Mehran Karimi Nasseri: Man Who Inspired “The Terminal” Movie Passed Away At Paris Airport

Have you guys seen the 2004 movie, “The Terminal” starring Tom Hanks? If you haven’t, here’s a little synopsis of what the movie is about. The movie is set in an airport where Tom’s character Victor Navorski is forced to live in due to conflict in his home country which resulted in his Visa no longer being valid.

The movie is partially inspired by an actual true story of the 18-year stay of Mehran Karimi Nasseri in Terminal 1 of Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport, France, from 1988 to 2006. Sadly, it has been reported that the Iranian man passed away at the same airport he was stuck in. Here’s the full story:

Mehran Karimi Nasseri was an Iranian refugee who lived in the departure lounge of Terminal 1 of Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport in France. The stateless man claimed that he was expelled from Iran due to political conflict but his claims were later disputed with investigations showing that he was never expelled in the first place.

The refugee allegedly lost his official documents to travel back thus him being stuck at the airport for 18 years. Both France and Belgium offered him residency but he refused, saying that he just wanted to go to his original destination which was England. He was later hospitalised after falling ill in 2006 which ended his 18-year stay. He has since lived in a shelter in France and received money from the movie(s) that were inspired by his life.

A spokesperson for Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport told reporters that Mehran returned to live at the airport at Terminal 2F a few weeks ago, 16 years after his last stay. It was confirmed by the airport medical team that he died of a heart attack. He was 76 years old. The homeless man was reported to have several thousand euros on him when he passed.

It is currently unknown why he returned to the airport he was previously stuck in after living in a shelter in France for 16 years. Mehran Karimi Nasseri’s iconic life was memorialised in movies, stage plays and documentaries such as “The Terminal”, “Flight”, “Lost in Translation” and “Sir Alfred of Charles De Gaulle Airport”.


(UPDATE) #Mulan: Fans Petition Against Whitewashing Of Lead Actress; 8 Stars Who Could Play The Role

It’s been 18 years since everyone’s favourite Asian princess animation “Mulan” came out. Early last year, Disney announced that “Mulan” was getting a live action remake.

Although film production is still in its early stages, fans are super worried that the story which consist of mainly Chinese characters will be whitewashed, has become a common commodity in Hollywood. Perhaps due to a recent fake announcement that Jennifer Lawrence was being considered to play Mulan, an online petition created last year has gone viral.

Created by Natalie Molnar, the campaign “Tell Disney You Don’t Want A Whitewashed Mulan!” has over 92,000 signatures as of time of writing and urges netizens to “take a stand against whitewashing in our media”, nodding to Rooney Mara’s portrayal of Tiger Lily in “Pan”, several cast members in “The Last Airbender”, and the recent news of Scarlett Johansson being cast as The Major in “Ghost in the Shell“.

Based on the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, Disney’s “Mulan” is a 1998 American animated musical action-comedy-drama film that centres on Fa Mulan, a young woman who disguises herself as a man to take her father’s place in the army during a war against the Huns.

Of course, Disney hasn’t casted anyone yet, or even revealed who’s being eyed for the titular role. However, several fan sites have taken it upon themselves to come up with an unsolicited list of Asian actresses that would be perfect for the role of Mulan.

If Disney were to whitewash “Mulan”, the backlash from Chinese moviegoers would be severe. We doubt Disney would be ignorant enough to cast a non-Asian actress as Mulan. The Chinese market can, after all, make-or-break studio films.

The retelling of Disney’s live-action musical animated hit “Mulan” is finally taking off.

The studio has just announced that the movie will hit theatres on 2nd November 2018. Disney has also launched a global casting search for a Chinese actress to take on the iconic role of Mulan. This suggests that the fans’ pleas have been heard.

Who do you think would make a convincing and charismatic Mulan? Sound off in the comments below.

Sources: Comic Book, HitFix, MIC, MTV, E! News.

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Dead Celebrities Who Are “Rolling In The Deep”

It’s an extremely dark way of phrasing this but there is such a thing as celebrities earning more after they die than while they were living. Let’s put this into perspective; what we’re saying is that there are people who are making more money in one year, more than millions in fact, than most of us will ever see in a lifetime.

The worst part is, they’re no longer “around” to fully reap the fruits of their labour. Or non labour. We’re not sure. We’re already confused.

But let’s cut to the chase. Here are some of the world’s top earning dead celebrities, as compiled by Forbes magazine after speaking to agents, lawyers, and other sources to estimate each star’s gross earnings (before taxes, management fees, and other costs):

#10. Andy Warhol, Bettie Page, and George Harrison – $6 million each.

#9. Richard Rodgers, Steve McQueen, Stieg Larsson, and Jimi Hendrix – $7 million each.

#5. Elizabeth Taylor and John Lennon – $12 million each.

And who wants to take a swipe at guessing which celebrity is by far the world’s deadest yet highest earning celebrity as of now? He passed away at the age of 50 due to an accidental overdose, leaving behind his “Neverland”, his children, and his legacy. However, his earning power shows no sign of deteriorating just yet.

You might call this entry highly predictable as he is one of the world’s most famous-est celebrities after all. So much so that over the past year, his estate brought in USD170 million from sales of his music and his stake in the Sony/ATV catalog. With that, for the second time around, the top earning dead celebrity is none other than:

What can we say? The King (of Pop) lives on!


10 Of Our Favourite Modern-Day Disney Movies

Because, no one is ever too old for a Disney movie.

Walt Disney Productions started producing animated short films in 1923 and featured its first feature-length film “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” in 1937. In 1995, The Walt Disney Studio started releasing animated films by Pixar Animation Studios which eventually became a wholly owned subsidiary in 2006.

Ever since the release of its first feature-length animated movie, The Walt Disney Studios has continued to bless us by releasing one gorgeous movie after another. We previously talked about our favourite Walt Disney classics from back in the day and in that post, we promised to come up with a list of our favourite modern day Disney movies so here it goes:

Set in 1914, the film tells the story of a young man who gets hold of a sacred book, which he trusts will guide him and a crew of adventurers to the lost city of Atlantis. Featuring the voices of Michael J. Fox, Cree Summer, and James Garner, the action-adventure film managed to take its viewers on an intense adventure under the sea.

“When life gets you down do you wanna know what you’ve gotta do? Just keep swimming. Just keep swimming.” – Dory.

Released in 2003, “Finding Nemo” is a tale about Marlin who goes on a rescue mission to save his son, Nemo, who was captured by divers. Laced with smart humour, clever gags, and buoyed by a pleasant story of a pair of mismatched newfound buddies who go on an adventure together, we don’t think we can find anyone who didn’t enjoy this movie.

From the creators of “Toy Story”, “Monsters, Inc.” features a charming story with wildly inventive set pieces that is no short of funny and witty all at the same time. Also, visually magnificent, the movie will forever remain of Disney’s greats. Its sequel, “Monsters University” (2013), is equally as beautiful.

“Wall-E” is arguably one of the best movies we’ve ever watched and that says a lot considering the fact that we watch A LOT of movies. Featuring great music, stunning graphics, and hilarious notes, “Wall-E” delivers two spectacularly imaginative, breathtakingly lit worlds making the movie so endearing and enjoyable as a whole.

“Anyone can cook, but only the fearless can be great.” – Chef Auguste Gusteau.

In reality, no restaurant can ever benefit from placing rats in a kitchen, but this isn’t reality now is it? Set in breathtaking Paris with its beautiful city lights, “Ratatouille” is a delicious delight, packed with pleasant characters and scrumptious animation.

No doubt a little darker than most mainstream films for children, “Up” is also arguably the studio’s funniest effort ever. With its imaginative details and bewildering emotional range, the movie lives up to its title both in spirit and in form. Also, we challenge you not to tear up.

Going back to traditional animation, “The Princess and The Frog” is a beautifully drawn animated musical romantic fantasy-comedy film. Loosely based on E.D. Baker’s novel, “The Frog Princess”, the film is a gorgeous reminder of Walt Disney’s hand-drawn animation classic period, putting Tiana (voiced by Anika Noni Rose) on par with the other Disney princesses. Also, we absolute love the soundtrack of this movie.

Released in 2000, “The Emperor’s New Groove” is the wackiest of all Disney features. From marvellously unpredictable humour to some groovy new tricks including its chase scenes, this movie will leave you breathless with laughter. “The Emperor’s New Groove” is a definite hit with both kids and adults.

Wreck-It Ralph is an original and exciting Disney film that’s rich with detail and filled with characters who face problems that humans can identify and relate to, making them instantly likeable. Apart from its stunning visuals, the story takes its audience on a game-life adventure that is jam packed with emotion, heart and energy,

“To infinity and beyond!” – Buzz Lightyear.

First released in 1995, “Toy Story” was the first feature-length computer-animated film produced by the studios. Definitely one of best kids’ movies of all times, every 90s child can relate to all 3 movies in the franchise as it reflects their lives. “Toy Story 2” was released in 1999 followed by “Toy Story 3” in 2010 and we loved all three movies, we’re sure everyone else did too! ;)

We’re not going to deny that are other modern-day Walt Disney animated movies that we enjoy and it was tough picking our favourites but we did it anyway. If your favourite didn’t make our list, do share it with us in the comments section.

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Siti Nurhaliza & Janna Nick Grace The Launch Of Vivo V15 Pro

Chinese electronics brand Vivo has unveiled its brand new flagship model, the all-new V15 Pro smartphone in Malaysia.

The launch was attended by the country’s most celebrated songstress Dato Siti Nurhaliza and award-winning drama actress Janna Nick.

A post shared by Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin (@ctdk)

Vivo once again is breaking new ground by elevating the mobile experience with V series latest addition. For starter, the new V15 Pro is Vivo’s first model after the NE to incorporate the industry’s first Elevating Front Camera.

Packed with upgraded AI technology, the unique front camera give consumers a stunning full-screen smartphone with a staggering 32MP to capture better selfies with unrivalled clarity.

Siti Nurhaliza was previously the face of the Vivo V5 and V5s back in 2016, while Janna Nick was the face of V7+ and V11.

“I’m happy to be able to work with Vivo team again because we have an understanding. Since we understand each other, we are willing to give and take.” Siti said at the launch.

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

“That’s why, I’m still working with them. I’ve been given a lot of privileges and opportunities while working with them, so I’m very grateful for it,” she added.

Among the many features of the phone, Siti said that she really loves the new front camera, “I like the front camera the best. It’s truly a smart selfie.”

“With a perfect photo, there is no need for you to find the right angle, no need to re-edit, and you also can get great photo quality at night. So with all these great features, I can put up photos on my social  media without worries,” Siti said.

