Usher In A Bold & Prosperous New Year With Guinness

Usher in the Year of the Goat in a bold and auspicious manner this Chinese New Year! In marking this prosperous time of the year, Guinness has teamed up with the Grand Imperial Group of restaurants to create an exclusive Guinness banquet menu that is available at all 6 Grand Imperial Restaurants across Malaysia.

Featuring a delicious eight course menu, each dish are to be paired with Guinness stout served in different ways to complement and bring out the full flavours of each dish. Perfect for the New Year celebration, the banquet menu provides a tantalising sensation for the tastebuds befitting the spirt of prosperity this festive season.

Priced at RM1888 nett, the special Guinness New Year banquet menu is available from January 13th until March 5th, and includes two quarts of Guinness stout as well as two sets of exclusive Guinness ang pow packets. Each dish in the menu has been designed not only to match and enhance the accompanying Guinness, but is imbued with meaning and tradition, representing longevity, harmony, peace, prosperity and happiness in the coming year.

Making the festive season even more festival, between January 5th and February 28th, 2015, consumers throughout Malaysia may be in the running to win one of the 100 pure gold bars with any big bottle of Guinness, Tiger, Heineken or Anchor. All one has to do is look out for the winning bottle cap liners and answer a few questions correctly in order to stand a chance to win one of the 100 bars of pure gold worth up to RM 1 million.

Full details of the exclusive menu can be found here.


The Horseman on the Roof: The Romantic Epic

During the time when it was produced, “The Horseman on the Roof” (a film adaption of Jean Giono’s novel of the same name) was thought to be one of the most expensive films ever shot in France. The film tells a tale of love and tragedy in 1830s France.

The story opens right smack in the midst of Italian revolutionary named Angelo (played by Olivier Martinez) on the run from law. He’s forced into France while a cholera epidemic sweeps Europe. Expect to see people dropping like dead flies all around him while he runs through exquisite scenery, beautiful countrysides, and quaint little towns.

Then, he conveniently takes refuge in the home of a woman named Pauline (played by Juliette Binoche) and naturally, an attraction starts growing between them.

See, Pauline is not exactly “alone” – she is the wife of a French nobleman. And she wants to return to the quarantined areas of France to find him. So together, both Angelo and Pauline head out across the countryside in search of their belonging.

As scary as the 19th century cholera epidemic is, they both manage to find moments of romance in their adventure. Of course, as lead characters, they’re meant to fall in love.

Our take? As with most French films, prepare to listen to and hang on to every single word – especially if French is not your first language. The monologues go on for long stretches at times and sometimes, even with the help of subtitles, it fails to make sense. The existing characters tend to talk about characters of places that don’t actually appear in the film!

On the other hand, it’s quite literally eye candy for those of you who love scenic settings. Lush countryside and rolling hills, yes please!

As always, no spoilers! “The Horseman on the Roof” will be screening at Golden Screen Cinemas (GSC) in conjunction with the French Art and Film Festival (FAFF) 2013 from 25th April to 26th May 2013 in Kuala Lumpur and Penang. So go catch it on the silver screen.

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Step Aside, Nasi Lemak Burger! For There’s Now A Chicken Rice Burger

From McDonald’s Singapore’s Nasi Lemak burger to The Bowery Group’s “sedaplicious” Nasi Lemak burger, to myBurgerLab’s Nasi Lemak burger (which caused quite a stir, we heard) and all the Nasi Lemak burgers that you can ever imagine, comes another burger.

Made by the good people of Makcik Chicken, a delivery-only chicken rice establishment in Singapore, the chicken rice burger held by Japanese short grain rice cooked with chicken stock, ginger garlic, and pandan leaves to maintain its shape, and contains sous vide chicken thigh meat topped with shredded cucumber, tomato, garlic, and hanjuku egg sauce. It also comes as a set, served with 2 side dishes – a house-made coleslaw and mashed potato.

Makcik Chicken first posted up a chicken rice burger teaser about 3 weeks ago, which said, “Not the only national dish that’s turned into a burger”, along with the hashtag #MakcikvsRonald.

Their chicken rice burger was finally launched yesterday at the Civic District Outdoor Festival in Singapore, but it wasn’t an easy feat to get to their end goal. Own by a 30-year-old husband-and-wife team – Saldriana Idris and Haziq Yusoff – Makcik Chicken went through more than 40 rounds of taste tests for their original rice dish offering, and a further 7 or 8 taste tests for their chicken rice burger,

The hype (no pun intended) is real, though. Makcik Chicken’s social media posts about their chicken rice burger have garnered quite a bit of attention, so much so that their followers have been asking when the burger will be available. Well, as it turns out, the chicken rice burger will only be available at pop-up event. Talk about exclusivity!

Makcik Chicken’s chicken rice burger is priced at SGD9.50 (about RM30) and it will be available at the National Museum of Singapore Festival 2017 on 9th August. Go get ’em ;)

Sources: Makcik Chicken, TODAY / Featured image: Makcik Chicken.


#RebelHeartTour: Madonna Announces Dates In Japan, Hong Kong, & Bangkok

Oh my, it looks like our “must attend a Madonna concert” bucket list entry is within reach after all!

Just days after the launch of Madonna’s highly-anticipated Rebel Heart Tour, Live Nation announced that Madonna is adding more tour dates in Asia and North America. Yes, Asia.

The new dates added to the 64-city world tour include first ever concerts by the Material Girl in Taipei, Hong Kong; Macau; Bangkok; Louisville, KY; San Antonio, Tulsa, OK, TX; Nashville, TN; as well as her first concerts in Tokyo in a decade and additional dates in Mexico City; and Houston, TX.

The Rebel Heart Tour launched to 2 sold-out nights and rave reviews in Montreal, Quebec on 9th and 10th September, and 10th and will continue throughout North America and UK/Europe through the rest of 2015 and into 2016.

The Montreal Gazette proclaimed “in a spare-no-expense theatrical spectacle that artfully flowed from showstopper to showstopper, Madonna proved once again that she doesn’t just crave the spotlight — she owns it” and Associated Press raved “Pole dancers dressed like nuns, Mike Tyson and nonstop theatrics. Welcome to the church of Madonna.”

On sale dates for the concert in Mexico City and the 2 performances in Macau to be announced. A full list of dates can be found below:

Icon is Madonna’s official fan club. Lifetime Legacy members of Icon will receive first access to tickets and VIP Packages. Fans may purchase an “Icon Live Pass” today, which gives them access not only to ticket and VIP Package pre-sales, but also a free membership to Icon, the official Madonna fan club, access to a tour devoted forum and an exclusive tour gift.

Fans who are already registered simply need to upgrade their account with the Icon Live Pass on Madonna.com.

In North America, Citi® cardmembers will be eligible for a presale opportunity beginning Thursday (17th September) at 10am through Friday (18th September) at 5pm. In Asia, Citi® cardmembers will have access to a pre-sale opportunity in Taipei, Bangkok, and Hong Kong.

Madonna’s Rebel Heart Tour is produced by Live Nation Global Touring.

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Aquaman: Jason Momoa Reveals He Constantly Cried On Set

Jason Momoa looks every bit as intimidating as his macho superhero Arthur Curry aka Aquaman.

However, during a recent interview with Mirror UK, the hunky actor revealed that his heart has always been as big as his biceps. The time spent filming “Aquaman” on set saw him shedding a couple of tears.

“I’m the biggest drama queen on the set. I was constantly crying,” the hunky actor shared. before adding that his single mother has been instrumental in shaping him into the emotional human being that he is today. “I’m not going to normally get hired to play those emotional things – and I’m capable of it,” Momoa added. “I’m just trapped in a big, dumb body!”

Yes, the DC superhero star may have allowed his emotions to get the better of him, but the physical pain also reduced him to tears. Momoa was required to hang from cables or dangle on wires while “swimming” through air since most of the scenes happen underwater. “I weigh 240lbs, I can’t feel my nuts! You have got to let me down! Take this damn thing off me!” the muscleman recalled ranting to the crew.

In speaking with RTE, the 39-year-old actor also disclosed “X-Men” star Michael Fassbender offered some helpful advice when he was taking on Aquaman’s solo adventure. “He really told me to put in moments of me and find those moments that you can put you in the film so that it can shine through,” Momoa told the publication.

“(Fassbender) was a big influence for me and I was doing that a lot in Aquaman,” Momoa concluded. “So thanks, buddy!”

Sources: Mirror UK, Screen Rant, Daily Mail.


Sincerely, GRIM FILM

As they would say so themselves, it all started with the love of transforming imagination into film. And some imagination they must have because the people behind GRIM FILM aka Pojoo Sim, Jared Lee, and Roy Ajong have landed themselves a sweet spot in the Top 10 BMW Shorties 2012 finalists. We hear it’s not their first time sitting in the midst of some of Malaysia’s most talented filmmakers either.

So, while we patiently await the gala awards night for this year’s BMW Shorties (slated to happen on Thursday, 20th December 2012), we stole Jared Lee away for a quick chat. Let’s find out what went on behind the production of the short film that has garnered so much love and attention, “Sincerely, The End“:

Hi Jared! Let’s talk a little bit about the short film. What was the thought process behind picking out the cast?

“My cinematographer thought that she (Marianne Tan) was pretty. Honest! And just so happens that my producer, Pojoo, was in her art group. So, we got in contact with her and we met her before deciding on casting her. It turns out that she’s one of the most serious and most hardworking cast member that I’ve ever had in my entire career of filmmaking.”

How did you and your team conceptualize “Sincerely, The End”? As in, what was the story line inspired by?

“First and foremost, we wanted to merge art and film. Because of that, we came up with the Post-its idea – and this was even before the concept of using helium balloons. We needed a ‘magic moment’. We were like, okay, there has to be a point where a ‘magic moment’ takes place which will make her change her mind about killing herself. There has to be a ‘magic moment’! Haha!”

We loved the location that you used though – it was perfect for the said, “magic moment”!

“Yes, the location was perfect. We spend time trying to recce for an abandoned building. And the scene in which the ‘magic moment’ was shot is located on the sixth floor of the abandoned building – if anyone fell down the gaping holes at the sides of the floor, he or she might die. Seriously.”

And while we’re still on the topic of the ‘magic moment’, here’s our burning question – how many helium balloons did you guys use for that one scene?

“Ah. The ‘magic moment’ scene was quite risky because it was all done in one take. We had about 800 helium balloons that came up to a sum of about RM2,500. That’s RM2,500 flying away, quite literally. Hence, we had to be very careful about the scene. And they made me call it while we were shooting it! It was really scary because we had to take so many things into consideration – the wind, especially. I had to keep ‘testing’ the wind with helium balloons.”

