Facebook & Google Skip Malaysia For New Apricot Subsea Cable In Asia Pacific

With the current situation (both, political and economic) in Malaysia, it is no doubt, our countries are at a losing end of things. Malaysia was once, a growing hub for technological advances and major development however, this time, we’ve reached a situation where our political turmoil is indeed driving away investors. Foreign investors are exciting the local stock market for greener pastures and this includes our neighbours such as Singapore and Indonesia. Analysts have claimed that with no clear successor as prime minister, Tan Sri Mahiaddin’s decision to step down will further roil the country’s financial markets and dampen investors’ confidence.

Now, tech giants, Facebook and Google have just announced Apricot, a new subsea cable that will boost connectivity in the Asia Pacific region. Sadly, Malaysia will not be on the list of countries involved. This would be a 12,000km long submarine cable that will connect Japan, Taiwan, Guam, the Philippines, Indonesia and Singapore. Deemed as an opportunity missed for the nation, Malaysia has actually aimed to have the most submarine cable landings in Southeast Asia by 2025 under MyDigital!

In the midst of Facebook announcing Echo and Biforst cables to provide redundant and reliable connectivity between Southeast Asia and North America, MyIX has actually raised a valid concern that tech giants are looking past Malaysia due to the ongoing cabotage issue and no, it has nothing to do with cabbages.

Cabotage is the restriction to operate sea, air, or other transport services within a particular territory. This issue in Malaysia started after former Transport Minister, Dr Wee Ka Siong revoked the exemption that was introduced by his predecessor, Antony Loke, that was meant to speed up undersea cable repairs which are crucial to the nation’s internet connectivity!

Apparently, Facebook, Google, Microsoft and MyIX had written to the current caretaker Prime Minister Tan Sri Mahiaddin Yassin at least twice to push for the reinstatement of the cabotage exemption for submarine cable repairs. Prior to this, former Transport Minister Anthony Loke, said that the submarine repairs in Malaysia took approximately 27 days which is significantly longer than our neighbouring countries in ASEAN.

This was due to the DSL process which requires consultation with MASA (Malaysia Shipowners’ Association) before foreign vessels with the required DP2 capability can carry out the job. This exemption was introduced in April 2019 during the Pakatan Harapan administration as a request by Telekom Malaysia and TimeDotCom with the support of the Ministry of Communications and Multimedia, which was led by Gobind Singh.

Long after the Sheraton Move occurred, in April this year, six ministries including MITI, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Communications and Multimedia, Ministry of Transport, EPU, MEDAC and MOSTI were instructed to study the impact of the cabotage policy on digital investments and the local shipping industry and to come back with a recommendation in two weeks.

Sadly, several months have passed and no decision has been made by the government. Following this, the lack of updates after almost 3 months have resulted in MyIX and PIKOM issuing a statement that literally reminded the government that its silence on the issue has continued causing jitters with foreign investors. Adding on, MyIX stated that 5 out of 6 ministries are in favour of reinstating the cabotage exemption for foreign vessels to conduct submarine cable repairs in Malaysian waters.

Apricot is expected to launch in 2024, and the cable system will provide an initial design capacity of more than 190 Tbps to meet rising data demands in the region. Furthermore, this would support existing cable systems including Echo and Bifrost. Apricot added that the new cable will help to meet the growing demand for 4G, 5G and broadband services in the region.

According to Google, the network of cables will offer the benefits of multiple paths in and out of Asia to ensure a significantly higher degree of resilience for Google Cloud and digital services. Consequently, businesses and startups in Asia can look forward to lower latency, more bandwidth, and increased resilience in connectivity between Southeast Asia, North Asia and the United States.

Nevertheless, let’s just hope that whoever’s next in line to be the Prime Minister of Malaysia would actually rectify this situation and gain more confidence among foreign investors to prevent Malaysia from experiencing its own kind of doomsday!


Mount Everest Claims First Malaysian Climber’s Life

An employee of Perbadanan Putrajaya (PPj) died while heading for the Everest base camp. The Malaysian embassy in Kathmandu, Nepal, confirmed that Mohamad Shahrulnizam Ahmad Nazari had died from Acute Mountain Sickness (AMS).

He was a part of the PPj Sports, Recreation and Welfare Club’s expedition to Kalapathar and the Everest base camp, along with 13 other employees. None of the members nor the body of the victim could be flown out of the mountain to the hospital in Kathmandu because of bad weather, an embassy spokesman said. The spokesman said the mission was trying its best to bring the team to safety and provide them treatment.

The team had left for Nepal on 27th May and was expected to return on 10th June. The expedition involved 11 men and three women. They are now camping out in Labuche at the height of 4,100 metres above sea level.

PPj corporate communications senior deputy director Zaharah Salamat said in a statement they had received information that one of their climbers was in critical condition on Monday:

PPj had immediately contacted Wisma Putra for assistance and to coordinate rescue efforts along with the Malaysian embassy in Kathmandu. However, the bad weather hampered the rescue mission as thick clouds prevented the helicopter from reaching the incident site.

The nearest medical facility located at Pheriche, was also closed due to the off season.

Around 7:15pm, we were informed of his passing, and until now we cannot ascertain as to when the body can be flown out to Kathmandu. Following the tragic incident, all climbers had canceled their plans to head to the Everest base camp and are currently staying in Labuche.

Zaharah said currently all the climbers are reported to be in good health and stable condition.

AMS, also known as high altitude cerebral edema, altitude anoxia, altitude sickness, mountain sickness or high altitude pulmonary edema, is an illness that can affect  climbers  at high altitudes, usually above 2,400m. It is caused by reduced air pressure and lower oxygen levels in the atmosphere.

Symptoms, which depend on the speed of climb and how hard a person exerts himself, can range from mild to life-threatening. In most cases, the symptoms are mild to moderate. They include difficulty in sleeping, dizziness or light-headedness, fatigue, headache, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting, rapid heart rate and shortness of breath.

Severe AMS symptoms include cyanosis (a blue tinge to the skin), chest tightness or congestion,  heavy coughing (sometimes with blood), confusion, decreased consciousness, disorientation and a gray or pale complexion.

AMS is easier to treat in the early stages. Getting back to a lower altitude is essential, although a portable hyperbaric chamber can be used to simulate air pressure at lower altitudes. Oxygen must be given to the victim, along with other medicines to help breathing and reduce the swelling in the brain.

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#Malaysia: Security Measures In Densely Populated Areas (Malls, Clubs) Intensified

In the past month, there has been several reported cases of suspected terror attacks. On 21st December, 3 three suspects who were planning to stage a suicide bomb attack on Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve were shot dead after a gun battle with the Indonesian anti-terrorism police at house near Jakarta.

Hours before, halfway across the world, a tractor-trailer truck ploughed into a busy Berlin Christmas market frequented by locals and tourists, killing 12 people and injuring at least 48 people in a suspected terror attack.

While we’re all looking forward to soak in the year-end festivities with our friends and family, starting with the Christmas celebrations in just a couple of sleeps, certain densely populated outlets aren’t taking any chances this holiday season.

Back in January this year, The Royal Malaysian Police and the Malaysian Armed Forces launched a 24-hour joint patrol at popular public spots in the Klang Valley following violent incidents in several major cities in the world. Areas like Bukit Bintang and major shopping malls were among locations that are under the joint patrol.

However, in the interest of ensuring the safety of customers during the year-end festivities, popular public spots such as malls, clubs, and hotels in the country are stepping up security to complement efforts made by the Malaysian Armed Forces and Royal Malaysian Police.

The Star Online quoted Malaysia Shopping Malls Association adviser HC Chan as saying that the number of mall visitors can increase by 50% during the year-end holidays. As such, larger malls in Malaysia have more than 100 personnel as well as the help of the auxiliary police, coupled with CCTVs to ensure the safety of their patrons.

Popular night haunts in the city have also taken the liberty to beef up security for their premises. Zouk KL’s marketing manager Jimmy Lee told us, “As the busy holiday season is upon us, we understand the need for extra security and precautions because of the increased traffic and activity in commercial and public spaces.”

As an operator of such a space, Zouk KL will be taking the following measures to ensure the safety of their customers and efficiency of their operations this holiday season:

Kuala Lumpur’s massive entertainment enclave, TREC KL, has also taken precautionary measures in preparation of the year-end festivities.

“TREC has an all-round security in place at various parts of the estate in day and night operations. We continue to be vigilant during the festive season, and to provide a safe and secure environment for our visitors,” TREC KL’s Assistant Manager of Property Management Kelvin Lam revealed.

If you absolutely have to be out and about this holiday season, here’s what you can do to play a part in ensuring the safety of others:

Sources: The Star Online, FMT, The Guardian, CNN.


#CrimsonPeak: First Character Poster Arrives, Featuring Jessica Chastain

Through “The Strain” and “The Book of Life“, “Pan’s Labyrinth” director Guillermo del Toro is slowly creeping back to his Spanish horror roots via the upcoming release of his new film “Crimson Peak”.

Prior to the release of the film, Universal Pictures shared a first look at Jessica Chastain’s character, Lady Lucille Sharpe.

Co-produced by Legendary Picture and Universal Pictures, “Crimson Peak” is a supernatural thriller film that follows the story of Edith Cushing (played by Mia Wasikowska), a young author who will soon discover the horrifying truth behind her charming new husband.

In the aftermath of a family tragedy, an aspiring author is torn between love for her childhood friend and the temptation of a mysterious outsider. Trying to escape the ghosts of her past, she is swept away to a house that breathes, bleeds…and remembers.

“Crimson Peak” is one of the highly anticipated horror films in 2015 as it casts “Interstellar” actress Jessica Chastain and “Avengers” star Tom Hiddleston for the leading roles. The film also casts Mia Wasikowska and Charlie Hunnam for some major roles. Benedict Cumberbatch and Emma Stone were originally sought for Tom Hiddleston’s and Mia Wasikowska’s roles but eventually dropped out of the production.

Del Toro directed the film based on a script he co-wrote with Matthew Robbins and Lucina Coxon. The film is produced by Thomas Tull, Jon Jashni, Callum Greene, and himself whileJillian Share executive produces. It was revealed that sexual and violent content are expected as it is a character-driven film that has been rated R.

At the 2014 San Diego Comic-Con (SDCC), the director allowed fans to get a gist of how the film is going to look like through the tour of the Crimson gallery at Legendary Pictures booth.

“Crimson Peak” is slated for release on October 16, 2015.

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

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Aaliyah’s Biopic: Project On Hold + Zendaya Quits

Before filming has even begun, Aaliyah’s biopic is facing the possibility of being cancelled as the project has currently been put on hold.

