Two-Faced Kitten Born In Oregon

At 6:11 am on 11th June, Deucy was born. Aside from her perfectly timed birth date, what makes this feline so special is her unusual facial characteristic. Deucy has four eyes, two noses, and two mouths.

The two-faced kitten made her debut this week in Amity, Ore. After the birth, pet owner Stephanie Durkee took the rare kitty to her local veterinarian, who determined that, despite Deucy’s facial abnormality, her organs are intact and in good condition, local news outlet NWCN reports.

While the birth of a two-faced kitten (often called a Janus cat) is rare, it has happened before. A black cat with two faces, who was aptly named Harvey Dent, was welcomed into the world in February 2012, but died two days later due to complications. In July, another two-faced kitten, this one named Gemini, also died within days of his birth, likely because he had issues eating with two tracheas and one throat.

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

Since the odd facial characteristic is often coupled with other abnormalities, two-faced cats do not tend to survive for very long. However, that’s not to say that Janus cats can’t defy the odds. In 2011, two-headed cat Frankelouie was inducted into the Guinness Book of World Records when he turned 12, the longest a Janus cat is known to have lived.

Given, Deucy’s good health conditions, Durkee is optimistic that the special kitty will live a long life.


#SuicideSquad: Cara Delevingne Freaks People Out With Her Role As Enchantress

Production for the upcoming “Suicide Squad” movie has officially concluded earlier in August this year, but its storyline and characters have been shrouded in secrecy.

The one that was shrouded in mystery the most is Enchantress, a character played by Cara Delevingne.

We already know that the Suicide Squad is made up of a group of supervillains, but what we still can’t determine is the main antagonist that they’re going up against. Is it Jared Leto‘s The Joker? Or is it Ben Affleck‘s Batman?

Oh wait. Could it be Delevingne’s Enchantress, since there aren’t a lot of details about her role in the movie? Well, if you think they’re going up against Enchantress, you might be wrong.

Through an interview with Empire Magazine, Delevingne revealed that her character is “an ancient sorceress”, whom we know is immensely powerful in the original comic book. The “Paper Towns” actress further described that Enchantress as “a feral being”, adding that “she’s been trapped for so long and now she’s finally let out”.

The unlucky human whom Enchantress takes over is June Moone, another character that Delevingne played in this film.

“June is an adventure seeker who’s always wanted some excitement,” the star told Empire of her human character. “And she gets what she wished for,” she said, before adding that she gets it “in a terrible way” while exploring a creepy cave.

But obviously, June and Enchantress are 2 completely characters. When asked by Empire about how she approached her role as Enchantress, she said:

I’d gather the accent, which is deeper and posher than June’s.

She added, “And I’d Blast Nick Cave’s “Red Right Hand”, that song about the devil. Also a lot of Megadeth. Just evil stuff.”

Blasting a song about the devil wasn’t really the strangest behaviour that Delevingne has shown while preparing for her role in the movie.

Outside of her character, the British model has apparently “freaked out a few people” while practicing for her role in her hotel. “I decided that her domain was a warm, steamy lair so I spent a lot of time in the hotel steam room,” Cara said.

Occasionally someone’s come in and I’ve just been on the floor in the corner, crawling around and doing creepy sh*t. I go “Sorry, bit weird!” But I’ve freaked out a few people, that’s for sure.

Since director David Ayer wants to make “Suicide Squad” as real as possible, it definitely sounds like he has succeeded at doing so.

Asides from the interview, we were given a new look at Delevingne’s role as The Enchantress, who graced the cover on the latest issue of Empire Magazine.

Her costume is a far cry from how the character is styled in the comic book, but we figured that it may fit the film’s dark and gritty sense of style. Empire Magazine will apparently reveal more covers soon, featuring the rest of this villainous line-up.

Tonnes of new “Suicide Squad” images from Empire Magazine were shared online and you can check them out in the gallery below:

Based on the original DC Comic of the same name, “Suicide Squad” centres on a group of supervillains who find themselves going on a most unlikely mission for a shot at redemption. However, the mission will probably kill them all.

Charles Roven and Richard Suckle are producing the film, which will be executive produced byZack Snyder, Deborah Snyder, Colin Wilson, and Geoff Johns. Ayer is directing it based on based on Justin Marks’ screenplay.

Slated for release on 5th August 2016, it also stars Jai Courtney, Joel Kinnaman, Cara Delevingne, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Common, Jim Parrack, Adam Beach, Ike Barinholtz, and Viola Davis.

Source: Empire Magazine Online, Heatworld, AceShowbiz.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


#BBMAs2017: Drake Wins Top Artiste Award + Full Winners List

Hosted by “Fast 8” star Ludacris and “Powerless” sweetheart Vanessa Hudgens, the 2017 Billboard Music Awards (BBMAs), which took place at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Sunday (21st May), was nothing short of extraordinary.

Not only did BTS become the first K-Pop group to win a trophy at the annual awards show, but Drake, who had 22 nominations, also took home 13 awards – beating Adele’s record for the most wins.

“I wanna say hold tight, Adele, ’cause when a new ting drops yeah you’ll fall back to get the record back,” he said during his acceptance speech.

Last name: Ever.First name: Greatest.Someone get @Drake a wheelbarrow for his 13 #BBMAs! #DRAKExBBMAs pic.twitter.com/gxOvt3QukW

— Billboard Music Awards (@BBMAs) May 22, 2017

Besides that, the event saw many amazing performances from some of the industry’s biggest names. The night opened with a 4-song medley by Nicki Minaj, Jason DeRulo, Lil Wayne, and David Guetta. After that, fans were treated to former Fifth Harmony member Camila Cabello’s live performance of her debut single “Crying in The Club”.

The show also featured a performance of “Castle On The Hill” by Ed Sheeran, “Versace on the Floor” by Bruno Mars, “Malibu” by Miley Cyrus, “Green Light” by Lorde, “Believer” by Imagine Dragons, and “Young” by The Chainsmokers.

But the highlight of the evening was undoubtedly Celine Dion and Cher’s unforgettable stages. While the Canadian songstress received a standing ovation for her powerful performance of “My Heart Will Go On”, 71-year-old Cher, who received the Icon Award, sang her hits “Believe” and “If I Could Turn Back Time”.

.@cher had everyone singing along at the #BBMAs, like a true ICON ⭐ https://t.co/jIUUs1aUkZ #IconCher pic.twitter.com/iJKcXtSJK4

The complete list of the 2015 MTV EMA winners is as follows:

Top Artiste: Drake
Top New Artiste: Zayn
Billboard Chart Achievement Award Presented by Xfinity: Twenty One Pilots
Top Male Artiste: Drake
Top Female Artiste: Beyonce
Top Duo/Group: Twenty One Pilots
Top Billboard 200 Artist: Drake
Top Hot 100 Artiste: Drake
Top Song Sales Artiste: Drake
Top Radio Songs Artiste: Twenty One Pilots
Top Streaming Songs Artiste: Drake
Top Social Artiste: BTS
Top Touring Artiste: Beyonce
Top R&B Artiste: Beyonce
Top R&B Tour: Beyonce
Top Rap Artist: Drake
Top Rap Tour: Drake
Top Country Artiste: Blake Shelton
Top Country Tour: Kenny Chesney
Top Rock Artiste: Twenty One Pilots
Top Rock Tour: Coldplay
Top Latin Artiste: Juan Gabriel
Top Dance/Electronic Artiste: The Chainsmokers
Top Christian Artiste: Lauren Daigle
Top Gospel Artist: Kirk Franklin
Top Billboard 200 Album: Drake, “Views”
Top Soundtrack/Cast Album: Hamilton: An American Musical
Top R&B Album: Beyonce, “Lemonade”
Top Rap Album: Drake, “Views”
Top Country Album: Chris Stapleton, “Traveller”
Top Rock Album: Metallica, “Hardwired…To Self Destruct”
Top Latin Album: Juan Gabriel, “Los Duo 2”
Top Dance/Electronic Album: Lindsey Stirling, “Brave Enough”
Top Christian Album: Lauren Daigle, “How Can It Be”
Top Gospel Album: Tamela Mann, “One Way”
Top Hot 100 Song: The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey, “Closer”
Top Selling Song: Justin Timberlake, “Can’t Stop The Feeling!”
Top Radio Song: Justin Timberlake, “Can’t Stop The Feeling!”
Top Streaming Song (Audio): Drake Featuring WizKid & Kyla, “One Dance”
Top Streaming Song (Video): Desiigner, “Panda”
Top Collaboration: The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey, “Closer”
Top R&B Song: Drake Featuring WizKid & Kyla, “One Dance”
Top R&B Collaboration: Drake Featuring WizKid & Kyla, “One Dance”
Top Rap Song: Desiigner, “Panda”
Top Rap Collaboration: Rae Sremmurd Featuring Gucci Mane, “Black Beatles”
Top Country Song: Florida Georgia Line, “H.O.L.Y.”
Top Country Collaboration: Kenny Chesney Featuring Pink, “Setting The World On Fire”
Top Rock Song: Twenty One Pilots, “Heathens”
Top Latin Song: Nicky Jam, “Hasta El Amanecer”
Top Dance/Electronic Song: The Chainsmokers Featuring Halsey, “Closer”
Top Christian Song: Hillary Scott & The Family, “Thy Will”
Top Gospel Song: Travis Greene, “Made A Way”

For more information, visit Billboard’s website.


Fox Sets New Release Date For #AssassinsCreed & #FantasticFour Reboot

After announcing the official release date for the X-Men spin-off film “Deadpool”, 20th Century Fox has set a new release date for both the “Fantastic Four” reboot and “Assassin’s Creed”.

Unfortunately, both films will NOT be released any sooner than we would expect.

According to The Wrap, insiders have revealed that the film adaptation of Ubisoft hit video game “Assassin’s Creed” is struggling right now and won’t be ready in time. Thus, the studio was forced to push the film to an unspecified release date in 2016.

Starring X-Men star Michael Fassbender, the film was originally slated for release on 22nd May 22 2015. However, the film was later pushed back to 19th June 2015 and delayed once again to 21st December 2016.

Although the original article has been taken down, various sources reported that “Iron Man” star Robert Downey Jr. may join the cast of “Assassin’s Creed” in the role of Leonardo da Vinci.

Meanwhile, the change of release date for “Assassin’s Creed” has forced Fox to relocate the release date for “Fantastic Four” reboot. The “Fantastic Four” reboot will now take over the original “Assassin’s Creed” spot and is slated for release on 7th August 2015. YA film adaptation of John Green’s “Paper Town” will take FF’s old date and move up from 31st July 2015 to 24th July 2015.

*The article was updated on 6th March 2015.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Cease Of Cristiano Ronaldo As Shopee Ambassador

Remember last August when Cristiano Ronaldo came on board as regional brand ambassador for Shopee?

It looks like his contract will no longer continue after partnering with the e-commerce platform for less than 10 months. The announcement was released yesterday evening (Tuesday, 30th June).