Oh, ouch. Now, how is that character at the end of the story (played by fellow Malaysian YouTuber Joseph Germani) related to Marianne’s character?

“Joseph’s character is basically someone else who committed suicide in the very same place, who understood what Marianne was going through, but was trying to stop Marianne from taking her own life. And once he was done. the Grim Reaper came to take him away, to ‘cross over’.”

Grim Reaper? Is that the same one that appeared in “The Visit”, the one featuring Malaysian beatboxer Shawn Lee?

“Yes! If you looked closely enough you’ll realize that it’s the same Grim Reaper. Alright, here’s the truth, I’ve actually been writing a web series centered around this concept. That will be released..hopefully by next year.”

Yes, we realized. And yes, a lot of your work are centered around the idea of death. Is that in any way related to any real life experiences?

“Hmm. We’ve always wanted a strong message at the end of our short films. Sorta like..’and the moral of the story is’ – but we didn’t want it to seem cheesy. The short films that we’ve produced aren’t directly related to our real life experiences per se but we’ve been getting a lot of feedback from our Facebook page and YouTube channel. People have been leaving comments to express their gratitude and thanks for our short films. I guess it’s safe to say that our short films have successfully reached out to people out there who are depressed and I’m glad we’ve helped them.”

[youtube id=”XVu-TYi–T4″ width=”600″ height=”350″]

Pray tell, how long did the pre-production, production, and post-production of “Sincerely, The End” take?

“I would say that among all the short films that we’ve worked on so far, this was definitely the toughest. The conceptualizing took us approximately one month, the pre-production went on for about two weeks, and the shoot took about two to three days – oh, we thought the shoot would take only about two days but the sun went down too quickly on the second day. So we had to go back again for the third day. And finally, the post-production..the editing process took the longest. We edited the video over and over and over for more than a week. Then we stopped. And then we went back into it, argued about it..we had so many versions! All I know is that we kept editing it.”

But it was worth it though – BMW Shorties 2012 finalist and all. Alright, last one for the road!  If you were to win the 2013 BMW Shorties, what would you do with the RM75,000 grant?

“(pauses) I’ve got so many stories to tell, with too little budget. It’ll be great because we’ve been planning on doing so many things. For example, our feature film. It’s something that GRIM FILM has been wanting to work on for the longest time.”

You know what though, Jared? We’ve got our fingers (and toes) crossed for you! Thank you for taking time off to speak to us. And we’ll definitely see you at the 2012 BMW Shorties awards night 20th December 2012 (Thurday)!

For more information on the 2012 BMW Shorties Top 10 finalists, hit this up.

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#JusticeLeague: Warner Bros. Debuts New Posters & Teaser Videos

In anticipation for the release of “Justice League” in November, Warner Bros. has revealed several new posters and teaser videos on Twitter.

Aside from the new promo materials, the studio also announced that a new trailer will make its debut on Saturday (25th March).

Besides a new team photo (above), a new logo and individual character posters that features Bruce Wayne aka Batman (played by Ben Affleck), Barry Allen aka The Flash (played by Ezra Miller), and Arthur Curry aka Aquaman’s (played by Jason Momoa) in full character costumes are also released.

Check out the new promo photos in the gallery below:

Luckily for fans, the set of character posters are accompanied by a series of 20-second teaser trailers. Each video clip focuses on a specific superhero.

In Aquaman’s teaser, Batman can be seen passing him the Trident of Neptune while The Flash’s clip includes snippets of him running while wielding a bolt of lightning. Besides that, fans also get to see the Batmobile in action in Batman’s teaser.

Bolder United #JusticeLeague #Aquaman #UniteTheLeague pic.twitter.com/7i7057WgbB

— Justice League Movie (@justiceleaguewb) March 23, 2017

Faster United #JusticeLeague #TheFlash #UniteTheLeague pic.twitter.com/hTygiPYa5o

Braver United #JusticeLeague #Batman #UniteTheLeague pic.twitter.com/5852pENuuO

Directed by Zack Snyder, “Justice League” sees Bruce Wayne enlist the help of his newfound ally, Diana Prince (played by Gal Gadot), to face an even greater enemy. Together, Batman and Wonder Woman work quickly to find and recruit a team of metahumans to stand against this newly awakened threat. But despite the formation of this unprecedented league of heroes – Batman, Wonder Woman, Aquaman, Cyborg (played by Ray Fisher) and The Flash – it may already be too late to save the planet from an assault of catastrophic proportions.

The film will debut in theatres on 17th November 2017.

For more information, hit up the film’s website, Facebook page, and Twitter.

Sources: Justice League’s Twitter, Coming Soon, Screen Rant.


#GaelGarciaBernal: Meet Your New Zorro For The Futuristic Reboot

A new Zorro reboot, simply titled “Z”, has found its leading man in Gael Garcia Bernal.

Directed by Jonas Cuaron – who co-wrote “Gravity” with his father Alfonso – “Z” will send the masked hero into the near future. No specific details about the plot have been revealed yet, but Independent UK reports that the film will “take audiences to a new and visually exciting world.”

“I have always loved Gael for this role. Zorro is a hero who is charming, witty and clever. Gael possesses all those characteristic and he’s able to deliver them with a modern spin to introduce the Zorro character to a new audience,” said the CEO of production company Sobini Films, Mark Amin, about the casting.

Initially titled “Zorro Reborn”, “Z” will supposedly only relate to the previous films in tone. As Andy Kubai points out, taking on a classic hero like Zorro could be favourable in appealing to a new generation of audience. Robert Downey Jr. was able to bring a fresh and unique take to the “Sherlock Holmes” series without losing the appeal of the iconic character. Of course, this could also backfire.

Created by writer Johnston McCulley back in 1919, Zorro (which means fox in Spanish) was Don Diego de la Vega, a Spanish nobleman, by day, and a masked outlaw by night who defended commoners and the native people against villains and the corrupt local authorities.

The caped crusader hasn’t been seen on the big screen since Antonio Banderas played the iconic role in 2005’s “The Legend of Zorro”.

“Z” is slated to begin shooting in the Dominican Republic later on this year.

Sources: Screen Rant, Independent UK, Movie Web.

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Interview: Alec Benjamin Shares Funniest Prank On Tour & His Love Language

After being dropped by Columbia Records in 2016, American singer-songwriter Alec Benjamin rose up once again and took the world by storm after the release of his song “Let Me Down Slowly” back in 2018. His mixtape “Narrated For You” and debut album “These Two Windows” received overwhelmingly positive reviews with many praising the musician for his story-telling style of songwriting.

Unlike many talented artists out there, the singer has never relied on extravagant props or over-the-top music production. The simplicity of his art and the sincerity in his artistry have been able to capture the audience’s attention. We had the opportunity to chat with the 28-year-old and he shared with us the funniest thing that happened while on tour and what he really thinks about exchanging presents during Christmas.

1. How has touring the world been for you?

So far, this leg of the tour has been pretty wonderful. I feel like we have the privilege of getting to go to a lot of different places. And we have been to a lot of places and one of the places that’s the most different from where we come from, or the most different place, is Asia. It’s so culturally diverse and the food is so fun and tasty. Yeah, we’re having a great time. Tour has been good.

2. This is your second time in Malaysia, correct? What have you been looking forward to coming back?

Well, I think that the one thing that I’m most looking forward to is probably eating the food. I was looking forward to getting to see some of the people that I had met. Last time I was here must have been like four years ago. So to be back and see the familiar faces feel really nice. And then I love the scenery. I love how green it is. And yeah, I like the climate, even though it’s raining right now, I kind of like it, it’s nice.

3. From your experience, what is the most challenging part about touring?

I think the most challenging part about touring is trying to tour and keep a routine. It’s tough to keep a schedule because you’re crossing so many different time zones. And on this tour we’re going to be crossing the equator, you know, which also sort of messes with your equilibrium. So it’s kind of hard to juggle your social media posts, write songs, while making more music and practicing for the tour.

Sometimes it’s also hard to be present enough to remember how lucky you are to be doing the thing that you always wanted to do, and to make sure that you’re present enough to enjoy it. But I think on this tour, I’ve been doing a pretty good job of taking little periods of time to give myself a break. I’ve been traveling to cool places that I haven’t had the opportunity to explore. I really feel like I’m making the most of it.

#AlecBenjamin recalls the funniest thing that happened during his #UnCommentaryTour this year.

♬ original sound – hypemalaysia – Hype Malaysia

4. Any funny or unpleasant tour stories you’d like to share?

Well, I just got stuck in an elevator. So that wasn’t funny. It was at the hotel like 2 minutes ago. There’s also this incident about the “poop gate”. I’m not saying a name. But all of the stalls were locked except for one. You’d assume if a stall is not locked, there’s no one in there. But someone from our team was taking a poop and I accidentally walked in. So the rest of the tour we call it, “the poop gate”. That was really funny. I was dying! Yeah, that was in the airport in Finland. That was really good.

5. Which was the easiest and most difficult song to write on your album “(Un)Commentary”?

I don’t think that there was an easy or a hard one to write. I think that probably the two that took me the longest were “Devil Doesn’t Bargain” and “Older”, because I wrote them in pieces. And I actually rewrote “Devil Doesn’t Bargain” three times. So probably “Devil Doesn’t Bargain” was the hardest one. And then “Nancy Got A Haircut” was probably the easiest one.

6. Why “Dopamine Addict” as the opening track for the album?

Well, I think for me, it’s the most jarring song on the record. It starts off talking about something that’s very important to me. I’ve been struggling with my naked personality. I’m always looking for something that will give a hit of dopamine instead of earning it, like exercising for example. And over the last two years when we were stuck at home, I was always looking for that cheap thrill. So yeah, that song kind of defines the last two years for me, and a lot of the struggles of my generation.

7. Most artists wouldn’t put out songs until they’re fully produced but you’ve always shared your demos with your fans. Why is that?

Yeah, sometimes I do too much. Like, I put out too much. It’s like I need the affirmation, of someone telling me ‘you’re doing a good job’. It’s also nice to get that rush of dopamine. So, I’m happy to just put things out music in whatever form but it’s not always the best idea.

8. In an interview back in 2019, you mentioned that one of your personal obstacles is feeling you’re not good enough and that you’re constantly worried that your new music isn’t better than the previous ones. Do you still feel the same or have you overcome that insecurity?

Yeah. I’m not as worried about it now. Because I realized that those emotions are not helpful. And even if it’s true, I’m still gonna make songs. So it doesn’t really matter.

