#Rain: Legendary K-Pop Singer To Make Comeback In March

K-Pop fans, rejoice! Rain’s (비, real name Jung Ji Hoon) agency, R.A.I.N. Company, has announced that the singer will be returning in March after his “personal trip” to the United States with his actress wife, Kim Tae Hee.

“Once he returns (from the United States), he will start formal preparations for it,” said the label.

Last month, the king of K-Pop dropped his latest single, titled “The Best Present” (최고의 선물), which was produced by “Gangnam Style” singer PSY (싸이, real name Park Jae Sang). It was later revealed by Rain himself that the song served as a romantic proposal to Kim Tae Hee.

The couple finally tied the knot after 5 years of dating. They held their private wedding on 19th January at a local Catholic church in Seoul. It was reported that Park Jin Young aka JYP, g.o.d.’s Park Jun Hyung, and PSY were invited to the ceremony.

“The Best Present” was Rain’s first track after the release of his 6th album “Rain Effect” in January 2014. Prior to that, the singer made his small screen comeback through SBS’ “Please Come Back, Mister” alongside Oh Yeon Seo, Kim Min Jung, and Kim Soo Ro.

We can’t wait to hear your new song, Rain oppa :)


BlackBerry Q10 Available In Malaysia On 15th May!

It’s finally here! The re-designed, re-engineered, and re-invented BlackBerry 10 platform on the BlackBerry Q10 which offers you a powerful and unique new mobile computing experience that continuously adapts to your needs. Every feature, every gesture, and every detail is designed to keep you moving forward towards you goal, and include advancements such as:

Available in two colours, Black and White, the BlackBerry Q10 combines the power of the BlackBerry 10 platform with a large, re-engineered physical keyboard and stunning touchscreen display – the largest ever on a BlackBerry QWERTY smartphone.

The new BlackBerry Q10, the first BlackBerry 10 smartphone to feature a classic BlackBerry QWERTY keyboard will be available from all authorized partners in Malaysia (Celcom and Maxis) on 15th May 2013 (Wednesday).

Customers can pre order from Celcom beginning 8th May 2013 (Wednesday).

For more information, visit their website.

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#Disney: Tim Burton To Direct A Live-Action Remake Of #Dumbo

It looks like Disney is never going to stop making the live-action versions of its animated classics until there’s none of them left. Before Disney announced its plan to develop a live-action adaptation of “Beauty and the Beast“, it was reported that the studio was already planning to develop a live-action version of “Dumbo”. Ehren Kruger, the “Transformers” franchise writer is set to pen the script while “Oblivion” producer Justin Springers will produce alongside Kruger.

Months after the announcement, Wall Street Journal broke the news that a director is now officially attached to helm the project and he is none other than Tim Burton.

Having previously directed Disney’s live-action reinvention of “Alice in Wonderland”, Walt Disney Pictures president of production Sean Bailey announced that the “Big Eyes” director is returning to the studio for the live-action remake of “Dumbo”.

Released in 1941, “Dumbo” is the 4th animated feature in the Walt Disney Animated Classics series. Despite being one of Disney’s shortest animated features (64 minutes), it was the most financially successful Disney film of the 1940s. The film is based on the storyline written by Helen Aberson and illustrated by Harold Pearl in a scroll-like item called a “Roll-A-Book”.

Though none of the “Roll-A-Book”s have ever surfaced, the story fit the bill when Disney was looking for a simple little story to be turned into an animated feature. It chronicles the journey of a baby circus elephant who is ridiculed for its big ears and nicknamed “Dumbo”. After his mother was locked up for trying to protect him, a mouse named Timothy stepped in to become his mentor and protector. The story parodied the stereotypical animosity between mice and elephants through the relationship between Timothy and Dumbo.

The movie is notable for several classic songs including “When I See an Elephant Fly”, Oscar-nominated “Baby Mine”, and “Pink Elephants on Parade”. It is unclear whether these songs will be included in the film, but similar to “Alice in Wonderland”, the film is expected to be a mixture of CGI and live actors. Bailey described that the studio will “add a unique family story that parallels Dumbo’s journey”, indicating that the live-action film is not going to be as short as the original animated film.

The new “Dumbo” film does not have a release date yet.

Following the release of 2014’s “Maleficent” and 2015’s “Cinderella”, the studio is also currently working on the live-action adaptations of “The Jungle Book”, “Alice in Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass”, and “Beauty and the Beast”.

Burton is best known for his peculiar films such as  “Beetlejuice”, “Edward Scissorhands”, and “The Nightmare Before Christmas”. His future projects include “Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children”, “Alice In Wonderland: Through the Looking Glass”, and “Beetlejuice 2”.


15-Year-Old Female Student Gives Birth In Surau; Rapist Arrested

Just when we thought that things can’t get any worse in Malaysia, another rape case takes us by surprise.

Yesterday (Tuesday, 19th September), it was reported that a female student had given birth in a school surau (translation: prayer room) in Bandar Baru Serting, Jempol. She was only 15 years old.

It is understood that school authorities had notified the Jempol Hospital located in Negeri Sembilan after the Form 3 girl was unconscious in the surau. When the medical personnel from the Emergency Department arrived, a newborn was found lying on the girl’s chest, with the umbilical cord still attached.

“The medical officer on duty reported that he had received a phone call from the school at 10:30am, claiming that a student had fainted before a staff from the Emergency Department was dispatched to the school. Our staff found a female student lying in the school’s prayer room and there was a female newborn infant lying on her chest with the umbilical cord still attached to the womb of the student,” a police officer was quoted as saying.

Acting Jempol OCPD Azham Shah Azlan confirmed that a 16-year-old male student has been arrested to assist in investigations. The case is currently being investigated under Section 376 of the Penal Code for statutory rape.

Thankfully, both mother and child are reportedly in healthy condition.

Sources: FMT, Bernama/ Featured image: Herald Sun.

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#FMFA15: Leaked Set Times Indicates Which DJs/Artistes Will Be Announced Next

We’re about a week away from the Future Music Festival Asia (FMFA) 2015 lineup announcement and you can bet we’re super excited about it, for many reasons. Firstly, this would mark FMFA’s maiden voyage to our neighbouring party hub, Singapore. Secondly, the next announcement is expected to be a sizeable addition the FMFA 2015 artistes/acts that were already revealed last month.

In case you missed it, the first wave includes big names such as Afrojack, Avicii, Bassjackers, Blasterjaxx, Carnage, Example, Fatboy Slim, Gorgon City, Knife Party, Nero, The Prodigy, and Darude. It also included local as well as regional artistes such as Andrew T, Bud Culture, Dangerdisko, Mr. Nasty & Guruguru, Terence C, and more.

And if those names weren’t already enough to promise good times at FMFA 2015, a certain anonymous person aka “John Doe” decided to drop a bomb on our writer, Bryna, just yesterday.

The said “John Doe” sent an anonymous e-mail which said:

It all looked very unsuspicious until we took a closer look at the attachment, which revealed some FMFA 2015 set times.

By the looks of it, it could be a working file that was meant for internal usage only – perhaps between Livescape Asia’s artiste and creative departments? But if you looked at it closely, you’d see that the Excel-looking sheet that was open and on display (long enough for someone to snap a picture of it) came from a tab named, “SET TIMES (FINAL)”.

Here’s another thing to take into consideration – the set times might eventually change closer to 13th and 14th March, because lots can happen between now and then e.g. rearrangement of artistes, delayed flights, other technical issues, etc. That aside, this leaked image does let us in on the remaining artistes that are supposed to be revealed only on 29th Jan!

Oh my gosh! Best of all, when both Ferry Corsten and Markus Schulz are added to the bill, it could mean that FMFA 2015 festivalgoers might be able to not only catch their individual sets but also witness a New World Punx (NWP) festival set :D

Note: New World Punx (NWP), is a collaboration between high-energy DJ duo consisting of Markus Schulz and Ferry Corsten. The name derives from Markus Schulz’s hit, “The New World”, and Ferry Corsten’s massive anthem, “Punk”.

Furthermore, we did catch Markus Schulz posting up a very suspicious yet indicative tweet about a month ago about going to Singapore “in a few months again”.

Thank you Singapore! See you in a few months again. Now on my way to Mumbai.

— Markus Schulz (@MarkusSchulz) December 20, 2014

Before we wrap this up, let’s try to figure out where the “John Doe” e-mail originate from. A Google search for the e-mail address, “majorraverforlife@gmail.com” failed to return any searches. Well, obviously. We did, however, manage find his/her IP address, thanks to GMail’s “Show original” feature. After which, we keyed it into an IP address tracking site, which performs an IP address lookup and finds the ISP (Internet Service Provider) and country of origin.

There’s no guarantee that it’s 100% accurate or if it’s the exact location as pointed out by Google Maps but it’s a rough indication of where it could’ve come from – Singapore. We even found “19 Taiseng Drive” on Google Maps, if it’s of any interest to anyone.

We highly doubt that “John Doe” was at StarHub when he/she sent the e-mail. We do know, however, that the e-mail was sent from an iPhone (as stated in the e-mail signoff) so we’re guessing that the said anonymous leaker has a StarHub phone plan, probably. Which explains the ISP :)

Anyway, we’ve since notified Livescape Asia of the leak, to which Head of PR Jason Kong said:

We are aware of the leak and we’ve launched an internal investigation to determine the source of the leak.

What do you think? Are the names in the set times leak legit? If they are, are you looking forward to seeing any of those artistes/acts? Let us know in the comments box below! Meanwhile, don’t forget to buy your FMFA 2015 tickets before the second release tickets are all snapped up. Go here to purchase ’em.

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5 Affordable Eyeliners That Won’t Smudge, No Matter What!

This one’s for the girls and the makeup boys. Y’all know how frustrating it can be when you’re out and about and your eyeliner starts smudging. You start to look more like you just had a big cry rather than the fierce wing you spent so much time putting on that morning. While eyeliner smudging could be due to crying (you okay, babes?), for many of us, it’s due to having oily eyelids. And no matter how many waterproof eyeliners and setting sprays we put on, we’d still end up with panda eyes by the end of the day.

But fear not, because after doing some digging and testing ourselves, we’ve gathered a list of OIL-PROOF, WATER-PROOF, ANYTHING-PROOF eyeliners that will stay on NO MATTER WHAT! Here they are: 5 affordable eyeliners that won’t smudge (tried and tested!):

If you’ve been on beauty TikTok, you might’ve come across this Indonesian brand that has been taking over everyone’s For You Page. While Somethinc offers a wide selection of beauty products, ranging from skincare to makeup, one product that stands out is their FOREVER STAY Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner. True to its name, this eyeliner will not budge the moment it dries down on your eyes. It’s smudge-proof, oil-proof and water-proof, dries fast, and has a sharp tip that allows you to draw precise lines. Best part? It’s under RM30, so you don’t have to worry about spending too much whenever your eyeliner runs out.