Meanwhile, Janna admitted that she is in love with the phone’s AI Super Night Mode which can instantly take multiple photos at different exposures, combining them to greatly improve brightness and clarity.

Priced at RM1,799, Vivo V15 Pro comes in 2 colours – Topaz Blue and Coral Red, which comes with a complimentary gift box in Malaysia from now until 1st March 2019 via its roadshows at selected locations, Vivo Concept Stores, authorised dealers and collaborating partners.

A post shared by Sunway Pyramid (@sunway_pyramid)

Vivo will also be holding a V15 Pro Superday Sale on 2nd March 2019 at Sunway Pyramid’s Blue Concourse area where early birds will received a complimentary DJII selfie drone (on a first-come-first-serve basis) and Vivo gift box.

For more information, visit Vivo Malaysia’s social media pages.

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Hype’s Now Playing: Jonghyun – End Of A Day

It wasn’t too long ago that SHINee made their long-awaited comeback with “Married To The Music“, the repackaged album for their 4th full-length Korean album titled “Odd’.

Righ after the 5-member idol boy group ended promoting the album, vocalist Jonghyun geared up to make a solo comeback. In fact, Lee Soo Man, founder of his talent agency SM Entertainment, is revealed to be the producer of his latest album, “The Story Op. 1”.

Of course, no one knew about that until SM posted up this mysterious image, followed by a teaser video.

Anticipation for his new album has been heightened since then and we’ve only gotten more excited to find out what Jonghyun might have in store for us.

Considering how his solo debut album “BASE” was well received by fans, we wouldn’t be surprised if his new album will have the same effect. Not to mention, Soompi reported that this special mini album is entirely produced, written, composed by Jonghyun himself.

It will consist of 9 tracks, including the title song “End of the Day,” a touching and soothing ballad.

Finally, on 17th September, Jonghyun made his spectacular comeback to the Korean music scene by releasing the music video for “End of a Day” and the new album altogether.

Starring actor Otani Ryohei and an unknown actress, the music video tells the story of 2 people through a split screen. The 2 can be seen going through hardship, wandering around the streets of Japan before finding comfort in each other. The scenes merged into one at the end of the video. Jonghyun’s smooth and emotional vocals blend perfectly together with the soft piano arrangement as well.

Meanwhile, Jonghyun will kick off his highly anticipated solo concert, “THE STORY by JONGHYUN”, on 2nd October.

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


Playboy’s “Jenny From The Block” Returns

Jenny McCarthy rose to stardom when she first made her Playboy magazine debut in 1993. For a first timer, she bagged the centerfold which later earned her the “Playmate of the Month” and soon after “Playmate of the Year” respectively.

Obviously, she became the talk of the town.

So much so that MTV didn’t stop to think twice when they enlisted the Playboy model to co-host the popular reality TV/dating show, “Singled Out”.  That, and her stint from dating funnyman Jim Carrey instantly made her a world-famous icon.

Her last Playboy appearance was in 2005 and this year, at 39 years old, Jenny McCarthy decides to make a comeback:

This would be her sixth appearance on the cover of a Playboy magazine. To be brutally honest, she may think that this is her most sophisticated and “grown up” Playboy-esque photo shoot yet but she has definitely set tongues wagging for all the wrong reasons.

As seen on the cover, Jenny is wearing nothing but some black knee-high tights and fingerless fishnet gloves, with one gloved hand palm lightly across her chest. Is that an attempt at grace, we see? As a matter of fact, she said of the photo shoot, “The pictures are really gorgeous and classy. They could be out of W magazine. They’re really elegant. It’s probably a lot more sophisticated than a lot of the stuff you’d see of people with their clothes on.”

Okay, sure. Of course, in addition to that, she also appears in an eight-page photo spread inside the magazine.

Need we stress that she’s almost 40 years old and really, if these aren’t early signs of a midlife crisis then we don’t know what else to call it.

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Gillian Chung Finds New Love, Korean Stylin’!

Remember that one time when “Twins” singer Gillian Chung was embroiled with the biggest sex scandal ever in the history of Hong Kong entertainment? Yes, the one that we still link to Edison Chen, even until today.

Well, it appears that the 31-year-old Gillian aka “Ah Gil” has found someone who loves her just the way she is – murky past and all.

Ah Gil has apparently caught the “Korean wave” and has been dating a “Kimchi Man” for the past half a year. The couple has been keeping their romance on the low but a few days ago, she and her new beau were spotted at Cyberport Cinemas on what appears to be a secret movie date. Ah Gil and her man arrived separately at the cinema hidden under baseball caps, dark shades, and mouth masks.

Way to go on attempting to remain inconspicuous, you two. It still looks suspicious to us!

“Kimchi Man”, or “Mr. K” as the Hong Kong media have now branded him, is a Korean filmmaker. He has also worked with popular Korean boy group BIGBANG’s leader. G-Dragon. Despite his busy schedule (what with having to work with big Korean artistes and all), Mr. K still made it a point to make special trips from Korea to Hong Kong just to be with Ah Gil.

Could he finally be Ah Gil’s Mr. Right? You think?


Local Grab Driver Gets Contacted By Recruiter After Attaching His Résumé In His Car

A local GrabCar driver has recently gone viral for his out-of-the-box approach in making himself stand out to possible job recruiters. It all started after a tweet posted by him blew up online.

In his post, the man named Naziruddin Najohan, uploaded a photo showing his résumés attached at the back of his car’s headrests. Much to his surprise, this caught the attention of one of his passengers. Here’s what happened:

“A passenger snapped a photo of (my résumé) and sent it to a recruiter. I thought he was just a normal person. But after checking on his LinkedIn page, it turns out that he’s actually a Department Director of an e-commerce company. I had a conversation with the recruiter the next day, and I’ve passed the first stage. Let’s see what happens next,” he tweeted. Naziruddin also added that other passengers have been snapping pictures of his résumé to help him get a job.

Naziruddin spoke to mStar after his Twitter post went viral. He shared that the idea came about spontaneously following his conversation with a female passenger.  According to him, “She asked me how long have I been working as a Grab driver. So, I shared a little bit about my background. She also asked about my educational, before asking me to for my résumé. It just so happened that I had a physical copy of my résumé, so I just handed it to her.”

“From there, I realised that most of my passengers are working adults. Some of them might be employed in companies with vacancies available.This prompted me to print out my résumé and paste it at the back of my car seat,” the Chemical Engineering graduate added during the chat.

Naziruddin also revealed that he had experience working as a Sales Engineer in two different companies previously. He then switched his career to full-time Grab driver after quitting his job back in April. “After almost two months into my new job as an e-hailing driver, the idea of attaching my résumé came spontaneously. It’s only been a week, and I didn’t expect it to bring positive results,” he said.

The Universiti Teknologi Petronas alum also said that he didn’t expect for his tweet to blow up online. “I was deeply moved after reading all the comments. While some said they never thought this method would work, others also pointed out that the idea is brilliant. Some even thanked me for sharing the idea. To me, there’s nothing wrong with sharing good ideas. Then again, I didn’t expect this would also helped others who are currently seeking for a job just like me,” Naziruddin told the local portal.

“In fact, this also brings awareness that Grab drivers can come from a variety of backgrounds. Some of them are fresh graduates, while others used to have a stable job, but were laid off. Praise God, this method has opened the doors to so many career opportunities. Hopefully things will go well for me,” Naziruddin ended the interview.


#MACC: There’s A Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Radio Station?

Some of you might already know of its existence but to those who don’t, yup, make no mistake.

The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has launched its multilingual portal as well as an online radio, MACC.FM.

From what we know, MACC.FM launched a little earlier this month and its purpose is to “educate the public on corruption issues and improve the confidence of the public in the commission”.

Its tagline is “My Anti-Corruption Channel”.

All at the same time, MACC also launched its new official portal, which has been “beefed up” to become more user-friendly as it is now accessible in 3 languages – Malay, English, and Mandarin. But we digress.

MACC’s deputy chief commissioner (Prevention) Datuk Seri Mustafar Ali said that he was confident that MACC.FM would empower MACC’s efforts to spread the anti-corruption messages to the public through announcements, advertisements and interviews with relevant individuals.

He added that the medium was created following the MACC Action Effectiveness Perception Survey 2015 which revealed that 70% of the respondents understood anti-corruption message spread through radio.

Internet users can listen to MACC.FM online via their website. And that’s not all. There’s even a MACC.FM app available via the Google Playstore and Appstore.

Go ahead, tune in. Let us know what you think.

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AXE Malaysia Is Just The Thing Shy Men Need

One whiff is all it takes for girls to decide if a man makes or breaks it.

Understanding this, AXE, the world’s top male grooming brand, took a one-of-a-kind approach to inspire men to smell great. The “AXE – See Where It Takes You” roadshow was specially conceptualized for men to experience the “AXE Effect”, first-hand, and to discover the boundless possibilities AXE fragrances can ignite.

The experience came to life when a seemingly ordinary sampling activity was taken over by a surprise swarm of gorgeous AXE Angels, attempting to get closer to the unsuspecting “victim”, who had given himself a dash of AXE.

This special moment of attraction was captured by the AXE TV crew with strategically placed hidden cameras.

[youtube id=”7Yj8Xm5GE58″ width=”600″ height=”350″]

And the reason behind all these, uh, “supernatural” reactions or rather, phenomenons?

Research has shown that smell is deeply connected to one’s emotional state and influences the way people behave. Men who smell good will experience a boost of confidence, which translates in their body language, enhancing their appeal. This is what the “AXE Effect” embodies. It is the “scent” of self-assurance that serves as the fundamental driving force for men to go the distance and reach out to their hearts’ desires.

Ah! Quite easily done. Enter the thousands of shy Malaysian men who now know the best and easiest way to pick up a girl without having to utter a single word.

For more information, visit AXE Malaysia’s Facebook page.


#GSC: Advance Tickets For #Furious7 & #Avengers Now Available

Be among the first to see this year’s much anticipated blockbusters – “Fast & Furious 7” (2nd April) and “Avengers: Age of Ultron” (23rd April) as tickets are now on sale via GSC ticketing counters and GSC e-Payment channels via website and mobile app (iOS, Android and Windows Phone).

Purchase your tickets early to avoid disappointment and if you purchase the movie tickets for these 2 titles before end of March, you will save on the 6% GST (which takes effect 1st April) as GSC will absorb the 6% GST for the March purchases for the April 2015 movies.

With the implementation of GST 1st April, GSC ticket prices, vouchers, concession items and F&B items will remain the same but consumers will need to pay the 6% GST on the existing prices. GSC’s 3D, D-BOX, and Gold Class privilege surcharges will also be subjected to GST as these are taxable supplies of services. GSC will be conducting a price rebalancing to align the prices to the nearest 50 cents.

