Dr. Wan Wardatul Amani: 5 Facts About The Woman Who Actually Went To NASA

With the drama involving local student Azhar Ali still ongoing, allow us to shift your attention to our very own hero in outer space, Prof Madya Dr. Wan Wardatul Amani Wan Salim.

For those who don’t know, Prof Madya Dr. Wan Wardatul Amani, or Dr. Amani in short, made a big splash 6 years ago when she created history as the first ever woman in Malaysia to be involved in NASA’s space shuttle research programme to Mars! She was 36 at that time.

According to Malaysiakini, Dr. Amani was the principal investigator in a team of scientists, technologists and engineers to work on NASA’s first ever device that can measure extracellular ion from a single cell in microgravity.

In an interview with the online news portal, the Penang-born shared her inspiring life story as well as her strong views in empowering the society, especially ordinary people. Here are 5 interesting things we got from the session:

1. She started by cleaning glass and cover slides of microscopes.

Who would have thought that behind her skyrocketed success, Dr. Amani started her “career” by volunteering to wash glass slides and cover slips for microscopes while working in laboratories during her student days at University of Minnesota.

“I worked there because I wanted to learn. But because I did the job so well, they started paying me and giving me opportunities. To the point that the professor even recommended me to do a PhD (in biomedicine),” Dr. Amani was quoted as saying.

Dr. Amani shifted her focus from satellites to creating simple devices to help ease the local communities since moving back to our shores in late 2014. Her team is currently working on an reusable and affordable device to monitor blood glucose.

“I could have easily landed a job at NASA, but I wanted something more. I wanted to solve real problems. It’s not that I wasn’t keen on solving problems in the States, but there are already so many people solving problems there,” explained the UIA Biotechnology Department lecturer.

She continued, “When I looked at the context of Malaysia, I saw that I could solve this and solve that. My aim is for the regular people and local communities to be empowered. It’s about time that locals was empowered to use simple technology.”

3. Important advice on how Malaysians can improve.

“There is no age or background requirement, or a race or religion background for someone to do great things. That’s why I believe that when given the chance and empowerment from people on your team, people can do great wonders. A feeling of ownership, accountability and responsibility will drive someone to do their best,“ Dr. Amani told the local press.

4. On girls getting married at a certain age.

During the chat, Dr. Amani also advised fellow girls and parents to “not be pressured by society. Do the thing that your heart desires. And to all mums and dads out there, if your children want to study and be someone prominent, please do encourage them.

She continued, “I have to thank to my parents, especially my mom, who never pushed me to walk down the aisle. Instead, she always told me to pursue my PhD and be someone prominent.”

“It is not necessarily about the pay,” clarified Dr. Amani, before adding, “A lot of people are willing to fly back because Malaysians are like family; we’re a very family-oriented society. The dilemma is always whether if you can do your best when you come back.”

In this case, the freedom to do anything plays a major role. “Do not clip our wings, let us fly as high as we want. Others don’t need to control us. Let us do the work and do the things that we love to do,” advised Dr. Amani.

Wise words from the woman herself! Hopefully others can learn and take note of her inspiring advice.

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Liu Yaxi: Meet Mulan’s Gorgeous Stunt Double

Although Liu Yifei (刘亦菲) is the main star in Disney’s live-action “Mulan”, another woman named Liu Yaxi (刘亚西) has been generating significant buzz on the internet.

Not much is known about Liu Yaxi, other then the fact that she was a stunt double for Liu Yifei. Pictures of her in the red Mulan costume have since gone viral after making its way on social media.

The 33-year-old actress-singer was previously criticised for relying on 4 different body doubles throughout the filming process. 3 were stand-ins for lighting and camera tests, while the stuntwoman was Liu Yaxi herself. The stand-ins wouldn’t necessarily appear on set simultaneously and would only show up at a certain time and location.

The professional martial artist also defended Liu Yifei, saying the actress performed all of the acting scenes herself. “Martial stunts are dangerous, and will inevitably require the use of a stunt double. If an actor does everything by themselves, it would be too dangerous. Our occupation requires our skills to be used somewhere anyway,” she explained.

Yaxi added, “I feel that (Liu Yifei’s) professionalism and serious attitude to her work is something that everyone has seen. I don’t know about others, but I’ve learnt (from her) during the filming of ‘Mulan’.”

In speaking with Insider, cinematographer Mandy Walker also echoed the same sentiment, revealing that Yifei executed 90% of her own stunts and battle sequences. “We always had a stunt person there, but she trained as well and we would try it with her and, nine times out of 10, she did it,” Mandy told the publication.

Having said that, many fans had been gushing over Liu Yaxi:

Judging from the behind-the-scenes pictures she uploaded, it appears that Liu Yaxi was also a stunt double for Gong Li, who played the witch Xianniang.

A post shared by 刘亚西 YAXI.LIU (@_liuyaxi)

You can also stalk the Chinese beauty on Weibo and Instagram.


#Zoolander2: Ben Stiller & Owen Wilson’s Paris Fashion Week Surprise

Zoolander and Hansel, so hot right now. Zoolander and Hansel.

After almost 14 years of hiatus, the really, really, really, ridiculously good-looking fashion models, Derek Zoolander (played by Ben Stiller) and Hansel McDonald (played by Owen Wilson), are returning to the fashion runway via a sequel. However, the models decided that there’s no better way to announce the sequel’s release date than crashing Valentino’s show with their infamous walk-off challenge during Paris Fashion Week.

The actors took a break from filming the sequel to walk down the fashion runway and promote the movie. They made their triumphant entrance with the classical music before strutting down the runway with Human League’s “Don’t You Want Me”. After their brief appearance at the show, Paramount Pictures wasted no time to announce that the sequel is slated for release on 12th February 2016.

Directed and produced by Ben Stiller, “Zoolander” is a 2001 cult comedy film that has received strongly positive reviews from the movie critics. As the film revolves around a male model becoming a pawn in a plot to assassinate the Prime Minister of Malaysia, the film was never shown in Malaysian cinemas.

Of course, that didn’t stop Stiller from developing a sequel as he previously confirmed that the script for the sequel was already in the works since 2010.

Wilson stated in an episode of “The Tonight Show With Jay Leno” that the film is most likely going to named “Twolander”, but Stiller did not respond to Wilson’s comment about the title. Instead, he briefly described the plot during an interview with Empire Online.

It’s 10 years later and most of it is set in Europe… it’s basically Derek and Hansel… though the last movie ended on a happy note a lot of things have happened in the meantime. Their lives have changed and they’re not really relevant anymore. It’s a new world for them. Will Ferrell is written into the script and he’s expressed interest in doing it. I think Mugatu is an integral part of the Zoolander story, so yes, he features in a big way.

The sequel is Stiller‘s directorial follow-up to ” “The Secret Life of Walter Mitty“ and it was reported that “Iron Man 2″ scribe Justin Theroux already written the script along with the director. “Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides” star Penelope Cruz has signed on to star for an unspecified role while Christine Taylor and Will Ferrell will return to reprise their respective roles.

The official photos were posted on Zoolander’s Facebook page while the full video that featured the Zoolander stars at the Valentino show is up on Paramount Pictures’ official YouTube channel.

Yes, we too noticed how Zoolander was totally rocking Le Tigre, Ferrari, Blue Steel, and Magnum at the show.

And if that’s not enough, you can also check out the photos and videos posted by Valentino and Ben Stiller on their respective Instagram account below:

A post shared by Valentino (@maisonvalentino)

For more information, visit the movie’s official Facebook page.

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Hype’s Must Watch: Penguins of Madagascar

Super spy teams aren’t born…they’re hatched!

Discover the secrets of the greatest and most hilarious covert birds in the global espionage biz: Skipper, Kowalski, Rico, and Private.

These elitists of the elite are joining forces with a chic undercover inter-species spy organisation, The North Wind. Led by handsome and husky Agent Classified (we could tell you his name, but then…you know), the North Wind is dedicated to helping animals who can’t help themselves. Together (the Penguins and the North Wind), they must stop the villainous Dr. Octavius Brine, from taking over and destroying the world as we know it.

In the Penguins of Madagascar, audiences will discover the secrets of the most entertainingly mysterious birds in the global espionage game:

Penguins of Madagascar will be released in cinemas nationwide on 27th November 2014.

For more information, visit the movie’s official website.


Pump Up That FM On Your Dial!

“Poppin bottles in the ice, like a blizzard. When we drink we do it right gettin slizzard. Sippin sizzurp in my ride, in my ride, like 3 6. Now I’m feelin’ so fly like a G6!”

These Asian-American boys came out of nowhere and shot to fame out of nowhere but one thing’s for sure, you can’t deny that the lyrics above are familiar to just about anyone!

Far East Movement (FM) is a Los Angeles-based electro hop quartet group that was formed in 2003. We stress “electro hop quartet” just in case you think they’re just another boyband – they’re not.

The group consists of Kevin Nishimura, James Roh, Jae Choung, and DJ Virman. And believe it or not, “Like A G6” was not their claim to fame. Although it has spun several parodies such as this one, “Like A Quidditch“:

[youtube id=”wXIgNnB_oq4″ width=”600″ height=”350”]

(Don’t even pretend you didn’t smile or laugh at that)

FM first hit the waves with their song “Round Round“, which was featured in the movie, “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift“. Since then, the boys have never stopped working hard.

They’ve produced catchy lyrics, party beats, and put their fashion sense (those glasses!) on the map. They’ve performed with big hip-hop names such as Jay-Z, Kid Cudi, Lil Jon, Flo Rida, and The Black Eyed Peas. They’ve also worked with other international artistes such as Keri Hilson, Colette Karr, Ryan Tedder, and Snoop Dogg.

FM are also the co-founders of the “International Secret Agents” (ISA) alongside Wong Fu Productions, to provide an opportunity for Asian American artistes to showcase their talents in large venues across the United States. Their ISA shows have featured acts such as Jay Park, David Choi, KevJumba, Nigahiga, Clara Chung, so on and so forth.

In February 2010, the boys signed a major record deal with Cherrytree Records, a subsidiary of Interscope Records. In December 2011, FM made their maiden trip to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, for the very first time.