Earlier, we reported that Aaliyah’s biopic is one of the upcoming biopics you should watch as it tells the inspirational journey of Aaliyah’s life. However, Lifetime Television recently released a short statement on Twitter to say that the Disney Channel star and singer Zendaya will no longer portray Aaliyah. It was reported that the project was put on hold due to production issues, including problems with obtaining rights to Aaliyah’s music.

Regarding the dropout issue, Zendaya, who previously said that Aaliyah has always been her source of inspiration, took to Twitter to say:

…if she is going to do it, she wants to do it right.” pic.twitter.com/SSVYpA3SrK

MTV recently caught up with Zendaya who attended the BET Awards on June 29 and asked about her dropout from the project. It seems that the Disney star felt that everything happened too quickly and that she no longer wanted to be a part of it.

“I just felt that the project wasn’t 100 percent there. I feel [that] production wise, everything just felt a little rushed. And I think because she’s someone I admire and I love so much, it can’t be done halfway, or not to the standards I think it should be done at, so I just decided not to do it,”

Zendaya further added that she would be the first person ready to play Aaliyah when the right project comes along but this project would not be the one.

With Zendaya dropping out from the film project, who do you think would the next best person to take on the role of Aaliyah in the biopic?


#Foodporn: Drool Away At These 5 Incredibly Dee-lish Foodie Films!

“There is no sincerer love than the love of food.” – George Bernard Shaw.

There are a number of things that can unite people. These things include sports, music, and mostly food. A great meal can make someone’s day, a great meal can win someone over, a great meal can put a smile on someone’s face and most importantly, a great meal can bring people together.

Be it a home-cooked meal, dining out, or ordering in, a great meal doesn’t necessarily have to be a fancy one. The simplest food can make people happy and so do movies. Over the years, we’ve seen various movies about food and as foodies ourselves, we’ve decided to come up with a list of incredibly delicious movies that will bring out the foodie in everyone.

Director Lasse Hallström delivered a deliciously precious movie with “The Hundred-Foot Journey” which featured an excellent cast, brilliant writing, a breathtaking location, and exquisite mouth-watering food.

“The Hundred-Foot Journey” follows the story of Hassan Kadam (played Manish Dayal), an aspiring chef who travels to France with his family due to to violent politics in their home of Mumbai, India. They decide to open an Indian restaurant right opposite Madame Mallory’s (played by Helen Mirren) fancy Michelin-starred French restaurant, Le Saule Pleurer.

The opening of Kadam’s restaurant leads to a heated clash between the two establishments and cultures that includes sabotaging each other’s business. The movie eventually sees Mallory recognising Kadam’s impressive culinary gifts before taking in under her wing and everything blossoms beautifully from there.

Our full review of “The Hundred-Foot Journey” here.

Set in beautiful Paris, this delicious animated movie that is packed with lively characters and lush animation that will have you believing that there’s a little chef in everyone.

Directed by Brad Bird, Jan Pinkava, “Ratatouille” is about Remy (voiced by Patton Oswalt) a resident of Paris who has a special and sophisticated palate. He appreciates good food and would love to one day become a chef so he can create culinary masterpieces, but there is one problem − he’s a rat.

As fate would have it, Remy finds himself forming an unlikely partnership with Linguini (voiced by Lou Romano), the garbage boy at a restaurant made famous by Remy’s culinary hero, Auguste Gusteau (voiced by Brad Garrett). They strike a deal which leads to hilarious and exciting string of events that turns the culinary world of Paris upside down.

Brought to you by the same man who brought you “The Hundred-Foot Journey”, Lasse Hallström’s “Chocolat” starring Johnny Depp and Juliette Binoche made for a delicious fairy tale romance that will have you craving chocolates like you never have. Also, what’s sexier than Johnny Depp and chocolates?

Set in 1959, Vianne (played by Juliette Bioche) movies into a small French village with her young daughter. There she opens a confectionery shop across the street from the local church. Her sinfully sweet and delicious treats and Sunday hours causes a moral uproar. Plus, the arrival of a gorgeous Irish Gypsy named Roux (played by Johnny Depp) is no help.

Packed with the right amount of sweet and hints of bitter, “Chef” is a modern-day feel good foodie film that was directed Jon Favreau.

Apart from just directing the movie, Favreau also takes the lead in his own movie as he plays chef Carl Casper, who quits his job in a prestigious restaurant in Los Angeles after he’s pushed too far by the restaurant’s controlling owner, Riva (played by Dustin Hoffman).

Following his resignation, Chef Carl is left to figure out what to do next as he finds himself in Miami. He teams up with his ex-wife, Inez (played by Sofia Vergara), his friend Martin (played by John Leguizamo), and his son Percy (played by Emjay Anthony) to start up a food truck.

Together, they take the road as Chef Carl goes back to his roots and reignite his passion for cooking.

Yummy in every single way and every possible aspect, “Julie & Julia” can truly be enjoyed by everyone and anyone. Also, Streep does a brilliant job at bringing TV cooking legend Julia Child to life in this glorious movie.

Directed by Nora Ephron, “Julie & Julia” blends the lives of 2 women, who though are separated by time and space, are both at loose ends until they find that with the right blend of passion, fearlessness, and yes, butter, anything is possible.

There you have it − our list of incredibly delicious movies about food.

We dare you not to drool as you watch any of the movies on this list ;)

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Interview: PENTAGON On “Love Or Take” Comeback & How Hui’s Absence Has Affected Them

The boys of PENTAGON (펜타곤) have finally made their comeback in the K-pop scene with their 11th mini album, titled “Love Or Take”!

If you’ve been a die-hard Universe (as fans are lovingly called) from the very beginning, you’d probably know that the Cube Entertainment boy group is well-recognised for their unique take in approaching a wide variety of concepts in their comebacks and performances, in addition to the members’ talented composing skills.

The members performed two songs from their latest EP, “Do Or Not” (title track) and also “Baby I Love You”, live for the first time at their online showcase held earlier on Monday (15th March). Another interesting thing to point out is that, this comeback also marks the first time the group is promoted with only 7 members, as two other members of the group. Jinho and Hui are currently serving in the army.

During an interview with the press about their comeback album, the members shed light on how they felt promoting without the elder members around, their signature ‘PENTAGON musical style’ and more. Check it out:

1. This is your first album after leader Hui’s enlistment. Could each of you share your thoughts on promoting as 7 members?

Wooseok: Honestly, it still feels awkward that Hui is not by our side. I’m still getting used to it. I will try to make myself feel more comfortable about it through this promotion.

Shinwon: Since we are missing the eldest member and the leader at the moment, we felt the need to have a different kind of mindset for this promotion. We will always remind ourselves that not everyone who wants to be a part of the promotion can always participate in it, and each of us will work harder to do 1.5 person’s worth.

Hongseok: Obviously, they were the key members for us. So we can’t help but to be conscious of their absence. But in terms of performance, we will present stages that won’t let you feel their absence.

Kino: Our average height actually increased! Just like our new average height, we will also show you our heightened abilities.

Yeoone: Many of the people who love us are worried about us. For us, this is the kind of promotion where we want to make our brothers, Hui, and Jinho feel relieved and think, “There is no need to worry, they’re too good there is nothing to be worried about,‟ when they see our performance. We will work harder than ever so Hui and Jinho can be proud of us.

Yuto: All performances always left me with regretful feelings. With this promotion though, I will work hard to leave no regrets and wrap it up healthily.

Yanan: Although we can’t be with HUI and JINHO right now, the seven of us will work hard to make up for them. Please look forward to it!

2. Although some of your members are enlisted at the moment, you are still consistently promoting without a hiatus, as you fairly have a large number of members. When are some moments you feel the missing members’ absence regardless, and how do you build your teamwork again in those moments?

Shinwon: The moments we could really feel their absence were during team meetings and practices. It used to be very crowded when we practiced, but now that there are only seven of us, it feels somewhat empty all the time. I keep thinking, ‘Why are we missing a person?’ Since we’re missing the eldest and the leader, it feels like we lack a shoulder to lean on. But this won’t make us weak. To make our bonds stronger and let them come back strong, we got ourselves team rings.

3. Your new title track “Do Or Not” is a PENTAGON-style refreshing track, following the footsteps of “Shine”, “Naughty Boy”, “Spring Snow”, and “Daisy”. How would you describe ‘PENTAGON-style freshness’ in one phrase? Also, what are some strengths and stand-out points you would like to point out?

Kino: In one phrase, it’s like a Sprite Zero drink. It’s popping, refreshing, cool, and even tasty like Sprite. But it’s healthy because it’s “zero”. That describes “PENTAGON-style freshness” well. The strength and stand-out point is that we work on every part of the process including music, performance, and concept together with professionals because we know what fits us best. Crafting the best fit for us with our own hands is our strength. We think that only we, PENTAGON, can pull it off.

4. You’ve come back with a ‘refreshing’ and ‘cool’ concept this time around. In your opinion, which member fits this concept the best? Also, what are some special efforts you made to pull off this concept?

Yuto: First of all, I would like you to look at Yanan today. He has two bunnies with him — one is Jinho (eldest member) and the other is Hui. I choose Yanan as the one who pulls off this concept the best. My role in the music video was a cool guy, so I grew out my neck hair. I think this makes me look cooler than how I looked in the previous concepts.

Yanan: I will choose Yuto then. There are many things to compliment him on. First and foremost, he is a hardworking person. I’ve never seen him on a break. He is always at the studio or doing something. I just think he deserves a lot of respect. For everything from mentality to looks, this Japanese friend of mine is a great guy.

5. What was the thought process of coming up with these three concepts (Romantic, Sporty, Mild) in your comeback?

Yeoone: The straight-out-of-a-comic-book concept was a strong candidate since the beginning of the creative process. We contemplated on how we should approach the comic book concept and what would make the audience like it more. From there, we thought of the three concepts; Romantic, Sporty, and Mild.

These three concepts contrast with each other, but the seven of us also add very different colours to these concepts. So, we thought we would be able to show some diversity if we went forward with it. We were also excited to think that Universe would enjoy it a lot, so we went right with it. As for me, I would say I pull off the Romantic concept the best.

6. Team leader Hui and Wooseok contributed to the creative process of your new title track. Are there any memorable moments from the process you can share? How satisfied are the other members with the title track?

Wooseok: I slept less for about two months to work on the title track and the B-sides. The rest of the members dedicated a lot of their efforts as well. There was this one time when we got really exhausted, we gathered at a studio, put a random beat on, and cyphered to it.