In addition, GSC will be maintaining the booking fee of RM0.50 per ticket for online transactions and absorb the 6% GST on the booking fee.

Another good news is that movie fans can now purchase with credit card via GSC Mobile Apps (Windows Phone, iOS –new and Android – new) as this new feature has just be added to the mobile app.

Apart from the usual 2D format, fans can look forward to a totally immersive movie experience as “Fast & Furious 7” and “Avengers: Age of Ultron” will be screened in GSC Maxx halls – GSC’s version of extra-large cinema screen size and seats positioned at a steeper gradient to ensure uninterrupted viewing.

GSC Maxx halls are available at 10th Floor, Berjaya Times Square (largest digital hall in the country and seats 555 pax) while the newer GSC Maxx halls opened recently in IOI City Mall, Putrajaya (2 halls), and Ipoh Parade (1 hall). The 3 GSC Maxx halls located in IOI City Mall Putrajaya and Ipoh Parade are THX certified and equipped with the Dolby Atmos  “3D” revolutionary sound system and 4K projector for higher image resolution and brightness.

“Fast & Furious 7” will also be available in 3D and D-BOX format while “Avengers: Age of Ultron” will be available in 3D, Dolby Atmos and D-BOX format.

Check out GSC’s D-BOX motion seats at GSC 1 Utama, GSC Pavilion KL and GSC Gurney Plaza, Penang while the immersive 3D Dolby Atmos sound can be heard at GSC 1 Utama, GSC Pavilion KL, GSC Quill City Mall, GSC NU Sentral, GSC IOI City Mall, Putrajaya, GSC Ipoh Parade and GSC Gurney Plaza, Penang.

For more information, visit their website.

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GSC Permanently Shuts Down 2 Outlets In Kuala Lumpur

It’s a sad day for moviegoers in Kuala Lumpur.

Just hours ago, GSC took to its social media to announce the permanent closure of 2 outlets in the Klang Valley. The 2 outlets are GSC Cheras Leisure Mall and GSC Berjaya Times Square.

“We regret to inform you that we have ceased operations in GSC Cheras Leisure Mall and GSC Berjaya Times Square. We’ve had a good long run for GSC Cheras Leisure Mall since 1995 and GSC Berjaya Times Square since 2005, but due to the current situation with opening restrictions due to the CMCO, have had to shutter these cinemas permanently.

With this, we would like to convey our sincere thanks and gratitude to all movie-goers who have long supported GSC Cheras Leisure Mall and GSC Berjaya Times Square.

Please keep an eye out for our reopening in the Klang Valley and stay updated with the latest news on our social media. We cannot wait to welcome you back to our cinemas and look forward to seeing everyone again soon.”

As someone pointed out, there’s currently no more GSC in the Bukit Bintang area following the closure of the Pavilion KL branch.


#1600PandasMY: Pandas To Stop By Malaysia For World Tour

If there’s a panda invasion in town, then it has got to be the cutest invasion ever and we are all going to die from cuteness overload.

But now, it seems like the invasion has already begun as 1,600 pandas (no more and no less) are on a journey around the world to promote the message of panda conservation and sustainable development. With the theme of “Initiating the Culture of Creative Conservation“, the “1,600 Pandas World Tour” is finally coming to Malaysia!

The 1,600 Pandas World Tour started in 2008 as a collaboration between WWF and Paulo Grangeon, an enthusiastic French sculptor who created the 1,600 papier mache pandas. With over 30 years of experience in his craft, Grangeon created the pandas in various poses, emotions and sizes using recycled paper, as a symbolic representation of the amount of pandas left in the wild.

The tour has appeared in more than 100 exhibitions across various countries such as France, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Taiwan and Hong Kong. After leaving a massive social media frenzy and strong local participation across the globe, the 1,600 pandas will finally arrive on Malaysian soil for their third stop in the Asian region.

But when do you get to see these pandas, you ask?

From December 21, 2014 to January 25, 2015, locals can find the 1,600 pandas located at more than 15 iconic landmarks in Malaysia. The tour aims to bring awareness to the locals on the importance of panda conservation and sustainable development, symbolically encouraging Malaysians to be more aware of our natural environment and the need to conserve it.

In celebration of the Malaysia leg tour, Grangeon will also be creating a special version white mascot panda paper mache representing the uniqueness of Malaysian culture to be used for workshops.

The “1,600 Pandas Malaysia Tour” is brought to us by Faster Advertising together with consulting curator AllRightsReserved. Funds raised from the “1,600 Pandas Malaysia Tour” will be channeled to support WWF-Malaysia’s conservation efforts.

It’s confirmed. The 1,600 pandas have finally arrived in Malaysia!

The pandas will be leaving their adorable “paw prints” with French sculptor Paulo Grangeon at Dataran Merdeka on December 21st.

The pandas will be making their way to Penang as well on December 24th.

For more information, visit their official Facebook page.

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Jia Jia & Kai Kai Have Landed In Singapore!

The giant pandas Jia Jia and Kai Kai has landed in Singapore!

Channel News Asia tweeted this picture yesterday, confirmed that the two extremely huge but extremely lovable endangered species are safe and found in Changi airport:

The male and female pair is on loan from China and they will be making Singapore their home for the next 10 years. An $8.6 million home has been built to accommodate Jia Jia and Kai Kai at Singapore’s latest tourist destination, the River Safari.

It encompasses 1,5000 sq metre of lush and green oasis designed to replicate the panda’s original home in Sichuan province, which also bears some 50 species of bamboo and other sub-tropical plants. The pandas’ home’s design team said that the enclosure exceeds the World Association of Zoos and Aquariums’ standards for the pandas’ comfort.

We say, wow, the cost for perpetual air-conditioning must be expensive considering Singapore’s tropical heat! The River Safari has also said that they’re hoping on achieving a breeding programme for baby pandas.

The pandas have come a long and far way from home and they’ll be quarantined before being moved to the River Safari. Visitors can expect to see Jia Jia and Kai Kai when the exhibit opens in December this year.

We call dibs because we want to see them first!


10 Things We Know About BTS’ Comeback Album

The seven boys of BTS recently gathered together via a YouTube live stream to share with fans their discussion about their upcoming comeback album.

During the session, all of the members came up with their own ideas on various topics regarding the soon-to-be-dropped album, including the concept, themes, subunits and more. For those who are curious, we’ve compiled 10 things that they brainstormed during the meeting:

J-Hope suggested for the members to bring back two subunits from their rookie days; Jin, Suga, and RM from “Adult Child” and Jimin, V, and Jungkook and himself from “Beautiful”. They also mentioned about coming up with two vocal line units and one rap unit respectively.

Rapper Suga proposed for the boys to carry out a more “bright and cheerful” concept for this comeback, which gained support from fellow member Jimin. BTS members doing cutesy stuffs on stage? We would die to witness that, honestly!

Suga had more to share! He further suggested that both he and Jimin form a special subunit for a rap song. The reason being? Because he “seriously wants to hear Jimin rap.” We’ll just leave you with their live performance of “Tony Montana” below for those who are dying out of curiosity.

A few BTS supporters noted that they haven’t included a their self-produced skit in any of their albums since 2017’s “Love Yourself: Her”. Therefore, the members believed that this comeback might be the appropriate time to bring it back!

As said by member V, the decision to include a total of seven songs in the album fits the best since this year marks their seventh anniversary as a group. The other members then agreed, implying that the album may contain four songs with all members participating, two subunit songs, plus one special skit.

During the meeting, V also expressed his wish to do a song that has similar vibe to their previous song called “So What”. The song was taken from their 2018 album “Love Yourself: Tear”.

Meanwhile, member Jin suggested a song that resembles their 2017 hit “Spring Day”, saying that the song has complete “mass appeal”. Team leader RM agreed by saying that “it’s time to have that kind of song”.

Jungkook: I hope – wouldn’t it be nice to have a song which would relieve the stress? Not just ‘I don’t care. Let’s just get crazy’ but going straight outright ‘It’s so annoying’. (In small voice) Like ‘I’m so pissed off’. Like ‘Get the hell out of here’https://t.co/dBg1i5BbZz

— Golden Times (@JJK_Times) May 11, 2020

According to maknae Jungkook, he wants a song that can help ARMYs release their frustration when they’re feeling annoyed about something. “Wouldn’t it be nice to have a song which would help relieve stress? Not just the “I don’t care. Let’s just get crazy” type of song. But instead, going straight outright like “It’s so annoying, I’m so pissed off,” kind of message,” the 23-year-old was quoted as saying.

During the session, the members also mentioned a few keywords that are related to the album’s theme and subject matter that fans need to keep in mind. They are empathy (Jin), telepathy (RM), and letter (Suga).

Jin : By the way, the album release will be October, right? @BTS_twt 🤭pic.twitter.com/xFYmP1aekV

— Soo Choi 💜 (REST) (@choi_bts2) May 11, 2020

As spilled by the Spoiler King Jin himself, BTS’s comeback will drop sometime in October this year! So, mark your calendar ARMYs. They are returning much sooner than everyone expected.

For those interested, check out the full clip of their session here:

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#Jumanji: Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Jack Black, & Kevin Hart To Star In Movie

A few weeks ago, it was reported that Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Kevin Hart were in talks to join the cast for the upcoming “Jumanji” remake.

Guess what? Not only did Sony confirm that the “Central Intelligence” duo will star in the film, “Goosebumps” actor Jack Black will also be a part of the cast!

“The Rock” even posted the good news on his Instagram earlier today (Thursday, 12th May):

A post shared by Dwayne Johnson (@therock)

You may not know this but comedy director Jake Kasdan (from “Fresh Of The Boat and “Bad Teacher”) and Jack Black used to work together on “Orange County” back in 2002. So it’ll be like a little reunion for the 2 of them.

Earlier this week, Johnson took to social media to say that he and the rest of the “Jumanji” remake team will make sure that the legacy left by the late Robin Williams will be honoured.

“The love and respect I have for this man is boundless. You have my word, we will honor his name and the character of ‘Alan Parrish’ will stand alone and be forever immortalized in the world of ‘Jumanji’ in an earnest and cool way. I have an idea of what to do and I think his family will be proud,” wrote the “Baywatch” actor on his Instagram.

On top of that, Johnson also revealed that the film will have 5 main leads: Himself, Kevin Hart, Jack Black, one “bad ass” girl, and one “semi-sorta bad ass” dude. Who will be the remaining 2 be, we wonder.

Though we never thought that we would see the 3 of them in the same film, we are pretty excited to see what they have in store for us.