9. As a songwriter, has there been a particular topic or subject that you still struggle to write about?

No, no, I’m down to talk about anything. I think sometimes it’s trying to find the best way to talk about the things I want to talk about in a way that is going to impact people in a positive way. So I think that’s probably the struggle for me.

10. Since Christmas is coming up, what would you say was the best Christmas present you’ve given and received from someone?

You know, I hate giving and receiving gifts. There’s a whole unspoken social contract of gift giving where it’s like, if you give me something, then I’m required to reciprocate and give you something of equal value on the same occasion in your life.

Because what happens if someone gives me a gift I didn’t ask for it. It wasn’t something that I wanted. But now I’m required to accept it and I owe them something. It’s a burden. Keep it!

It’s so much pressure. I think the best gift that someone can give you is their attention. I enjoy performing. So I like it when people give me their attention. (My love language is also) spending time together, when we give each other our attention. You do it together at the same time. It’s great. But yeah,  the whole gift-giving sucks.

Since you’re here, do check out our concert review here.

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May’n Graces Animax Carnival Malaysia 2013

Following last year’s successful Animax Carnivals in Malaysia, Taiwan, and the Philippines, Animax brought its signature event back to Kuala Lumpur. Held on 16th and 17th March at Sunway Pyramid, Animax Carnival 2013 was graced by Japanese guest star, J-pop and “Anisong” (songs featuring in Japanese anime programs) diva, May’n (Macross Frontier, Shangri La, Accel World).

Headlining Animax Carnival Malaysia 2013 is a special showcase by Japanese songstress May’n who is best known as the singing voice of character Sheryl Nome in the hit anime series, “Macross Frontier”. From 1pm on 16th March, Day One of the event,  May’n made an exclusive appearance and performing “live” her latest hit, “Chase the World”, the opening theme song of Animax’s new anime series Accel World.

[youtube id=”1rDDD8QLwRI” width=”600″ height=”350″]

She also sang “HEAT of the Moment” and “Kimi Shinitamo Koto Nakare” which featured as the opening theme song in anime series Shangri-La.

After May’n’s performance, from 3pm, Animax celebrated the launch of its latest, third season of hit anime series “Fairy Tail” (airing Mondays to Fridays at 7.30pm on Animax), with a screening of the “Tenrou Island” arc episodes of the long-running series at the Animax Carnival Malaysia stage.

Following Animax Carnival Malaysia, viewers can also catch May’n performing in the following TV programs on Animax (Astro Ch 715) – Animax Musix 2012 Taiwan airs on 31st March (Sunday) at 11pm, Animax Musix 2012 premieres first and exclusively on 7th April (Sunday) at 2.30pm, repeats at midnight.

For more information, visit Animax Asia’s official website.


#Instagram: Live Video & Disappearing Messages Introduced In Photo Sharing App

From today (Tuesday, 22nd November) onwards, Instagram will be leading you into a whole new world.

The photo sharing app has introduced 2 new updates: live videos on Instagram Stories as well as disappearing photos and video for groups and friends in Instagram Direct.

The first feature that was introduced, live videos, enable users to live stream their activities to all of their friends and followers. The streams can go up to an hour-long, and will be available for all to watch as long as the streamer is still active. When the live stream ends, the live story will disappear from the app. Instagram believes that this will allow users to “feel more comfortable sharing anything, anytime”.

How do you use this new feature? It’s easy, just open the Instagram Stories camera, tap the “Start Live Video” button, and ta-dah, you’re ready to go!

Friends and followers will get a notification when you go live, and when you’re streaming, you can pin a comment for everyone to see, or alternatively, you can switch off the comments function altogether to avoid potential hate comments.

So, how do you know if someone is live? Well, you’ll be able see the word “Live” under their profile photo in the stories bar. Bored of your friends’ broadcast? Simply go to the explore tab and select “Top Live” to see exciting live stories happening at that moment, and if there’s ever a boring moment, feel free to swipe left and right to forward or rewind.

Watch this video to understand the function more:

Meanwhile, users will also be able to send videos and photos that will disappear once the receiver sees it.

“Swipe right into the camera to take a photo or video, then tap the arrow to send it privately. You can choose a group or create one in just a few taps — and you can also send to individual friends at the same time. Send anything you want, from inside jokes to your worst selfies. Unlike other messages in Direct, these photos and videos disappear from your friends’ inboxes after they have seen them. And you’ll see if they replayed it or took a screenshot.”

However, take note that you’ll only be able to send it to people who follow you.

We’ve talked about sending videos and photos, but what if you’re on the receiving end?

Whenever you receive a message, you can access them via the blue airplane icon at the top right corner of your feed. The temporary messages will appear at the top of the tab. If you’re in a group, you will be able to see everyone’s responses and the people who have seen them in a slideshow format.

If you don’t see the functions on your app yet, fret not, as live videos will be rolled out in stages over the next few weeks while users will be able to send disappearing messages and videos over the course of the next few days.

For more info, visit Instagram’s blog and Facebook page.

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#BIGBANG10: YG Ent Rolls Out Website & Movie Trailer For BIGBANG’s 10th Anniversary

In January this year, BIGBANG (빅뱅) member T.O.P (real name Choi Seung Hyun) shocked VIPs when he casually said that there’s about one year left for BIGBANG, all 5 of them, to be on stage together, indicating that one or more of the members will enlist in the mandatory army training this year.

Fret not, because true to their name, they ain’t going out without a big bang ;)

To celebrate BIGBANG’s 10th anniversary since their debut, YG Entertainment has rolled out “BIGBANG10”, a variety of events to commemorate the occasion.

Along with the announcement, a website dedicated to “BIGBANG10” was unveiled.

The first on the list of events is none other than a documentary-style “BIGBANG10 The Movie”, which came with a sneak peek trailer. The clip contains footage from BIGBANG’s #MADEWorldTour, including airport arrivals, photoshoots, rehearsals, music video making, backstage antics, interview snippets, and some narratives.

This would mark the first ever BIGBANG movie.

And if it’s any solid indication, as seen on the website’s menu bar, fans can expect more exciting things to come after the release of “BIGBANG10 The Movie”.

Unfortunately, there has been no word on when the painfully delayed BIGBANG “MADE” album will be released. Perhaps in conjunction with this grand “BIGBANG10” celebration somewhere down the road? ;)

Meanwhile, watch the “BIGBANG10 The Movie” trailer below:

“BIGBANG10 The Movie” is slated to be released on 30th June 2016.

For more information, hit up the BIGBANG10 website or BIGBANG’s Facebook page.


Malaysia Day: 6 Family-Friendly Events & Activities To Join This Weekend

Malaysia Day weekend is right around the corner, and like Merdeka Day, this year’s occasion will be a special one as it marks the 1st year we celebrate the patriotic event under a new ruling.

Though the event is not widely celebrated like Merdeka Day, it is still a day worth commemorating as it marked the joining together of Malaya, North Borneo and Sarawak to form the Malaysia we know today.

So in conjunction with the Malaysia Day that’s happening this weekend, here are some fun, family-friendly patriotic events that you can join with your loved ones.

Get ready for Harith Iskander’s upcoming Malaysia Day show aptly titled “We Are Malaysians” where the stand-up comedian takes a fresh look at not just Malaysia’s colourful history and its greatest moments but also celebrates the best that Malaysia has to offer in its people, places, and achievements.

Catch the new patriotic-themed movie “Rise” Ini Kalilah” at the nearest cinemas and relive the historical moments together with your family and friends. The movie features a line-up of popular cast including Remy Ishak, Mira Filzah, Sangeeta Krishnasamy, Jack Tan, Shashi Tharan, Jenn Chia, Mark O’dea, and more.

A whole lot of Malaysian goodness and fun activities will be available at Sunway Lagoon this week, leading up to the exciting Malaysia Day. From the flavours of Malaysia, to traditional games, activities and performances, come and celebrate the establishment of the Malaysian federation proudly with the spirit of togetherness.

Enjoy quality time at Movie Animation Park Studios (MAPS) with your family and friends as lots of activities and attractions will be offered in conjunction with Malaysia Day. There is also a special new attraction called the #HauntedHouse happening during the weekend and public holidays, so be sure to check it out!

Celebrate Malaysia Day in a healthy fashion together with your family and friends by joining DPULZE Malaysia Day Fun Run. Come and make the patriotic day meaningful by making some new friends along the way while staying fit and healthy.

If running is too intense for you, why not go for a simple and healthy 5km fun walk along George Town Heritage Sites and enjoy the local street views with your friends and family this Malaysia Day. Also, while you’re in town, you can also try out some of the best street cuisines from the many stalls along the road!

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The Ripper Review: Netflix’s Latest Docuseries Delves Into Various Attacks & Murders In The 1970s

When it comes to infamous serial killers, you think of guys like Ed Keemper, John Wayne Gacy and maybe even Jeffrey Dahmer. All psychopaths driven by a sinister urge to inflict harm out of sexual pleasure and hatred. In many ways, London’s Jack the Ripper was their progenitor.

A legendary, enigmatic serial killer who stalked the district of Whitechapel. Striking at night, murdering sex workers before brutally mutilating their bodies. The grizzly stuff of Hollywood folktale, spun into films like “From Hell” and “A Study in Terror”. The mystery even made its way to the realm of comic book films with DC’s animated film “Batman: Gotham by Gaslight”.

What’s curious is a similar reign of terror was eerily repeated once more in the late 1970s and for the rest of the world, it never even registered. Once again, sex workers were hunted down and mutilated. It happened in the area of Chapeltown, creepily similar to London’s district name of Whitechapel. For nearly five years, the police were unable to bring themselves to stop this man.

At some point, the city of Leeds even surrendered to the idea that the “Yorkshire Ripper” couldn’t be stopped. How could this have happened again? Is there more to the story of Netflix’s “The Ripper” than just the profile of a deranged killer? Join us as we enter the heart of darkness on this 4-episode long documentary.

It’s worth cautioning that Netflix’s “The Ripper” isn’t framed nearly as dramatic or as harrowing of some of the other crime documentaries on the streaming service. Certainly don’t expect big personalities like Joe Exotic from “Tiger King” or Deana Thompson from “Don’t F**k with Cats” to appear on screen. What viewers can expect to see is a very thorough and in-depth analysis of the various attacks and murders throughout Chapeltown.

There’s a heavy reliance on old footage, past interviews and present ones with those involved in the murders. There is a great amount of dignity and restraint shown in “The Ripper”. The kind that avoids scandalous soundbites and wild assertions. This works to both the documentary’s favour and to its disadvantage as well.