We had about 10 to 15 minutes to write our own lyrics, got together, recorded it and listened to it together. Shinwon, Kino, Hui, and I were there for this. It really helped us shake off the stress and we had so much fun with it, so it was very memorable.

Yanan: I think the bright and refreshing concept of “Do Or Not” is perfect for us. We should be able to show everyone each of our charms through our performances. I would give it 110 out of 100, since this is our 11th mini album.

7. In the midst of lots of boy bands putting out ‘hot and spicy’, fierce music, it’s interesting to see that PENTAGON is consistently releasing music of their very own color. What is ‘the kind of music the group can do best’ in your opinion, and what motivates you to persistently continue to pursue your musical style?

Kino: It’s a little challenging to define the kind of music or genre PENTAGON can do best with a single word, since we make very diverse music, concepts, and lyrics. But if I were to talk about what “PENTAGON-style music” is, I would say the strength of our music is that you can feel the scent of our efforts from our music.

Our aim is to make people think, “This is definitely the kind of music only PENTAGON can do,” when they pull our music out and listen to it again after a long time has passed from now. We will keep giving our best until we achieve it. Our driving force certainly is the Universe.

8. You guys will be celebrating your 5th anniversary as a group this year. Now that you’ve achieved first place on a music show and have won various awards, what is your next goal moving forward?

Shinwon: We actually have many goals. Our 5th anniversary is coming soon, but our aim is to keep moving forward gently, slow and steady, without losing energy, until the time makes a fifth anniversary feel like nothing.

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#BlackEyedPeas: Will.i.am Reveals Why Fergie Has Left The Group

The rumours are true: Fergie has parted ways with the Black Eyed Peas.

This news was confirmed by none other than the group leader, Will.i.am himself. The 42-year-old hit maker recently spoke to UAE entertainment news magazine Ahlan! to explain the reason for Fergie’s departure.

“Since the beginning of Black Eyed Peas, we’ve always had amazing vocalists that appeared on the mic with us. People like Macy Gray, Esthero, Debi Nova, Fergie. On ‘Elephunk’, there were several females that appeared on that album,” Will.i.am was quoted as saying.

He continued, “Obviously Fergie was the featured female, but on songs like ‘Let’s Get it Started,’ it’s Noelle (Scaggs), and then Fergie, songs like ‘Latin Girls,’ it’s Debi Nova, and ‘Request Line,’ it’s Macy Gray. We’ll always work with good females.”

Nicole Scherzinger already denied that she’s replacing Fergie as the female vocalist. Will there in fact be a replacement? The rapper answered, “As for replacing, what people know The Black Eyed Peas to be, nobody is replacing Fergie.”

“She’s working on her solo project at the moment, we’re on this brand-new experience, celebrating 20 years of Black Eyed Peas putting out music. We worked on a bunch of songs on her solo record, we’re proud that she has her label, but Black Eyed Peas are pushing it forward in terms of content, technology and experiences on our new project, ‘Masters of the Sun’,” he added.

While Fergie is preparing to to released her 2nd solo LP, “Double Dutchess”, members Will.i.am, Taboo, and Apl.de.ap are also gearing up for their new hip-hop graphic novel titled, “Black Eyed Peas Present: Masters of the Sun – The Zombie Chronicles”.


Celebrate Buatan Malaysia With Popular Local Shows This Merdeka

This Merdeka, celebrate the many talents of Malaysia’s actors, writers and filmmakers with some of the latest homegrown favourites available to stream now on Disney+ Hotstar!

Ranging from family-friendly shows to unforgettable dramas, here are six great shows to add to your watchlist for the upcoming long weekend.

Catch these seven talented young Malaysian Mouseketeers in “Club Mickey Mouse’s” special episode, “Better Together” premiering in conjunction with Merdeka on 25th August, in Disney+ Hotstar’s first live action original production to be released in Malaysia! With songs, laughter, fun and games, there’s plenty for the family to enjoy.

A heartfelt, thought-provoking drama, “Ayahanda” tells the tale of a village Imam who faces challenges when his village seeks to replace him with someone younger, while also struggling to connect with his children. Since its premiere in July, this TV series has fast become a fan favourite on the platform.

The latest blockbuster to premiere exclusively on Disney+ Hotstar, “Ada Hantu” marks Hairul Azreen directorial debut and has received positive reviews from fans. Catch supernatural sceptic Aliff tries to prove that ghosts aren’t real by challenging his friends to spend a night in an old, abandoned house. But as the night goes on, he soon realises that the house is not all that he imagined it to be.

Do check out our full interview with the director and cast here.

A young teacher seeks to guide and hone the talents of his students in an Orang Asli community in this story of sacrifice and perseverance that is sure to tug on heartstrings. Premiering on 26th August, stream this mini-series first on Disney+ Hotstar from 7am onwards ahead of its release on primetime television.

Don’t miss this psycho-thriller meant for the most daring of viewers as a nurse at a psychiatric hospital is tugged into a mystery when a string of strange occurrences take place after a new patient is admitted. Premiering on 26th August, stream this mini-series first on Disney+ Hotstar from 7am onwards ahead of its release on primetime television.

Long-time fan favourites “Upin & Ipin” return in an all-new season – with new adventures and new daily life lessons to learn that’s bound to delight their young audiences across the country!

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(Video) From Geeking Out On The Set Of ‘Syerif’, To Partying With iQIYI: Epic Events We Hit Up This Past Week!

Another week, another whirlwind of totally EXTRA events!

From striking poses on the set of the film “Syerif”, to hanging loose at iQIYI’s dazzling Open House – we were THERE, and we were vibing! Check out our social diary for this week (don’t be jelly!):

wowww #fyp #skopproductions #skoptiktok #capcut #syeriff #newfilms

♬ original sound – SKOP PRODUCTIONS – SKOP PRODUCTIONS

Following the success of his previous movies, like “Abang Long Fadil 3” and “Polis Evo 3”, Syafiq Yusof is returning with another smash! We were treated to a special preview of the upcoming action-thriller, “Syerif”, starring Zul Ariffin, Syafiq Kyle, Azira Shafinaz and Aaron Aziz.

Thanks to our good friends at Astro Shaw, we were escorted to the filming location of the upcoming movie at Bandar Malaysia, Jalan Lapangan Terbang Lama, Pengkalan Tentera Udara Diraja Malaysia. We don’t want to spoil it for you, but we assure you, we definitely can’t wait for “Syerif” to hit the cinemas!

A post shared by Hype Malaysia (@hypemy)

If you’re looking for action and adventure, look no further and head on over to Pavilion Bukit Jalil, as the mall is currently partnering with Warner Bros to celebrate the latter’s 100th anniversary. Located in the Centre Court at Level 2, visitors will get to experience the world of Harry Potter (don’t miss the magical Harry Potter 9 3/4 platform), whip up a delicious meal amidst the lively Tom & Jerry kitchen scene, and experience the inflatable playgrounds there.

There’s also ‘The Flash’ movie activation, where you’ll notice giant figurines of the red speedster and Batman himself. There’s also the groovy Scooby-Doo Mystery Machine to snap memorable moments at! That’s not all – fans can also take part in the meet-and-greet featuring Bugs Bunny and Tweety Bird in the coming weeks! Do bookmark this opportunity for the coming school holidays! ;)

Gemstones are a testament to nature’s infinite artistry, a dazzling display of colours that evoke emotions and tell stories. With ZCOVA, we embarked on an amazing journey of self-discovery. The event kickstarted with a Bingo Ice Breaking session. Then we had a welcome speech by one of the founders, Low Ziyin. The next session was pretty new and interesting for us, which was “energy reading”. We also had Risah Gan from Shine From Within elaborating on each gemstone and what meaning they carry. ZCOVA also displayed some of their gemstone collections which were all so beautiful that we couldn’t take our eyes off them.

With unwavering commitment to excellence, ZCOVA’s in-house gemologist meticulously inspects every gemstone to guarantee perfection in every aspect. Each gemstone proudly bears a certification from the esteemed International Coloured Gemstone Laboratory (ICL), a testament to ZCOVA’s dedication to providing you with only the finest, most authentic gemstones of unparalleled quality. ZCOVA proudly presents Asia’s Biggest Virtual Gemstone Inventory, where you have the freedom to customise your ideal gemstone jewellery, from exquisite engagement rings to elegant necklaces and even bold men’s rings. For a seamless customer experience, ZCOVA also offers free customisation, along with 3D render and 3D print to try on, ensuring a perfect fit.

In conjunction with Turkish Cuisine Week, we got to experience another part of the world by attending an exclusive dinner by the Embassy of the Republic Of Turkiye, recently. Not only did we get to witness how some of the dishes were prepared, we obviously got to try many amazing treats that were simply mouth-watering!

This year’s Turkish Cuisine Week features a unique menu dedicated to the delicious flavours of Hatay cuisine, which is also part of the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of gastronomy. What can we say, it was simply outstanding!

Raya wouldn’t be complete without celebrating with one of the most popular streaming services out there. We were invited to enjoy the Raya celebrations with iQIYI at their Jom Raya Sekitar Open House event, recently. The company got us hooked with previews of their latest and upcoming content that will be available on their platform.

The evening was filled with good company, amazing food, star-studded performances, and fun games! We’re definitely looking forward to the next event by iQiyi!

MIMONE prides itself on pampering its guests with the best skincare experiences with its spa treatments. Of course, its Raya event was no different. We were treated to a delectable high tea served at Café Chef Wan, and allowed to explore the various treatments MIMONE has available both for your home and at the spa! Plié lingerie also took the time to showcase a few products that are essential for ladies.

Le French Festival launched their month-long cultural celebration on 25th May at GSC Mid Valley Megamall with a sneak peek of what is to come! Guests were able to taste and enjoy some of their selected cuisine and drinks while getting a makeover from beauty company L’Oreal. We were also treated to an adaptation of “The Three Musketeers” by Alexandre Dumas, during its first premiere in Asia.

As His Excellency Mr Axel Cruau, Ambassador of France to Malaysia, was delighted to reveal during the press conference: “The 2023 edition will do even more to highlight the best of French culture and share it with our friends all over Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Johor Bahru, and to a new location: Kuching!” Needless to say, it left us all quite excited for what was to come.

We got to witness the launch of NUTOX’s new and improved Youth Restoring Range at the Vanity Atrium in Sunway Velocity Mall! Uniquely formulated for Asian skin, the NUTOX Youth Restoring range contains Actigenic+TM, a self-regenerative system and breakthrough technology that regenerates skin cells, maintains and produces collagen, elastin, and hyaluronic acid effectively to improve skin’s elasticity.