Zhou Junjie, chief commercial officer of Shopee and head of Shopee Singapore, previously shared Cristiano Ronaldo was chosen because “he is known for his tremendous focus, dedication, and determination”. Plus, he’s also “a household name and a unifying figure”.

In light of the contractual agreement, “all publications, banners, or any materials which include Mr Cristiano Ronaldo’s image, related to Shopee” are required to be removed before 5th July 2020.

As you may know, many fans were amused to see the Portuguese professional footballer dancing awkwardly to the Baby Shark tune from the 9.9 Super Shopping Day advertisement.

Luckily, you can always hit the reply button here.

The Regional PR team at Shopee has reached out to us with the following statement:

“Shopee’s partnership with Cristiano Ronaldo will come to a close in July 2020, as part of
our agreement in 2019. The collaboration has been a success and we are happy to have
co-created exciting initiatives and shopping campaigns for fans and users in the region.
In line with our agreement and common industry practices, Shopee will cease the use of all
promotional and marketing assets featuring Cristiano Ronaldo.”


Crew Share Filming Experience With Ng Man-Tat On His Upcoming Movie “Clash of the Sea”

The funeral for Hong Kong actor, Wu Mengda or better known as Ng Man-Tat (吳孟達) was held on the 7th March. The funeral was attended by his family and friends, some of whom are well-known in the acting industry.

While the funeral took place just over the weekend, many are still fondly remembering the actor. This time, the crew of “Clash of the Sea” stepped forward to share precious moments they had with Wu.

“Clash of the Sea” (or “Littoral Confrontation”, according to China Press) is a film about the anti-terrorism operations of the naval special forces. It is expected to be released in October this year in China. Wu plays the role of a marine scientist in the movie. The crew of “Clash of the Sea” stated that when working with Wu, the actor had two ‘without’ principles on set; ‘without a script’ and ‘without an assistant’.

The crew fondly recalled that Wu never had the script with him on set. He didn’t need the script, as he had already memorised it. When actors asked the director for the content of the next scene, the director would say, “Ask Uncle Da (Wu)!” The crew appreciated his dedication and professional attitude, but when praised, Wu would only smile and say, “Isn’t this the most basic cultivation of our actors?”

Wu was also insistent on not having a personal assistant. This made him approachable and gave him the ability to mix well with everyone, from the producer and director to the on-site staff. He also respected the crew and often told them, “Everyone has worked harder than me!” When asked about his insistence on not having an assistant, he wittily replied, “Isn’t every member of the staff my assistant?”

The crew revealed that Wu always treated the staff if he was on-set that day. They would have afternoon tea together, which could cost up to 10,000 yuan (about RM6325). When the crew thanked Wu in unison, the 68-year-old actor would smile happily. As he often said: “Our actors will be fine after the performance, and the crew is the most fortunate!” The crew also divulged that Wu did not complain, even when the work was taxing. He would tell the worried staff, “No problem, I’m still young!”

Aside from “Clash of the Sea”, another movie that Wu was rumoured to appear in was “Kung Fu 2”. Netizens were excited as its previous successor, “Kung Fu Hustle” was a collaboration between Stephen Chow (Xing Chi, 周星馳) and Wu. In 2019, Chow confirmed that he would make “Kung Fu 2”, although he was not specific about when.

According to the rumours, Chow would be writing, directing and performing in “Kung Fu 2” and the movie would be released on 30th September 2022. The post that sparked the rumours also claimed Chow’s willingness to step into the spotlight again is due to Wu’s sudden passing. The movie would be a way to remember his partner and would have pervious movie shots of Wu interspersed in the film. It was also reported that Wu Weilun, Wu’s youngest and only son, would be in the movie.

However, Chow’s staff was quick to confirm that the rumours were fake. Netizens were severely disappointed as some had wanted to see Chow back in action. Another netizen commented, “It’s a pity, I want to see Master Star (Chow) commemorating Uncle Da (Wu).”

Although we won’t get to see “Kung Fu 2”, fans of Ng Man-Tat can still enjoy the venerable actor’s skills in “Clash of the Sea”. As member of the “Clash of the Sea” crew summarised: “Behind Uncle Da’s persistence, what we see is the artist’s virtue, his respect for his profession, and his love for movies! I hope the movie “Littoral Clash” (“Clash of the Sea”) can live up to expectations and draw a perfect picture for Uncle Da’s (Wu’s) brilliant film career.”

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Sting Is Bringing His “My Songs” Tour To KL Next Year! Concert Details Revealed

Nothing beats the atmosphere of seeing a legendary performance live on stage and feeling the energy and music through the vibrations from the concert speakers. Now get ready to add one more show to your calendar as The Cherrytree Music Company and Live  Nation have confirmed that the legendary Sting will be heading to Malaysia soon!

The English musician is set to perform in KL next year for his critically acclaimed “My Songs” World Tour. If you’re a fan of the former The Police frontman, then you’d want to get your hands on these tickets before they’re sold out. Here’s all we know about the upcoming concert:

Venue: Plenary Hall, KL Convention Centre

Ticketing: (Platinum) RM 1288, (Gold) RM 888, (CAT 1) RM 598, (CAT 2) RM 398

Fans can expect the 17-time Grammy Award winner to perform his most beloved songs throughout his entire music career both from The Police and as a solo artist. The legendary singer-songwriter will be accompanied by an electric, rock ensemble as well as special guest Joe Sumner!

For more information on the concert, ticket sales, and pre-sales, be sure to check out Sting’s official website as well as GoLiveAsia and LiveNation.


Hype’s Now Playing: Enterprise – Cécile La Lumière (ft. Bil Musa) + Remixes

With more attention being given to the local music scene, it’s only fitting that dance punk band Enterprise is now releasing the first-ever music video for the lead single off their EP.

Titled “Cécile La Lumière”, the disarmingly beautiful song was released 7 months ago by the Subang Jaya-based band.

Featuring songbird Bil Musa, the song is not as danceable as the other tracks from the album, but it was delivered with a melodic consision.

After performing the song at huge music festivals like Urbanscapes 2014 and St Jerome’s Laneway Festival 2015, the indie electronic band now brings us its official music video, telling us a story interpreted from the song.

According to the band, the music video was shot 2 weeks before the Earthquake set off a deadly avalanche in Nepal. It sees the band rocking out on their respective instruments while a cinematic storyline plays out.

It is a slightly futuristic and trippy music video with an ambiguous plot, as a girl wakes up in the middle of nowhere and decides to collect some unique glass pieces to assemble them together. Things then take an unexpected turn, as we later find the girl in a Tron-inspired outfit being transported to the beginning again.

The band has also revealed a compilation of remixes contributed by the likes of Dizkopolis, Menikmati, Analog K, and Stellar Dreams. The remixes bring on different sounds ranging from a danceable nu-disco tune to 80s-style snyths to a downtempo ballad. All of them hit the top of the “eargasmic” scale.

For more information, log on to their official website or follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Soundcloud.


Contest: Catch “Sharknado Alive!” At Sunway Lagoon This School Holiday

This coming school holiday, Malaysia’s premier water theme park Sunway Lagoon will be introducing a jaw-some new activity at its Scream Park which will literally make your “jaws” drop!

Get ready for a jawsome experience as Sunway Lagoon introduces the world’s first ever Sharknado movie walk through attraction known as the “Sharknado Alive!” based on the popular “Sharknado” franchise.

For those of you who have been living under the sea and have no clue what the infamous franchise is about, it is basically a series of disaster horror comedy science-fiction films which follows a pair of husband and wife who continuously encounters “sharknadoes” (tornadoes filled with sharks), everywhere they go.

The movie is known to be one of the classic examples of “so-bad-it’s-good” movie thanks to its intentional silly humour, absurd plot and nonsensical twists. The unexpected success of the first movie spawned many sequels, video games, comics and spin-offs, and also earning it a cult following!

So to celebrate this fin-tastic franchise, Hype Malaysia is collaborating with Sunway Lagoon to give out 20 pairs of entry ticket to the water park this August school holiday.

Here are some important things to note about the ticket:-

Sharknado Alive! marks one of the most unique themed attraction at Scream Park. Among the highlights of this latest attraction is the interaction between visitors and a cast of live actors who play seasoned ‘weather girl’, ‘victims’ and of course, sharks!

Brace yourselves for a harrowing journey through a maze-like attraction that will feature sights and sounds of sharks in tornadoes.

The attraction occupies the entire top level of Scream Park and takes visitors through a 15-minute harrowing journey through locations based on some of the scenes from the movie.

Sharknado Alive! opens 10th August 2019 at Sunway Lagoon’s Scream Park. The opening hours will be from 11am to 6pm daily. Enjoy the latest shark-tastic adventure along with over 90 rides and attractions at Sunway Lagoon!

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


LiLo Found Unconscious

In the span of a week, Lindsay Lohan aka LiLo has made headlines countless of times. From her Glee episode drama to a Porsche car crash, and now, in a scare that involved paramedics.

LiLo was found unconscious in the penthouse of a Marina del Rey, California hotel room. Although the initial news said that she was taken to the hospital and that her condition was unknown, the later reports confirmed that yes, paramedics responded to the call but they left without LiLo.

Her production team was said to have sent a private doctor to check on her afterwards.

Of course, the media was on fire with news and reporters had a field day because LiLo is known to be an often troubled celeb. Too bad for them, she is alive and well.

25-year-old LiLo, who is currently filming a television movie based on Hollywood icon Elizabeth Taylor’s life had been working for two days nonstop before the incident. She was just suffering from exhaustion and dehydration. Yup. Nothing to do with 18-wheelers or alcohol.

It was just another day in the life of Lindsay Lohan.


#TheLEGOMovie: Director Responds To Oscar Snub, Wins Our Hearts Again

Brick flick “The LEGO Movie” may have won hearts of audiences around the globe, but unfortunately, the good people at the Academy didn’t share the same sentiment. Even we are surprised as to why it wasn’t deemed awesome enough for the Oscars!

A little background information for you: Released in 2014, “The LEGO Movie” was the first film produced by Warner Animation Group, and is an international co-production of the United States, Australia, and Denmark. Based on the LEGO line of construction toys, the film tells the story of Emmet (voiced by Chris Pratt, of “Guardians of the Galaxy” fame), an ordinary LEGO minifigure prophesied to save the universe from the tyrannical Lord Business (voiced by Will Ferrell) as he gains different allies along the way.

It also featured an all-star voice cast comprising of the likes of Elizabeth Banks (of “The Hunger Games” fame), Morgan Freeman (he needs no introduction), Channing Tatum, and Cobie Smulders (of “How I Met Your Mother” fame).

The movie was a critical and commercial success, with many critics highlighting its visual style, humor, voice acting, and heartwarming message. It earned more than USD257 million in North America and $210 million in other territories for a worldwide total of over USD468 million.

Here’s the thing though – on Thursday (15th Jan) morning, The Academy Awards (Oscars) snubbed “The LEGO Movie”, denying the brick flick a nomination for “Best Animated Picture”. Those that got Oscar noms instead were:

But it appeared to have not bothered “The LEGO Movie” at all because co-director Phil Lord responded to the snub on Twitter with perfect, plastic grace.