Considered as one of the best-selling makeup products in Japan, Heroine Make’s “Kiss Me” eyeliner is definitely a must-have in your makeup bag. It has been featured by many famous makeup artists and YouTubers. Best known for its long-lasting results, it was designed to last the entire day, impervious to tears, sweat, water, and oil. Best part? The 0.1mm ultra fine tip is perfect for Asian eyes, giving you precise lines and strokes. While it does stay for a long time, you can take it off with some warm water, so you don’t have to rub too hard on your eyes when you remove you makeup. But, if the product still won’t budge with water and soap, we recommend using an oil-based makeup remover.

Another Japanese makeup brand known for its amazing products, the Koji Dolly Wink Eyeliner is one of the more popular options among beauty gurus. While the eyeliner is pigmented, it’s not the blackest on the market, which could actually be great for beginners, since the colour payoff is much more forgiving. The eyeliner dries fast, which is good if you wanna layer it and get a deeper colour. Overall, it’s a good everyday eyeliner to have if you’re going for a minimal and natural eyeliner look.

For those who want an eyeliner that dries down matte, this one’s for you. This eyeliner will be your ride or die, no matter how humid the day is, or how wild the night gets. The brush applicator allows you to make precise strokes, and the colour stays saturated for a really long time. Plus, it’s quite affordable, given the quality and staying power of the eyeliner. Depending what kind of look you’re going for, you can either get the Black or Brown shade.

Another buildable eyeliner, the K-Palette Real Lasting Waterproof Eyeliner is definitely a worthy contender for one of the most beginner-friendly eyeliners out there. The wear time is incredible, and your eyeliner will be staying on FLEEK even after 10 hours (without primer!). Plus, if you wear contact lenses, this eyeliner won’t irritate your eyes. Likewise, if you find it hard to remove the eyeliner with water, since it’s just THAT good, we recommend using an oil-based makeup remover or micellar water.


#Cabbies: KL Taxi Drivers Ranked The Worst In The World

Scratch taxi off your list of the must-use public transportation modes in Kuala Lumpur because apparently, the city has the worst taxi drivers in the world.

That is, of course, according to a British taxi comparison site.

LondonCabs ranked Malaysian taxi drivers as the worst ones across the globe not only because of their bad attitude, but also because of the way they overcharge clients.

Drivers from Kuala Lumpur are well known for overcharging clients and detouring. Even though they are supposed to charge by the meter, many drivers refuse from doing so.

“The best advice is to simply wait for another vehicle if the driver resists using the meter,” it added.

Not all taxi drivers we’ve encountered are rude, but we had to agree with them when they described most taxis in Kuala Lumpur as “rather old and in poor condition”.

Coming in at 2nd place are the taxi drivers in Rome, with LondonCabs describing them the worst for “their exorbitant rates and rudeness”.

Most people cannot even find a vehicle available in Rome. Cars are scarce and the drivers are often rude and difficult to deal with. If it’s raining, expect to pay double or triple the price for a vehicle in Rome.

Bangkok minicab drivers ranked 3rd in the list for frequently “getting lost and not knowing the way”. The other places that made the list were Paris, New York, Mumbai, Zurich, Cairo, Shanghai, and Moscow. LondonCabs added that “you may be better off avoiding if you want to have a positive and uplifting transportation experience”.

What do you guys think though? Do you agree with the ranking/comments? Maybe our taxi drivers need to be more honest and perhaps start putting in more effort in maintaining their rides?

Source: The Star Online / Image sources: Wikipedia, The Guardian

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#Badminton: Goh V Shem – Tan Wee Kiong Are Now World Number 1!

Malaysian shuttlers have made the country proud again.

The men’s pair of Goh V Shem and Tan Wee Kiong, who bagged a silver for Malaysia in the 2016 Rio Olympics, has officially been named as the world number 1 in the men’s double category by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).

This came after the retirement of South Korea’s Lee Yong Dae, who was the former number 1 pair along with his partner Yoo Yeon Seong. Lee announced his retirement after the Olympics, but the pair’s removal from the list was only made official yesterday (Thursday, 10th November).

When contacted by New Straits Time, Goh, who posted a photo of the updated rankings on his social media, said, “I am extremely happy because I only got to know about this when I checked the list this morning. We were hoping to end the year on a high, but I did not expect it to happen this soon, especially since we still have the China and Hong Kong Opens to play in. As for now, Wee Kiong and I will remain focused on maintaining our consistency and continue to give our best.”

Last month, the Malaysian pair achieved a milestone in their careers – by obtaining the number 1 spot in the Superseries standings list. This means that they’ll be the top seed at the BWF World Superseries Finals that will be held in Dubai from 14th to 18th December.

After the Olympics, the Goh – Tan pair also made an appearance in the Denmark and French Opens, and will join the China Open (15th November – 20th November) and Hong Kong Super Series (22nd November – 27th November).


Quake Shocks Taiwan

A strong 6.3-magnitude earthquake hit Taiwan on Sunday, killing one person and violently shaking building in the capital Taipei, officials said. The powerful quake sent people running into the streets and was also felt in Hong Kong, more than 700 kilometres away.

The tremor hit at 1:43 pm (0543 GMT) centred 32 kilometres (20 miles) east of central Nantou country at a depth of 10 kilometres, Taiwan’s Seismology Centre said. The National Fire Agency said a mountain climber was killed after he was hit by falling rocks on Mount Ali in central Taiwan. The agency told AFP that four helicopters had been sent to scout the epicentre area as authorities awaited any further damage information.

Six high-speed trains halted but services resumed after no damage was found to the line.

“This is the biggest earthquake to hit this year. As the origin of the quake was shallow and it happened in the centre of the island, its velocity could be felt islandwide. Today’s earthquake was somewhat related to the 1999 one”, Lu Pei-ling, deputy chief of the seismology centre, told reporters.

Nantou county was the epicentre of a 7.6-magnitude quake in September 21, 1999 that killed around 2,400 people in the deadliest natural disaster in the island’s recent history. In late March, a strong earthquake in the same vicinity as Sunday’s tremor killed one person and injured 86 others. Violent shock waves damaged buildings and triggered two blazes.

Taiwan lies near the junction of two tectonic plates and is regularly hit by earthquakes.


Catch The 27th #GDA on ONE HD!

The “Samsung GALAXY The 27th Golden Disk Awards in Kuala Lumpur” ceremony was presented at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia on 15th and 16th January 2013.

Hosted by stars Lee Hong Ki of FT Island, DaSom of Sistar, Nicole of KARA and Jung Yong Hwa of CN Blue, the event saw more than 20 top K-Pop idols/idol groups performing and receiving their awards. These include Super Junior, KARA, SHINee, EXO, FT Island, 4Minute, B2ST, G-Dragon (BIGBANG leader), Epik High, and Lee Hi.

With over 20 groups of world-famous K-Pop artistes performing live on stage, it was the biggest K-Pop event to date in Malaysia.

Given out since 1986, the Golden Disk Awards is known as the “Korean Grammy Awards”. It’s a very prestigious prize in South Korea where the most popular K-Pop music from the past year are recognized and celebrated. Based on actual album sales and digital music downloads, the awards spotlights the very best of the Korean pop music industry and honours the most talented artistes.

The awards were in the two main categories of “Album” and “Song” including the Grand Prize in Disk Album, Disk Album of The Year, Grand Prize in Song of The Year, Song of The Year, The Most Popular K-Pop Star Award, New Rising K-Pop Star Award, Best Hip Hop Award, Single of The Year, and more.

For more information on “Samsung GALAXY The 27th Golden Disk Awards in Kuala Lumpur”, click!

Seize the chance and watch your favourite K-Pop artistes in high definition on the 16th and 17th February 2013 (Saturday and Sunday) at 12:45pm and 8:45pm on ONE HD (Astro B.yond Ch393).

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#SDCC2016: New Music-Filled #SuicideSquad Trailer Turns Up The Badassery

During the Warner Bros. panel at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), “Suicide Squad” director David Ayer presented the final trailer for the film that shows off all its awesomeness. The movie’s release is just around the corner but we have never been more excited, thanks to this newly released extra footage.

Beautiful, messy, but also brutal with a dash of funny, the “Suicide Squad” trailer made specifically for Hall H features a chockfull of never-before-seen footage of the worst heroes ever e.g. Deadshot (Will Smith), Killer Croc (Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje), Harley Quinn (Margot Robbie), Slipknot (Adam Beach), the Joker (Jared Leto), El Diablo (Jay Hernandez), Rick Flag (Joel Kinnaman), Captain Boomerang (Jai Courtney), Katana (Karen Fukuhara).

“It feels good to be bad… Assemble a team of the world’s most dangerous, incarcerated Super-Villains, provide them with the most powerful arsenal at the government’s disposal, and send them off on a mission to defeat an enigmatic, insuperable entity. U.S. intelligence officer Amanda Waller has determined only a secretly convened group of disparate, despicable individuals with next to nothing to lose will do. However, once they realise they weren’t picked to succeed but chosen for their patent culpability when they inevitably fail, will the Suicide Squad resolve to die trying, or decide it’s every man for himself?”

Action-packed right down to its very core, the 3-minute music-filled trailer shows the badass squad being assembled into their meta-human task force, giving them free reign to really be “the bad guys”.

So we get a much more in-depth look at the unorthodox superhero team bulldozing their way through their mission complete with lots of burning, slicing, shooting, and destroying. David Ayer certainly didn’t forget to highlight the misfits’ unusual personalities in the process and give Jared Leto’s the Joker an ample amount of screen time. We also get to see more of Enchantress, which is a real treat. And we come out of it being bigger fans of Harley Quinn (who will see the biggest breakout in the central role of the Joker’s girlfriend) and the gleefully demented gleam in her eyes than ever before.

Written and directed by David Ayer based on the characters from DC Comics, “Suicide Squad” also stars Ike Barinholtz, Scott Eastwood, Cara Delevingne, and Viola Davis. The film is set to be released worldwide on 5th August 2016.

For more information, hit up the movie’s Facebook page.


#Malaysia: Wildlife Officials Seize & Destroy RM80 Million Worth Of Elephant Tusks

Yesterday (Thursday, 14th April), Malaysian wildlife authorities destroyed some 9500kg of illegal elephant ivory that were seized over the years to showcase the country’s commitment in curbing the alarming trend of wildlife poaching and smuggling.

