Firefly To Replace Malaysia Airlines As Our New National Carrier?

Khazanah Nasional Sdn Bhd has the option to channel funds into low-cost carrier ,Firefly, all at once making it into Malaysia’s new national airline.

This will only happen in the case of our current national carrier, Malaysia Airlines (MAS), being shut down due to the liquidation of its assets.

According to Berita Harian, Khazanah’s managing director Datuk Shahril Ridza Ridzuan said the team is still negotiating with creditors and aircraft lessors. He also stated, Khazanah and the Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG) will discuss the next step, once the outcome of the negotiations are clear.

“Among the alternative options that can be considered, Khazanah will prepare to stop financing MAS and will instead, finance Firefly to expand its operations for the purpose of fulfilling the country’s need for connectivity,” explained Shahril. “If it goes well, Firefly has the potential to become our national airline.”

The managing director acknowledged that if the alternative is realised, stakeholders will definitely be affected. However, he assured that his party would take the necessary steps in reducing any negative outcomes.

Khazanah Nasional Sdn Bhd acts as a national investment fund and is tasked to realise the government’s effort to provide connectivity. Shahril said, they can either inject funds to MAS (restructuring it successfully) or fund the low-budget airline to expand its operations but “the selected airline must have sustainable finances in order to generate returns.”

The aviation industry is perhaps one of the most affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, due to the decrease in number of flights both domestically and internationally. Feel free to read on how the deadly virus has affected AirAsia recently.


Platform 11: The City’s Latest Buzz

“Platform 11” was initially just the title of Keith Tan’s debut album, named after the platform at King’s Cross, London, where Keith wrote “Carry On”. It also symbolizes the phase where dreams take off, and the beginning of a journey.

When the album was officially released and distributed in December 2012, the name “Platform 11” evolved into a brand name of the band, which consist the key musicians that participated in the album’s recording. Platform 11 was no longer just Keith Tan’s debut album title and vision alone, it represented the elaborate and collective effort by all the musicians who poured their souls into the album. ‘Platform 11” was carrying many dreams on board.

Though very new to the industry, “Platform 11” has garnered many praises by industry professionals and music enthusiasts. Just a month or two after the release of the album, they officially introduced themselves through a “Media Meet & Greet” session at The Annexe Gallery, Central Market in conjunction with their two-night only concert on 26th February and 27th February. The two-night concert was very much a self-funded and do-it-yourself event, put up together by Platform 11 members themselves, and support from Very Imaginative People.

At the concert, which started at 8:30pm on both nights, “Platform 11” performed to a full-house crowd. The concert featured a full band, strings quartet, 11-choir members, guest performers – Reza Salleh, Melina William, and guest musicians. The atmosphere of the entire concert was brought up one notch with video clips, visual effects and animation as backdrop that matches perfectly with every song performed.

[youtube id=”QBiX83qiJVU” width=”600″ height=”350″]

From the album production to the concert production, their emphasis has always been on quality, and being true to oneself. The band’s effort certainly did not go unnoticed-audiences reciprocated with thunderous claps and cheers for “Platform 11”. We foresee many more great things from the band.

Click to view more pictures from the exclusive media session in our gallery below!

For more information, visit the band’s Facebook page.

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Michael Bay Reconciles With Megan Fox!

“Transformers” star and new mama Megan Fox has apparently kissed and made up with filmmaker Michael Bay. You may remember a time when Megan compared Michael Bay to Hitler after working with him on the first two “Transformers” movies. Well, the filmmaker was actually first to report the news via his blog when he simply stated, “TMNT: We Are Bringing Megan Fox Back Into The Family”.

It’s like having them say in unison, “Tension? What tension?”. Although Michael hasn’t clarified what role the 26-year-old actress will be playing in the upcoming live-action CG adaptation in the popular 80s cartoon, he sounds extremely positive about his reconciliation with Megan.

Proving that the previously strained relationship between the two is now water under the bridge, Michael even said of the “Transformers” drama, “I wasn’t hurt, because I know that’s just Megan. When you’re days and months on a set, it’s like a family. You say rude things and you make up”.

Really, Michael? Because the spat was such a high-profiled one last we checked, she was even made to leave the film franchise after.

Meanwhile, rumour has it that Megan will be playing April O’Neil, the human friend of the turtles. The turtles in this upcoming movie version are going to be different from the cartoon though! These turtles are from an alien race, and they are going to be tough, edge, funny, and completely lovable. Jonathan Liebesman is set to direct TMNT aka “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles” whereas Michael Fox will join in as producer.

We’re sold! How much are the movie tickets? We want.


Perving On The Prevé

Yesterday marked yet another milestone for our country’s national carmaker – Proton has unveiled the latest addition to their family of automobiles, the Prevé. The launch was officiated by Malaysian Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak, at the Mines Malaysia International Exhibition and Convention Centre in Seri Kembangan.

Not bad. We’re beginning to think that this could be the best-looking Proton ever. And that’s saying a lot since Proton Holdings Berhad has been around for almost three decades.

It looks like the designers put extra thought into and definitely “worked it” with this one, this time around:

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

But it’s not all about looks and looks alone, the turbocharged Proton Prevé is also said to be the carmaker’s most technologically-advanced vehicle to date.

All you need to know that the Prevé is THE car with Proton’s first turbocharged engine that runs on an economical 6.6 litre per 100km fuel consumption. It also comes equipped with comfort and safety enhancements such as:

Kudos to WiFi on the move, if you ask us!

When asked, Datuk Seri Mohd Khamil Jamil (Executive Chairman, Proton Holdings Berhad) said, “It is a new area for Proton. The emphasis going forwad is to emerge stronger as a global car company and at the same time redefine Proton as a product and a brand in the realm of a highly competitive global automotive industry.”

All three variants of the Prevé (Executive, Executive CVT,  and Premium) are priced between RM59,990 and RM72,990 and are available in six colours:

Could this be the car to fight head-on and win over its “peers”, the Corolla Altis, the Naza Forte, and the Honda Civic? Wouldn’t it then kill the Inspira, the Proton sedan that’s the closest by comparison?

Although, with that much technology put into it, we can only hope that the Proton Prevé proves itself. Yes, we specifically mean working power windows.

For more information, visit their official microsite.

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#Cartoons: 8 Animated Movies We’re Looking Forward To Watch Before 2017 Ends

Although this year’s list of animated feature films isn’t as impressive as last year (“Moana”, “Finding Dory”, “Zootopia”, and “The Angry Birds Movie”, just to name a few), we’re still anticipating some good ones ahead.

“The Lego Batman Movie” and “The Boss Baby” have been thoroughly enjoyable so far. Coming up ahead, moviegoers can look forward to several long-awaited sequels (2 of which are threequels), fresh adaptations, and thrill-seeking emojis.

Gru is about to come face to face with a twin brother he never realised existed. His twin named Dru is not only more successful and has better fashion sense, but he also has a full head of flowing blonde hair. Together, the duo must team up and set aside their sibling rivalry if they hope to defeat the new supervillain in town – Balthazar Bratt. If you thought the Minions were annoying, wait till you meet Dru.

Ready to be introduced to a never-before-seen secret world? Hidden within the messaging app in your smartphone is the city of Textopolis. All the emojis who live there are only able to project 1 facial expression – except for Gene, who happens to have multiple expressions. When Gene and his friends, Hi-5 and Jailbreak, embark on an epic “app-venture” through a teenager’s phone, the fate of all emojis suddenly depends on the trio when a dangerous threat surface.

Disney Pixar’s “Cars” franchise may not be well-loved by critics but that hasn’t stopped the studio from churning out a 2nd sequel. In the automotive threequel, the red hot Lightning McQueen is striving to prove to a new generation of racers that he’s still the best race car in the world. In doing so, he will require the help of an eager young race technician, Cruz Ramirez. It is believed that “Cars 3” will be more emotional, while centring on “acceptance” and “moving on”.

“I’ve taken a solemn oath to form a secret ninja force. Are you ready to risk your life for Ninjago?”

Set in Ninjago City, the story follows young Lloyd, aka the Green Ninja, and his secret warrior friends. Led by the wise Master Wu, they must defeat evil warlord Garmadon, who also happens to be Lloyd’s dad. As these modern-day ninjas take on the villain, they must put their egos in check and band together to unleash their true power.

When a dark force threatens Ponyville, the Mane 6 – Twilight, Sparkle, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, and Rarity – must transform into sea ponies and journey under the sea where they’ll meet new friends and face obstacles on a special quest. Instead of attempting a live-action, the animated film will stay true to the television series.

Directed by Mexican animator Lee Unkrich, “Coco” (previously titled “Dia de los Muertos”) is described “as an authentic love letter to one of Mexico’s most iconic celebrations” – the Día de los Muertos aka Day of the Dead, an annual Mexican holiday.

Although his family has banned music from their household for generations, Miguel harbours a secret desire to follow in the footsteps of his music idol, Ernesto de la Cruz. In his quest to prove his talent, Miguel enters the colourful Land of the Dead and sets off on the journey to discover the real story behind his family’s history.

Guess who’s back guys? It is Peru’s most loveable bear, Paddington, and he’s taking us on a new adventure with the Brown family in London. In celebration of Aunt Lucy’s 100th birthday, Paddington spots a unique pop-up book in Mr. Gruber’s antique shop and thinks it’ll be the perfect gift for her. He then takes on a series of odd jobs to purchase it. But when the book is stolen, it’s up to Paddington and the Brown family to catch the culprit.

Set in Spain, “Ferdinand” tells the story of a giant peaceful bull with a big heart. As a child, the little bull “would rather sit in the shade of his favourite cork tree and smell the flowers”, instead of butting heads with other bulls.

As Ferdinand grows into adulthood, his temperament remains mellow. After being mistaken for a dangerous beast, he is captured and sent to Madrid to compete in bullfights. Determined to return home to his loved ones, he gathers a team of misfits for the ultimate adventure.

Here’s a compilation of some of the trailers:

Of all the cartoons and animated films listed above, which ones are y’all personally looking forward to watch? Let us know in the comments :)

Sources: Deadline, Movie Web, The Hollywood Reporter, /Film.

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Tamagotchi, Now Available For Android

Introducing, the Tamagotchi app for Android. As in, the 90s virtual pets game.

Call it “keeping up with the times” or “innovating” but Namco Bandai is doing it right with the release of “Tamagotchi L.i.f.e” (the acronym stands for “love is fun everywhere”). Right now, the app is only available on Android devices and, well, it does similar things the keychain Tamagotchi used to do.

