first Cat & the Fiddle outlet equipped with an in-store oven is in the pipeline for the first quarter of 2025. So what’s the secret to longevity in Singapore’s saturated F&B landscape? “Keep evolving. The life of an F&B entrepreneur is very tough with rising costs, so we have to find ways to work differently,” he concluded.
