The_King

Aug 1 (Reuters) - Pfizer Inc (PFE.N) and Moderna Inc (MRNA.O) have raised the prices of their COVID-19 vaccines in their latest European Union supply contracts, the Financial Times reported on Sunday. The new price for the Pfizer shot was 19.50 euros ($23.15)against 15.50 euros previously, the newspaper said, citing portions of the contracts seen. The price of a Moderna vaccine was $25.50 a dose, the contracts show, up from about 19 euros in the first procurement deal but lower than the previously agreed $28.50 because the order had grown, the report said, citing one official close to the matter. The European Commission said on Tuesday that the EU is on course to hit a target of fully vaccinating at least 70% of the adult population by the end of the summer. read more In May, the EU said it expects to have received more than a billion doses of vaccines by the end of September from four drugmakers. Pfizer and Moderna were not immediately available for comment to Reuters.

Imagine a Covid-19 vaccine that came as a pill: no needles, no medical professionals required to administer it, potentially delivered directly to people's homes. Israeli pharmaceutical Oramed is attempting to accomplish just that, and is poised to start its first clinical trial in early August, CEO Nadav Kidron told AFP in an interview. With just 15 percent of the world's population fully vaccinated, the global fight to end the pandemic is far from over. Oral vaccines are particularly attractive for the developing world, because they reduce the logistical burden of immunization campaigns, said Kidron. But they could also increase uptake in wealthy countries where needle aversion is an often missed factor in hesitancy. A recent survey found nearly 19 million Americans who decline vaccines would take them if they had a pill option. "In order for the vaccine to really work well, we need as many people to take it as possible," said Kidron. Other benefits include reduced syringe and plastic waste, and potentially fewer side effects. - Challenges for oral delivery - Despite many theoretical advantages, there have been few successful oral vaccines because the active ingredients tend not to survive the journey through the gastro-intestinal tract. Exceptions include vaccines for diseases that are themselves transmitted through the mouth and digestive system -- for example there is an effective oral polio vaccine. Oramed, which was founded in 2006, believes it has overcome the technical hurdles by designing a capsule that survives the highly acidic environment of the gut. It invented its technology for a previous product, an experimental oral form of insulin, the lifesaving drug required by diabetics that has until now been only administered by injection. Developed with Nobel Prize winning biochemist Avram Hershko who is on Oramed's scientific advisory board, the company's capsule has a highly protective coating that makes it slow to degrade. It also releases molecules called protease inhibitors that stop enzymes in the small intestine from breaking down the insulin, and an absorption enhancer to help the insulin cross into the bloodstream. This drug has been dosed in hundreds of patients in late stage clinical trials in the US, with results expected in September 2022. Oramed has now launched a new majority-owned company called Oravax, which takes the capsule technology from the oral insulin product and uses it for an oral Covid-19 vaccine. - Virus-like particle - To evoke an immune response, the company's scientists have designed synthetic coronavirus-like particles. These mimic three key structures of the pathogen: the spike protein, the envelope protein and the membrane protein. Most currently authorized vaccines, like Pfizer or AstraZeneca, are based on the spike protein alone, making them less protective over time as the spike protein of the coronavirus mutates. By targeting multiple parts of the virus, including structures that mutate less, the Oravax vaccine could be more variant-proof, Kidron said. The company has applied to begin trials in multiple countries and expects to begin its first in Israel within weeks, pending approval from the health ministry. Kidron said he foresaw a role for the vaccine initially in developing countries which haven't yet bought up enough supply of current vaccines -- before eventually developed markets. A vaccine pill could become especially attractive if ongoing boosters are required. If it's successful, it would also represent a proof of concept for future orally administered vaccines, he added. "Imagine... the flu vaccine comes to you in the mail, you take it, you're done."