It’s okay. Made my own! pic.twitter.com/kgyu1GRHGR

— philip lord (@philiplord) January 15, 2015

Meanwhile, a spin-off “The LEGO Movie” film, featuring Batman from the film, is scheduled to be released in 2017, and a direct sequel aka “The LEGO Movie 2” is planned for a 2018 release.


Joss Whedon Once Told Gal Gadot To “Shut Up” & Threatened Her Career

Ray Fisher wasn’t the only actor who had issues with Joss Whedon. During the reshoots of “Justice League”, not even Wonder Woman was safe from his abusive behaviour.

An insider told The Hollywood Reporter that Whedon once threatened to sabotage Gal Gadot’s edit in the theatrical cut after the actress disagreed with the dialogue he had written for Wonder Woman.

A witness on set recalled, “Joss was bragging that he’s had it out with Gal. He told her he’s the writer and she’s going to shut up and say the lines and he can make her look incredibly stupid in this movie.” Subsequently, Gadot and Patty Jenkins took their concerns to then-Warner Bros chairman Kevin Tsujihara.

Another source shared that Gadot had “issues about her character being more aggressive than her character in ‘Wonder Woman’. She wanted to make the character flow from one movie to the next.”

In response to these fresh claims, the 36-year-old actress confirmed her dispute, saying, “I had my issues with [Whedon] and Warner Bros handled it in a timely manner.” Although Gadot did not go into detail about their dispute, she previously spoke about it to The LA Times last December.

“I’m happy for Ray to go out and speak his truth,” she was quoted as saying. “I wasn’t there with the guys when they shot with Joss Whedon – I had my own experience with [him], which wasn’t the best one, but I took care of it there and when it happened.”

Whedon has yet to address any of these misconduct claims.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


#OscarNoms: 89th Oscar Nominations Announced; “La La Land” Leads With 14 Nods

Today (24th January), Academy President Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Guillermo del Toro, Demian Bichir, Dustin Lance Black, Ken Watanabe, and other Academy members announced the 89th Academy Awards nominations.

“La La Land” received 14 nominations, a tie with “Titanic” and “All About Eve” for the most nods in Academy Awards history, while diverse films such as “Moonlight”, “Fences”, and “Hidden Figures” are nominated for race for best pictures, moving past the 2 #OscarsSoWhite years.

Tap here to watch the #OscarNoms NOW! https://t.co/6dAhK5soP7

— The Academy (@TheAcademy) January 24, 2017

Academy members from each of the 17 branches vote to determine the nominees in their respective categories – actors nominate actors, film editors nominate film editors, etc. In the “Animated Feature Film” and Foreign “Language Film” categories, nominees are selected by a vote of multi-branch screening committees.

Active members of the Academy are eligible to vote for the winners in all 24 categories beginning 13th to 21st February. Hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, the awards will be held on 26th February at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood.

Nominations for the 89th Academy Awards are as follows:

Performance by an actor in a leading role

Performance by an actor in a supporting role

Performance by an actress in a leading role

Performance by an actress in a supporting role

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

For a complete list of nominees, visit the official Oscars website.


How To Claim ePenjana Free RM50 Credit + Rewards From Boost, GrabPay & TnG eWallet

Downloaded the MySejahtera app? Good, you can now redeem your ePENJANA free RM50 eWallet credit from either Boost, GrabPay or Touch ‘n Go eWallet.

Eligible Malaysians may proceed to make the redemption between 31st July until 24th September 2020. The RM50 credit can then be used for both online and offline purchases.

The RM50 is similar to eTunai Rakyat. Do note that you won’t be allowed to withdraw or transfer the ePenjana credit to another user. You have until 30th September 2020 to fully utilise the credit before it expires.

In addition to the free RM50 credit, there are also additional cashback, vouchers, and loyalty points worth RM50 or more. So which of the 3 eWallets has better rewards? Here are what Boost, GrabPay and Touch ‘n Go are offering if you make your redemption through their platform:

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Hype’s Now Playing: Ellie Goulding – Love Me Like You Do

Queen Bey‘s slow and sexy rendition of her hit single “Crazy In Love” is the perfect song for Universal Pictures and Focus Features’ much-anticipated film “Fifty Shades of Grey“, that’s for sure. But when the film is set to arrive just before Valentine’s Day this year, we figured that it might just release a new Valentine’s Day anthem for their soundtrack album.

Titled “Love Me Like You Do”, the song is produced by Max Martin, who also produced some chart-topping hits and top selling albums such as Katy Perry’s “Teenage Dream” and Taylor Swift’s “1989”. It is also the new single from multimillion selling recording artist Ellie Goulding. With her iconic sultry voice, the talented songstress will give you goosebumps through the song that was specifically written for the film.

Goulding has once ruled the music scene with her sophomore album “Halcyon Days” and has achieved a staggering 6 million album sales and 20 million single sales worldwide. She performed on a sold out UK arena tour last year and contributed to the success of Calvin Harris‘ recent hit “Outside”. Due to her enormous success, she has been crowned the “Best Female Solo Artist” for the BRIT Awards.

The full soundtrack list for the film hasn’t been announced yet but what we do know is that The Weekend is one of the artistes that has contributed the album with his new single, “Earned It“.

“Fifty Shades of Grey” is a long-awaited film adaptation of E.L. James’ best selling novel of the same name. Directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson, the film stars Jamie Dornan as Christian Grey and Dakota Johnson as Anastasia Steele. Victor Rasuk, Eloise Mumford, Marcia Gay Harden, and Luke Grime are attached to star in the film as well.

The film is set to hit Malaysian cinemas on 12th Feb. But before its release, check out Ellie Goulding’s new single below:

“Love Me Like You Do” is available for pre-order on iTunes now while the full soundtrack album is expected to drop on 10th Feb.

For more information about #FSOG, check out their official website and follow them Facebook page or Twitter.


#AirAsia: Flight QZ8501 Missing En Route From Surabaya – Singapore

AirAsia flight QZ8501 is apparently missing en route from Surabaya to Singapore. It was supposed to land at Changi Airport at 8am. Singaporeans are believed to be on board. According to an Indonesian news channel, the flight lost contact with air traffic control. Malaysia Kini reported that the aircraft had 155 passengers on board while The Associated Press tweeted that the flight had 162 onboard. We assume it’s inclusive of cabin crew?

Although AirAsia themselves have yet to respond to this, Astro Awani posted up an announcement via their Twitter account which stated:

AirAsia flight from Indonesia to Singapore missing after losing contact with air traffic control: AFP

— Astro AWANI (@501Awani) December 28, 2014

According to Al Arabiya News, Indonesian media cited a Transport Ministry official who said that the plane had asked for an unusual route before it lost contact. The Indonesian Search and Rescue said that the plane’s last known position was over the Gulf of Kumai.

UPDATE (12:01pm, 28th Dec): AirAsia has released a statement in regards to the news of the missing plane. As follows:

AirAsia Indonesia regrets to confirm that flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control at 07:24hrs this morning. At the present time we unfortunately have no further information regarding the status of the passengers and crew members on board, but we will keep all parties informed as more information becomes available. The aircraft was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC. At this time, search and rescue operations are in progress and AirAsia is cooperating fully and assisting the rescue service. AirAsia has established an Emergency Call Centre that is available for family or friends of those who may have been on board the aircraft. The number is: +622129850801. AirAsia will release further information as soon as it becomes available. Updated information will also be posted on the AirAsia website, www.airasia.com.

The civil aviation authority of Singapore has also released a statement which reads:

As we speak, the Singapore Rescue Coordination Centre has been activated. Search and rescue efforts to follow. AirAsia Group CEO Tan Sri Tony Fernandes took to Twitter to thank everyone for all their thoughts and prayers, and asked his company to stay strong

UPDATE (1:36pm, 28th Dec): An updated statement from AirAsia has just been released. As follows:

AirAsia Indonesia regrets to confirm that flight QZ8501 from Surabaya to Singapore has lost contact with air traffic control at 07:24 (Surabaya LT) this morning. The flight took off from Juanda International Airport in Surabaya at 0535hours. The aircraft was an Airbus A320-200 with the registration number PK-AXC. There were two pilots, four flight attendants and one engineer on board. The captain in command had a total of 6,100 flying hours and the first officer a total of 2,275 flying hours There were 155 passengers on board, with 138 adults, 16 children and 1 infant. Also on board were 2 pilots and 5 cabin crew. Nationalities of passengers and crew onboard are as below: 1 Singapore 1 Malaysia 1 France 3 South Korean 156 Indonesia At this time, search and rescue operations are being conducted under the guidance of The Indonesia of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). AirAsia Indonesia is cooperating fully and assisting the investigation in every possible way. The aircraft was on the submitted flight plan route and was requesting deviation due to enroute weather before communication with the aircraft was lost while it was still under the control of the Indonesian Air Traffic Control (ATC). The aircraft had undergone its last scheduled maintenance on 16 November 2014. AirAsia has established an Emergency Call Centre that is available for family or friends of those who may have been on board the aircraft. The number is: +622129850801. AirAsia will release further information as soon as it becomes available. Updated information will also be posted on the AirAsia website, www.airasia.com.

But although AirAsia is a Malaysia-based company, the “QZ” Air Operator Certificate was issued by Indonesia. This means that under International Civil Aviation Organisation protocols, Indonesia is responsible for the search and rescue efforts and subsequent accident investigation. UPDATE (6:30pm, 28th Dec): Malaysian news outlet News Strait Times tweeted that the Malaysian passenger onboard the missing AirAsia flight QZ8501 has been identified as Sii Chung Huei, a Jakarta-based businessman from Kuching:

#QZ8501: Sole Malaysian passenger identified as Sii Chung Huei, Jakarta-based businessman from Kuching, AirAsia informed relatives — New Straits Times (@NST_Online) December 28, 2014

More to come as the story unfolds. Keep checking back with us for more information.

Source: The New Paper, Malaysia Kini, Al Arabiya News, TIME.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


CNY 2018: 8 Chinese New Year Movies To Watch This Month

As per custom every Chinese New Year, it’s the time where family reunions take place. In the midst of it, why not enjoy some Chinese New Year movies at the cinemas?

It is the norm that most Chinese flicks releases will be of the comedic genre to match the festive mood of the season. Don’t know what to watch during the upcoming holidays? We’ve compiled a list of movies to help you out:

“Bad-tempered Uncle Shui suffers from Alzheimer’s disease but he can at least remember that his wife Summer has died and his son Liong Gor is working in the city. Ha Gu stays with him and takes care of him but she leaves him when she can no longer stand his bad temper. He then falls in love with a woman who looks a lot like his late wife. Liong Gor is called back by the neighbours to help his father cope with living alone but Liong Gor hides a secret and is worried of its impact on his family.”

Lim Mun Yue – which translates to ‘moon’ – is a happy plus-sized girl who works as a mascot at Sunway Lagoon. One day, she signs up for a weight loss competition. “Think Big Big (大大哒)” follows Moon’s weight loss journey as she becomes a big-time social media influencer. But when her life is turned upside down, she has to dig deep in finding what true happiness means to her.