This year, they’re releasing their fourth studio album, “Dirty Bass“. FM’s first single off the album is a track named, “Live My Life” which features none other than Justin Bieber, which was released in February. The music was directed by LMFAO’s Redfoo, and here it is, in a “Party Rock remix”:

[youtube id=”dnH977xKcz8″ width=”600″ height=”350″]

And here’s what it looked like behind the scenes:

[youtube id=”CBfNX9YMll8″ width=”600″ height=”350″]

Word on the street is that the album, slated for release on the 22nd of May 2012, will also feature collaborations between FM and Tokio Hotel, David Guetta, and will.i.am.

We can’t say we’re not proud of them. Asian community represent!

For more information, visit FM’s official website or stalk their Twitter account. You might also want to check out their YouTube channel while you’re at it.

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#Halal: Malaysia Considering New Laws To Make “Halal” Supermarket Trolleys?

On 6th November, local newspaper Utusan Melayu reported that Malaysia is considering imposing new laws to make supermarkets nationwide supply different sets of trolleys for consumers.

Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism Minister Datuk Hamzah Zainuddin proposed using trolleys of different colours, such as red for non-halal products.

He had cited “multiple complaints” received about shoppers insisting on paying for non-halal products at regular checkout counters, adding that all supermarket operators have a responsibility to provide segregated check-out counters.

Hamzah also said that the proposal was being discussed by the ministry to ensure that Muslims did not have to “worry” about their supermarket good being mixed with non-halal items. However, the proposal for the new laws was still at the discussion stage and required comprehensive study due to the expected high costs that supermarket operators will have to bear.

In a separate report by MMO, independent Muslim preacher Wan Ji Wan Hussin has stepped forward to call the proposal to mandate separate supermarket trolleys unnecessary. He pointed out that such items are already stocked in segregated sections and that the non-halal food items in supermarkets are not in direct contact with the trolleys as they are packaged.

He told MMO, “The reason why the issue of segregation does not have to arise from this angle is because the segregation to buy alcohol and pork already exists. Muslims will not buy pork in supermarkets. Because if one goes to the supermarket, the pork is not placed in the trolley, it is placed in packaging.”

“If the (packaged) pork is put into the trolley and after that Muslims use (the trolley), the trolley doesn’t have to be washed as the pork is in packaging,” he added.

What do you guys think, though? Should there be a clear segregation of supermarket trolleys and counters for non-halal and halal food?


Scalpers Already Reselling JJ Lin’s KL Concert Tickets Up To RM2000+

As many of you fans may know, JJ Lin (林俊傑)’s “Sanctuary 2.0 World Tour” Malaysian concert tickets went on sale yesterday (Friday, 13th September).

While 5 out of the 10 categories have already sold out (at time of writing), scalpers have already taken to their usual tactics to try and earn some extra bucks.

The 38-year-old pop star will be returning to Malaysia to perform at National Stadium, Bukit Jalil on 7th December 2019 (Saturday). To recap, concert tickets are priced at RM888, RM688, RM588, RM488, RM388, RM228, RM188. Almost all of the cheapest categories have already sold out within 24 hours.

Although there are still plenty of tickets up for grabs, scalpers have already taken to sites such as Viagogo and Carousell to resell their purchased tickets at a higher price. The most outrageous price we saw on Viagogo was a netizen reselling Cat 1 ticket (RM888) for RM2082. Meanwhile, there are those on Carousell reselling 1 pair of Cat 4 tickets (RM488 x 2) for RM1300.

Viagogo has previously stated that the platform “does not set ticket prices, sellers set their own prices, which may be above or below the original face value”.

Our advice? Don’t bother with any 2nd hand tickets (risk getting conned) and go straight to TicketCharge to purchase your JJ Lin concert tickets.


#Oscars2016: Sam Smith Dedicates “The Writing’s On The Wall” Win To LGBT Community

Sam Smith’s song, “The Writing’s On The Wall”, is the second James Bond theme tune to win an Oscar in the “Best Original Song category”, after Adele’s “Skyfall” to home the award in 2013. Like Adele, Smith had already won a Golden Globe for Best Song prior to the Oscars.

Accepting the Oscar gong with Smith for the “Spectre” theme song was co-writer Jimmy Napes. During his acceptance speech, Smith dedicated his award to the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community as well as acknowledging all the other nominees he was up against in this category, including Lady Gaga.

“I actually can’t breathe right now, oh my gosh. Gaga you’re incredible. I read an article a few months ago by Sir Ian McKellen and he said no openly gay man had ever won an oscar. I want to dedicate this to the LGBT community all around the world. I stand here tonight as a proud gay man and I hope we can all stand together as equals one day,” Smith stated, smiling from ear to ear.

Variety reports that previous gay winners include Elton John, who won Best Song for “Can You Feel The Love Tonight” from “The Lion King” in 1995 and Bill Condon, for his contribution in “Gods and Monsters”.

Presented by last year’s winners, Common and John Legend (who won for “Glory”) Smith beat out Lady Gaga, The Weeknd, J. Ralph, and David Lang to claim the highly-coveted trophy. Among his fellow nominees: Gaga’s anti-rape ballad “Til It Happens To You” from the documentary “The Hunting Ground” and The Weeknd’s “Earned It”, from “Fifty Shades of Grey”, were also thought to be strong contenders for the prize.

Speaking ahead of the ceremony, the British singer joked that he would try not to hurt anyone if he doesn’t win. “You’ve just got to go in there, smile and not hit someone if you lose,” Smith told Mirror when asked about how he was feeling.

Well, looking at Smith’s favourable outcome, we’re glad he didn’t need to resort to any physicality.

.@SamSmithWorld: "I hope we can all stand together as equals one day." https://t.co/vG5LjQdCo9 #Oscars https://t.co/bACtLSviUU

To find out who won what at the 88th Annual Academy Awards, head on over here.

For more updates, follow the Oscars’ Twitter account or visit its official website.

Sources: Mirror, The Guardian, Variety, Forbes.

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Pokemon Centre To Invade Singapore’s Jewel Changi Airport In April 2019?

To quote Mothership Singapore, “Will your Pikachu spark Nurse Joy?”

The publication reported that the Pokemon Centre could be opening approximately one month from now, on 17th April 2019, at the Jewel Changi Airport.

The upcoming store is expected to mirror the Pokemon Centre in Japan. That means all you Pokemon fans will soon have easier access to adorable Pokémon merchandise. And, yes, you may catch em’ all in person instead of relying on other people to buy it from overseas.

Singapore’s first ever Pokémon Go Safari is also happening between 18th – 22nd April. Lucky players will be able to enter Safari Zones in Sentosa and capture various rare Pokemon that might not appear elsewhere.

When asked about the upcoming Pokemon Centre Singapore, a spokesperson for Changi Airport replied, “We are planning for over 90 percent of the tenants to be opened by April. For specific tenants within Jewel, we are tracking all their progress closely and will provide an update from time to time.”

For those have not stepped foot into Pokemon Centre Japan, here’s a tease at what to expect from the photos taken at Pokemon Center Kyoto:

A post shared by Raka Cyril (@rakacyril)

To those of y’all are visiting Singapore next month, good luck ;)


Apple Rolls Out iOS7 + iTunes Radio

Calling it “the biggest change to iOS since the introduction of the iPhone”, Apple CEO Tim Cook unveiled an operating system for iPhones and iPads that will radically overhaul how users’ touchscreens look.

The new system, iOS 7, was part of a two-hour presentation that included refreshed MacBook Airs, the announcement of an iTunes Radio streaming-music service and a sneak peek at a new Mac Pro that will be the most powerful computer Apple has ever made. Developers assembled for the weeklong conference got the first look at a major reworking of Apple’s mobile operating system, due this fall. iOS is home to more than 900,000 apps that collectively have earned independent developers $10 billion, according to Apple.

The mobile design, overseen for the first time by new iOS boss Jony Ive, includes new typography, redesigned icons and a new color palette. “I think there is a profound and enduring beauty in simplicity, in clarity, in efficience. True simplicity is derived from so much more than just the absence of clutter and ornamentation. It’s about bringing order to complexity”, Ive said in a video introducting iOS 7.

Every recognizable app shown in a brief presentation looked considerably different from its iOS 6 counterpart. Animations float by in the background of the Weather app, while Calendar is now minimalist in black and white. But it’s not just a redesign. Federighi demoed new features like Control Center, where users will be able to swipe up for music, flashlight and other tools.

[youtube id=”qzUH9PJA1Ro” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Airdrop, Apple’s file-sharing software, comes to mobile with iOS 7, and the Photos app has been upgraded with such features as Instagram-like photo filters and photo albums that can be created by year or location.

Siri, Apple’s voice-activated “digital assistant” is becoming more diverse. Users will be able to choose a male voice (Siri has been solely a “she” so far) and users can ask it to perform basic tasks like playing a voicemail or turning down the brightness on an iPhone or iPad’s screen.

iOS 7 became available in beta to developers on the iPhone Monday, but the rest of us will have to wait until the fall. It will work only on iPhone 4 or later, iPad 2 and later, the mini and the iPod touch.

Also coming this fall is iTunes Radio, a free streaming service that sounds a lot like Pandora or Spotify. iTunes Radio will include over 200 programmed channels, plus others inspired by music the user already listens to. The service will be ad-supported and will encourage users to buy songs they like from iTunes.

However, iTunes Radio joins a crowded streaming-music landscape (Google launched a similar service last month) and several analysts criticized it as a rare example of Apple playing catch-up to its rivals instead of creating something new.

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MTV World Stage 2014: Do You Wanna Be Boys Republic’s Girlfriend?

It almost doesn’t feel real, but this isn’t a dream nor a joke. Boys Republic wants YOU to become their girlfriend and be part of their performance at MTV World Stage 2014!

Yes, you heard that right! You could be that lucky girl that will get serenaded by the boys when they perform on stage!

But of course, they aren’t just looking for any random girlfriend. They are looking for a perfect and “creative” girl who deserve to be their girlfriend! Just check out the list of “requirements” here!

You’ve got less than 2 weeks to score your opportunity to become their “girlfriend” and to be styled by Boys Republic’s stylist as the contest is open from now until 10th August. On top of that, the winner can get a pair of passes to MTV World Stage Malaysia 2014 and receive a wardrobe to be worn on stage!