The range is widely available at Watsons’ physical stores, as well as online on Shopee and Lazada!

Volcan X.A. is the newest expression from Volcan de mi Tierra, a tequila brand owned by Moët Hennessy, marking its official launch in Malaysia during an explosive celebratory launch party at Spark KL!

Volcan de mi Tierra’s premium tequila offering has been elevated to epic proportions with the superior X.A. This extra-aged tequila is complex, warm, and smooth, with an intense flavour and sweetness from barrel ageing in American oak barrels.

Discover the new Volcan X.A Tequila here.

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Prince Harry’s Royal Love aka New Girl

Ah hah! Prince Harry has made in official for the world to see when he was spotted getting all cuddly with a then-still-mysterious girl while he was on holiday recently. Who, you ask? None other than his new girl and current girlfriend, 24-year-old Cressida Bonas. The couple was seen hugging and being all lovey-dovey on a Swiss ski slope, all out in the open. It seems that Prince Harry couldn’t care less if they were in full view of the world’s paparazzi.

Just as well, because pictures of the 28-year-old prince and his model and dance student love in their unprecedented public display of affection graced the front page of every tabloid in England soon after.

Prince Harry was first linked to Cressida in mid-2012 but it was reported that she dumped him following his “Sin City nude antics”. Yeah, you know which one we’re talking about! Although they had a brief relationship last year, we barely knew anything about her. So here are 12 things you need to know about Prince Harry’s royal love, Cressida Bonas:

Sources: New.com.au, Huffington Post, Herald Sun.


Vacay With Your Furkids At These Pet-Friendly Hotels In Malaysia

The problem with going on a vacation when you have pets is having to leave your pets behind. If you’re lucky, you’ve got someone at home who can care for it while you’re gone. If you’re not fussy, you can always board them at pet hotels, but many are wary about leaving their pets (especially dogs) at pet hotels, for personal reasons. Also, traveling with your furkid in Malaysia can be tricky sometimes as dog-friendly/pet-friendly accommodation is rare.

Fortunately, we’ve found some places that can make your “taking your pet on holiday” dream come true! Yes, it’s possible now.

Here are some of the few hotels and resorts that are pet-friendly in Malaysia.

Ruby’s Resort is located on the beautiful beach side of Cherating in Pahang, Malaysia. This rustic and comfortable resort, which offers a series of colourful wooden cabins with panelled interiors, lives up to its tagline “A Home Away from Home” perfectly! The resort opened in 2007 its series of chalets come in different configurations to accommodate various sized groups and budgets.

More importantly, it’s an absolute haven to your furkids – both cats and dogs.

Yes, Ruby Resort is one of the rare few resorts that welcomes cats and dogs, of all shapes and sizes, but they would need to be well-trained and well socialised especially since the resort has many other animals. Owner Ruby also has 7 of her own dogs on the property.

Visitors often bring their pets of all types, but they will also need to bring their own bedsheets and towels due to hygiene purposes. While dogs are allowed inside the room but not on the bed, so make sure you bring along something for your pooch to sleep on. The basic style rooms all have comfortable double beds, air-conditioning, hot showers, TVs, and lovely balconies. Breakfast is included with all rooms except for the dormitory style ones.

At Ruby’s Resort, you can be sure that your furkid(s) will have a ball of a time as dogs can roam freely in the ample 4.5 acres of gated land (but are not allowed in the café area).

Rates start from as low as RM185 nett per night. Make a reservation here!

For more information, visit its official website.

If you’re ready to splurge on that little getaway with your furkid(s), this place is a treat and a half!

Situated in quiet area, the Bon Ton Resort Langkawi is built within the grounds of coconut plantation, featuring comfortable accommodation in serene environment. It’s 10 minutes’ drive from the Langkawi Airport and 5 minutes from the main beach of Pantai Cenang. Few places of interest in the vicinity are Tanjung Rhu, Rice Museum, Laman Padi Langkawi, Telaga Tujuh Waterfalls, Pulau Payar Marine Park, and Lake of the Pregnant Maiden.

But those aren’t the only things that are wonderful about the resort. Temple Tree at Bon Ton Resort is also pet-friendly.

Of course, bringing your furkid to Langkawi can be quite a challenge. You can also fly with Malaysia Airlines or take the ferry. Depending on the Captain’s goodwill and the size and breed of the dog, they would be allowed on board but you’d probably have to bring pet carrying case for that.

The villas at Temple Tree come in a variety of styles – Chinese, Malay, and colonial. As a result, Temple Tree is more like an eclectic little neighbourhood than an ordinary villa resort. Some houses are divided into up to 4/5 rooms while others are split into pairs of suites. The “Black & White House” is a self-contained unit. Each one is uniquely decorated in a style that blends authentic architecture and contemporary interior design, and is furnished with modern amenities such as telephone, shower, colour TV, bathtub, and a hairdryer.

Do keep in mind that there aren’t many places that are pet-friendly around Bon Ton. So you should expect to just relax with your furkid in the comfort of the house itself. Also, despite being a pet-friendly resort, only certain houses at Temple Tree at Bon Ton are suitable for dogs as these houses have a back courtyard or a garden. These are Colonial 1 and 2, Estate 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. The pet-friendly villas can be requested during booking.

Rates from RM570 onwards per night, depending on the type and season. Make a reservation here!

This is perhaps one of the most exciting and uniquely environmentally-friendly resort on the other side of Malaysia. Snuggled within the hills 1000 meters above sea level, the Borneo Highlands Resort in Kuching is a retreat that’s one of its kind! Located amid untouched natural beauty of the lush tropical rainforest, it’s the perfect getaway where one can escape from the hectic city life.

We say “where one can escape” but we really mean, “where one and his/her furkid can escape”. That’s right, pets are allowed here!

The little haven, situated in Borneo’s tropical rainforest (one of the world’s oldest and second largest rainforest), the Borneo Highlands Resort offers rooms with Malaysian décor and rustic wooden furnishings. Each room features a seating area and work desk, and the private bathrooms come with a rain shower and separate jacuzzi. And just in case you’re simply too comfortable to get up and go out, room service is available throughout the day.

Otherwise, the Hornbill Golf Course and Jungle Spa are on site, as well as their Annah Rais Café, which serves local cuisine prepared using ingredients from the resort’s organic garden. After enjoying a meal, guests can schedule a tour of the organic garden with the resort’s horticulturalist. There are also other activities such as swimming in the outdoor pool, hiking in the Penrissen Mountain Range, going for a horseback riding excursions, or biking around the resort.

And it’s not inaccessible either because the Kuching International Airport is only about 45km away from Borneo Highlands Resort. Sounds like a wholesome and relaxing plan?

Rates start from RM500 onwards per night.

Noordin Mews is Penang‘s newest private boutique heritage hotel, a welcome and refreshing addition to the already vibrant Penang tourist attraction.

Mews was originally for trishaws and hand carts as well as the servants quarters for the wealthy families who lived in Noordin Street in the first decades of the last century. Set in a walled tropical garden with its own private swimming pool, the main building is a classic 1920s Peranakan shop house in straits eclectic style with its own laneway. It’s also just a 10-minute walk to the Street of Harmony which links Penang’s most iconic landmarks – the Khoo Khongsi Clan House, the Guan Yin Temple, the English Georgian Church, Penang’s main Mosque, and a remarkable kovil.

16 air-conditioned bedrooms have 32-inch flat screen televisions, complimentary Wi-Fi, and restored retro fittings and furniture, and each are served by their own private en suite bathroom with Grohe accessories and antique tiles. As mentioned, the hotel welcomes travellers with their pets. However, only 6 rooms that are located on the ground floor are pet-friendly rooms, and the dining area is strictly off limits for pets as we have to be sensitive to the other guests as well.

Spend an adventurous day of eating and discovering Penang’s historical treasures, hidden gems, and chasing down some street art, then return to Noordin Mews’ beautiful lush tropical garden and swimming pool before heading off at night to one of Penang’s famous street hawker centres for their renowned local foods. And finally, at the end of it all, retire at one of Noordin Mews’ gorgeous rooms – with furkid in tow, of course.

Rates from RM290 per night. Make a reservation here!

Want to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the peace and quiet in a place that’s like your own home away from home? Yearning to wake up to the sounds of nature and magnificent views of the mist-covered valley and rolling hills? Want to enjoy a highland holiday without having to leave your beloved furkid behind? We’ve got what you’re looking for!

Enjoy a great highlands holiday for you, your loved one(s), and your furkid(s) at Valley View bungalow. The bungalow is nestled on a hilltop surrounded by 2 acres of lush greenery, flower gardens, fruit trees, and vegetable plots. It’s huge so it’s pretty ideal for family holidays and group getaways for people of all ages.

The bungalow is a double-storey, fully furnished, 5-bedroom house with 2 bedrooms on the upper floor and 3 bedrooms on the lower floor. All the bedrooms have queen-sized double beds and attached bathrooms with hot/cold showers, towels, hand towels, and soap/shampoo dispensers. Each floor is self-contained with its own kitchen, dining area, and lounge, and each kitchen is fully equipped with refrigerator, gas cooker, rice cooker, micro-wave oven, toaster, cutlery, crockery, and steamboat cooking facilities.

Free wireless internet and TV with full Astro coverage are available. Valley View also caters for BBQ and steamboat dinners, and other meals for a minimum of 10 adults but they require notice of at least 3 days. In fact, there are 2 large BBQ pits on the front lawn with lighting for use after dark!

To give you a little “push”, here are some upcoming Malaysian public holidays for the rest of 2014 and 2015. Go ahead and take that time off! Happy holiday planning for you and your furkid(s), you guys!

If you have any suggestions, holler ’em at us in the comment box below!

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ParaNorman Is As Real As It Gets

Boy sees ghost. Boy gets branded a freak. Boy has to save town. Zero to hero.

That just about sums up most of what LAIKA’s “ParaNorman” is all about. And by “most of”, we mean the plot. But the art behind producing the stop-motion animation feature runs a whole lot deeper than just coming up with a powerful story line.

Sure, because of the buzz leading up to the actual release of the movie, one might think that this was made for kids. If you’ve thought that way for the longest time well, prepare to be in for a pleasant surprise. ParaNorman is, in a nutshell, dark. Darker than most Disney animations you can think of off the top of your head.

Seriously, a witch plus a curse plus waking the dead plus walking and grunting zombies? Dark.