There’s an emulator mode when you start your “game” where your pet is a familiar egg. As time passes, you get a blobby uh, something, to feed, bathe, clean, entertain (gain “hearts”), keep happy, keep healthy, and basically prevent from dying. With the “Tamagotchi L.i.f.e”, the original Tamagotchi bleeps and bloops would sound off and on again to alert you of your pet’s wants and needs (read: demands).

You can either choose from the app’s “toy view”, which recreates the eggshell interface or the “app view”, which brings your pet into a full-screen view and dumps the three-button controls in favor of tappable icons. Watch the official video:

[youtube id=”hsB9ZYYFgi4″ width=”600″ height=”350″]

Also, if you take care of your pet well enough, you’ll be able to unlock in-app features and rewards such as new wallpapers and backgrounds, and new pets to raise. Players also have the ability to play a game of rock, paper, scissors with their digital creature. A noisier smartphone/tablet, less productivity, and good times ahead?


#Aquaman: “Batman v Superman” Director Zack Snyder Teases First Look

This. This is going to change the way DC Comics fans see Aquaman forever.

You see, nobody can really take Aquaman seriously on print because of his green stretch pants, a tunic made of fish scales, and bleach blonde hair. Although illustrators have vastly improved his image over the year, it’s still a little difficult to not have the earlier image of the not-so-macho undersea warrior etched in our minds. These days, he appears a hulking, aged King of Atlantis, wielding a triton twice his size and hangs ten on tidal waves.

However, that’s all going to be switched up (for the better) real quick in the upcoming “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” movie because director Zack Snyder will bring Aquaman to the silver screens for the first time ever. In case you didn’t know, former “Game of Thrones” star Jason Momoa was cast in the role last year.

Famed for unveiling “first looks” at the movie’s superheroes himself, on Friday (20th Feb), he surprised fans with a first look at Jason Momoa as Aquaman:

There is only one true King. #unitetheseven pic.twitter.com/RDFG8jbuI6

— ZackSnyder (@ZackSnyder) February 20, 2015

As seen in the picture above, Zack Snyder’s version of the marine is enhanced with lots of fierce brawn. Aquaman’s orange scales have been replaced with body armour whereas his green pants have been thrown out and in its place, dark green pants. We also noticed that there might or might not be scale tattoos.

Ooh. But honestly, doesn’t he look like an Aquaman-upped version of Khal Drogo? No, really, think about it.

Feel free to discuss that in the comments box below.

And just in case you were wondering that the “#unitetheseven” hashtag is all about, it represents the members of the Justice League. They are:

“Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” is slated for release on 25th March 2016. Where’s that teaser that was supposed to be released this month?

Meanwhile, word on the street is that Aquaman might also debut with his own solo film as Warner Bros has revealed that there are 10 new films currently in development for the DC Cinematic Universe.

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Karen Mok To Promote “Somewhere I Belong” In Malaysia!

The expression “the world is her stage” means exactly what it says when it comes to singer, songwriter, musician, award-winner, Olympic torch-bearer,  superstar of concerts, films and musicals, the multi-lingual, multi-talented Karen Mok.

Eurasian Karen, who has Chinese heritage but also Welsh, Persian and German blood, is from Hong Kong by birth, but in reality she’s from everywhere. In a hugely accomplished career, Karen has repeatedly proved that she’s one of the most distinguished Oriental talents of her generation, but now she’s set to cross the bridge between east and west as never before, on her new album, and first English-language jazz recording, “Somewhere I Belong”.

With Karen’s sophisticated approach and with her unique background, this is “jazz, but with a bit of a Chinese approach,” as she describes it. It features an eclectic selection of interpretations plus two Chinese songs (one traditional, one written by Mok herself). The broad palette of “Somewhere I Belong” runs all the way from Cole Porter to Portishead, from Chris Isaak to Sting and from George Gershwin to the Beatles.

And just today, our friends from Universal Music Malaysia have confirmed that Karen Mok will be in town from 13th to 16th April to promote “Somewhere I Belong”:

Karen Mok “Somewhere I Belong” Autograph Session

Karen Mok “Somewhere I Belong” Fans Gathering (By Invitation Only)

For more information, visit Universal Music Malaysia’s official website.


Jewel Changi Airport Launches Its Very Own Pokemon Mobile Game

Pokémon Go is so last year – at least for the Singaporeans because now they have their very own Singapore-exclusive Pokémon mobile game called the Pokémon Explorer (PEX) which can only be played within Singapore’s Jewel Changi Airport, commonly known as Jewel.

Similar to Pokémon Go, Pokémon Explorer is an Augmented Reality (AR) game which is developed in collaboration with The Pokémon Company to encourage visitors to explore the nature-themed lifestyle complex. The game is also a great way to kill time in case you get stuck at the airport!

A post shared by Jewel Changi Airport (@jewelchangiairport)

To access the game, of course you would need to download the Jewel app. You would also need to turn on your phone’s Bluetooth, and allow the app to access the camera and microphone.

As mentioned before, you can only play the game within Jewel itself. At the beginning of the game, players will get to pick one of 25 partner Pokémon that will help play the game alongside them. The Pokémon cannot be changed once the game starts.

The game will offer players 10 missions to complete. The missions come in the form of mini games where some of them would require the players to use their mouths, voices or movements to play. Players would need to visit 10 locations around Jewel to complete the missions.

Each game have 2 levels of difficulty; the basic mode and the advanced mode. Players who complete any of the 10 missions can also redeem a prize at the Pokémon Center, but Jewel did not specify what prize it will be.

However, some of these games are located within Jewel’s Canopy Park, which costs S$4.50 (RM13) for local residents and S$5 (RM15) for tourists.

Pokémon Center Singapore will also issue themed assignments regularly on its Facebook page which players can also redeem a surprise at the retail store after completing the assignments.

Those with high scores will have their names displayed in a “Hall of Fame” at the Center. To save your scores, players must log in to their Changi Rewards account.

Unfortunately, Pokemon Explorer is not accessible 24/7. Players can only play the game at certain hours – 10am to 12am daily, to be exact.

Additionally, the game might drain your phone battery substantially if you play for a long time – so bring a power bank along, or rent one (for free) for 12 hours from the concierge counter.

Pokémon Explorer is available on the Jewel mobile app, which is free for download to mobile devices through the App Store and Google Play

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Providence KL Presents Grand Launch Of #Thirstday

A little midweek fun, never hurt anyone.

After weeks of crazy fun, excitement and teasing, Providence KL will finally be throwing a grand launch party for their latest weekly series, #Thirstday. Featuring Providence’s very own #Thirstday heroes on the decks, Ken F., Deadwood, DJ D.A and special guest MC Jin Hackman, Providence is inviting partygoers to strap on their dancing shoes and party the night away.

How is #Thirstday different from your usual weekend club nights? Well, it’s on a Thursday for starters. Partygoers can also look forward to:

• Free-flow of cocktails for the ladies till midnight.
• Draught beers for overly manly men in the house.
• #Thirstday Mixtape up for grabs.
• Temporary #Thirstday tattoos.

Admissions:  Cover charge – ♂ RM70 &♀RM50

For table reservations : email – popbottles@providencekl.my or call Mark +6010 252 7678 / Wee Lee+6016 444 5781.


Scalpers Reselling BTS Singapore Concert Tickets Up To S$12,888!

The scalpers are at it again! This time, the victims are ARMYs who failed to purchase BTS’ “Love Yourself” Singapore concert tickets.

Tickets for the famous K-pop boy band went on sale last Saturday (27th October). Unsurprisingly, it sold out in less than 3.5 hours. Although One Production Singapore announced that 50,000 tickets were sold, the ticket madness continued on social media.

Several netizens have posted screenshots of BTS concert tickets allegedly owned by scalpers and resellers. An ARMY also posted screenshots of ticket prices on StubHub – an online ticket exchange company. “Love Yourself” CAT 1 tickets are worth S$348, but some scalpers resold it for more than S$12,000 at StubHub! That’s how many months worth of salary? We’ll let you to the math.

There were also several buyers that shared that there were loopholes that apparently allowed scalpers to skip the queue and purchase more concert tickets immediately! A few desperate fans were willing to fork out extra cash to scalpers. Sadly, they were scammed.

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) is currently working on catching scalpers and cancelling their tickets. If you come across scalpers and scammers, don’t hesitate to report them to Live Nation, One Production and Sports Hub.

BTS’ “Love Yourself” concert is scheduled to take place in National Stadium on 19th January 2019.


10 Muslim-Friendly Cosmetic Brands Perfect For Your Raya Makeup Look!

When it comes to cosmetics, most of us prefer international brands over domestic ones, because we think the latter are not as dependable. However, did you know that there are Muslim-friendly Malaysian beauty brands that are just as amazing as those from other countries? Yes, you read that right.

These in-house labels are fantastic, since they are frequently halal-certified, wudhu-friendly, vegan, and/or cruelty-free. Not to mention, they’re quite affordable! You can use these brands with confidence, because all of the ingredients are not just Muslim-friendly, but safe for your skin too. Check out our list of top rated Muslim-friendly cosmetic brands that you can try – just in time for Raya!

SIMPLYSITI needs no introduction. Founded by one of Malaysia’s most well-known figures, SimplySiti, has all the essentials for your beauty routine – from skincare to makeup and even perfumes. The must-have is their wide range of matte lipstick and lip gloss series. While still possessing a vibrant and pigmented colour, some of their matte lipsticks are enhanced with vitamin E and candelilla wax to hydrate your lips. Additionally, they’re both long-lasting and extremely smooth. These products are readily available for purchase online, as well as through neighbourhood pharmacies like AEON Wellness, Guardian and Watsons.

A post shared by Hanarii beauty content creator (@_hanarii)

Wardah is a beauty brand that cares and understands the wish of every woman to always feel confident and comfortable with their look. You might be surprised to learn that Wardah Beauty is an Indonesian company founded in 1985 by Nurhayati Subakat. The business Paragon Technology and Innovation introduced Wardah to the world in 1995.

We can almost promise that whenever you visit your local Watsons to buy skincare necessities, you’ve seen Wardah skincare kits on the shelf. Because the skincare line is so highly-liked, retailers frequently run out of it as well. The fact that Wardah is a halal skincare company is what everyone loves about it the most. This is something that not many skincare companies can claim, and it also makes it available to our Muslim friends. Besides skincare, Wardah now carries cosmetics. From compact powder to lipstick and mascaras, Wardah’s cosmetics is now a go-to product for not just Muslims but non-Muslims too!