If you’ve joined the MTV World Stage Insider search, MTV Asia will be announcing the chosen candidate on 6th August, with the role commencement from 7th August – 16th August! So, stay tuned for more updates and the official announcement on MTV Asia’s official Facebook page and Twitter.


#adidasOriginals: Yeezy Boost 750 To Arrive In Malaysia On 19th December

Y’all need to make a mad rush to adidas Originals Pavilion.

Kanye West and adidas Originals release the second style of the now iconic Yeezy Boost 750 which was the first collaborative product launched earlier this year in February 2015.

What’s new with these highly coveted kicks?

This Yeezy Boost 750 comes in an all black premium suede version with a full length BOOST™ midsole, featuring adidas’ coveted cushioning technology, combining the ultimate in comfort and performance with high-end style.

Kanye believes in the highest quality and applies this ethic to any of his adidas products. He has a strong vision for all aspects of the‚ adidas Originals by Kanye West’ collaboration. In Kanye we found a partner at the top of his field who understands the adidas brand heritage, possesses a like-minded insight to the future of culture, and who, like us, has a desire to push the boundaries. With the YEEZY BOOST Kanye brings his unique creativity and individuality to the forefront of design.

The Yeezy Boost 750 in black will be available for RM1,450 from 19th December 2015 through adidas.com and adidas Originals Pavilion.

For more information, visit Adidas Malaysia’s website.


Don’t Lose Hope! Plane Crash Survivor Offers Encouragement To Raybe Oh

No one can really understand someone’s situation unless they’ve gone through something similar.

Raybe Oh Siew Hui suffered 80% of burns on her body when she attempted to save her boyfriend and friends from a burning car. Farzana Abdul Razak, a survivor of a plane crash, came forward to encourage her by sharing her experience.

Madam Farzana (39) survived the SQ006 plane crash in 2000. The Singapore Airlines flight SQ006 had been bound for Los Angeles, but never made it. It taxied into a closed runway at Taipei’s then-Chiang Kai-shek Airport. The plane crashed into construction equipment and caught fire; killing 83 of the 179 people on board. Madam Farzana’s budding career as an air stewardess went up in flames resulting in 45% of her body being burnt. She was only 18 then.

She recalled working tirelessly alongside her co-workers to evacuate passengers even though they were injured. “I didn’t feel any pain at the time, but a doctor told me that I was seriously injured and must be sent to a hospital,” she said. She thought her clothes had been burnt off but it was actually her skin sloughing off. On top of the burns, she suffered from smoke inhalation and internal bleeding. This put her in the hospital for two months.

The incident scarred her badly; she underwent 11 skin graft operations and had to wear a special protective sheath even after several years of recovery. Dealing with the physical scars was only the beginning, however. Faced with the reality of her life being upended, Madam Farzana fell into depression. “When I looked at the scars on my hands, I accepted the reality that I wouldn’t be able to fly or wear the kebaya again. My scars were permanent,” she stated. She also suffered from survivors guilt as four of her colleagues had lost their lives in the crash.

After moving to Kuala Lumpur in 2006, Madam Farzana began to heal emotionally. She met her husband and got married the following year. He helped by giving her the space to heal, but the turning point came when she was pregnant with her first child. “I felt this strange need to change,” she explained. “I was worried that my depression would eat into my life and I couldn’t allow that, not with my family on the line, and my son on the way.” She also realised that her scars did not obstruct her dream of being an air stewardess or having a frontline job.

When Madam Farzana watched Oh walk into the fire, she was horrified, but admitted she admired Oh’s courage. Drawing from her personal experience, Madam Farzana stated Oh had a long road ahead of her. “I don’t know the extent of her injury,” she admitted. “But I know she is a strong woman.” She encouraged Oh to not give up hope or live in self-blame as time will heal all wounds, even emotional ones. “The healing process will be a long one but you must want to get better for yourself,” she said.

Oh regained consciousness after 10 days of being hospitalised and is currently in stable condition. She has been transferred to the intensive care unit for further treatment.

We pray Oh continues to recover well and that she gets the support she needs.

Sources: China Press, The Straits Times, AsiaOne

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Putrajaya Line MRT Phase 1 Expected To Open In November 2021

It is an undeniable fact that transportation is an important element in our daily lives. Whether it’s to go to the mall for a quick hang out with friends or to travel to the office, we all need good transportation services to move to and fro. While some people might own cars, others might resort to public transportation services.

In fact, with the rising number of traffic jams, this seems to be a popular option for those who would want to avoid the hassle of parking their vehicles and getting stuck in traffic jams. These issues have been plaguing major cities and towns nationwide therefore, most road users would opt for public transportation despite its numerous setbacks.

Well, here’s some great news to public transportation users! The MRT Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) has recently announced that the construction of the Putrajaya Line MRT has been progressing steadily and is nearing completion.

The first phase of this project is 99% completed and is set to be opened to the general public by mid-November 2021. This phase comprises 2 stations in Kwasa Damansara and Kampung Batu, which was tentatively supposed to be completed in July and launched in October. However, the Movement Control Order (MCO) implemented nationwide has hampered the efforts to do so.

📰Siaran Media: FASA SATU MRT LALUAN PUTRAJAYA BAKAL DIBUKA NOVEMBER 2021Pindaan tarikh disebabkan lanjutan tempoh operasi percubaan akibat PKP 3.0 and PKPD➡https://t.co/0LbLESs4rF#LindungDiriLindungSemua#MenangBersama pic.twitter.com/zMnbnSCONx

In April, MRT Corp had stated that the progress of completion was at 97%, with the remaining 3% consisting of testing and commissioning of electrical and mechanical systems. However, taking this as a silver lining, MRT CEO, Mohd Zarif Hashim explained that the delay enables it to extend the phase’s trial operation period. Hence, operators would further fine-tune the line in order to achieve the required level of efficiency upon its launch in November.

Here’s some background information regarding the Putrajaya Line MRT. This is the second line under the Klang Valley MRT Project, spanning 57.7km from Kwasa Damansara to Putrajaya Sentral. There’s a total of 36 stations where 10 of which will serve as interchange stations. Phase 2 on the other hand, would connect Kampung Batu to Putrajaya Sentral and is scheduled to begin operations in January 2023.

This is indeed something to look forward to at the end of the year, provided the Covid-19 situation in Malaysia improves. Nevertheless, there would definitely be an influx of MRT users upon the launch of the new line!


6 New Movie Details About Tom Hardy’s Venom

After a lacklustre cinematic debut in “Spider-Man 3” (the 2007 version), the villainous character from the Spider-Man universe is finally getting a second chance on the big screen.

Thanks to the recent Brazil Comic-Con, we finally have some new details about the solo “Venom” movie and a footage from director Ruben Fleischer. That’s not all, we’ve also got our first glimpse at Tom Hardy as the titular character in a newly-released movie still.

1. Tom Hardy in “Venom” but not as Venom

Although it’s not the first look at the Symbiote itself, it is technically Tom Hardy in “Venom”. It’s just him as a washed up tabloid reporter Eddie Brock. But c’mon Sony, people want monsters. Give us Venom in all its toothed and midnight glory!

According to CBR writer Kevin Melrose, the 3 questions written on Brock’s notebook when you zoom in are:

While the second question doesn’t really say much, the other two questions pretty much confirms that “Venom” is (at least partially) based on the 1993 comic book series “Venom: Lethal Protector”.

3. The director also confirms that the film is based on 2 comic book story-lines

In the footage that was screened for the crowd gathered at Brazil’s Comic-Con Experience (CCXP), Fleischer revealed, “We want to be as true as possible to the comic with our film. But our story is primarily based on the ‘Lethal Protector’ and the ‘Planet of the Symbiotes’ books“.

4. What are “Lethal Protector” and the “Planet of the Symbiotes” about?

“Lethal Protector” was a 1993 six-issue miniseries centring on five years after Eddie Brock turned into Venom. After years of being on opposing sides, Venom and Spider-Man agree to leave each other alone on the condition that Venom stops his criminal lifestyle. Given that the Web-Slinger isn’t expected to appear, perhaps the storyline will focus on the villain using his new powers for good. “Planet of the Symbiotes” was a 1995 five-issue miniseries that featured Carnage, who is reportedly the main antagonist in “Venom”.

During the Brazil Comic-Con, organisers used a gigantic black tarp to cover the audiences in a Symbiote-style – that was a pretty nice touch wasn’t it? Those in attendance could also be heard chanting, “We Are #Venom”.

6. Enjoy the new footage from the “Venom” set

After months of secrecy, Sony has finally dropped the first trailer for “Venom”.

The clip doesn’t really delve into the plot details (it’s only a teaser trailer after all), but we do see Tom Hardy’s Eddie Brock pondering on some deep life questions. There’s even a brief glimpse of the horrific transformation that turns the titular character into a lethal weapon.

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WINNERS: Party With Us At The Finale Of HA!

We’re super excited about the finale of Hennessy Artistry’s “The Global Art of Mixing Trilogy” and judging by the sheer amount of submissions that we’ve got over the past week, it seems that a lot of you are too!

Let’s be serious – who wouldn’t want to be sipping on the signature Hennessy V.S.O.P. long drinks all night while partying it up with the stellar line-up of Alexandra Burke, Havana Brown, Block B, and Starkillers anyway, right? Right.

These LUCKY FIVE will all be doing just that on 3rd November 2012 (Saturday) with us!:

Congratulations, you troopers! Time to get your dancing shoes on because we’re going to have a whole lot of fun! Special thanks to Hennessy Malaysia for making this happen.

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Kindly collect your prizes from our office from 3oth October 2012 (Tuesday) onwards. Remember to bring your IC for verification purposes!

B-13-5 Northpoint Office Suites, Mid Valley City,

Our office hours are 10am to 6pm (Monday to Friday only).

For more information, hit up their website and or their Facebook page. Alternatively, you could also follow them via their Twitter account.


#EDCLV: What Goes On Before The Laser Lights & Pyrotechnics At EDC Las Vegas

The electric sky is about to light up over Las Vegas Motor Speedway for the 2015 installment of Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) Las Vegas next weekend.

This year, the dance music mammoth will see a stellar lineup of DJ/producers and artistes such as Above & Beyond, Porter Robinson, Alesso, Miss Nine, Arty, Cash Cash, New World Punx, Cedric Gervais, Martin Garrix, R3HAB, Tritonal, Zedd, Major Lazer, Kaskade, Gareth Emery, and many, many more.