Spoiler alert, the Yorkshire Ripper was eventually caught. In a strange twist of fate, serial killer Peter Sutcliffe died from Covid-19 less than a month ago. What’s interesting is that the series breaks the typical convention we’ve come to expect from serial-killer documentaries. We only get a real breakdown of Sutcliffe in the fourth and final episode of the series “Out of the Shadows”.

It would have been more intriguing if the series took time to really dig into the psyche and compulsion behind Sutcliffe’s intentions. For a man capable of such horrific acts of violence, they make him sound almost quaint. Your typical garden variety serial killer. So if you’re expecting to see new footage of Sutcliffe spewing out his hateful manifesto or telling you his life story, you’ll find that here.

Now, what is captivating is the drama and societal ramifications that follow with the murders. “The Ripper” is a challenging documentary to say the least. So much of how we see events is through the lens of the Great man theory of history. The idea that major events, whether great or terrible, are embodied and can be distilled into a singular person or a hand few or extraordinary people. It certainly makes for entertaining television but it does tend to narrow our view of history and the events leading up to them. Life is rarely that simple and the effects and causes that lead to these events don’t exist within a vacuum.

Which is exactly why we believe that “The Ripper” excels better as a study into the social phenomenon of the murders. In lieu of it being merely another spooky number in the endless cavalcade of murderous psychopaths. Honestly, the way English society responded to the violent atrocities of these butchered women were pretty messed up. There were moments when we were actually taken aback at the callousness of the entire investigation.

For example, Sutcliffe had already committed a series of attacks against sex workers in the area but no one really took it seriously. The media in fact used terms like “good-time girl” to describe these victims. They sensationalised the gruesome details of their deaths simply to move papers. Headlines were more important to the media than the lives of these prostitutes.

Public outrage was only stoked at the death of a 16-year old girl, Jayne MacDonald. A victim that the newspapers called the “first innocent victim” in the entire case. There was clearly a stigma against sex workers and the fact that they hailed from low-income origins further exacerbated the situation. In a macabre sort of way, it’s funny how history has a way of repeating itself because the victims of Jack the Ripper had similar backgrounds.

All this social upheaval culminates in the penultimate episode “Reclaim the Night”. By far the most fascinating and engaging one out of the four. We finally get to see women finally stand up against the systemic issues that allowed for Sutcliffe to exist in the first place. There’s actually a wealth of material and dynamic angles “The Ripper” could have taken. Unfortunately, the show’s structure is far too rigid and inflexible to allow for deeper exploration. Each episode is paced out with each murder victim chronologically. The intention is to give a blow-by-blow accurate account but this method does little to flesh out the more curious aspects of the story.

For those looking for a ripping, bloody showcase of macabre murders, Netflix’s “The Ripper” will sorely disappoint. If you are looking for a historical and social analysis of how serial killers affect society, then this is definitely something worth investing a couple of hours into. While the story and cast are engaging in themselves, the structure and presentation handicaps it from reaching full potential. You can now catch “The Ripper” on Netflix today!

Speaking of high-profile murderers, if you’re looking for a documentary series that truly explores the long lasting effect of a particular case, we highly recommend “Who Killed Malcom X?”. Seriously, it is arguably the best documentary of 2020.

Be sure to let us know your favourite murder documentary in the comments down below!

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Bloom Tour: Troye Sivan To Perform In 7 Asian Countries In 2019

Mark your calendars music lovers, Troye Sivan is bringing his “Bloom Tour” to Asia next year.

The 23-year-old singer took to his social media accounts earlier today (Monday, 3rd December) to drop an exciting announcement. The pop prince is scheduled to visit 7 countries in Asia in 2019.

2018 has been a huge year for Troye. Not only did his sophomore album, “Bloom”, debuted to rave reviews, it peaked at #4 on the Billboard 200 charts, earning the former YouTube star his highest-charting release and best sales week to date. We’ve also been blessed with singles like “My My My!”, “The Good Side”, “Dance to This” and “Animal” from the record.

Although Malaysia isn’t included in the pitstops (what else is new *shrugs*), you can check out the 7 countries listed in the singer’s “Bloom Asia Tour” 2019:

For his Singapore concert, Troye will be performing at the Star Theatre. General tickets sale will go live on 11th December at 10am onwards via APACTix or call +65 3158 8588. For more information, click here.


#StarWarsRunSG: Singapore’s First Ever #StarWars-Themed Run To Be Held In May

“The Dark side, and the Light. Choose Your Side. Run. It is your Destiny.”

Star Wars fans, y’all are gonna be in for a treat next month! For the first time ever, a Star Wars-themed run is going to Singapore.

Organised by endurance sports management Esprimo Pte. Ltd., #StarWarsRunSG is slated to be held on 6th May 2017 (Saturday) at The Meadow, Gardens by the Bay. The run will feature 2 events: a 4.5km non-competitive run and a 10km competitive run.

For the 4.5km non-competitive run, participants can choose to run on either the Dark Side thematic route or on the Light Side. Both sides come with an exclusive run pack which includes a Darth Vader plushie for the Dark Side participants and a Yoda plushie for the Light Side participants. Upon completion, participants will also be given a medal unique to each “side”.

The 10km competitive run, on the other hand, will pass through a section of the Dark Side. Both routes will have “engagement zones” filled with light projections, music and photo opportunities with “Star Wars-themed surprises”.

Pyrotechnics, as well as Star Wars characters Chewbacca and Kylo Ren, will flag off both runs. And if that’s not enough, #StarWarsRunSG will also feature a “race village” complete with Star Wars-themed food and activities, as well as an outdoor movie screening of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens”.

What better way to belatedly celebrate Star Wars Day aka May the 4th, eh. Want in? The 4.5km non-competitive run costs S$85 per participant and 10km competitive run costs S$80. Registration closes on 17th April 2017 so you best hurry!

For more information, visit the event’s website or Facebook page.


Brad Pitt Emotional About Angelina Jolie’s Double Mastectomy

Oscar-winning actress Angelina Jolie recently revealed that she underwent a double mastectomy and reconstruction after learning she carried the BRCA1 gene, which gave her an 87% chance of developing breast cancer. As a result of the preventative surgery the 37-year-old mother-of-six said her chances of being stricken are now just 5%.

Hollywood superstar Brad Pitt has said he fully supports his partner Angelina Jolie’s decision to go public on having a double mastectomy:

Having witnessed this decision firsthand, I find Angie’s choice, as well as many others like her, absolutely heroic. All I want is for her to have a long and healthy life, with myself and our children. This is a happy day for our family.

I’m quite emotional about it, of course.

She could have stayed absolutely private about it and I don’t think anyone would have been none the wiser with such good results. But it was really important to her to share the story and that others would understand it doesn’t have to be a scary thing. In fact, it can be an empowering thing, and something that makes you stronger and us stronger.

He added he was full of admiration for the way Jolie kept many engagements – some of them abroad – whilst having treatment.

Angelina Jolie, on the other hand, expressed her appreciation for Brad Pitt’s boundless love and support when she said:

I am fortunate to have a partner, Brad Pitt, who is so loving and supportive. So to anyone who has a wife or girlfriend going through this, know that you are a very important part of the transition.

Brad was at the Pink Lotus Breast Center where I was treated, for every minute of the surgeries. We managed to find moments to laugh together. We knew this was the right thing to do for our family and that it would bring us closer.

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Avengers Assemble! Collect All Marvel Superhero Happy Meal Toys At McDonald’s

The anticipation for “Avengers: Endgame” is almost too much to bear. Guess what? McDonald’s is jumping on the bandwagon.

If you’re a fan of collectibles then you’re probably going to be visiting your nearest McDonald’s branch quite frequently over the next few weeks.

New photos from McDonald’s upcoming Happy Meal toys has just leaked online and it features none other than the Earth’s Mightiest Heroes. These “Avengers: Endgame” collectibles are made up of heroes that didn’t fall victim to Thanos’ deadly snap.

They include Captain America, Iron Man, Rocket, Hulk, Captain Marvel, Black Widow, Ant-Man, Nebula, War Machine, Thor, Hawkeye, and, of course, the Mad Titan himself. What’s interesting to note is that there seems to be altered or transformed version of the Quantum Realm named “The Team Suit”.

“The Team Suit”, for instance, also features Captain America, Iron Man, Ant-Man, War Machine, Nebula, and a few more. Guess the Quantum Realm does hold many more secrets than what is led to be believed.

What could these new suits mean? While we’ll have to wait for the premiere of “Avengers: Endgame” to figure that out, there are also the darker suits superhero figures with blue glowing arms.

As per the screenshot of the advertisement, the “Avengers: Endgame” Happy Meal toys will go on sale starting from 23rd April 2019 onwards. The Avengers x McDonald’s will run for approximately 1 month, up until 20th May 2019.

No official word yet if these Avengers Happy Meal toys will be available in Malaysia as well but we’re keeping out fingers crossed.

Also, be on the lookout for Coca Cola’s new collection of super cool Avengers soft drink cans.


Ex-Malaysian National Swimmer Sentenced To Jail For 8 Weeks

Skipping National Service is a big deal in Singapore, enough to send someone to jail. A former Malaysian national swimmer is the 17th person to go to jail for this reason.

Lim Ching Hwang pleaded guilty to two charges under the Enlistment Act and was sentenced to eight weeks of jail time. Another charge was taken into consideration during the trial.

Lim moved to Singapore in 2010 at the age of 13. He studied at the Singapore Sports School until 2013 with subsidised school and training fees. In 2014, he was granted Singapore permanent residency under the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme. He was 18 then and it made him eligible for the Enlistment Act. The Singapore Swimming Association also supported his application to be a PR.

In March 2014, Lim received a notice asking him to register for NS. He also received a scholarship offer from Sime Darby, to study in the United States. He registered for NS on 29th May, two days before the deadline and was granted a deferment to pursue a diploma at Republic Polytechnic. The deferment was to last until May 2017, but he left Singapore on 17th July. Instead, he ended up taking the Sime Darby offer and pursued a Business degree at the Ohio State University.

Lim and his parents tried to request for deferment to attend university, but the Singaporean Ministry of Defence rejected it. According to Deputy Public Prosecutor (DPP) R Arvindren, deferment for university studies are not typically granted. Lim’s parents also failed to put up a bond for an exit permit which would allow Lim to leave Singapore. Instead, they continued to apply for NS deferment in 2014 and 2015.

In 2015, Singapore authorities said Lim had to undergo medical screening for his enlistment. Lim’s father then told them that his son would be renouncing his status as a permanent resident since he was not granted deferment for university studies. Lim however, did return in June for the screening as he was worried he would be barred from taking part in the 2015 Southeast Asian Games (SEA) held in Singapore. He competed in the games under the Malaysian flag and left Singapore again.

