K-pop sensation BTS won 2018 MAMA’s (Mnet Asian Music Awards) first Worldwide Icon Of The Year Daesang (grand prize) held in Japan on Tuesday (Dec 12), rounding up their total haul of four awards, including the Worldwide Fans’ Choice Top 10 award, Favourite Music Video award for IDOL, and the Favorite Male Dance Artist award.

The other two big winners were TWICE and MAMAMOO, who went home with two awards each.

The Japan show was hosted by Park Bo Gum. As with all the shows, the awards were given out based on fan votes.

The Japan show is the second of three shows that kicked off in Seoul on Dec 10 and will culminate in Hong Kong on Dec 14.

HONG KONG SHOW ‘LIVE’ ON TOGGLE

To be hosted by Song Joong Ki, the Hong Kong show will see celebrities such as Janet Jackson, Angelababy, Cha Seung Won, Han Ye Seul, Kim Dong Wook, Kim Sa Rang, Lee Yo Won and Seo Hyun Jin walk the red carpet – which you can catch live on Toggle.

The artists in the running for the Hong Kong awards include JJ Lin, BewhY, BTS, Changmo, Chungha, GOT7, Heize, IZ*ONE, Mommy Son, MOMOLAND, Nafla, Oh My Girl, Palo Alto, Roy Kim, SEVENTEEN, Sunmi, Swings, The Quiett, Tiger JK and Yoon Mi Rae, Wanna One, WJSN.

SEOUL KICK-OFF

The 2018 MAMA kicked off its first show in Seoul with many idols and actors in attendance including Wanna One, IZ*ONE, Stray Kids, (G)I-DLE, THE BOYZ, Kim So Hyun, and Ji Soo. The ceremony was hosted by actor Jung Hae In.

Wanna One’s win of the DDP Best Trend award was bittersweet as the band is set to disband after their contracts end. In their acceptance speech, they thanked Wannables (the fandom name) for braving the cold to show their support. It also happened to be Wanna One’s Kang Daniel’s birthday, who showed up on the red carpet holding a red rose.

Toggle is the only digital platform in Singapore to broadcast the 2018 MAMA in Hong Kong live on Dec 14. The red carpet broadcast will start at 5pm, while the main show broadcast will start at 7pm. Catch-up TV will be available for seven days after the broadcast.

By Michael Hurley , CBS Boston

BOSTON (CBS) — The business of sports dictates that change is the only real constant. Everyone understands this reality. Stories of players spending their entire careers with one organization or of championship rosters staying together for long stretches of time are few and far between.

READ MORE: Limited Amount Of New First Dose COVID Vaccine Appointments Go Fast

Still, even with an understanding of this requirement in professional sports, the Boston Red Sox seem to be living on the extreme.

The latest departure was expected, as outfield Jackie Bradley Jr. will be signing with the Milwaukee Brewers. Given the Red Sox’ desire to get under the luxury tax threshold, re-signing Bradley was never really in the cards. Still, his departure now makes it official that the entire starting outfield from the 2018 World Series-winning Red Sox is now gone.

Mookie Betts was traded a year ago. Andrew Benintendi was traded last month. Bradley is now gone. Brock Holt, the utility man who was the fourth outfielder on that championship team, left via free agency last year. (Designated hitter J.D. Martinez did play a decent amount of outfield that year.)

Again, turnover is always to be expected. But when a team wins the most games in franchise history en route to a five-game World Series victory, one might expect the team to try to keep that team together for a while.

Instead, as the Red Sox set to embark on their third season after that championship, their roster has been turned over significantly.

Here’s a look at the 2018 World Series roster. The players in bold are still on the team.

PITCHERS

Matt Barnes Ryan Brasier Nathan Eovaldi Heath Hembree Joe Kelly Craig Kimbrel Drew Pomeranz Rick Porcello David Price Eduardo Rodriguez Chris Sale

CATCHERS

READ MORE: Education Commissioner To Request Authority To Start Winding Down Remote, Hybrid Learning In Schools

Sandy Leon Blake Swihart Christian Vazquez

INFIELDERS

Xander Bogaerts Rafael Devers Brock Holt Ian Kinsler Mitch Moreland Eduardo Nunez Steve Pearce

OUTFIELDERS

Andrew Benintendi Mookie Betts Jackie Bradley Jr. J.D. Martinez

Again, roster changes are to be expected. But having just eight out of 25 players from the World Series roster just three years later does feel slightly over the top in that regard.