The good people of THUMP (an electronic music and culture YouTube channel) traveled down to Sin City to get an insider look into how EDC Las Vegas transforms a sprawling Motor Speedway into a 3-day celebration of dance music, with hundreds of thousands of the industry’s most passionate crazy fans. In fact, last year’s massive 3-day EDC Las Vegas festival drew in roughly 134,000 partygoers per day!

As the hype builds for Insomniac‘s flagship event, all kinds of preparations are currently underway.

The video takes you to the Insomniac warehouse where stage pieces are being collected and shipped to bring the renowned cathedral stage to EDC New York. The production elements for Vegas are planned for a year and then the entire festival is installed in about 2 or 3 weeks before being deconstructed immediately afterward. They even design DJ platforms with jumping in mind, because we know these artistes can’t stand in one place. No detail is overlooked as you can see all of the monumental effort that goes into producing one of the world’s largest festivals.

Check out the fascinating behind-the-scenes video below:

EDC Las Vegas will be happening over the 19th June – 21st June weekend.

For more information on EDC, visit their website or Facebook page. Or check out their Twitter for more live updates!

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Shila Amzah Recalls Spending Ramadan & Raya In Hong Kong

Shila Amzah is no stranger to the music scene. Known for her multilingual talent, the homegrown award-winning singer songwriter grew up listening to Cantopop artists Leslie Cheung and Anita Mui.

Shila entered the Chinese pop scene in 2012 when she won the Asian Wave reality singing contest in Shanghai, China. After which her legendary career expansion begun. She lived in Hong Kong in the early years of her career expansion, from 2012 to 2014.

With Hari Raya around the corner, the mommy-of-one shares her experience living abroad and how she spent Ramadan and Raya in Hong Kong. Shila would miss home the most during Ramadan because she knew she would not be able to celebrate Raya with her family and friends in Malaysia. She was very grateful to find a community in Hong Kong that she could spend her Ramadan with.

Her most memorable Ramadan gathering in Hong Kong was during a buka puasa (breaking of fast) event held  at the Malaysian Embassy with other Malaysians and Muslim friends. “It was really fun and merry as I was feeling homesick then; they were so kind to invite me over for dinner to break our fast and pray together. It really meant a lot to me.”

As a melting pot of different cultures, Hong Kong’s well-known diversity also helped the pop star to quickly find her feet in the city when she first relocated to Hong Kong. “With so many expats in Hong Kong, the locals have exposure to different cultures and races in their day-to-day lives, true to its title of Asia’s World City. Therefore even as a Malaysian Muslim expat, I felt very comfortable when I was in Hong Kong and I am very delighted and grateful that I have made the right choice to grow my career there,” she shared.

Even though Muslims are a minority in Hong Kong, with a community of 300,000 living in the city, there are still good options of Halal eateries, shops and markets for Muslims. Halal tourism has always been one of Hong Kong Tourism Board’s focus and a lot of effort has been put into promoting Hong Kong as a Muslim friendly travel destination.

“Personally, I do feel Hong Kong has been continuously enhancing its hospitality to welcome Muslim travellers. And as a food paradise, there are a lot of food options for the Muslim community living in Hong Kong. Although I mostly cooked at home during Ramadan, sometimes if I didn’t feel like cooking, I would conveniently dine out at a Halal eatery in my neighbourhood. There are quite a number of Muslim-friendly eateries serving up every cuisine I could dream of,” she recalled.

Shila would frequent a Halal restaurant near Gold Coast Hotel where she would order her favourite item on their menu “a mind-blowing Biryani”. If she longed for local Hong Kong food she would go to Ammar Mosque and Osman Ramju Sadick Islamic Centre in Wan Chai for their authentic Halal Dim Sum and Chinese food.

The entertainer added, “There are also a few Turkish restaurants along the road in Wan Chai and Causeway Bay area, and several Indonesian and Malaysian eateries in the Kowloon area where I can satisfy my Nasi Goreng cravings.”

As an artist, Shila constantly seeks inspiration from her surrounding environment. One of Shila’s favourite places is the Wan Chai harbour area. “I love taking an evening stroll to enjoy the magnificent harbour view which truly inspires me; it is at night that Hong Kong truly shines.”

Another of Shila’s favourite place is the Kowloon Masjid, where she enjoys the classic Islamic architecture housed amidst the bustling shopping district of Tsim Sha Tsui. “When I am there, I would marvel at its beautiful dome, minarets and incredibly detailed latticed windows as it is very relaxing and also inspiring for me.”

In maintaining a work-life balance, Shila never forgets to take breaks from her hectic work schedule. For a fun and good workout, she will go to Ocean Park Hong Kong, one of the major Hong Kong attractions with Halal certified restaurants and prayer rooms. “Anyone who goes to Hong Kong should also check out Ocean Park, it is so fun to interact with different animals and to experience exciting thrill rides, and it is great for all ages!”

Known for her colourful hijabs and style, the fashion inspiration icon for young Muslim women around the world also has a secret love for sneakers. “For shopping, I absolutely love the ‘Sneakers Street’ in Mong Kok. It was always exciting for me when I go hunting for the latest trendy sneakers, and the limited and special editions of designer sneakers. I have even brought some friends there and played the tour guide to shoes.”

“If you truly want to immerse yourself in a new place, you need to spend time simply being there; being among the people, trying new food and walking a mile in the locals’ shoes. Walking around the city is the best way to really see it all,” Shila suggested. “I utterly cannot wait to visit Hong Kong once the travel restrictions are lifted.”

For more Muslim-friendly travel highlights, click here.


Hype’s Exclusive: #Spotify’s First Local Artiste Showcase with #PAYSLIP!

With over 2 million playlists, Spotify, the leading music streaming service, has received nothing but love and support from the music fans around the world. With its hassle-free features, music fans can now enjoy listening to free music that are constantly on-demand with legal access to over 20 million tracks.

From EDM to R&B to K-Pop, music fans can choose to stream any of their favourite genres. In fact, Spotify has even analysed over millions of playlists to curate special playlists such as the nation’s guiltiest pleasures playlist and the K-Pop playlist or the music fans to enjoy.

And because music is social, the music streaming service even brought music fans closer through their first local artiste showcase in Malaysia!

But before we introduce you the local band that was featured at the showcase, we sat down with the Managing Director of Spotify Asia, Sunita Kaur to talk about the showcase and their future plans. Here’s what went down:

Q: So this is Spotify’s first local artiste showcase in Malaysia. Just wondering, is the showcase part of a long-term plan?

Sunita: Yeah we would love to continue with showcases like these! This is the first time we’ve done a live showcase in Asia and we are incredibly proud that we’ve done it with Warner Music Malaysia. And this is definitely something we want to do more of because the opportunity to be able to work with such a talented group of young men is pretty unmatched.

Q: What can Spotify fans expect from the digital music streaming service in the future?

Sunita: One thing in Spotify we focus on is always listening to our music fans around the world and being able to build out and do more things from our service. So, one thing we heard about from last year was, “I can only get Spotify on desktop for free, but if I want to take it on a mobile, I need to become a subscriber.” So we listened and last December, we changed it and then we launched Spotify app for free across all devices. It made our music fans so happy!

The latest addition we have in our service is what we called an “equalizer”, and what that enables you to do, especially for some of our more advanced music fans, is that you can go and choose from other preset audio stations and actually equalise manually. So we are taking such new technology back to the boom box days, which is something we’ve heard from our music fans around the world. We’ll continue to innovate with that.

Q: For this showcase, it’s only made exclusive for the media and the invited guests, but in the future, how do you want to make it more accessible to the crowd?

Sunita: That is actually a great question. So what we have actually done is that, there are some showcases for the media but then when we talk about amazing new bands for the general public, that’s where we partner with music festivals. You have got amazing music festivals across Asia and they have all of these wonderful bands that we need to showcase and what generally happens is that, we chattered and asked if they want to be our music partners. So, we will help to promote the festivals and these new bands, and we will always partner with someone.

Q: Would you want to partner with the upcoming music festivals such as Urbanscapes in Malaysia or Laneway Festival in Singapore?

Sunita: We’ve done some in the past actually! For example, in Singapore we did it with Camp Symmetry and we are already looking forward to 2015 in Malaysia to see who we can partner with as well!

Q: Can you tell us a little bit more about your collaboration with Warner Music Malaysia? Would you want to collaborate with other music labels in the future?

Sunita: Absolutely! We collaborate with all the labels, all the indie music houses across the world. It just so happens that our first launch in Malaysia was with Warner Music Malaysia.

Q: Would you like to bring more regional or even international bands to Malaysia’s showcase in the future?

Sunita: Oh, we’ve done similar things in the past! For example, earlier this year, we had the privilege of working with Yuna and what we did was, we invited Yuna to our studio to do what we called a Spotify session, which we did a special recording in the studio for Spotify listeners to stream live in Spotify. We had the opportunity to promote that worldwide. We assume what’s currently trending and which country want more of that musician/artiste/band and we will work to accommodate.

Q: How did you discover PAYSLIP and decided that you want to put on a showcase with them?

Sunita: They were Warner’s discovery and we were lucky enough to partner with them. As you’ve heard tonight, I think this is the first time the team heard them as well. They’re young and talented and we think it’s just the beginning for them! It’s an exciting opportunity for us as well.

For those who are unfamiliar with PAYSLIP, they are a recording artiste under the wing of Warner Music Malaysia. The band signed the agreement to record for Warner Music Malaysia last year and has since become a lot more active than they were in the past. The band will be releasing their upcoming self-titled album which includes their first hit single titled, “Syurga Sang Pencinta“.

But way before they signed their record deal with Warner Music Malaysia, the members of the band got together through a battle of the bands competition organised by the Ministry of Youth and Sports in 2011. Later in 2012, the young local band started to perform on stage and even won first place in a TV competition program titled “Jamming” in March 2012.

Akeem was chosen to become the vocalist of the band while his older brother plays the bass. As the son of XPDC’s guitarist Izo, Arif naturally became the guitarist of the band while Wan, the son of XPDC’s manager, became the drummer instead.  Through their family connections, the band was given the opportunities to become the opening act for most of XPDC’s rock concerts and Jinbara’s new album launch in 2012.