The destruction of the huge pile of African elephant ivory, which were seized in several large raids between 2011 and 2015 and estimate to be worth about US$20 million (RM80 million), took place at Seremban’s Environmental Quality Centre.

“This is our first-ever ivory destruction. We want to send a strong message to the world that Malaysia does not compromise in protecting endangered species,” said Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

The operation was carried out through crushing and incineration. Although these destruction events “do not necessarily offer a silver bullet solution” in stopping the killing of African elephants, the Ministry said it was the best way to ensure the elephant tusks would not return to the black market.

Ivory is highly priced for its traditional Chinese medicine and decorative ornaments uses. According to reports, tens of thousands of African elephants are killed every year, thus threatening the future of elephants across the continents.

This breaks our hearts. It makes us sick to our stomach to see the death and destruction of these animals sacrificed for the greed and profit of poachers. Go here to sign the petition and reject the ivory trade.

Sources: The Star, Trading Charts, Traffic.org.


(UPDATE) #RevivalTour: PAS Wants To Ban Selena Gomez From Performing In Malaysia

Malaysian Selenators have been waiting forever for pop princess Selena Gomez to conduct her 1st concert here in Malaysia, but it turns out, not everyone is eager to welcome the pop star.

In less than 1 week ahead of her “Revival” tour, Islamist party PAS Youth has called for the government to ban the 23-year-old singer’s concert in the country, claiming that her “sexy image” would disgrace the holy month of Syawal.

“The presence of the American-born singer, who is synonymous with sexy appearances, would tarnish the sanctity of the month of Syawal which is being celebrated in earnest and further stoke the hedonistic culture among the country’s youths,” said Dakwah committee chairman Hafez Sabri in a statement. It was also reported that he called for Gomez to be barred from entering Malaysia.

Is this simply a cheap publicity stunt? DAP Socialist Youth (DAPSY) seems to think so. “The illogical protest by PAS Youth against Selena Gomez concert shows that they have nothing else constructive to offer to Malaysians but create cheap political publicity,” said DAPSY executive secretary Muhammad Shakir Ameer.

“Based on PAS’ logic, it means the internet, television, radio and any other media should be banned as well for promoting Selena Gomez,” he told MMO, adding that PAS should have expressed their disapproval before the concert was approved.

MCA Youth leader Chong Sin Woon has also hit out at PAS for their objection saying, “If PAS Youth deems western concerts as “causing erosion of faith” and cinemas as the “cause of social ills”, why do they drop silent when local rock artistes perform on stage? Why the discrimination and furore against foreign performing artists but none against the local performing artistes?”

This is hardly the 1st time conservative Islamic parties have protested against international artistes. Performers who were previously called for the banning of their concerts include the Pussycat Dolls, Elton John, Avril Lavigne, Gwen Stefani, Beyoncé, Adam Lambert, Erykah Badu, and Kesha.

But as Gomez’s song goes, we gotta “Kill ‘Em With Kindness”:

Fingers crossed, everything will go as planned with Selena Gomez’s concert at the Malawati Indoor Arena, Shah Alam, next Monday (25th July).

According to a report by The Star, Selangor PAS has handed over a memorandum to the state government stressing its disapproval of Selena Gomez’s concert, in hopes that the concert will be called off. About 20 PAS Youth wing members were present during a brief meeting between PAS’ Youth wing chief Hanafi Zulkapli and the Mentri Besar’s chief private secretary Mohd Shahrizal Mohd Salleh at the lobby of the state secretariat building.

“The culture brought by Selena Gomez is against what we have been practising in Malaysia throughout the years. We call for the concert to be cancelled because it will have a severe negative impact. The concert will also promote social ills such as alcohol use, drugs and free mingling of sexes,” Hanafi Zulkapli said after handing over the memorandum to Mohd Shahrizal Mohd Salleh.

The PAS memorandum claimed that entertainment these days had deviated from the actual purpose of “resting the soul and relaxation”, and that concerts involving foreign celebrities often stir up negative elements during and after the event. It went on to say that entertainment business operators were racing to bring in popular foreign artistes without looking at their backgrounds and the possible effects of their shows.

As at time of writing, PR Worldwide, the promoter for Selena Gomez’s “Revival” tour in Malaysia, has yet to issue a response to the above news.

Meanwhile, in a separate report by Astro Awani, the Selangor police have assured that the best security will be provided during Selena Gomez’s “Revival Tour” concert, scheduled to be held at the Stadium Melawati on 25th July. Selangor deputy police chief Datuk Mohd Fuad Abdul Latiff said the move was being taken following several objections from certain quarters, adding that the police will carry out duties to ensure the situation remained safe.

“If the concert proceeds, we must ensure it is orderly and if it is cancelled, we must monitor because there may be other parties who are not happy,” he said.

Ahmad Yunus Hairi, Selangor’s religious affairs executive councillor, has called on mosques throughout the state to hold “solat hajat” (special prayers) to pray for the cancellation of Selena Gomez’s “Revival Tour” concert in Shah Alam.

“All mosques in Selangor have been ordered to hold solat hajat after Friday prayers or whenever it is appropriate, before the concert is held to pray to Allah in hopes that the concert will be cancelled. (May) our beloved Selangor not be struck with disasters, and the concert organisers enlightened by Allah,” the PAS leader said in a statement today.

Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Azmin Ali previously said that the state government had no reason to prohibit Selena’s concert from proceeding as the organisers met all the requirements set by local authorities, adding that sex appeal was not an attribute that should be maligned. “Sexiness is God’s creation and subjective, do not be over excited by it, most (of her fans) are drawn by the song lyrics delivered by the particular singer,” he said.

Meanwhile, PAS’ protest over Selena Gomez’s concert has made international headlines, with popular entertainment outlets Perez Hilton, Hollywood.com, AceShowbiz highlighting the news.

Sources: Elle Malaysia, Hive Asia, The Star, Astro Awani, malaysiakini.

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LINE “Overdose” With #EXO Stickers

Great news for EXO fans as they can now chat with their friends and families with exclusive LINE stickers specially created with the faces of all EXO members. Yes, you heard right. LINE has collaborated with popular boy group EXO to release 11 sets of EXO free sticker sets today! These exclusive sticker sets will be introduced periodically from 25th to 27th of August.

With the incredible support from EXO fans (also known as EXO-L) in Malaysia, LINE has decided to engage its users and EXO fans in exciting ways using the messenger app to chat with their friends and family. The EXO sticker images are designed with a unique Malaysian twist to enable Malaysian EXO-Ls and LINE users to have fun with the localised stickers.

These sticker sets will be free for download on the LINE Sticker Shop for three months (starting from 25th August, 2014) and will be valid for up to 6 months. On 25th August, LINE will first release the EXO Suho, Baekhyun, Luhan, and Kai sticker sets, followed by the EXO Chen, D.O., Lay, and Sehun stickers on 26th August and lastly on 27th August with the EXO Tao, Chanyeol, and Xiumin stickers.

20 LINE users will walk away with exclusive EXO Gift Boxes!

From 25th August to 5th September, LINE Malaysia will be running a “Gift It Away” event in conjunction with the release of the EXO special sticker sets. Users that gift all 11 set of stickers to all their LINE friends will stand a chance to win an exclusive LINExEXO Gift Box, including a Limited Edition Autographed EXO latest CD album, “Overdose”.

For more information and the winners’ announcement, check out LINE Event Official Account (LINE ID: @LINEeventmy).


#Batfleck: Warner Bros. Plans 3 Stand-Alone Batman Films Starring Ben Affleck?

“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” hasn’t even been released yet but already, there are talks to make future stand-alone “Batman” films starring Ben Affleck aka Batfleck.

As it is, the DC movie universe is already set to explode in the next couple of with the release of not only “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” but also “Suicide Squad” (Harley Quinn! Yes please), “Justice League”, “Wonder Woman“, and “Aquaman”. But apparently, a private screening of “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” was reportedly such a huge success, Warner is now planning 3 Batman films.

Back in June, rumours were rampant about a solo “Batman” movie arriving in theatres as early as 2018. It was later revealed that Ben Affleck was in talks to co-write and direct it. According to Den Of Geek, that won’t be the first and it most certainly won’t be the last, as Batfleck’s role in the DC movies universe is about to get even bigger!

According to an industry source who will remain anonymous, a cut of “Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice” was screened for the film’s crew and Warner Bros. bosses within the past 24 hours or so. “It’s a near finished cut but not locked,” the source said. That screening was a glowing success, to the point where Zack Snyder’s movie received a “standing ovation”.

Warner Bros. was said to be so impressed with Batfleck’s performance as Batman that it’s apparently in the process of making an extended, “Golden deal”, which could see the actor play the Caped Crusader in a trilogy of stand-alone movies, not the single outing already announced.

All told, this deal could see Ben Affleck in the role of Batman for the next 10 years or so. “Basically, Warners are now working their movie universe around Ben’s Batman,” the source added.

We haven’t seen “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” yet so we’re probably not the best judge of Ben Affleck‘s acting capabilities as Batman. On top of that, the above news hasn’t been confirmed by Warner Bros. themselves. But all that aside, would you want to see 3 stand-alone “Batman” movies in the near future? Do you think it would be able to top Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” trilogy? It could be quite a dangerous idea, eh?

We’ll leave you now with the official “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” comic-con trailer:


The World’s Most Versatile Cameras; GoPro Introduces New HERO11 Black Lineup

Vloggers, adventurers and content creators, do you long for cameras that can help you take the perfect footage at any moment without having to do much editing during post production? There are so many cameras to choose from depending on your needs. But what if there was a camera that feeds all your needs? Intrigued? GoPro’s got some awesome news to share with you!

On Monday (19th September), GoPro just announced not one, not two but three versions of its all-new HERO11 Black camera! Introducing the HERO11 Black, HERO11 Black Creator Edition and HERO11 Black Mini. What makes them special? How are they different from each other? And most importantly, how much do they cost? Let’s find out:

All three cameras feature a new and larger sensor that delivers the highest resolution, highest 10-bit colour depth, highest level of video stabilisation and widest field of view ever featured in a HERO camera. The three new cameras are available in three variations:

All three HERO11 Black lineup are equipped with the Emmy Award-winning HyperSmooth 5.0 technology, new hyper-immersive HyperView digital lens, three new night effect time lapse feature and an enduro Battery. The new cameras will be available at selected retailers around Malaysia.