Of course, it hasn’t exactly been a calculated teardown of the roster. The team did underperform in 2019, going 84-78 and missing the playoffs. And in the strange 2020 season during COVID, the Red Sox were abysmal, going 24-36, a 65-97 pace over 162 games.

The Red Sox also made some ill-advised investments after winning. Notably, they signed Chris Sale a year before he was set to become a free agent, despite some obvious health concerns that limited his availability and effectiveness through the second half of 2018. And they gave Nathan Eovaldi a four-year, $68 million deal despite his long injury history. Though it was less significant in terms of money, the team also re-signed World Series MVP Steve Pearce to a $6.25 million contract for 2019, which essentially took the Red Sox out of the market for Craig Kimbrel or any viable closer for 2019.

The poor management after winning it all largely contributed to the dismissal of Dave Dombrowski, thus ushering in the Chaim Bloom era.

Throw in the seeming impossibility of the team signing Mookie Betts to a long-term deal, David Price’s discomfort with being in Boston, and the high price tag on Rick Porcello as a free agent, and the changes can be seen more on an individual level.

MORE NEWS: Boxford Rescuers, Good Samaritans Team Up To Save Deer That Fell Through Ice

Still, when looking at the big picture, it’s just a bit striking to see how much has changed so quickly for the Red Sox after the single greatest season in their 120-year history.

Miss Universe 2018 has a winner, and it’s Miss Philippines, Catriona Gray.

The 24-year-old model, actress, TV host and seasoned beauty queen, who was born to an Australian father and a Filipina mother, took the top spot at the Miss Universe pageant held on Monday (Dec 17) in Bangkok.

Miss South Africa Tamaryn Green was the first runner-up, while Miss Venezuela Sthefany Gutierrez was the second runner-up.

Southeast Asian countries were also well-represented, with contestants from Indonesia and Thailand making it into the Top 20, while Miss Vietnam H’Hen Nie rounded out the Top 5.

Gray wore a sparkling red dress, and said, “When I was 13, my mum said she had a dream that I would win Miss Universe in a red dress.” According to the Associated Press, she said her mother cried when they saw each other after she won the competition.

The office of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte congratulated the winner, saying in a statement: “Ms Gray truly made the entire Philippines proud when she sashayed on the global stage and showcased the genuine qualities defining a Filipina beauty: confidence, grace, intelligence and strength in the face of tough challenges.

READ: Miss Universe: Miss USA apologises for mocking Miss Vietnam and Miss Cambodia

“In her success, Miss Philippines has shown to the world that women in our country have the ability to turn dreams into reality through passion, diligence, determination and hard work.”

Gray is the fourth Filipina to be named Miss Universe.

The show was hosted once again by comedian Steve Harvey together with model Ashley Graham, and featured a performance by R&B artist Ne-Yo.

This year’s Miss Universe competition was the 67th annual event and represented 94 different countries and territories.

READ: 18 Miss Universe national costumes other than Singapore’s that deserve attention

SINGAPORE: Private-sector economists have maintained their growth forecast for the Singapore economy this year at 3.2 per cent though downside risks including trade protectionism continued to loom large, the latest quarterly survey from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) showed on Wednesday (Sep 5).

This forecast falls within the Government’s estimates for full-year gross domestic product (GDP) to come in between 2.5 and 3.5 per cent. Official data released last month showed second-quarter GDP coming in at a slightly better-than-expected 3.9 per cent from a year ago.

Compared to the last survey in June , the outlook for some economic indicators has brightened.

For one, experts expect the manufacturing sector to remain a key driver of the economy, with full-year growth estimated to be 7.6 per cent – a significant upgrade from the previous survey’s 5.3 per cent.

This comes as the sector, which accounts for one fifth of the economy, beat expectations to grow 10.2 per cent in the second quarter.

“Manufacturing continues to surprise to the upside with external demand remaining pretty firm,” said Standard Chartered economist Jonathan Koh.

There was also more optimism when it comes to growth in accommodation and food services. The sector is tipped to grow 2.9 per cent for the full year, compared to 2.2 per cent in the previous poll.

The growth outlook for private consumption also got bumped up to 2.8 per cent from 2.2 per cent.