SINGAPORE - The course of true love never did run smooth. But when confronted with an unprecedented global pandemic, relational challenges once seen as molehills become mountains amid new fears and uncertainty. Plagued by problems such as a lack of quality time and diverging priorities, Casper (not his real name), 26, ended an eight-month relationship in August last year. He says: "During the circuit breaker, we weren't able to meet as much, plus she wasn't a fan of video calling. This brought about frustration, triggered her anxieties and raised insecurities. "I realised that we had different expectations of the relationship and the pandemic made it worse. There was a lot of pent-up unhappiness." His is not an isolated case. Other dating couples are also calling it quits after almost 1½ years of seclusion, heightened anxiety and more time to re-evaluate their priorities. Local Facebook community Singapore Breakup Support Group, created in 2019, saw an increase in heartbroken individuals seeking advice during the circuit breaker period last year. Since March 2020, the group has received at least two inquiries a month from those seeking help to cope after breaking up. It now has nearly 10 volunteers helping to run its support service, from just two people. Dating and recovery coach Cherlyn Chong, who runs an online business, saw a 10 per cent increase in clients who had split up over the past year, compared with 2019. She estimates she now has 28 clients on the mend from break-ups. Her divorce and break-up group for women on Facebook also saw a 15 per cent surge in members over the same period. Called Get Over Him, it now has some 10,000 members. With six years of experience in helping the heartbroken - both men and women - move on, she notes that "prolonged distance does not make the heart grow fonder". "Right now, there is a sense of hopelessness and it feels like there's no end in sight. Without the ability to engage in our love languages, it becomes harder to feel loved and stay connected." The five love languages - quality time, physical touch, acts of service, words of affirmation and receiving gifts - were coined by American author and marriage counsellor Gary Chapman. He says that understanding one's primary love language, or the way one prefers to express and receive love, allows for better communication and conflict resolution in a relationship. Counsellors note that engaging love languages like physical touch and spending quality time together was more possible pre-Covid-19 for unmarried couples, but under the current circumstances, it has become increasingly difficult to do so. Sophia (not her real name), a university student, broke up with her boyfriend of two years in June last year after incessant arguing, which was exacerbated by not being able to meet up. Increased conflict due to misunderstandings brought about by communication issues precipitated the end of their relationship. Their fundamentally different moral values - he was religious and she was not - also became painfully apparent. Sophia says: "The pandemic definitely affected our communication since we would usually argue and talk it out in real life. "We would try to settle our disagreements via video call or texting, but a lot of unintentional miscommunication happened because there was no body language to reference and it was hard to read tone over texts." Similarly, 20-year-old student Cassie (not her real name) cited a lack of physical meetings as a factor in her worsening relationship, which ended in December. Escalating conflict brought their differing priorities to the fore. She was concerned about her health and family; he was more focused on his personal interests. They decided to part ways. Travel restrictions due to closed borders brought about by Covid-19 also led to the demise of some long-distance relationships. For instance, 25-year-old marketing analyst Lim Li Xuan called it quits in April last year when her former boyfriend had to fly home to Spain after the circuit breaker was announced. "I was sad, but I knew that a long-distance relationship wouldn't work because he's not much of a texter and for long distance to work, the whole relationship has to be online," she says. "The pandemic definitely played a part in us ending the relationship prematurely. We didn't have any problems that caused us to be unhappy, but rather, we just weren't ready to give up our whole lives for each other and relocate." It was painful, she adds, as her heartbreak played out against the backdrop of the global crisis. Her regular counselling sessions helped her to cope and move on. Counsellors from three different practices interviewed by The Sunday Times say that the pandemic was not the main factor in the break-up cases they saw, but merely a trigger. It widened fault lines that already existed in the relationships. Mr Joachim Lee, principal psychotherapist and deputy executive director of Eagles Mediation and Counselling Centre, notes that couples who lack a strong foundation find it difficult to weather the challenges wrought by the pandemic, as they "struggle to relate as stressors build up". "The circuit breaker and heightened alert periods meant that the emotional needs of some couples could not be met, unlike in conventional dating conditions, straining the relationships. Some felt disconnected, resulting in conflicts and, unfortunately, in some cases, a break-up," he says. Ms Jean Chen, director and psychotherapist at private counselling practice Relationship Matters, adds that increased job worries and economic uncertainties during this period, combined with a lack of assurance and positive emotional responses, proved to be a recipe for romantic disasters. She says: "Emotional responsiveness towards each other is very important. When there is a lack of care for hurt feelings in conversations, communication breakdowns happen. "And when there is a lack of reassurance or comfort for each other, break-ups happen." Psychotherapists and counsellors interviewed say that the essential traits needed for couples to weather the ongoing storm are gratitude, empathy and self-awareness. Mr Jonathan Siew, principal counsellor of Care Corner Counselling Centre, who has seen a 5 per cent increase in unmarried couples coming for help since 2019, says that one way forward is to practise mindfulness. "I think we can benefit from having a better understanding of ourselves, how we function and how relationships function," he says. He outlines a basic lesson in honing self-awareness. "First, identify behavioural patterns. For example, if your partner did something to upset you, you may want to ask questions like, 'How did I respond to it?'," he says. "The idea is to establish an understanding that we co-create situations and we sometimes feel frustrated and upset. It's normal. "But if you can go a little deeper, start to recognise what's underneath the feelings. Is it sadness? Humiliation?" But should all efforts at staying together fall through, dating and recovery coach Ms Chong offers some sage advice for those moving on. "What needs to happen first is a huge forgiveness of the situation, themselves and their ex. Yes, there will be sadness, frustration and anger, especially amid the pandemic, but the next step is to accept that it happened and not deny reality," she says. "Lastly, create a goal where you will take this as a lesson and become better. After all, time doesn't heal all wounds, action does." For Ms Jenn Chow, who usually relieves stress by going for karaoke sessions or clubbing, the lockdown period forced her to focus inwards and find new coping mechanisms after her three-year relationship ended last August. The 23-year-old sales executive says: "This was my first time without having any distractions. I used all my time to heal properly and really paid attention to my emotional and mental health." She picked up bullet journalling, read and doodled for personal growth and reflection. "At the end of the day, I am the only one who can help me, so I have to be there for myself," she says. https://www.straitstimes.com/life/heartbreak-season-more-couples-are-calling-it-quits-amid-challenges-wrought-by-the-pandemic