There are of course your typical lovable characters:

Characters aside, we must confess than the amazing stop-motion animation took our breaths away. Having just seen the film in 3D, it’s still a little hard to believe that the characters we were beginning to love were all handcrafted. We’ve got to give it to the studio artists – they’ve managed to successfully conjure up a whole new make believe world with such great precision.

And believe us when we say that it sure didn’t look easy (read: extreme patience and perfection).

Our take? ParaNorman was obviously not “just made for kids”. It’s something even you might enjoy. Good stop-motion animation films like these are far and few between. Worth catching? Yes.

For more information, visit their official website.


Fun Facts: 10 Things You Should Know About “Furious 7”

It has been almost 2 years since “Fast & Furious” franchise star Paul Walker passed away in an ill-fated real-life car crash and our hearts still ache in sadness. There’s no denying that the 7th instalment of the “Fast & Furious” film series is going to evoke tears as the late Paul Walker will be seen on-screen for the last time.

Titled “Furious 7”, the long awaited instalment of the “Fast and Furious” franchise is the first film in the series to take place after 2006’s “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift”. It is undoubtedly going to be an exciting movie to watch as it is best known for its adrenaline pumping scenes. The film is set to be a revenge-driven thriller film as the death of Owen Shaw (played by Luke Evans) in “Fast 6” has his brother Deckard (played by Jason Statham) seeking revenge on Vin Diesel‘s Dominic Toretto and his gang.

Written by Chris Morgan and directed by James Wan (of “The Conjuring” fame), the film also stars Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Michelle Rodriguez, Jordana Brewster, Tyrese Gibson, Ludacris, and Lucas Black. It was supposed to be released in cinemas last June, but the production was shut down indefinitely due to Walker’s tragic death. The release date was pushed back to a year later in order to give Walker’s family some time to grieve.

There were a lot of discussions on how to give Walker’s character a proper ending in the movie, but it was later decided that his character will be retired instead of killed. It is most definitely going to be an emotional moment for those of us who have been following the series closely.

Whether you’re a Fast fan or not, here are some of the things you should know about “Furious 7”:

(This article contain potential spoilers)

1. Paul Walker’s brothers, Caleb and Cody, were used as stand-ins for his remaining scenes

After the tragic death of Walker, it was announced that his character will be retired instead of killed in the movie, allowing the franchise to continue making films. It was then reported that the studio would complete Walker’s remaining scenes by hiring 4 actors with bodies very similar to his physique and using CGI to re-create his face and voice.

On 15th April 2014, it was announced that Walker’s brothers, Caleb and Cody, would be used as stand-ins instead. Thus, despite his limited scenes, Walker is still the lead actor of the film alongside Vin Diesel.

2. It is the most expensive movie in “Fast & Furious” franchise

With all those expensive cars and what not, there’s no denying that “Furious 7” is currently the most expensive movie in “Fast and Furious” franchise. It was reported that the producers already spent more than $140 million to produce the 140-minute, action packed movie.

3. Denzel Washington was offered to play a mysterious role, but he turned it down

“The Equalizer” star Denzel Washington was reportedly offered to take part in the 7th instalment of the “Fast & Furious” franchise, but he turned down the undisclosed role.

His role ultimately went to Kurt Rusell, but it is unclear whether he is playing a villain or a hero. He was rumoured to play the role of Brian O’Conner’s father figure.

4. “3 Idiots” star Ali Fazal will have 3 scenes in the film

Ali Fazal, best known for his role in “3 Idiots” and “Bobby Jasoos”, is reportedly joining the film as an Arabian who is passionate about cars and car races. According to Indian Express, the actor will have 3 scenes in the film.

The actor shared a few photos with the cast when he was on set of the film:

Ha ha what a jokes.. What a fast what a furious. Ha ha.. Ye bhi sahi hai..

A photo posted by ali fazal (@alifazal9) on Mar 27, 2015 at 9:38pm PDT

@codywalkerroww @nathalieemmanuel @ludacris @vindiesel @fastandfuriousmoviesfan #onthesets the yacht experiencein style.. lookin back at a good time.. best of luck guys, i hear its a wrap.. A photo posted by ali fazal (@alifazal9) on Jul 22, 2014 at 3:43am PDT

@ludacris .. thank you for bein so humble out there Mr Ludakrishnan..she does she does.. #fast7 #abudhabi #awholenewexperience @fastandfuriousmoviesfan

A photo posted by ali fazal (@alifazal9) on Apr 22, 2014 at 8:32pm PDT

his last words to me, ” keep it real, see u soon brother” .. RIP . true fan … u went out in style walker. GT. wat can i say. A photo posted by ali fazal (@alifazal9) on Nov 30, 2013 at 9:33pm PST

In addition, several Bollywood actresses including Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut and Chitrangada Singhwere being considered for the role of Megan.

The role was ultimately grabbed by “Game of Thrones” star Nathalie Emmanuel.

5. Iggy Azalea will have a cameo appearance

Best known for her breakthrough single “Fancy”, Australian rapper Iggy Azalea will have a cameo appearance in “Furious 7”. The Grammy Award nominee told AccessHollywood that she is set to play a friend of Vin Diesel’s character and that she only has 2 lines in the film.

Iggy Azalea on the set of Fast & Furious 7 http://t.co/ELCyIhM1we

— IGGY AZALEA SOURCE (@IggySource) July 31, 2014

Just for me to say 2 lines it took like 16 hours of setting up and going over and I definitely have an appreciation for actors now.

She also revealed that she initially thought she was “just going to have to wave the flag” instead of being a friend of Diesel’s character.

6. Diesel’s daughter owns a car from the movie

Remember the bright red 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS454 coupe that Diesel’s character drove off at the end of “Fast and Furious 4”? It’s a beautiful car, isn’t it? If you’ve been following the series closely, the car is seen again in 2009’s “Fast and Furious”. What’s so surprising about that, you ask?

Well, we can only say that Hania Riley Vincent lucky to have Diesel as her father because he gave her at least one of the Red Chevelles. The actor told MTV News that he gave the cars to her because she was born when “Fast & Furious” was in production.

7. There’s an extra tribute clip at the end of the film

Although the franchise emphasises on the intense fast-moving car scenes, the film will present a touching tribute to the late Paul Walker. Following Walker’s tragic death, the cast members of the “Fast & Furious” franchise have been posting various dedications and tribute to their fallen friend.

His departure from the world truly caused a huge impact on his fans and thus, the tribute clip is expected to be featured in the film. According to Ramin Setoodeh of Variety, many viewers were holding back their tears when they watched the tribute clip at a secret screening at the 2015 SXSW Film Festival on 16th March 2015.

8. A total of 34 cars were used for the one-shot car skydiving scene

Dennis McCarthy is the car coordinator for the “Fast & Furious” franchise since 2006’s “The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift”. He told CNET that he only had 3 months to assemble a collection of high-performance JDM machines and send the cars to set with wet paint for “Furious 7”.

It was “the shortest build” that McCarthy and his team (roughly 70 people) ever had.

When asked how many cars were used for the high-octane franchise, McCarthy said approximately 350 cars were used in the film and “a couple hundred” of them were destroyed.

This is mainly because multiple cars are needed for one shot at one location. He further revealed that they needed 34 cars including 6 Subaru WRXs, 8 Dodge Chargers, 8 Challengers, 6 Jeeps, and 6 Camaros for the car skydiving scene. The cars were dropped out of the plane again and again in order to create that spectacular shot. He revealed that they lost 3 or 4 cars in the process.

9. Both Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster were cast despite not having driver’s licenses.

Both Jordana Brewster and Michelle Rodriguez learnt how to drive through the franchise. Brewster said that learning how to drive in New York City was a challenging place to start. Due to insurance requirements, she had to pass their driving test in one take or else she would be dropped from the movie.

Rodrigues also told Entertainment Tonight that learning how to drive led her to a series of speeding problems because she got her license for “Fast and Furious”. She added:

After 11 points on your license, you’re like, “Yo, where’s that Prius at? I’m dropping this M3 somewhere.”

10. A vehicular stunt was shut down as it was too risky

It was reported that a vehicular stunt scene was shut down by Universal Studio executives who feared for the safety of the cast and crew. According to TMZ, it was a critical scene that was supposed to involve “a souped-up yellow Chevelle” that would race another car and “dramatically pop a wheelie, as bystanders stand right by the track and cheer”.

Though James Wan and the producers already hired “drivers who are ‘authentic street racers’ for the scene”, the executives claimed that it was too risky to be included in the film, especially after the death of Paul Walker. The report further revealed that the producers also thought another car crash could “jeopardize the entire franchise”.

“Furious 7” is the first sequel which is not being directed by “Star Trek” director Justin Lin or the co-star director Sung Kang. It is slated for release on 3rd April 2015.

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

(Sources: CNET, The Verge, Indian Express, Access Hollywood, TMZ, Huffington Post, comingsoon.net)

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Missing Japan? This Garden In Shah Alam Might Do The Trick

One of the few countries Malaysians love travelling to is Japan. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, many of us cannot venture out into the land of the Rising Sun.

But don’t fret just yet! You can now experience what it’s like to be in Japan without even needing to fly over there. On 12th March, Shah Alam City opened the Selangor-Japan Friendship Garden which is located next to Dataran Kemerdekaan. Also, you don’t have to pay for entry as it is absolutely free!

Shah Alam City Council (MBSA) mayor Datuk Haris Kasim mentioned that the friendship garden was created as a token of appreciation to Japan. The East Asian country remains one of Selangor’s trusting and longest investors.

Kasim also stated, “We hope this garden will become a new focal point for tourists, especially from Japan and local visitors to check out the elements related to Selangor“.

The park measures 2.428 hectares and costs roughly RM3.8 million. Development of the garden started in 2018 and was finished last year. However, the opening of the park had to be delayed due to the enforced movement control order (MCO).

Japan Information Service 3rd Secretary Iwai Imari from the Japan Embassy, chaperoned Haris alongside councilors and council staff for a stroll around the friendship garden. Selangor Malay Customs and Heritage Corporation (Padat) chief executive officer Datin Siti Khadijah Abdul Aziz was also present.

Kasim mentioned that the MBSA predicts the garden becoming a hub spot for locals and tourists. He exclaimed, “Gardens like this will spur the tourism industry in Shah Alam, specifically arts and culture”. Kasim also added that the friendship garden will become a hotspot for wedding photos in Shah Alam.

The Selangor-Japan Friendship Garden offers several Japanese landmarks and architecture including the Zen Space, Maze Pond, Torii Gate, Reflexology Space, Stone Basin, and Terrace Space. There’s even a Tsukubai, which is a Japanese culture where visitors purify themselves by washing their hands and rinsing their mouths at the wash basin.