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4 Great Reasons To Plan Ahead For Your Holidays

Let’s admit it – we can’t wait to go on a holiday. While we long to get out of town, there is nothing standing in the way of planning ahead for that much-needed domestic vacation post-lockdown. Leading holiday destinations across the country such as Desaru Coast, aside from offering over 800 luxurious rooms within its impressive portfolio of five-star hotels, are curating enticing packages. Consider packages that include a wide range of options on experiences and activities to explore and peace of mind flexibility when it comes to date changes.

So, stop dreaming about your next holiday and start planning! Here are just four perfectly good reasons on why you ought to start now:

The best part about planning ahead for a holiday is that it alleviates the stress associated with making last-minute travel plans. Holidays are supposed to be fun and so should the planning of it. Don’t do it in haste under the pressure of tight timeliness. That only drains the fun out of it. So even before you can start the holiday, avoid setting everyone on edge even before leaving home! Planning helps assure you of a hassle-free holiday with your loved ones. In addition, resorts within Desaru Coast have adopted very flexible policies when it comes to changes in reservation dates, in keeping with the current times.

Planning holidays early also gives you leverage in terms of budgeting for your travel, accommodation and general expenses. After a year of almost no travel for most Malaysians, everyone’s looking forward to a holiday – shoestring or otherwise. Yet cost is undeniably a major factor now in deciding where to go and what to do. Hoteliers, travel operators and attraction owners are getting creative! Some are offering reasonable rates, while others offer innovative solutions such as valued added packages to encompass the full holiday experience. These packages include lodging, fun recreational activities and even F&B offerings from breakfast to dinner. So all you have to do is just check-in, relax and enjoy the varied experiences that are in store for you, during your much-awaited holiday.

One thing we learnt last year is that there are so many unique hidden gems within Malaysia that many have yet to explore. But in order to ensure we maximise the opportunity to savour these experiences during our upcoming holidays, it’s best to do our homework early and plan ahead. For instance, if you’re headed down to the southern tip of Peninsular Malaysia, and in search of some outdoor experiences, Desaru Coast offers specially curated nature excursions led by passionate naturalists who will lead you in a journey to hidden places, away from the typical tourist trails.

Nature lovers can also book organised tours available to the Tanjung Belungkor mangrove and the nearby fruit farm. Alternatively, choose to journey through the scenic and alluring Linting Wetlands river ecosystem dominated by tidal mangrove forests within which lies the Belungkor Forest Reserve. On this tour, visitors can immerse in a brief history of the Johor Sultanate while learning about the variety of mangrove species and vegetation unique to the location.

Another noteworthy activity here is a tour to the fishing village of Sedili, located a mere 35 minutes’ drive from Desaru Coast. The tour begins with a boat cruise that covers three distinct vegetation belts that changes from rich mangrove forest, Nypa swamp, Putat and Pandanus belt before finally reaching the freshwater swamp where the endangered Water Trumpet can be found. Along the way your naturalist guide will highlight interesting wildlife that call Sedili home.

Have you ever arrived at a much sought-after restaurant or Instagram-perfect spot only to be told that you can’t get in because they’re fully booked? This can be avoided by planning ahead. When travelling, make reservations in advance — not just for flights and hotels, but for restaurants, tours, and all the attractions as you detail your itinerary. A good place to start is the respective websites of the resorts and accommodations themselves. And if you’re visiting during peak holidays, check ahead of time to ensure if these spots may be closed on such special occasions.

There is so much to see and do in and around Malaysia alone – Desaru Coast is a great example. Visitors can complement nature-infused excursions and golfing sessions with a myriad of other activities including intimate beach walks or runs (thanks to the destination’s wide-open spaces) and indulge in some much-needed TLC with the many wellness and “me-time” pursuits available, such as yoga and spa sessions.

But to get the most out of your holiday, one thing is essential – planning ahead! So, what are you waiting for? Start planning today and gather the whole family for an unforgettable holiday at Malaysia’s premier all-in-one destination. For more information on the various packages, click here.


There’s A Movie Titled, “Let Me Eat Your Pancreas” & It’s Coming To Malaysia

Ah, the beauty of Japanese entertainment.

We’ve all heard of or seen strange Japanese movie titles before, whether they were as originally intended or something that was clearly lost in translation. For example, 2004’s “The Notebook” (which stars Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams) is known as “The Story I Read To You” in Japan.

Malaysian cinema chain GSC Cinemas took to their Facebook page to share a poster of an upcoming Japanese romance flick. Its literal title is, wait for it, “Let Me Eat Your Pancreas” (君の膵臓をたべたい) ? Yup, let that sink in for a while, really digest it (no pun intended), and allow the initial shock to pass before you burst out laughing.

Laugh all you want, but apparently, “Let Me Eat Your Pancreas” is a sad movie. Based on a Yoru Sumino novel of the same name, the story centres on a high school girl named Sakura (played by Minami Hamabe) who has pancreatic cancer and only a year to live. A boy (played by Takumi Kitamura) discovers Sakura’s “Disease Coexistence Journal”, which documents her terminal illness, and tries his best to cheer her up.

Not sure what the “Let Me Eat Your Pancreas” context is, but the story was so loved and the novel (which was released on web first before being adapted into print) was so wildly successful that there’s even an anime film in the works.

That having said, imagine the conversation that would ensue when you purchase the “Let Me Eat Your Pancreas” tickets off a GSC Cinemas counter. “Hi, let me eat your pancreas for 2 adults please?” Cue weird looks from the staff and the other moviegoers in line. We don’t know about you, but we want to watch this, and we’re definitely buying the tickets off the GSC Cinemas website to avoid awkwardness ?

“Let Me Eat Your Pancreas” will be released at a GSC Cinemas outlet near you on 9th November 2017.

For more information about “Let Me Eat Your Pancreas”, hit up GSC Cinemas’ Facebook page or website.

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TikTok Users Under Fire For Plagiarising APINK’s Choreography

A couple of famous TikTok users got called out recently for making use of choreography for APINK (에이핑크)’s chart-topping hit “Dumhdurum” without their permission.

To top it off, they even referred the dance as a “new challenge” using a completely different song! As seen in the tweet below, a fan even put together a split-screen view of the two dances for those who are not familiar with the choreography.

In response to the massive backlash, one of the girls from the clip, Jaz (@jazlynbaybee) took to her social media to clap back at the naysayers, further sparking outrage among K-fans – particularly Pink Pandas (loyal APINK supporters). “…(Otherwise) go talk to APINK or someone who wants to listen to negativity because I don’t care,” said the lady.

Disappointed with the girl’s unapologetic response, fans then started swarming her TikTok account with tons of negative remarks. The TikTok dancer ended up disabling the comments section, presumably to avoid further criticism from die-hard fans of the girl group. She also subsequently has change her Instagram to private.

Despite that, others continued to slam the girls on Twitter to express their frustration towards the girls who claimed that they were the ones who created the sequence. Someone even commented, “The colonisers (white people) are at it AGAIN.”

people dming me this from one of their Instagrams… the AUDACITY the NERVE… negativity? bitch you stole the whole dance without credit… you will care when we see you in court 👩🏻⚖ pic.twitter.com/VWsVDY9cdq

Moral of the story: It is always important to give credit where credit is due.


Camila Cabello To Make Her Acting Debut In Sony’s New Cinderella Movie

Camila Cabello is set to take on the lead role in Sony Pictures upcoming adaptation of the classic tale, “Cinderella”.

Directed by “Pitch Perfect” director, Kay Cannon, the movie will be a music-oriented version of the classic story. The idea for the movie initially came from James Corden who is famously known for hosting “The Late Late Show with James Corden” and for skits like the “Carpool Karaoke”.

In fact, Corden himself is set to produce the feature film with Leo Pearlman under their production company, Fulwell73 banner.

It was also revealed that Cabello is closely involved in the music-making for this film. Following the announcement of this movie, Sony took to twitter to express their excitement for the film.

Grab your glass slippers and ballgowns ✨(@Camila_Cabello) pic.twitter.com/X31iu9XzzN

The upcoming adaptation will mark Cabello’s first acting role in a feature film. Before landing on this role, Cabello first gained recognition as a member of the girl group, “Fifth Harmony” before deciding to pursue a solo career.

Her single “Havana” and debut album “Camilla” made history right out the gates, landing on both the Billboard 200 and Artist 100 charts in the same week. Her single “Havana” was also the most streamed song by a female artist on Spotify. The tune was crowned the best-selling digital single worldwide by music organisation, IFPI.


Celebrate New Year’s Eve With Celebrities At These Places In Malaysia

2019 is just around the corner, so it is almost time for us to wrap up the year of 2018 with a blast!

While there are plenty of places you can celebrate and ring in the New Year, we would like to suggest 7 places for you to countdown alongside some of your favourite celebrities on New Year’s Eve.

*Note: All of these events takes place on New Year’s Eve, 31st December 2018.

Welcome the New Year at Sunway Velocity Mall’s New Year’s Eve Countdown party which will be opened to the public for FREE! Apart from having amazing fireworks show, the party will also include a Countdown Concert featuring several top performers from Malaysia such as  Faizal Tahir, Dayang Nurfaizah, Paperplane Pursuit, Alvin Chong, Jenn Chia, Juztin Lan, Khai Bahar, Dennis Yin & Crew, and Rejuvenate Dance Crew.

Usher in the New Year with some of Malaysia’s hottest acts including seasoned rock band Hujan, musical pop band FAZZ, Chinese pop duo Thomas Jack, singer-songwriter Froya, up and coming songbird Shalma Eliana, and “The Voice” Malaysia winner Lime Wen Suen. Apart from the performances, visitors can also enjoy the dazzling fireworks, celebratory delights and a countdown like no other. Admission to the party is FREE!

Celebrate New Year’s Eve with Malaysia’s very own international sensation Yuna at the brand new Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast. Enjoy the dinner party in a tropical glitz and glamour setting which will also feature DJ Kenji and local rock band Overnight Band. The party will be wrapped with countdown and fireworks display. Tickets are priced at RM68 per person, available via airasiaredtix.com.

No one else is a better person to wrap up the year of 2018 other than the Godfather of Malaysian Stand-up Comedy, Harith Iskander. With 2018 coming to a close, Funniest Person in the World titleholder shall regales you with stories and jokes about the year that was, by recounting the iconic events that happened throughout 2018 in a humorous way! Get your tickets now at thejokefactory.wasap.my or call 013-5231491.

SkyBar Kuala Lumpur has gathered a solid line-up of performers to ring in the New Year with its patrons. The artists include British DJ/producer and Platinum recording artist Charlotte Devaney who is known for her hit with Snoop Dogg “Flip It”, the energetic bombshell DJ from Australia Natalia Moon, Malaysia’s #1 violinist Dennis Lau, one of the best upcoming DJs in Malaysia Ezzy, and master of latin beats YOYO. For bookings contact skybar.thkl@tradershotels.com or call 03-2332 9888.