A post shared by SO•LEK Cosmetics (@so.lek)

The sister-brother team behind SO.LEK created products that are affordable, breathable, water-permeable, wudhu-friendly, and cruelty-free. The clever brand name is derived from the Malay word “solek,” which means “makeup,” and the acronym for “So? Relaks!”. Dahlia Nadirah founded the halal-certified cosmetics firm So.Lek Cosmetics with the intention of honouring her Malaysian roots and providing affordable beauty products to consumers. Its soft-matte liquid lipsticks, which have trendy Malaysian names ranging from natural fruits to musical instruments, are among its best-selling products. In addition to lipsticks, SO.LEK also offers other cosmetic products, such as halal nail polish and skincare items.

A post shared by Alhaalfacosmetics_HQ (@alhaalfacosmetics_hq)

Having been around since 2016, Alha Alfa is a well-known name in the local beauty industry. The brand’s makeup line is stocked with items that compete with those of well-known international brands, but at a reduced cost. Alha Alfa Cosmetics essentially has everything you need to do a full face of cosmetics, from complexion products to artificial lashes. BTW, their best product happens to be the loose powder.

A post shared by Silkygirl Cosmetics (@silkygirlcosmetics)

It’s uncommon to encounter someone in Malaysia who hasn’t heard of SILKYGIRL. After all, you would run into this brand in some capacity in significant shopping malls and even local pharmacies like Watsons and Guardian. Since its debut in 2005, SILKYGIRL has offered a variety of lipsticks as well as other cosmetics like eyeliners, eyeshadow, make up spray, powder and makeup removers.

A post shared by Tatagaltier® (@tatagaltier)

You may have heard about Kamelia Beauty if you’re well-versed in the local beauty scene. Consumer whispers about the brand have evolved into full-fledged dialogues, with many beauty enthusiasts gushing about how beautiful their product line is. One of their best-selling products, which even won the Beauty Insider’s Choice Award for Best Face Makeup of 2022, is their liquid foundation. Given this renowned accreditation, it only makes sense that we would suggest the best to you! Get your hands on Kamelia Cosmetics’ best-selling foundation right away if you want a dewy, luminous foundation that practically appears like second skin.

A post shared by ANAS® Cosmetics (@anasism)

The company’s Creative Director, Anas Zahrin, has always looked for ways to make it simpler for women to enhance their attractiveness through makeup. The goal of their brand is to satisfy consumer demand for high-quality products at reasonable prices, while continuing to compete with household names in the industry. In order to address the significant shade-matching challenge that Asian women frequently face, ANAS Cosmetics’ products are created exclusively for them. SASA stores make it simple to find ANAS Cosmetics because they typically have them on display at the very front.

A post shared by BeauTyra (@beautyraofficial)

BeauTYRA promotes diversity in terms of age, body type, size, and skin tone. With the idea that BeauBabies deserve to feel beautiful every day, BeauTYRA fills the gap between excellent quality and inexpensive cost. Its debut cosmetics line was the well-known Born To Blush blush collection, which included a variety of colours for all skin tones. BeauTYRA products are now available for the body as well as the face, allowing you to embrace your inner beauty from head to literal toe! BeauBabies adore BeauTYRA’s lip cosmetics and comment on how silky and pigmented the formula is. The store is easily accessible through Shopee or its website.

Nita Cosmetics is a Malaysian beauty brand that’s cruelty-free and vegan. If you’re seeking warm-toned or neutral makeup that looks good on Asian skin, the well-known brand is the one for you. You can find everything you need, including liquid lipstick, foundation, and mascara. Additionally, Nita Cosmetics carries a variety of peel-off nail paint that is ideal for Muslims!

A post shared by Sugarbelle Cosmetic HQ (@sugarbellecosmetichq)

Since its founding in 2015, Sugarbelle Cosmetics has been growing. Not only is the brand halal and wudhu-friendly, but it is also paraben-free, vegan, and cruelty-free. How, therefore, can we refuse that? Try their gorgeous lip cosmetics in a variety of hues, from muted tones to vibrant and sparkling ones! The Mini Lipcream is compact enough to fit in even the smallest bag, making it portable and offering fantastic colour payoff. Even travel kits, skincare products, and scents are available so you may tote your needs without breaking a sweat.

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Hype’s Must Watch: Her

This December, be prepared for a heartbreaking new romance titled Her by Spike Jonze! The film which made its debut at the New York Film Festival tells a tale of a man (Joaquin Phoenix) who falls in love with his operating system, voiced by Scarlett Johansson. This will be Spike Jonze’s sole screenwriting debut and the soundtrack for the movie is Supersymmetry by Arcade Fire. The movie also stars Rooney Mara, Amy Adams and Olivia Wilde.

Her is set to be out in theatres on December 18th, 2013 (Wednesday).

Watch the trailer here, again we must tell you to bring tissues!


Malaysian Narrowly Escapes Boston Bombing

Out of the thousands of people who took part in the Boston Marathon Majors Series, five were Malaysians. One of the five narrowly escaped the pandemonium that took place with the mass bombing at the finishing line at Boston Copley’s Square.

Lim Kian Huat is a 57-year-old aircraft maintenance engineer who finished his run 30 minutes before the blast. He flew to Boston to enter the race solo and was residing at a local Boston hotel situated about five kilometers from the place of incident.

Upon hearing about the chaos that ensued, he said:

I was shocked. It was such a big surprise for this to happen at an international event.

I was on my way back to the hotel when it happened. I was in the subway train when suddenly all the trains were stopped and everyone were instructed to evacuate the trains. I wasn’t sure at the time what was going on but everything was chaotic. That’s when I found out that a bombing had just happened at the finish line

I’m just staying in my hotel right now because there’s havoc everywhere. You can hear the sirens of the ambulances and police cars, and roads are sealed in the city.

When asked if he knew what happened to the four other Malaysian marathoners, he said that he hasn’t heard anything of or about them are he wasn’t acquainted with them. Lim had finished a full marathon in three hours and 33 minutes and will be taking a flight back home tomorrow at 4pm (Boston time) and will be arriving on Thursday morning (local time).

More updates on the Boston marathon bombing soon!


Hype’s Exclusive: #FMFA15 Example Gets Us To Stay Awake With Him

English rapper Elliot John Gleave, more commonly known by his stage name Example, first found success with the release of his second studio album “Won’t Go Quietly” in 2010. The album, which peaked at number #4 on the UK Album Charts, also made it to number #1 on the UK Dance Chart.

Following the success of his second album “Won’t Go Quietly”, Example released his third album “Playing in the Shadows” in 2011 and topped the charts with two number #1 singles, “Changed the Way You Kiss Me” and “Stay Awake”. The English lad then released his fourth album “The Evolution of Man” in 2012 which peaked at number #13 on the UK Album Charts and also at number #1 on the UK Dance Chart.

Also known for his collaboration with Calvin Harris on the track “We’ll Be Coming Back”, Example is set to play at Future Music Festival Asia (FMFA) this March. We caught up with the rapper for a quick chat to find out what he has in store for us.

Hi Elliot! How’s it going? Where are you right now and what are you currently up to?

Hi there! It’s great, thanks. I just had a kid and I’m currently in Brisbane so I’m not where I usually am. I’m usually in London or on tour but I’ve been in Australia for a few months.

I’m currently working on my new album. As you know, I’ve been in Australia for a few months but I’ve managed to get a lot of it done already. I don’t record everything, I pick and choose the best and I’ve managed to record certain tracks since Christmas. You know, sometimes not everything you record gets released so I may have to record thirty tracks to get ten great tracks to be featured on the next album.

Oh cool. Any leads as to when we can expect the album?

Oh that’s way off. This is really right at the start of me writing so this album may not be out till maybe the beginning or middle of next year. I will however be releasing a single this year but I am not too worried about the album because I don’t think much people care about albums anymore. I mean people just care about seeing you live and they care about one big song a year and that kinda keeps people happy now.

Besides working on your new album, what else do you have planned for 2015?

Hmm…I’ve just been relaxing, you know? My wife just gave birth, so we’ve been spending a lot of time with the kid. I train a bit, I cook, go for long walks, it’s very relaxed at the moment before things get busy again. Soon as I start touring in a few weeks starting with Future Music Australia, then I go to Asia and do seven shows then back to UK. I’ll be in the studio a lot when I’m back in UK but I’m also going to be doing shows in Europe so it’s going to be a busy year, as always.

Speaking of coming to Asia, are you excited to be playing at Future Music Festival Asia (FMFA) in Singapore this year?

Yeah, I can’t wait! I love Singapore − it’s a very clean place, got some amazing shops, hotels are amazing, people are friendly and the food, I love Asian food so yeah I’m pretty excited.

Lastly, what can your fans expect from you during FMFA 2015?

Well, Future Music Festival Asia has booked my show with my DJ so I still perform. I’m going to be in front of the decks because I’ll be rapping and singing but we will also mix it with other people’s tracks – classic dance, house, techno, dubstep and all of my biggest hits are in there as well so it’ll be like a big mashup party style performance. The show that I do with DJ Wire is more like a big house party, a very different style of show as compared to my shows with my live band and it’s very fun for me because I’m part host, part entertainer, and part DJ. It’s going to be a lot of fun, fans can expect a really good time.

Thank you so much for taking the time out to chat with us Elliot. See you in March!

Thank you very much, it was lovely speaking to you! See you in March.

We can’t wait to catch Example live at Future Music Festival Asia 2015 this March. Big thanks to our buddies from Livescape Asia for organising this interview for us. We’ll leave you today with one of our faves – “10 million people” by Example:

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(UPDATE) #IMean: BTOB To Make Comeback With New Mini Album

October is bringing another surprise for BTOB fans aka Melodies.

On 1st October (Thursday), K-Pop idol boy group BTOB announced their comeback by releasing a teaser image for their upcoming mini album, “I Mean”.

The new album will be their 7th mini album as the 7-member boy group has already released 6 extended plays since their debut in March 2012. It will mark their first comeback since the release of “It’s Okay (괜찮아요)”, the title track from their first full-length studio album, “Complete“.

As shown in the teaser image, the new album will be released on 12th October at 12am KST. With their laidback and classy outfits, it seems like the boys will be back with a ballad, beffiting the fall season.

Their talent agency Cube Entertainment has also recently created a special Instagram account, allowing fans to interact with them through the app.

The group is still busy adding the finishing touches to the album. Unfortunately, no details regarding their new album are revealed yet. Regardless, what do you think of the teaser image? Do you like their comeback concept?

The individual teaser images for BTOB’s upcoming mini album have debuted online :D

Stay tuned to our site for more updates or you can visit BTOB’s official Faceebook page for more information.


#MH370: Could This Unopened Towelette Found On Beach Hold Clues?

MH370 investigators searching for the missing Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 have been sent an unwrapped towelette package found on the shores of a beach in Western Australia, Xinhua news agency reported.