Despite being relatively new to the local music scene, the bamd was given the opportunity to record a song from Allahyarham Datuk Sudirman Haji Arshad titled, “Joget Kenangan Manis”.

We must say, the showcase itself was really fun and enjoyable as the band was very well prepared and had good energy throughout their performance! So, we had a quick interview with the band as well, where we talked about some of their most memorable performances and their guilty listening pleasures!

Q: How do you guys feel about the first showcase you guys did for Spotify Malysia?

Jimmy: We feel very grateful because the event was successful and it was an awesome event!

Q: You’ve had a lot of performances in the past. Which track do you guys enjoy performing live the most and why?

Akeem: I would say, “Gergasi Hijau”? Why? Because it’s catchy and the song hypes up the crowd!

Arif: “Gergasi Hijau” too :) Maybe because we enjoy performing that song a lot.

Jimmy: For me, my favourite song is “Syurga Sang Pencinta”, our new song that was featured in Spotify! The melody is very nice :)

Q: Tell us which performance so far was the most memorable for the band?

Jimmy: For me, I think it was in 2012 when we performed at Hari Belia and we all felt like that day was an awesome day. The crowd was very fantastic!

Q: So, I heard you guys like Metallica and Avenged Sevenfold, which are the top 5 bands that you all look up to and would love to someday collaborate with?

Arif: Eh, Linkin Park too? Tiru ya (translation: Copy)! Okay, for me, still Avenged Sevenfold. Haha!

Wan: Dream Theatre, the progressive metal/rock band!

Q: Last question! We’re pretty sure that you’ve heard some pop songs on the radio, what are your guilty listening pleasures? Or what songs do you guys sing along to?

Arif: For me, I think, 5 Seconds of Summer?

Akeem: Oh yeah! Those sad songs which I can get very emotional sometimes. Haha! And then I cry at night! Haha!

Q: Haha! Okay! That’s all for our interview :) Would you like to make a shoutout to your fans?

Be sure to check them out via their official Facebook page and stream their music on Spotify! Because they are that good! :D

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Hype Eats: Seek Out Good Food At These Places In Klang Valley (13th June – 19th June)

Scavenging for new options to eat? Why go through all that trouble when Hype has discovered delicious buried treasure for you to try for this week’s picks. Want to relax in a hidden cafe? Or maybe you would like to try a black-coloured ice-cream?

You could even devour a shark bun for your own delight. Oh, how the tables have turned! Anyway, we know you are dying to find out what we’ve dug up for you. So, hurry up and scroll down to find out!

Time: 12pm – 2pm, 5pm – 10pm (Monday – Thursday) / 12pm – 10pm (Friday – Sunday)

Location: PJ Palms Sport Centre, 1, Lorong Sultan, PJS 52, 46200 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

Opened in 1995 by Dave and Debby Solomon, Out of Africa is a family-friendly restaurant that serves authentic and halal homemade South African dishes. Its Kudu Bar serves world-class drinks and broadcasts rugby, cricket, Formula One, MotoGP, and football on a large screen. The premise is also non-smoking and comes with an outdoor play area for your kids! Visit here for more information or call 03 7955 3432.

2. Family Mart Malaysia Black Cacao Chocolate Sofuto

A post shared by FamilyMart Malaysia (@familymartmy)

Location: All FamilyMart outlets nationwide

Can you imagine eating a black ice-cream? Well, why imagine when you can eat it for real with Family Mart’s Black Cacao Chocolate Sofuto. Delight your taste buds with creamy chocolate flavour in your favourite dark hue. You may choose between a cone, Sunday cup, pint or milkshake (Ori/Mocha).

A post shared by Transparent Coffee (@transparent_kl)

Location: Sam Mansion Flat, Jalan Tuba, Kampung Attap, 50460 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

You have to look closely because it might be hard to find this cafe. Want to know why? This cafe is actually hidden under an old flat and it could be hard to spot. However, it is worth the effort due to its relaxing ambience. Indulge yourselves with sandwiches, pastries and desserts of all kinds as you take in the calm vibes.

4. IKEA Shark-shaped Bun with Red Bean Filling

A post shared by IKEA Malaysia (@ikeamalaysia)

Only one word to describe this bun and it is definitely adorable!!! Inspired by the Blahaj shark plushie, IKEA has outdone themselves with everyone’s new obsession, the shark-shaped bun that oozes out red-bean fillings with every bite at RM4.90.

But it’s only available for a limited time only. Try it before it’s too late! Visit their Instagram to know more about the Swedish treat.

Location: Available at selected outlets (Peninsular Malaysia only)

Yearning for a simple and easy snack to grab and go? Treat yourself to Tealive’s donut balls, lathered in signature chocolate sauce and sprinkled with Oreo Cookie crumbs. Freshly cooked upon order, the crispy and crunchy treat will have you feeling good after a long hard day of work. Check out their Instagram and Facebook now!

Location: Ground Floor, 35G, Jalan SS 21/60, Damansara Utama, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

“Bello Kevin! Bello Otto!” If you know where these are from, then we know you’re going to love this. Crème De La Crème has transformed into a Minion-themed ice cream shop for all Minion lovers out there. Laugh out loud as you order delicacies with special and weird names from the menu.

To top it all off, the yummy pastries, ice creams and cakes are made in the shape of your beloved characters from the movie. So head on over to their Instagram for more!

7. Au Soleil Summer Solstice Afternoon Tea

Location: Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur, 2 Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur Sentral 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Feel the warmth this summer with Au Soleil summer-themed afternoon tea, featuring Smoked Salmon Bagel with Cream Cheese, Ferrero Rocher Chocolate Cake, Strawberries and Vanilla Scones, Pan Seared Parmesan Scallop and many more in the menu.

Only available from 1st June to 31st July for RM110 per person and RM220 for 2. Visit their Facebook for more info!

Time: 12:00pm – 3:00pm (Sunday, 19th June)

Location: 11, Jln Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur

Celebrate this Father’s Day by taking your dad out to lunch for a grand and scrumptious buffet. Priced at RM188 per adult and RM94 per child, enjoy signature dishes—Italian, Indian, Malay, Chinese and Western cuisine—and an array of cakes, ice creams, tarts and ‘ice kacang’ as well.

You could also treat your dad  at Arthur’s Bar & Grill, the Father’s Day Set Menu at Shang Palace, the Buffet at Home or the Lemon Garden 2Go Father’s Day promotion. If you’re interested in making a reservation, you can visit their site.

Location: 12, Jalan SS 26/13, Taman Mayang Jaya, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor

This Father’s Day, get ready to shower your dad with sugary goods as a sign of your appreciation. Mon Père—literally translates to “My Father”—is only one out of the five exclusive desserts in the Father’s Day Collection released by Elevete Patisserie.

Available for pre-order until 25th June with prices ranging from RM95 to RM170. Visit this site to place your orders now!

Neetashini Kanendran contributed to this article

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Mama Kristen & Daddy Dax Welcomes Baby Lincoln!

Woohoo the day has come! Kristen Bell and Dax Shepard are proud parents to a healthy baby girl. The happy couple welcomed their first child together and revealed her name to be Lincoln Bell Shepard. 32-year-old Kristen gave birth to Lincoln on 28th March and according to Twitter, both parents are simply delighted.

Lol, what? Dad’s obsession with what? Trust him to come up with a hilariously creative way of announcing his daughter’s arrival.

And although Kristen previously said that she feels like “when I arrive at the hospital, I want a glass of whiskey, I want the epidural in my back, and I want to get hit in the face with a baseball bat and wake me up when it’s over because I’ve seen the videos — and it looks terrifying”, her tweet doesn’t fall too far from being in the same class of hilarity either.

Yes, she was making references to her fiancé Dax being an ex-drug addict. He was once famous for going on give-day benders where no one could find him. But of course, all of those are in the past now. He’s going to make a great dad!

Congratulations you two! And no meltdowns please Kristen.

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FMFA 2014 Day 1 Lineup Out Now!

The moment you’ve all been waiting for is here!

These are the acts that will be performing on the first day, March 13th, 2014 (Thursday) of Future Music Festival Asia 2014!

For those interested, information about the event are as follows:

Date: March 14th (Thursday), 15th (ASOT 650) (Friday) and 16th (Saturday).

Venue: Mines Wonderland, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

P.S. Second release of tickets are going really fast so get yours now!

Tickets are available online at Redtix and at Rock Corner outlets, Victoria Music outlets, Penang outlets, KL Life Centre, Tune Store as well as AirAsia Travel Service Centre.

For more information, visit Future Music Festival Asia on Facebook.

[Breaking] FMFA Malaysia 2014  Lineup Revealed


Harry Potter’s Uncle Dies

Born on 31st July 1947, British actor Richard Griffiths was known for his roles in “Chariots of Fire”, “The French Lieutenant’s Woman”, “Gandhi”, and “Withnail & I”. However, it was when he snagged the part of Harry Potter’s uncle, Uncle Vernon Dursley that he shot to international fame. The Harry Potter film installments in which he acted in garnered him his biggest audience of his entire acting career.

You could say it’s something for the history books.

Over the weekend, however, it was reported that the portly star of stage and screen had died after suffering complications following heart surgery.

Although as Uncle Vernon Dursley, he might have come off as just a tad mean due to the nature of his character, Daniel Radcliffe (who plays the boy wizard in the blockbuster series) says otherwise. Upon the news of Richard’s death, Daniel led the tributes to a man he said had offered him “encouragement, tutelage, and humour”. In an official statement, Daniel also said, “Any room he walked into was made twice as funny and twice as clever just by his presence. I am proud to say I knew him”.

Richard, one of Britain’s best loved character actors, will be sorely missed. Rest in peace.

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The Wonder Girls’ Final Performance

Six years ago, K-Pop idol girl group the Wonder Girls took the world by storm with their hit song-and-dance, “Nobody”. They were the first to head what we would now be calling, the “Korean Music Wave” aka “Hallyu”.

However, with leader of the group Sunye’s marriage, the Wonder Girls are now officially on an indefinite hiatus while Sunye settles down proper into her new life. It was also announced that the remaining Wonder Girls members are to fully focus on their solo activities from the point onwards until Sunye decides to return.

During the closing ceremony of the Winter Special Olympics in Pyeongchang, the K-Pop idol girl group held their final performance. It’s everything and anything we would expect, song-and-dance perfected through years of training and dripping with sugary sweetness. Except that this time around, it was mixed with a little bit of bittersweetness as it would mark the last time we would see the girls on stage for..we don’t know how long.

Watch the girls’ final pre-hiatus performance!:

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Sunye left for Montreal, Canada yesterday. Aww. The music industry and the fans are going to miss them for sure because there ain’t “nobody like” them.


Hardwell Punks Fans, Also Gets Trolled

A few days ago, the world’s #1 DJ, Hardwell, took to New York’s Times Square to announce his newest set of dates for his upcoming “I Am Hardwell” tour. But before that, Hardwell and Elite Daily teamed up to punk some fans and random tourists in the vicinity. These unsuspecting people on the streets were asked if they knew what EDM was. Some were even asked who their favourite DJ was and if they knew who Hardwell was.

Hardwell remained cool (and hidden behind a pair of shades) throughout the entire time despite being told (and trolled), “Avicii is my favourite DJ!” and “David Guetta is my favourite DJ!”. There was even an occasion where a fan quite literally mashed up Hardwell’s name with another popular DJ’s and called him by the wrong name. Let’s not forget that some didn’t even have a clue who Hardwell was. Nope. Zilch. Nada.

For more information on Hardwell’s “I Am Hardwell” Tour, hit up this website.


DCEU: The 3 Batmen Problem & How Warner Bros Can Solve It

When you think of DC Comics, what comes to mind? Is it the red blur of Superman’s cape? Wonder Woman’s golden Lasso of Truth? For many, it’s the dour brooding crusader donned in black and grey. The scourge of the criminal underworld and the caped crusader of Gotham. We’re of course talking about the Dark Knight, Batman.

At the end of Christopher Nolan’s excellent “The Dark Knight Trilogy”, fans were clamouring for a new cinematic embodiment of Batman. In 2016, the world was introduced to a much more grizzled and brasher Bruce Wayne played by Ben Affleck. One who wasn’t afraid to kill or incinerate people with his Bat-plane. For the longest time, we all thought Batfleck would be here to stay… until Affleck left the role.

We then heard that director Matt Reeves was doing his own rendition of Batman with Robert Pattinson taking on the mantle. However, his version of the character may, or may not, be in the DC Extended Universe (DCEU)? Oh but the drama doesn’t stop there. Now, we’re hearing reports that Batfleck will be returning for Warner’s Bros “The Flash” film and that Michael Keaton, playing alternate universe Batman, will also be joining him. Keaton, who played Bruce Wayne in 1989’s “Batman” will be playing an older version of the character.

Batman holds a special place in comic-book film fandom, but should be used sparingly. The character’s great by himself and he adds an interesting element in ensemble films. Put him in too many places, though, and he begins to lose his mystique. The worst thing you can do to the character’s legacy is to over-saturate his media presence. Something that Warner Bros apparently understood, at least when it comes to his representation on TV. Ever noticed in shows like “Gotham”, “Titans” and “Batwoman” that we rarely see Batman in full form? We might see some version of Bruce Wayne, his shadow or maybe his suit but never the genuine article himself.

“Arrow” showrunner Beth Schwartz informs us that when it comes to the Batman mythos, Warner Bros and DC are quite protective of the character. She’s more than welcomed to create shows revolving around characters in Batman’s peripheral but at no point will she be able to put her own spin on the Dark Knight. And she’s tried, multiple times. “Batwoman” producer Caroline Dries further corroborates this story as well. To be fair, Warner Bros does has a point.

Just like how having different actors playing Luke Skywalker in different TV shows would confuse the audience, the same goes with Batman. If you’re trying to create a cohesive cinematic universe, it makes sense to try to keep the character consistent. Which would be fine… if they could follow their own damn rules!

The problem with the DCEU is that they play with their canon too fast and too loose. They simply allow creators to do whatever they want with the DC property in standalone films. Safe for perhaps “Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice”, “Justice League” and maybe “Suicide Squad”, none of the films are really connected. With the inclusion of alternate versions of the character existing in multiple worlds in “The Flash” film, this creates a major problem.

Multiple versions of the character may divide DCEU fanbase and render the character inaccessible to newcomers. This problem becomes even more apparent when you realise that both “The Batman” and “The Flash” are set to be released in 2022. Moviegoers will be seeing three different Batmen in the same year! That’s far too close a time span for these films to establish their own separate identities. The marketing for each film is going to be a nightmare with both films competing instead of working to set each other up. This is going to affect the Batman brand and make the DCEU look even more fragmented. That being said, there is a solution to this whole debacle.

At the current moment, there’s not much Warner Bros can do in terms of their film line-up. Both films will most likely be released in the same year. What’s interesting is that “The Batman” is scheduled to be released in March; earlier than November’s “The Flash”. This may provide enough time for the company to decide the fates of their individual Batmen. If Matt Reeves’ “The Batman” does not perform well (although we sincerely hope not), “The Flash” could simply relegate the events of the film as an insignificant story in some other alternate universe. One that has no bearings on the main DCEU timeline. Batfleck would return to being the one and only Batman with Keaton’s version merely being a fun one-time cameo. Problem solved.

As for “The Flash”, if the film is indeed an incoherent mess, there is a way out as well. The film’s producer Barbara Muschietti revealed at a DC Fandome panel that the film will in fact “restart” the DCEU. She cautioned by saying that it won’t necessarily erase everything established in the past. If “The Batman” is well received, then the events of “The Flash” could establish a reboot event that acknowledges Pattinson’s Batman as the official version within the new timeline while wiping out all other incarnations.

This isn’t a particularly new idea, seeing that DC Comics did the exact same thing in their “Flashpoint” comic book event. The story sees the Flash using the Speed Force to alter reality and change time. They essentially used the Flash to reboot their entire franchise. Hey, if it works in the comics, it can work in the DCEU as well. In any case, Flash is the key to solving this issue.

If you had to ask which Batman we prefer, we’d have to go with Robert Pattinson’s version. While Affleck’s Batman is a lot more physically imposing, too much of his characterisation feels out of step with tradition. Namely how he so blatantly murders people without a second thought. We feel Pattinson brings both new humanity to the caped crusader and “The Batman” will explore an aspect of the hero we’ve never seen before. His detective side.

So which Batman do you prefer? Do you think Batfleck should stay as the DCEU’s one and only Batman? Or do you prefer a younger, more down-to-earth one with Robert Pattinson? Maybe you’re hoping to see some version of Old Man Batman with Keaton. Be sure to let us know in the comments down below.

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#Cinderella: Lily James Slams Rumours Of CGI-ed/Photoshopped Waist

Move aside, white and gold/blue and black dress. One other issue has stepped up and is worthy of a debate – Cinderella’s waist. Or rather, the waist of the actress who plays Cinderella, Lily James.

Now that we’re just a week away from the worldwide release of Disney’s live-action Cinderella remake, Lily James is keeping busy with the movie’s promotional campaign, which requires a lot of appearances and having to field questions from the media.

Surprisingly, the one question that’s frequently asked has got nothing to do with the film’s plot whatsoever.

“Was CGI used to slim down Lily James’ super tiny Cinderella waist?”

This is because when the first images from the movie were released, they spurred controversy and set off a firestorm of speculations that Disney used special effects to make Lily appear slimmer.

For starters, the 25-year-old star previously revealed that she worked hard and even went on a liquid diet to transform her figure in order to suit that of the Disney princess. On top of that, the dress created the perfect illusion because the skirt is quite big and therefore, the proportions made it look smaller than it is. Also, the naturally small-waisted Lily James also revealed that she wore a corset that “pulls” her in during the filming of “Cinderella”.

When we say “pulls” her in, we mean that the corset part of the gown slimmed her down to a 17-inch waist.

So in short, no, there was no CGI involved in slimming her down.

And while we’re on the topic of Cinderella’s dress, re-imagining the iconic ball gown for the first-ever live action remake of the Disney classic was the brainchild of Oscar-winning costume designer Susan Powell. It took 270 yards of fabric, over three miles of hemming, and “glass” slippers made of Swarovski crystal.

Disney’s “Cinderella” is slated for a 13th March 2015 release.


K-pop Dance Group SF9 Includes Malaysia In 2019 Asia Tour

K-pop boy group SF9 will be holding a concert in Malaysia for the first time this September as part of 2019 SF9 Live Fantasy #2 Unixerse Tour.

The nine-member boy band will kick off their Asia tour in Seoul on 10th August 2019 before heading to other Southeast Asian countries like Indonesia, Singapore and Malaysia.

2019.08.10 2019 SF9 LIVE FANTASY #2 UNIXERSE>> https://t.co/GGjeBsZnGa#SF9 #에스에프나인 #UNIXERSE pic.twitter.com/RThAYh7J99

The boys recently revealed on their V LIVE that they will be performing at Menara PGRM, Kuala Lumpur on Sunday, 8th September 2019.

This will mark the SF9’s second visit to Malaysia but first visit to Peninsular Malaysia. Back in January, the group attended the 23rd Asian Television Awards in Kuching, Sarawak.

SF9 which stands for Sensational Feeling 9 is formed by FNC Entertainment, and they are the label’s first dance boy group.

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Disney’s #Zootopia: Ginnifer Goodwin Joins Cast

It looks like Jason Bateman won’t be the only actor to voice a talking animal in Disney’s “Zootopia”. Walt Disney Animation Studios recently announced that  “Once Upon A Time” star Ginnifer Goodwin has joined the studio’s upcoming feature film for a role.

The actress will be portraying a rabbit police officer named Lt. Judy Hopps.

Goodwin is best known for her role in ABC’s “Once Upon A Time”. She will voice star alongside Bateman, who is featured in the movie as a fast-talking scam-artist fox named Nick Wilde.

“We knew that “Zootopia” would only succeed if we found the perfect actors to play our main characters,” director Byron Howard explained.

This rabbit-and-fox duo are in practically every scene in the film together. After meeting Ginnifer, we knew she embodied Hopps, the ultimate pure-of-heart, idealist bunny. You fall in love with her character instantly. And for Nick Wilde, our cynical con-artist fox, we only ever had one actor in mind, the incomparable Jason Bateman. Jason has a way of saying the most hilarious sarcastic things while always staying completely charming. We feel so fortunate to be working with both of them.

Goodwin’s character is a by-the-book meter maid with dreams of being a police officer. When a mystery is discovered, her character forges an unlikely friendship with Bateman’s fox to solve a case.

In the film, the modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when optimistic Officer Hopps arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with the fast-talking Wilde, to solve the mystery.

Having previously directed “Tangled” and “Bolt”, Howard is directing the comedy-adventure with “Wreck-It Ralph” helmer Rich Moore. The script is written by “Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero” director Jared Bush, who is also co-directing the movie.

Goodwin is already a friend of the Disney kingdom because she voiced Snow White in ABC’s “Once Upon A Time”. She also voiced Fawn in Disney’s “Tinker Bell and the Legend of the Never Beast”.

No further details regarding “Zootopia” were revealed, but the movie is set to be released on 4th March 2016.


Visit Malaysia’s Largest And Longest Haunted House-Cum-Concert

Get ready to experience the largest and longest haunted house-cum-concert in Malaysia this coming June 2018!

Dubbed as #HauntFest MY, the one-of-a-kind freaky music festival is set to present 2 memorable chapters.

Chapter 1 – House of Horror, is the longest and largest haunted house featuring 500 meters trail filled with 50 horror characters from your worst nightmares.

Horror lovers will get to experience various ghostly tricks with over 100 props, and a once in a lifetime spooky 4D environmental change including misty, snowy, fogs and more.

Chapter 2 – Mystery Land will be introducing 6 Malaysian artistes from different genres who will be pumping up the night to give party-goers an unforgettable, nightmarish experience.

Some of the confirmed artistes include rapper SonaOne, pop rock outfit An Honest Mistake, and indie metalcore Sekumpulan Orang Gila. More big names will be announced soon.

Visitors will also get to enjoy other fun activities like face paints, photo booths, and game booths. There are also a variety of local F&B vendors at the event selling tons of delicious food, snacks and beverages.

Organised by Epico Malaysia, details of #HauntFest are as below:-

Venue: Level 13A, STARXPO Centre – KWC Fashion Mall
Date: 23 June 2018
Time: 4pm – 12am
Ticketing: airasiaredtix.com/hauntfest2018

For more info, visit hauntfest.com.my or facebook.com/HauntFestMY.

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#FantasticFour: 20th Century Fox Releases New Commercial & Official Photos

In collaboration with MovieTickets.com, 20th Century Fox has released a “Fantastic Four” themed commercial and it is unexpectedly entertaining.

The advertisement begins with the members of Fantastic Four demonstrating their powers, which clearly impresses the Pentagon General. But what is more remarkable is the discovery of a new specimen named Carl.

Take a look at the commercial here to find out what extraordinary “superpower” awaits you:

Apart from the one-minute clip, MovieTickets.com also unveiled a huge amount of images and animated gifs in anticipation of the upcoming movie.

The photos can be viewed in the gallery below:

“The Fantastic Four” stars Miles Teller as Mr. Fantastic/Reed Richards, Michael B. Jordan as The Human Torch/Johnny Storm, Kate Mara as The Invisible Woman/Sue Storm, Jamie Bell as The Thing/Ben Grimm, Toby Kebbell as Doctor Doom, Reg E. Cathey as Dr. Franklin Stom, and Tim Blake Nelson as The Mole Man/Harvey Elder.

The official synopsis of the movie is as follows:

“The Fantastic Four”, a contemporary re-imagining of Marvel’s original and longest-running superhero team, centers on 4 young outsiders who teleport to an alternate and dangerous universe, which alters their physical form in shocking ways. Their lives irrevocably upended, the team must learn to harness their daunting new abilities and work together to save Earth from a former friend turned enemy.

The highly anticipated superhero movie is based on a script by Jeremy Slater, Simon Kinberg, and Josh Trank, with Kinberg, Matthew Vaughn, Hutch Parker, Robert Kulzar, and Gregory Goodman acting as producers.

The Josh Trank-directed action film will see its release on 7th August.

We’ll leave you with the official trailer here:

For more information, hit up their official website, Facebook, or Twitter.

(Sources: movietickets (1) (2) via Comingsoon)


BREAKING: Quake Strikes Japan’s Northeast Coast

A powerful earthquake struck off the northeast coast of Japan on Friday evening, rattling buildings in Tokyo and raising the risk of a tsunami. The 7.3-magnitude quake hit 492 kilometers (306 miles) east-northeast of Tokyo, the U.S. Geological Survey said.

The Japan Meteorological Agency initially warned that a tsunami as high as two meters could hit the country’s northeast coast following the quake, which struck out at sea. The agency issued the warning for Miyagi Prefecture, the hardest hit area by the devastating earthquake and tsunami that struck in March 2011.

Half an hour ago, it was reported that a one-metre-high tsunami has hit Japan’s northeast coast. The wave was recorded in Ishinomaki, a city in Miyagi prefecture that was badly hit by the tsunami of March 2011, which killed thousands.

NHK television broke off regular programming to warn that a strong quake was due to hit shortly before the earthquake struck. Afterward, the announcer repeatedly urged all near the coast to flee to higher ground. Buildings in Tokyo swayed for at least several minutes.

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Korean Actress Park Shin-hye Returns To Malaysia This June

One of the most prolific actresses in South Korea, Park Shin-hye will be coming to Malaysia this June to meet her fans and officially launch Mamonde at Watsons Malaysia!

Watsons Malaysia will be bringing the 29-year-old actress who is the brand ambassador for the Korean skin care and beauty product to Kuala Lumpur on Friday, 21st June 2019 for a meet-and-greet session with her Malaysian fans.

The meet-and-greet session will take place at Centre Court, Mid Valley. Further details and T&C on how to meet the actress will be announced by Watsons soon.

This is not Park’s first time in Malaysia. She previously visited 1 Utama Shopping Centre in Petaling Jaya to launch Mamonde’s Flower Day celebration.

??Mamonde? has officially arrived at Watsons! ? Now it’s easier to get your hands on our beauty staples that you ❤ In conjunction with this good news, check out Park Shin Hye’s special announcement and lovely greeting to our Blossoming Beauties in ??! ?? #MamondeMalaysia #InspiredbyFlowers

A post shared by  Mamonde Malaysia (@mamondemalaysia) on Apr 29, 2019 at 1:34am PDT

Park has been the face of Mamonde since 2014. She is known for starring in “Stairway to Heaven” (2003), “The Heirs” (2013), “Pinocchio” (2014–2015), “Doctors” (2016), and “Memories of the Alhambra” (2018–2019).


Crazy Rich Asians: Look Out For The Cast On These Movie & TV Projects

It’s official guys, this year’s surprise hit “Crazy Rich Asians” has surpass all expectations and emerge as the top grossing rom-com in 10 years!

Warner Bros. has already green lit the sequel, “China Rich Girlfriend”. Of course, that’s going to take a while. If you’re already missing your favourite actors from “Crazy Rich Asians”, you’re not alone. Fret not though, the cast has plenty of projects coming up. Let’s delve into it, shall we?

A post shared by Henry Golding (@henrygolding)

As the new Hollywood heartthrob, the Malaysian star’s 2nd movie sees him starring opposite Blake Lively (he plays her husband) and Anna Kendrick in “A Simple Favour” (out in Malaysia 11th October). He’ll also be portraying a gay British-Vietnamese man in “Monsoon”.

That’s not all! It’s been confirm that he’ll be collaborating with “Mother of Dragons” Emilia Clarke in another rom-com, “Last Christmas”. The Paul Feig-directed movie is co-written by Emma Thompson.

Constance Wu has returned to filming the 5th season of “Fresh Off The Boat”, where she’s reprising her role as Jessica Huang. Movie-goers can also check her out in the horror-comedy “All the Creatures Were Stirring” this Christmas. She’s also the voice of the character Molly in animated film “Next Gen”.

Come 2019, fans will get to see the 36-year-old actress in another animated feature, “Wish Dragon”, which centres on a boy and a dragon who grants wishes. Jackie Chan and John Cho are also part of the voice cast.

Following her well-loved roles in “Ocean’s 8” and “Crazy Rich Asians”, Awkwafina is set to play Yu in 2019’s “Paradise Hills”. It’s about “a mysterious boarding school that perfectly reforms wayward girls to fit their surroundings’ exact desires”. We also can’t wait to LOL when voices a character in “The Angry Birds Movie” sequel.

A post shared by Michelle Yeoh 楊紫瓊 (@michelleyeoh_official)

It was recently announced that Yeoh will produced a film about Jho Low, the person believed to be responsible for the 1MDB money-laundering scandal. “Billion Dollar Whale: The Man Who Fooled Wall Street, Hollywood, And The World” is written by Wall Street Journal’s journalists Tom Wright and Bradley Hope.

We’re also excited to see her star opposite “Guardians of the Galaxy” actor Dave Bautista as Sis Ha in the upcoming “Ip Man” spin-off, “Master Z: Ip Man Legacy”. In addition, she’s also appearing in sci-fi action flick “Boss Level” with Mel Gibson, Chinese fantasy film “Nezha”, and an animated film Blazing Samurai (about a dog dreaming of becoming a samurai).

A post shared by Gemma Chan (@gemmachan)

Chan will look totally unrecognisable when we see her in Marvel’s upcoming “Captain Marvel” as Minn-Erva/ Dr Minnerva (from the alien Kree race). She’s also playing Bess Of Hardwick (who befriends Queen Elizabeth I) in “Mary Queen Of Scots”.

Ken Jeong is about to hit the big screen again with Halloween flick “Goosebumps 2: Haunted Halloween”. He’s also starring opposite Michelle Yeoh in next year’s “Boss Level” where’s he’s playing Chef Jake.

A post shared by MANIAC (@maniacnetflix)

The actress who played Araminta Lee in “Crazy Rich Asians” is now series regular on Netflix’s new show, “Maniac”. Starring alongside Emma Stone and Jonah Hill, she plays Dr Azumi Fujita, an inventor of the world’s most powerful supercomputer.

Sources: Star2, SCMP/Featured image: NY Times.

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Grammys 2022: 9 Artists Win Their First Ever Grammy Awards

The Grammy Award is back! Songwriters, producers, composers and performers all gathered to not only celebrate music but to show appreciation to those who have worked hard to leave their mark in the music industry.