Malaysia’s biggest Countdown is back! Get ready to explore, engage, energise and enjoy at NEON Countdown with Dutch DJ duo W&W as the headliner! Dutch dynamo Maurice West, TNT aka Technoboy ‘N’ Tuneboy, Aussie act Dimatik as well as Malaysia’s finest artists Chukiess & Whackboi, Bass Agents and more will also join the line-up. Take your NYE countdown celebration to the next level and treat yourself to some unique perks, from the gourmet food and drinks options, to a dazzling array of special activities and entertainment. Tickets are available at AirAsiaRedtix.com.

Calling all fitness lovers! Start your New Year’s resolution with your favourite fitness stars for a round of Movement Training, HIIT and Zumba at Mutiara Damansara led by fitness celebrities Hansen Lee, Nana Al Haleq and Lee Yvonne. Come and workout a sweat first and then stay back for the countdown party which will feature famous local performers like Ruffedge, Aizat Amdan, Talitha Tan, Orange Tan, Elvira Arul and Phat Fabes. Free registration can be made here.

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#TaeTiSeo: A Peek At Their New Reality TV Show

(Featured image from SMTOWN’s Facebook page)

When Tiffany first hinted on OnStyle variety TV show “Jessica & Krystal” that TaeTiSeo aka TTS were recording new material for an album, we were overjoyed! Mostly because it has been 2 years since we’ve heard anything from the SNSD Girls’ Generation subunit. Now, prior to the release of their highly anticipated album, TTS members (Taeyeon, Tiffany, and Seohyun) are all set to reveal inside looks of their day-to-day lives via “The TaeTiSeo” on OnStyle!

Tiffany said during a press conference held in Seoul last week, “We wanted to make our comeback special by starring in a reality show. First, audiences will get to see more about our everyday life, and then get to see our lives as entertainers toward the latter part of the show.”

The girls also said that they’ve known each other for more than 10 years and therefore, they feel like family – sisters, to be exact. Taeyeon further explained, “Instead of showing anything big, the program will be all about us being natural. Since there might be some people who don’t know TaeTiSeo because we only released an album once, we wanted to focus more on showing a humane side rather than the professional side on stage.”

However, don’t expect Taeyeon to reveal much details about her love life through the show as she doesn’t think that she needs to show every part of her private life just because she’s on a reality show. We reckon she’s talking about details regarding dating EXO’s Baekhyun. It’s totally fine by us if she doesn’t anyway because it’s her prerogative and the goal of “The TaeTiSeo” is to share how they’re preparing for their new album. Hence, there’s a chance that TaeTiSeo’s new album will be released through the program! True story, SONEs.

Are you guys excited or what? We honestly can’t wait!

See more pictures from the “The TaeTiSeo” press conference here:


CONTEST: Win Limited Edition Snow White and The Huntsman Merchandise

Facing Monday blues? Swamped by an overwhelming amount of e-mails? Wish you had your weekend back?

How about we make your first day of the week just a little bit more beareable? With some awesome prizes! Thanks to the wonderful people at United International Pictures (UIP), we’re giving away some official, limited edition “Snow White and the Huntsman” merchandise.

All you have to do is answer the following questions:

“I deserve to win the official Snow White and the Huntsman merchandise because..”

E-mail your answers to submit@hype.my and you’re automatically in the running to win the following official “Snow White and the Huntsman” merchandise:

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


Harith Iskander & Chef Wan Share Interesting Insights On Aliff Syukri’s MV Controversy

Dato’ Aliff Syukir found himself landing in hot waters soon after the music video for his new Raya song, “Kelepok Raya”, was released on his official YouTube last week. Despite the Religious Affairs Minister’s call for the MV to be removed, the clip is still available on YouTube, and has amassed up to 1.7 million views at the time of writing.

The video gained plenty of criticism from Malaysians for its inappropriate elements, namely for featuring effeminate male dancers. Among the many people who shared their reactions include Harith Iskander and also Chef Wan.

In a post shared on his socials, the comedian uploaded a screenshot of an article by mStar. “So Aliff Shukri and his guys are being investigated by the MCMC for their provocative Hari Raya clip. Personally I think they should be investigated for producing a really bad Hari Raya song 🤣 I have a sneaky feeling Aliff knew what he was doing and is just a marketing genius,” Harith remarked.

Chef Wan was also spotted leaving his reaction to Harith’s IG post. The Malaysian cooking icon revealed, “He told me once, ‘Chef Wan, you need to do this to go viral, put it on YouTube. People can talk bad about me all they want, but I still make money out of it. Take a look at all this cheques paid by YouTube. You have a huge amount of followers, Chef. Just do it’. Then I responded, ‘I’m not the type of person who is avaricious and willing to do everything for money. I cannot put myself at that level.'”

“If I say some things, I mean it by heart. Those who don’t agree with my views or my principles can go to hell! I have a class of my own. There’s no need to earn money from public criticism, Aliff. Others might find what I say is harsh but I also get a lot of respect from others who understand why I had to speak up! I’m making money to seek the pleasure of God, not to impress other people, Aliff!” he further added in his lengthy comment.

Following the massive backlash, Aliff took to his Instagram recently to announce that he will be launching another MV for “Kelepok Raya” soon. He wrote, “Finally, I’ve decided to fulfil the netizens’ wishes. Hope you guys are happy. Stay tuned on Rusa Music’s YouTube channel on Thursday (28th April) at 5pm.”

However, the news was not well-received by netizens on social media. Most of them weren’t keen on Aliff’s upcoming “Kelepok Raya” MV. “We don’t want you,” Instagram user @sazrin_haorin commented. “He already gained enough from the first video. And now he wants to come out with a more decent version of the MV. Afterwards, all of the fans will go and watch the video. His payment will be doubled. How smart.”

How do you think the new “Kelepok Raya” MV will look like?

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7 Things Fans Can Expect From BTS’ Love Yourself Concert

BTS are no strangers to the world of pop music. From conquering Korean charts to crossing over and exploding in the mainstream scene; there seem to be no heights that these seven boys can’t reach. Consisting of leader RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V and Jungkook; it’s been a remarkable few years for the K-pop septet.

In particular, their “Love Yourself” series – consisting of “Her”, “Tear” and the most recent release, “Answer” – have been their most successful musical achievement to date. If you managed to bag yourself tickets to their Singapore show (or any upcoming concerts), here are some things you can look forward to!

Kicking off at their Seoul concert, BTS surprised ARMYs by performing several of their older tracks! Who could forget classics like the heavy hip hop of “No More Dream”, the rock-inspired tough guy anthem “Boy In Luv” or the angsty masterpiece of “I Need U”? With their discography growing per release, many fans seemed to have given up on having the chance to see their older songs live but BTS seem to think otherwise!

Yet another concert privilege ARMYs will finally be able to see is the members’ solo stages at their concert! From the rap line’s Trivia series (“Just Dance” by J-Hope, “Love” by RM, and “Seesaw” by Suga) to the intros done by the vocal line (“Serendipity” by Jimin, “Singularity” by V, “Epiphany” by Jin and “Euphoria” by Jungkook), fans will get to hear each member individually explore a track fully.

With the heights BTS have achieved, there is no doubt that this round of a tour will bring all the glitz and glamour that defines K-pop. Who knows what possibilities lie with this leg of the tour? Recently the boys unveiled new unexpected hair colours amongst many surprises, so only time will tell with what could potentially happen! For the time being though, we are absolutely loving V’s gorgeous blue hair!

What better way to declare being a fan than showing it off with merchandise? Lucky for ARMYs, the tour brings BTS’ official merch store with them selling various BTS goodies available for purchase. Ranging from items such as limited edition photo cards, posters, keychains to bags, hoodies and shirts; this is a must-have for die-hard fans. Make sure to line up early for them, all stocks are first come, first served!

What is BTS without Jin’s corny dad jokes, J-Hope’s extraness, Jimin’s cute smile, Suga’s golden one liners, V’s random observations, Jungkook’s cheekiness and RM’s words of wisdom? Nothings beats witnessing the aforementioned in person.

Long time fans of BTS would know that the “The Most Beautiful Moment In Life” (shortened as HYYH) theories and storylines make up a huge chunk of their narrative. With new releases as an online manga titled “Save ME”  and a rumoured book on the way to further explain things we may have missed in the HYYH storyline, concert VCRs often give massive hints of what to expect. Keep your eyes peeled, ARMYs! It’s time to delve even further with conspiracy theories.

Make sure you have your ARMY bomb ready on hand, guys! Being a part of any K-pop fandom includes the tradition of turning on your light-stick to show support towards your favourite groups.

With a fandom as big as BTS’, we’re expecting a whole stadium full of ARMY bombs! The feeling of being connected and in sync with everyone as your favourite group sing your favourite songs, what could be better than that?

And of course, to all of you Jungkook enthusiasts – there is always that one part in “Fake Love” that will indefinitely get your heart skipping a beat ;)


China’s Dadi Theater Circuit Set To Replace GSC Pavilion KL

By now, you probably would’ve heard that GSC (Golden Screen Cinemas) will cease operation in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur on 17th February 2020 onwards.

This will mark the end of GSC Pavilion KL‘s 12-year run ever since it debuted back in 2007. Filling in the void will be Dadi Theater Circuit (大地院线) – a China-based cinema chain.

“With the recent announcement by GSC Cinemas that they will cease operation in Pavilion KL on 17 February 2020, we would like to assure our shoppers of our commitment in delivering the latest and innovative experiences within the mall.

A new international operator, Dadi Cinema will be making its debut in Malaysia at Pavilion KL. Scheduled to open in Q3 2020, Dadi Cinema will bring a fully immersive and premium cinematic experience to our moviegoers. This is in line with Pavilion KL’s effort to continuously bring innovative retail and entertainment brands to the Malaysian market. Thank you.”

GSC also released a statement, informing movie-goers that “our cinema will remain fully operational until our last day of business, which will be on Feb 16, 2020 (Sunday)“. The company also suggested that audiences can always visit nearby cinemas in Berjaya Times Square, Quill City Mall and MyTown in Cheras.

Naturally, people are curious about the space left by GSC Pavilion. Pavilion Real Estate Investment Trust asset manager (retail) Datuk Joyce Yap told The Edge Markets that Dadi Theater Circuit (or Dadi Cinema) is expected to make its Malaysian debut at Pavilion KL in May 2021.

Dadi Theater Circuit is said to be China’s second-largest cinema chain and is looking to expand its presence across Asia.