In August 2015, Lim was notified to report for enlistment on 11th November. He told the authorities that he wanted to renounce his status as a permanent resident and did not turn up for enlistment. A police gazzette was then issued against him. He returned to Singapore on 11th June 2018 after completing university.

The 2013 Asian Youth Games gold medallist enlisted on 3rd April 2019 and completed his NS on 2nd February 2021. According to Lim, he wanted to resolve his NS offences as he has plans to swim competitively for Singapore. “I’m deeply regretful of my actions. I committed them as a boy and now that I am more mature, I have come back to face the consequences as a man.”

Lim explained that he had been too focused on swimming when he was younger and “couldn’t resist the temptation of a Malaysian scholarship to study at a prestigious university“. He intends to apply for a citizenship in Singapore as he has a girlfriend and a promising job offer too good to resist in Singapore. In hindsight, he admits, he should have persuaded his parents to sort out his exit permits and not listened to their ill-judged advice to finish his studies before serving in NS.

He is glad he was able to complete NS and said “I want to tell all boys that it is beneficial to serve NS before finishing university as the leadership skills that young men are exposed to is nothing a university can teach.” His jail term will begin on 23rd February.

He could have been jailed for up to three years, fined up to S$10,000 or both for leaving Singapore without an exit permit.

Sources: Mothership.SG, TODAYonline, CNA

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Director Bryan Singer Gives Us A Sneak Peek Of ‘X-Men: Apocalypse’

Director Bryan Singer teases all X-Men fans with a sneak peek of X-Men: Apocalypse! Yes, X-Men: Days of Future Past may still be showing in cinemas but that sure did not stop Singer from creating hype for the next instalment to the superhero franchise.

Singer created a new Instagram account on Monday and his post was none other than one of the first page of the treatment for X-Men: Apocalypse, the sequel to X-Men: Days of Future Past. Though not much of the text can be read in the photo, but sure are enough teases to draw the appetites of fans of the X-Men comics.

From the after credits of X-Men: Days of Future Past and synopsis of X-Men: Apocalypse, the movie opens in ancient Egypt, with an epic battle on the banks of the Nile featuring four horsemen — Pestilence, War, Death and Famine — who serve the titular villain.

The 48-year-old director and producer also tweeted a picture of himself working with fellow screenwriters Simon Kinberg and Michael Dougherty on the story.

X-Men: Apocalypse will see the return of Jennifer Lawrence’s Mystique, James McAvoy’s Professor X and Michael Fassbender’s Magneto and is set to hit theatres on May 27th, 2016.


#Uber: Local Taxi Drivers Calls On Parliament To Introduce Law Banning Uber

Oh boy, here we go again with the Uber banning/”make Uber illegal” drama!

About 2 years ago, transportation service Uber‘s UberBLACK, a premium product which features luxurious sedans for hire such as the Toyota Camry, Nissan Teana, and Honda Accord was launched in Malaysia. With a mobile app as its virtual connectivity platform, UBER connects drivers to riders in 160+ cities around the world.

In August 2014, the company launched a more affordable version of their service called uberX, which features cars such as the Perodua Myvi, Nissan Almera, and Toyota Vios. It instantly became a hit and was (and still is) a popular means of getting around in.

In the same month last year, following a week-long debate between Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) and taxi drivers (who claimed that their business had been affected by the the availability of Uber), Uber Malaysia came under fire for its operations.

At that time, deputy president of the Gabungan Persatuan dan Syarikat-Syarikat Teksi Semenanjung Malaysia (Gabungan) Datuk Mohd Alias Abdul said:

The company does not have any business licence or office in Malaysia but has been operating in dozens of cities around the world through the Internet and smartphone application. What’s worrying is that Uber does not have a taxi permit issued by SPAD and it is also believed that its drivers do not have the public service vehicle (PSV) licence. This situation will cause many problems to the passengers in the event of any untoward incidents, crime cases, or road accidents.

He also added that Uber’s transport service had affected the income of taxi drivers in the Klang Valley as the company fixed its fares based on its estimation on the distance and time of service.

Apart from that, Uber service providers did not have to bear the various costs of operation as normal taxi drivers, such as having to undergo periodical inspections at the computerised vehicle inspection centre (Puspakom).

Other reasons (against Uber) stated in The Sun Daily‘s are such as:

To which Uber responded with an official statement, but whether or not Uber would be made illegal at the end of it all was still open for debate.

Note: Uber has already been banned in several other countries and major cities such as China, Thailand, Germany, Jakarta, and New Delhi. In the US, 57-year-old Uber driver Duncan Burton was arrested for raping an unconsciuos drunk female passenger while in Dehli, 32-year-old Uber driver Shiv Kumar Yadav was accused of raping a 27-year-old woman executive.

A month later, in September 2014, The Star Online reported that the Road Transport Department (JPJ) has decided to conduct a nationwide crack down beginning 1st October against individuals providing transportation services using the Uber application.

According to JPJ director-general Datuk Seri Ismail Ahmad, private vehicles (read: UberX) found providing the taxi-like services would be impounded. He also said that using private vehicles as public transports is an offence under Section 16 of the Land Public Transportation Act 2010. As such, individuals or companies providing the services could also be fined between RM1,000 and RM10,000 or jailed up to a year.

Obviously, it caused quite an uproar as many Malaysians are big fans of the service.

Now, almost a year later, The Star Online is once again reporting that it’s not all settled and “fine and dandy” for the Uber service because local taxi drivers have called on Parliament to introduce a law banning vehicle-for-hire service Uber.

The Metered Taxi Drivers Action Body (BBPTB) said although the Uber service was considered illegal, there were no existing laws in place to take them off the streets. “We demand that a motion on this issue be tabled and debated by MPs in Parliament until it can become a law to officially declare the service illegal,” BBPTB chairman Amran Jan told reporters after submitting a memorandum to parliamentarians on Tuesday (9th June).

They also urged for strong action to be taken against other private vehicle for hire apps such as Grabcar, Easy-Plus, and Blacklane.

Shah Alam MP Khalid Samad, who received the memorandum from BBPTB, said services such as Uber would affect the “rice bowl” of local taxi drivers.

“There are certain issues, specifically related to monitoring, implementation and the quality of such services. It has been banned by SPAD, but it is as if these services have received the blessing of the authorities and are being practiced freely,” he said.

Among other demands, the memorandum urged Parliament to put a stop to the Private Hired Vehicle license currently being mulled over by SPAD, and to grant more authority to the Communications and Multimedia Commission to regulate the mobile app.

What do you guys make of the above news? There hasn’t been any unfortunate incidents e.g. fatalities, rape cases, etc. surrounding Uber Malaysia yet (touch wood please!) so should it be made illegal just because it’s stiff competition for local taxi drivers? Can you imagine not being able to use the Uber service anymore now that you’ve gotten so comfortable with having it at your disposal?

Feel free to discuss that in the comments box below.

Sources: The Star Online (1), Houston Chronicle, The Sun Daily, Indian Express, The Star Online (2).

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Richie Jen To Perform Greatest Hits In Resorts World Genting This October

Richie Jen Hsien-chi (任賢齊) has always been a popular figure among Malaysian fans. He was here to celebrate Singles’ Day last year, and will be back to rock out at Arena of Stars later this year.

The 52-year-old superstar, who has had tremendous success in the music world as well as television and cinema, will be bringing his upcoming concert to Resorts World Genting. The 2-day event will take place on 19th and 20th October.

The Taiwanese-born singer first broke into the entertainment scene with his debut Mandarin-language album, “Ask Again”, in 1990, followed by his role in the 1991 Taiwanese comedy film “Cops & Robbers”. After signing with Rock Records in 1996, Richie’s fame elevated thanks to his “Too Softhearted” and “The Sad Pacific” albums.

With more than 40 movie roles under his belt, the multi-hyphenate entertainer has also enjoyed success both on the big screen and small screen. His range of roles include him starring in comedies like “Summer Holiday”, romantic fantasies like “Fly Me To Polaris” and historical epics like “Legendary Amazons”. So if you’re keen on attending Richie’s concert, get ready to experience 28 years worth of works during his show.

The details to “Richie Jen Live in Genting” are as follows:

Genting Rewards Card (GRC) members will get to enjoy a 10% discount when they purchase via Genting Point Redemption or with cash or credit card. This is applicable for tickets of price scale between VIP to PS3. Tickets for children are priced at RM47 for children below 95cm.

For more information, call +603 2718 1118 or visit their website here.


#Uber: Enjoy Free Rides For Riders In Sentul, Segambut, Kuching, & Melaka

Another week, another dose of Uber goodness.

Today (Tuesday, 15th November), the ride-hailing app is offering free rides in 4 different locations, namely Sentul and Segambut (Kuala Lumpur), Kuching, as well as Melaka. The promo will last for 1 week.

Here are the following promo codes for aforementioned locations:

For more information, visit Uber Malaysia’s official website and Facebook page.

Sources: Uber (1)(2)(3)/ Featured image: Uber.


#IOI: K-Pop Girl Group Releases Emotional Farewell Track, “Downpour” (소나기)

The time has come for I.O.I‘s (아이오아이, an acronym for “Ideal of Idol”) disbandment. The project K-Pop idol group has dropped a new song, titled “Downpour” (소나기), as a farewell gift to fans.

Produced and written by SEVENTEEN’s Woozi (우지), the track was personally chosen by the girls as their final project together.

The girl group consists of 11 members – Lim Na Young, Kim Chung Ha, Kim Se Jeong, Jung Chae Yeon, Zhou Jieqiong (aka Pinky), Kim So Hye, Yu Yeon Jung, Choi Yoo Jung, Kang Mi Na, Kim Do Yeon, and Jeon So Mi. They made their debut in May last year with “Dream Girls” after “graduating” from Mnet’s “PRODUCE 101” (프로듀스 101), a large scale girl group survival program with 101 female trainees from different agencies both inside and outside South Korea. To date, I.O.I has released 3 EPs: “Chrysalis”, “Whatta Man”, and “Miss Me?”.

“Downpour” is an emotional ballad laced with heartfelt lyrics and sweet piano tunes, highlighting the members’ vocals. With phrases like “This very cold rain may turn into warm tears and trickle down”, the song expresses the group’s hopeful wish to meet their fans again in the future.

The accompanying music video is also a tear-jerking affair as it shows the girls’ memories together, both happy and sad.

According to Soompi, I.O.I will officially disband after their concert, which will be held on 20th to 22nd January. In other news, a male version of “Produce 101” is set to air in the first half of 2017.

Thank you, I.O.I. You girls have been amazing! Hwaiting :)

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Hype’s Exclusive: Joanne Kam Poh Poh, Who Has Certainly “Kam” A Long & Far Way

Known for her sharp wit and risque jokes, Joanne Kam Poh Poh has certainly “Kam” a long and far way since the cabaret days at “Boom Boom Room”. And if you know exactly what I’m talking about then that means that you’ve been around for quite a bit now and you know how wildly popular Joanne Kam is in the world of stand up comedy. Sure, she burst into the stand up comedy industry more than a decade ago, but she’s still so much gold!

So, when I was told that I’d be meeting up for lunch with the Malaysian comic legend herself one fine afternoon, how could I say no? In fact, I quickly grabbed at the opportunity! Here’s what went down:

Hi Joanne! Thanks for taking time off your busy schedule to have lunch with me. For those who are not in the know, tell us a little bit of what you do.

Hi Lainey! Okay, I’m Joanne Kam Poh Poh. And when we first started stand up comedy about 24 years ago, it started from Singapore through Kumar from “Boom Boom Room”. I came down to open the “Boom Boom Room KL” about 21 years ago and that’s when stand up exploded. You know, because I was from Singapore and I was working under Kumar so his brand of humour kind of rubbed off and stuck on to me – very cabaret, very in-your-face, slightly more provocative, and a little bit more risque. It was a total entertainment package, not just stand up comedy. My ultimate goal is to make people laugh.

You’ve been called many things in the past from “hamsap” to risque, to blunt and loud. What do you think has been some of the greatest misconceptions about you?

That’s my stage character and when I do shows, that’s me – I’m a hundred times more vocal, I’m a hundred times more vulgar. But the actual me is..I’m a single mom so I have that responsibility as well. I think a lot of people have this one misconception about stand up comedians or comics because, you know, like when Robin Williams took his own life, everyone was like, “Oh my gosh so sad. Why! But he always made people laugh!”. But you see, performances are energy-giving. We give out energy and the crowd receives, and when they clap, we get energy back. There are times when we give, and give, and give, but we don’t get any back. And it’s not like we’re singing because stand up comedy is very precise. An artiste can still get up on stage, sing a song, and pour his/her heart and soul into it after a break up, and people would be like, “Wow, so much emotion!” But if you’re in stand up comedy, and if someone breaks up with you, you can’t go up on stage after and tell a sad story. People also always treat us like our characters – you need to see the stand up comedian as a performer. Each of us have got our own inner personalities because we’re people too.

For a show like “Super Kam 2: The Second Kam-ming”, what goes on in the preparations and how long do you usually take to prepare for it?

Maybe a month or 2 months, depending on how huge the production is. Like, right now, while we’re doing “Super Kam 2: The Second Kam-ming”, we’re also in the midst of rehearsals for a November show called, “A Musical Called Kam In Your Face”. That one involves 8 actors and comedians, and 6 dancers – that’s a huge show. For a good production I’d say..6 months. But for a rerun like “Super Kam 2: The Second Kam-ming”, probably 3 months or so. What you see at the end, meaning the stage product, everything that goes behind the scenes to ensure that the product gets on stage is 3 months’ worth of preparations. Everything from writing the jokes to publicity and interviews, to photo shoots and even ticket sales, all of that has to happen concurrently.

We’ve previously asked Douglas Lim this and we’ll ask you the same – do you still battle with stage fright? And if you do, how do you overcome it?

I think..when you’re on stage, you just need to wing your confidence. For me, I still get goosebumps when I have to perform for audiences that are not my usual audience like when I’m in Hong Kong or Australia. Because they’re new and I don’t know whether my Malaysian jokes would work. But when I’m on stage and I’m holding my microphone, that sort of becomes my centre. Some people pace and I’ve paced before, but I also sometimes go away in a corner to zen myself. Say a couple of prayers, imagine that I will have a good show, and just go on.

Last question! How do you usually unwind after a show like “Super Kam 2: The Second Kam-ming”? Do you usually have a hard time “coming down” from it all?

What we usually as a group is after a show, we’d all go out for supper. Then we’d just hang out and eat because we’d be very hungry after shows. We don’t usually eat before a show and even if we do, by the time the show finishes, it would have been a good 4-5 hours from when we last ate. So, yea, just drinks and food. But when I go home and I can’t sleep then, I’d put on a DVD or play with my smartphone!

Thank you so much for having lunch with me, Joanne!

For more information on Joanne Kam Poh Poh’s “Super Kam 2: The Second Kam-ming”, hit up here.

Don’t forget to “stalk” her on Facebook ;)


#InstagramRapture: Millions Of Account Purged + Top 25 Celebrity “Losers”

Last week, Instagram made good on its promise to start “spring cleaning” its huge database of “followers”. By that, we mean that the social photo-sharing platform started purging inactive, fake, and spam accounts. The move was so drastic that it has since gotten users coining the term, “Instagram Rapture” to best describe it. If you’re on Instagram too, you’ve probably seen the warning 1/2 days prior to the “rapture”.

A few people that we personally know lost a lot of followers, much to their dismay. We don’t blame them and it’s really nothing to laugh about because how would they have known that the accounts following them were fake/bots? Luckily, the original count of followers for these people were moderately low so the “loss” turned out to be actually..not so obvious.

Celebrities, or rather, celebrities on Instagram with the most followers, on the other hand, bore the brunt of it. For example, Justin Bieber’s “Belieber” count plummeted as he lost a total of 3.5 million followers. Wait, what? Did he have 3.5 million ghost “Belieber”s previously? And he’s not the only one!

Akon went from 4.3 million to 1.9 million in 24 hours, Ariana Grande’s follower count is also down by 1.5 million, while 1.3 million fake people decided that they couldn’t keep up with Kim Kardashian anymore.

Other Instagrammers such as Kendall and Kylie Jenner have lost hundreds of thousands of followers, and some celebrities have even taken the “Instagram Rapture” quite badly. For example, rapper Ma$e lost so many followers he decided to delete his account entirely. According to one Twitter user, Ma$e went from 1.6 million followers to 100k in a matter of 20 minutes. Nicki Minaj also took to Twitter to express her amusement over the purge.

Wait. IG gave me the followers of the girl that was impersonating me wen I created an IG. Now that I’m on they snatched dem shits bak. LMFAO

— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) December 18, 2014

Of course, this only means that people are bewildered and unhappy. Some users have even taken to Instagram’s official, err, Instagram account, to post a barrage of insults and profanities. But what they might not know is that a lot of those fake accounts and spambots were actually deactivated a long time ago and Instagram is merely removing them for good now.

Also, let’s not forget that Instagram’s own Instagram account was not spared from this purge. According to our source, Instagram’s official account lost a whopping total of 18.8 million. Our own Instagram account, Hype Malaysia, lost only a handful but at least we now know who our real followers are. Our take? The clean up was something we all needed. Why have millions of followers and yet post statistics i.e. likes that don’t tally? Wouldn’t you want to have real followers only? Something for you to think about!

Meanwhile, here are top 25 celebrity Instagram followers losers:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


#Twilight10: Edward & Bella Get Gender-Swapped In Stephenie Meyer’s New Novel

There’s Edward and Bella, and then there’s Beau and Edythe.

Both pairs are the vampire-human lovers, except the latter is gender-swapped version of the former.

That’s right, Twihards. This is not a fan fiction.

In honour of the 10th anniversary of her best-selling vampire romance novels, “Twilight” author Stephenie Meyer has penned a new Twilight book about a female vampire falling in love with a human boy.

Titled “Life and Death: Twilight Reimagined”, the new Twilight book is a 442-page retelling of the original story. Almost every character has been gender-swapped, except Bella/Beau’s parents Charlie and Renee.

Bella is now a human teenage boy named Beau (shorrt for Beaufort) and Edward is now a vampire girl named Edythe. Werewolf boy Jacob is now a female werewolf named Julie.

Meyer first announced plans to release a “Twilight” 10th anniversary special edition with bonus content during the “Forever Twilight in Forks” festival in Washington last month.

In a foreword the story, Meyer begins by apologising to her ardent fans for not being able to release “Midnight Sun”, the retelling of “Twilight” from Edward’s perspective, due to lack of time. The manusciprt has apparently been shelved for years after an online leak.

Meyer then explained in her foreword that she decided to gender-switched the characters to prove the point that Bella isn’t a “damsel in distress”, as certain critics have claimed.

She insisted that the character is a “human in distress”, describing her as “a normal human being surrounded on all sides by people who are basically superheroes and supervillains”. She also disagreed with the criticism that Bella was “too consumed with her love interest, as if that’s somehow just a girl thing”.

“I’ve always maintained that it would have made no difference if the human were male and vampire female — it’s still the same story,” she added.

Though the love story remains the same, Meyer revealed that there are slight personality changes to the characters. Beau is apparently “more OCD” and “not as angry” than Bella was. The author also mentioned that Beau is “totally missing the chip Bella carries around on her shoulder all the time”.

During an appearance on “Good Morning America”, Meyer spoke of the similarities.

The further you get in, the more it changes because the personalities get a little bit different, but it starts out very similar and really, it really is the same story because it’s just a love story and it doesn’t matter who’s the boy and who’s the girl, it still works out.

Meyer further stated in her foreword that the rewrite was “fun, but also really fast and easy”. Not only did it allow her to correct some errors that always bothered her, it also allowed her to re-edit the piece for grammar and word choice issues.

Some elements of the mythology were altered for consistency too.

The new “Twilight” book is currently available for purchase in hardcover and e-book. However, don’t expect to see a film version of the book featuring Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson again because Meyer mentioned on GMA that she doesn’t think it will be turned into a movie, like she did with the original Twilight series.

I think that this is just one version with Beau.

“I don’t really see (a movie) happening and a lot of the people I’d put in it would be like Grace Kelly so it’s a little too late for some of my first choices,” she added.

Would you read the new “Twilight” book? Which team would you belong to, “Team Edythe” or “Team Julie”? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.

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Vengeful Spirits Are Summoned In “Ouija” Movie Trailer

It’s all fun and games till someone gets hurt.

The trailer for Ouija has been playing in theatres for a couple of weeks now, and with the upcoming release of The Purge: Anarchy, Universal Pictures has finally released the trailer for its next horror movie Ouija.

No idea what ouija is? Well, an ouija board is a board printed with letters, numbers, and others signs, to which a planchette or movable indicator points, supposedly in answer to questions asked by people who are playing with it. Sounds harmless, doesn’t it? Well think again. Also known as a spirit board, the ouija board is believed to be used for demonic possession.