Sony Pictures’ “Jumanji” is slated for release on 18th July 2017.


Zedd Produces For Lady Gaga’s “ARTPOP”

German DJ-producer Zedd is riding high off the success of his hit single “Clarity”, but he has an even bigger trick up his sleeve: A handful of tracks he worked on for Lady Gaga’s next album, ARTPOP.

“I’m really, really excited for people to hear what we came up with. I just really can’t imagine they would not like it, to just say it straight up. I think the stuff we’ve made is pretty fucking cool”, Zedd tells Rolling Stone.

Zedd first met his Interscope labelmate at a London event in 2011, after label chief Jimmy Iovine suggested they link up. “We had, like, one minute to talk, and it was onstage while everyone was taking pictures and being really loud. She just said, ‘Let’s make music”. Zedd promptly returned to his studio and put together a track that he thought she might like. “My manager played it for her and she immediately called Jimmy and said, “I want this guy to produce my album”, he recalls.

In the spring of 2012, Zedd opened for Gaga on the Asian leg of her Born This Way Ball tour. They started working together on new material during the tour, and followed up with a couple more weeks in a proper studio. Working with Gaga, Zedd was impressed by the pop star’s confident, free-wheeling creative style. “It’s amazing, because she does not have to please anyone, and she is who she is. Her first idea of how we should approach the music was just to be completely open – nothing is too crazy. Whatever is dope is dope. We do whatever we want, and we don’t have to make a song that’s 3 minutes and 30 seconds just to fit the radio”, he says.

Although Zedd is best known for glossy, Top 40-friendly electro beats, he says that isn’t necessarily an indication of where Gaga is going with her new music. “We didn’t try to make an EDM album – but, at the same time, we didn’t try not to make an EDM album. I’ve done a lot of stuff that’s really outside of what I usually do. There was one song that started from her just giving me, like, 10 words to describe an emotion, and then I had to make this into music. It’s been a very experimental way of approaching music”, he added.


(Video) Hijab Woman & Male Friends Slammed For Provocative Dance; Caprice Teaches “Halal” Way To Dance

A number of local fans who attended the Malaysian singing competition “Big Stage 2023” concert in Shah Alam have landed in hot water this week after videos of them dancing suggestively to a dangdut song went viral on TikTok.

The videos have garnered significant backlash from netizens, particularly after they saw a local woman clad in a hijab shaking her booty with several other concertgoers. For those who are curious, the clips were uploaded by a male TikToker, known as @iam_erul1, who was also present at the concert.

Membalas kepada @_Dekwa_ sudah tidak terkata. #bigstage2023 #viral #fyp

In the viral clip, the woman in the pink hijab was spotted walking down the stairs, as she started joining another audience member vibing to Mas Idayu’s song “Senggol Senggolan, Cubit Cubitan.” The duo can be seen dancing cheekily to the classic tune, ignoring the other people who were at the area. In another footage, the lady was also seen jumping on the male dancer’s back!

This also caught the attention of Ariz Ramli, or better known among fans as Caprice. The rapper took to his Instagram to share his reaction to the viral video. “First of all, no one is perfect. There are times when we focus on our work, worship God, and at times, we have time to enjoy ourselves. If you really want to enjoy yourself, you still need to know your place,” he said in his video. In addition, Caprice also advised the girl to repent.

A post shared by Tiger of AlQuds (@capricedaddycap)

In another video posted on his socials, Caprice also taught his followers how to dance in a halal way. Watch:

What’s interesting is that the hijab woman received more flak, while the men who were dancing just as provocatively hardly got reprimanded. Sexist much?

Sources: TikTok (1)(2), Instagram (1)(2).

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Contest: Win #ElectricRunMY Registration Slots

In case you haven’t heard, Electric Run Malaysia is set to light up Selangor Turf Club again next month.

Last year’s event featured some really impressive course lands (Candy Lane, Rainforest, Water Station, Neffmau5 Land, Under The Sea, Rainbow Road, The Powerhouse) but this year’s will feature new zones, which means new experiences!

Sounds like something you’d be interested in? Great! Because thanks to our friends from The Livescape Group, we’ve got 20 registration slots to give away to all you avid runners.

To stand a chance at winning, simply fill up the form below:

For more information, hit up Electric Run Malaysia’s Facebook page or follow them onTwitter and Instagram.


The Alchemy: Feel Like A New Yorker With An Afternoon Tea Experience

Afternoon tea is the ideal setting to chat, sip and indulge with loved ones. And that’s exactly what we did when enjoying the New Yorker Afternoon Tea at The Starhill Dining‘s sparkling new bar & lounge – The Alchemy.

The Alchemy takes a traditional culinary experience and transforms it into a modern rendition that can be best described as strong and bold. Built with shades of dark colours, this high tea setup showcases a visually inviting twist that’s ironically intriguing. And it’s not just about the looks at The Alchemy either, because the taste of the food was simply delicious.

And after indulging in the sandwiches, savouries, scones and desserts made perfectly to go with a choice of tea or coffee, here’s our take on what we thought about the three-tiered New Yorker Afternoon Tea at The Alchemy:

Without ever having to think twice, we could confirm with complete certainty that the mix of flavours in this first tier was our absolute favourite overall. With four different sandwiches featuring salt beef, home-smoked salmon, lobster, and walnut and fruit bread, these sandwiches leave you wanting more.

The Salt Beef Sandwich made with Reuben and Sauerkraut was tangy and light, while the Lemon Brioche was generously topped with the Big Apple-Style Crispy Whitebait Lobster. The lobster meat was so mouth-wateringly chunky and creamy, it tasted like some of the best meat found in the ocean. The Walnut and Fruit Bread with Brie and Lingonberry Compote was slightly too rich in flavour, while the Upstate Bagel with Home-Smoked Salmon and Paprika Cream Cheese was the star of them all that we could not get enough of!

The savouries came in a tray of Devilled Eggs, Goat Cheese Gateaux, and a Chicken and Leek Pithivier. The best out of these three were the Devilled Eggs, as it maintained that classic taste and structure, while being elevated with an extra punch brought by the use of chives and dill pickle relish.

On the other hand, the Chicken and Leek Pithivier lacked that extra oomph as the flavours tasted rather ordinary. The Goat Cheese Gateaux was creamy with a refreshing crunch brought by the pistachio crumble on top. However, it must be noted that goat cheese generally has a strong and distinct flavour that is typically enjoyed most by those with an acquired taste.

From the selection of dessert items presented, the tarts were the absolute highlight. One of these tarts was the Devilled Mont Blanc with a Chestnut Purée and Huckleberry Compote. The chestnut purée that swirled on top of this tart was simply divine; It was the perfect gastronomic combination of creamy, soft and sweet elements. The Seasonal Fruit Tart with Expresso Ganache and Mocha Coulis looked and tasted like a tutti frutti concoction that was vibrantly fresh and citrusy.

The desserts also showcased a Hibiscus-Pineapple Croquette filled with Vanilla Créme that goes splendidly with a hot tea or coffee. The best little sweet treat from all the desserts was the Maple Pecan Cheesecake that came with a crunchy surprise, thanks to the pecan propped perfectly on top of this deliciously creamy goodness. The desserts were all in all delicious and truly added an extra edge to the Afternoon Tea experience.

The topmost tier showed off a Cranberry and Buttermilk Scone and a Luxury Butter Scone accompanied by a Devonshire Clotted Cream and Meyer Lemon Curd. Staying true to The New Yorker Afternoon Tea heritage, this variation of the American scone maintained the classic crumbly and sweet elements.

We must also admit that the Devonshire Clotted Cream and Meyer Lemon Curd were so good that we nearly ate all of it on its own without leaving any for the scones! The lemon curd was excitingly citrusy while the clotted cream was soft, moist and inviting. They were the perfect match to bring the dry and heavy scones to life. These baked goods were exactly what we needed to end our tea party with a traditional touch.

While an Afternoon Tea can be enjoyed at various spots ranging from kopitiams to even your own home, we guarantee that The New Yorker Afternoon Tea at The Alchemy is unlike any other. It transports you to the world of the Big Apple, as it creates a sense of grandeur, elegance and heritage with both its menu and ambience.

The New Yorker Afternoon Tea travels from the heart of Kuala Lumpur, to the heart of New York, to finally, our very own hearts. Held on Saturday and Sundays from 3 – 6pm for RM160 for two, this New Yorker Afternoon Tea experience is definitely one worthy of being a weekend treat for you.

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National Geographic Gets Roasted By Local Brands For Claiming Singapore Is In Malaysia

Making a rookie mistake is all part of the learning process but if you’re representing a certain establishment then you should definitely know your stuff. If you’re a fashion brand then you should know the name of the designers.  If you’re a history, travel and exploration brand then you should definitely know that Malaysia and Singapore are completely two separate countries.

Either we need to update our history and geography classes or National Geographic UK needs to relearn basic Geography again. The online travel and exploration portal is known for documenting and showcasing various beautiful, mysterious and strange places around the world. You’ll see them highlighting their best photographs or videos they’ve taken on their social media but recently one post had not 1 but 2 countries coming after them. Here’s what happened:

Over the weekend (Saturday, 28th August), National Geographic UK (NatGeoUK) posted a photo on their official Facebook page. The photo is a scenic view of a popular park in Singapore with a caption that reads, “From the Archive: A family from India walks through the Gardens by the Bay in Singapore, Malaysia.” Yes, you read that right. Apparently, the exploration publication had mistaken that Singapore is (still) a state in Malaysia.

The (now deleted) Facebook post stayed unedited for about 20 hours and received over 9.9k shares and 4.3k comments. Netizens from the two mentioned countries including popular brands and companies in Malaysia such as Golden Screen Cinemas, MGAG, Sunway Pyramid and AEON Retail Malaysia responded to the post with sarcastic and hilarious comments poking fun at the media company for their rookie mistake.

After the entertaining backlash online, NatGeoUK’s official Facebook page not only deleted the post but also went private. If you were to search the company on Facebook, it will redirect you to NatGeoAsia instead. It is unclear as to why they straight up went private but we’re going to guess it’s to either prepare an official statement regarding the post or just stay low until everything calms down.

For your information, Singapore separated from Malaysia in 1965 over deep political and economic differences between the ruling parties. Since then, the former became an independent and sovereign state. It’s not everyday we get to see these two countries unite on something, so we have to thank NatGeoUK for giving us this fun moment of unity.


AirAsia Free Seats Promo For 2018 Starts 11th September

Need help with your Tuesday blues? Look no further, because AirAsia is giving away free seats once again as part of its Free Seats campaign.