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It’s Over For Tom & Katie

It was a dream come true for one Dawson’s Creek star when she married her childhood crush. He, on the other hand was so elated that his happiness became one of television’s most famous moments.

Seriously, can you forget the way he expressed his mad love for her by jumping on Oprah Winfrey’s couch?

So who would’ve guessed that just five years after their marriage, Katie Holmes would be filing for divorce citing irreconcilable differences?

Yes, this morning, the world reeled from the news of their split. We can’t say we saw it coming!

What’s more shocking is that news reports have also included the fact that Katie is requesting for sole custody of their daughter. Apparently, she holds great fears that Tom Cruise would drag six-year-old Suri into the Church of Scientology and therefore, is refusing to let him have control over decisions relating to Suri’s religion.

Well, you know, we always thought that Katie was a-okay with Tom’s religion considering her immediate conversion and their elaborate Scientology wedding five years ago!

But we guess it’s always easy to be blown away by all the romance, love, fame, fortune, private jets, and shopping sprees when you’re young. Even that gets too much. Once the “love goggles” were removed, Katie decided that she has had enough.

While Tom is deeply saddened by this move and everybody is dying to dig deeper into this, Katie’s lawyer, Jonathan Wolfe said, “This is a personal and private matter for Katie and her family.” and Tom’s representative, Amanda Lundberg added, “Please allow them their privacy to work this out.”

Cue to heave a sigh right about now. Sigh!


Have A Legit #HappyBeautifulYear With Watsons’ EPIC CNY Promos & Prizes!

Watsons Malaysia is marking the Lunar New Year by launching its largest campaign ever – and you’re invited to join in a magnificent celebration centered on the harmonious balance of health and beauty.

Watsons’ #HappyBeautifulYear campaign, like in previous years, will provide you with a wealth of discounts and bargains – but BIGGER AND BETTER! Before we delve into all the deets though, let’s take a closer look at #HappyBeautifulYear 2023 and how it’s the most ambitious Watsons campaign yet!

Watsons’ hotly-anticipated Chinese New Year brand film, starring Malaysian celebrities such as Watsons Ambassador, Phei Yong, and Watsons Celebrity Friends like Amber Chia, Han Xiiao Aii, Jordan Voon, Kwok Yan Yan, Perry Kuan and others, launched the campaign with a bang. The humorous video conveys a message that encourages love and compassion, which leads to the creation of lasting moments with families, friends, and loved ones.

Watch Watsons’ 2023 #HappyBeautifulYear film:

The brand film aspires to express a sense of unity, while looking beautiful and feeling great, in an environment of joy, excitement, and extravagance – all elements of the 2023 campaign.

While Chinese New Year is a celebration of hope, prosperity, and wealth, it’s also a wonderful time to remember to give back to the community – which is precisely what Watsons did to kick off the Year of the Rabbit. Watsons has always been at the forefront of community-giving, and for this year’s Chinese New Year, the beloved brand visited over 22 homes and orphanages to spread the joy. Watsons gave out CNY goodie packages that included essentials, vitamins, personal care goods, and food supplies in hopes of putting a smile on everyone’s faces during the festivities.

Now for the fun part: Watsons has organized a number of exciting promos for everyone, as well as rewards unlike any other! To begin, there’s a fantastic sale of up to 50% in-store and online, with unique CNY presents and hampers, special gifts, and Health & Beauty Voucher discounts of up to RM239. Watsons Club members are now eligible to win prizes worth up to RM3,888,888, including a 3-night cruise with World Resort Cruises for 30 winners and more!

To be in the running to win these prizes, just shop at Watsons Malaysia! Watsons Club members must spend RM80 in a single transaction in-store or online until 22nd February 2023, to be eligible for rewards valued up to RM3,888,888.

The fun doesn’t end there, as apart from the main prizes, Watsons members will receive FREE angpow packets with a minimum expenditure of RM88 and above, while Elite members will be eligible for a Free Limited-Edition Cup Warmer with a minimum spend of RM288 and above while shopping at the store.

Watsons Malaysia also invites you to celebrate the Happy Beautiful Year by striking your finest runway poses with the brand’s AR Filter, for which you might win RM888 in Watsons points. Alternatively, you may sing along to Watsons’ signature Gor Leng Lin song and duet it on Watsons’ TikTok to demonstrate your festive zeal for this year’s Chinese New Year!

Visit your local Watsons store or Watsons online for a chance to win incredible rewards this CNY!

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#Disney: Full Movie Slate Includes #TheIncredibles2, #Cars3, & More

Disney aka the Mouse House is not only trying to rule the cinematic world with its Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), but also through its live-action fairy tales and animated films.

At the New York Comic-Con, Disney announced the release dates for a total of 19 movies through 2020.

According to Variety, Disney Pixar’s “The Incredibles 2” is finally confirmed to be released on 21st June 2019.

“Tomorrowland” director Brad Bird is returning to direct the sequel. When this movie hit theatres in 2019, it will mark 15 years since the release of the original classic.

Plot details are scarce, but Bird has given a status update on “The Incredibles 2” last month.

I have the story arc. I’m probably 3-quarters through the script, first pass through the script, but we’re already boarding parts of it. I’ve got a lot of people that worked on the first one working on it, so we’re all having a good time with it.

The original cast members are expected to return to voice their respective characters, but there’s no confirmation yet. While it’s not verified, Samuel L. Jackson previously said in an interview with Digital Spy that his character Frozone will be part of the movie.

He said, “Every time I run into Brad, he always tells me Frozone is part of what’s going on, so I have to believe that.“

The release date for the 3rd “Cars” film has also been announced. According to Disney, it will hit the theatres on 16th June 2017, taking over the former release date of “Toy Story 4”. Thus, the 4th “Toy Story” film will now open on 15th June 2018.

Gigantic, the new “Jack and the Beanstalk” movie, will be released on 9th March 2018. Another 2 untitled animated films are slotted for release on 21st November 2018 and 25th November 2020.

Undated animated features we know to be in development at Disney include “Frozen 2” and “Wreck-It Ralph 2”.

Disney currently also has a plethora of live-action fairy tales in multiple stages of development, which include:

As confirmed by the studio today, 4 of the live-action fairy tales will be released on 22nd December 2017, 2nd November 2018, 29th March 2019, and 8th November 2019. However, the studio did not announce the titles of these films yet.

The studio is also planning to develop the sequel of “Enchanted” and the live-action remake of “Mary Poppins“, but the release dates are unconfirmed.

We’re proud to present the official release dates for our upcoming slate of films through 2019. pic.twitter.com/1cbmRnVv03

The newly-announced movie slate is as follows:

So, which Disney movie are you looking forward to watch? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.

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Nate (fun.) & Ellie Goulding Are Dating

Nate and Ellie sitting on a tree. Uh huh, apparently they are.

Nate Ruess (fun. frontman) is said to have met British singer Ellie Golding recently while they were both touring Australia. Lo and behold, a romance blossomed between the two. A source have told The People:

Ellie and Nate were both in Brisbane where they were gigging and they met. They instantly got on really well and arranged to meet up again. They have been out together a few times now and Ellie really likes him. They were seen in Brisbane looking really happy, they were laughing and touching one another very affectionately.

Nevermind touching one another affectionately. They’ve both covered each other’s songs recently too!

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An odd coupling much? But then again, Ellie did previously date Sonny Moore aka Skrillex. Nothing could’ve been more odd than that! Besides, Nate has previously spoken of his admiration for Goulding, picking her as his perfect collaboration partner, saying, “I’m like such a big fan of that last album. Hopefully maybe she and I will get the chance to work together some time soon”.

We say, we want pictures! Pics or it didn’t happen, yo.


FoodPanda Confirms Covid-19 Case Among Corporate Staffs

Yikes! Apparently word has it that a corporate staff member of the famous local delivery app FoodPanda has tested positive for coronavirus!

This came in the midst of the restricted movement order implemented by the government recently. Still, there are other companies that are working hard in order to fulfil the public’s essential needs, including FoodPanda itself.

In light of the recent issue, FoodPanda has taken proactive steps by undertaking immediate sanitisation procedure. As per VOCKET, the company has made it a requirement that all the staffs are to carry out further health check-ups, with all expenses covered.

Up to this day, no cases involving the riders have been reported. Food delivery operations are still under way as usual. So, rest assured that y’all can still order your food for now.

Fingers crossed the virus won’t affect more local businesses after this.

Source: VOCKET. / Featured Image: Scoopnest.


Woman Who Reported Newborn Is Mother

A 22-year-old woman who raised the initial alarm about a newborn trapped in a sewer pipe in China kept quiet about being his mother even as she watched the sensational two-hour rescue unfold, reports said Wednesday. The woman, whose name was not revealed in state media reports, confessed to police a couple of days later when they asked her to undergo a medical checkup after searching her rented room and finding toys and blood-stained toilet paper.

The single woman, a tenant in the building, told police she could not afford an abortion and secretly delivered the child Saturday afternoon in the toilet. She said the newborn slipped into the sewer line and that she alerted her landlord of the trapped baby after she could not pull the child out.

Police initially said they were treating the case of as possible attempted homicide, but it was not immediately clear whether the mother would face any criminal charges. However, the mother was present throughout the entire rescue and expressed her concern for the child, though that didn’t initially rouse suspicion of the police.

The landlord of the building told Zhejiang News earlier in the week that there were no signs that the birth took place in the restroom and she had not been aware of any recent pregnancies among her tenants. The mother told police she cleaned up the scene in the toilet after the delivery and that she managed to hide her pregnancy by wearing loose clothes and tightly wrapping her abdomen, Zhejiang News said.

Video of the rescue of Baby No. 59 (so named because of his incubator number in the hospital) was shown on Chinese news programs and websites starting late Monday and picked up worldwide, prompting both horror and an outpouring of charity on behalf of the newborn:

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News of the baby’s ordeal was met with horror and pity by bloggers on Chinese sites. Most speculated that the child had been dumped by his parents down the toilet. The rescue prompted an outpouring from strangers who came to the hospital with diapers, baby clothes, powdered milk, and offers to adopt him.

The baby, who weighed 2.8 kilograms (6 pounds, 2.8 ounces), had a low heart rate and some minor abrasions on his head and limbs, but was mostly unhurt. He’s currently on the road to recovery in a hospital in China.

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International Women’s Day: 7 Empowering Female Characters Of The Decade

Strength, elegance, resilience – These are some traits embodied by our favourite heroines! Check out our leading ladies who we believe exude tremendous tenacity and inner beauty, serving as inspiring role models for women everywhere. They have shown us that anything is possible – you just need to demonstrate bravery, independence and perseverance to accomplish what your heart desires.