SINGAPORE: When dining finally reopens – currently planned for Aug 18 when the current Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) curbs are set to end – F&B owners said their biggest worry is managing crowds when they have to check who is vaccinated or not. “We are sandwiched”, said Ya Kun Kaya Toast’s director of branding and market development Jesher Loi. “If the Government enforces, we will have to abide by that. So, we will make adjustments. We will have to check your app … and also there will be ambassadors around who will either insist or assist.” Speaking on CNA’s Heart of the Matter on Thursday (Jul 29), Mr Loi said he foresees huge challenges if his lean staff have to respond dynamically from behind the counter. In his experience, customers tend to look for a table first while one person in the dining group queues for their order. But F&B operators must ensure all of them have their temperatures checked and cannot make exceptions. Each situation can vary, he explained, adding that it also depends on the outlet layout, the group size and whether the store is busy. “I can feel my stress levels rising ... dealing with hostile customers and people who have their interpretations of the rules," said chef-owner of Summer Hill restaurant, Anthony Yeoh, also on the podcast. “Tempers tend to flare up a lot more easily nowadays. It's always trying to find the right balance and still creating a good experience for customers. That's what restaurants ultimately are about,” he added. The patience of F&B staff too will be tested. “From the customer's perspective, it's our first time to the restaurant, it's our first time being told, redirected or told to go back to the line again. But from the staff’s perspective, you could be the 40th person, the 60th person," Mr Loi said. This is why he is appealing for customers to be understanding should there be delays, especially during peak hours. “Customer participation is critical. The vast majority of them are cooperative but sometimes they misunderstand and say, ‘I was here first’. And you get hostilities at our level on the ground.” Mr Yeoh said he hopes the rules are kept clear and simple, else businesses will find “that at some point it's not worthwhile for the business to risk breaking the law”. The F&B sector in Singapore has been hit by COVID-19 restrictions many times over the past year, beginning with a circuit breaker in April last year, to finally opening up to five diners in June 2020, then gradually increasing to eight diners in December 2020. As community cases began to rise this year, group sizes were reduced to five in the beginning of May. But on May 16, Phase 2 (Heightened Alert) kicked in and dining-in was banned once again. Most recently, co-chair of the multi-ministry task force Lawrence Wong said on Monday (Jul 26) that authorities planned to review easing restrictions in early August and potentially requiring anyone who wants to head to a restaurant, a gym or a large event to be fully vaccinated. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-restaurant-cafe-close-dine-in-ban-phase-2-rules-diner-15338612