We got to see some new faces taking the stage for the first time performing one of their biggest hits like first time nominees Olivia Rodrigo and BTS. Tonight isn’t just about the fancy outfits and awesome performances, one of the highlights of this award show is seeing the nominees winning their first Grammy.

Here are 9 amazingly talented artists winning their first ever Grammy awards:

A post shared by Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@recordingacademy)

Grammy Award winning artist 🥺🙏🏿 pic.twitter.com/gV28Hc10YH

— Black Coffee (@RealBlackCoffee) April 3, 2022

A post shared by Andra Day (@andradaymusic)

Congratulations to all the nominees and especially to these first time winners! We’re looking forward to the new music, nominees and winners next year!


What To Try At Seungri’s Aori Ramen Joint In Pavilion KL

Have you heard? The first Aori Ramen restaurant in Malaysia is finally open for business today (Saturday, 9th June).

BIGBANG’s maknae (youngest member) Seungri (승리) made the announcement last November that he was bringing his South Korean famous Japanese ramen joint to our country. Local foodies can now find out what all the fuss is about when they visit Aori Ramen.

Located at the top floor of Pavilion KL, Aori Ramen gave us the impression that we were entering a legit South Korean restaurant. In addition to 2 VIP rooms, the venue also has numerous cubicles (great for introverts like me) that allows you to store your belongings. According to the owner, Pavilion’s Aori Ramen can take in up to 60 customers per session.

Here, customers will get the chance to taste Aori Ramen’s signature main dish – the Don Kotz Ramen. The pork bones soup is both rich and flavourful, and it comes with their 1.1mm Hoso noodles. It comes with the basic toppings of barbecued marinated pork and Japanese bunching onion.

Unfortunately, that’s the only option available for the time being. Patrons can either opt for the Aori Ramen lite (RM31) or the Aori Ramen (RM35). The latter dish comes with additional marinated soft boiled egg, dried seaweed, and marinated bamboo shoot.

Fret not though, the side menu offers another speciality. TKG, or tamago kake gohan, is a traditional Japanese staple that comes with white rice, an egg yolk and Aori Ramen’s special topping. You can also ask for more add-ons such as Korean-leek kimchi (RM3) and beansprout (RM3).

The details to Aori Ramen’s 1st branch in Malaysia are as follows:

For those wondering: Yes! Seungri will be making an apperance at this Aori Ramen branch in the coming months. We’ll keep you posted ;)

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#RoyKim: K-Pop Singer-Songwriter Sweeps Fans Off Their Feet At Malaysian Showcase

K-Pop is more than just bubble gum tunes and Roy Kim (로이킴) is living proof of that as he puts out good quality Korean music. Thanks to our friends from Warner Music Malaysia, we got to attend his Malaysian promotional showcase which was held last Friday night (26th August) at Paradigm Mall.

Known by fans as the Damien Rice of South Korea, the 23-year-old singer-songwriter swept us off our feet with his soothing vocals, acoustic tunes, unique humour, and humble personality.

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

Having made his debut through Mnet’s talent competition programme “Superstar K4”, Roy Kim released his first album “Love Love Love” under CJ E&M Music in June 2013, which won him “Best New Male Artiste” at the 2013 Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA) and “New Rising Star Award in Disk Album” at the 2014 Golden Disk Awards.

He has since released a total of 3 Korean studio albums, including “Home” (2014) and “The Great Dipper” (2015), and 1 Taiwanese single, “Cloudy Day” (2016, “天黑黑”), which is a cover of Singaporean Mandopop queen Stefanie Sun’s (孫燕姿) hit song of the same name.

Though he is not as active as other idol artistes in variety shows, he has participated in various drama OST projects such as “Pinocchio” from “Pinocchio” (2014), “Seoul, Here” from “Reply 1994” (2013), “Do Not Love You” from “Twenty Again” (2015), and “Maybe I” from “Another Oh Hae Young” (2016).

Thanks to his friendly appeal and fluency in English, Roy Kim, who studied in Canada and America since elementary school, has a fanbase that spans across Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, South East Asia, and America. He became the first foreign artiste to be invited to Taiwan’s HITO Music Awards in 2015, in which he won “Favourite Foreign Artiste”.

In Malaysia, it’s evident that his popularity is on the rise. Before he stepped onstage, hordes of Roy Kim fans were already waiting for him at the showcase venue. Many fans arrived as early as 11am – talk about dedication ;)

“I fell in love with his voice since his ‘Superstar K4’ days. His songs have helped me get through difficult times,” said Pek Hong, one of the fans who was standing near the stage.

The showcase, which was hosted by MyFM DJ Peace Teo (张诒博), started at 7:30pm and the crowd screamed with excitement when Roy Kim emerged onstage. Roy Kim looked handsome in a light blue jacket and matching pants, paired with a wide smile on his face.

The star opened the showcase with “Cloudy Day”, before going on to perform his hit debut single “Love Love Love”. He then took a break to introduce himself to his Malaysian fans. During a short Q&A session, he revealed that his favourite Malaysian meal is sambal kangkung served with white rice, which caused much delight to his fans. The witty singer even told his fans that he has caught at least 20 Pokemons since his arrival.

Roy Kim also added that he did not expect to see so many fans here. “I wasn’t expecting this much crowd, thank you so much. I feel loved here even more than Korea,” said the singer.

He performed a total of 6 songs at the showcase, including “Pinocchio”, “Home”, Damien Rice’s “The Blower’s Daughter” (his favourite song), and “Bom Bom Bom”, which was the encore.

But before the encore, Roy Kim told fans that the showcase was actually his last show before furthering his studies at Georgetown University, Washington D.C. He also promised that he will come back to Malaysia for a concert soon, and thanked everyone for their support and even took a groupfie with the crowd.

We’ll be waiting for you to come back to Malaysia for a full-scale concert, Roy! Don’t forget your promise :)

If you like music events, you can follow us on our Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook page for more live updates!

For more information on Roy Kim, visit his official Facebook page and Instagram. Also, don’t forget to stay tuned to Warner Music Malaysia’s official Facebook page for any upcoming concert announcements.

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Hype’s Now Playing: Taylor Swift – Blank Space

You gotta love Taylor Swift for her wicked sense of humour.

When you think “Taylor Swift“, you instantly recall all strange news of her relationships in the past. Identifying with what the media has painted her out to be, she has made her latest music video out to be all about that by playing on every single horrible girlfriend stereotype.

The song, titled, “Blank Space”, is the second single from her latest album, “1989“. In the music video directed by Joseph Kahn, Taylor plays every boyfriend’s worst nightmare – she gets jealous and tosses a phone into a pool, she wrecks his car in rage with a golf club, she burns his clothes because she can, she drives a knife through a portrait she painted of him. She basically plays on every single crazy thing that the media has ever said about her and embraces that crazy!

True to her words, she’s a nightmare dressed as a daydream. This has got to be the wildest music video she has ever done.

On a lighter, less intense note, we got to see Taylor’s super cute pet cat, Olivia in the above music video! Missed it? The shot is right at the beginning :)

Taylor Swift’s “1989” is available on iTunes and major stores nationwide.

For more information, hit up her website or follow her on Facebook, Google +, Instagram, Tumblr, and Twitter.


Jennifer Lawrence Set To Star In MCU’s “Fantastic Four” Reboot?

Other than the fact that Marvel’s first family will be directed by Jon Watts, details about Marvel’s “Fantastic Four” reboot has been kept under wraps.

According to The Daily Telegraph’s (via Murphy’s Multiverse) new report, Jennifer Lawrence is apparently following in the footsteps of Evan Peters’ by making the transition from the “X-Men” franchise to the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

However, she’s not reprising her role as Mystique! Rumour has it that the Oscar winner will be flying to Australia next month to join the cast of the upcoming “Fantastic Four” reboot. The rumour didn’t state which role she’s playing though.

Could J-Law be portraying Sue Storm, better known as Invisible Woman in MCU’s Phase 4? Or perhaps it’s a cameo connecting the X-Men to the larger MCU? It won’t be the first where an actor has taken on different roles. Josh Brolin played both Cable in “Deadpool 2” and Thanos, while Peter Dinklage played both Bolivar Trask in the X-Men films and the Asgardian, Eitri, in “Avengers: Infinity War”.

For now, we’ll just have to take it for what it is – a rumour. Still, its hard for anyone playing the leads in “Fantastic Four” other than John Krasinski and Emily Blunt.

Shortly after the Jennifer Lawrence rumour made headlines, Deadline’s senior reporter took to Twitter to seemingly debunk it. According to the writer, there isn’t any script for “Fantastic Four” yet as Marvel Studios is still meeting screenplay writers. As such, it’s too early for the casting process to take place.

All I’m gonna say is this, Marvel just started meeting with writers on FANTASTIC FOUR, there is no script and it will be awhile before this film starts shooting

— Justin Kroll (@krolljvar) February 21, 2021

Then again, Marvel cast Blade without a script or a director.

Sources: The Daily Telegraph, Comic Book Movie, Comic Book.

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Guns N’ Roses: “Reckless Road” To Be Turned Into Hollywood Biopic

Hard-rock chaos-crooners Guns N’ Roses are getting a Hollywood biopic!

The story of Guns N’ Roses is reportedly being adapted into a biopic. Marc Canter, co-author of the 2008 biography called “Reckless Road: Guns N’ Roses and the Making of Appetite for Destruction”, claims that the biopic will be done right with no short cuts and will feature a few A-list actors.

“I do have a big say so on the script which is still being put together now but so far looking cool. I am going to see that everyone in the cast is doing their job and doing justice to the band. Since I was there, I know what the dialog was between the band for many of the events that took place. When you find out who is making the movie, you will then understand that it will be very cool. I’m proud of all the hard work that was put into this project and it’s just going to KICK *SS! In no way will it be a cheesy movie like Rock Star. There really is such a great story here that even the outtakes will be great,” wrote Canter on GNR’s message board.

He also confirmed that Axl Rose will not be involved in the biopic. Can’t say we’re surprised about that. So far, now word on a release date or casting has been released so there’s really nothing we can do but wait patiently.

Also, in case you haven’t heard, Slash will be making his way back to Kuala Lumpur in 2015. Deets here.

Today, we leave you with one of our GNR favourites, “Paradise City”.