As we continue to celebrate strong and empowering women this March, let’s take a peek at 7 exemplary female characters – including our very own Malaysian heroines – who have made their mark on screens and inspired us!

An Amazonian warrior princess, Diana Prince is one of the world’s first superheroes. With her flaming fighting spirit, she believes in the collective power of women to challenge any form of evil, especially those that seek to destroy their reputation. Wonder Woman is truly an empowering symbol of feminine power, embodying the true spirit of a ‘Woman of Wonder’!

After Patience Philips was killed abruptly, she was miraculously revived by The Greatest Goddess Bastet and transformed into a Catwoman – a powerful feline superhuman. The Catwomen were created to teach mankind a life lesson of humanity; that there is no pure good or evil, no black and white, and that humans are all grey beings. Now armed with self-confidence and a strong sense of justice Patience Philips has become a fierce warrior with the force of a cat who prowls the night.

Armed with a passion for social justice and a flair for speaking her mind, military-trained street fighter Kate Kane is a quick-witted young woman who suffered immense tragedy in her life. Dubbed as a masked vigilante in her home of Gotham City, Kate, who is also widely known as Batwoman, serves as a beacon of change. She often rights the wrongs of social justice and fights for those marginalised in society.

Batwoman created waves by changing the way viewers perceived superheroes. As the female star of the show, she embodies strong traits that continue to inspire young women all over the world.

Sara Lance, also known as the White Canary, is a courageous woman with a complicated history. Despite her past, she freed herself from her burdens and has demonstrated incomparable perseverance by remaining true to herself. Now, a twist of fate has led her onto her current path: Acting Captain of the Waveraider and the leader of the Legends.

Sara has been quoted, “If you want to harness your power, you need to learn to control your fear”. Her undying bravery and fearlessness has shaped who she is today, proving that self-confidence and courage are key traits of empowerment. White Canary herself has never backed down from a fight, always asserting authority over who she is dealing with, no matter where she is.

Being one of the most powerful superheroes in Arrowverse, Kara Danvers is the ultimate heroine for many, breaking every stereotype of a superhero. But she is more than just a woman with superpowers – Supergirl possesses strong human qualities like humility, kindness and selflessness, serving as an inspiration for many young women all over the world.

A ‘Woman of Wonder’ doesn’t always mean having superpowers, but also giving “hope, help and compassion for all” – a motto held close to heart by Supergirl. Indeed, a warm and generous heart can serve as an equally strong armour.

Now, let’s have a look at our Malaysian heroines!

Even though she's strict, 😡 Ejen Alicia is still amongst the best Young Ejen in MATA! 🥇

Join Ejen Alicia in her mission in Ejen Ali The Movie this 28 November!

🤜🏻💥🤛🏻#EjenAli #EjenAliTheMovie #EjenAlicia #CharacterPoster pic.twitter.com/RYzQSMJllE

— Ejen Ali (@ejen_ali) November 14, 2019

A leader by nature and the top student in her class, Ejen Alicia chased her dreams of wanting to be a trained agent despite her father’s objections. Often described as a miniature warrior princess throwing formidable slingshots and stylish kicks, Alicia is a strong and independent heroine empowering little girls to never back down and always rise above the rest.

She’s no ordinary mother – Amy is a full-time housewife demonstrating the strength and speed of a teenager, having inherited her powers from her ancestors in the Riau Islands. However, with great power comes great accountability, and Amy justifies her role as a supermom through her selflessness and willpower to protect her kids from all evil.

Can’t get enough of these fearless female figures? Catch our Women of Wonder on Warner TV (Astro Ch 719 and Unifi TV Ch 451) this March during these timeslots:

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Hype’s Exclusive: #FallingBack In Love With Cosmic Gate

Over the weekend, German DJs/producers Cosmic Gate (Nic Chagall and Bossi) returned to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia after a year to play a long awaited, much needed trance set at Zouk Club KL. The last time we spoke to Nic Chagall and Bossi, their fifth studio album, “Start To Feel” was still in the works.

One year on, we find out what they’ve been up to and if they were just as excited about coming back to sunny Kuala Lumpur as we were!

Hi guys! Welcome back. I think we haven’t seen you in just a little over a year. What were you looking forward most to when you knew that you were coming back to Kuala Lumpur?

Bossi: To play at Zouk! It has been so long and it’s always a good atmosphere and it’s a great club. We just remember people going crazy so let’s hope that it’s like that tonight too :)

Because this is part of your “Start To Feel” tour, tell us a little bit more about the album. How is it different from your 5th studio album, “Wake Your Mind”?

Bossi: How is the music different? (looks at Nic)

Nic: It’s 2 years after “Wake Your Mind” and I think we wanted to make more of a statement this time around. That music, for us, is about..”to feel” and this time, the music is more emotional. With “Wake Your Mind” we wanted to do that already but with “Start To Feel”..

Bossi: It was pretty clear to us that..we knew how not to sound than how we wanted to sound. We didn’t want to go down the EDM road because we were pretty annoyed with that sound. We were just like, “Okay, let’s just produce the right music that we like!”. So, relatively fast we did the demos and we felt that it sounded modern from the beats but still when we were writing the harmonies and melodies..it was all pretty touching. And when the vocals came on top, we right away knew that this was going down a certain road.

Nic: I really love how like Bossi said, how we knew how we don’t want to sound.

Bossi: You can have drops but that’s not what music is purely about.

By the way, I have to say that I love “Falling Back” & I had it on repeat for weeks. For a track like that, especially one that involves a vocalist, what was the production process like?

Nic: That’s cool that you loved it! Actually, “Falling Back”, it’s good that you mentioned it because that’s the perfect example of what we just talked about. I think “Falling Back” is a track that fits to the sound nowadays – it has that moment and it’s like, in your face, but it still has emotions, it has the pianos, you know what I mean? It’s still very touching. And for us it’s the perfect combination and the perfect example of what we just talked about. It doesn’t have a drop but it’s very euphoric.

Despite the changes & evolution that the both of you as DJs/producers as well as the dance music scene has gone through, what formula do you think it was that made it work for you guys?

Nic: Formula hmm..I think that we all just need our own identity. It sounds really stupid but when we go to the studio, we know what we don’t want to sound like. We always just go with the flow and we just do what we do. All that traveling, all the DJing, it’s all influence to us. We see what’s going on, we know what’s going on, and it’ll always be a part of our productions without losing what we really feel and what we really want to accomplish.

Bossi: That’s easy – we just do what we like. There are other projects that we produce that aren’t under our names that people don’t know about and probably won’t guess that we’re capable of doing. But Cosmic Gate will always be Cosmic Gate so there will never be a track that we both don’t like.

The DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll 2014/2015 will be announced in 2 days. What’s your take on it? Do you care or not care, is it still relevant or is it just a popularity contest?

Nic: What, it’ll be announced in 2 days? I had no idea! That is a tricky question.

Bossi: It’s business. There are promoters that look at the list but to be honest, I’ve seen names in there that I’ve never heard of before!

Nic: We have a very weird relationship with that. When we are climbing, of course we like it. But on other hand..

Bossi: At the end of the day, it’s just a list. It’s good that we have something to talk about though (laughs)

Nic: It’s just a list, but we’re looking at it. You know what, My hero Eric Prydz is not in the top 10. I know he pulls huge crowds wherever he plays but maybe not the 18-year-olds – I don’t know what it is. He’s a huge DJ and he could probably play Madison Square Garden in New York and it’d probably be sold out. But on the list he’s number 60 something. Think about that ;)

Thank you both for the chat! Also, much thanks to our friends from Zouk Club KL for making this interview happen. Let’s not forget to congratulate Cosmic Gate on cinching the #69 spot for this year’s DJ Mag Top 100 DJs poll!

For more information on Cosmic Gate, visit their website or Facebook page. They’re also on Twitter and Instagram, if you’d like to keep up to date with the duo ;)

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#Bambino: Rookie Group Member #Hadam’s Controversial “Wardrobe Malfunction”

Remember when 5-member K-Pop idol girl group EXID (particularly, Hani) made waves when a fancam of their “Up & Down” performance went viral a little earlier this year? It seems like another rookie group may or may not garner the same kind of attention because of a fancam.

Bambino (밤비노), a South Korean 4-member rookie girl group officially made their debut last month with their single, “Oppa Oppa”. But already, the spotlight’s on them (despite being a new group) as they’ve recently blown up due to their sexy dance moves. By that, we mean sometimes overly sexy in what is deemed to be unnecessarily revealing outfits.

In one of their most recent performances, the members donned on extremely short shorts that were in no way made for hip-thrusting and grinding, which made for easy “wardrobe malfunction”. As seen in the image above.

The incident was caught on a fancam of Bambino member Hadam (하담), who was exposing more than she should’ve in a live performance for “New Thang”. The video was uploaded on 22nd July and as at time of writing, it has already garnered more than 3.6 million views. For very obvious reasons.

Is this an example of K-Pop provocativeness getting way out of hand? Watch and decide:

So, what are your thoughts on the video above? Feel free to discuss ’em in the comments box below!


sooka Debuts 1st Original Series “Love in Lockdown”; 20 More Original Shows To Follow

sooka has just launched its first Original series – “Love in Lockdown” – starring Siti Saleha, Julia Farhana Marin, Shah Iskandar, Sara Mack Lubis, and Bella Rahim. “Love in Lockdown” will be available on sooka starting 20th February 2022.

Since its inception in June 2021, sooka aims to be the go-to entertainment streaming service for Malaysians, with the goal to enable the best local entertainment for millennials to enjoy. This ambition is closing to realisation with the launch of sooka’s first Originals series, “Love in Lockdown”, as sooka continues its aim to produce more hyper-local content that resonates with mobile-first millennial audience.

“sooka’s main differentiator is its capability to deliver LIVE global and local sports events, and integrating local favourites suited to Malaysians’ viewing preferences such as local drama series and movies, and LIVE reality entertainment programmes. With a strong pipeline of sooka Originals slated to launch this year, audience will be able to enjoy greater content offering from sooka, tastefully curated with more local flavours that cater exclusively to Malaysians’ preferences, views, and touchpoints,” said Emarina Mohd Kamal, Head of Programming at sooka.

Kickstarting a strong year of sooka Originals

“Love in Lockdown”, directed by Mai Fernandez, tells the story of personal and family adversities at the face of the pandemic. Produced through a collaborative effort with a local production house, Pho Sumpro, the series will run for 10 episodes exclusively on sooka.