As per Malaysia Freebies, the highly-anticipated promotional seats from the low-cost carrier are available for booking starting next Monday (11th September) onwards. As usual, AirAsia BIG members will be given first priority for online booking on 10th September (Sunday).

Starting from a base fare of RM0, excluding taxes and fees, travellers can fly to domestic and international destinations such as Bangkok, Krabi, Yogyakarta, Langkawi, Balikpapan, Singapore, Penang, and many more. From what we know, the travelling period for the promo is between March to November 2018.

To recap, here are the deets for AirAsia’s 2018 Free Seats promo:

Mark your calendars cause AirAsia’s free seats promos are known to sell like hot cakes!

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


Gas Explosion Occurred In Popular Subang Warehouse; 8 Injured

This morning (Thursday, 21st September), a gas cylinder exploded at the warehouse of a popular local food chain company at Jalan Subang 10 around 8am.

China Press reported that at least 8 people were seriously injured. It is believed that a leak in the Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) was the main cause for the explosion.

6 victims out of the aforementioned 8 suffered major burns on their bodies, including a foot fracture, while the remaining 2 sustained splinters caused by the exploded gas cylinder. The victims, aged between 21 and 28, were all foreign workers from Myanmar and Nepal. They are currently receiving treatment at the Serdang hospital.

The fire and rescue department stated that they arrived at the scene 15 minutes after receiving the emergency call at 8:04am. Thankfully, they succeeded in turning off all the gas lines before vanquishing the fire. NST also confirmed that it was an industrial cooking gas cylinder on the first floor, which was being used to cook soup, that exploded.

To the victims that were affected today, we wish you a speedy recovery.

Sources: Lowyat Forum, China Press, Info RoadBlock JPJ/ Featured image: MY Metro.

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Grammy Awards 2021 Postponed; Matchbox Twenty’s Rob Thomas On Not Getting Nominated

Twitter has been buzzing with excitement because the 63rd Annual Grammy Awards is around the corner. Fans discuss who they hope will win a Grammy award this year while artists express their thoughts regarding the nominations.

One such artist is Matchbox Twenty frontman Rob Thomas, who made this tweet:

I didn’t get nominated for a Grammy this year. But I’m thinking of calling the Grammy board to see if they have some votes they can find for me?

— Rob Thomas (@ThisIsRobThomas) January 6, 2021

Fans were quick to suggest places to look such as under the tables and in suitcases. A few suggested a recount as there may have been a mistake.

Jokes aside, while the Grammy Awards was to take place on 31st January at the Staples Center, plans have changed due to the current Covid-19 pandemic. A joint statement from the Recording Academy, CBS and show producers was released yesterday announcing the postponement of the event to 14th March.

The 63rd #GRAMMYs have been postponed to Sunday, March 14, 2021.

Read our full statement. ⬇ https://t.co/4kmfwCXS4n

— Recording Academy / GRAMMYs (@RecordingAcad) January 6, 2021

The organisers decision for the postponement is understandable and reasonable. With the Covid situation worsening in LA, the organisers decided to prioritise the health of the crew over the production.

“Nothing is more important than the health and safety of those in our music community and the hundreds of people who work tirelessly on producing the show,” the statement said.

With the postponement of the Grammys, maybe Rob Thomas will get the recount he so deserves.


#Zedd: Wants To Be Known As Musician; Inspired By The Beatles & Lady Gaga

Russian-German musician DJ/ music producer Anton Zaslavski, otherwise known as Zedd, primarily produces in the electro house genre. His critically acclaimed production to date includes “Clarity” which charted at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and at #1 of the US Hot Dance Club Songs. In addition to his achievements, his track “Break Free” peaked at #4 on the Billboard Hot 100 as well as #1 on the Hot Dance/Electronic Songs, and he has also won a Grammy award for “Best Dance Recording” at the 56th Grammy Awards for “Clarity”.

With his outstanding results in the EDM industry, many would assume that he likes to be that DJ who plays behind the deck, however, that’s not the case.

Through an interview with Rolling Stone regarding his sophomore album “True Colors“, Zedd revealed that he wants to be known as musician instead of an EDM DJ. For Zedd, “True Colors” has been his most aspiring production inspired and built around the music he has listened to throughout his entire life and he made sure that each track conveyed a different emotion and sound.

I had a song that was very similar to one of the other songs on the album, so even though I loved the song — it probably would have been a single — I cut it out.

When asked if there was any pressure that he encountered following the success of “Clarity” and how did he managed the thrust, Zedd’s reply was rather intense.

It’s boring to stay the same. I can’t make “Clarity” 10 times. I’m bored of it; I made it once and I want to move on. It’s important for me that my fans know I’m Zedd the musician, not Zedd the EDM DJ. And if I decide to make an acoustic album next time, which is very well possible, that’s still me. My heart is in there. It doesn’t mean that sonically the sound will be the same.

As far as influences go, it took us by surprise when Zedd made a disclosure that he is not inspired by EDM at all, but instead, song-structure-wise ones. He said that his flashes of inspirations come from artistes like The Beatles and Queen Lady Gaga, as well as bands like Silverchair, Radiohead, Queen of the Stone Age, Feeder, and Justice.

I wanted to sound like Justice. I wanted to know to know how to do that.

As for his friendship with Skrillex, well..

The bond that was built between the soft-spoken 25-year-old boy and the “electrostep” DJ/producer Skrillex is undeniably strong as he revealed that Skrillex has had a role in nurturing his career and artistic development. Zedd gave credit to Skrillex for courageously training him, the freshman – from playing his music out, to taking Zedd on tour, to train the introvert to connect and communicate with the crowd.

It came to the point where we played a tour in Mexico. He had his new production, he had his new team, and I watched the show. And I know he’s doing it live, because I know him, but the production was so on point — it was unbelievable. It was the first time I realized you can be perfect live.

“True Colors” has now been released and you can purchase it here.

Till then, let’s reminisce via his classic pop songwriting hit “Clarity”:

So, what’s your opinion on this? Will you continue to support Zedd if he didn’t release a track or an album that’s of the EDM genre? Leave your thoughts at the comments box below :)

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Hype’s Must Watch: Dillon Francis A “Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse” Zombie

EDM’s jester Dillon Francis is getting his big movie break and personally, we couldn’t be more excited because seriously, it’s about time someone put him on the big screen. The DJ/producer who’s also known for his crazy pranks and antics posted on his social media that he would be playing a small role in the upcoming horror-comedy “Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse”.

Dillon revealed that he will be playing the role of a zombie in the upcoming movie which follows three boy scouts and a hot chick who put their scouting skills to the test by fighting zombies who have overtaken their town. Then, enters Dillon, as a member of the undead with a half-eaten face getting his head blown off in the bloodiest, most gruesome and most awesome way possible.

“Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse” will star Halston Sage, Patrick Schwarzenegger and Jesica Ahlberg. David Koechner (of “Anchorman” fame), Arnold Schwarzenegger and Cloris Leachman are also listed in the cast and credits.

Watch Dillon Francis’ zombie character get lit up in the trailer below.

“Scouts Guide To The Zombie Apocalypse” is slated for release on October 30th, 2015. For more information on the movie, visit its Official Facebook page.


Caleb Moore’s Death: First In Winter X Games’ History

The X Games have always been known to combine hair-raising stunts, risk, and excitement. But the recent death of freestyle innovative snowmobiler Caleb Moore is now “rubbing salt to wound” on growing concerns over safety in extreme sports.

Caleb Moore was a top athlete in one of the most daring competitions ever devised for television. Two weeks ago, he crashed a minute into a routine in which he treated his 450-pound snowmobile like a broomstick, spinning around it in midair as he flew from ramp to ramp. While his stunts looked “awesome”, the backflip (a trick he had performed masterfully in the past) failed:

[youtube id=”uCMiHILA6lo” width=”600″ height=”350″]

His accident happened with just 20 seconds left in his freestyle run.

Following which, Caleb suffered a concussion and was rushed to a local hospital, where it was discovered that he was bleeding from around his heart. The bleeding triggered a secondary brain condition. He was then airlifted to St. Mary’s Hospital in Grand Junction for an emergency surgery. He laid in critical condition before eventually succumbed to his injuries. He was declared brain dead. (Source)

Caleb Moore was only 25 years old. And his death is the first in the history of the Winter X Games.

ESPN released the following statement regarding the incident:

We are deeply saddened by Caleb Moore’s passing and our thoughts and prayers go out to his parents, Wade and Michelle, his brother, Colten, and the entire Moore family. He will be remembered for his natural passion for life and his deep love for his family and friends, and he will always be an inspiration to everyone he touched in the action sports community.

As a result of this accident we will conduct a thorough review of this discipline and adopt any appropriate changes to future X Games.

For 18 years we have worked closely on safety issues with athletes, course designers, and other experts. Still, when the world’s best compete at the highest level in any sport, risks remain. Caleb was a four-time X Games medalist attempting a move he has landed several times previously.

While mind-blowing stunts, flips, and crazy jumps for kicks at the X Games and the chances of escaping casualties have always appealed to both athletes and spectators, everything about it is still very life-threatening. And death is very real.

Our thoughts and prayer go out to Caleb Moore’s family, friends, and fans during this difficult time.

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“It’s The Ship” Phase 1 Line-Up Includes Krewella, Yellow Claw, & More

After months of speculation and excitement, Asia’s Largest Festival at Sea, “It’s The Ship”, has revealed their first phase line up.

Due to set sail from Singapore to Phuket on 17th November, the first 2 headliners to be announced are Dutch trap heavyweights Yellow Claw and one of the most explosive electronic groups of the past decade, Krewella.

Yellow Claw, whose hefty cuts have been championed by the likes Mad Decent, Spinnin’, Ultra Records, and Fools Gold, have quickly become some of the most hyped artists on the circuit today. Incorporating elements of trap, hip-hop, dubstep, hardstyle and moombathon, and having collaborated with the likes of Pusha T, Tinie Tempah, and Flux Pavillion, this enigmatic duo are an absolute “must-see” for the 4000 music fans on-board luxury cruise liner, Genting Dream.

They join one of the most talked about musical acts in recent history. Sisters Jahan and Yasmine Yousaf, better known to millions around the planet as Krewella, redefined an entire generation of music, defiantly blending genres of rock, electronic and bass. With a reputation for setting the dance floor on fire and bringing a huge arsenal of brand new music as they prepare to drop “Get Wet” follow up album “New World”, Krewella look set to provide one of the most electrifying performances for shipmates on “It’s The Ship” 2017.