Tapping onto that believe, Ouija, the movie is inspired by this creepy, supernatural board game and the movie follows a group of friends who get stuck in the dark powers of this mystical board — dark powers that force each of them to face unimaginable horrors.

The movie stars horror and thriller veteran Olivia Cook of Bates Motel, Douglas Smith and Bianca Santos and is brought to you by the producers of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, Paranormal Activity as well as the Insidious series. Ouija, directed by Stiles White is set to his cinemas this October — just in time for Halloween!


#Firefly: British Couple Discovered That They Were The Only Passengers On A Flight

What would you do if you discovered that you had the entire plane all to yourself?

Carrie Fisher and her partner Kyle McNicol, both 28, were pleasantly surprised to find out that they were the only 2 passengers onboard a plane last week, while traveling from Krabi, Thailand, to Penang in Malaysia.

When you have the full plane to yourself! #midflight #krabi to #Penang #Thailand #malaysia #travel #travelphotography #backpacking #wanderlust #travelgram #instatravel #flight #flyingsolo

A photo posted by Kyle McNicol (@88_kmc_88) on Sep 2, 2016 at 1:42am PDT

The couple from Yorkshire, England had booked their flights via low cost commercial airline Firefly, a subsidiary of Malaysia Airlines, not knowing that they were about to experience a rare opportunity to enjoy a “private jet”, because no one else had booked onto it.

Both Carrie and Kyle were initially confused and had a sneaky suspicion that something was up when the check-in desk told them that it was going to be a “very special flight”. Even the custom staffs on duty started laughing and said, “Oh, just you 2“. It was only when they boarded the bus that chauffeured them to their plane that they realised they were flying solo.

“The cabin crew felt just as awkward as we did to start with, it was the first time that it happened to them too. We asked where we could sit and were told we could sit anywhere, run up and down, just don’t jump, which is why Kyle broke into his signature move, the slug,” Carrie was quote as saying.

Taking full advantage of their lucky situation, the duo decided to seat hop around the carrier and even bust some quirky dance moves down the aisle. You can check out their airplane experience in Carrie’s Instagram video clip below:

Private jet #soloflight #vip #plane #travel #backpacking #wanderlust #instatravel #travelgram #travelvideo #lonleyplanet #krabi #penang #thailand #malaysia #flight #gopro

A video posted by Carrie Fisher (@carriefisher2) on Sep 3, 2016 at 12:03am PDT

Sadly, the VIP treatment was cut short because they landed in Penang 1 hour and 10 minutes later. Nevertheless, we’re quite certain the couple will remember this rare experience for a very long time.

We learned that Carrie and Kyle have been traveling around Asia for the past 5 months, including Japan, China and Vietnam. You can follow their traveling adventures on Carrie’s personal blog here.

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Re-Hyped : Hype Malaysia’s Weekly News Roundup Episode #2

As promised, REHYPED by Hype Malaysia is back with its second episode. Hosted by our very own Mr. Dan and Bryna, Rehype episode two features a round up of brand spanking entertainment and lifestyle news updates in one show!

From event announcements, to video music releases and more, Rehyped Episode Two brings you this week’s 411!


Singer Coco Lee’s Sister Claims She Died An “Unnatural Death”?

It’s only been a day since the passing of beloved Hong Kong-born American singer Coco Lee (李玟) and fans and friends are still mourning her. But, others are already stirring the pot regarding the circumstances of her passing, and needless to say, it’s left many bewildered.

Although Coco Lee’s death was shocking to many, it didn’t take long for people to start speculating about her matters. For one, several were concerned about who would get Coco’s inheritance. But, people are now wondering if Coco’s death was caused by suicide after her sister claimed she died “unnaturally”!

The 48-year-old singer had allegedly been struggling with depression for a few years now, her sisters explained. It had supposedly been what led to her attempting suicide on 2nd July. Reportedly, she had taken a shower after lunch but rushed out of the bathroom with a bleeding wrist. Coco was then brought to the hospital, comatose, before passing away on 5th July.

Photos of Coco and her sister at a friend’s party in June allegedly supported the theory that she had been struggling as her face in the photos was covered with stickers. There were also rumours that she had been fighting cancer in 2022 as well. Her sister, Nancy, later added that something had been off about Coco the week before.

However, Nancy also confirmed that Coco had not passed from a slit wrist, claiming it was an “unnatural death”. As such, Coco’s body is undergoing an autopsy to clarify the cause of death which will take four to six weeks. So, as stated in the recently released her obituary, details of her funeral have yet to be announced.

Netizens are now speculating if Coco did actually commit suicide. Several pointed out that a slit wrist does not necessarily result in death. Others staunchly believe strong-willed Coco would not have committed suicide. A few were simply puzzled by Nancy claiming Coco had died an “unnatural death”.

For now, we can only wait for further news from the family. But we sincerely wish them well as they mourn Coco Lee’s passing and hope they will find peace in her passing.


Sheba Dies At Singapore Zoo

Sheba, who arrived at the Singapore Zoo in 1978 from Cologne Zoo in Germany when she was just 14 months old, lived a long and rich life before she was euthanized a few hours ago. The polar bear had been under treatment since September this year for loss of strength in her hind limbs, but her condition deteriorated in the past week.

Wild Reserves Singapore, the parent company of Singapore Zoo, said that they are extremely saddened by the death of their beloved polar bear. But because a close evaluation showed that her prognosis was poor, she had to be euthanized on humanitarian grounds. Sheba was a key attraction at the Singapore Zoo for over 30 years and she lived to a ripe old age of 35 years, far exceeding the normal life span of 25 years for polar bears that are not in the wild.

Sheba was also the first polar bear to have successfully raise a cub in the tropics. Her son, Inuka, continues to be in the Singapore Zoo and is now 21 years old.


Billy Campbell Talks Being Abraham Lincoln

Recently, Billy Campbell had the opportunity to play the lead in a film that was based on the most resonant crime in the American history. In fact, it was one that changed American history forever. As Abraham Lincoln, it was a role that would also change Billy Campbell’s (acting) life forever. Let’s now find out what playing the 16th President of the United States in “Killing Lincoln” experience was like for Billy Campbell:

As an actor who has explored the full gamut of role-playing, what piqued your interest for “Killing Lincoln’?

“I grew up in the state of Virginia where more than half of all U.S. Civil War battles (about 3 out of 5) were fought, and so I was obsessed with it. I even became a CW re-enactor after my mother took me to a re-enactment on my 16th birthday. Any interest in the war is nearly synonymous with an interest in Abe Lincoln, so of course I leapt at the opportunity to play him. Also, it didn’t hurt that we were to shoot in Richmond, Virginia, 60 miles from my childhood home of Charlottesville.”

Could you please talk a little bit about the process of getting ready for the character? How did you get in that soul?  And when the camera stops, can you go back to Billy right away?

“I’m not such a complicated actor that I can’t let go of a character at the end of the shooting day. I might be a better actor if I were! The process for me was necessarily simple, as I had very little time to prepare: I sat in the chair and let Ashley Fetterman, a brilliant make-up artist from Richmond, do her thing, then let looking like Lincoln inform how I felt. Otherwise, I dived into Erik Jendresen’s beautiful script, and had Erik himself (as obsessed with Lincoln since childhood as I’d been with the CW) as a living, breathing Old Abe Encyclopedia. On top of this, there was Adrian Moat, our director, whose energy was boundless and inspirational. Indeed, I’ve never been on a movie with more people (on both sides of the camera and right up to the top of the network) as passionate about the subject. It seemed everyone on Killing Lincoln was obsessed with the history, utterly and tirelessly dedicated to getting it right, and all of this contributed greatly to my confidence in playing Lincoln.”

In playing such an iconic historical figure, do you find there was more pressure?

“No. The trick to playing any part –real or fictional– is to find the human, to find and convey that to which the audience can relate. In this case, his warmth, compassion, good humor.”

What challenges and joys did you encounter while filming Killing Lincoln?

“Aside from the above-mentioned? Working in 4 layers of black wool, and a black top hat, in a Virginia summer heat wave (100+ Fahrenheit that day, about 37 Celsius), and on the banks of the Appomattox river, so about as humid as is possible. It was Liquid Lincoln all day, no matter how much ice-water I drank. Ashley and her gang were practicing triage that day, and I was the main casualty.”

How was it working with Ridley and the late Tony Scott?

“I didn’t have the pleasure of meeting them, but I’ve only heard great things about them, and I know they were extremely pleased with the project.”

How do you think Killing Lincoln will translate to countries outside the US who are not familiar with Abraham Lincoln?

“The U.S. Civil War has a weirdly international appeal. Many Europeans come over to participate in our re-enactments and, as I understand it, there have been more books published about Abraham Lincoln than almost anyone in world history (Shakespeare of course tops the list. Dante, Goethe, Cervantes then Lincoln, according to T. Besterman’s ‘…Bibliography of Bibliographies’), so I imagine there aren’t too many countries (with any interest in western culture) with no interest in Lincoln.”

How will you apply what you have learned from “Killing Lincoln” to other projects in the future?

“I think the thing I learned on KL, above all else, was trust. To trust in others, artistically speaking, but also just to trust myself and that things will turn out alright, maybe even better than if I’d had all the time in the world to over-think it.”

Speaking of the future, what other projects are you working on right now, what’s next for you?

“Just signed onto a pilot called Delirium, in which I play a pernicious political figure from — where else — the grand old state of Virginia! I haven’t yet read the book which was adapted for this series, but I hear it’s quite popular, and I’m excited about the job.”

Despite all of the characters you’ve played, is there any role that you still dream of playing?

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

“I read, write, sail, and play Rugby (not as enthusiastically or as well as I used to). I draw and paint. Before I get too old, I’d like to illustrate a graphic novel, direct a film, sail my boat around the world, and play one more half-decent match of Rugby.”

For more information on “Killing Lincoln”, visit their website.

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No More IKEA Meatballs In Some Asia Stores

Yesterday, we wrote that IKEA had withdrawn their popular Swedish meatballs sale in 16 European countries after Czech authorities found horsemeat in the product. One-kilogramme bags from the suspect batch of frozen meatballs had been pulled from the shelves in the following countries:

Stores in Sweden, Denmark, France, Romania, and Singapore also withdrew meatballs from sale as a precautionary measure. Stores in the United States, however, carried on with “business as usual” because according to IKEA, there was no horsemeat in the meatballs served in those stores.

Today, it has just been confirmed the Swedish furniture giant is also pulling the meatballs from its stores in Hong Kong, Thailand, and the Dominican Republic in addition to the host of European countries listed above. The number of countries where it has pulled its meatballs from sale now stands at 24.