“The launch of “Love in Lockdown” kick starts sooka’s strong pipeline of 20 Originals throughout 2022 – produced through our creative collaborations with notable, local production houses and content creators, such as Pho Sumpro, Thinker Studios, Petra Vision Works, KL Motion Pictures Co., KRU, Michael Ang, and more,” said Emarina.

“The stories we want to tell through sooka Originals stems from our brand aspiration to be bold, visionary, and different; and what better way to turn this into a reality than working with strong local content partners who are excellent storytellers, and who understand what audiences look for in great, local content,” added Emarina.

“Love in Lockdown” is exclusively available on sooka. Audience will be able to watch the 1st 2 episodes for FREE starting 20th February 2022, and catch the rest of the episodes by subscribing to sooka’s VIP Entertainment Plan (RP: RM15.90/month), or VIP+Sports Plan (RP: RM41.90/month).


Hype’s Must Watch: Everest

“Everest” is a 2015 American 3D biographical disaster drama and adventure thriller film directed by Baltasar Kormákur and written by William Nicholson and Simon Beaufoy.

It is based on the real events of the 1996 Mount Everest disaster, and will focus on the summit and survival attempts of 2 expedition groups, one led by Scott Fischer (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) and the other by Rob Hall (played by Jason Clarke).

Note: The 1996 Mount Everest disaster refers to the events of 10th and 11th May 1996, when 8 people were caught in a blizzard and died on Mount Everest during summit attempts. In the entire season, 12 people died trying to reach the summit, making this the deadliest day and the deadliest year on Mount Everest until the 16 fatalities of the 2014 Mount Everest avalanche and the 18 deaths resulting from avalanches caused by the April 2015 Nepal earthquake.

The 1996 disaster gained wide publicity and raised questions about the commercialisation of Everest.

The film will also boast a star-studded cast namely Josh Brolin, John Hawkes, Robin Wright, Michael Kelly, Sam Worthington, Keira Knightley, Emily Watson, and of course, Jason Clarke and Jake Gyllenhaal.

On the morning of 10th May 1996, climbers (Jason Clarke, Josh Brolin) from 2 expeditions start their final ascent toward the summit of Mount Everest, the highest point on Earth. With little warning, a violent storm strikes the mountain, engulfing the adventurers in one of the fiercest blizzards ever encountered by man. Challenged by the harshest conditions imaginable, the teams must endure blistering winds and freezing temperatures in an epic battle to survive against nearly impossible odds.

“Everest” is directed by Baltasar Kormákur (“2 Guns”, “Contraband”) and produced by Working Title Films’ Tim Bevan and Eric Fellner, Cross Creek Pictures’ Brian Oliver and Tyler Thompson, as well as Nicky Kentish Barnes and Kormákur.

The film was shot on location in Nepal on the foothills of Everest, the Italian Alps and at Cinecittà Studios in Rome and Pinewood Studios in the UK.

Watch the trailer for the epic adventure film below:

“Everest” is set to be released in Malaysia on 24th September.

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

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Hypes’ Now Playing: Macklemore & Ryan Lewis ft Ed Sheeran – Growing Up

Currently working on their follow-up to the 2012 album “The Heist” that spawned “Thrift Shop” and “Same Love” which took the duo from indie underdogs to chart-toppers, Macklemore & Ryan Lewis have released their latest single. Titled “Growing Up” the song which features Ed Sheeran, is their first song in three years.

Also serving as a letter to Macklemore’s newborn daughter, “Growing Up” brings out the best in all the artistes featured on the track. Similar to “Same Love”, this new single is comforting, warm and heartfelt. Macklemore offers up important life lessons throughout the song as he raps about how he will juggle parental responsibilities. Coupled with Sheeran’s vocal on the hook, it’s impossible to not fall in love with this track.


Our Picks: Top 5 Tunes Of 2012

Previously, we listed what we thought were the top five viral videos of 2012. Then we asked all y’all on Twitter to suggest our next “our picks”. Most of you said we should do music – so here we are. The below are some of the tunes that we simply couldn’t shake off the entire year.

Sure, the song was released more than a year ago but it got us singing by heart for an entire year. “We Are Young” has had mixed reviews because of its lyrics, which apparently talks about drinking, drugs, and domestic abuse. But haters can be haters and it doesn’t matter because the band’s song became an instant chart-topper. Also, in more recent news, it’s raking up Grammy nominations like they’re free of charge. A total of six nominations, to be exact. What do haters have to say now? Right?

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This bangin’ electronic dance music (EDM) tune stuck with us all through 2012 and it would’ve been a crime if we didn’t include this in our list. It has become so familiar that we’re pretty sure that “Levels” can be identified even if it was being played from a mile away. Admit it – every time a DJ/producer drops this, you get goosebumps. And when Avicii was in Kuala Lumpur for #THIRST2012 (if you were there), you were waiting to hear it.

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Carly Rae Jepsen – Call Me Maybe (February 2012)

People are usually surprised when they find out that the artiste behind one of 2012’s most popular “bubblegum pop” songs is oh, about 27 years old. Despite that, it didn’t stop her from becoming an international success. “Call Me Maybe” became the signature teeny bopper song, spawning hundreds of spoofs and covers across various YouTubers’ channels and people/groups from different walks of life. The truth is, as much as one might find Carly Rae Jepsen’s hit single juvenile and sickening, one also realizes that it’s hard to shake off. Something to someday tell your kids about! C’mon, who doesn’t off and on again joke about, “But here’s my number, so call me maybe?”

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You know you have aced a “hit song” when it plays at malls, retail stores, restaurants and cafes, and get this – clubs. As proven by its mainstream success, BIGBANG and their fans around the world can agree on one thing – that language is certainly not a barrier when it comes to music. Although “Fantastic Baby” isn’t the title track off their “Alive” album, it became so immensely huge that even Billboard had no choice but to recognize it as one of the biggest tunes of the year. Hip house ftw.

[youtube id=”AAbokV76tkU” width=”600″ height=”350″]

We honestly don’t think that Psy’s in any way a good representation of what K-Pop is really all about but props to the man who put Korea on the map (of the international music industry). What initially started out as a poke at the lifestyle of the “Beverly Hills” of South Korea aka “Gangnam District” immediately went viral (thanks to social media), influencing pop culture worldwide with its catchy beat and “horse riding” dance. “Gangnam Style” became the first video to hit the one billionth views mark on YouTube. And we bet Psy is still trying to digest how his pseudo parody has since dominated the world.

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Sorry, clearly we couldn’t go without including Psy. In any case, which one of the above was your favourite tune?


27 Malaysian Websites Hacked By Indonesian Hackers After Flag Blunder

Uh oh, it looks like Malaysia is still under hot water.

Following the recent error for printing the Indonesian flag upside-down on the Kuala Lumpur Southeast Asian (SEA) Games booklet, an Indonesian hacker group ExtremeCrew has decided to retaliate.

According to The Star, 27 Malaysian websites have been defaced by the hackers so far. From the affected sites, Indonesian news portal Suara.com reported that they were mostly private and business blogs. One such example is Malaysian based logistics delivery service Easyparcel.my (pictured above). In the image left by the hackers, the Jalur Gemilang was purposely turned upside-down.

Other hacked sites, including Be A Happy Millionaire, featured an image of the original SEA Games booklet with the message “Bendera Negaraku Bukanlah Mainan” (translation: “My national flag is not a play thing”). The Indonesian patriotic anthem, “Tanah Air Beta”, can also be heard playing in the background.

Shortly after the misprinted version of the Indonesian flag on page 80 of the booklet, netizens on social media unveiled additional mistakes found in the booklet. Apparently, the mix up of the Indonesian and Thailand flag was found on page 40. Word on the street has it that a Malaysian daily newspaper also made a similar blunder with the Indonesian flag colour.

If that’s not bad enough, a social media account named Basa Brunei took a snap shot showing the wrong Brunei flag displayed on digital board while the synchronised swimming duet was taking place. Not to be confused between Brunei’s national flag and the Brunei Armed Forces flag, the extra red stripe in between the white and black stripe belongs to the Armed Forces flag.

Malaysian Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has personally met up with Indonesia’s counterpart to apologise for the error on page 80 of the booklet. It was reported that a new version of the souvenir booklet with the accurate Indonesian flag will be issued.

Sources: Lowyat.net, The Star, FMT/ Featured image: Easyparcel.

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#BadBoys3: Will Be R-Rated & Will Feature Multiple Villains

“What becomes of Bad Boys when they’re not boys anymore?” is a question director Joe Carnahan intends to explore in the upcoming “Bad Boys” instalment.

“Bad Boys 3” or better known as “Bad Boys for Life” (for now) is finally taking off after spending several years in development. We already know that Will Smith and Martin Lawrence are set to reprise their roles as Mike Lowry and Marcus Burnett, but not much has been revealed about the 3rd instalment – until now.

In speaking with Collider, the filmmaker revealed that it wasn’t so much about the previous 2 movies that got him excited about this project, but the undeniable chemistry between Smith and Lawrence. “It’s a very grounded, as much as it can be, Miami narcotics/robbery/homicide cops [story], 2 lifelong friends, these things are all appealing to me. That and knowing and doing something that I thought would be interesting, that would be an interesting challenge. Because those other films are Michael Bay’s and if you’re gonna come in you really gotta take it, you really gotta own that franchise,” said Carnahan.

Besides that, Carnahan even offered information about his collaboration with Smith, indirectly confirming that the 48-year-old “Suicide Squad” actor will be heavily involved with the movie production. “It’s been a pretty centralised process. I’ve been writing this thing for the better part of a year. And at times, Will and I have discussed this too, it’s nice to drop back and just worry about the directing part of it and have people come to you, so that you don’t burn out completely. We know we have to satisfy X, Y, and Z, let me take a shot at this, and see if it comes back and see if you like it, see if it works. In that respect, Will’s been wonderful and a lot of fun, and always a willing participant,” shared the director.

Although Carnahan didn’t want to reveal too much about the story plot, he did add that “Bad Boys for Life” will take place 15 years after the events from 2003’s “Bad Boys II”. He also teased that Mike and Marcus will be going up against not 1 but several villains.

“It wasn’t challenging [coming up with the antagonist]. It should’ve been. You’ve got all these years in the game, and you’ve made all these enemies, you’ve accumulated all this, so in that respect, it would be easy. But I don’t wanna say anything else because I don’t wanna ruin the delicacy of who our antagonist is, because I think it’s very cool. It’s not 1 person. It’s a multi-headed hydra, I’ll say that. It works beautifully,” he added.

“Bad Boys 3” is expected to start filming next March and is slated to hit cinemas on 12th January 2018.