“Liang Xing Mei is now retired and spends her time looking after two obedient grandsons. Life is still exciting for her thanks to her friends Guang Dong Po, whose absent mind tends to muddle things up a lot, and Lion King, whose mild Alzheimer’s disease causes confusion and frustration for everyone. She favours her youngest son Albert because he is more reliable compared to his older brother Robert, who is always scheming to get rich fast. This makes Robert jealous and he ends up getting the help of the God of Fortune to win back his mother’s approval.”

“Top agent Mr. Chan suddenly finds himself removed from duties after his partner Wonder Child unintentionally offended a policewoman, Ms. Shek. But when a financial officer goes crazy due to drugs, Mr. Chan is called back in to solve the case, which he accepts even though he is force to collaborate with Ms. Shek. Despite their differences, the pair eventually develop feelings for one another.”

“A complicated love triangle forms between an aging bachelor playboy, his wife-to-be and her stepmother. The man, thinking that he has met the girl of his dreams, asks her to marry him. But after he proposes to the girl, he realises that the girl’s stepmother was his former love. Even though he and the stepmother pretend they don’t know each other, he starts to develop feelings for his first love again as his own wedding date gets closer.”

“Passing by Wang Chuan River, Tang Sanzang and his disciples mistakenly make the River God angry. They break into Xi Liang to hide themselves and realise that they’ve entered an all-female territory, where no man has stepped foot in since it was established. They are not welcome in the country. Having said that, the arrival of a monk from the East along with a monkey, a pig and a blue-coloured man has been prophesied as the beginning of the end for the country.”

“The story continues after Wuba has parted ways with his human parents Tian and Lan. There is still no peace in the world as a sinister lord has seized the throne following the death of the evil monster king. Meanwhile, Wuba has to go back into hiding when a heavy bounty is place on his head. While in hiding, he reluctantly forms an alliance with an ill-famed gambler, Tu, who is not only deep in debt but also up to no good.”

“A traditional family man called Fai drives his wife and kids to a remote camp site, the same place where he proposed to his wife 15 years ago. Things don’t go as planned even though he wants to foster their family bond. Their trip is interrupted by Fai’s father and his troublemaker brother. While in the wilderness, their relationships are put to the test.”


Petrol & Diesel Prices Malaysia For 2nd – 8th November 2017

Woah, this is early! It’s not even Wednesday and we already have the new prices for petrol and diesel.

Following the price increase last week, it looks like petrol prices (for RON95 and RON97) will go up yet again. Although the price of diesel remained the same last week, that is about to change come Thursday midnight (2nd November).

The expected prices for petrol and diesel for 2nd – 8th November 2017 are:

The current prices for 26th October – 1st November 2017 are:

We will update the fuel prices should the official announcement differs from aforementioned prices.


(UPDATE) #Bersih5: 5th Installment Of The Bersih Rally Green-Lit; Main Event In November

Details about the Bersih 5 rally will be announced today by organising committee Bersih 2.0. This is coming after Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tan Sri Khalid Abu Bakar gave approval for the rally to go on, on condition that it abides by the Peaceful Assembly Act 2012 and does not demand the resignation of Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak.

MMO quoted a source from Bersih 2.0 as saying, “No tentative date. Plan is to have it in October, with a series of rallies every two weeks at least leading up to it.” It is understood that the series of rallies will take place at various locations starting tentatively in a week or so, before the main Bersih 5 street demonstration in October.

Bersih 5 would mark the 5th time that the coalition’s street demonstrations are being held, with this installment focused on pressing for action on the 1Malaysia Development Berhad (1MDB) case, following the US Department of Justice’s (DoJ) lawsuits over assets linked to the state investment firm. Opposition parties have also expressed interest to join the Bersih 5 rally.

According to the US DoJ, the 1MDB-related lawsuit filed last month was the largest case ever brought by the Kleptocracy Asset Recovery Initiative. US prosecutors said more than USD3.5 billion (RM14.23 billion) in 1MDB funds were allegedly misappropriated by high-level officials of the local state investment firm and their associates between 2009 and 2015.

The funds allegedly embezzled and laundered into the US were purportedly used to buy luxury properties in New York, Los Angeles, and London, paintings by Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet, a USD35 million jet, as well as to pay for gambling debts in Las Vegas.

More details to come later as Bersih 2.0 has scheduled a press conference at 12:30pm to make an “important announcement”.

Media alert: BERSIH 2.0 press conference, 3 Aug 2016(tomorrow), 1230 pm at BERSIH's office. All media personnel are invited. #media

— BERSIH (@bersihofficial) August 2, 2016

The first Bersih rally was held in 2007. All Bersih rallies excluding the marathon Bersih 4 (which lasted for about 34 hours in Kuala Lumpur) culminated in clashes between the police and the protestors. The Bersih 4 rallies, which were carried out on 29th to 30th August in major cities in Malaysia (namely Kuala Lumpur, Kota Kinabalu, and Kuching), was the only rally to have successfully taken place and wrapped up without any violence.

Meanwhile, UMNO’s Jamal Yunos of the infamous Red Shirt movement has threatened to hold a counter rally, should Bersih 2.0 go on with their Bersih 5 rally. Jamal Yunos said that the Red Shirt movement will hold their counter rally in the same place as the Bersih 5 rally.

Bersih chairman Maria Chin Abdullah has confirmed that the Bersih rally will be held on 19th November, instead of the previously announced tentative date in October. This was also confirmed by the official Bersih Twitter account just a moment ago.

#BERSIH5 akan berlangsung pada 19 November 2016 di Kuala Lumpur. Konvoi BERSIH akan bermula 1 Oktober 2016. pic.twitter.com/9pEN93s0qn

— BERSIH (@bersihofficial) September 14, 2016

“Bersih believes not protesting is not an option. Malaysians must stand united and take a strong stand against this grand corruption and the failure of our institutions,” Maria told reporters.

The 19th November 2016 rally will call for the immediate resignation of Prime Minister Najib Razak to allow an independent investigation into the financial scandal at 1MDB.

Sources: MMO, Bersih 2.0, CNA / Featured image: aliran.com.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Hype’s Now Playing: Mikky Ekko — Kids (Live)

American singer-songwriter Mikky Ekko is probably most remembered for his melancholic voice in Stay, the emotional duet he did with Rihanna earlier this year. Mikky, who is on tour with Jessie Ware this fall has released his livee and acoustic video for Kids. Filmed in a room with black and white setting, the video features Mikky letting enjoying himself as he effortlessly shows off his remarkable vocals.

Mikky’s voice is just too damn smooth that it lingers on with you even when you’re done listening to the song and watching the video. Catch it here:


#RunningMan: Malaysian Leg Of “Running Man” Tour Announced; Tickets On Sale 29th March

Back in January, it was announced that the cast of SBS’ popular variety show, “Running Man” (런닝맨) will be going on tour in conjunction with the show’s season finale.

The concert tour, which will feature Ji Suk Jin, Kim Jong Kook, Haha, Song Ji Hyo, and Lee Kwang Soo, kicked off in February through various cities such as Macau, Hong and Thailand. It has now been confirmed that “Running Man Live in Malaysia 2017” will also hit up Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 22nd April 2017 (Saturday)!

Slated to be held at the Mines International Exhibition & Convention Center (MIECC), “Running Man Live in Malaysia 2017” will see the all-star cast sharing an exclusive stage program with their fans in Malaysia, and also feature a special guest – Skull. Fans can look forward to an extraordinary production and scale, a stage construction that will shorten the distance between the stars and fans, games, and the cast’s wacky sense of humour once again on stage!

*VIP & PS1 ticket purchasers will get a complimentary official tour light stick, whereas VIP ticket purchaser (limited to 200pax) will be entitled for lucky draw of group photo with the cast of “Running Man”. Other ticket categories will receive a free poster on event day!

Ticket sales will commence on 29th March 2017, 11am at all appointed TicketCharge outlets and online purchases on www.ticketcharge.com.my. For ticket sales enquiries, please contact TicketCharge at +603 9222 8811 (Kuala Lumpur) or +604 645 9811 (Penang). For other enquiries, please contact the Concert Hotline at +603 9520 4310.


This Malaysian Actress Rejected Major Hollywood Roles Because…

Opportunity comes once in a lifetime, so you need to seize it once you have the chance.

But for Malaysian Chinese actress Daniella Sya Yeng Yeng, she has missed out on not one, but four huge opportunities to be in a Hollywood production.

A post shared by Daniella Sya (@daniellasya)

For an actor, getting to be part of some of the biggest Hollywood productions of the century is like a dream come true as it’ll be able to kickstart your career internationally.

But for Daniella, her biggest problem is always timing. She was previously offered to play in big-budget Hollywood productions such as “Iron Man 3”, “Marco Polo”, “Crazy Rich Asians” and “Power Rangers”, but time and luck were never on her side.

According to Malay Mail, the 30-year-old Kedahan actress was once offered to play a small role in “Iron Man 3”. The role later went to China’s superstar Fan Bingbing.

“I didn’t have to audition because the offer came from a friend who was working in the studio that collaborated with Hollywood,” she said as quoted.

“Of course they went with her (Fan Bingbing) because she’s such a big name. Even though it was just for the role of a secretary, no one wants to decline the chance to act in a Hollywood film.”

“Despite initially agreeing to the role, it was not meant to be. I’m not disappointed and accept the fact of who I am compared to Fan,” she continued.

A few years after that, Daniella then received an offer to be part of Netflix’s “Marco Polo”. She was offered the role of Kokachin (Blue Princess) which later went to Chinese actress Zhu Zhu.

The production team asked her to send in her audition tape but sadly luck was not on her side as she was tied up as Singapore’s Mediacorp resident artiste at the time so she couldn’t find the time to record her audition.

“At that time, I was so bad at managing my schedule because I didn’t have a manager,” she said.

A post shared by Crazy Rich Asians (@crazyrichasians)

For Jon M. Chu’s “Crazy Rich Asians”, Daniella actually went for audition four times for four different roles.

“After the fourth audition, they asked for my schedule and I had rehearsal commitments for the drama ‘Dosa’,” she explained.

“In the end, I felt sorry for myself because the rehearsal schedule was postponed. It was my own fault for not managing my schedule well.”

A post shared by Power Rangers (@powerrangersmovie)

Daniella was also offered to be part of the “Power Rangers” reboot, but despite her agent’s persuasion, she turned down the opportunity because the production was looking for actress between the ages 18 and 21.

“My age exceeded the conditions but my agent said I could get away with it because I look young. I insisted to say no to avoid any issues,” she told the daily.

“Until today, I’ve missed a lot of opportunities to act in Hollywood productions. But I’m not really worried because my agent there is still trying hard. It will happen one day,” she said.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Ed Skrein Drops Out Of “Hellboy” Reboot After Whitewashing Controversy

Ed Skrein, who is best known for being the villain in last year’s “Deadpool”, has dropped out of the “Hellboy” reboot after public criticism over his casting to play an Asian character.