The package, which was clad with the Malaysian Airlines logo, may hold clues to the whereabouts of the aircraft which went missing over a year ago and is believed to have crashed into the southern Indian Ocean off the coast of Fremantle in Western Australia. A retired couple found the package and immediately sent it to local police who today delivered it to the offices of the Joint Agency Coordination Center (JACC) in Canberra.

However, the JACC has refused to release a photo of the package and is distancing itself from reports that it may be a significant discovery. The JACC has suggested that it is “unlikely” to be linked with the missing aircraft.

Cervantes beach in Western Australia, where the package was found, is situated around 220km from Fremantle and 1,850km from the main search area in the southern Indian Ocean. However, experts have previously stated that floating objects on board the plane would have the ability to travel long distances without being damaged.

Last Sunday represented the one-year anniversary of the plane’s disappearance with all 239 passengers on board still unaccounted for.


Barbie Staycation In KL: The Ultimate Childhood Dream Come True

We know how certain characters brought joy to our childhood, and some even stuck around ’til we’re older. Like Barbie does for some. She might be merely a doll back then, but with time, she has been developed into online games and even into animated videos that gives life advice not only to little girls but also to women who are young at heart.

If you love her as much as we do, start making plans now because one of our childhood dreams is actually coming to live! We were so thrilled when Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur finally announced their ultimate Barbie staycation themed holiday. So, be ready to feel like you’re Barbie and be immersed in the full experience with everything Barbie themed!

Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur has turned an entire floor into Barbie themed rooms, from “Barbie Rooms” to “Barbie Suites”. The 14 rooms in the entire floor are covered in hot pink and colour palette that screams “Barbie!”, plus even the amenities and decorations will make you feel like you’ve stepped right into Barbie’s World!

There are three different concepts that go with this whole Barbie theme, namely:

If you want to feel even more bourgeoise, opt for the “Barbie Suite” that overlooks the city with a king-sized bed all for you! What’s even more exciting is, the suite has a round-shaped marble bath tub instead of a normal one. How much would Barbie love that? Other than the fact that she will be absolutely touched that her career is being celebrated like this!

If you think that is already exciting enough, wait ’til we tell you about the Barbie Café! Yes, you heard that right, a Barbie Café to give you the whole experience of everything Barbie! The café will be in a glasshouse restaurant that serves breakfast, afternoon tea, and even evening cocktail to make you feel like you’re the icon herself, Barbie, in Malibu! Although, due to the pandemic circumstances, you have to pre-book your Barbie Café experience and there are some rules and regulations that complies to the standard operating procedures (SOP).

If you want to indulge yourself in both of the fun Barbie experience, Grand Hyatt is also offering you packages that includes both the “Barbie Pink Afternoon Tea” along with the staycation. They have two packages, which are the “Made in Malibu” and “Suite Dreams”. While for the “Barbie Pink Afternoon Tea Party”, there are two sessions that you can book your slot —  the 1st session: 12pm to 2:30pm, and the 2nd session: 3:30pm to 6pm.

So, girlies, get in! We’re going on a staycation!

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#TheGirlWithTheDragonTattoo: Sequel Is Happening Without Original Director & Cast

The success of a film usually depends on how well-directed it was or how the cast members performed in it.

Directed by David Fincher and written by Steven Zaillian, “The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo” is one of the few good examples in Hollywood where the tone of the film and the cast’s performances were given generally favourable reviews by critics.

However, it seems like none of the original cast members or filmmakers will be involved in its upcoming sequel.

According to TheWrap, Sony Pictures is interested to reboot the entire franchise and have Alicia Vikander replacing Rooney Mara. In fact, the studio won’t be adapting “The Girl Who Played With Fire”, the 2nd book in the series written by the late original author, Stieg Larsson.

Instead, they will skip a few books and jump ahead to adapt “The Girl In The Spider’s Web”, the 4th book which was written by David Lagercrantz.

The American version of “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” is a 2011 Swedish-American mystery thriller film based on the novel of the same name by Stieg Larsson.

Starring Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara, it tells the story of journalist Mikael Blomkvist’s investigation to find out what happened to a woman from a wealthy family who disappeared 40 years prior. In order to search for the woman, he recruits the help of computer hacker Lisbeth Salander.

The film grossed USD232.6 million on a production budget of USD90 million. Not only was it included in the best-of lists in several publications, it was also nominated for numerous awards, ultimately winning 9 accolades including an Academy Award for “Best Film Editing”.

Sure, the film was a box office success, but co-financier MCM described it as “a modest loss” due to the cost of promotion. As such, the budget for the upcoming sequel is expected to be significantly lower than most of Fincher’s films.

Craig and Mara are busy with their respective projects too, so it’s not surprising that they won’t be returning to the franchise if Sony could not give them a pay raise from a low budget film.

Meanwhile, it was reported that Oscar-nominated screenwriter Steven Knight (of “Locke” fame) is in early talks to pen the script of “The Girl in the Spider’s Web”. Scott Rudin and former Sony chief Amy Pascal will produce it with Elizabeth Cantillon and Yellow Bird, a Swedish production company that produced the original Swedish movie starring Noomi Rapace as Lisbeth.

The high-profile casting process won’t be starting any time soon, but Vikander is being eyed to replace Mara as Rudin and Pascal are reportedly fans of the Swedish actress.

Vikander’s recent film credits include “The Man From U.N.C.L.E“, “The Danish Girl”, “Anna Karenina”, “Burnt”, “A Royal Affair”, and “Testament of Youth”. She will be seen next in “Tulip Fever” and the next Jason Bourne movie.

So, will you watch the sequel to “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” that won’t be featuring the original cast members? Do you think Sony should just let the franchise die?

Sound off your thoughts in the comments box below.


M’sian Customer Slaps Restaurant Employee After Being Told To Wear Face Mask

An employee of a restaurant located in Kuching, Sarawak was slapped by a customer in the face after telling him to wear a face mask.

Sin Chew Daily reported that the male customer came to dine in at the eatery with his girlfriend. Both of them were stopped at the entrance for not wearing the medical protection.

Due to the prescribed SOP, the staff asked them to wear face masks first before they could enter. However, the friendly request was not well-received by the male customer. He then proceeded to slap the employee’s face in front of everyone else and even called him a busybody.

Angered by the employee’s advice, the customer further claimed that several other premises have not been fussy regarding the use of face masks. Upon seeing the commotion, some of the workers at the restaurant tried to calm down the situation. The couple then left after realising they were being watched by many passerbys.

The incident was recorded through the CCTV footage at the restaurant. That’s not all, the restaurant then received a phone call from an unknown individual saying that the employees at the restaurant were rude towards them. However, it is unsure whether that had anything to do with the prior incident.

Most recently, the government announced that mandatory use of face masks in public places might be implemented. However, it will only be confirmed once the relevant regulations have been finalised.

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12-12-12: The Concert For Sandy Relief To Air In M’sia

The producers of “12-12-12” have announced that the concert at New York’s Madison Square Garden on 12th December 2012 (Wednesday) to aid the victims of Hurricane Sandy will have unprecedented and historic global distribution, similar to that of the Super Bowl, the Academy Awards®, and the Grammys®.

Nearly 2 billion people in over 190 countries will be able to access “12-12-12” on television, radio and the internet. The concert, presented by Chase, will be available to all 114 million television households in the US and to more than 400 million television households internationally via networks and feeds in North and South America, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

A historic all-star “12-12-12” line-up includes iconic performers and celebrities such as:

The concert will air live in Malaysia on Sundance Channel (Astro Channel 438) on 13th December at 8:30am and repeat on 14th December at 10:00pm. It will also be made available via numerous platforms and broadcasters in Malaysia and around the world.

For more information, visit their official website.


Even SNSD’s Taeyeon Couldn’t Resist Getting The New Purple iPhone 12

Taeyeon (태연) has been gushing over her new purple iPhone 12. The 32-year-old singer had been seriously contemplating about Apple’s latest release and finally succumbed to it.

If you recall, the Girls’ Generation (SNSD) vocalist held an Instagram Live session recently to vent about her predicament after seeing that Apple had just debuted the brand new purple iPhone.

During the IG Live, Taeyeon got candid about her “frustration” by sharing that she has been suppressing the urge to get yet another mobile phone. However, the iPhone 12’s new purple colour was simply too tempting to resist. Fans were rather amused at her annoyance.

“The purple colour is out. I didn’t buy the iPhone 12 until now, and have been very patient about it. And all of a sudden, a purple one comes out? And it’s not even a Pro, it’s a mini,” said Taeyeon. “If a Pro had come out, then I probably would have changed it. Why now? Let’s say I had bought a different colour without having waited. Then, what was I supposed to do?”

If you’ve been following Taeyeon, then you’ll probably know that her favourite colour is purple. The K-pop star even opened a poll for fans to cast their votes on whether she should just throw caution to the wind and get the new purple iPhone 12.

Fast forward a week later, Taeyeon revealed that she had gotten the new gadget even though Apple might release a purple iPhone 13 in the near future. In the caption, the “Spark” hit-maker wrote, “Apple should be very happy that you guys won. Will there also be a purple iPhone 13 Pro? If not, it’s fine.”

To quote a fan, the singer can easily afford an iPhone in every colour. If you’re wondering what’s all the fuss about the new purple iPhone 12 – we break it down here.


World War Z: A”live” At Sunway Lagoon

World War Z is the sixth and latest phase expansion at the Lynton V Harris’ Scream Park @ Sunway Lagoon. Now, the attraction boasts an additional expansion with a brand new live action experience that will have film and theme park fans running for their life!

Coinciding with the launch of the movie, New York based, The Sudden Impact! Entertainment Company and Paramount Pictures hosted a special screening of World War Z at Sunway Pyramid followed by an exclusive tour of the movie’s “live” counterpart at Scream Park @ Sunway Lagoon.

Executive Vice President of New York based The Sudden Impact! Entertainment Company, Edward F. Michitsch said, “We are very excited to partner with Paramount Pictures in Hollywood to create this exclusive opportunity here in Malaysia whereby we are creating a thrilling live adventure experience to coincide and support the opening of the blockbuster movie World War Zstarring Brad Pitt”.

At present, the latest “phase” of the ever expanding scare attraction at Sunway Lagoon is the first and only live attraction in the world based on the film which revolves around an ex-United Nations investigator played by actor Brad Pitt, involved in a race against time to stop a pandemic that is toppling armies, governments and threatening to destroy humanity itself.

For more pictures from the launch of Scream Park @ Sunway Lagoon’s “World War Z”, check out our gallery!:

You’ve seen the movie, now live the adventure.

For more information, visit their Facebook page.

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From Sinners To Sessions KL: Night Spots To Hit Up This Weekend!

With an exquisite selection of hipster bars and clubs and a thriving music scene, Kuala Lumpur’s nightlife never disappoints. Here are some night spots and special events to hit up this weekend to party the night away:

Did you know that World Martini Day falls on 17th June? To commemorate this momentous day, The House of Suntory is celebrating with one of the most iconic cocktails of all time, the Martini. While traditionally crafted with gin, the martini also embraces vodka as a versatile alternative, making it the perfect canvas to showcase the exceptional Roku Gin (crafted with six Japanese botanicals) and Haku Vodka (crafted from pure Hakumai Japanese rice).

In collaboration with 14 esteemed bars throughout the Klang Valley, Johor Bahru, and Penang, The House of Suntory invites cocktail lovers to celebrate World Martini Day through their tastefully-curated collection of martini concoctions, featuring Roku Gin and Haku Vodka, from now to 28th July.

The full line up of participating venues include: PS150, Ikiya 2.0m, Remedy, Xun Bar, Wildflowers, Concierge/ Jao Tim, Pahit and Frank’s.

Get ready to dive into a pulsating vortex of electrifying sounds as you dance to driving beats and enchanting melodies @Sinners Bangsar! Known for its cutting-edge Void sound system, international DJ and music producer KUMA will be spinning their signature sound characterized by energetic techno beats, accompanied by upcoming new talents, JO, DLT and MIK, tonight! As only limited spots are available, don’t forget to register your entry to get your first drink of the night.

Peeps who wanna dance to some Techno & Housebeats can also head over to Sessions @Chinatown tonight, with DJs Tykor & B, Rina Ho, Darren Onze, and Tomi. However, those who are thinking of going out on Saturday can also join ENERGY, with sounds by Damage Process, durrany, and Bad M.O.B, also happening at Sessions, with RM30 for entry. Make sure to go early, as there will be limited capacity.

If you’ve been on the hunt for another tattoo pop-up, you GOTTA head to @schoolofanimals’s Get Inked Get Chilled tattoo pop-up event this weekend! Peeps who get inked will get a free craft beer ice-cream, and they also have a beer promo for the entire day! Featuring local tattoo artists @luminousbanana_, @ashley.tattooist, @moonset_jo, @kneestains, @ash_tattwo, and @tattooist_som, join the experience while sipping on some refreshing brews this Saturday and Sunday at Bukit Bintang.

POP-UP: 24th-25th June, 2-8pm.
Location: 10, Jln Sin Chew Kee, Bukit Bintang, KL

Bored of your normal EDM club? Switch up the pace and party at Raaga’s, Kuala Lumpur’s Premium Indian Club this weekend! Aside from its lively atmosphere, the club offers lively music performances, DJ nights, and a dancefloor for guests to party the night away! It also serves a variety of Indian fusion dishes for those who want a quick bite before the night starts.

Location: Sheraton Imperial Kuala Lumpur


Jayesslee = Sugary Sweet Twinsies!

Janice and Sonia Lee aka “Jayesslee” posted their first video in YouTube back in 2008 where the concept of connecting with unseen audience all over the world from their bedroom in Sydney, Australia fascinated them.

In 2009, their own rendition of Tamia’s “Officially Missing You” catapulted them to fame and since 2010, the gorgeous twins have been traveling across the globe to do live concerts in Los Angeles, Singapore, Canada, as well as Malaysia. Well, you can’t expect any less from the current #2 all-time most subscribed to Australian YouTube musicians now, can you?

On the 23rd June 2012 (Saturday), the gorgeous YouTube twin sensation returned once again swept their screaming fans off their feet at the “Jayesslee Live in Kuala Lumpur” concert. The show was part of their Asia Pacific Tour 2012, with Malaysia being the sixth stop.

Right before the show, Janice and Sonia were ushered into a press conference with a few members of the press and media and, we were there! Oh, yes, how often do you get to ask questions (everything and anything your heart desires!) without having to join the bursting comments queue on their YouTube channel, right?

Hi Janice, hi Sonia! In such a short time, you’ve both achieved so much and have performed with so many YouTube musicians like yourselves. Is there anyone that you have not yet performed or collaborated with but would like to someday?

“Um (Sonia turns to face Janice and whispers). Sorry! Twin discussion (giggles). We’d have to say, Ryan Tedder from One Republic. We think he’s amazing! We covered one of their songs recently. Also, there’s this other pair of twins on YouTube – they’re guys. They’re so, so talented and it’d be so cool to just get together with them to do like, a mirror image jam sorta thing.”

So, you’re both working on your mini album, we hear. How is that coming along?

“Seriously, if you asked us five years ago if we’d be someday recording in a studio – it’s different. For the longest time we’ve always been recording in our rooms..or our bathroom. And suddenly we’re in a studio. We can’t say exactly when our mini album will be out yet but what we can say is that it’ll be released digitally on iTunes. Soon!”

Who’s the one person that you’d really, really like to thank for supporting you all the way?

“That’s..a difficult question. But we guess it has to be our dad. In the beginning, when we first started uploading videos on YouTube you know of us just singing and Sonia playing the guitar, our dad was like..he disapproved it. But when ‘Officially Missing You’ hit a million views he was like (nods). And since then he has been supporting us and we’re really grateful to have that in our lives.”

They really are as sugary sweet as we expected them to be! And we hope that these beautiful talents will continue to be a huge inspiration to not only Australian YouTubers, and not only Asian YouTubers, but also to aspiring singer-songwriters and fans around the world.

For more pictures from Jayesslee live in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 2012, click!

Special thanks to Creative Central for being such champs and for this happen. Don’t forget to visit their Facebook page, then like and share their YouTube channel.

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#Rio2016: Sun Sets On Rio Olympics; Will Rise Again Come #Tokyo2020

“Over the last 16 days a united Brazil inspired the world, in difficult times for all of us, with its irresistible joy for life.” – International Olympic Committee chief Thomas Bach.

Rio 2016 has officially come to a close and to mark its end, a spectacular colourful closing ceremony took place at the Maracana Stadium, with governor of Tokyo Yuriko Koike formally accepting the Olympic flag.

Among the highlights was Tokyo’s presentation (as per tradition, the next hosts are allowed to showcase their plans for the next Olympics) during the official handover of the Olympic Games baton, which featured popular video game icon Super Mario.

More importantly, Mario was shown jumping into a huge green pipe in Japan before popping out in the stadium as Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe dressed up as the Nintendo character. The simple act of cosplay (also a popular Japanese culture) was a show-stealing sight that surprised and delighted both the audience that witnessed it live in Rio as well as billions who were watching the ceremony on TV around the world.

Tamayo Marukawa, the Japanese minister in charge of the 2020 Tokyo Games, told reporters in Tokyo she was not informed of Shinzo Abe’s plan to portray the popular Nintendo game character. “I didn’t know about this at all. I never imagined he would play Mario,” she said, adding that the Japanese Prime Minister should start calling himself “Shinzo Mario Abe” to raise his global profile.

Shinzo Abe, on the other hand, told reporters that he wanted to show Japan’s soft power to the world with the help of Japanese characters. “I wasn’t sure how the audience would react. But I received so many cheers. I appreciate it,” he said.

The fast-paced montage also included other Japanese pop culture heroes such as Doraemon, Capitan Tsubasa, Hello Kitty, and Pac-Man. Watch Tokyo’s awesome presentation below:

Can't wait for Tokyo Olympics in 2020!#TokyoOlympic2020#Tokyo2020 pic.twitter.com/F1cRtvk125

— 『S』 (@music7traveling) August 22, 2016

Rio 2016 officially closed after 16 days of competition, featuring 11,303 athletes from 206 nations and a refugee team. The ceremony also included the parade of athletes and a dramatic extinguishing of the Olympic flame.

The last time that Japan hosted the Olympic Games was back in 1964, the first ever Olympic Games held in Asia. Tokyo 2020 will kick off on 24th July 2020 and will feature 5 new sports – baseball/softball, karate, skateboard, sports climbing, and surfing.


KIPA Photo Awards Promotes Cultural Emersion via Homestays

More often than not, the importance of a picture is not so much the picture itself but more of the story behind it. The knowledge and understanding of what happened before the picture was taken gives the picture a more powerful impact and sends out a stronger message.

Incorporating the saying ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’ with the concept of photography, the Kedah International Photography Awards (KIPA) is an open award for both Malaysian and international participants. Collaborating with local home stays operators in Kedah on packages which will allow photographers to experience a cultural part of the state to showcase the oldest cultural history in South East Asia. Photographers will be provided with a photo trail through places of interests like mountains, lakes, marine parks, ancient ruins, historical sites and more to show the world what Kedah has to offer through their pictures.

Happening from now till December 31st, 2013, photographers who submit their entries under the Smartphone category are required to include the hashtag #experiencekedah and submit their pictures via Facebook or Twitter. KIPA is divided into five different categories: Professional (competitive), Professional (non-competitive), Amateur/Student, Lomo/Polaroid Camera and Smartphone.

Entries will be judged by a panel of judges and winners will be announced at the Kedah International Photography Awards Reception in January 2014. The grand prize winner will walk away with cash and prizes worth up RM7,500.00. The prizes include a cover photo on KIPA’s official photobook with a write-up featuring the winner’s portrait, an interview in CUTOUT Magazine, an editorial feature in PageNumber Magazine, an interview on Bernama Radio 24, a 3-day 2-night stay in one of the selected luxurious hotels in Langkawi or around Kedah and a KIPA’s winner plague and certificate.

Winners from each photo trail will walk away with their winning photo on KIPA’s official photo book, a write up in KIPA’s official photo book, a free stay in one of the selected luxurious hotels and a KIPA Photo Trail winner’s plague and certificate.

Inconjunction with the Sultan of Kedah’s birthday, the photo exhibition will run from January 15th, 2014 to February 14th, 2014 while the Kuala Lumpur Photo exhibition will take place a month after on March 15th, 2014 for two weeks at Publika.

KIPA is also available on social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

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Legit Or Not: Ghost Caught On Camera During Hungry Ghost Festival

We’re not overly superstitious, but it is the Hungry Ghost Festival month after all.

For those of you who are not in the know, the Hungry Ghost Festival is a traditional Buddhist and Taoist festival held in Asian countries, on the 7th month in the Chinese lunar calendar. The peak of the Hungry Ghost month happens on the 15th day of the 7th month, when the realms of Heaven and Hell and the realm of the living are “open”. Both Taoists and Buddhists would perform rituals (food offerings, burning incense, burning joss paper, burning papier-mâché form of material items such as clothes, gold, and other fine goods) to transmute and absolve the sufferings of the deceased as during the Hungry Ghost month, the deceased are believed to visit the living.

In some East Asian countries, including Malaysia, concert-like live performances on temporary stages are held. The first row of seats are always empty as this is where people believe the ghosts sit. The shows, which include Chinese opera, dramas, and even burlesque shows, are always put on at night and at high volumes as the sound is believed to attract and please the ghosts.

This year, the Hungry Ghost month (22nd August 22nd – 19th September) culminated in the festival which was held on the night of 4th September. A netizen, who was videoing the Hungry Ghost festival prayers, is believed to have unintentionally caught a ghost walking amongst the living.

It is not known where the video originated from or who was the person behind the camera, but the 10-second clip has since gone viral, garnering over 22,000 views and 249 shares – and counting. As expected, reactions from Malaysian Facebook users vary, with one commenting, “Why do people still believe in ghost? Wake up we are in 2017. No such thing lah” while another said, “I’m muslim and not celebrating hungry ghost.. but I do respect the festival and ceremony. It has happened many years ago to my uncle.”

Welp, what do y’all think? Legit ghost caught on camera or a human being? Or some sort of an illusion as a result of poor lighting? We’ll let you decide.


Golden Globes 2019: 10 OMG & Funny Moments You May Have Missed

Hosted by Andy Samberg and Sandra Oh, the 76th annual Golden Globes had its fair share of standout moments (although some might argue that last year was more interesting).

As usual, not every highlight will be caught on camera. In fact, many of them usually happen behind-the-scenes. Since many of us can’t be bothered with the awards anyway (especially when many of the shows aren’t aired locally yet), we thought it’d be more entertaining to focus on the funny stuffs instead.

Whenever I am trying to make a decision, these two appear on my shoulders pic.twitter.com/eK4a9hEPGb

— Rakesh Satyal (@rakeshsatyal) January 6, 2019

Sandra Oh: ["Crazy Rich Asians"] is the first studio film with an Asian American lead since "Ghost in the Shell" and "Aloha."

Emma Stone [in the crowd]: I'M SORRY! pic.twitter.com/YI1S7sLvPH

— David Mack (@davidmackau) January 7, 2019

Melissa McCarthy snuck 30 ham sandwiches into the #GoldenGlobes https://t.co/ByaGUxn0gq pic.twitter.com/jI08EflBbo

Find someone who does THIS every time you walk in the room (unclear if @johnkrasinski was doing this for Emily Blunt or Dick Van Dyke, but either way = ♥) #goldenglobes pic.twitter.com/k2a8BLAeZ2

Standing ovation for Dick Van Dyke at the #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/Os45gAr6C1

— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) January 7, 2019

Who else could watch Chris Pine's smile for days? #goldenglobes pic.twitter.com/1cS1SgWMvL

Patricia Clarkson watching Amy Adams writing an acceptance speech for The Golden Globe Awards: pic.twitter.com/Uqm7kaQxlm

There are a ton of award shows in the next few weeks leading up to the Oscars. Amy Adams will need that poker face when the camera zooms in on her.

THEY DID NOT IM SCREAMING #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/7OEQRbjBba

— manda (@amxndareviews) January 7, 2019

there could be 100 dalmatians in a room #GoldenGlobes pic.twitter.com/2EJHunwPd3

— paulo vinícius mescal (@ivinissim) January 7, 2019

In response to Twitter user @vinissaurorex, “And 99 of them don’t want to be a coat…”

The 37-year-old beat stiff competition to win Best Actor for his performance as Freddie Mercury in the biopic “Bohemian Rhapsody”.

A post shared by instylemagazine (@instylemagazine)

Did you know? Lady Gaga was also turned into memes following her Golden Globes appearance.

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#AssassinsCreed: First Look At Michael Fassbender As New Character Callum Lynch

Don’t worry if you haven’t heard of a character named Callum Lynch in the popular video game series, “Assassin’s Creed“.

We never did either, until Yahoo! offers us a first look at Michael Fassbender as the said character in The New Regency’s upcoming live-action adaptation of the Ubisoft video game.

Rather than retelling the stories from the existing games, the movie will tell a fresh new story based on the game and introduce several new characters in the same universe. Fassbender’s character, Lynch, was one of the characters created specifically for the film.

Lynch discovers he is a descendant of the secret Assassins society through unlocked genetic memories that allow him to relive the adventures of his ancestor, Aguilar, in 15th Century Spain. After gaining incredible knowledge and skills he’s poised to take on the oppressive Knights Templar in the present day.

The “Assassins’ Creed” movie will mark Fassbender’s 2nd time working together with “Macbeth” co-star Marion Cotillard and director Justin Kurzel.

Co-financed by RatPac and Alpha Picture, the film will be directed by Kurzel based on a script written by Bill Collage, Adam Cooper, and Michael Lesslie. Fassbender will produce the movie alongside Frank Marshall, Arnon Milchan, Jean-Julien Baronnet, Conor McCaughan, and Pat Crowley.

Cameras will start rolling on Monday and the filming is set to happen in Malta, London, and Spain. Besides Fassbender and Cotillard, “Assassin’s Creed” also stars Michael Kenneth Williams (of “12 Years a Slave” fame) and Ariane Labed (of “Before Midnight” fame),

20th Century Fox‘s “Assassins’ Creed” is currently slated for release on 21st December 2016.


#IMSAsiaPacific: Dancing Diva Jolin Tsai Has Got All The Right Moves For Shanghai

Hailed as one of the best-selling artistes in Taiwan, Tsai I-lin (蔡依林), otherwise more fondly known as Jolin Tsai to her legions of fans, is a singer, songwriter, dancer, actress, and entrepreneur.

Famed for constantly reinventing both her music and image, and she played a huge role in popularising dance music as mainstream music in Greater China. Often referred to as the “Queen of C-pop”, “Asia’s Dancing Queen”, and “Asian Madonna”, she has achieved monumental popularity in regional Chinese-speaking countries, thanks to her commercially and critically successful albums, and has a dedicated fanbase worldwide.

When Jolin was 18 years old, she emerged champion at an MTV singing competition where she sang a rendition of Whitney Houston’s “Greatest Love of All”.

Note: Jolin joined the competition for a record of an extracurricular activity she performed in order to help her apply for colleges.

It was an accidental win that kickstarted her singing career and paved the way to her journey in becoming a teen idol. Her debut album, “1019”, was released in 1999 under Universal Music and it went on to sell more than 400,000 copies in Taiwan alone. But her real big success came when she released her 7th studio album, “Dancing Diva”, in 2006.

Regarded as one of her biggest successes to date, the album reached #1 in Taiwan, selling more than 260,000 copies in Taiwan alone and 2.5 million copies in Asia. “Dancing Diva” was honoured with 2 Golden Melody Awards for “Best Mandarin Female Singer” and “Most Popular Female Singer”.

Her 13th studio album, “Play”, which reflected a change in her image, was released in November 2014. The album garnered critical acclaim and was declared it as “easily the best album of the year”.

So far, Jolin has sold more than 23 million records in Asia, and her hard work has earned her numerous awards and accolades including 6 Golden Melody Awards, an MTV Asia Award, and an MTV Video Music Award. She has also been acclaimed as an entrepreneur, particularly after she founded her own music production and management company Eternal in 2009. Forbes reported that she is one of the highest paid Chinese celebrities, with the estimated net worth of NT$2 billion in 2014.

In a few weeks, Jolin will join a panel of esteemed speakers at the 2016 edition of IMS Asia-Pacific in Shanghai, China. 2016’s IMS Asia-Pacific will bridge the gap between East and West and provide unique first hand insight into the artistes, businesses and events that are making Asia Pacific one of the most exciting and rapidly growing electronic music markets in the world.

IMS Asia-Pacific will feature a Market Focus on Japan, a region which has trail blazed electronic music in the region for 30 years and remains the technological home of innovation for the genre.

Jolin will be joined by the likes of Skrillex, IMS founder Pete Tong, Alesso, leading underground Thai DJ Nakadia, ATM Artists CEO Amy Thomson, and many more as they come together to explore the growing influence of electronic music and the issues, challenges and opportunities that face the industry globally and in Asia.

Interested? Get your IMS Asia-Pacific badges here. Meanwhile, more details for this year’s speakers will be announced in the coming weeks.

For more information on IMS Asia-Pacific, visit their website or Facebook page.

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10 Types Of Malaysians You Cannot Avoid Meeting In December

It’s already halfway through December, and most of us just cannot wait for 2019 already!

December is a special month for many reasons. You walk into any mall and your spirits are immediately lifted by the jovial Christmas songs and vibrant Christmas trees. You will be showered with love and gifts from your family members. You start renewing your New Year’s resolution and while you’re at it, you reprimand yourself for still being fat and broke.

December is also one of the hardest month to motivate yourself to work – because every day feels like Friday, and all of your colleagues are constantly on leave.

That being said, here are 10 types of people you will encounter in the month of December:

It’s the holiday season, which means there is a higher chance of prices being slashed by airlines – which means you can finally afford that trip to Osaka. Or Langkawi. You know, whichever that doesn’t give you a negative bank balance.

2. The one who keeps repeating that they can’t believe the year is ending

Every time you meet this person, no matter what you guys talk about, it always comes back to “I can’t believe it’s December already!” They also usually follow up with “Where did my 2019 go?” or “Damn I didn’t achieve anything significant this year.” This person is also probably working on a secret time machine to take them back in time so they can relive the year and maybe do productive things.

3. The friend who complains about how they still have too many annual leaves

I honestly don’t understand people who complain about how they “don’t know how to finish their leaves“. These are usually the same people who are always missing from the office, always on some vacation and hardly ever in the office. But at the end of the year, they come up to you and say “Man I don’t know how to finish all these AL.”

Oh, I have an idea no one has ever thought of – how about take the leave application form, start filling it out, and stay at home!

4. The friend who takes leave every Monday to avoid Monday blues

Don’t trust these people, they are sneaky as hell. They live by the rule, “Can’t have Monday blues if you don’t work on Mondays!”

5. The friend who hates Christmas carols

It always seems like those who celebrate Christmas are more anti-Christmas-carols compared to those who actually don’t. While we do appreciate the festive season and want to keep our spirits up, too much Christmas songs can drive you up the wall!

6. The one annoying person who won’t stop singing Mariah Carey

If you sing Mariah Carey, we’re done. We can’t be friends. You can’t sit with me. Just… NO.

7. The one who goes on a “Home Alone” marathon

At every house party, there’s always that one person who will say, “Hey guys, it’s Christmas. Let’s watch “Home Alone!” Is there no other good Christmas movie?