SINGAPORE - Some teenagers are creating social media accounts using pseudonyms - to bash themselves or support comments posted on their "official" accounts. Social worker Eric Sng has encountered at least four teenagers engaging in such activities. The head of Shine Children and Youth Services' community outreach team ResiL!ence, started in October last year, has been working with young people for over 12 years. Reasons for this behaviour are complex, he said, adding that some might be feeling down and want to double down on themselves. Leaving negative comments might invite others to join in on the self-criticism, or could also be a form of reverse psychology to spur others to share words of encouragement. Others who create pseudo accounts to defend themselves on their social media profiles told Mr Sng that this anonymity helps them respond to critical comments as it is "better to have others protect you than to stand up for yourself". Dr Annabelle Chow, principal clinical psychologist at Annabelle Psychology, said that these pseudo accounts could be to generate hype among their friends by creating controversy or an indirect way of having the inner version of themselves affirmed. Dr Emily Ortega, head of psychology at the Singapore University of Social Sciences added that false identities also help avoid responsibility for words or actions. She said: "But I guess (singer-songwriter) Taylor Swift best explains this - 'say it in the street, that's a knockout, but you say it in a tweet, that's a cop-out'." More commonly, young people set up a public account to showcase a more measured, positive side, and a private account known to closer friends, where they share private matters. "While a private account can be a space for young people to feel safe, it can cut both ways as these spaces are usually not accessible to caring adults who can offer appropriate guidance and look out for warning signs of distress that sometimes peers may be unable to offer or overlook," said Mr Sng. Associate Professor Andy Ho, who specialises in public mental health at the Nanyang Technological University, said that young people and children will inevitably be exposed to mean and ill-spirited comments as they socialise and forge relationships online. Dr Andrew Yee of the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) said parents and educators should find ways to reach out and help young people better understand the inherent features of social media platforms and what they do to their experience of the digital world. "On top of that, It is important to help young people identify, recognise and regulate their emotions from a young age," added the SUTD fellow, who is researching how technological environments shape health and well-being. https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/some-young-people-in-spore-creating-pseudo-accounts-to-handle-toxic-comments

sit on bus, watch ppl eat

why yahoo nv use south asian. https://sg.yahoo.com/news/urges-action-suppress-covid-deadlier-174904944.html

The Delta variant of Covid-19 is a warning to the world to suppress the virus quickly before it mutates again into something even worse, the WHO said Friday. The highly-transmissible variant, first detected in India, has now surfaced in 132 countries and territories, the World Health Organization said. "Delta is a warning: it's a warning that the virus is evolving but it is also a call to action that we need to move now before more dangerous variants emerge," the WHO's emergencies director Michael Ryan told a press conference. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus added: "So far, four variants of concern have emerged -- and there will be more as long as the virus continues to spread." Tedros said that on average, infections increased by 80 percent over the past four weeks in five of the six WHO regions. Though Delta has shaken many countries, Ryan said proven measures to bring transmission under control still worked -- notably physical distancing, wearing masks, hand hygiene and avoiding long periods indoors in poorly ventilated, busy places. "They are stopping the Delta strain, especially when you add in vaccination," he said. "The virus has got fitter, the virus has got faster. The game plan still works, but we need to implement and execute our game plan much more efficiently and much more effectively then we've ever done before." - Price of vaccine inequity - The UN health agency has consistently called for vaccines to be distributed evenly around the world and has branded the drastic imbalance a "moral outrage". More than four billion doses of Covid-19 vaccines have now been administered globally, according to an AFP count. In countries categorised as high income by the World Bank, 98 doses per 100 people have been injected. That figure drops to 1.6 per 100 in the 29 lowest-income countries. If the four billion doses had been administered equally to people aged over 60, "we basically could have gotten two doses into everybody at highest risk of severe consequences when we got to a strain like Delta", said Bruce Aylward, the WHO's frontman on the Covax scheme which aims to get donor-funded jabs to poorer countries. Instead, those nations, "in the face of the Delta variant -- they're going to pay a very, very different price as a result". - 'No magical solutions' - The WHO wants every country to have vaccinated at least 10 percent of its population by the end of September; at least 40 percent by the end of this year, and 70 percent by the middle of 2022. "We are a long way off achieving those targets," Tedros lamented. He said that just over half of the 194 WHO member states have fully vaccinated 10 percent of their population; less than a quarter have vaccinated 40 percent; and only three countries have vaccinated 70 percent. Meanwhile the WHO says Burundi, Eritrea and North Korea are the only remaining member states yet to start Covid-19 vaccination campaigns. The novel coronavirus has killed at least 4.2 million people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, while nearly 196.6 million cases have been registered, according to tallies from official sources compiled by AFP. Tedros said that on current rates of infection, the 200 million known infections mark will be surpassed within the next two weeks, although the true figure will be much higher. "There are no magical solutions," said Ryan. "The only magic dust we have is vaccination. The problem is we're not sprinkling that evenly around the world and we are working against ourselves."