IKEA Malaysia has since released the following statement:


#Glass: Cast & Released Date For “Unbreakable” & “Split” Sequel Revealed

This is the news fans have been waiting for: director M. Night Shyamalan has confirmed that the sequel to his films “Split” and “Unbreakable”, titled “Glass”, will conclude the movie trilogy.

“I said ‘Can we make a sequel that they don’t realise is a sequel? Can we make an origin story without telling them it’s an origin story until the last moment of the movie? So it plays as a thriller and becomes an origin story?’” the filmmaker previously told io9. “So that was the idea from go.”

The end of “Split” saw the return of Bruce Willis as David Dunn – the man who cannot break. He was eating in a diner where there was a news report on the TV about James McAvoy’s character Kevin Wendell Crumb, who the media has termed “The Horde”.

When the lady beside him says that The Horde reminds her of a former criminal, David Dunn suggests that perhaps she’s referring to Mr. Glass a.k.a. Elijah Price (played by Samuel L. Jackson in “Unbreakable”).

“It’s taken 17 years but I can finally answer the #1 question I get, ‘Are you making a f**king sequel to ‘Unbreakable’ or what?’ My new film is the sequel to ‘Unbreakable’ AND ‘Split’. It was always my dream to have both films collide in this 3rd film.”
the filmmaker tweeted.

In addition to the confirmation of the cast and released date, Universal has also unveiled the first synopsis.

“M. Night Shyamalan brings together the narratives of two of his standout originals – 2000’s ‘Unbreakable’ and last year’s ‘Split’ – in one explosive, all-new comic-book thriller: ‘Glass’. From ‘Unbreakable’, Bruce Willis returns as David Dunn as does Samuel L. Jackson as Elijah Price, known also by his pseudonym Mr. Glass. Joining from ‘Split’ are James McAvoy, reprising his role as Kevin Wendell Crumb and the multiple identities who reside within, and Anya Taylor-Joy as Casey Cooke, the only captive to survive an encounter with The Beast.

“Following the conclusion of ‘Split’, ‘Glass’ finds Dunn pursuing Crumb’s superhuman figure of The Beast in a series of escalating encounters, while the shadowy presence of Price emerges as an orchestrator who holds secrets critical to both men.”

Writer Cooper Hood speculates that in his pursued of Kevin Wendell Crumb, David Dunn will likely seek out Casey Cooke since she was able to escape him.

“Glass” is slated for released on 18th January 2019.


(UPDATE) Nicole Jung Reveals Teaser Image For Her Solo Album

Solo debuts might be a rising trend in the K-Pop music scene now as former KARA member Nicole Jung has jumped onto the bandwagon by announcing that she’ll be releasing her first solo album soon.

Following her recent agreement to join B2M Entertainment as a solo artiste, the talent agency has revealed that Nicole is set to make her solo debut on 19th Nov.

[#니콜(#Nicole)] 솔로 데뷔 1st MINI ALBUM 1차 티저 11.11(화) 정오 12시 2차 티저 11.14(금) 정오 12시 앨범발매 11.19(수) 정오 12시 Comming Soon pic.twitter.com/QeRRohVksg

— B2M Entertainment (@b2ment) November 9, 2014

Prior to the release of her album, the agency will drop 2 teaser videos on 11th Nov and 14th Nov respectively.

Along with the above news, the agency also gave fans a first look at the concept of her new album:

So, what do you think the concept of her new album will look like? Share your thoughts with us in the comments box below!

Alright, we can all stop speculating now because the official music video for Nicole’s comeback song and first song as a solo artiste, “MAMA”, has been released. Believe us when we say that it’s better than we had expected!

Love it or not so much? Let us know in the comments box below!

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It’s Baby Number Two For Sarah & Freddie

According to several reports, Sarah Michelle Gellar and her husband of 10 years, Freddie Prinze Jr. are execting their second child! They met while filming the popular 1997 horror film, “I Know What You Did Last Summer”, and began dating three years later. They tied the knot in 2002.

The sweet Hollywood couple is already parents to their young daughter, Charlotte Grace, whom they both adore to itty bitty little pieces!

A friend of the duo confirmed the rumours and told Us Magazine, “She and Freddie are thrilled! They’re amazing parents.”

Another source close to Sarah and Freddie told People magazine, “They love their little girl more than anything in the world and know that love will only multiply. She is such a fantastic mom; it is just great news.”

Nevermind fantastic mom, she is also as sweet as she is fantastic!

In 2007, Sarah changed her name to Sarah Michelle Prinze as a five-year engagement gift to Freddie.

(She still uses her maiden name for work)

Two years later, the beautiful Mrs. Prinze gave birth to Charlotte.

When Charlotte was born, Sarah said, “You need to be at a point in your life where you can give up anything and everything for a child. Every day I look at her and I am in awe.”

Well, Sarah, then you best prepare for another whirlwind of awe. We’re so excited for you!


#Budget2015: Revisions + Key Measures Announced, National Service Suspended

Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak today (20th Jan) announced revisions to the national Budget 2015 today in view of falling oil prices which are now around USD50 per barrel. Tabled in October 2014, Malaysia’s Budget 2015 had a projected expenditure of RM273.9 billion in expenditure and RM235.2 billion in revenue. It was pegged to oil prices of around US$100 per barrel.

However, the slide in prices, which has drastically affected the ringgit’s value as Malaysia is an oil exporter, has seen calls by economists for Putrajaya to revise the budget.

The announcement at a special session at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre included key measures which will be implemented to sustain development and economical growth for the country. Opening his speech, Prime Minister Najib Razak said, “We are not in crisis, we are taking preemptive measures following the changes in external global economic landscape which are not in our control.”

Among the expenditures to be cut is the National Service Training Programme (PLKN), which will save the government RM400 million. Not only will the programme for this year be deferred as part of the austerity measures to address the country’s fall in income, it will also be reviewed and enhanced.

Sources: The Star Online, Malaysia Kini, TMI, NST Online / Featured image from Malaysia Kini.


(UPDATE) #KWaveMusicFestival: BtoB, Highlight, & More To Perform In Malaysia This August

“괜찮아 괜찮아 괜찮아 잘될 거예요 I believe in you”

If you recognise those lyrics, or if you’re a self-professed Melody, then you’re in luck. Because from what we know, CUBE Entertainment’s 7-member boy group, BtoB (비투비), is coming to Malaysia!

Consisting of members Eunkwang, Minhyuk, Changsub, Hyunsik, Peniel, Ilhoon, and Sungjae, BtoB debuted back in 2012 with “Insane” and “Imagine”. Known to be one of the most laid back idol groups in the Korean music industry, BtoB released their 10th mini-album, “Feel’eM” back in March this year. They’re currently working on their “Piece of BtoB” project, in which the group’s members will release a solo track each month.

We last saw BtoB perform live in South Korea when we were there with our friends from Korea Tourism Organisation Malaysia as part of the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics familiarisation trip and you can bet that we’re excited to see them again!

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

BtoB is only the first of 6 acts announced so there will be more to come. Who else is coming, you ask? Keep checking back with us for more updates ;)

As at time of writing, deets for the K-Wave Music Festival are as follows:

Get ready to hyperventilate, K-Pop fans! Highlight and APINK will be joining BtoB at the K-Wave Music Festival ?

While this will mark APINK’s 2nd visit to Malaysia, it’ll be Highlight’s first performance in the country after they established their own label – Around Us Entertainment.

Highlight is made up of members Yoon Doo Joon, Yong Jun Hyung, Yang Yo Seob, Lee Gi Kwang, and Son Dong Woon. The group made their debut as Highlight on 20th March after leaving their previous label Cube Entertainment. They formed their independent label and dropped the track “Plz Don’t Be Sad”.

Meanwhile, APINK (에이핑크) consists of Park Cho Rong, Yoon Bomi, Jung Eun Ji, Son Na Eun, Kim Nam Joo, and Oh Ha Young. The Plan A Entertainment recently released their 6th mini-album, titled “Pink UP”, last week.

3 down, 3 more to go. Who will be announced next? Stay tuned for more updates!

Yes, yes, a million times yes! Mcalls will be bringing Teen Top (틴탑) and B1A4 for their upcoming K-Pop concert :)

Formed in 2010, Teen Top (an acronym for “teenage emoboy emotion next generation talent object praise”) consists of 5 members – C.A.P, Chunji, Niel, Ricky, and Changjo. This will also mark the group’s first visit to Malaysia after L.Joe left the group earlier this year.

Meanwhile, B1A4 is made up of Jinyoung, CNU, Baro, Gongchan, and Sandeul. Best known for their unique concept, B1A4 quickly became one of the industry’s most popular boy groups. To date, the group has released 3 Korean albums: “Ignition”, “Who Am I”, and “Good Timing”.

Who will the last K-Pop act be? Stay tuned to this post for more updates :)

And the final act is…VICTON (빅톤, an acronym for Voice to New World)!

Formerly known as Plan A Boys, the rookie group consists of 7 members: Han Seung Woo, Kang Seung Sik, Heo Chan, Lim Se Jun, Do Han Se, Choi Byun Chan ,and Jung Su Bin. The boys made their debut in November 2016 with their 1st self-titled EP, “Voice to New World”. The boys recently released their 2nd EP, “Ready”, which holds the title track “Eyez Eyez”.

Don’t forget to hit up Mcalls via their website for more information.

Source: Mcalls / Featured image: TBJ Nearby F/W 2016.

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GOT7 Keep Spinning KL Tour Ticketing Details & Seating Plan Revealed

As most of you would’ve heard by now, the boys of GOT7 (갓세븐) are set to bring their headlining concert tour to our country this coming March.

Titled “Keep Spinning World Tour”, we can finally reveal the details to the much-anticipated K-pop event ever since the announcement came out last September.

According to the press release, the concert tour which kicked off in KSPO Dome in Seoul last year has been successfully held across various parts of the globe such as North America, Latin America, Europe, and Oceania. The award-winning band has begun its Asian leg in Manila, Philippines last October.

Consisting of 7 talented members – JB, Mark, Jinyoung, Jackson, Youngjae, Bambam and Yugyeom, they made their official debut back in January 2014 under JYP Entertainment. Their appearance will surely captivate iGOT7s (fandom name) who have been longing to see them perform in Malaysia. If y’all still remember, the last time they came here was for their “Flight Log: Turbulence” fan-meeting back in 2016.

Organised by StarPlanet, the details to GOT7’s “Keep Spinning World Tour” Live in Malaysia are as follows:

Tickets will be available for purchase exclusively at www.myticket.asia starting from 15th January (Wednesday) at 12pm onwards. For more info, visit StarPlanet’s official website here.