8. The one who keeps planning a vacation to Bali – but nothing ever happens

This person has been planning a vacation for the longest time. About six months ago, they were roping people in. About 4 months ago, they came up with an itinerary for the trip. About two months ago, it seemed like they had made all the travel accommodations sorted out and was set to travel in December. But when the time finally comes, they go “Oh, it’s not happening. Maybe next year.”

9. The one with all the last-minute resolutions

Some people hit panic mode because it’s already December and they feel like they have wasted their whole year being unproductive. In order to salvage whatever that’s left of the year, they rush to sign up for a gym membership, get a girlfriend or boyfriend, and suddenly makes plans to backpack all over Europe.

10. The one who makes the “I’ll do that next year” joke

Even Andy Samberg is rolling his eyes at you. Laaaaaaame.

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#MH198: Forced To Turn Back To Make Emergency Landing

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) flight #MH198 flying from Kuala Lumpur en route to Hyderabad, India, made a turn back, shortly after takeoff, according to reports. The plane landed safely at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) in Sepang.

MH198, a Boeing 738 plane, took off at 10:20pm last night but was forced to turn back shortly after its crew detected a problem. MAS themselves also attributed the cause for the turnback to a “technical problem” but they didn’t specify what. “The defect did not have any impact on the safety of the aircraft or passengers, however as a precautionary measure, the operating Captain decided to turn back,” MAS said.

Our Minister of Transport, Dato’ Seri Liow Tiong Lai has also responded to the matter.

He clarified via his Twitter account on the problems that MH198 were facing, which led it to its return to KLIA:

Problems on MH198 was both autopilots unserviceable with the flight to Hyderabad not suitable for manual flying, pilots decided to turn back

— Liow Tiong Lai (@liowtionglai) September 14, 2014

Initial reports suggested that the plane had to make an emergency landing due to “burning fuel”. Which quickly sparked rumours than the plane was on fire. However, the rumours weren’t true as “burning fuel” is simply a safety procedure where a plane manually consumes fuel in a case of emergency.

This is because if a flight takes off at the maximum takeoff weight and then faces a situation where it must return to the departure airport (due to certain mechanical problems, or a passenger medical problem for instance), there will not be time to consume the fuel meant for getting to the original destination, and the aircraft may exceed the maximum landing weight to land at the departure point. If an aircraft lands at more than its maximum allowable weight it might suffer structural damage, or even break apart on landing.

Hence, the circling around to burn fuel in order to lighten the plane’s load:

On top of that, a passenger who was on the #MH198 flight also tweeted the following to confirm that the plane was not “burning fuel” or “on fire”.

@azrulnaimi Walaylumasalam! Yeah I was on #MH198 apparently some issues with their radio & they had to land manually after burning out fuel

— Not Sana (@im_not_sana) September 13, 2014

That having said, we can understand why netizens immediately panicked upon the first report of the #MH198 emergency situation. But while this is cutting too close to the 2 other MAS air disasters, #MH370 and #MH17 that shook the world, it’s always advisable to keep calm, not jump into conclusions, refrain from spreading rumours, and await the official statement(s) from the necessary parties.

Good job, by the way, to the #MH198 pilot and crew for ensuring that the plane landed safely back at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Kudos to you guys!


Wife Slaps Husband Multiple Times After Catching Him In Bed With Another Woman

Another day, another infidelity drama that goes viral on the internet!

In an IG post by @martapurapedia, a wife recently caught her husband shirtless while in  bed with another woman. This took place in a hotel room in Palembang, Indonesia.

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Enraged, the woman then slapped her husband’s face and hit his shoulder several times. At the same time, the blonde woman, who was allegedly her husband’s secret lover, just lowered her face, trying to avoid from being filmed on camera. At the time of writing, the clip has gained over 10k views on social media.

Adding insult to the injury, the other woman even claimed that she didn’t know that the man who slept with her is already married! “I had no idea that he is someone else’s husband,” she was quoted as saying. The wife then proceeded to attack her, only to be stopped by her partner.

A post shared by PalembangViral (PV) (@palembang_viral)

Many netizens took to the comments to slam the cheating husband. In addition, others have also urged for the wife to lodge a police report about the case.

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Hype Eats: Satisfy Your Cravings With New Bites In The Klang Valley (25th July – 31st July)

Ladies, gentlemen and everything in between; we’re happy to announce… that… IT’S THE END OF THE MONTH!! Yes, that means its payday and a month closer to the end of 2022. It’s been one heck of a month hasn’t it?

Well, it’s all about to be over now, so let’s finish this week off the right way; which is with good food! This week we have aesthetically pleasing cafes, desserts to satisfy that sweet tooth, and of course some mouth-watering savouries:

A post shared by TAKE A BOW (@takeabowpls)

Location: UG-5, The Sphere, Jalan Kerinchi, Bangsar South, 59200 Kuala Lumpur

One of the newest restaurants in Bangsar South, Take a Bow by Thirdwave has only been open for a little over a month. This cafe, which is adjacent to Sunbather Coffee on the ground floor of The Sphere, is quickly emerging as the newest gathering place on this side of town. Roomy with modern contemporary design, with the majority of the cupboards, walls, and partitions made of wood. Decorated with plants, books, and exclusive Take A Bow goods.

Location: 1-19, 28 BLVD, Jln Perdana 3/10, Pandan Perdana, 55300 Cheras, Kuala Lumpur

The newest place where you may choose and create your own rug is Tufting Society, which is based in Cheras and just started their art tufting workshop in May. A unique spin for this studio? They have a café right there on the property! RU Coffee, the café area of the studio, is affectionately named after the founder’s Shiba Inu dog, Haru.

From Choki Choki to Chipsmore, you can even get some FREE goodies from their renowned Snack Cart. Just keep in mind to show consideration and refrain from abusing this privilege.

Location: G13, The Grand Subang Jaya, Jalan SS15/8A, 47500, Subang Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Loukoumades are a popular Greek dessert commonly described as Greek donuts with honey. With the launch of Lukumades, an Australian chain that has made its way to SS15, Subang Jaya, we now have the opportunity to experience it for ourselves.

Lukumades offers you “contemporary” sweet toppings like Nutella, matcha, hazelnut, Lotus Biscoff, Oreo, and more in place of more conventional sweet toppings like honey and chopped nuts. Even better, you can top your doughnut balls with ice cream!

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Creamy with a hint of spiciness. Fulfil your local cravings with the new Creamy Butter Chicken available as both a burger and in Nasi Lemak. Make your way to a McDonald’s and try it out for yourself now, or order online!

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Location: 3, Jalan Balai Polis, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 50000

Panggung is a  brand-new bar with a 1920s movie concept, serving special beverages with movie themes. Capturing the scene from before mall multiplexes took over, Chinatown’s new Panggung KL wonderfully captures the essence of the movie theatres that mesmerised the city at one time.

The sleek and inventive film-inspired drinks at Panggung pay visual homage to anything from The Godfather to Nightmare on Elm Street.

A post shared by Ben's Independent Grocer (@bensindependentgrocer)

Location: All B.I.G. outlets & BSC Fine Foods

Looking for Japanese Imported Premium Goods? B.I.G’s got you covered! Discover the best of Japanese cuisine, including quality fresh items like Japan Takami Melon, Japan Wagyu A5 Brisket, and Japan A5 Wagyu. They also provide a wide selection of delectable Japan-imported snacks.

Additionally, they are collaborating with JETRO (the Japan External Trade Organization) to showcase some fantastic products, ranging from appetisers and mouthwatering treats to essential sauce dressings!

A post shared by FamilyMart Malaysia (@familymartmy)

Relent the temptation and grab the latest yummy collection from FamilyMart! Their new launches include Tiramisu Roll Cake, Dorayaki, Crabstick Tamago Onigiri Sandwich, and many more, so head to the nearest FamilyMart store and indulge in the latest desserts and food available.

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Fun Facts: 7 Reasons To Be Super Stoked For “The Huntsman: Winter’s War”

“Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?”

We’re only a matter of weeks away from the premiere of the highly anticipated “Snow White and the Huntsman” prequel titled, “The Huntsman: Winter’s War”.

With an all-star ensemble for its cast (Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, Emily Blunt, Jessica Chastain) and a visual feast thrown into the mix, it wouldn’t be too premature to say that the British-American dark fantasy action-adventure film is set to blow our minds.

Long before the Evil Queen Ravenna was thought vanquished by Snow White’s blade, she watched silently as her sister Freya, the Ice Queen, suffered a heartbreaking betrayal and fled their kingdom.

With Freya’s ability to freeze any enemy, the young Ice Queen has spent years in a remote wintry palace raising a legion of deadly Huntsmen, including Eric and warrior Sara, only to find that her prized 2 defied her one demand: forever harden your hearts to love.

When Freya learns of her sister’s demise, she summons her remaining soldiers to bring the Magic Mirror home to the only sorceress left who can harness its power. But once she resurrects Ravenna from the Mirror’s golden depths, the wicked sisters threaten this enchanted land with twice the darkness it’s ever seen.

Now, their amassing army shall prove unbeatable unless the banished Huntsmen who broke their Queen’s cardinal rule can fight their way back to one another.

Not stoked enough yet? To best prepare you for the film, here are some little known “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” fun facts:

1. Rupert Sanders was dropped from the film following his highly publicised scandal

A sequel to “Snow White and the Huntsman” was planned, with director Rupert Sanders in talks to return. However, it was announced in the aftermath of the scandal involving Sanders cheating on his wife with actress Kristen Stewart after their involvement with the first film, the sequel was shelved. In its place was the plan for a spin-off film concentrating on the Huntsman instead.

2. “Snow White and the Huntsman 2” was scrapped and Kristen Stewart was removed

Universal Pictures’ “Snow White and the Huntsman” sequel originally included Kristen Stewart in its cast line up. However, she was removed from the film, supposedly because of her indiscretion with director Rupert Sanders. In August 2012, Universal released a statement to deny that she was dropped from the film (for the indiscretion) and said that they were exploring all options instead, which later turned out to be the prequel, “The Huntsman: Winter’s War”, starring Chris Hemsworth.

2. “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” could’ve been directed by “The Walking Dead” creator

Former “The Walking Dead” showrunner Frank Darabont was supposed to helm “The Huntsman: Winter’s War”. However, he exited the film as he parted ways with Universal Pictures about half a year after the release date was announced. At that time, he had already written the most recent draft of the screenplay. According to sources, Frank left the over “creative differences” and THR said that he’s “not known for a small ego or manageable temperament”. Luckily, Universal was able find another director and moved forward without delay on the project.

4. Be in for a beautiful visual treat your eyes will appreciate

French film director and visual effects artist Cedric Nicolas-Troyan helmed “The Huntsman: Winter’s War”. Cedric may not be well known to the general public, but he worked on “Snow White and The Huntsman” as the second unit director and visual effects supervisor. He was also the second unit director on Disney’s “Maleficent“. Cedric’s work on “Snow White and The Huntsman” earned him an Academy Award nomination in 2013 for “Best Visual Effects”. If you’ve watched any of the “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” trailers, you’d notice that there are some short clips of the outstanding visual effects. Don’t say we didn’t warn you. Be prepared for an orgasmic treat for the eyes!

5. The ironic significance of the name Freya

“Edge of Tomorrow” star Emily Blunt plays the Evil Queen Ravenna’s sister, Freya the Ice Queen. Freya is also the name of a Norse goddess, associated with love, magic, and death. According to the legend, she was married to a god named Odr who vanished one day. Freya searched the entire world to find him, getting a new name in every land she passed by, but was unable to find him again. The broken hearted goddess cried tears which became gold, and the experience made the goddess particularly sympathetic to lovers.

6. Freya often gets compared to Elsa of Disney’s “Frozen”

Unsurprisingly, Freya is getting compared to Elsa from Disney’s hit animated film, “Frozen“. Emily Blunt told The Telegraph, “There have been many ‘Frozen’ comments. But that was always going to be the risk when you play someone with long white hair. And I suppose I might be called Elsa by girls in the street, who are wondering why Elsa has become so mean.” The only difference between Freya and Elsa is that the former has been consumed by evil, while the latter still cares for her family and friends.

7. “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” was mostly shot in England

In April 2015, filming for “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” kicked off at Waverley Abbey in Surrey, England. Waverley Abbey was the very first monastery founded in Britain by the reforming Cistercian religious order. Fake vines and rubble was added to the refectory at Waverley Abbey for the production of “The Huntsman: Winter’s War”. Other filming locations include Windsor Great Park, Wells Bishop’s Palace, Wells Cathedral and Puzzlewood in the Forest of Dean.

8. It will tell a better story, according to Chris Hemsworth

“Snow White and the Huntsman” suffered from poor reception, with a 48% “rotten” score on Rotten Tomatoes based on 215 reviews, and an average rating of 5.6/10. Identifying with that, “Thor” star Chris Hemsworth told Cinema Blend that “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” will tell a better story. “This time around, there’s a solid love story and a great relationship between Jessica Chastain’s character and mine, which is the heart of the story. But it’s a lot more fun, much more in the vein of say, ‘Willow’, or something,” he said.

“The Huntsman: Winter’s War” arrives in cinemas on 14th April 2016.

Meanwhile, Chris Hemsworth, Charlize Theron, and Jessica Chastain are expected to grace the red carpet and a fan premiere at Universal Studios Singapore in Resorts World Sentosa on 3rd April 2016.

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

Sources: moviepilot, Useless Daily, “The Huntsman: Winter’s War” Wiki, Fashion & Style, The Telegraph, Cinema Blend, THR (1) , English Heritage, Deadline, THR (2).

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#DeathNote: Netflix Drops First Trailer For Live-Action Remake

“The human whose name is written in this note shall die.”

Netflix has dropped the very first trailer for the live-action remake of Japanese manga series “Death Note”, giving us a first glimpse of Nat Wolff as Light Turner.

The 1-minute trailer starts with Light discovering the Death Note and killing off “bad guys” in a bid to create a perfect world without evil. Not much has been revealed in the trailer, so it seems like we’ll have to wait a ‘lil longer for more details to surface.

While there are some complaints about the upcoming movie, most fans agree that Willem Dafoe is the perfect cast as Ryuk the Shinigami (god of death). Although he only has one line in the trailer – “Shall we begin?” and his face wasn’t shown, fans were already sold.

We also saw glimpses of the chaos caused by Kira and a 1-second appearance by Lakeith Stanfield, who portrays L.

“Based on the famous Japanese manga written by Tsugumi Ohba and Takeshi Obata, Death Note follows a high school student who comes across a supernatural notebook, realizing it holds within it a great power; if the owner inscribes someone’s name into it while picturing their face, he or she will die. Intoxicated with his new godlike abilities, the young man begins to kill those he deems unworthy of life.”

Aside from the aforementioned actors, other casts include Margaret Qualley as Mia Sutton, Paul Nakauchi as Watari, and Shea Whigham as James Turner.

“Death Note” will premiere in Netflix on 25th August.


Hype’s Now Playing: Dillon Francis & Martin Garrix — Set Me Free

Dillon Francis and Martin Garrix sets us free on this glorious hump day!

With his full length debut album Money Sucks, Friends Rule just around the corner, Mad Decent heavyweight Dillon Francis proves that his got more music up his sleeves! Having released a handful of tracks in the last few weeks leading up to his long and highly awaited album, Francis dropped yet another tune to quell cravings until the record’s official release on October 28th (Tuesday).

This time, he releases his crowd-favourite collaboration with Martin Garrix, “Set Me Free.” The track which has been galvanising festival goers all summer long, from EDC to Mad Decent Block Parties all across America is now available to fans for free instantly when they pre-order his album Money Sucks, Friends Rule.

Classic Francis material, the track introduces itself with recognisable moombahton elements but quickly reveals itself to be a throbbing electro-house cut. Complete with precise sample work and a melodic build, the track comes to a stomping break matched with a festival-primed synth arrangement. Garrix’s stylistic additions and his knack for producing main stage staples gives the track a kick that sweetens the album’s arrival even more.

Along with “Set Me Free,” fans of Dillon Francis will also instantly receive “When We Were Young,” “Get Low,” and “I Can’t Take It” when they pre-order the album.

Pre-order Money Sucks, Friends Rule here.


#TaeTiSeo: Album Details & Teaser Videos For “Dear Santa” Revealed

Fans of TaeTiSeo are getting more and more excited about the trio’s comeback because “Dear Santa”, the trio’s upcoming Christmas special album will be released in less than 24 hours.

Ahead of the album release, the Girls’ Generation‘s sub-unit group decided to excite fans with a new teaser image and 2 new teaser videos.

The album will mark their first comeback in a year and 3 months since the release of their 2nd mini album titled “Holler” last September.

The trio’s upcoming album will consist of songs that are deemed fitting for the winter season, just like how their first album fit the spring season while the 2nd album fit the fall season. It will feature 6 tracks, including the Korean and English versions of their title track, “Dear Santa”. Other tracks in the album are titled  “I Like the Way”, “You Who Look Like the Winter”, “Merry Christmas”, and “Like First Snow”.

Check out the music video teasers for “Dear Santa” below:

TaeTiSeo‘s Christmas special album will be released on 4th December at 12am KST. The songs from the album will be revealed today at 8pm KST at the showcase “X-mas Special: Dear Santa”. After hosting “Dear Santa – After Stage” on Naver V App, they will start promoting their new songs through various music programmes from tomorrow onwards.

What do you think of the teaser videos? Do you think the girls will share the same stage as EXO, who will make their comeback next week with a Christmas album as well? Share your thoughts in the comments box below.

For more information, hit up SNSD Girls’ Generation’s Facebook page.

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Super Junior’s Eunhyuk’s Twitter Hacked!

Okay, we really don’t mean to giggle  since this is something that’s most unfortunate for Super Junior member Eunhyuk. Apparently, his Twitter account got hacked.

Now, before all ELF decide to have a go at us, we’re only giggling because the K-Pop idol made the announcement via Twitter that his Twitter account got hacked. Oh, the irony. Eunhyuk went on to explain, “My account got hacked. No wonder last time a mention I didn’t write got posted and deleted. And communicating with Heechul, who doesn’t even have Twitter? Who’s doing that? That is really impressive”.

PD for MBC radio show “Shimshimtapa”, Son Han Suh also commented that he did find Eunhyuk’s Twitter timeline a little funny. He revealed that Eunhyuk or “Eunhyuk impersonator” once randomly tweeted something about visiting the show sometime. To which Eunhyuk said, “I did that? I haven’t been on Twitter for two weeks. What did I do? This, this is serious”.

Aww, Eunhyuk. It’s okay. Just change your password ASAP and you’ll be fine!

Note: No, contrary to popular belief, we’re pretty sure IU wasn’t behind it all.


Flo Rida’s “Wild Ones” Hits A High Note

Flo Rida is without question one of today’s most vibrant and recognizable superstars, a true international icon and history-making hip-hop hero.  The Miami-based rapper burst onto the scene in 2007 with his record-breaking #1 hit, “Low (feat. T-Pain)”, which spent all of 10 consecutive weeks atop the Billboard “Hot 100”.

With sales exceeding 11 million, “Low” (from his acclaimed 2008 debut album, “Mail on Sunday”), is one of the most successful digital singles of the past decade, making its way into the Guinness Book of World Records as 2008’s best-selling download in the United States.

Two years later, Flo Rida’s “Right Round” broke records and made history with more than 636,000 digital sales in its first week of release. It’s still the biggest debut digital sales week for any single ever. In addition to guest appearances on such tracks as David Guetta’s “Where Them Girls At (feat. Flo Rida & Nicki Minaj)”, the iconic rapper has made non-stop worldwide noise with an array of his own international party anthems, including “In The Ayer (feat. Will.i.am)” and “Club Can’t Handle Me (feat. David Guetta)”.

To date, Flo Rida has sold more than 56 million singles worldwide.

Flo Rida’s fourth album, “Wild Ones” (released on the 26th June)  is an envelope-pushing collection of party-friendly anthems that showcases Flo Rida’s signature stop-and-go flow, melodic sensibility, massive hooks, and billion-dollar beats, as well as his clever lyricism. “I like to sit down and come up with a melody first, before I even apply the lyrics”, he says. “Because when you’re creating a track, you should become an instrument, not just rap over a beat. For me to connect with a track, it has to be soulful.”

With total digital sales just shy of two million in the U.S. alone and four million worldwide, “Wild Ones (feat. Sia)” marks Flo Rida’s sixth consecutive RIAA platinum certified single. The “Wild Ones” companion video is also a sensation, drawing more than 52 million individual views at Flo’s official YouTube channel.

Meanwhile, “Good Feeling” the first single off  Wild Ones has proven one of Flo Rida’s biggest hits to date, earning 3x RIAA platinum certification since its initial release with worldwide digital sales at five million. “Good Feeling” has also received a Billboard Music Award nomination for “Top Rap Song” and its companion video has since raked up total views of over 87 million:

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Sensational! Flo Rida continues to be an international phenomenon with this new album. Brace yourselves, kids. The Malaysian airwaves are just about to face a not-so-hostile Flo Rida domination.

For more information, hit up Warner Music Malaysia’s Facebook page.