The actor, who joined the cast last week, was supposed to play Major Ben Daimio – a Japanese-American rugged military member of the Bureau for Paranormal Research and Defense who can turn into a jaguar because of a curse.

In a statement posted on Twitter several hours ago, Skrein said that he had not known that the character was of mixed Asian heritage. “Last week it was announced that I would be playing Major Ben Daimio in the upcoming Hellboy reboot. I accepted the role unaware that the character in the original comics was of mixed Asian heritage,” he wrote.

He continued, “There has been intense conversation and understandable upset since that announcement, and I must do what I feel is right. It is clear that representing this character in a culturally accurate way holds significance for people, and that to neglect this responsibility would continue a worrying tendency to obscure ethnic minority stories and voices in the Arts. I feel it is important to honour and respect that. Therefore I have decided to step down so the role can be cast appropriately. Representation of ethnic diversity is important, especially to me as I have a mixed heritage family.”

Thank you for doing this, Ed Skrein. It’s such a noble act :)

Whitewashing is no new concept. Iconic Asian characters such as the Japanese interpreter (played by Marlon Brando) from “The Teahouse Of The August Moon” in 1956, I.Y Yunioshi (played by Mickey Rooney) from “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” in 1961, and Billy Kwan (played by Linda Hunt) from “The Year of Living Dangerously” in 1983 are all classic examples of whitewashing.

And most recently, Scarlett Johansson was accused of whitewashing when she portrayed Motoko Kusanagi in DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures’ live-action movie adaption of the 1995 Japanese anime and manga classic, “Ghost in the Shell” (攻殻機動隊 Kōkaku Kidōtai, literally “Mobile Armored Riot Police”).

David Harbour (of “Stranger Things” fame), Ian McShane, and Milla Jovovich are attached to star in the “Hellboy” reboot. Based on Mike Mignola’s comic book of the same name, the forthcoming film will be helmed by “Game of Thrones” director Neil Marshall.

Sources: Movie Web, Ed Skrein’s Twitter, The Hollywood Reporter / Featured image: Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images.


Fazura’s New Album Will Feature A Song Specially For Fattah Amin

It has been more than a year since Fazura released her 1st English track “Only God Knows”. Now, she is proud to present her 2nd English single titled “Can’t Forget Me”, composed and produced by Los Angeles-based Willy Beaman and Cameron Forbes.

The single which is co-written by Fazura is the 1st track from her upcoming 2nd album. “When I first started writing the song with Cameron, I wanted it to channel strength and the importance of loving yourself more than anything, instead of focusing on heartache.”

“Can’t Forget Me” marks the first time Fazura has ever written a song and she plans to write another song for her 2nd album. “I really wanted to write a song specially for Fattah. It is still untitled, but it is basically about him.”

“I hope people won’t throw up after listening to the song because I’m basically praising my own husband, but I really want to dedicate a song specially to him,” she said at the preview of her new single.

A post shared by Nur Fazura (@missfazura)

Fazura also mentioned that she will be releasing a duet together with husband Fattah Amin soon called “Paling Sempurna”. The couple released the teaser of the song during their 1st year anniversary and they will be performing the track live in the near future.

“Can’t Forget Me” is Fazura’s gift to her international fans from Indonesia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and even China. The song was recorded in Los Angeles during Fazura’s visit to New York where she attended the Couture New York Fashion Week to showcase her Fazbulous fashion line.

Fazura hopes to release her 2nd album by the end of this year. According to the 35-year-old actress-turned-singer, the album will consist of mostly Malay songs and probably 1 more English track.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Malaysian Singer Vince Chong Sings “Shallow” In 17 Cartoon Voices

You may remember him as the winner of “Akademi Fantasia” Season 1, but singer Vince Chong has proven that he has more skills up his sleeves in his latest video!

The 39-year-old singer showed off his singing flexibility by impersonating 17 different cartoon characters singing multi-award wining song “Shallow” by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper from the 2018 musical drama film, “A Star Is Born”.

Here are the characters in order #stitch #kermetthefrog #misspiggy #bugsbunny #shrek #donkey #stewie #petergriffin #elmo #mickeymouse #minion #barney #smeagol #yoda #scoobydoo #mrbean #donaldduck . #parody #ladygagashallow #voices #familyguy #megfriffin #sesamestreet #disney #voicetalent #impersonator . #vincetovid

A post shared by  Vince Chong (@vincetogram) on May 10, 2019 at 11:26pm PDT

Some of the characters he did include Stitch, Kermit the Frog, Mickey Mouse, Shrek, Bugs Bunny, Elmo, Scooby Doo and Barney among others, and we have to say that he nailed most of the impressions. (Our personal favourite is his impression of minion but we love the others too!)

Vince is not the first person to cover “Shallow” in cartoon voices. Previously, professional impressionist Brian Hull covered the song with YouTuber Anna Brisbin where they sang in various 90s cartoon voices.

Many celebrity friends have come up to praise Vince for his amazing talent. Some of them include Alif Satar, Jaclyn Victor, Sasha Saidin, Izzue Islam, Marsha Milan, Mark Odea, Papi Zak and more.

In October 2018, Vince showed off his impersonation skills on Alif Satar’s talk show “It’s Alif” where he impersonated Peter Griffin from “Family Guy” and sang “Baby Shark” in Michael Jackson’s voice.

Vince can now officially add impressionist and voice actor to his career portfolio because he is voicing the role of Genie in the Malay-dubbed of “Aladdin”, joining Shila Amzah who is voicing Princess Jasmine.


#RubbleBucketChallenge: Efforts To Raise Awareness About Gaza

While most of the world are still taking on the ice/cold water “dare” in support of ALS research, some Palestinians have created their own version of the #ALSIceBucketChallenge.

The challenge, known as the #RubbleBucketChallenge, aims to raise awareness about the ongoing crisis in Gaza. It invites social media users to douse themselves in, get this, sand, gravel, and other materials from buildings that have been destroyed during Israel’s 7-week military offensive. Why sand, gravel, and other materials from buildings and not ice water, you ask?

According to a Gaza resident, Abu Yazan, “In Gaza we don’t have water and when we have water, we can’t make ice since the electricity is off most of the time. So my cousin Hafiz, (my) nephew Khalid and I used remains of a destroyed house to participate in this challenge.”

Hence, the choice of materials, due to deteriorating conditions on the ground, worked in their favour for this awareness campaign.

Launched just over the weekend, the “Rubble Bucket Challenge” has picked up steam on social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter! As at time of writing, the Rubble Bucket Challenge Facebook page has garnered more than 5k likes, with many sharing videos of themselves taking on the challenge. There has also been a few versions of the #RubbleBucketChallenge hashtag such as #DustBucketChallenge and #RemainsBucketChallenge.

This brave young lady took on the challenge and nominated the President of the United States, Barack Obama:

Also, unlike the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, this campaign doesn’t ask users for monetary donations. Instead, it relies on social media to simply raise awareness about a humanitarian crisis that its Facebook page describes as “ethnic cleansing”.

According to Maysam Yusef, the Gaza university student who launched the challenge:

Money will not bring the so many innocent souls back to life and we cannot begin to rebuild Gaza unless the Israeli attacks stop So our campaign is more of a social media revolution, where people show their solidarity with Gaza and publicly reject the killing of civilians. We are trying to form a worldwide movement to pressure Israel to stop this genocidal act against Palestinians of Gaza.

Would you take this on? We’re not sure how safe this is if a person is required to dump a bucket of rubble/building remains/dust over their heads. That having said, at least it does a better job at raising awareness about the Israel Gaza conflict than organising boycotts and causing unnecessary distress to others.

And if the Rubble Bucket Challenge ain’t your thing, you can still play your part by visiting Viva Palestina Malaysia to find out what you can do to help. There’s also Candies4Gaza, which is a page dedicated to the children of Gaza.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


(Photos) Deepavali 2022: A List Of Diwali Mall Decorations That Will Light Up Your Mood

There’s usually plenty to look forward to as the year draws to a close. But before that, we have another celebration to look forward to. That’s right, we’re talking about Deepavali, the Festival of Lights!

We’re certain some of us may have already started decorating our homes for the celebration. However, to get yourself geared up for the festival, why not take a walk through our local malls? Not only do you get to enjoy some beautiful decorations, but you may also just find inspiration for your own homes.

So, without further ado, let’s dive in and see what the malls in Klang Valley have in stall for us this year!

Pavilion Bukit Jalil has gone all out to create a harmonious yet exciting Deepavali with plenty of kolams, performances, and shopping redemptions. You’ll find three different kolams, designed by Kolam Master Ruben Prakash, in the mall this year.

Two kolams, made by INTI Centre of Art & Design (CAD) students, can be found at the Bukit Jalil and PIAZZA entrance respectively. The third is located on Level 3, as a giant 15-foot-tall peacock with a gorgeous kolam tail. Also, feel free to attend the Deepavali Dance show with over 500 dancers on 19th October from 4pm to 5pm to really get in the mood!

If you’re looking to bring some of the festive vibes home, why not stop by the newly opened Yeshan Sarees to get yourself decked out for Deepavali? Or you could also redeem limited-edition festive gifts such as ceramic mugs (minimum spend of RM100), scented candles (minimum spend of RM200), and oval ceramic plates (minimum spend of RM300).

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is celebrating a Majestic Deepavali this season. The iconic Crystal Fountain is now surrounded by glorious decorative elephants and colourful kolams with brightly coloured flowers, capturing the hues of the rainbow. For those familiar with Hindu culture, elephants are sacred symbols of peace, mental strength, and power, while kolams signify auspiciousness and good luck.

Do drop by Pavilion KL’s Main Entrance on the 15th and 16th October from 3pm to 3:30pm to witness the Temple of Fine Arts performing a series of Indian Cultural Dances, including Bharatanatyam, Odissi, Kuchipudi, Kathak, and Contemporary. It’s a great opportunity to rediscover the wonders of these cultural, artistic, and spiritual traditions with your loved ones.

While you’re in Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, indulge in delectable Northern Indian delicacies at Royal India at level 6. Try the hearty Chicken Kolapurii and creamy Palak Paneer, and cap off your meal with tangy Mango Kulfi and sweet Gulab Jamun! For an unforgettable gastronomic experience, Barbeque Nation (on level 9) offers a wide selection of mouthwatering buffet spreads featuring curries, biryani, naan, snacks, and traditional Indian desserts—spoil yourself and dine like a Maharaja! Truly, Indian food is second to naan!

A post shared by #IntermarkMall (@intermarkmall)

Intermark Mall is honouring the Indian culture and heritage with an Ode To Odissi. As such, the Ground Atrium has been decorated with colourful and vibrant garlands, bringing to life a kaleidoscope of colour to elevate the beautiful Odissi costumes, Odisha sarees, headgear and accessories on display. Odisha has a rich heritage of textile and weaving art, and lucky for shoppers, the Temple of Fine Arts will be paying homage to the Odissi dance (a form of dance from Odisha, the eastern coast of India) on 15th October at 1pm. You can also get dolled up with attractive henna designs every weekend between 1-3 pm from 15th, 16th, 20th, 21st, 25th and 26th October at the Ground Atrium.

Come one, come all and Alight With Joy’ at Da Men US! In the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia, the community mall has adorned the place with a stunning kolam made with colourful sarees and bangles, traditional Indian lanterns that symbolise the triumph of light over darkness, fashion, and more. There’s also a Deepavali Bazaar where you can shop for Indian snacks and stylish Deepavali outfits.

Suria KLCC has transformed its Centre Court into a vibrant garden installation filled with floral peacocks and traditional Indian gazebo adorned with flower garlands. In the middle of the garden, visitors will see a 20-foot rotating kolam with motion sensor lighting that comes to life with multi-coloured lights. Visitors can also look forward to traditional Indian dance performances at the Centre Court on selected weekends.

This Deepavali season, Fahrenheit88 is shining the spotlight on the Largest Saree Gallery featuring over 100 colourful sarees that showcase the beauty of styling traditional Indian fashion wear. In case you didn’t know, the mall recently welcomed its first Indian store – Yeshan Saree – on the second floor. There, patrons will get to feast their senses on a kaleidoscope of colours at the Art of Saree gallery where you can find sarees from all over India.

The Gardens Mall is celebrating the Festival of Lights by paying homage to the horse-headed gods. In Hindu culture, the sacred Rigveda texts allude to horses 39 times more than cows, which are animals highly revered in India. Measuring approximately 600 sq ft, the colourful kolam is carefully created using coloured rice, rice flour, lentils, and white rock powder in bold colours. It features two 7ft tall horse sculptures surrounded by tealights to make this truly a festival of lights!

Sunway Putra Mall is featuring the gorgeous Light Tree made from recycled materials like cardboard and plastic bottles – a testament of the mall’s commitment to raise awareness on waste management and recycling. Do drop by the Main Entrance and check out the Light Tree on Deepavali Day and get your hands on some free muruku snacks from Customer Care team.

A post shared by Sunway Pyramid (@sunway_pyramid)

A post shared by 1 Utama Shopping Centre (@1utama)

Which mall has the most Instagrammable Diwali decors?

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


#BlackEyedPeas: Is Nicole Scherzinger Replacing Fergie As Female Vocalist?

Back in January, there were rumours circulating that Nicole Scherzinger will be replacing Fergie in the Black Eyed Peas for a new record.

Earlier this week, the former Pussycat Dolls star officially debunked the rumour during her appearance on daytime TV show “The Real“.

“I’ve known the Black Eyed Peas for a long time. I’ve actually known Will(.i.am) for a really long time — he’s like a brother of mine. All the boys are like brother to me,” the 38-year-old beauty was quoted as saying.

Here’s an interesting trivia though: Scherzinger was initially asked to join the group before Fergie. But because she was already in a girl group called, Eden’s Crush, her team had to pass on the offer. “It’s okay, because I had a vision, and I was writing, and I wanted to do my own thing,” she explained.

She added, “It’s meant to be because I ended up in the dolls and Fergie was the perfect Pea — is the perfect Pea.” After the label went bankrupt and Eden’s Crush disbanded, Scherzinger went on to join the Pussycat Dolls in 2003.

Although there’s no word yet on a new Black Eyed Peas album, Fergie has been busy preparing for the release of her 2nd solo LP, “Double Dutchess”. Hopefully we’ll be getting some new music soon ;)


“Attack On Titan” Memes Go Viral

So, one of this year’s most talked about new anime series, “Attack on Titan”, is fast becoming more than just one of this year’s most talked about anime series. Thanks to the Japanese youth. It seems that the show is inspiring a new photo meme in Japan.

Originally a manga, “Attack on Titan” (Shingeki no Kyojin in Japanese) debuted earlier in April and tells the story of a wall city that’s being attacked by human-eating giants. The anime’s opening is utterly mental and it’s inspiring all sorts of parodies:

[youtube id=”EDoYQoR7OSU” width=”600″ height=”350″]

And now, photos of “Pretend Attack on Titan” (進撃の巨人ごっこ or Shingeki no Kyojin gokko) have been popping up online. Using perspective tricks, this photo trend depicts creative Japanese teens pretending to hold or even eat other kids. There are also photos of teens “attacking” giant classmates. Over the past few days, the number of pictures has really begun to take off and right now, Twitter is blowing up in Japan with loads of people saying they want to do “Pretend Attack on Titan”.

And as these photos show, the trend seems to be going viral. Some are really creepy, by the way. Check out our gallery for the pictures:


Dato Seri Vida Releases A Special Song For 2018 World Cup

When Malaysian diva sensation Dato Seri Vida released her upbeat Raya song “Lavida Raya“, many have commented that the song can pass off as the anthem for the 2018 World Cup.

So now, the businesswoman-turned-singer is fulfilling everyone’s wish by releasing a special song titled “Lavida Go Bola” in conjunction with the 21st FIFA World Cup in Russia.

A post shared by Seventeen Eleven Music Sdn Bhd (@17elevenmusic)

The grand launching of the music video took place today at Movie Animations Park Studios (MAPS) in Ipoh around 4pm. The song features local rapper Mimi Fly as well as DSV’s children Cik B and Kacak.

Similar to “Lavida Raya”, the FIFA-themed song was produced by Ruffedge member Cat Farish and award-winning producer Illegal who has produced songs for renowned artistes including Too Phat, Malique, Noraniza Idris, Ayda Jebat, Sasi the Don, and more.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Hailee Steinfeld In Talks To Play Kate Bishop In Hawkeye; Liam Neeson Might Play MCU’s Galactus

More and more Hollywood A-listers are joining the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The latest being Oscar nominees Hailee Steinfeld and Liam Neeson.

Steinfeld is currently in talks to play Kate Bishop in the upcoming Disney+ series, “Hakweye” starring alongside Jeremy Renner’s Clint Barton. Meanwhile, fans could see Neeson taking the role of Galactus.

The 22-year-old actress is no stranger to blockbusters – having starred in “Bumblebee” and voice Spider-Gwen in the award-winning “Spider-Man: Into The Spider-Verse”. In the comics, Kate is the daughter of a rich crime lord. After being assaulted, she trains to become a skilled martial artist and later becomes one of the Young Avengers.

She took up the Hawkeye identity after being impressed that a mere mortal could stand alongside superheroes like Thor and Captain America. No doubt we’ll get to witness the dynamic between Clint and Kate.

As for Galactus (known as the Devourer of Worlds), fans are predicting the larger-than-life villain to appear in one of Marvel’s cosmic movies like “Captain Marvel 2”, “Guardians 3”, a “Nova” film or maybe “The Ultimates”.

Nothing has been confirmed yet but Marvel is eyeing Liam Neeson. Other actors such as David Morrisey and Mark Strong are also on the studio’s radar. Out of the trio, Neeson is definitely the preferred choice as he possesses one of the most distinct voices.

Sources: Screen Rant, We Got This Covered.


The Marvels: The Skrulls, Kree Empire & Main Villain Explained

It’s been a wild week for Marvel announcements and among the biggest ones out there is a teaser trailer for this November’s “The Marvels”. Brie Larson is back as the cosmic-powered defender of the universe, Captain Marvel. This time, though, she’s joined by two familiar faces with Teyonah Parris as Monica Rambeau, the daughter of Captain Marvel’s best friend, and Iman Vellani as the adorkable Kamala Khan, or Miss Marvel.

The film will primarily deal with the mystery of how these three ladies’ powers are linked together and why they keep phasing between each other’s places in time and space. Things get even more interesting when we see other familiar but not-so-friendly faces appear in the mix: the Kree are back!

Next to perhaps Thanos’ army, the Kree Empire is one of the most powerful forces in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). They also have a checkered history with another popular race of shapeshifters, the Skrulls. Could the Skrulls from “Secret Invasion” appear in “The Marvels”? What are the Kree Empire’s plans and who is their new leader? Stick around and find out!

Okay, so let’s address the elephant in the room. The fact that “The Marvels” might have spoiled the ending of “Secret Invasion”. While it’s not a guaranteed fact that the events in the MCU follow the order of the release of each property, with “Black Widow” being a prequel and all, the trailer shows Nick Fury being part of, and possibly leading, Monica Rambeau’s new organisation, S.A.B.E.R. and being very much not dead (as was teased).

How do we know this isn’t in the past? Well because Nick Fury has been mainly hanging out with the Skrulls during his vacation and dealing with them. That wouldn’t leave him much time to have a side gig on S.A.B.E.R. with Rambeau. Also, it would be hella confusing to watch “Secret Invasion” in June, only to jump back in time to recap the events before the series in November with “The Marvels”.

Anyway, it’s safe to assume the “The Marvels” logically takes place after “Secret Invasion”, which probably means Fury has somehow managed to resolve the Skrull conflict on Earth. The reason we’re discussing the Skrulls is that the Kree Empire is mostly responsible for why the events of “Secret Invasion” happened. The Kree Empire is a tyrannical state that has been known to conquer and destroy worlds, even the Asgardians are weary of their presence. In “Guardians of the Galaxy”, we see a rogue member, Ronan the Accuser attempt to destroy Xandar, only to be foiled by the Guardians. In “Captain Marvel”, we learn that the Kree waged a war with the Skrulls and successfully destroyed their homeworld of Skrullos, leaving them as wandering refugees as they hunt them down to extinction.

At the end of “Captain Marvel”, Carol Danvers promised to find the Skrulls a new homeworld while Talos and some of the Skrulls stayed on Earth. Her failure to do so is what led the Skrulls to attempt to invade Earth with Fury and Talos fighting back. If Fury is now with S.A.B.E.R. and Rambeau, we can trust that his Skrull friends are there with him. This could mean that “The Marvels” could see Fury, Captain Marvel, Rambeau, Khan and the Skrulls join forces to bring down the Kree Empire. At long last, the Skrulls could finally avenge their fallen homeworld. The sight of a second Kree-Skrull war is one we’d definitely love to see on-screen.

Based on the teaser trailer, we know that Zawe Ashton will be playing Dar-Benn, a Kree Accuser wielding an Accuser hammer like the one Ronan wielded. The Accusers within the Kree Empire are akin to generals who hold the right to wage war against those who refuse to submit to the authority of the Kree. Throughout the teaser, we see Captain Marvel engaging with various Kree soldiers before being zipped off to another place due to the strange entanglement between the three Marvels. The question is: Why are Dar-Benn and her Kree forces picking a fight with Carol Danvers? Well, we think it has something to do with an artefact on Earth. One worn by Kamala Khan.

You may have noticed that in the four-way fight between Dar-Benn against Captain Marvel, Rambeau and Khan that the Accuser is wearing an interesting purple-glowing bracelet on her arm. In the third episode of the first season of “Ms Marvel”, we learned that Kamala Khan’s great-grandmother Aisha, who was working for a group called the Clandestines, found one of two bangles attached to a blue arm (which matches the colour of a Kree). The Clandestines desired the bangles as they possess magical and cosmic powers. It was this bangle that unlocked Kamala Khan’s latent mutant abilities and allowed her to access the Noor Dimension.

Long story short, the bangles in the MCU series seem to be a version of a Kree weapon known as the Nega Bands which grants their user great power. The bangle that Dar-Benn is wielding could be Kamala Khan’s or the other one to complete the pair. In any case, we believe that Dar-Benn is looking to acquire both bangles (or Nega Bands) to use them to advance the goals of the Kree Empire. This is probably the reason why Kamala Khan is being dragged into this conflict with the Kree because she possesses one of their prized artefacts.

If Dar-Benn manages to get a hold of both bangles, there’s no telling what the Kree might use them for. We certainly know that the Kree Empire aren’t squeamish when it comes to genocide. Now in the comics, the Nega Bands grant their wielders enhanced physique along with a whole host of cosmic powers like teleportation and matter transference. This property of the Nega Bands would explain why the Marvels are trading places. It could also prove handy if let’s say a certain Accuser was trying to transport an entire army onto a planet in an instance. Hopefully, we’ll get to see more intergalactic space battles in “The Marvels” with the Kree Empire in the mix!

Be sure to catch “The Marvels” when it hits theatres this November!

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


WINNERS: “Madagascar 3: Europe’s Most Wanted” Movie Screening

Thank all of you for being such troopers! Gotta love the enthusiasm. As promised, here’s the complete list of winners for our “Madagascar 3” movie tickets contest:

[youtube id=”PlkWVkpP59U” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Kindly collect your tickets from our counter at GSC Mid Valley from 8pm onwards. Remember, tickets are non-transferable.

We look forward to seeing you at the exclusive screening. Yay!

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


#GRAMMYs2016: Meghan Trainor’s “Best New Artiste” Acceptance Speech Has All The Feels

Prepare your tissues because, chances are, you might be crying together with Meghan Trainor.

The “All About That Bass” singer won “Best New Artiste” at the 58th Annual Grammy Awards with last year’s winner Sam Smith presenting the award. Trainor was in tears from the moment she took to the stage and remained emotional throughout the acceptance speech.

“I have to thank L.A. Reid for looking at me like an artiste instead of just a songwriter,” said the 22-year-old singer before giving a shoutout to her parents , adding, “And my mom and dad, for always believing in me.”

Her dad, Gary who was her date at the award show, was also crying profusely.

“I’m a mess, I have to go cry,” said Trainor before exiting the stage. Courtney Barnett, James Bay, Sam Hunt, and Tori Kelly were also up for “Best New Artiste” this year at the Grammys, but we’re glad that the prize went to the well-deserved singer. Past winners include Adele, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, and Mariah Carey.

Trainor also took to Instagram to share her excitement saying, “This is me forever..balling my eyes out. Can’t believe what happened. My dad whispered “you made it” before I walked up and I lost it. I love my family so much. Without them I wouldn’t be here today. Thank you to my team and everyone who got me here. Gonna cry happy tears all night. AHHHHHH.”

The pop singer previously shared with MTV that she cried the whole day after learning about her Grammy nomination saying, “(Winning) would mean more than anything I’ve ever done.I’ve always wanted to be an artist and I didn’t have everyone believe that, even I didn’t believe that … but to be recognised by the Grammys as an artist, and a best new artist, is the top of my whole list in life.”

Congrats girl, looks like your dream came true :)

Watch Meghan Trainor’s acceptance speech below:

The Massachusetts native also took the stage with Luke Bryan, John Legend, Demi Lovato, and Tyrese Gibson to perform a star-studded tribute in honour of the MusiCares’ Person of the Year, Lionel Ritchie. The medley of songs include “Easy Like Sunday Morning”, “Hello”, “Penny Lover”, “You Are the Sun, You Are the Rain”, and “All Night Long”.

The Grammy Awards will air live on Star World/ Star World HD (Astro Ch 711 / 722), on 16th February 2016 at 9am (with a same night primetime encore at 10pm).

Sources: E! Online, The Guardian, Hollywood Life.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


(Video) Experience Glow In The Dark Badminton Match At Shuttle In The Dark

We know the badminton fever amongst Malaysians have yet to cease down since watching Lee Zii Jia during the recent Olympic games. Now that sporting activities are gaining momentum again, people have been coming together to break a sweat or two.

Instead of playing in a normal court like you have always did before, why not try out something new this time around? Let’s add a little bit more spice into your badminton matches by playing in the dark.

Yes, you read that right! You can now play badminton in the dark at Shuttle In The Dark. Of course not in a completely pitch black court, because the equipment from the nets, to the shuttlecock and even the lines on the floor — everything here glows in the dark. Not only is it fun, but everything in the court is also premium-graded to give you the experience of playing in the Grand Prix Gold.

The premium glow in the dark experience includes an hour long of session, a set of glow in the dark shuttlecock and a glow in the dark wristband for each participant. This exclusive experience will only cost you RM180 per hour. Want to hype the experience even more? Their glow in the dark rackets are available for loan, costing you a deposit of only RM50 per racket.

A post shared by Shuttle In The Dark (@shuttleinthedark)

If you would like to bring a glow in the dark token of remembrance home with you, they also sell their fluorescent reflective jersey, and their glow in the dark shuttlecocks that costs RM15 per tube.

Shuttle In The Dark is brought to you by the Twin Tower Fitness Centre. A refreshing fitness experience in the middle of the heart of Kuala Lumpur, what more could you ask for?

A post shared by CinDyTang芯妤 (@cindytan11)

Click here to know more and book your slot today!

Location: Suria KLCC, Concourse Level, Petronas Twin Tower, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur.


#JessicaJung: Is She Working On Her US Debut With Michael Jackson’s Brother?

Jessica Jung might’ve dropped out of powerhouse SNSD Girls’ Generation, a K-Pop idol girl group that has undoubtedly taken the global entertainment industry by storm, but it hasn’t stopped her from spreading her wings and venturing out further into the world.

Not only has she been actively making appearances and promoting her fashion brand, “BLANC & ECLARE“, it seems that the gorgeous idol is also back in the studio!

She has made it a point to tell her fans during her recent public appearances to keep a look out for her future projects. In fact, during the “2014 Yahoo Asia Buzz Awards” on 8th Dec, she told reporters:

I want to try out a variety of fields. Personally singing. I like singing, and I think I would have fun acting too. If I do get to try them out, I want to do it while keeping a balance.

Now, it seems that the ideasof Jessica releasing her solo (music) work might just materialise!

We know this because yesterday, Venetian Casino Macau’s VIP/celebrity relations specialist Reggie Martin posted a clip of Jessica in a recording studio on his Instagram account. The video also revealed that Jessica is hard at work pursuing her solo career with the help of none other than Michael Jackson’s brother, Jermaine Jackson.

Jermaine Jackson was also part of the legendary family music group of the 60s – 70s, The Jackson 5.

Jessica Jung a Korean star and Jermaine Jackson from legendary group Jackson 5 the brother of Michael and Janet Jackson making magic happen in the studio. What a amazing experience to see a icon in action. Stay tuned for 2015. #greatness

A video posted by Reggie Martin Macau – 雷吉 – 马丁 (@reggiemartin10) on Dec 12, 2014 at 5:07pm PST

Looks like bigger things are headed our way in 2015 featuring Jessica Jung! We’re not even going to deny that we’re super excited to see how it turns out :)

Meanwhile, a BLANC & ECLARE pop-up store has opened closer to home. If you want to get your hands on some Jessica Jung-inspired fashion statement items, head on over to Lot 10 in Kuala Lumpur. Deets here.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Raya 2021: Experience The Balik Kampung Atmosphere At These Klang Valley Malls

Who’s in the mood for stunning decorations, cultural delights and some festive shopping? It’s a common norm for Malaysians to visit shopping malls to explore the grand decorations, snap Instagramable shots, and soak in the festivity.

While travel restrictions are still in place, there’s no question that our loved ones are still close at heart. In the spirit of togetherness and homecoming, many happening shopping malls in Klang Valley are featuring the balik kampung atmosphere. This way, shoppers can still experience a nostalgic Raya season during these extraordinary times.

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is celebrating this year’s homecoming with Malaysia’s heritage, culture and traditions. Taking inspiration from the floral motifs of batik and the vibrant colours of mosaic design, the mall’s Centre Court has been transformed into a vibrant festive garden with abundant floral blossoms and traditional lamps. Look up and you’ll notice an array of bold coloured fabric and twinkling lights.

In support of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs’ ‘Buy Malaysia Products’ campaign, visitors can also support artisanal, locally-made products at the Malaysian Marketplace. Offers include fashionable batik, delectable Raya goodies, beautiful handicrafts and other locally made items at stalls by Arfa Batik, Masterpiece by Masrina Abdullah & Batek by Rasta, Zaahara, Asma Batik, Little Fanna, Borneo Essential, Jeiwa, Swag, Myziff, Yusa Food, Dalucia, and Hana Medic.

That’s not all, visitors can also stop by the pop-up booth by Spritzer The Original Rainforest Water before entering the mall. Located near the iconic fountain at the main entrance, shoppers can gain some insightful knowledge about the importance of recycling and preserving Malaysia’s pristine rainforest and water sources. While you’re there, feel free to redeem a free Spritzer Natural Mineral Water and Acilis by Spritzer, and recycle the bottle at their recycling machine.

Once again, Intermark Mall is shining the spotlight on one of Malaysia’s national symbols – this time, it’s the wau, an intricately designed Malaysian kite. Get ready to be wau-ed by the stunning display curated by award-winning wau-maker Razi Said. With over 14 years of experience under his belt, the 49-year-old has dedicated his life to preserving this ancient craft.

“All the wau’’s you see on display at Intermark Mall can be flown, and it took me approximately 3,200 hours to complete,” Razi Said was quoted as saying. “The wau is a Malaysian symbol – it is featured on our 50sen coin, our national airline Malaysia Airlines’ logo is inspired by Wau Kucing, but yet not many people know the rich history and culture of the wau.”

He added, “I’m proud to be working with Intermark Mall to shine the spotlight on Malaysia’s iconic art forms, and giving me a platform to educate Malaysians and expats alike on the rich heritage and tradition of the wau. I will be conducting wau-making demonstrations every Saturday at 2pm from 24th April to 15th May for shoppers to learn more about Malaysia’s wau.”

Another must-visit spot to relive some good ol’ kampung vibes would be at 1 Utama Shopping Centre. There is a 35-feet tall Malaccan Traditional House with trademark ‘Tangga Melaka’ staircases in an idyllic Balik Kampung village at 1 Utama’s concourse Oval. Built as a poetic tribute to the living traditions of Malay culture, this arresting centrepiece is accompanied by a series of 12 different ‘Tangga Melaka’ (Malaccan staircases) designs with exquisitely accented tiles and patterned motifs replicated.

Here are top 5 tips for ‘Gambar-worthy’ Raya spots at 1 Utama:

Strike a pose at 1 Utama’s key décor – Rumah Utama, a charming traditional wooden house built on high stilts that is certain to bring back childhood memories. The houses, found in Malacca, is famously known for their highly ornate trademark staircases or ‘Tangga Melaka’, lavishly accented with vibrant tiles and patterned motifs. Hunt for 12 different designs of colourful staircases replicated around 1 Utama’s Oval concourse – and photograph these architectural works of art amidst an idyllic suasana kampong with real coconut, betel nut and banana trees swaying in the background.

Don’t forget to step inside Rumah Utama to enter a nostalgic Ruang Tamu complete with vintage furniture and even antiques like a TV lama zaman atok and mesin jahit Singer.

Test your camera skills by capturing a variety of live performances and shows at Rumah Utama’s adjoining Pangkin, a raised timber deck which serves as the event’s main stage. From melodic acapella to Malay ballads and well-choreographed dances, 1 Utama will come alive with the sights and sounds of Raya.

Learn how to weave mengkuang and rattan, carve decorative coconut shells and hand paint batik from our Kraftangan Malaysia workshop artisans and snap these beautiful local crafts to preserve these traditional techniques.

A throwback to the yesteryears, take candid shots and play interesting Malay traditional games from the yesteryears like Congkak, Batu Seremban, Dam Haji and Sepak Raga found at the classically decorated Balai and Wakaf’s.

To look Raya fabulous, drop by an emporium of festive merchandise kiosks to tick off your shopping list. Dress up in the latest Baju Raya fashion collections with exquisite jewellery and accessories and grab #OOTD selfies, shop and take home your favourite pieces. A wide selection of gifts, cookies, and even freshly cooked rendang and kueh bahulu will also be available at LG Oval and GF Centre Court.

Beautiful exhibits of Baju Pengantin worn by Malay bride and groom during weddings and Hantaran ideas will also be displayed at a showcase in front of Uniqlo, GF Centre Court.

Foodies will love the heart-warming reunion of local delights at 1 Utama’s outdoor 6-day Buka Puasa Makan Street with 35 F&B vendors and food trucks. Makan puas-puas from legendary heavyweights Ikan Bakar Seri Melaka, Capital Nasi Dagang Kelantan, Sate Kajang Haji Samuri, and a plethora of curated food from varying localities e.g. Nasi Masak Kicap (Kedah), Rendang (Gombak), Pisang Goreng Cheese (Sg Penchala) and Cendol (Sepang). The very best of street stalls will be firing up all kinds of bakar: from freshly made lemang cooked in bamboo, to satay and lamb roasted over smokin’ charcoal flames, ikan and sotong panggang, and spiced ayam golek grilling on rotisseries!

There’s always plenty of #OOTD spots at The Gardens Mall when it comes to festive seasons. This year’s visual feast takes inspiration from the traditional art of weaving while adding elements of grandma’s
eclectic home to the mall. Visitors will be mesmerised with decorative display of beautiful weave details – from the colourful cushions at various sitting spots to the brightly details of hand-sewn patchwork fabric and hanging centrepieces. Remember to dress fashionably for the Gram!

If you feel like giving back to the underprivileged, you can donate your unwanted denim to SURI (a social enterprise that employs single mothers from low-income communities) at the South Palm at ground floor. Those unwanted denim material will be recycled fashionable apparel and other household items. The Gardens Mall has also pledged RM10,000 to assist the single moms at SURI gain financial independence.

KL East Mall has beautifully decorated its atrium in huge orchids and batik designed with traditional weavings. Want to see those beautiful orchids? Just step onto centre stage for a picture with the giant flowers. Shoppers can even head to the traditional gazebo to take a view of the breathtaking orchid garden.

More on their recent charitable efforts here.

At Sunway Pyramid, shoppers can experience a nostalgic journey through the familiar feeling with the mall’s very own ‘highway Rest & Service Area’ (R&R) at the LG2 Orange Concourse. As the R&R is a prominent feature on the PLUS highway and a welcome sight for long drives and road trips nationwide, especially during festive seasons and holidays, Sunway Pyramid is partnering with Malaysia’s largest expressway operator, PLUS to share tips for a smooth and restful drive, road safety and general vehicle maintenance in preparation for interstate travel upon reopening of state borders.

At the R&R that resembles the yesteryear journey of travelling back to their hometowns for a festive celebration, shoppers can make a stop, shop for essentials, rest and relax. Vintage vehicles, road signs, gazebos and stalls are put in place to evoke the familiar feeling of the rest stop, amidst a host of other engagements for shoppers to enjoy.

Da Men USJ is also shining the spotlight on our Malaysian tradition with woven ‘anyaman’ art, which symbolises the beauty and tight-knit nature of our multicultural society. Do drop by Muhibbah Mesra Market on the ground floor to check out the decorative handicrafts, kuih muih and delicious snacks. There’ll also be buskers belting out festive tunes every Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 12pm-3pm and 4pm-7pm!

Fahrenheit88 is welcoming shoppers with enticing traditional souvenirs and an array of assorted delights at the Sama-sama Raya bazaar. With over 20 booths at the venue, visitors can look forward to find unique Hari Raya gifts artisanal merchandise including sustainable and up-cycled fashion, handmade accessories, handcrafted candles, masks and bookmarks, designer tote bags, handmade soap, handmade footwear and bags.

An immersive experience awaits you at Avenue K where the Atrium has been decorated with a splash of colour. The batik village is inspired by the traditional art form of batik. Presiding over the batik village is a majestic-looking timber pavilion standing at 17 feet tall, with vibrant floral batik and colourful prints layered atop to give that air of radiance and festivity. Performances and activities shall be staged over the weekends with this grand structure as a backdrop – imagine soaking in some cultural vibes with old-time charm.

The centre of attention is undoubtedly the eye-catching dome house, positioned in the middle of the batik village and interweaved with breathtakingly beautiful butterflies to round up the awe-inspiring décor at the Atrium. With all these winning elements in place, posing for photos will surely rank high on a visitor’s list of must-dos when they come over to Avenue K this season!

If you’re in the mood to do some kampung-hopping, drop by KLCC to experience its vibrant atmosphere as you shop for the festivities. With lots of greenery around, be enthralled by a row of alleyways, complete with traditional pelita (oil lamps), pretty decorative lights and a photo booth to capture those Instagrammable moments.

Featuring a jetty complete with local boats in the main atrium, Sunway Velocity welcomes shoppers to wonder at the ‘balik kampung’ scenes in a fishing village. Shoppers can immerse themselves in a Raya atmosphere, choosing from the many booths to buy their snacks and festive clothes. Shoppers will also be rewarded for their spending with an array of gifts and vouchers that can be redeemed throughout the campaign.

Sunway Putra Mall is teleporting its shoppers back in time with the transformation of the main concourse into a Keretapi Tanah Melayu setting. Boasting a train station with a life-sized train and a clock tower standing at 30 feet tall, the concourse is also decorated with palm trees, lamp post cables and colourful lightbulbs reminiscent of our childhood. There are plenty of homegrown brands to explore as well as the festive bazaar and home & living segments, with musical performances on weekends and public holidays.

Family gathering seems to be on everybody’s mind and Mid Valley Megamall also wishes to evoke a sense of togetherness by creating a simple kampung kitchen setting. If you’ve been looking forward to a sumptuous family meal, this Raya decor here will certainly bring back all those lovely memories.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.


Tears & Anguish As Family Bids Irene Ong Ai Sam Farewell

Though images of her dying mother bleeding by the roadside from an assailant’s knife still disturbed her, 17-year-old Chin Hui Wei held back her tears as well-wishers gathered at a funeral parlour here to pay their last respects to the woman she called “My Hero“.

With her father and sister by her side, the teenager stood stoically calm as she watched a stream of people placing flower stalks on top of the casket that bore the remains of her late mother, social activist Irene Ong Ai Sam.

Hui Wei even had comforting words for grieving relatives and friends who came to bid farewell to a well-loved woman who died while defending her child from a ruthless attacker at Bukit Gasing here on Saturday. 53-year-old Irene Ong Ai Sam, a member of the parent-teacher association of SMK Taman SEA and the Kiwanis Club, among other social clubs and charity groups, died from injuries inflicted by her attacker.

In a poignant and painful account of the incident in her blog, “The Ugly Truth”, Hui Wei posted a heart-wrenching tribute to her late mother titled, “My Mother, My Hero”. In her lengthy account, she described the events leading to the tragedy right up to the time her blood-soaked mother was admitted to the hospital. She wrote that her mother’s last words to her were, “I love you so much”.

Ong has another daughter, 21-year-old Hui Ying. She also leaves behind her husband Chin Wing San, as well as three sisters and three brothers. “We were very close, and her death has left a hole in my life. My two other sisters and I will not be able to replace Irene but we will do our best to be the mamas’ to Hui Ying and Hui Wei”, said Irene’s 50-year-old sister, Suzie with tears welling in her eyes.

Meanwhile, Petaling Jaya OCPD Asst Comm Arjunaidi Mohamad said police would step up patrols at Bukit Gasing and its surrounding areas.


#GoT’s Aidan Gillen Joins The #MazeRunner’s Sequel

“Knowledge is power” and power means “Game of Thrones” actor Aidan Gillen will jump at the chance to be casted in  the sequel of “The Maze Runner”!

After announcing the official release date for “The Maze Runner” sequel, it was confirmed that Irish actor Aidan Gillen will be joining the cast.

Well I guess it’s out now. Aidan Gillen is playing Janson (aka Rat-Man) in the sequel. He was my first choice, so I couldn’t be happier.

— Wes Ball (@wesball) September 26, 2014

Best known for his baddie role as Lord Baelish aka Littlefinger in the HBO’s “Game of Thrones”, the Irish actor is set to play Assistant Director Janson, the main antagonist of the Maze Runner book. In the Maze Runner book, Gillen’s character is also referred to as Rat-Man by Minho.

Titled “The Scorch Trials”, the sequel for the novel-turned-film “The Maze Runner”  will be the second installment in The Maze Runner trilogy. The film is the adaptation of James Dashner YA trilogy and director Wes Ball will return to helm the film.

The sequel will continue its story from the first film that has raked in a surprise success total of over USD81.5 million in worldwide box office. It is also scheduled to begin shooting at the end of October this year with the recurring characters.

All right, who’s excited for the sequel? We just can’t wait to know who else will join the cast!


J.K. Rowling To Release 4 More Harry Potter Books This Year

Attention Potterheads! It looks like J.K. Rowling isn’t quite done with the “Harry Potter” franchise yet.

Pottermore Publishing announced that the 53-year-old author a series of short e-books (4 to be exact) that will delve into the “traditional folklore and magic at the heart of the Harry Potter series.

The 4 stories that book lovers can look forward to are:

These stories, which will be accompanied by illustrations from London-based artist Rohan Daniel Eason, aren’t going to focus on Harry and his friends, nor are they sequels. Instead these plots will focus the history of magic within the canon.

The first two titles will debut on 27th June 2019, while the others will follow “soon after”.

Follow us on Instagram, Facebook or Telegram for more updates and breaking news.