SINGAPORE — Before they are allowed to resume operations, nightlife operators that converted to food-and-beverage (F&B) operations must ensure their interiors are “clearly visible” to people outside and cannot use blackout windows or opaque doors along their perimeter. They must also lock all private rooms, with only their main halls permitted for F&B operations. The ministries of Sustainability and the Environment, Home Affairs, and Trade and Industry set out these tighter infection control measures for converted nightlife establishments on Saturday (July 31). This came after more than 400 such businesses were ordered to suspend their operations for two weeks from July 16 until Friday to stem the spread of Covid-19 following a cluster of cases at karaoke television (KTV) lounges and clubs. As of Friday, there were 250 coronavirus cases linked to the cluster. Converted outlets must stay closed, including for takeaways, until they pass inspections and receive written approval to reopen. About 50 converted nightspots that breached infection control measures since October last year will not be allowed to reopen. For those that may resume business, the other infection control measures they must roll out include closed-circuit television cameras covering all areas of their operation, including entrances to the locked private rooms. Lighting must be sufficient for activities to be observed via the cameras, the ministries said. Separately, employees deployed at the entrances of the outlets must not hold up the entry of enforcement officers or prevent members of the public from looking in. Equipment for public entertainment, such as pool tables, dart boards and karaoke machines, must also be out of sight of patrons. All employees of the outlets must also undergo Covid-19 fast and easy tests at a Health Promotion Board quick-test centre every seven days after operations resume. This is more stringent than such employer-supervised tests for typical F&B outlets, which are done every 14 days. In addition, SafeEntry Gateways, which allow people to check in to public places, must be made available at entry and exit points to allow for contact tracing. Operators must also comply with licensing conditions, such as those on food preparation facilities and menus. Before restarting operations, all their employees must also have taken a polymerase chain reaction Covid-19 swab test and the outlets must satisfy all infection control requirements. The ministries cautioned that outlets found to have restarted operations, including for takeaways, without a conditional permit will face firm action. This includes prosecution and the cancellation of licences for food, public entertainment and liquor. “Establishments that breach safe-management measures are liable to have their conditional permits to operate withdrawn and must close immediately,” the ministries said. Since October last year, government agencies have increased enforcement checks on F&B outlets, including converted nightspots. Seven operators have thus far had their licences revoked permanently and were ordered to stop operations. Read more at https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/no-opaque-doors-or-access-private-rooms-among-tougher-rules-converted-ktvs-wishing-resume

See that uncle eat curry puff the auntie in front chicken and in front yolo is chips

Wtf I sit in bus to ssrr, got 3 person eating and the rest don't care. Uncle eat curry puff, auntie eat fried chicken and a yolo eat potato chips And me under fasting mode can only drink water Haiz