“Private consumption may help to contribute to growth given that the labour market has improved and we are seeing real wage growth picking up. That will help to support spending,” said Mr Koh.

On the other hand, economists maintained or downgraded their 2018 forecasts for indicators, such as finance and insurance, construction, wholesale and retail trade, and non-oil domestic exports.

Growth expectations for the construction sector saw the biggest downward revision, with economists forecasting a contraction of 4.2 per cent. The previous survey flagged a decline of 2.1 per cent.

CIMB Private Bank economist Song Seng Wun said: “Most of (the economists) started the year with cautious optimism based on public sector projects being brought forward and hopes for an acceleration in private sector works.”

“But so far, the numbers have proven to be weaker than expected,” he added. The construction sector contracted 4.6 per cent year-on-year in the second quarter, according to official data.

Meanwhile, the MAS survey showed forecasts for both headline and core inflation in 2018 to be at 0.7 and 1.7 per cent, respectively.

On the labour front, economists expect the unemployment rate to be at 2.1 per cent at year-end, unchanged from the previous survey.

TRADE PROTECTIONISM AMONG KEY DOWNSIDE RISKS

Among the 23 economists polled, trade protectionism remained as the biggest downside risk for Singapore’s economy.

It was cited by 89 per cent of respondents, ticking up from 84 per cent in the June survey, with further escalation of trade rhetoric by the US and its trading partners, as well as the implementation of announced tariffs, causing concern.

While the effects of tit-for-tat tariffs between the US and China have not been reflected in broader economic data thus far, the risk of policy missteps has risen amid fears that trade tensions could be here to stay longer than expected, said Mr Song.

READ: With the world “moving a little closer” to a trade war, what’s the impact on Singapore?

There were also growing worries about weaker external growth on the back of tightening liquidity conditions in emerging markets. This was flagged by 42 per cent of economists polled by MAS, a big jump from 11 per cent previously.

Meanwhile, the respondents that highlighted slower growth in China as a downside risk also increased to 37 per cent, from 21 per cent, on the back of tightening credit conditions.

“There are signs that China’s growth has started to soften and policymakers have begun moving to a more neutral stance,” said Mr Koh, referring to recent moves such as the Chinese central bank cutting reserve requirements for lenders.

“Given how China is a huge driver of exports in the region, any further slowdown will definitely impact growth,” he added.

Economists have also become less optimistic about the domestic property market following the announcement of fresh cooling measures in early-July . Just 26 per cent of the economists surveyed cited it as a possible upside factor, compared to 47 per cent in the June survey.

Looking ahead to 2019, experts surveyed maintained their expectations for overall GDP growth to ease to 2.7 per cent.

Vanessa Ponce de Leon is the first Miss Mexico to be crowned Miss World.

The pageant took place in Sanya, China, on Saturday (Dec 8), where the 26-year-old beat 117 other contestants to the crown. Ponce de Leon was presented the crown by last year’s Miss World winner Manushi Chhillar from India.

“I can’t believe it, I really can’t believe it,” exclaimed the new Miss World backstage. “And I think all the girls deserved it. I am proud to represent all of them. I will do as much as I can in the time I have got. Thank you so much, everyone.”

Ponce de Leon holds a degree in International Business and rose to fame on cycle 5 of Mexico’s Next Top Model. Her resume includes modelling, TV hosting as well as serving on the board of directors of a rehab centre for girls. She also volunteers for Migrantes en el Camino and is a speaker for the National Youth Institute.

The runner up is Miss Thailand Nicolene Limsnukan, and in third place is Miss Uganda Quiin Abenakyo. The other finalists hail from Belarus, France, Scotland, Jamaica, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Mauritius, Uganda, Nepal, New Zealand and Thailand.

Five Continental Queens were also picked. They are:

1. Miss World Europe: Belarus
2. Miss World Caribbean: Jamaica
3. Miss World Americas: Mexico
4. Miss World Africa: Uganda
5. Miss World Asia and Oceania: Thailand

Miss Singapore made it to the Top 30 finalist list, which also included Miss China, Miss Russia, Miss Scotland, Miss Nigeria, Miss Barbados, Miss Nepal, Miss Japan, Miss USA, Miss Bangladesh, Miss Malaysia, Miss India, Miss Thailand, and Miss Uganda.

The Miss World pageant was created in Britain in 1951 and is the oldest surviving major international beauty contest.