The park is also decorated with luxuriant greenery combined with natural elements like wood and stone. The place is also encircled by bamboo-themed fences, giving this place a different feel from regular Malaysian tourist spots.

The park is open daily from 10am to 7pm. The Selangor-Japan Friendship Garden is truly a convenient spot for people planning on holding picnics and for those who enjoy the breeze of nature. If you can’t afford to travel to Japan, you can just visit the park instead!

Sources: Facebook, Selangor Journal, The Star.


#XMen: New Viral Websites & Behind The Scenes Of Quicksilver’s Kitchen Scene

Remember that iconic scene in “X-Men: Days of Future Past” where Quicksilver runs with supersonic speed in the kitchen to save Wolverine, Magneto and Professor X?

The gravity-defying scene became one of the most memorable scenes in Bryan Singer’s “X-Men: Days of Future Past”. Despite only appearing in the film for a short while, Evan Peters’ Quicksilver emerged as one of the film’s most popular characters all thanks to that iconic scene. This also helped the movie rake in over USD700 million at the box office worldwide.

But, have you ever wondered about the sorcery behind the scenes? How did he run horizontally without falling off and onto the ground? Well, we’ve finally got our answer as Google Play has released a behind-the-scenes video to show how they did it!

In the video, Bryan Singer and the production team explained how they created that iconic scene with a high-speed video camera and some other high-risk techniques:

As if that wasn’t enough to get us excited, the 20th Century Fox marketing team spoiled us with another series of social media campaigns to promote “X-Men: Days of Future Past”.

Prior to the release of the film on DVD/Blu-ray, the marketing team created an Instagram account and a Vine account for Quicksilver aka Peter Maximoff after the character went immensely popular after the film. It is not clear if Evan Peter is portraying Quicksilver in the viral video but it is a creative campaign that shows how Quicksilver’s supersonic speed can save him from some troubles, like this:

But of course, Quicksilver isn’t the only one that will keep us watching the film. 2 new viral websites have also been created for the film to further entice the fans to watch the film.

Similar to Marvel’s viral sweepstakes campaign, X-Men fans are expected to choose a side: advance the world as a whole or destroy the mutant threat.

For those who wish to unite the humans and the mutants, Tandem Initiative is founded to seek the genetically gifted generation and believe that the Homo Sapiens Superior will advance the world.

The website is meant to be a fun and interactive website for fans to share their story about their extraordinary abilities. In fact, fans who submitted their photos to show their abilities while holding the #WeAreGifted banner automatically become participants of the film’s sweepstakes.

As for M-Underground website, the group’s aim is to expose those who have created a rift between humans and the genetically gifted. Although their intention is to expose the truth, the information they’ve gotten seems to point toward that Tandem Initiative is a threat to the world. M-Underground further convinces the human mankind that John F. Kennedy and Ted Kennedy are mutants in the hiding by laying out all the evidences of their mutant abilities.

The M-Underground features a viral video, in which the website claimed that it was hacked off the Tandem Servers. The video includes various footage of the scientists’ research reel and mutants in action.

Set to be released on October 14th, the film’s Blue-Ray and DVD will feature the gag reel bonus and deleted scenes off the film. The gag reel also include a kiss scene between X-Men star Hugh Jackman and Halle Berry who were in their respective film roles.

The sequel of the film “X-Men: Apocalypse” will hit theatres on May 27, 2016 and it has been confirmed that Bryan Singer will once again helm the X-Men film franchise.

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(UPDATE) #StarWars: #TheForceAwakens’ Teaser Trailer Debuts

No, unfortunately, you won’t be able to check out the film’s teaser trailer online unless you make your way to the nearest movie theatre.

In fact, you may need to wait a little longer as Lucasfilm has confirmed that the first official trailer for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” will be first shown to the fans living across North America at 30 selected movie theatres on November 28th.

Having wrapped up the filming of the upcoming “Star Wars” film, it was confirmed that the first teaser trailer of the film will be shown before the movies at a limited amount of movie theatres across North America on this Friday. The trailer will run for 88 seconds from Friday to Sunday and make its worldwide debut in early December.

According to Slash Film, the announcement about the release of the film’s teaser trailer was accidentally revealed by Regal Entertainment Group, the largest operator of movie theaters in the US. Upon realising their mistake, the Regal Theatres chain replaced the post with an image of Mon Mothma, jokingly saying that many Bothans had died to unveil this information.

But of course, this isn’t as bad as the situation where the trailer of Marvel’s “Avengers: Age of Ultron” was leaked before its official release. Although Disney and Lucasfilm are extremely strict and secretive about the production of the film, director J.J. Abrams have been teasing the fans with photos of the movie set and even debuted a “first look” at the Millennium Falcon from “Star Wars Episode VII” in a short clip.

Thus, soon after the accidental revelation, J.J. Abrams’ production team confirmed that a teaser trailer will be released through the official Twitter account:

— Bad Robot (@bad_robot) November 24, 2014

No further information about the film have been announced yet, but the complete theatres list can be found at Star Wars’ official website. “Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” is directed by J.J. Abrams based on the script written by Lawrence Kasdan and himself. The last “Star Wars” film was released as the final film of its prequel trilogy in 2005 and it was the 6th movie in the “Star Wars” film series.

Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, and Mark Hamill reprise their respective roles in the upcoming “Star Wars” film while Daisy Ridley, Andy Serkis, and John Boyega has joined as newcomers to the galaxy.

“Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens” scheduled for a release on 18th Dec 2015.

No longer the sad, sappy Star Wars’ fans, we are now overjoyed about the news that the teaser trailer will be made available on the Internet on Friday too! It has been revealed that the trailer will hit iTunes Trailers instead of YouTube:

The Force is with you on #BlackFriday when #TheForceAwakens teaser hits @iTunesTrailers. — Star Wars (@starwars) November 26, 2014

No specific details were given about its release date but it is confirmed that the teaser trailer will be released on Friday!

Wait no longer, Star Wars’ fans! The teaser trailer of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” has been released!

However, there seems to be a problem viewing the trailer on the iTunes website. Yes, everyone, the trailer has broke the Internet. But, that’s okay! The people from MOVIECLIPS trailer were able to get the trailer up on their YouTube channel!

Why are you still reading this? Go watch the trailer now!

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

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Jay Chou Returns For Opus Jay World Tour 2013

So, the rumours were true! Taiwan’s King of Pop Jay Chou will be making a comeback in Malaysia on the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th of August at the Putra Indoor Stadium as part of his Opus Jay World Tour 2013. His brand new tour will be hitting major cities including Shanghai, Beijing, Wuhan, Chengdu, Singapore, and of course Malaysia, among forty other performances!

The Opus Jay World Tour 2013 concert will see the use of unique time-track virtual camera tricks to freeze motions, combined with the most advanced mapping technology to create incredible, 4-dimentional animation of which viewers will feel like they are part of the action.

It promises to be a multi-sensory virtual feat coming to life!

Tickets can be purchased online via Ticket Charge here. Expect a sold out concert as Jay is known for being the fastest selling artist in the Mandapop superstardom. Limited tickets comprising 15% discount is also extended to Carlo Rino members who patronize the designated boutiques from 8th April onwards.

Due to popular demand (it is Jay Chou, after all), an additional night has been added to his Opus Jay World Tour 2013! Deets are as follows:

For more information, please call Star Planet 0392233667/Ticket Charge 03 9222 8811 or visit Speedy’s official website or Star Planet’s website.


#CaptainAmerica3: Southeast Asians (Incl. M’sians) Casting Call For Civil War

You wouldn’t believe it even if we told you but if you’ve ever wanted to get close (or close enough) to a Marvel production or heck, Chris Evans himself, then this is your calling.

According to moviecastingcall, Captain America 3, otherwise known as “Captain America: Civil War” is beginning production in Atlanta and the film’s casting director is seeking talent to work as actors and extras. Filming will run from 4th April through 8th August 2015, a timeline that indicates that the production is quickly picking up speed in order for them to make it for the slated May 2016 release.

The casting call was also reported by the Atlanta Journal Constitution, which revealed that the “Captain America 3” crew is currently looking for movie extras displaying strong Southeast Asian features. By “strong Southeast Asian features”, this means men and women with ethnicities like Thai, Indonesian, Cambodian, Malaysian, Filipino, East Indian, Vietnamese, or Singaporean.

It also went on to say that no prior experiences is needed necessary (for those who are interested) but candidates should preferably fall between the 21 to 75 age bracket. The extras would be paid USD64 (RM236) for 8 hours with overtime payment, if applicable; and would be required to work on (tentatively) 27th April. Those lucky enough will be working at the huge new Pinewood Studio facility located in Fayette County, Ga.

If for some reason you’re around the area and you want stand a chance at being a part of the “Captain America: Civil War” movie (let’s be serious, who wouldn’t want that?!), submit the following details:

Send the above details to sputnikextras@gmail.com in an e-mail titled, “SOUTHEAST ASIAN”.

Note: All actors, extras, and stand-ins must be eligible to work in Atlanta, GA and the United States. The 2015 Atlanta Actors Resource Guide eBook has the documents and applications e.g. Immigration Work Permit Information, Non-Immigrant Visa Application for adults, minors, and foreign talent who would like to work as an actor or extra on film and television productions in the State of Georgie and the United States.

More information on this casting call is available here. Good luck!

Aside from Chris Evans, who plays the title character of Captain America, “Captain America 3: Civil War” will also star Scarlett Johansson (Black Widow), Robert Downey Jr. (Iron Man), Chadwick Boseman (Black Panther), Jeremy Renner (Hawkeye), Samuel L. Jackson (Nick Fury), and Anthony Mackie (Falcon). Recently, it was announced that Daniel Bruhl (aka Fredrick Zoller in “Inglourious Basterds”) is on board to play a villainous role.

Let’s not forget that Spider-Man’s likely to make his first Marvel movie appearance in the exciting film ;)

“Captain America: Civil War” is slated to be released on 6th May 2016.

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#Germanwings: Pilot Was Locked Out Of Cockpit Before Crash

An Airbus operated by Lufthansa’s Germanwings budget airline crashed into a mountainside in the French Alps on Tuesday (24th March), killing all 150 people on board including 16 schoolchildren.

As officials struggled Wednesday to explain why a jet with 150 people (144 passengers and 6 crew which includes 2 pilots) on board crashed in relatively clear skies, an investigator said evidence from a cockpit voice recorder indicated one pilot left the cockpit before the plane’s descent and was unable to get back in.