Don't worry as the king I know what to do. Just watch the news

Who open at this time? Wait until covid la

Cause there a sucker born every min

Japanese French restaurant Aux Bacchanales Singapore, which originated from Shinjuku, serving up French food with Japanese sensibility. Known for their crepes and galettes, the cafe also serves delicious mains such as steaks and duck confit. Check out the video for our full review, and maybe check it out when restrictions have lifted to transport yourself to Japan! Cafe Aux Bacchanales Plaza Singapura #03-83 68 Orchard Rd Singapore 238839 Operating hours: Daily, 11am - 10pm

KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysian politics was thrown into turmoil on Thursday (July 29), with Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin clashing with the King over the revocation of emergency ordinances. There were calls, even from Tan Sri Muhyiddin’s own allies, for him to quit after the palace issued a statement in the morning that contained a rare and stunning rebuke of the government. The palace insisted that the King, Sultan Abdullah Ahmad Shah, did not endorse the government’s unilateral move to withdraw the ordinances under the state of emergency which he proclaimed in January. It is due to expire on Sunday. “His Majesty is extremely disappointed, as what was assented to and agreed on with (parliamentary and law minister) Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan and Attorney General Idrus Harun during a virtual audience on July 24 was for the proposal to cancel the emergency ordinances be tabled and debated in Parliament,” the palace said. Opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim read the palace statement to cries of “betrayal” and “traitor” in Parliament, which is sitting for the first time since December. He called for the resignation of Mr Takiyuddin and Mr Muhyiddin as well. Datuk Seri Anwar then filed a fresh motion of no-confidence against Mr Muhyiddin but it was not addressed after Deputy Speaker Rashid Hasnon announced the adjournment of the session because two Covid-19 cases were detected in Parliament this week. Datuk Hasnon said the sitting had been adjourned until next Monday as Covid-19 tests are conducted. The Prime Minister, meanwhile, was holed up with close advisers in Cabinet as well as the Attorney General at his residence. “PM was told the situation has become too chaotic and untenable,” a source with knowledge of the discussions told The Straits Times. But, according to sources close to the Premier, Mr Muhyiddin is digging his heels in, taking the position that the Constitution obliges the King to act in accordance with the government’s advice. “He is staying. He has done everything in accordance with the Constitution,” said a top government official. The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) responded in the evening by pointing out that, according to the palace statement, “the King is aware that His Majesty must accept and act according to the Cabinet’s advice as provided in Article 40 of the Federal Constitution”. The PMO press release also added that Mr Muhyiddin and the Attorney General had further explained to the King, in an audience on Tuesday, the government’s advice on the cancellation of the ordinances. Umno, the largest party in the governing Perikatan Nasional (PN) coalition which has been split about remaining in it, made an open call for the Premier to step down, accusing him of “treason”. “Umno will ask Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan to resign honourably,” said party president Ahmad Zahid Hamidi, who has for weeks agitated for Umno MPs to leave the beleaguered administration, which has been hard pressed to defend its response to the Covid-19 pandemic. ST understands that Umno ministers who have remained steadfast to Mr Muhyiddin, despite pressure from Zahid, have told the Prime Minister his grip on power has been shaken by the discord with the palace. Mr Muhyiddin was widely seen as secure in office despite longstanding doubts over his parliamentary majority, due to Sultan Abdullah’s implied endorsement of him. The Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia president was sworn in by the ruler to lead the government in March 2020 despite his predecessor Mahathir Mohamad claiming to have the backing of more MPs. Sultan Abdullah also called on MPs to support the government’s budget at the end of last year and then assented to Mr Muhyiddin’s request for the emergency in January, moves that has so far kept Mr Muhyiddin in power. On Monday, Mr Takiyuddin claimed that the ordinances - which the government insisted were crucial to deal with the worsening Covid-19 situation in the country - were cancelled by Cabinet on July 21, prompting the opposition to question whether the King had consented to the decision, as the withdrawal of the laws had not been officially gazetted. A government spokesman told ST that the administration had decided there was no longer any need for the ordinances, as “Malaysia’s vaccination programme is going well” and the Covid-19 crisis should be under control by October.

so many pictures of him

"There are actually quite many Singapore Airlines girls working in the KTVs." That's not something you'd expect to hear, especially when recent discussions on KTV hostesses here are focused on the growing Covid-19 cluster and the colour of their passports instead. More from AsiaOneRead the condensed version of this story, and other top stories with NewsLite. *Amy, a local KTV hostess in her 30s, recently sat down with AsiaOne for an interview and revealed that it's now more common to see SIA girls juggling two jobs — being an air stewardess and a KTV hostess. The Singapore Girl Amy, who started working in a KTV in January, said she was introduced to the industry by a friend. What immediately struck her was the presence of SIA girls in the KTV lounges. She noticed that these girls are treated as prized commodities by both KTV owners and patrons alike. For one, The Singapore Girl doesn't share the same waiting area as the other hostesses. "Inside the KTV, there are two waiting areas. One is for 'normal' Singaporean girls and the other one is all for the SIA stewardess. They'll be very clear about this," Amy said. She went on to mention that the SIA girls have "rates that are usually higher than normal Singaporean girls." With the premium rates come higher expectations. Amy added: "If the customer chooses an SIA stewardess, that means she'd have to maintain her standards. Similar to what she usually does as an air stewardess." On top of that, the SIA girl is also expected to hold her liquor better than other KTV hostesses. AsiaOne couldn’t independently verify that the hostesses are flight attendants with Singapore Airlines. 0 to over 100 Singaporean hostesses Supreme KTV, one of the KTV lounges in the Covid-19 cluster. PHOTO: Facebook/Supreme KTV Ladies working in KTV lounges come from a plethora of countries including Singapore, but the Chinese, Thai and Vietnamese girls aged between 18 and 40 form the bulk of hostesses in the KTVs here, Amy said. She has also seen a rise in the number of local hostesses at one particular KTV lounge as of late, adding: "Since the beginning of this year, the number of Singaporean hostesses has grown from zero to over 100." This spike in numbers could be due to the lure of high earnings in a short period of time, she suggested. A hostess can make between $300 and $500 per night from drinking with customers for three to four hours, but things do get physical in the rooms. Depending on the customer's behaviour, a hostess' acceptance of his advances may range "from kissing to hugging, maybe touching each other to stripping," Amy shared. A hostess' earnings for the night can go up to $1,000 if she "wants to go further to earn the extra tips" by offering "discreet services" outside KTVs. Another method of stacking money fast is for a hostess to be a butterfly within the KTV lounge. This means that they will try to go to as many rooms and entertain as many customers as possible in one night. Amy said: "The butterfly is usually done by the foreign hostesses. Usually, the local hostesses are more conservative and prefer to sit in the same room for the whole night." As for Amy herself, she told AsiaOne that she has two children to take care of at home. That's why the single mum felt that "being a hostess is a good job [for her] because the timings are flexible and the working hours are shorter." Being a hostess is simply her doing her job, Amy said. "You cannot control what other people think. As long as you feel that you are doing something decent, it's good enough." Seeking happiness from unhappy marriages Customers, on the other hand, do not seek money. Chances are, they have that in abundance. While they usually spend at least $800 at a KTV lounge, Amy has seen instances where customers spend up to $7,000 to book one of the bigger rooms for the night. Given how expensive a night out at the KTV is, it's no surprise that regular patrons are "bosses of companies or entrepreneurs running their own businesses." Visiting the KTVs offers customers an escape from reality, Amy suggested. "They probably don't have a very good relationship at home and they tend to seek happiness in the KTVs." As nightlife outlets remain closed from March last year, many of these men have sought company at some KTV lounges that are operating illegally by pivoting the business to offering food and drinks. With the inside knowledge, Amy shared how simple it was for a KTV lounge to continue operating as per normal. "They turned themselves into somewhat of a bistro. If you visit the KTV, it became compulsory to order two staple food from the menu but the operations were still the same, you just needed to order the food," she said. This eventually led to a Covid-19 cluster that emerged in July. As a Vietnamese hostess was the first to test positive for the coronavirus, much of the blame was directed to fellow hostesses but Amy thinks it isn't fair. "Everyone, including the hostesses and the customers, is responsible for the cluster. I still feel that this is something that can happen anywhere and not only at a KTV." *Not her real name