Yellow Claw and Krewella are bolstered by an eclectic array of support that includes Aussie favourites Peking Duk and Tigerlily, Dutch Hardstyle heavyweight Brennan Heart, London-based house outfit and Martin Garrix collaborator Third Party, One More Time – A Tribute To Daft Punk, providing festival goers with the first and only realistic tribute to the seminal French super group, and from the 88rising collective, “It Ma G” superstar Keith Ape, tough-talking Chinese rap group Higher Brothers and rising lo-fi star joji.

With a host of regional talent playing alongside these superstars, including Singapore DJs Rave Republic and Oliver Osbourne, Malaysian duo Twinkies, Thai-American hip-hop triple hitters Thaitanium and Indian monolith Nucleya, “It’s The Ship” 2017 promises to be the biggest edition yet of the floating festival goliath.

Last but not least, “It’s The Ship” is offering the first 350 ticket buyers in August an exclusive party bag filled with on-board essentials. Never short of surprises, “It’s The Ship” has also announced that one bag will contain a “golden ticket”, granting the lucky receiver free access to next year’s festival.

With more headliners and acts soon to be revealed, as well as the long-awaited announcement of this year’s Ship’s Captain – last year’s being none other than David ‘The Hoff’ Hasselhoff himself – excitement is steadily mounting as we get closer to “It’s The Ship 2017”.


#MMA Fighter #SongGaYeon Sought Mental Treatment After Receiving Death Threats

They crossed the line, she paid the price. MMA fighter Song Ga Yeon reportedly sought for mental treatment and psychiatric help after receiving malicious comments and death threats from the netizens.

According to Korean media outlet THE FACT, multiple MMA reps said that the 20-year-old MMA fighter has been going through a tough time training as she is deeply affected by the malicious comments she has received.

Song Ga Yeon has been receiving treatment periodically at a psychiatrist’s office in Seoul since August. It is unsure how many more times she will need to receive treatment, and she is going through a difficult time. At a young age, it took a toll on her mentally. Although she’s used to the malicious comments, they have started going overboard. Her mental state is unstable so she hasn’t been able to continue training.

Even before making her official MMA debut, Ga Yeon received a certain amount of hate from the netizens for appearing on SBS’s variety show “Roommate“. Although she stated that she focuses on her sport more than her role in “Roommate”, many questioned whether she was using her sport interest to achieve her celebrity status. However, Ga Yeon proved them wrong by winning against her opponent at her first official match.

But still, unsatisfied netizens argued that the match was a set-up and she was given a weak opponent with the purpose of making her debut look good. In fact, she became the subject of sexual jokes and rude comments after being emphasised as a “beautiful fighter”.

Regarding her current mental condition, fellow MMA fighter Seo Doo Won said it’s a shame that her condition has worsened due to the malicious comments. MMA organisation ROAD FC (Road Fighting Championship) released an official statement, stating that they’ve filed a complaint against a hater that sent a death threat to her on 20th October.

We have filed a complaint to the Seoul Central District Prosecutor’s Office against Mr. Y, who threatened to kill Song Ga Yeon with a chain saw… Although Song Ga Yeon has endured personal attacks and criticisms up until now, because the recent chain-saw threat is intolerable, we held a meeting and have decided to press charges.

Choi Young Ki, the lawyer for ROAD FC lawyer also stated that they’ve decided to take legal action to prevent things like these from happening again.

Oh dear, we hope Song Ga Yeon will get better soon. After all, she has done nothing to deserve all the hate and those death threats from the haters!

Stay strong, Ga Yeon. We’ve got your back!

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#StarWars: Donnie Yen, Mads Mikkelsen & More Join Anthology Film #RogueOne

You have not seen all of “Star Wars“, unless you were at Disney‘s D23 Expo at Anaheim Convention Centre over the weekend.

We already know that Felicity Jones is confirmed to star in an upcoming “Star Wars” anthology film known as “Star Wars: Rogue One“, but what we didn’t know was that a slew of Hollywood A-listers will also join the movie.

Just recently, Lucasfilm confirmed the “Rogue One” cast by releasing an official cast photo from the Disney Live Action panel at D23 Expo. As seen in the photo, the actors who are joining Jones in the film include Diego Luna, Donnie Yen, Jiang Wen, and Riz Ahmed.

Forest Whitaker, Ben Mendelsohn, and Mads Mikkelsen are also confirmed to join the cast while Alan Tudyk (of “Firefly” fame) will play a performance-capture character.

According to Lucasfilm head Kathleen Kennedy, “Rogue One” takes place before the events of “Star Wars: A New Hope”, and chronologically, it will be “closer to Episode IV”. She also said that it “will be a departure from the saga films”, with elements that are familiar to the “Star Wars” universe.

It goes into new territory, exploring the galactic struggle from a ground-war perspective while maintaining that essential “Star Wars” feel that fans have come to know. Gareth is such an innovative director, and I’m so excited to be working with him and the extraordinary ensemble cast he’s selected for “Rogue One”.

“Godzilla” director Gareth Edwards is set to helm the anthology film that is based on a screenplay written by Chris Weitz. ILM visual effects supervisor John Knoll originated the idea for the movie. Allison Shearmur, John Knoll, Simon Emanuel, and Jason McGatlin will be executive producing it while Kennedy and Tony To will produce. Kiri Hart and John Swartz are co-producers.

“Star Wars: Rogue One” is scheduled for release on 16th December 2016.

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


Hype’s Exclusive: Dua Lipa Is Not Your Average Cookie-Cutter Pop Artiste

Singer, songwriter, and model. At only 22 years old, Dua Lipa has covered more grounds in her career than most of her peers. Her story starts from way back when, as an aspiring singer covering songs by pop hit makers Christina Aguilera and Nelly Furtado on YouTube. At that time, Dua was only 14 years old.

But it wasn’t until the year she turned 20 that she signed with Warner Bros. Records, a deal that would later enable her to work on her debut album and the tour UK and Europe.

A couple of Billboard-charting singles later, she is now slated to perform alongside Bruno Mars on the New Zealand and Australian legs of the “24K Magic World Tour 2018”. Oh, but not before she pops by the UK and Europe once again for her self-titled tour later this year.

More recently, she was in Singapore for press interviews and an exclusive showcase at NCO Club, JW Marriott Hotel. Luckily for us, our friends from Warner Music Malaysia extended an invite to meet and speak with the beautiful singer-songwriter.

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

First things first, the exotic name Dua Lipa (pronounced as “Doer Leaper”) is legit. Not a stage name, her real name. “My parents are ethnic Albanians and my name means “love” in Albanian,” we overhear her saying.

As soon as she sat down to speak with us, Dua set the record straight with straight up honesty.“I’ve been singing my whole life and even when I was in the playground at school it was something where I was like..okay I want to be a singer. But I only really took it seriously when I was about 15 when I moved back to Kosovo to London and pursue it as a career,” she said.

On working with current world #1 DJ/producer Martin Garrix for “Scared To Be Lonely“, Dua said that she wouldn’t discount working on another electronic dance music track in the future. “I had such a wonderful experience and me and Martin became really, really good friends. It’s really exciting to get to perform with him. We did Coachella together and it’s you know, you don’t get that kind of crazy dancing at a pop show. People sing along with you and they like, jump up and down. There’s a completely different energy being on stage with him. It was really amazing and I feel very lucky,” Dua gushed.

In speaking about her self-titled debut album, Dua said that it’s not your average pop album per se. She explained, “It’s all the different sounds that I’ve grown up listening to, from things that my Dad listened to like David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Sting, Stereophonics, to artistes that I love like Pink, Nelly Furtado, Destiny’s Child, Christina Aguilera, Missy Elliot..yeah, all that stuff.”

“It’s a mixture of all those things into creating something that I identified with and creating something that really inspires me. It’s a jumble of lots of different things,” Dua added.

Special thanks to our friends from Warner Music Malaysia for having us :) Dua Lipa’s self-titled debut album has been released! Get it here.

For more information on Dua Lipa, hit up her website or Facebook page.

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#Toll: Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) System Implemented, Tolls Now Cashless

You know what day/date it is today, right? It’s 9th September! This means that the electronic toll collection system via only the Touch ‘n Go or SmartTAG has been implemented.

Toll collection at the “Stormwater Management And Road Tunnel” or “SMART Tunnel”, 3 major highways in Kuala Lumpur, and 7 toll plazas around the country have gone cashless from today onwards.

With the aim and promise to smoothen traffic flow, the fully electronic toll collection is expected to help reduce traffic congestion by about 20% to 30%.

And that’s not all. To encourage motorists to pay electronically, many concessionaires have been throwing in offers. The AKLEH and DUKE concessionaires were offering a 5% rebate for Class One motorists (cars, vans and small trucks) for 3 months.

SmartTAG units would also be sold at a special price of RM99, from today until the stocks last.

According to a report by The Star, AKLEH general manager Engku Mohd Fauzi Engku Hatim said:

We have 22 lanes in total and we have been switching the mixed mode lanes (cash and Touch ’n Go) to only Touch ’n Go lanes in stages. Rela officers will also assist highway patrol officers to control the traffic situation. We have also increase our support staff to promote the ETC and to sell Touch ’n Go cards.

He added that a smooth transition was expected with electronic toll collection rising from 65% in January to 89% at present for the Datuk Keramat toll plaza.

PLUS Malaysia Bhd general manager (operations) Norbayati Manap said top up service and purchase of electronic access cards would be available 24 hours at the extreme left booth, as the final phase of the cashless system is imposed in the last 5 open toll booths in the northern region.

Motorists can also top up their MyKad which have the Touch ’n Go features.


MTV Asia’s VJ Holly Goes Back To School

MTV VJ Holly will be hitting the books as she resumes her studies in the United States this coming new year and will be signing off as an MTV VJ.  She made this announcement on this week’s episode of The MTV Show which she hosts with VJ Rich.

When asked about her experience as an MTV VJ, she said, “I have had the best two years of my life. Working at MTV has been an awesome adventure. Never would I have thought I would be able to face a crowd of 15,000 and survive! I’ve met the coolest people but most importantly I’ve grown so much as a person. I feel much more confident and the challenges I have faced at MTV like public speaking have made me so much more sure of myself as a person!”.

VJ Holly was discovered when MTV trawled the blogosphere in 2010 in an extensive search for its next VJ.  Besting a huge pool of aspirants in challenges and fan votes, she was hailed the new VJ in front of over 15,000 screaming fans during World Stage Live In Malaysia 2010.

Since then, the part Polish, part Sinhalese-Chinese VJ has hosted MTV events across Asia gaining celebrity status gracing the covers of magazines in the region and has been featured in countless articles on print and online.  VJ Holly also contributed stories to The New Paper in Singapore and The Star in Malaysia as a guest columnist.

“We’re happy that VJ Holly has chosen to pursue a college education.  Putting school as a priority is a good thing. She’s been truly a great find and provided freshness and vibrancy to MTV. We wish her well,” says Tan Sian Ju (Vice President of MTV Brand, Asia).

Fans and viewers can still catch VJ Holly on-air until 20th October 2012 at the season finale of The MTV Show.  For more information, visit The MTV Show’s website.

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Hype’s Movie Review: What We Liked & Didn’t Like About The Curse Of The Weeping Woman

Since the release of the first “Conjuring” movie in 2013, the conjuring universe has produced over six feature horror stories to date.

The latest member to join the family is Michael Chave’s “The Curse of the Weeping Woman”, also known as “The Curse of La Llorona”. Even though, it’s the sixth installment to the conjuring franchise, the movie serves as a stand-alone film.

Set in the 1970s, the story follows social worker and widow, Anna Garcia raising her two kids in Los Angeles. In her latest case, she uncovers signs of foul play. As she dives deeper into her research for the case, she finds out of La Llorona’s existence. La Llorona, a supernatural being, steals children from families and make them her own.

With the help of local faith healer, Anna discovers that La Llorona has latched herself onto her children and won’t stop until she gets them. Being the brave mom that she is, Anna is willing to do anything for the survival of her children.

Linda Cardellini, who plays Anna Garcia, was definitely the right fit for the character. It was clear that she was connected to her character and its storyline. She managed to deliver what was required for every scene, be it expressing an emotion or a line. Linda also did a good job in showcasing the different sides to the character.

With the rise of strong female characters on screen, we often only get to see the strong sides to female characters. For this movie, however, we got to witness Linda portray both the strong and vulnerable sides on screen.

Other superstars of the show would be Roman Christou who plays the brother, Chris Garcia. It was refreshing to see this promising young actor personate the character. Scriptwriters Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis, did a decent job in coming up with this character.

Unlike his younger sister in the movie, the character wasn’t a damsel in distress. Even with his limited strength, he was responsive in crucial scenes. He was definitely his mother’s side kick as he was willing to do anything to protect his sister and fight off La Llorona.

Of course, the movie isn’t perfect. Just like any cliche horror flicks there is, the movie was filled with jump scares and dumb moves. For instance, there’s a scene where they are told not to break the line of herbs, because if they do, La Llorona could enter the house again and hurt the kids.

However, the sister somehow thought the most important thing to do at the moment was to take her doll that was on the other side. As soon as she did, La Llorona as expected grabbed her. Speaking of La Llorona, despite the hype around her, La Llorona didn’t do much haunting. In fact, she barely came out and when she did, she only scared them instead of really wanting to kill them.

For a horror flick, “The Curse of the Weeping Woman” can be considered a decent motion picture. Even though, it’s not as scary or a game changer as “A Nightmare on Elm Street” or “The Exorcist”, the film wasn’t painful to sit through. Its strengths definitely made up for its shortcomings.

“The Curse of the Weeping Woman” is currently showing in cinemas.


#BatuCaves: Limestone Hill Of Caves & Cave Temples To Be Demolished? Nope!

If you’ve seen a supposed PDRM press release stating that 400-million-year-old limestone hill Batu Caves will soon be demolished, don’t panic because apparently, it’s fake. In fact, the police have announced that they will investigate the online circulation of the fake media statement purporting that the authorities and government have approved the demolition of the Batu Caves temple.

Batu Caves houses one of the most popular Hindu shrines outside India, and is dedicated to Lord Murugan. As most Malaysians would know, the focal point of Hindu festival of Thaipusam in Malaysia.

The PDRM letterhead claimed that the public is prohibited from entering the site from 2nd May. Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar tweeted on Wednesday (22nd April) that stern action would be taken against the culprits for disseminating false information.

@PDRMsia menafikan pernah mengeluarkan  kenyataan di bawah. Pemalsuan dan penyebaran berita ini akan disiasat.

Translation: @PDRMsia denies issuing the statement below. Fabrication and dissemination of the information will be investigated.

Khalid also attached a screengrab of the fake statement. In case you missed it, here:

@PDRMsia menafikan pernah mengeluarkan Kenyataan di bawah. Pemalsuan dan penyebaran berita ini akan disiasat. pic.twitter.com/O159m9q0Hj

— Khalid Abu Bakar (@KBAB51) April 22, 2015

So calm down, peeps. Ain’t nobody be touching this iconic landmark!

Source: The Star Online / Featured image from here.

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#Cabbies: Prime Minister Will Announce Solutions For Taxis Soon

On Tuesday (29th March), some 100 taxi drivers staged a huge protest at Bukit Bintang against ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Grab. The protest proved effective because the government will now be looking into solving the problem.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak stated in his blog, NajibRazak.com, that a “fair and just” policy solution will be announced in the “near future”.

He assured that the government will not be in favour any one party on the matter and the new policy will have to consider other elements like innovation, competition, and technological advancements.

“I understand and am concerned about the problems and complaints of the cabbies that see Uber and Grab services as cutting into their source of income. In this era of sophistication and innovation, we have to keep pace with technological developments. Competition has to be seen as a stepping stone, not an obstacle, so the public can enjoy the best possible service,” said the Prime Minister.

Najib urged both parties to not act on their emotions and take extreme measures like a massive street protest again as it will only worsen the situation and tarnish their reputation. He also praised the police for their quick action in taking control of the traffic conditions.

In another report, Federal Territories Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor said that public taxi drivers should improve their services to compete with ride-hailing apps. He told reporters that the ministry has received numerous complaints from both locals and tourists about poor taxi services which forced them to choose Uber or Grab.

It was reported that the protest happened due to the recent decision made by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) about approving services provided by ride-hailing apps such as Uber and Grab.

The original post by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak can be found in his official blog.


The 55th Annual Grammy Awards Nominees Are..

Can you feel that in the air? It’s awards season all over again!

Yesterday, the 55th Annual Grammy Awards nominees were revealed during “The Grammy Nominations Concert Live!” concert in Tennessee, United States. And it’s clear that one of the world’s fast favourite (but little) bands, Fun. is getting what they deserve after all the hard work that they’ve put into their music.

Fun. is leading Grammys pack with six nominations, including “Record of the Year”, “Song of the Year”, “Album of the Year”, and “Best New Artist”. It sure didn’t surprise us because who doesn’t already know this song of theirs by heart?:

[youtube id=”Sv6dMFF_yts” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Seems like they’re going to have their hands full, huh?

Other nominees who are tied to Fun. with the same amount of nominations are such as Frank Ocean, Mumford & Songs, and Kanye West and Jay-Z. Kanye West and Jay-Z obviously hit high notes with their “Watch the Throne” collaboration, fo shizzle. C’mon, you can’t say that this wasn’t a great comeback for the duo:

[youtube id=”gG_dA32oH44″ width=”600″ height=”350″]

Record of the Year: “Lonely Boy,” The Black Keys; “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” Kelly Clarkson; “We Are Young,” fun. featuring Janelle Monae; “Somebody That I Used To Know,” Gotye Featuring Kimbra; “Thinkin Bout You,” Frank Ocean; “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together,” Taylor Swift.

Album of the Year: “El Camino,” The Black Keys; “Some Nights,” fun.; “Babel,” Mumford & Sons; “Channel Orange,” Frank Ocean; “Blunderbuss,” Jack White.

Song of the Year: “The A Team,” Ed Sheeran, songwriter (performed by Ed Sheeran); “Adorn,” Miguel Pimentel, songwriter (Miguel); “Call Me Maybe” Tavish Crowe, Carly Rae Jepsen & Josh Ramsay, songwriters (Carly Rae Jepsen); “Stronger (What Doesn’t Kill You),” Jorgen Elofsson, David Gamson, Greg Kurstin & Ali Tamposi, songwriters (Kelly Clarkson); “We Are Young,” Jack Antonoff, Jeff Bhasker, Andrew Dost & Nate Ruess, songwriters (fun. featuring Janelle Monáe).

New Artist: Alabama Shakes, fun., Hunter Hayes, The Lumineers, Frank Ocean.

Pop Vocal Album: “Stronger,” Kelly Clarkson; “Ceremonials,” Florence & The Machine; “Some Nights,” fun.; “Overexposed,” Maroon 5; “The Truth About Love,” Pink.

Rock Album: “El Camino,” The Black Keys; “Mylo Xyloto,” Coldplay; “The 2nd Law,” Muse; “Wrecking Ball,” Bruce Springsteen; “Blunderbuss,” Jack White.

R&B Album: “Black Radio,” Robert Glasper Experiment; “Back To Love,” Anthony Hamilton; “Write Me Back,” R. Kelly; “Beautiful Surprise,” Tamia; “Open Invitation,” Tyrese.

Rap Album: “Take Care,” Drake; “Food & Liquor II: The Great American Rap Album, Pt. 1,” Lupe Fiasco; “Life Is Good,” Nas; “Undun,” The Roots; “God Forgives, I Don’t,” Rick Ross; “Based on a T.R.U. Story,” Chainz.

Country Album: “Uncaged,” Zac Brown Band; “Hunter Hayes,” Hunter Hayes; “Living For A Song: A Tribute To Hank Cochran,” Jamey Johnson; “Four The Record,” Miranda Lambert; “The Time Jumpers,” The Time Jumpers.

So, who are you rooting for? The 55th Annual Grammy Awards aka 2013 Grammy Awards will air live from Los Angeles on 10th February 2013.

For more information, visit their official website.

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#DemiWorldTour: Demi Lovato Is Coming To Malaysia This May

Ooh. Lovatics (as Demi Lovato’s fans are lovingly called), we’ve got a surprise for you :D

It seems like Demi Lovato is going to reunite with Backstreet Boys (BSB) soon as the Californian singer-songwriter will return to Malaysia as part of her 4th headlining concert tour, the “Demi World Tour”, at Arena of Stars, Genting Highlands on 4th May 2015.

That’s right, everyone. Demi Lovato is set to perform a day after Backstreet Boys’ concert in Malaysia!

It is sort of a reunion for Demi Lovato and BSB as they were previously here in Malaysia for Twin Towers @Live 2013. Held at the base of the iconic PETRONAS Twin Towers, both Demi Lovato an BSB brought the house down by attracting more than 50,000 fans over the 2-day festival that also featured a star-studded line-up of international artistes.

Though they didn’t perform together, they briefly interacted with each other during the event’s press conference.

Born in 1992, Lovato began her acting career on the children’s television series “Barney & Friends” as Angela. She starred in a short Disney Channel show called “As the Bell Rings” and later rose to prominence through a starring role in the Disney Channel TV film “Camp Rock”. In September 2008, she began her musical career by releasing her debut album, “Don’t Forget”. She was the lead actress for a Disney Channel show called “Sonny with a Chance” in 2009, but the show ended after its 2nd season as her personal issues put her career on hiatus.