According to NY Times, a senior military official involved in the investigation described “very smooth, very cool” conversation between the pilots during the early part of the flight from Barcelona to Düsseldorf. Then, the audio indicated that one of the pilots left the cockpit and could not re-enter.

The official, who requested anonymity because the investigation is continuing, said:

The guy outside is knocking lightly on the door and there is no answer. And then he hits the door stronger and no answer. There is never an answer. You can hear he is trying to smash the door down. We don’t know yet the reason why one of the guys went out. But what is sure is that at the very end of the flight, the other pilot is alone and does not open the door.

While the audio seemed to give some insight into the circumstances leading up to the crash, it also left many questions unanswered. The data from the voice recorder seems only to deepen the mystery surrounding the crash and provides no indication of the condition or activity of the pilot who remained in the cockpit.

WSJ wrote that the pilot had over 10 years of experience, and had clocked more than 6,000 hours flying Airbus jets.

The descent from 38,000 feet over about 10 minutes was alarming but still gradual enough to indicate that the twin-engine Airbus A320 had not been damaged catastrophically.

But at no point during the descent was there any communication from the cockpit to air traffic controllers or any other signal of an emergency.

When the plane plowed into craggy mountains northeast of Nice, it was traveling with enough speed that it was all but pulverised, killing all on board and leaving behind almost no apparent clues about what caused the crash. This is because the crash left remnants of the plane scattered all over the mountainside. The remote, rugged terrain has posed an enormous challenge for investigators.

French civil aviation coordinator Xavier Roy told NBC News in an interview:

It’s very difficult to see this because there’s a lot of little pieces. We cannot find a cockpit or big pieces, so it’s very difficult to see.

According to a senior official working on the investigation, workers at the crash site found the casing of the plane’s other black box, the flight data recorder, but the memory card containing data on the plane’s altitude, speed, location and condition was not inside, apparently having been thrown loose or destroyed by the impact.

The French aviation authorities have made public very little, officially, about the nature of the information that has been recovered from the audio recording, and it was not clear whether it was partial or complete. France’s Bureau of Investigations and Analyses confirmed only that human voices and other cockpit sounds had been detected and would be subjected to detailed analysis.

Asked about the new evidence revealed in the cockpit recordings, Martine del Bono, a bureau spokeswoman, declined to comment. “Our teams continue to work on analyzing the CVR,” she said, referring to the cockpit voice recorder. “As soon as we have accurate information we intend to hold a press conference.”

The flight’s trajectory ahead of the crash also left many unanswered questions.

The Germanwings crash was the third most deadly involving an A320. In 2007, a TAM Linhas Aereas A320 shot off a runway in Brazil, killing 187 people, while 162 people died when an Indonesia AirAsia jet went down in the Java Sea in December.

Germanwings, a low-fare brand created by Lufthansa in 2002, had an unblemished safety record until Tuesday (24th March).

Sources: NY Times, WSJ, NBC News, Telegraph UK.

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Calvin Harris Joins In The Underwear Modelling Game With Emporio Armani

Step aside Bieber, we’ve got a new player in town.

Calvin Harris can now add underwear model to his already impressive resume which includes song writing, lyric writing, beat making, producing, singing on his own tracks, collaborating with superstars, being the world’s highest paid DJ, setting music records and producing music for artistes like Ellie Goulding, Chris Brown, and Florence Welch. The 31-year-old DJ/producer doesn’t stop there as he’s expended his repertoire to acting in a motion picture and modelling too.

A little more than a month after Justin Bieber stripped down to his undergarment to flaunt Calvin Klein underwear and his allegedly photoshop-assisted bulge, Harris has entered the underwear modelling game. Emporio Armani first engaged Harris, one of the most talented men in the music industry as the face for its Spring 2015 Campaign, but now, Harris is shows a more risqué side as he bares all in the underwear shoot for the fashion house.

In the underwear shoot, Harris shows off his seriously sculpted abs and toned chest. Seriously, all of this begs the question, “is there anything Calvin Harris can’t do?” and damn, who knew being a DJ could keep you this fit.

Check out the shots below and try, really try get on with your day. ;)

Also, we’re feeling rather generous today so we’re going to leave you with “Pray To God” by Calvin Harris featuring HAIM. Enjoy! ;)


Karen Mok Finds Her Belonging

Hong Kong pop diva Karen Mok has had long-standing history in the Chinese music industry. We say “long-standing” because she has previously released a whopping total of 16 successful Mandarin/Cantonese album. And now, the artiste, who has a half-Chinese, half-Welsh father and a half-Chinese, one quarter-Iranian and a quarter-German mother, has finally released her first ever English album, “Somewhere I Belong”.

Karen has always said that her lifelong dream is to someday release her own English album.

Well, she has finally found her belonging!

Consisting of 10 tracks, the album blends the sounds of jazz and classical Chinese instruments. As a matter of fact, the album features Karen Mok herself playing the traditional Chinese instrument, the “guzheng” (a Chinese zither-like instrument). She utilizes her skill from which she mastered many years ago whilst covering a popular Beatles song, “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. It’s by far our favourite song off the entire album, and you’ll see why:

[youtube id=”P9wuIdElKOo” width=”600″ height=”350″]

We love her personal interpretation! If that song didn’t break all cross cultural barriers between the East and the West to create a song (albeit a cover) that is still uniquely Karen’s, we don’t know what else will. Oh, actually, we do. Some of the songs that she has clearly recreated with jazz are such as “Cross Over Bourbon Street” (originally by Sting) and “Sour Times” (originally by Portishead). Of course, she hasn’t completely forgone her true calling, which are two Chinese songs that were included in the album – yes, also beautifully done with a touch of jazz. Such as, “The Face That Launched A Thousand Ships“.

“The Face That Launched A Thousand Ships“ was one of the many jazz-Chinese marriages that we loved in “Somewhere I Belong”:

[youtube id=”xQfHdJn81hQ” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Here’s a little trivia – “The Face That Launched A Thousand Ships” is a figure of speech that stands for Helen of Troy. Helen of Troy (formerly of Sparta) was so beautiful that Greek men went to Troy and fought the Trojan War to win Helen back from Paris. The thousand ships refer to the Greek troops that set sail from Aulis to Troy where the Trojan prince Paris had taken Menelaus’ wife, Helen.

A snippet of Karen’s song, translated into English, would mean something like this:

While begging for a kiss on bended knee?

It’s an instinct to captivate all the world,

The face that launched a thousand ships;

For a man that’s the only life there is.

While listening to “Somewhere I Belong” a few times over, we envisioned being curled up all nice and cozy in a dimly lit room with a glass of wine in hand. If you closed your eyes, the make believe almost becomes real because Karen has created such an unique album that seamlessly integrates the two different but popular genres of music without forgoing her musical talents. And believe us when we say that even we can’t begin to list out the many different talents that she possesses.

Karen Mok’s “Somewhere I Belong” is now available at a music store near you. Alternatively, you could also purchase her album off iTunes here.

For more information, visit her official website.

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YouTube Removes Bunkface’s “Akhir Zaman” MV Following Massive Backlash

Malaysian punk rock trio Bunkface found themselves in hot water following the release of their latest single “Akhir Zaman”, due to one controversial line in the song.

The video was taken down from YouTube as a result of the massive backlash. However, the song is still available on other digital streaming platforms; namely Spotify and Apple Music as at time of writing (Monday, 9th March).

The band recently took to their official Instagram to clarify the issue. In this case, they assured that they didn’t mean spread hatred and single out the LGBT community. Instead, the song was created solely in order to preserve the dignity of Islam.

“The word ‘LGBT’ used in the lyrics is not intended to criticise any particular individual, but it is actually targeted for the movement of the liberal community worldwide, especially for Muslims in the country,” the band clarified in the statement.

They further continued, “We really had no intention of slamming or promoting hatred toward them. But we are against the community who is openly promoting those rights in Malaysia. Rest assured that the song is specially dedicated to Muslims and Malays only.”

Kenyataan Media – Respon Bunkface mengenai isu lagu “Akhir Zaman”. Press Release – Bunkface response to single “Akhir Zaman” issue – Bunkface. Swipe left for full story. #AkhirZaman #Bunkface #Bunkers

A post shared by  Bunkface! (@bunkfaceband) on Mar 6, 2020 at 12:48am PST

Speaking to Harian Metro, vocalist Sam said that the song contained a line of a verse translated from Surah Al-Kafirun (verse number 6) in the Quran which means, “You are your religion, and I am mine.”

“The lyrics were written entirely in Bahasa Melayu so that fans can easily understand the words since the majority of Muslims in the country are Malays,” the 31-year-old clarified, before adding, “LGBT is still considered haram (forbidden). And the definition of Islam itself means obeying God’s teachings. So, who are we to question His laws?”

In the midst of backlash targeted towards the “Situasi” jam-makers, journalist-musician Faris Saad felt that Bunkface had taken the approach of “extremism” in trying to “evangelise angrily”. The Shh… Diam band member further talked about Sam’s argument on the use of Quran verse in his lyrics. He pointed that content of the religious book are most often than not misunderstood and taken out of context.

“Sam must have found some solace in faith during this dark period in his life, but a holy book cannot offer you a shoulder to cry on, or the warmth and comfort of a hug. There is a lot of anger in ‘Akhir Zaman’, but maybe a lot of it comes from feeling helpless or lost and needing to blame it on something, anything,” Faris wrote in his Queer Lapis article.

That “dark period” refers to Sam’s supposed divorce with his wife Aida Azira Hussin last year. The writer sympathises with the rock star but urge him to use a different approach. “You don’t want your kid to grow up in an environment where hate is encouraged,” reasoned Faris.


Maggie Lindemann Arrested In Malaysia, No Proper Visit Pass

American singer-songwriter Maggie Lindemann has revealed on social media that she was recently arrested for 5 days in Malaysia.

The 20-year-old singer who is most known for her hit “Pretty Girl”, shared her experience which she described as “living hell”.

.@maggielindemann Even though you didn’t get to complete the whole performance, it was great to finally see you perform live in person. Hopefully whatever it is that you’re going through, everything will be alright. #maggielindemann #live #instagood #concert #photography #music

A post shared by  Louis Fong (@louisfong88) on Jun 22, 2019 at 10:19am PDT

Lindemann performed in Malaysia at The Bee, Publika on 21st June 2019, but midway through her set, she was arrested and confined in Malaysian jail. After she and her crew were released, they returned home to the US.