In 2011, she made a comeback with her 3rd album, “Unbroken”. The album addressed several of her difficulties and its lead single, “Skyscraper”, became Lovato’s first top 10 single as well as first platinum single in the US. She later became a judge and mentor on the American version of “The X Factor” from 2012 to 2013.

The multi-talented platinum-selling record artiste is currently on the “Demi World Tour”, which is the 2nd tour in support of her 4th studio album, “Demi”. After the European leg of her tour, she is set to embark on an Asian tour, which includes our neighbouring countries such as China, Singapore, and Philippines.

With numerous mega hits such as, “Let It Go”, “Skyscraper”, “Heart Attack”, “Give Your Heart A Break”, “Neon Lights”, and her current single, “Nightingale” under her belt, Demi will be putting up an exciting performance line-up for her first full-scale concert in Malaysia.

Tickets can be purchased via TicketPro’s official website.

So, who’s ready to see Demi Lovato performing “Heart Attack” live in Malaysia? ;)

For more information, hit up AC Music Entertainment or Universal Music Malaysia’s Facebook page.


#RIPChesterBennington: Celebrities Respond To Linkin Park Lead Singer’s Death

As news about Linkin Park lead singer Chester Bennington’s death continue to trickle in, celebrities around the world are taking to their respective social media platforms to express their shock and sadness.

Fellow Linkin Park band member Mike Shinoda first confirmed the news via his Twitter, saying, “Shocked and heartbroken, but it’s true.”

Shocked and heartbroken, but it's true. An official statement will come out as soon as we have one.

— Mike Shinoda (@mikeshinoda) July 20, 2017

Chester’s suicide also sent shockwaves through the music and entertainment industry, with scores of celebrities sending their condolences.

Like most of us, they too are reeling from the news.

— Duff McKagan (@DuffMcKagan) July 20, 2017

Chester was one of the kindest men I've had on my show. My heart breaks for his family and friends. He will be missed terribly.

— Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) July 20, 2017

Just when I thought my heart couldn't break any more…..I love you T

— Vicky Cornell (@vickycornell) July 20, 2017

"When life leaves us blind, love keeps us kind." – Chester Bennington. Rest easy sir. pic.twitter.com/RLhmf0UR0B

— Nickelback (@Nickelback) July 20, 2017

Depression doesn't care about age, race, gender or status. It doesn't discriminate. Let those you care for know that you're there for them.

The news about Chester Bennington is devastating. My thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and @linkinpark. Such a tragic loss

— Ryan Seacrest (@RyanSeacrest) July 20, 2017

Saddened to learn about the passing of the talented Chester Bennington from Linkin Park. My heart breaks for his family and children.

— Ashley Greene (@AshleyMGreene) July 20, 2017

A post shared by badgalriri (@badgalriri)

So sorry to hear the news about Chester Bennington. Sending so much luv, strength & light to his family, kids & @linkinpark ohana.

— Dwayne Johnson (@TheRock) July 20, 2017

In the end, it really matters. You will be missed. RIP Chester Bennington pic.twitter.com/wnjQDrlKvY

— Nicky Romero (@nickyromero) July 20, 2017

Our thoughts are with Chester Bennington's family & all of Linkin Park at this remarkably difficult time. A voice of a generation. X

— You Me At Six (@youmeatsix) July 20, 2017

no words. so heartbroken. RIP Chester Bennington.

— Imagine Dragons (@Imaginedragons) July 20, 2017

Gracious, kind & humble. A rare combination in Rock & Roll. Deeply saddened… pic.twitter.com/cVtNEzrjHD

— Lars Ulrich (@larsulrich) July 20, 2017

Cant believe this news about @ChesterBe he influenced so manyThank you for your music and everything that you have done, you will be missed

— marshmello (@marshmello) July 20, 2017

can't even fathom the news about Chester Bennington. going to have LP on repeat all day. Rest In Peace.

— michael clifford (@Michael5SOS) July 20, 2017

I am in tears.Chester just told me how happy he was…..He was such a sweet and talented man……Ifeel so sad for his family,band mates and fans

Just heard the sad news of the passing of Chester Bennington . Our sincere condolences to his family, his band and everyone who loved him.

— Bryan Adams (@bryanadams) July 20, 2017

RIP to Chester Bennington and my sincerest condolences to his family, friends, and the Linkin Park family. Truly unique, humble frontman.

— Justin Timberlake (@jtimberlake) July 21, 2017

And finally, Linkin Park’s official Twitter account has since updated its display and cover photos, which features Chester Bennington.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends, and the Linkin Park members.

— LINKIN PARK (@linkinpark) July 20, 2017

You will be missed. Rest in peace, Chester Bennington ?

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#Honda: 147,894 Units Of Vehicles Manufactured Between 2003 And 2011 Recalled

Honda owners, you might wanna take note of this.

Honda Malaysia has announced that they will be recalling 147,894 units of Honda vehicles to replace the front passenger airbag inflator. Models involved are the Accord, City, Civic, CR-V, Freed, Insight, Jazz, and Odyssey.

For a clearer picture, refer to the chart below:

A notification letter will be sent out to affected customers, and those who receive the letter are advised to bring their vehicles to the nearest authorised Honda dealer immediately for inspection to avoid any untoward incident. Owners will also need to bring the letter along for identification purposes.

Parts and labour charges related to the rectification work will be borne by Honda Malaysia and replacement works will be carried out once the parts are ready.

Honda Malaysia also stated that all current selling models will not be affected by the recall.

Earlier in March, Honda Malaysia recalled a total of 93,929 cars of various models over a 12V battery issue, as the affected vehicles “(did) not meet Honda Malaysia’s specific requirements, and it may lead to battery damage when the engine is started.”

Honda car owners can check their vehicle recall status by calling the Honda Toll Free number at 1-800-88-2020, log on to Honda’s official website, or visit any authorised Honda dealers.


#EXOrDIUMinMalaysia: EXO Conquers The Hearts Of Fans In 2nd Malaysian Concert

They came, they performed, they conquered.

Held at Stadium Merdeka in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday (18th March), the Malaysian leg of EXO’s (엑소) “EXO Planet #3 The EXO’rDIUM” was easily one of the most memorable K-Pop concerts we’ve attended so far.

Like last year’s “EXO’LuXion”, the long awaited concert was organised by Star Planet (星艺娱乐) and it attracted 15,000 EXO-Ls from Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, China, and South Korea. However, it only saw the presence of 8 EXO members as Lay (full name Zhang Yixing) had “other commitments” to deal with at the time. The idol will also be skipping the Singaporean and North American shows.

Hours before the show started, dedicated fans have already gathered at the venue. While some EXO-Ls arrived early to stand in queue, others swarmed Stadium Merdeka to catch up with fellow fans from the same fan club. Because time flies when you’re talking about your favourite K-Pop star :)

When we entered the stadium at about 7:30pm, we saw an incredible sight as fans illuminate the venue with their light sticks. While waiting for their idols to appear, excited EXO-Ls sung along to the songs that were being broadcasted. It was pretty evident to us that they came prepared because memorising Korean lyrics is no easy task.

At around 8pm, the floodlights dimmed and EXO appeared on stage to perform a remix of their hit dance number, “MAMA”. The members, all dressed in sleek black outfits, swept the audience off their feet with their powerful choreography and stage manner. After that, they performed a couple of upbeat numbers such as “Monster” and “Wolf” (늑대와 미녀). Our favourite part of the segment was when the boys (especially Kai) sexily danced to “Artificial Love” with a walking stick, which sent the crowd wild.

After energising the crowd with their high powered dance moves, the boys went to change their outfits. While waiting, fans were entertained with a VCR that showed the members doing various fun activities such as playing pool and dancing. Although Lay wasn’t around, EXO-Ls didn’t forget to chant his Chinese name when he appeared on the big screen.

Once the clip ended, the boys returned onstage with “Unfair” (불공평해). This time, the boys were clad in white shirts. With Chanyeol playing the guitar, they then sung an acoustic medley of “My Lady”, “My Turn To Cry”, “Moonlight” (월광), “Call Me Baby”, and “Love Love”. Needless to say, their heavenly vocals made fans’ hearts flutter.

Without wasting time, the boys proceeded to sing a couple of tracks off their 2nd repackaged album. This includes “Love Me Right”, “Tender Love”, and “What If…” (시선 둘, 시선 하나).

There were many unforgettable moments throughout the night, one of them being an early birthday surprise for Xiumin, whose actual birthday is on 26th March. When Xiumin was changing his clothes for his next performance, Sehun instructed fans to sing a birthday song for him when he comes out. As planned, EXO-Ls sang “Happy Birthday” loudly when the idol stepped out.

“I’m thankful for the surprise. I feel so good but I feel so shy right now,” said Xiumin bashfully.

Another main highlight of the night for us was Sehun, Chanyeol, and Xiumin’s special rap performance called “Do It Together” (같이해). The track, which sounded very similar to Keith Ape’s “It G Ma” (잊지마), perfectly displayed the trio’s intense rap skills. Who said idols can’t do underground hip hop? On a side note, we sincerely hope that the track will have an official release because it is dope af.

The rap performance was followed by their last segment, which is a club-themed stage that consists of “Full Moon”, “Drop That”, “EXO Keep On Dancing”, “Lucky”, and “Run”. One VCR later, EXO ended the show with “Growl” (으르렁), “Lucky One”, and “Into Your World” (너의 세상으로).

“I really had so much fun today. I felt that your presence means that you guys waited for us for so long. We’re under the same rain now and it feels like we’re falling in love together. I love you guys so much,” said Baekhyun.

Despite being one of the biggest K-Pop concerts in Malaysia, there were 2 things that disappointed us.

Firstly, the boys had to cut out some tracks due to the outdoor venue. After comparing the Malaysian show with the tour’s other legs, we found out that the boys didn’t perform “Let Out The Beast” and “Cloud 9”. After watching fancams from “EXO’rDIUM in Seoul”, we felt that they could still perform the aforementioned songs on an outdoor stage.

Secondly, aside from Sehun, Chanyeol, and Xiumin’s special performance, there weren’t any other solo stages. We were hoping to see the group’s first sub-unit, EXO-CBX, sing “Hey Mama!” or “Crush U”.

But all in all, we have to say the concert was a good experience and we hope to see Lay the next time the group visits Malaysia.

Special thanks to our friends from Star Planet for extending the invite. See you next time, EXO ;)

For more information, hit up Star Planet’s Facebook page.

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