Because of the arrest, Lindemann is unable to finish her Asia tour where she was scheduled to perform at Vietnam and Singapore.

front and center for this babygirl ? last night was pretty rad — i got to witness her rocking on stage and met a bunch of wicked fun people. i truly hope despite what happened at the end, you’ll remember us and come back ?✊? HAD THE BEST TIME SINGING WITH YOUUUUU @maggielindemann pls update soon, praying that everything’s okay i love you mags ?

A post shared by @ nellyhanee on Jun 22, 2019 at 4:44am PDT

“I was so excited to see and meet all of you but unfortunately I was unable to finish the tour,” she wrote.

“I have been advised not to say more at this time, but thank you for the kind words and concern. I love you and I hope to be back soon,” she added.

It has been reported that Lindemann was arrested because she did not have a proper visit pass during her performance.

— MAGGIE LINDEMANN (@MaggieLindemann) July 4, 2019

“She was arrested for not having a professional visit pass at the time of the performance,” said Kuala Lumpur Immigration Department director Hamidi Adam as quoted by The Star.

“She was then detained at Jalan Duta (Immigration KL office) for documentation purposes and was released with bail the next day,” he said.

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Avengers: Marvel To Hold 10 Years Of Heroes Exhibition In Pavilion KL

Just because “Avengers: Endgame” has concluded a decade long of superhero films, doesn’t mean we should be done with our favourite Marvel characters.

In celebration of 10 years and 20 films, Marvel Studios’ Ten Years of Heroes exhibition is set to debut in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Is the 10th anniversary exhibition in our country is going to be anything like the exhibition in ArtScience Museum, Singapore last year? If the answer is yes, movie geeks can expect a “cutting-edge exhibition that utilises state-of-the-art AV technology and immersive media to transport you into the dynamic Marvel Cinematic Universe”.

You’ll get to relive epic storytelling by entering “the inner sanctums of Stark Tower, travel via the Bifrost, see the spectacular sights of Wakanda, traverse Doctor Strange’s light portal, see the world through the eyes of Ant-Man and the Wasp”, and more! Here are some examples of what to expect:

The details to Marvel Studios: Ten Years of Heroes exhibition are as follows:


#KangGary: Leessang Rapper To Make Comeback With First Full-Length Solo Album

Some Kang Gary madness is about to ensure as he’s ready to make a comeback soon!

You know Gary, don’t you? Not only is he “permanent resident” of the popular South Korean variety TV show “Running Man”, he’s also is the rapper and lyricist of the respected hip hop duo, Leessang. An all around South Korean personality, if we dare say so ourselves!

Last year, Gary (개리), who real name is Kang Hee Gun, made headlines when he released his first solo mini album titled, “MR.GAE”. South Korea’s major TV broadcast stations, MBC, KBS, and SBS, all banned the album for broadcast, stating reasons such as explicit lyrics and being too sexually provocative. However, despite the ban, it was a commercial success.

In fact, Gary‘s title track “Shower Later” clenched the #1 spot on 8 real-time music charts.

Gary later commented on the ban saying he felt confined by his image and wanted to break the mold.

Nevertheless, “MR.GAE” certainly paved the way for Gary to work on his first full-length solo album!

According to Leessang Company, his album will consist of 10 tracks, including double title tracks, which should please both the mainstream audience as well as fans of experimental music. There has been no word on whether it would be as controversial as “MR.GAE” though. But we’ll find out soon enough :)

Gary’s music video shoot will take place today (Thursday, 10th September) and his solo album is slated to be released on 21st September.


#Snowden: Open Road Moves “Edward Snowden” Biopic Release Date To 2016

The Edward Snowden biopic was originally slated for release this Christmas. But now, we won’t be able to see it until next year as Open Road Films is moving its release date to 2016.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film has been pulled from its planned Christmas release date and out of the 2016 awards season race. The spokesperson for Open Road Films did not respond to request for comment, but sources said that “the film isn’t finished yet”.

Open Road has yet to decide the film’s new release date, but the move now gives more room to the Christmas Day frame. Other films that will be released this Christmas include “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip”, “Concussion” (starring Will Smith), “Daddy’s Home” (starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg), and “Joy and Point Break” (starring Jennifer Lawrence). As for “Star Wars: The Force Awakens“, it will open a week before Christmas,

This Christmas will also see the limited release of Quentin Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight” and the new Leonardo DiCaprio drama “The Revenant” from Oscar winner Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu.

The movie, which is helmed by Academy Award-winning director Oliver Stone, is co-written by Stone himself and “The Homesman” scribe Kieran Fitzgerald. It is based on Luke Harding’s “The Snowden Files: The Inside Story of the World’s Most Wanted Man” and “Time of the Octopus” by Snowden’s Russian lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt is starring in it as Edward Snowden, an American computer professional who leaked classified information from the National Security Agency (NSA) to the mainstream media in June 2013. The movie will follow his journey from Hawaii to Hong Kong, where he met documentary filmmaker Laura Poitras and journalist Glenn Greenwald to hand over top-secret NSA documents, all before seeking asylum in Russia.

Besides Gordon-Levitt, “Snowden” also stars Shailene Woodley, Nicolas Cage, Melissa Leo, Zachary Quinto, Tom Wilkinson, Rhys Ifans, Joely Richardson, and Timothy Olyphant.

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#GE13: More than 100,000 Turned Up For #Black505

Yesterday, from as early as 4pm, Malaysians gathered at the Kelana Jaya stadium in Petaling Jaya to support a post-election rally (also known as the “Suara Rakyat Suara Keramat” rally or #black505“) led by PKR de facto leader Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim. He was to address his supporters for the first time since the 5th May 2013 (Sunday) 13th Malaysian general election aka #GE13.

Despite the rain, what seemed like more than 100,000 Malaysians braved the complete standstill jam on the LDP heading towards Kelana Jaya to make their way to the stadium.

Some of the participants parked their cars at the side of the main road and walked a few kilometres to the Kelana Jaya stadium. We hear that even nearby shopping mall, Paradigm Mall, was swarmed with enthusiastic Malaysians.

The Malaysians who turned up donned black T-shirts to symbolise protest against what they allege as “electoral fraud” and others brought yellow flowers, symbolising “Bersih”, or clean and fair elections:

[youtube id=”4atZZCYQ88o” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Amongst the leaders who were present are such as the newly-elected MP for Kelana Jaya, Wong Chen, as well as Tian Chua, PKR vice president Nurul Izzah, Elizabeth Wong, Gelang Patah MP Lim Kit Siang, Selangor MB Abdul Khalid Ibrahim, and more.

Both Anwar Ibrahim and Lim Kit Siang were spotted riding pillion on motorbikes in the effort to beat the tragic jam so that they could make it to the Kelana Jaya stadium on time. The sight of the leaders on motorbikes shocked onlookers but Anwar Ibrahim graciously waved at them as they whipped out their smartphones and cameras to snap away:

As for the environment at the stadium throughout the entire time of the rally, our sources have told us that it was “electric”. Malaysians, regardless of race, age, gender, background, stood steadfast for their home.

Phone lines were jammed, Twitter was abuzz, and as expected, “#black505” and “Kelana Jaya” was trending:

When Lim Kit Siang finally took the stage, he began by thanking all Malaysians for their commitment towards making the country and people stronger and states that now is the time to “turn our resolve into the tasks that can move our country forward”. He also went on to say:

Foremost is the need to properly account for all of the irregularities during an election that was not only the dirtiest election in our country’s history, but also the most marred in its process. We support Bersih’s people’s tribunal as an essential step for justice and transparency. We call on all Malaysians to come forward to share their experiences and help us get to the truth.

In our initial assessment, we can point to multiple seats where serious irregularities occurred – Labis, Tapah, Segamat and Bentong, to name just a few. We believe that the irregularities are extensive and nation-wide and minimally affect up to 30 seats. As the irregularities impact more than 21 seats, the margin for which we would have won government, and involve at least two state governments – Perak and Terengganu.

The DAP, working in collaboration with our partners in Pakatan Rakyat, will work to gather and present the evidence. If Malaysia had free and fair elections, we would be in Putrajaya and many other state capitals across the country. Malaysians know this, and the BN knows it.

The Malaysia I know is one that believes in fairness. The Malaysia that I know is one that believes in decency.

When met by reporters later, Anwar Ibrahim said, “I would not quit until we reach Putrajaya, until we expose all fraud and claim Putrajaya for the rakyat. They deserved it as we, Pakatan, won the popular vote”.

Malaysians came as one again last night for change, for a better country that they so love. Here they are singing our national anthem, “Negaraku” in unison under the rain, signifying the end of the rally:

[youtube id=”lCJ9NSvCuiA” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Psst. One of our readers sent this in a couple of hours ago:

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#PartyofTheCenturyMY: A Glamorous Evening Back To The Nines At Empire City

A glamorous one-night only private showcase at Empire City.

Mammoth Empire, in conjunction with the upcoming completion of Empire City at year end, opened its doors for one-night only to provide guests with a hint of what is in store once this phenomenal project becomes fully operational. The private affair which was held at an unconventional location: the Empire City site that is due for completion saw a star-studded event featuring Paris Hilton, 2AM and Taboo of The Black Eyed Peas.

To fully immerse attendees in Empire City’s unique style, a section of the mall transformed and fashioned into a 1920’s soiree complete with a majestic entrance, elegant decor and arresting performances. Korean ballad boy band, 2AM, kicked started the evening and performed their famed hits to a screaming crowd of fans before Australia’s Got Talent winner, Mark Vincent, serenaded the crowd with his incredible vocals.

The party continued with Cait, the electric violinist cum aerialist who performed a dreamlike recital as she flipped, spun and played upside-down, at death defying heights to amplify Empire City’s positioning on performances. It wasn’t long after that socialite, heiress and media personality, Paris Hilton, took over the decks and performed her mix of EDM tracks. Taboo then took over and performed some of the group’s top tracks including “I Got A Feeling,” “Boom Boom Pow” and “Where Is The Love”.

Zouk’s resident DJ Ken then treated guests to a round of electro house, progressive house, industrial and electronica bangers to mark the end of the party. From style to service, and architecture to amenities, Empire City aims to deliver the most unique experience to all. Included within Empire City will be a number of outstanding offerings, such as the cinematic world’s first 4-D theatre, an Olympic-specification ice rink and stylised boulevards, like Asian Food Street and more.

As a development preview, a first for a Malaysian project, Empire City’s “Party of the Century” with its ‘Glamourous 20’s’ theme was the perfect kick-start to 2015.

More pictures from the private affair available in the gallery below: