ABPBH32: BTS Wins 1st K-Pop Artist Award + Complete List Of Winners

The 2019 Anugerah Bintang Popular Berita Harian (ABPBH) was held at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre (PICC). The award show was hosted by the dynamic duo of Dato’ AC Mizal and Elly Mazlein.

For those uninitiated, ABPBH is a yearly award ceremony that gives the power to the people to vote for their favourite acts online. One of the prominent highlights was the crowning of actress Mira Filzah who won the biggest award for that night – “The Most Popular Artiste” award.

Apart from that, South Korean sensational boy band BTS marked another history for being the 1st K-pop act to win “Most Popular Korean Artiste” trophy that night – beating tough competitors like EXO, Blackpink, GOT7 and G-Dragon.

The audience were also entertained with energetic performances by singers including Ismail Izzani, Zizan Razak, Hazama, Akim and also Aishah.

Here’s the complete list of winners from this year’s ABPBH (Winners are written in BOLD):

Alhamdulillah.. syukur atas nikmat Allah . Berkat doa mak ayah nana, anak nana Rayyan yg jadi inspirasi untuk nana bekerja lebih kuat, seluruh ahli keluarga nana yang sentiasa menjadi tulang belakang nana & of coz my sweetheart semua fans2 nana , @sitinordianafc yg bertungkus lumus undi nana . Anugerah ini untuk kita semua ??? . . Tq @beritaharian @abpbh_32 , my manager @alanasosman , dan semua team2 nana @yumimarina @aidaglam2 @palyshamzah @asyrafarrif . Tq juga pada semua pihak media & semua yg menyokong karier nana ?? #sitinordiana

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Hype Streams: Fresh Shows & Movies For You To Watch This Week! (8th August – 14th August)

It’s been a long day and all you wanna do is go home, change into something comfortable, snuggle up in your blanket and just watch something good. There’s nothing more satisfying than ending your day with a good watch that you genuinely enjoyed and we at HYPE want to make sure you get to do just that.

Once again, we’re back with PLENTY of shows, movies and even documentaries for you to watch, but the best part is that they’re all new! Yup, you heard that right! No more repeating old shows, we’ve got you the fresh stuff. So without further ado, here’s shows, movies and documentaries that are coming to you this week:

The mischievous toddler Baby Groot learns how to grow up amongst the trouble in the stars along with the help of his friends and family in the ragtag superhero team the Guardians of the Galaxy.

Fun fact: Vin Diesel voices Groot, the living tree. He can, notably, only say “I am Groot,” though when he says it he means different things. To that end, Vin didn’t merely get in the recording studio and say “I am Groot” a few times. He asked director James Gunn for his character’s motivation before every different “I am Groot” reading.

Widowed English nurse Joan Kirkhope is on a quest to find answers about her husband’s mysterious death, while ex-detective Jack Darby has taken to the open road; the two meet in the outback and form an unlikely investigative team.

Following their father’s murder, three siblings move into a house filled with reality-bending keys; from the comics by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodriguez. Starring Connor Jessup as Tyler Locke, Emilia Jones as Kinsey Locke, and Jackson Robert Scott as Bode Locke. Additionally, Darby Stanchfield as Nina Locke and Aaron Ashmore as Duncan Locke.

The storyline of “If You Wish Upon Me” has been inspired by a real-life foundation in Netherlands. The story revolves around a young man (Ji Chang-wook) who struggled throughout of his life, enters a hospice hospital on the order of community service and together with the hospital staff, listens to the last wishes of people at the end of their lives in a bright and cheerful way through various episodes.

Many unspeakable horrors take place in the school corridors after dark. During the day, the building belongs to the students, but at night it’s a different story. Directed by seasoned Thai horror directors, James Thanadol Nuansut, Tum Putipong Saisikaew, Songsak Mongkolthong and Mike Phontharis Chotkijsadarsopon.

Renowned Dragon Knight Davion becomes embroiled in events much larger than he could have ever imagined. Voice cast include Yuri Lowenthal as Davion, Lara Pulver as Princess Mirana, Tony Todd as Slyrak, Troy Baker as Invoker. Thor and X-Men: First Class alum Ashley Edward Miller is serving as showrunner.

Five humans, who invested in the inventory marketplace, take part in a mysterious inventory meeting. There, they learn about life, love, and friendships through investing in shares.

When Poppy learns there are five other Trolls tribes scattered throughout the forest, she decides to bring delegates from the Country Western, Classical, Funk, Techno and Hard Rock tribes to live together in her village.

Can astrology find your soulmate and future spouse? Watch Cosmic Love on Amazon Prime Video this August 12, where The AstroTwins guide four single people on a journey to true love through their birth charts.

Not Okay is a 2022 American satirical black comedy drama film written and directed by Quinn Shephard. It stars Zoey Deutch as a young woman who desperately wants to be famous and beloved on the Internet, only for her efforts to lead to her mistakenly gaining fame as a survivor of a tragedy. It also stars Mia Isaac, Nadia Alexander, Embeth Davidtz, Karan Soni, and Dylan O’Brien.

Chronicling the impact of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath on a hospital. When the floodwaters rise, power fails and heat soars, exhausted caregivers at a New Orleans hospital are forced to make decisions that will follow them for years to come.

After unwittingly stealing money from a dangerous cartel, a cash-strapped professor finds the only way to save his family is by working as a drug courier, plunging him into Korea’s seedy underbelly.

Inspired by the life and stand-up of star and co-creator Chris Estrada, “This Fool” is an irreverent, cinematic half-hour comedy set in working class South Los Angeles. The show centres around Julio Lopez, a 30-year-old who still lives at home, has been dating his girlfriend on and off since high school and finds any excuse to avoid dealing with his own problems.

Julio works at Hugs Not Thugs, a gang rehabilitation non-profit, where he butts heads with his older cousin Luis, an ex-gang member who just got out of prison and moved in with Julio and his family.

After a traumatic year, a first-generation Indian-American teenager wants to improve her status at school, but friends, family, and feelings don’t make it easy on her.

In a road-trip story, a reclusive prepper abandons his bunker in search of a female prepper from his past; along the way, he meets an unlikely ally who is his polar opposite; they team up in an effort to find their lost loved ones.

When an intelligence agent is tasked with incriminating a squeaky-clean politician, he is forced to decide if there are still some lines he won’t cross in the names of upholding peace.

Where to watch: Netflix
While serenading a wedding that quickly implodes, a nomadic musician falls for the bride, who runs afoul of her family. Now he has to save her life.

After moving from New York City to Indiana, a 12-year-old navigates his parents’ divorce, his impending bar mitzvah and his new school’s social circles.

A hardworking dad out to provide for his daughter uses a boring pool-cleaning job as a front for his real gig: hunting and killing vampires.

Zed anticipates an athletic scholarship while Addison gears up for Seabrook’s first international cheer-off. Then suddenly, extraterrestrial beings arrive in Seabrook, provoking something other than friendly competition.

A gripping true-crime documentary series from Skye Borgman, director of the award-winning “Abducted in Plain Sight.” Anthony Templet shot his father and never denied it. But why he did is a complex question with profound implications that go far beyond one family.

Ever wondered what it’s like to get an inside scoop of the life of an artist? Step into the world and learn the story of Grammy-nominated and diamond-certified recording artist, Post Malone.

The phrase “like mother, like daughter” can be a positive thing, but in “sMothered,” four outrageous mother/daughter duos take this phrase — and their bonds — to the extreme. These inseparable, obsessed, loving women are a constant in each other’s lives. They share their most challenging and exciting moments, including how they dress in matching outfits, get plastic surgery and injections, share the same bath water, and even share the same bed.

Legendary game show Password is returning to NBC for a brand new season. The quiz program first aired back in 1961 with Allen Ludden as host but the format has recently been revived as a segment on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Now, following its success on The Tonight Show, Password is once again getting a full season of its own. The new episodes will star late night host Jimmy Fallon and be hosted by “Nope” actress Keke Palmer.

A team of rapid-fire renovators takes big risks and makes painstaking plans to transform families’ homes from top to bottom in just 12 hours.

Rising culinary talents battle Brazil’s best chefs to be named Iron Legend in this exhilarating competition hosted by Fernanda Souza and Andressa Cabral.

Hosted by Vinnie Politan and Judge Greg Mathis, with analysis from retired Judge Vonda Evans, “Court Night LIVE” sees civil cases from across the country litigated live from pop-up courtrooms in Philadelphia, Tampa, and Chicago in front of a gallery of community members. Politan, Mathis, and Evans provide context and bring their legal perspectives to viewers so that they can better understand how the wheels of justice turn.

8. RuPaul’s Secret Celebrity Drag Race (Season 2)

Three different fan favorites must give three different A-listers drag makeovers, and their queens battle it out in classic competitions for the title of America’s Next Celebrity Drag Superstar and prize money for the charity of their choice.

LIVE sports and hyperlocal content powerhouse app – sooka – is back with a campaign for subscribers who are eagerly awaiting the 2022/2033 Premier League season. Its “Bola Ikut sooka” campaign invites football fans to enjoy all of the 380 LIVE matches of the season, giving them the freedom to choose how they watch football on their device of choice, and pay as they like. For more info, visit their website.

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10 Movies We Loved That Were Based On Actual People/Events

There were movies that have won over audiences around the world and bagged prestigious awards for amazing screenplays – and then there were movies that were based on actual events that did the same. I remember these movies not because they were haunting or had elements of gore, but because it depicted the extraordinary lives of people or the events that actually happened in real life.

Regardless of how loosely based they were on the real back stories, here are some films that have stuck with me through the years, ranging from a royalty’s biopic to human survival, and even some of the typical Hollywood rom-coms:

This was perhaps the first ever film I’ve watched in my life that I honestly thought was mind-blowing although I was only really, really young at that time. I actually went hunting for the DVD much later on and I still love it till today so that counts for something, right?

The Last Emperor is a biopic about the life of Puyi, the last Emperor of China, whose autobiography was the basis for the screenplay written by Mark Peploe and Bernardo Bertolucci. Independently produced by Jeremy Thomas, it was directed by Bertolucci and released in 1987 by Columbia Pictures.

Puyi, of the Manchu Aisin Gioro clan, was the last Emperor of China and the 12th and final ruler of the Qing dynasty. Still a child, he ruled as the Xuantong Emperor from 1908 until his abdication on 12th February 1912, after the successful Xinhai Revolution. From 1st – 12th July 1917, he was briefly restored to the throne as a nominal emperor by the warlord Zhang Xun. In 1934, he was declared the Kangde Emperor of the puppet state of Manchukuo by the Empire of Japan, and he ruled until the end of the Second Sino-Japanese War in 1945.

After the People’s Republic of China was established in 1949, Puyi was imprisoned as a war criminal for 10 years, wrote his memoirs, and became a member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.

The film stars John Lone as Puyi, with Joan Chen, Peter O’Toole, Ruocheng Ying, Victor Wong, Dennis Dun, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Maggie Han, Ric Young, Vivian Wu, and Chen Kaige. It was the first feature film for which the producers were authorised by the Chinese government to film in the Forbidden City in Beijing. The Last Emperor went on to win 9 Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

I remember watching this in the cinema with, get this, my parents. It’s safe to say that they had a hard time trying to explain the “eating” part to a young Lainey after the movie.

Alive is an American biographical survival drama film based upon Piers Paul Read’s 1974 book “Alive: The Story of the Andes Survivors”, which details the story of a Uruguayan rugby team who were involved in the crash of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, which crashed into the Andes mountains.

Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571, also known as the Andes flight disaster and, in South America, as the Miracle of the Andes (El Milagro de los Andes) was a chartered flight carrying 45 people, including a rugby union team, their friends, family and associates, that crashed in the Andes on 13th October 1972. More than a quarter of the passengers died in the crash and several others quickly succumbed to cold and injury. Of the 27 who were alive a few days after the accident, another 8 were killed by an avalanche that swept over their shelter in the wreckage.

The survivors had little food and no source of heat in the harsh conditions at over 3,600 metres (11,800 ft) altitude. Faced with starvation and radio news reports that the search for them had been abandoned, the survivors fed on the dead passengers who had been preserved in the snow.  The last 16 survivors were rescued on 23rd December 1972, more than 2 months after the crash.

The film was directed by Frank Marshall and narrated by John Malkovich. One of the survivors, Nando Parrado (portrayed by Ethan Hawke in the film), served as the technical advisor for the film. The film also starred Vincent Spano and Josh Hamilton.

Patch Adams is a 1998 semi-biographical comedy-drama film starring Robin Williams, Monica Potter, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Bob Gunton. Directed by Tom Shadyac, it is based on the life story of Dr. Hunter “Patch” Adams, an American physician, social activist, clown, and author of the book, “Gesundheit: Good Health is a Laughing Matter”.

The real life person, Hunter Doherty “Patch” Adams was born 28th May May 1945. His father, an officer in the United States Army, had fought in Korea, and died while stationed in Germany when Adams was a teenager. After his father’s death, Adams returned to US with his mother and brother. Adams has stated that upon his return he encountered institutional injustice which made him a target for bullies at school. As a result, Adams was unhappy and became actively suicidal. After being hospitalised 3 times in one year for wanting to end his life, he decided, “You don’t kill yourself, stupid; you make revolution!”.

He founded the Gesundheit! Institute in 1971. Each year he organises a group of volunteers from around the world to travel to various countries where they dress as clowns in an effort to bring humour to orphans, patients, and other people.

Late comic legend and actor Robin Williams played Patch Adams in the film. Despite being poorly received by most critics, Robin William’s performance was praised by many viewers and the film was a box-office success, grossing over twice its budget in the United States alone.

This was perhaps the best and perhaps least life-threatening way to “experience” a war that is now long over and long gone – by watching a movie based on the actual event.

Saving Private Ryan is an American epic war film set during the Invasion of Normandy in World War II. Directed by Steven Spielberg and written by Robert Rodat, the film is notable for its graphic and realistic portrayal of war, and for the intensity of its opening 27 minutes, which depict the Omaha Beach assault.

Omaha Beach,second beach from the west among the five landing areas of the Normandy Invasion of World War II. It was assaulted on 6th June 1944 (D-Day of the invasion), by units of the US. 29th and 1st infantry divisions, many of whose soldiers were drowned during the approach from ships offshore or were killed by defending fire from German troops placed on heights surrounding the beach.

Saving Private Ryan follows United States Army Rangers Captain John H. Miller (played by Tom Hanks) and a squad (played by Tom Sizemore, Edward Burns, Barry Pepper, Vin Diesel, Giovanni Ribisi, Adam Goldberg, and Jeremy Davies) as they search for a paratrooper, Private First Class James Francis Ryan (played by Matt Damon), who is the last-surviving brother of 4 servicemen.

Come on, who doesn’t know who Eminem is, right?

8 Mile is an American hip-hop biopic film written by Scott Silver, directed by Curtis Hanson, and starring Eminem, Mekhi Phifer, Brittany Murphy, Michael Shannon, and Kim Basinger.

Said to be a “hip hop masterpiece”, 8 Mile was based on rapper Marshall Bruce Mathers III (Eminem) and his rap battles in Detroit. Eminem spent much of his formative years living in a largely black lower-middle-class Detroit neighbourhood. As a child, Eminem developed an interest in storytelling and aspired to become a comic book artist before discovering hip hop. Eminem heard his first rap song, “Reckless” featuring Ice-T. At the age of 14, he began rapping with high-school friend Mike Ruby, the two adopting the names “Manix” and “M&M”, which soon morphed into Eminem.

Eminem grew ready to test his skills by sneaking into neighbouring Osborn High School with friend and fellow rapper Proof for lunchroom freestyle battles. On Saturdays, the 2 friends attended open-mic contests at the Hip-Hop Shop, located on West 7 Mile. The spot was considered the “ground zero” for the Detroit rap scene. While struggling to succeed in a predominantly black industry, he gained the approval of underground hip hop audiences.

The film’s title is derived from 8 Mile Road, the dividing line between Detroit and its upper class suburbs. Filmed mostly on location in Detroit and its surrounding areas, the film was a critical and financial success. Eminem won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for “Lose Yourself”, the song which was iconic to this film.

For what it’s worth, despite how sad the memory condition really is, there’s a lot to love about this movie.

50 First Dates is an American romantic comedy film directed by Peter Segal and written by George Wing. The film stars Adam Sandler as a woman-chasing veterinarian and Drew Barrymore as an amnesiac, along with Rob Schneider, Sean Astin, Lusia Strus, Blake Clark, and Dan Aykroyd. The fictitious memory impairment suffered by Drew Barrymore’s character, Goldfield’s Syndrome, is similar to short term memory loss and Anterograde amnesia.

Here’s the twist: There actually is a real-life woman with an ultra-rare form of anterograde amnesia, and as a result, for nearly 20 years Michelle Philpots has been completely unable to form new memories.

Philpots was in a bad motorcycle accident in 1985 and an equally severe car accident in 1990, and her resulting injuries did enough cumulative brain damage that she started suffering from seizures and was diagnosed with epilepsy. By 1994, Philpots had completely lost the ability to retain any short-term memories, and she now has no recollection of anything that has happened for the past two decades. Which means that she starts off every single day believing it is still 1994. She has to use a deck of Post-it notes just to get through her day-to-day life.

Most of the film was shot on location in Oahu, Hawaii on the Windward side and the North Shore. Adam Sandler and Drew Barrymore won the award for Best On-Screen Team at the MTV Movie Awards.

If you’ve watched Marley & Me and you didn’t shed a single tear during the movie, you’re cold, real cold. Because this movie made me cry and want to hug my dog real tight for a long, long time.

Marley & Me is a 2008 American comedy-drama film about the titular dog, Marley. It was directed by David Frankel and the screenplay by Scott Frank and Don Roos is based on the memoir of the same name by John Grogan.

Told in first-person narrative, the book portrays Grogan and his family’s life during the thirteen years that they lived with their dog Marley, and the relationships and lessons from this period. Marley, a yellow Labrador Retriever, is described as a high-strung, boisterous, and somewhat uncontrolled dog. He is strong, powerful, endlessly hungry, eager to be active, and often destructive of their property (but completely without malice).

The strong contrast between the problems and tensions caused by his neuroses and behaviour, and the undying devotion, love and trust shown towards the human family as they themselves have children and grow up to accept him for what he is, and their grief when he finally dies from gastric dilatation volvulus (a stomach torsion condition) in old age, form the backdrop for the biographical material of the story.

The film, which starred Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston, was released in the US and Canada on 25th December 2008, and set a record for the largest Christmas Day box office ever with USD14.75 million in ticket sales.

Move aside, Hackers, because smooth kids are smooth!

21 is an American heist drama film directed by Robert Luketic and stars Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey, Laurence Fishburne, Kate Bosworth, Liza Lapira, Jacob Pitts, and Aaron Yoo. The film is inspired by the true story of the MIT Blackjack Team as told in “Bringing Down the House”, the best-selling book by Ben Mezrich.

The MIT Blackjack Team was a group of students and ex-students from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Harvard Business School, Harvard University, and other leading colleges who used card counting techniques and more sophisticated strategies to beat casinos at blackjack worldwide.

The team and its successors operated successfully from 1979 through the beginning of the 21st century. Many other blackjack teams have been formed around the world with the goal of beating the casinos.

Despite its largely mixed reviews and controversy over the film’s casting choices, 21 was a box office success, and was the number one film in the US and Canada during its first and second weekends of release.

Admit it – This film either made you fall in love with Mark Zuckerberg or Jesse Eisenberg or made geeks look cool all over again.

The Social Network is an American drama film directed by David Fincher and written by Aaron Sorkin. Adapted from Ben Mezrich’s 2009 book “The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius, and Betrayal”, the film portrays the founding of social networking website Facebook and the resulting lawsuits.

It stars Jesse Eisenberg as founder Mark Zuckerberg, along with Andrew Garfield as Eduardo Saverin, Joseph Mazello as Dustin Moskovitz, and Justin Timberlake as Sean Parker, the other principals involved in the website’s creation. Neither Zuckerberg nor any other Facebook staff were involved with the project, although Saverin was a consultant for Mezrich’s book.

The film received widespread acclaim, with critics praising it for its screenplay, editing, score, acting and direction. However, some people, including Zuckerberg himself, criticised the film for what they said were its many inaccuracies. The Social Network appeared on 78 critics’ Top 10 lists for 2010; of those critics, 22 had the film in their number-one spot.

At the 83rd Academy Awards, it received 8 nominations, including Best Picture, Best Director (Fincher), and Best Actor (Eisenberg), and won 3 for Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Original Score, and Best Film Editing. At the 68th Golden Globe Awards, the film won Best Motion Picture – Drama, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Best Original Score.

And here comes my guilty pleasure rom-com confession! In my defence, this one has an “aww”-inducing real-life story behind it.

The Vow is a romantic drama film directed by Michael Sucsy, starring Channing Tatum (who plays Leo Collins) and Rachel McAdams (who plays Paige Collins). A car accident puts Paige in a coma, and when she wakes up with severe memory loss, her husband Leo works to win her heart again. That, was actually inspired by a true story of a real-life couple named Kim and Krickitt Carpenter.

Kim and Krickitt Carpenter wrote a book about their marriage, also known as The Vow. 10 weeks after their wedding on 18th September 1993, the couple were involved in a serious car accident. Krickitt was put in a coma for 4 months and suffered a brain trauma, which erased all memories of her romance with Kim as well as their marriage. Kim was still deeply in love with his wife, although she viewed him as a stranger after the accident.

The Vow was a box office success, becoming the seventh highest-grossing romantic drama film of all time.

Alright, just putting it out there, the above list of movies are the ones that I personally loved. But if you’ve got any “based on actual events” movies that you’d like to add to the list, drop us a comment in the comment box below!

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The Funniest “Do You Want To Build A Snowman” Parodies

There are only a handful of post-“Frozen” (the Disney animation flick) symptoms that you might or might not experience after watching it. As much as we love Disney, their work can affect us in the weirdest ways:

And in the era of parody-spawning, surely there ain’t no better way to extend the shelf life of “Frozen”, which was released in November last year. Hence, the series of viral-worthy “Do You Want To Build A Snowman?” parodies that we’ve recently come across:

“Do You Want To Be My Husband?” – 7,519,220 views and counting.

So, thanks to WASSABI Productions, we can never look at a unibrow or a mole (like that) the same way again. We must say though, props to them for the awesome-although-somewhat-creepy “Do You Want To Be My Husband” version of the lyrics. Can’t think of anyone else who could’ve done it better, really.

“Do You Want To Go To Starbucks?” – 2,322,152 views and counting.

This girl from Point Loma Nazarene University sings beautifully about coffee, Starbucks, assignments, and finals. Sure, she looks like she’s suffering from fatigue but that hasn’t stopped her from traipsing around the library whilst singing about wanting coffee. Because there’s always time for that, right?

“Do You Want To Get A Beer, Man?” – 379,213 views and counting.

Of course, how could we go without including something for the bros, right? Created by musician Tommy Chuang, “Do You Wanna Get A Beer, Man?” is, in our opinion, one of the best male parodies of “Do You Want To Build A Snowman?”. As he sings, “Do you wanna get a beer man? Or play some video games? We never hang out anymore, you’re on the phone, with God-knows-who all day”, we’re just like, aww.

Which one was your favourite? Tell us in the comments!

And if you think you’ve seen better ones out there, feel free to share it with us.


Malaysian Synth-Pop Duo Pastel Lite To Open For The xx In Kuala Lumpur

Upfront Arena have announced that Pastel Lite will be the supporting act for The xx’s inaugural show in Malaysia this month.

The Malaysian synth-pop duo, who completely burst into the local music scene last year, will open for the popular British indie band at the Malaysian International Trading Centre (MITEC) on the 25th of January.

This marks a huge feat for Pastel Lite as it comes in the aftermath of their incredible first full-length album, Balada, which was released in July last year. Featuring 10 tracks, the album features central theme of human fragility that goes exceptionally well with their mellow undertones.

The entire album is available on Spotify and their hit track from the album, Damsel, has already been played over 13,000 thousands time on the music-streaming platform. They also have an average monthly listeners of about 2,384 people.

Having said that, this isn’t Pastel Lite’s first supporting role, given that they’ve previously opened for Fazerdaze and Tame Impala when both acts performed in Malaysia. They also performed at the Laneway Festival in Singapore back in 2015.

Meanwhile, tickets for The xx’s gig in Malaysia is still available for purchase but according to sources within The Upfront Arena and Ticketpro, they are running out quickly! So get yours as soon as possible on www.ticketpro.com.my!

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Billboard Music Awards 2019: The Complete List Of Winners

The 2019 Billboard Music Awards took place at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada. The award ceremony was hosted by no other than singer, Kelly Clarkson. This marked her second time returning as the host of the show.

The ceremony was indeed a remarkable one filled with memorable performances from Taylor Swift’s performance of her lead single “ME!” to BTS and Halsey’s performance of their latest single, “Boy With Luv”.

Other highlights of the night include singer Mariah Carey receiving the highest honor of the night, The Icon Award for her contribution to the music industry for over 30 years. Wanna know who went home with the most accolades?

Here’s the complete list of winners for the 2019 Billboard Music Awards.

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2019 Billboard Music Awards airs on Thursday (2nd May), 8 am on Blue Ant Entertainment (Unifi TV Ch 473) with an encore at 6:45 pm. Another encore airing time is on: Friday, 3rd May – 10:35 pm; Saturday, 4th May – 8:50 pm; and Sunday, 5th May – 1:30 pm.


#Syabas: Water Cut To Affect 19 Areas In Hulu Langat On 10th & 11th May

Uh oh, bad news for those living in Hulu Langat. As part of their ongoing effort to improve water distribution system in the Klang Valley, Syarikat Bekalan Air Selangor Sdn Bhd (Syabas) will be carrying out replacement of pipes next week.

The replacement work will take place from 8pm on 10th May to 3am on 11th May. “Supply will be restored in stages after completion of the work,” Syabas said in a statement.

The 19 areas in Hulu Langat that will experience temporary water interruptions are as follows:

Residents are advised to store sufficient water for their need during duration of disruption. Bernama reports that emergency water supply would be provided to hospitals, dialysis centres and premises housing the disabled.

For more information, hit up Syabas’ website here.


Daniel Craig And Rachel Weisz Are Expecting

Academy Award-winning actress Rachel Weisz is expecting her first child with her husband Daniel Craig.

The 48-year-old actress shared the happy news to the New York Times, “I’ll be showing soon. Daniel and I are so happy. We’re going to have a little human. We can’t wait to meet him or her. It’s all such a mystery.”

Weisz has an 11-year-old son from her former relationship with director Darren Aronofsky. Meanwhile Craig, 50, has a 25-year-old daughter from his previous marriage to actress Fiona Loudon.

Craig and Weisz began dating each other in 2010 and got married a year later in a private New York ceremony, with only four guests in attendance, including Weisz’s son and Craig’s daughter.

Sources: The New York Times, Huffington Post

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#Penang: Government To Ban Toy Claw Machines After 2018, Citing “Social Problems”

Well, we gotta say, that sure is a strange thing to ban.

The Penang government will ban all “simulator machines” or “games of chance” in the state after 2018 to curb the increasing number of social problems.

Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said the decision was made by the state during an exco meeting following concerns about social problems and the dumping of such machines, which include those that require people to try their luck at picking up small figurines and soft toys using a claw.

He said both the Penang Island City council (MBPP) and Seberang Prai municipal council (MPSP) will be notified of the new ruling.

The “toy claw” machine, also known as the claw crane machine or claw machine, is a type of arcade game known as a merchandiser and is commonly found in video arcades, supermarkets, restaurants, movie theatres, shopping malls, and bowling alleys.

In countries like Japan and South Korea, the machines can be found just about anywhere including along streets/alleys or “parked” in front of stores.

The machine consists of prizes, usually plush toys or alternatives such as jewellery, dolls, candy, and electronics. Players are required to insert money or tokens, which then allows the player to manipulate a joystick that controls the claw for a variable amount of time. The player is able to move the claw back, forth, and sideways before descending the claw and making an attempt to grip a prize.

After making the gripping attempt, the claw then moves over an opening in the corner of the case and releases its contents. If the player is successful, then the prize will be dropped into the opening and dispensed through a chute into a hatch.

Yes, it can get pretty addictive if one is persistent enough.

In speaking to reporters yesterday (Sunday, 26th February 2017), Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng said, “As for this year, simulator machines will only be allowed to operate inside hotels, malls and supermarkets but after 2018, Penang will no longer have any simulator machines.”

He also added that all new applicants for simulator machine licence would be rejected while the renewal of current licence will not be approved after 2018.

We get the smoking ban and the ban on plastic bags, but this? What do you guys think? Is this ban necessary or no? Let us know your thoughts!

Source: Bernama via MMO / Featured image: travel.thefuntimesguide.com.


MYPAA Presents Karnival Seni Kreatif Kita 2013

Hello Malaysians, it’s time to unleash the artist within you! Liberate your creativity and experiment arts for the pure fun of it at the coming Karnival Seni Kreatif Kita.

Set to unlock your imagination and ignite your artistic soul, this super chill-out under the sun arts and culture carnival is taking place at Bukit Layang-Layang, Pasir Gudang, Johor from the 11th to 12th May 2013. Karnival Seni Kreatif Kita is aimed at bringing greater awareness on arts and culture among the public as well as making arts accessible to everyone.

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The headliners include: the famed comedy troupe who played to sold-out shows at Istana Budaya, Lawak Ke Der (featuring Harith Iskander, Raja Azura, Osbon, Saiful Apek, Yasin), young composer/music sensation Najwa Latif (who also recently performed with Greyson Chance), Rolling Stone’s 25 Best Bands on Myspace Couple, glorious folk rock Azmyl Yunor and The Siggarettes, post grunge progressive rock band Primitive Leap, and Johor indie rock band Medinee amongst others.

The activities are aimed to attract Johoreans to enjoy a broad spectrum of arts and cultural activities including family friendly theatre shows, playwriting workshops, environmental designwork, theatre experiences including flashmobs, plays, ukulele, Capoeira, Johor traditional performances, games and many other fun activities.

Venue: Bukit Layang-Layang Pasir Gudang, Johor

For more information, visit their official website.

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The Avengers Shine In LA

Well well, now. We doubt it would need an introduction but we’re going to do it anyway.

“The Avengers” is the next big thing (next, but close enough in terms of time) to hit the cinemas. We’ve all followed the news sites and the blogs. We’ve all waited until after the credits to watch the teasers. We’ve all probably watched the trailer more than once. By the way, here it is again. Just in case:

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The American superhero film is produced by Marvel Studios (naturally, since it’s based on the Marvel Comics of the same name) and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures. Directed by Joss Whedon, the film features a mad superstar cast which includes:

The plot is pretty straightforward and simple – recruit superheros (Iron Man, Hulk, Thor, and Captain America) to save the world from destruction (Loki and an army of airborne alien invaders.). We would really like get into great detail and explain each and every single superhero’s role but we think you already know.

It will only be released in Malaysia on the 27th of April 2012 but yesterday, the cast of came together at a red carpet event – the Los Angeles Premiere of The Avengers at El Capitan Theatre in California. Dare we comment that from the pictures (that are by now, all over the Internet) that they all looked exquisite!

Oh my. What a beautiful looking ensemble of  the alpha-male (and female) heroes! Also, Scarlett, that’s a gorgeous Versace LBD you’ve got on there.

Hang on a minute – we’re actually jealous that we have to wait two whole weeks before we get to catch it in our cinemas. Bah. Humbug. But patience is a virtue, right? And good things come to those who wait. So wait, we will.

Excuse us while we go, uh, chew on our nails or watch paint dry.

For more information, visit their official movie website.


#Cabbies: Public Taxis To Introduce Mobile Application Like Uber & Grab

Last week, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak stated that the government will be coming up with a fair policy solution for taxis and ride-hailing apps like Uber and Grab after some 100 taxi drivers staged a huge protest at Bukit Bintang.

The Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) announced that they will carry out a transformation of taxi service this year, which includes creating a mobile application for public taxis.

Deputy Transport Minister Datuk Abdul Aziz Kaprawi said the new mobile application would be able to provide comfort and convenience to passengers. This development will be in cooperation with mobile network service providers.

“We will ensure the well-being of taxi drivers. Please trust the government,” he told reporters at the Parliament lobby yesterday (Monday, 4th April).

The deputy minister also said that Uber and GrabCar services had become passengers’ preferred choice just because their system are easily accessible, and not because local taxi services are of poor quality.

We are not sure if the mobile app idea will work because Kuala Lumpur taxi services were ranked one of the worst in the world last year. On a side note, wasn’t SPAD suppose to launch an app called Mesra Cab in February 2016?

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Happy 3rd Birthday, Mint Magazine!

Fans of Mint magazine are in for a treat as it celebrates its 3rd anniversary this Friday. Hosted by One FM DJs Max and Jane, the celebration is open to all as entry is completely free of charge.

What? Free party? With special appearances by Manhand, Kopi Lim, Orange Tan, Will Ng, Henley, and Voltz? On top of exclusive Mint goodie bags?

We also hear that the first 200 early birds will receive complimentary drinks (either two bottles of Tiger beer or two glasses of Johnnie Walker) and limited edition gear in collaboration with local street wear brands. So, if you’re game, here are the deets:

For more information, visit Mint magazine’s website.


Hype’s Exclusive: #EXO Talks Fame, New Album, & Most Memorable Country

It doesn’t matter what you think of SM Entertainment, the company is a beast in the Korean entertainment industry because they know how to stay on top of the game with their current idol groups. Sure, they’ve faced some issues with their artistes, but there’s no denying that the company has been working hard to make sure that their artistes are made of superstar qualities.

One of the most successful idol groups that they’ve produced is EXO, a Korean-Chinese boy band that made their debut in 2011.

The band originally consisted of 12 members, who were separated into 2 subgroups: EXO-K performs their songs in Korean while EXO-M performs in Mandarin. It was a unique but winning strategy because the company was able to promote the group in both China and Korea at the same time.

In less than 5 years, the group released multiple hit singles including “MAMA”, “Growl”, and “Overdose”. Their songs came with catchy beats and sleek choreographies, which helped them sell over a million copies every time they release a new album. Their 1st studio album “XOXO”, which consists of the breakthrough hit “Growl”, was released in 2013. The album proved successful, as it won both “Disk Daesang” at the 28th Golden Disk Awards and “Album of the Year” at the 15th Mnet Asian Music Awards (MAMA). Over a million copies of the album were sold, putting them as the fastest-selling Korean artiste in 12 years.

Last year, they released their 3rd EP, “Overdose”. Despite the member departure issues, the EP made them the highest-charting Korean male act on the Billboard 200. They even performed to a sold-out crowd for “EXO From. EXOPLANET #1 – THE LOST PLANET”, their 1st solo concert that started on 24th May at the Seoul Olympic Gymnasium.

Before EXO made their debut, SME continuously teased the group by releasing an exceptionally crazy amount of teasers that displayed the members’ talent. The method worked so well that the company was still using it for the promotion of their latest album, “EXODUS“.

“EXODUS” is their 2nd studio album that was released in both Korean and Mandarin versions on 30th March 2015. The comeback proved that they’ve returned to the Korean music scene stronger than ever as the title track, “Call Me Baby” received an all-kill status for being placed at #1 spot on all Korea’s major music charts.

On 31st March, the music video was released on their official YouTube channel. In less than 24 hours, the Korean version received over 4,000,000 views while the Mandarin version received over 2,000,000 views.

Prior to their comeback, SME released tonnes of mysterious teasers which caught our attention because of the way they built the anticipation. It proved that the group took few steps further in their career with the love and support given by EXO-Ls (as EXO fans are lovingly called).

And now, having covered most of the events organised by our friends from M.E. Malaysia, we were given a chance to interview EXO via e-mail.

Here’s what went down during our interview:

Congrats on being named the most influential celebrity by Forbes Korea! We understand that your previous album also sold a million copies. How does that feel?

We don’t really expect to sell million copies nor be in the top ranking. Just the simple fact that EXO is able to do comebacks and stood on the stage to greet our fans is something we are thankful about.

The concept for “EXODUS” is quite fascinating and it somehow linked back to your first mini-album “MAMA”. Tell us more about your comeback concept and how it affects you.

The album itself is called EXODUS which means “escape”. This album shows the shedding of EXO’s original image and to show you our more developed version. Through the “EXODUS” album, you can discover the evolved and matured images of EXO. Since we are coming back after a year, we are really nervous and excited at the same time.

The album’s title is “EXODUS”, what is the meaning of it? Please tell us the album concept and the direction of the music in the album.

This album shows the shedding of EXO’s original image, as well as a more developed version of EXO. Through “EXODUS”, you can discover the evolved and matured images of EXO.

Before the album was released, each member had a “Pathcode #EXO” clip, which surprised fans around the world. What was the hidden meaning behind it or the concept of “Pathcode #EXO”? What is the connection between each members?

The hidden message of the Pathcode is “awakening”. This means that EXO has awakened their supernatural power, and evolved into the next stage.

Please share with us the music style, track, concept, MV of the title track “Call Me Baby”.

“Call Me Baby” is about a song for a girl that one loves. The girl can also be perceived as our fans, EXO-L. The music style is a combination of old school music, together with the harmonising cheerful brass sound and the old school drum beats. We used the “long-take” technique for the “Call Me Baby” music video, which is kind of similar to a transition from a boy to a man.

Please share to the fans your recommended track except the title track “Call Me Baby”, and the reason.

Xiumin: “EXODUS”, it has a very fancy and luxurious atmosphere in it.

Chanyeol: I’d recommend “Transformer”! This is a really suitable track for EXO’s style, also the song itself is really good.

Sehun: A track called “Transformer”. I liked it since I first heard it. I like this song the most among all the tracks in the album.

How is the fashion style (fashion concept) of this album?

The fashion style is very manly, with an old school concept. But at the same time, it has developed into something classy. So it is different.

Your first regular album and repackage album in total has sold more than a million copies, which made you million sellers. What is the goal and the expectation of this album?

Chanyeol: We have achieved million selling for the album “Growl”, and I hope we can do it again this time.

From pure pop to R&B to dance music, EXO’s music is a mix of genres. But which music genre do you prefer and who do you listen to?

D.O: Recently, I’ve been listening to “Uptown Funk’” by Mark Ronson featuring Bruno Mars.

Did it surprise you that so many people are connecting with EXO’s music? How have the fans changed every single one of you?

Through our fans’ love, we can feel the happiness even more and deeper. As we are well aware about our fans’ love and attention, we work as one since we want to feel more happiness and give more love to others

You guys were given the chance to travel overseas for work. Since most of the teaser videos were shot overseas, how does that feel? Which country was the most memorable one for you, so much so that it made you want to go back there?

Chanyeol: I went to Barcelona, Spain to shoot my “Pathcode” teaser. I was sad that I did not have the chance to get into Sagrada Familia Cathedral. If I have another chance to visit there, I would really like to go to the cathedral.

Once again, we would like to thank M.E Malaysia for arranging this interview for us.

For more information about the band, visit EXO-K/EXO-M‘s official website or Facebook page.

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Fun Facts: 15 Amazing Facts About The Air Force One AKA The Flying White House

When we say, “Air Force One”, sneaker freakers would immediately register in their heads, the coveted Nike kicks. Alas, we’re not talking about the highly desirable pair of shoes.

We’re talking about what is otherwise known as the “Flying White House”, and we’ve got some fun facts in tow. What inspired us to draw up a list of Air Force One fun facts randomly, you ask? Having stumbled upon this:

On 26th April 2014, President Obama made his maiden official visit to Malaysia, the first by a sitting US president in 48 years since President Lyndon B. Johnson’s trip back in 1966 (as seen in the picture above).

In preparation for the president’s 3-day visit, a total Kuala Lumpur security lockdown was put in place. As customary wherever the US commander-in-chief is abroad, it will be strictly out-of-bounds as far as roads and airspace are concerned. Besides heightened police presence, expect road closures in major parts of the city with a “no-fly zone” to be enforced to protect the president ahead of his arrival at the RMAF base in Subang on Saturday (26th April) afternoon.

As a matter of fact, according to The Star, The US Secret Service was in the country over the past month prior to President Obama’s arrival, “securing” the president’s routes, hotel and places he will step foot in. US military cargo planes delivered logistical supplies for Obama’s visit, including support vehicles and trucks loaded with sheets of bullet-proof glass, to cover windows of the hotel Obama will stay in. Everyone was tight-lipped on the president’s movements here.

President Obama’s visit also signified the arrival of the president’s car, “The BEAST” as well as his official carrier plane, the Air Force One. What makes the Air Force One so badass and yet so special all at the same time? Read on to find out:

The “Air Force One” isn’t technically a plane. It’s simply the radio call name for any US Air Force plane carrying the US president. As soon as the president steps aboard an Air Force plane, that plane is referred to as Air Force One by the crew and all air traffic controllers, in order to avoid confusion with any other planes in the area. If the president rides on an army aircraft, that aircraft is Army One, and whenever he boards his specialised helicopter, that craft is Marine One. Civilians generally refer to the physical plane itself as Air Force One. It took its first flight in 1959 and has been serving the presidents of the country since then.

The plane has a capacity of nearly 70 passengers and 26 crew members, all of whom belong to the military and have an exemplary service record. All of them are dedicated in 24-hour service on the flight. The plane has the ability to carry the president whenever he needs to travel around the world. It’s also referred to as the “Flying White House” or the “Flying Oval Office” as it is equipped to be the office of the president while he is traveling.

3. You know it’s legit when there are symbols

No prizes for guessing why the Air Force One is one of the most recognisable symbols of the presidency! An undeniable presence wherever it flies, it bears the symbols of the Presidency of the US, including the words “United States of America”, the Seal of the President, and the American Flag.

Currently, there are actually not one, but two Boeing 747-200B jets are being used as Air Force One. Yes, the Air Force One are twins. How cute! Both of these customised jets are almost identical and reach a height of a 6-storey building and stretch to the length of a city block. A third plane is expected to join the fleet by 2017.

It has 4 General Electric CF6-80C2B1 jet engines, which provide 56,700 pounds of thrust a piece. The top speed is between 630 and 700 miles (about 1,126km) per hour and the ceiling maximum (i.e how high the plane can fly) is 45,100 feet (commercial 747s fly at about 30,000 feet).

The plane carries 53,611 gallons (about 203,000 litres) of fuel and weighs 833,000 pounds (about 377,000 kg) fully loaded for a long-range mission. With a full tank, the plane can fly half way around the world. The plane has mid-air refueling capability. As with the B-2 and other combat craft, it even has a mid-air refueling ability, giving the Air Force One the ability to stay up in the air indefinitely, which could be crucial in an emergency situation

The crew members are carefully screened military personnel with exemplary service histories. Even the crew members who prepare meals must operate with a high level of security. For example, when buying food, they must hit the stores undercover, and they must select markets at random, in order to protect the president from a poison attack. Onboard the plane, the crew provides 24-hour first class service.

Inside, the president and his travel companions enjoy 4,000 square feet of floor space on 3 levels, including an extensive suite for the president that features a large office, lavatory, and conference room. The president has onboard living quarters, with his own bedroom, bathroom, workout room/gym and office space. It also includes a medical suite that can function as an operating theatre, and a 24-hour on call doctor on board. The plane’s 2 food preparation galleys can feed 100 people at a time.

There are also quarters for other officials, guests and press reporters on board Air Force One, to accommodate all those who are accompanying the president. There are some parts of the plane where these people do not have access due to security reasons. The Air Force is careful to conceal specific details of the craft’s layout including its advanced avionics and defenses.

10. Let’s get technical – very technical

One of the most remarkable feature on the plane is its extensive electronics. It has 85 telephones, a collection of 2-way radios, fax machines and computer connections. It also has 19 TVs and assorted office equipment. The phone system is set up for normal air to ground connections and secure lines. The president and his staff can reach just about anybody in the world while cruising tens of thousands of feet in the air. The onboard electronics include about 238 miles of wiring (twice the amount you’d find in a normal 747).

11. Double, triple protected & super secure

The equipment and wiring on Air Force One is covered with tough and heavy shielding in order to protect it from electromagnetic pulse, which can be there in the event of a nuclear blast. It is also equipped to withstand any kind of air attack. For this purpose, it is loaded with electronic counter measures (ECM) which can jam radar from enemies. The plane can also eject flares to throw heat-seeking missiles off course. Some of the most interesting parts of the plane i.e its advanced avionics and defenses, are classified

12. It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a..mobile command centre?

The Air Force One is equipped with advanced secure communications equipment, allowing the aircraft to function as a mobile command centre in the event of an attack on the US. On 11th September 2001, the president’s plane showed that it was much more than an executive jet – it became a mobile bunker when all ground positions seemed vulnerable to attack.

In advance of every Air Force One flight, the Air Force crew sends C141 Starlifter cargo carrier planes, toting the president’s motorcade, to the destination. This collection includes bulletproof limousines and vans, loaded with weaponry, to keep the president safe on the ground.

14. A complete military operation & the works

Each and every flight of Air Force One gets the status of a military operation. The plane as well as the runway of the Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland is carefully scrutinized by the Air Force crew and then the President is transported there from the White House by Marine One helicopter. Teams all over the base keep an eye out for any unauthorised craft in the area and are authorised to shoot on sight.

Most presidents form close connections with their flight crew, and the final Air Force One flight is always an emotional trip. The Air Force One is maintained and operated by the Presidential Airlift Group which is part of the White House Military Office.

Mindblown? Safe to say that it is truly the mode of transportation for the most important person in the world. Meanwhile, on a less serious note, watch as President Obama takes on Jimmy Kimmel’s mean tweets segment in a special presidential edition.

Sources: South Report, Air Force One Wikipedia, The Star, World Blaze, Nairaland.

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Fun Facts: 10 Fascinating Things You Need To Know About “Captain America: Civil War”

The long awaited “Captain America: Civil War” is fast approaching and like you, we’re excited to see what’s in store when the film is released. Marvel comic book fans, especially, have been hoping for Civil War, one of the all-time great comic book events, to one day make it to the silver screen.

And now that it’s finally becoming a reality, we thought that it’d be apt to compile some fun facts to help you better understand the fascination with “Captain America: Civil War”. Don’t worry, we tried to keep this as spoiler-free as possible.

1. In the beginning, its working title was not “Captain America 3”

We can’t even make this up even if we tried! We all knew it as “Captain America 3” because that was as much as Marvel would tell us. But when principal photography for “Captain America: Civil War” began on 27th April 2016 in Fayette County, Georgia at Pinewood Atlanta Studios, its working title was actually “Sputnik”. What is this “Sputnik” and how is it relevant to “Captain America: Civil War”? Sputnik is was the first artificial Earth satellite that he Soviet Union launched it into an elliptical low Earth orbit some 60 years ago. It was visible all around the Earth and its radio pulses were detectable. This surprise success precipitated the American Sputnik crisis (a period of public fear and anxiety about the perceived technological gap between the US and Soviet Union) and triggered the Space Race, a part of the larger Cold War. Cold War, Civil War, you get the point*.

*This hasn’t been verified by Marvel so we’re just guessing.

2. How “Captain America: Civil War” will kick off

Initially, fans assumed that the film would focus largely on the fallout from “Captain America: The Winter Soldier”, with Steve Rogers hunting for his brainwashed former BFF Bucky and facing the remnants of Hydra alongside Natasha Romanoff and Sam Wilson. But last October, Marvel confirmed that “Captain America: Civil War” would centre on the comics’ divisive Civil War storyline from 2006, which sees Steve Rogers and Tony Stark go head to head over superhero civil rights. The plot picks up where “Avengers: Age of Ultron” left off, as Steve Rogers leads the new team of Avengers in their continued efforts to safeguard humanity. After another international incident involving the Avengers results in collateral damage, politicians form a system of accountability and a governing body to settle on when to call in the Avengers. This results in the fracturing of the team into 2 opposing factions, which start from Steve Rogers, who performs without any sort of regulation from the government, and the other by Tony Stark, who highly supports the government.

3. The film may be a little different from the comics

Although “Captain America: Civil War” will be based on the comic versions, there’s a high chance that it won’t be completely faithful towards the comics. The Russo brothers spent more than a year with the screenwriters and producer Nate Moore combing through the script to make sure each character’s emotional arc tracked correctly. However, they cautioned that at some point “you have to sacrifice logic for expediency” otherwise you end up with a 3-and-a-half hour movie. In fact, the superhero conflict between Captain America and Iron Man will be slightly altered from the source material. But that is in no way insinuating that the film won’t be a great because it is still one of Marvel Comics’ biggest crossover events. The movie’s plot will be tied into the aftermath of “The Avengers: Age of Ultron” and the conclusion of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) Phase Two.

4. It’s basically Avengers 2.5, but a few characters won’t be in it

It’s true, and we already know by now that the Hulk (played by Mark Ruffalo), Thor (played by Chris Hemsworth), the Fantastic Four, and some villains from the comics aren’t in the film. But “Captain America: Civil War” will make up for that by introducing another Marvel character, Black Panther, in a big way. Marvel Studios announced the film in October 2014 but they certainly took their time to confirm that Black Panther aka T’Challa would be in it. It is believed that he would be playing a crucial role, similar to the part in the comics played by Spider-Man i.e. torn between both sides. Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige confirmed this previously when he said, “The reason we introduced him is because we needed a third party… We needed fresh eyes who wasn’t embedded with the Avengers and who has a very different point of view than either Tony or Steve.” The film is also going to be a big welcome home for Spider-Man to the MCU. In the comics, Spider-Man initially sides with Iron Man but later has a change of heart and chooses to side with Captain America.

5. Who is in it and who is on whose side?

At this point, almost everyone is in it. And for a while, the golden question was, “Who is on whose side?” As seen in the Super Bowl 50 “Captain America: Civil War” spot, on Team Cap, there’s Falcon (played by Anthony Mackie), Hawkeye (played by Jeremy Renner), Ant-Man (played by Paul Rudd), plus of course the Winter Soldier (played by Sebastian Stan), whose friendship with Cap will play a major role in the movie. Team Iron Man’s (played by Robert Downey Jr) side is led by the Vision (played by Paul Bettany), Black Widow (played by Scarlett Johansson), as well as long-time ally War Machine (played by Don Cheadle) and newcomer Black Panther (played by Chadwick Boseman). The Hulks was originally slated to be in it but the screenwriters wrote him out because they felt that he would’ve made the fight uneven since he’s so powerful.

6. There’s a high chance that Ant-Man will get supersized

Marvel Studios confidently introduced Ant-Man (played by Paul Rudd) as part of the “Captain America: Civil War” cast even before audiences have officially met him. And now that we all have seen the tiny little superhero in July 2015’s “Ant-Man” movie, some surprises are in tow for the character for “Captain America: Civil War”. For starters, during an “Ant-Man” press tour, Paul said that although he won’t have a huge (cough) role, it will be “a memorable one”. What did he mean? Well, all signs have pointed to an enhanced version Ant-Man’s suit growing to around 20 – 30ft tall instead of shrinking. Apparently, event is set to happen during Iron Man’s Pro Forces, which will make Ant-Man grow tall and battle against him. We’re also looking forward to Ant-Man offering comic (no pun intended) relief when his absurd moments break the Avengers’ intense seriousness.

P/S: By the way, this wouldn’t come as a surprise to fans of the comics because growing bigger is one of Ant-Man’s abilities.

In May 2015, the Russo brothers, along with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and Sony’s Amy Pascal, held a screen test in Atlanta for 6 teenage actors that were being eyed for the role of Peter Parker / Spider-Man, with the actors testing against Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans for “chemistry”. Tom Holland, who received praise from the Russo brothers for having a dancing and gymnastics background, was cast as the character the next month, to also appear in a solo film. However, at that time, Marvel couldn’t confirm his involvement in “Captain America: Civil War” due to being contractually obligated not to talk about his inclusion publicly.

Note: Spider-Man is owned and controlled by Sony. It was only recently that Sony and Marvel Studios came to an agreement that would allow Spider-Man to appear in the MCU films.

The Russos discussed this, saying that the various business deals and agreements stemming from the sharing of the character rights, such as on a promotional and commercial level were always lagging slightly behind how we were using the character. “We were always in danger of upsetting the deal – there were still sensitive issues going on between the two studios that they needed to agree on,” they said.

8. Let’s talk about the additional cast members

So, Gwyneth Paltrow and John Slattery will reprise their roles as Pepper Potts and Howard Stark respectively, from previous MCU films. Martin Freeman will be introduced as Everett Ross, a member of the Joint Counter Terrorism Center and a character associated with Black Panther in the comics. Freeman described Ross as someone who “works for the American government, works in conjunction with the superheroes, and certain agencies that help to tame the superheroes’ power”. Emily VanCamp will make her return as Sharon Carter. Alfre Woodard, who portrays Mariah Dillard in the MCU TV series “Luke Cage” will appear in the film as Miriam Sharpe, the mother of an American citizen killed in the battle of Sokovia. Marisa Tomei will play May Parker, Peter Parker’s aunt, while Hope Davis and Jim Rash are cast in undisclosed roles.

Oh, and of course, Stan Lee will make a cameo appearance. Because Marvel legend.

In “Avengers: Age of Ultron”, Tony Stark’s arrogance almost destroyed the planet – although everybody quickly forgave him for that. So it’s easy to assume that he could be the true antagonist in “Captain America: Civil War”. Contrary to popular belief (based on the teasers that have been released to date), Iron Man will not go all crazy and try to kill somebody. There are other villains at play and their names are Baron Zemo (played by Daniel Bruhl) and Crossbones (played by Frank Grillo). In the comics, the Hydra-affiliated Baron Zemo was the one who exposed Winter Soldier/Bucky Barnes to the public. Baron Zemo is also the founder of the Masters of Evil, a supervillain ensemble in the same vein as the Avengers. Crossbones, on the other hand, is responsible for assassinating Captain America (in the comics) after the war had ended.

10. “Captain America: Civil War” could end with Bucky picking up the shield

As General Ross said, “There will be consequences.” so there will be some dramatic deaths in “Captain America: Civil War” because the death toll in the comics is high. In fact, the event of the Civil War comics culminated in the death of Steve Rogers, the original Captain America. But it remains to be seen if Captain America’s death will happen in the movie. Also, it is likely that many heroes won’t survive the war unscathed i.e. the trailer features Tony Stark holding the defeated War Machine. On the other hand, the film may not emulate the comics and judging by the upcoming films and contracts, some characters will survive the war e.g. Iron Man (set to appear in Infinity Wars), Black Panther (5 more Marvel films ahead including his own movie), Spider-Man (has a solo movie in 2017).

Directed by the Russo brothers, “Captain America: Civil War” is slated to arrived in cinemas on 6th May 2016.

For more information, hit up the movie’s website.

Sources: WhatCulture, Digital Spy, Civil War Wiki, Sputnik Wiki, Screen Rant, Collider, mdft, Jarvis City / Featured image via Marvel.

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Minister Confirms That White Rabbit Candy Is Not Halal

Ever since Brunei’s Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) did a lab test and labelled the White Rabbit candy as non-halal, the debate has been ongoing.

The Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Fuziah Salleh informed TV Al Hijrah that our favourite childhood candy is officially non-halal and thus, certified haram.

The National Chemistry Department ran a test on the sweet milky sweet and found traces of cow and pig DNA in it. As previously reported, Muslim consumers have been advised to avoid the Chinese-made product even though it went viral over the past few months.

As you may know, foodies have not just been introduced to White Rabbit candy-flavoured ice-cream but also White Rabbit boba tea and cakes. Project Ice Cream and Rumah Gelato are several brands that made the decision to discontinue the White Rabbit dessert. It’s likely that more F&B chains will follow suit.


Hype’s Must Watch: #Interstellar

In July, we gushed about a new Christopher Nolan movie that’s set to take the world by storm once again.

The movie, a deep-space epic, will feature Matthew McConaughey (who plays an astronaut named Cooper). Both him and Anne Hathaway are sent on a space mission to explore a newly discovered wormhole. Will it surpass the limitations on human space travel and expose us to what could possibly be out there? Yes.

The trailer we saw in July looked promising, on top of Nolan’s claim that Interstellar will have the grandest scope of any film that he has ever made. It took us out into space to give us a good look at what appears to be another beautiful planet, amongst other “otherworldly” shots.

However, a new trailer was just released and it looks more magical than the last! In fact, it’d be safe to say that this new trailer is definitely going all out. To be clear: this is the trailer that’s probably showing you half of the movie, but it’s all so gorgeous that it’s hard to look away. We see a destroyed Earth, a desperate mission into space, and strange discoveries on a marvellous new world.

Interstellar is slated for a 7th November worldwide release.

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


ShopBack Malaysia Launches ShopBack PayLater With Refreshing New Look

Great news, everyone! ShopBack—Asia-Pacific’s leading shopping and rewards platform—has just launched their Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) payment option, ShopBack PayLater. The intergrated BNPL feature not only provides a seamless, convenient and rewarding shopping experience, but it is also a one-stop solution to appease the demands of users and aid in user-merchant engagement.

Apart from aspiring to be the preferred checkout option for over 30 million shoppers, ShopBack Group intends to present a whole new look as part of their first global brand refresh launch across 10 markets in Asia Pacific. With “For the Wins” being their new tagline, the new brand look inspires to translate the wins on ShopBack’s platform into an elevated shopping experience.

“Here at ShopBack, we believe big things are powered by small wins, where cumulative triumphs add up
to a huge impact for all. We want users to expect multiple gains and taste personal victories every time
they use ShopBack, be it gaining meaningful experiences through rewards, savings, smart access, and
financial flexibility,” said Mr. Jason Wong, General Manager of ShopBack PayLater, ShopBack Malaysia.

Wait, there’s more! Together with the launch of ShopBack PayLater as well as the global rebrand look, ShopBack Malaysia also extends their generosity by offering all their shoppers an exclusive discount so that Malaysians can engage in the benefits of the new feature. New users will be given 25% off their first ShopBack PayLater purchase with no minimum spend.

Furthermore, shoppers can expect to win up to RM50,000 worth of prizes which includes a Prism+ 65″ TV, TUMI Latitude luggage, FitBit Sense Watch, shopping vouchers, gift cards and exclusive ShopBack merchandise if they purchase via in-store with ShopBack PayLater at any of the participating brands.

Locations include JD Sports and Pomelo (1 Utama Shopping Center), Mimpikita (Jalan Ara, Bangsar), Love Bonito (Mid Valley Megamall), Royal Sporting House and JD Sports (Pavilion KL), Al-Ikhsan (IOI City Mall, Putrajaya). The ShopBack app can be downloaded on the Android and iOS devices here.

Neetashini Kanendran contributed to this article

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Who’s Next: YG Entertainment Drops Teaser For 21.10.2014

Uhm, what? YG Entertainment has dropped yet another Who’s Next poster?

The first teaser (for 10.10.2014) was revealed just 24 hours ago. But now it looks like fans of YG Entertainment and its artistes will have 2 awesome surprises in store this month! Also, this has never happened before in history! YG Entertainment’s “Who’s Next?” teasers are usually released one by one, and spread over a span of time. Hardly twice in a month.

As seen in the picture above, this second one is dated 21.10.2014.

So let the speculations begin. While Tablo of Epik High has hinted about their comeback with the group’s 8th album, fans of YG artistes are also hoping to see a new release from K-Pop idol boy group BIGBANG. But what if the “Who’s Next?” posters are referring to different things i.e. 10.10.10.2014 for an album comeback, 21.10.2014 for a solo single, and not 2 albums?

What if it’s the return of YG Entertainment’s baby idol aka Lee Hi. Or the long-awaited debut of YG Entertainment’s rumoured K-Pop idol girl group, codenamed “Pink Punk“?

Who do you think it’s going to be? Who do you want to see most?


7 Beautiful & Chilly Places You Should Visit In Malaysia To Beat The Heat

The humid Malaysian weather has been ongoing for a few weeks now. While cooling off with some of the best Ice Kacang options in town or frozen desserts at a nearby mall sounds like a good idea, many of us dread going out and would rather stay indoors.

However, how much can your air conditioner help cool you down? Rather than making your AC do all the work, why not consider some chilly places you can visit in Malaysia? Here’s a list of 7 beautiful and cooling places in our country that you can visit to beat the heat:

On first look, you would never imagine such a place to exist in Malaysia. Located in Bentong District, Pahang, Bukit Tinggi is a cooling place to calm your mind and refresh yourself. While you’re there, a must visit within this beautiful spot is Colmar Tropicale, a French-themed village. This French countryside is actually a replica of a collection of buildings from a northeastern village in France that harks back four centuries. Stepping into Bukit Tinggi would be like you’re travelling to another dimension.

Cameron Highlands is a popular go-to spot for many of us. Known for its green tea plantation and abundant fauna and wildlife, Cameron Highlands is the perfect destination if you want a break from the Malaysian heat. Situated in Pahang and nestled on top of serene mountains, Cameron Highlands’ cold climate and various attractions has made it a popular tourist attraction. Whether you’re looking to just chill or to fill your week with some interesting activities, Cameron Highlands can cater to both. Click here to visit their website.

More commonly known as Bukit Fraser by locals, Fraser’s Hills is a highland resort destination located in Pahang. As one of the last hill stations of Malaysia, Fraser’s Hills is one of the more popular cooling holiday retreats in our country. Other than being just a place with a cooling climate, one can also find a variety of nature activities here.

If you want to find out what else does Fraser’s Hills have to offer, click here.

This list will not be complete without the worldwide tourist destination — Genting Highlands. Perched on the peak of Gunung Ulu Kali at 1,800 meters high, Genting Highlands can be counted as one of the most worthwhile getaways from this scorching heat. Beside having a chilling climate, Genting Highlands can entertain you for days. From shopping malls and casinos to premium outlets and their newly-opened Skyworlds Theme Park, this destination offers plenty of entertainment.

For more information, you can visit here.

For those who are looking for a quick escape from the urban heat, the village located near Bentong district, Pahang, Janda Baik, is a good place for you to visit. Known for its cooling weather and natural surroundings, Janda Baik offers an instant relief from our hot weather. One of the must visit in this place is Lata Tampit, a beautiful waterfall. Other than that, you can expect the usual nature activities like experiencing the rural ‘kampung’ and jungle trekking at Janda Baik.

Also known as the New Zealand of Borneo, Kundasang lies at an elevation of almost 1.9k meters in East Malaysia. As the highest settlement in Malaysia, Kundasang is an ideal place to visit if you’re looking to chill out under the hot weather. This hill station in Sabah is the closest town to Mount Kinabalu. With a panoramic view of the mountain, wouldn’t you want to pay this place a visit to view its beauty and experience its cool climate for yourself?

The valley town of Tambunan is called The Switzerland of The East for a reason. Located in Sabah, the town is known for its humid climate throughout the year. Other than that, a terraced paddy fields covers a majority of its lands. Even though the town main source of income is its rice production, the town has also grown to be a tourist destination. This beautiful and peaceful town is a recommended spot if you’re looking to wind down and chill.

Click here if you are looking for more information.

This article is contributed by Amelia Er.

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Hype’s Exclusive: Making “Beautiful Memories” With Lunafly

It may be a little exaggerating to say this, but even those who aren’t extremely familiar with Lunafly will know that pianist, percussionist, and vocalist Teo is no longer part of the band. No one really knows why he decided to leave, even though he cited “personal circumstances” as the key reasons for dropping out of the group. However, Lunafly also did not disband because of that particular reason.

Their talent agency, Nega Networks, has instead expanded them into a 4-piece pop band, with Jin and Yub joining the group as drummer and guitarist respectively.

Before Yub and Jin debuted as part of the band, Lunafly was just a small multi-talented band with a huge fan following outside of Korea. They made their official debut in 2012 with their self self-composed track, “How Nice Would It Be”. Having toured extensively overseas, they slowly became a multilingual band as they also learned how to sing in other languages such as Spanish and Mandarin. They then shared their covers of foreign pop songs on their official YouTube channel.

Lunafly broke the typical Korean boy band stereotype by writing, composing, and singing their own music. Though they are considered underrated in the Korean music scene, their international fan base is constantly growing, proving that their musical talents are not ones to be overlooked.

And now, having covered most of the events organised by our friends from M.E. Malaysia, we managed to get in touch with Lunafly, who told us about working together as a 4-member band and their upcoming concert tour.

Not much has been revealed about Jin and Yub, who officially joined Lunafly earlier in March this year, but you’re about to find out how they got together and what made them decided to join Lunafly in our exclusive interview with the group below:

Lunafly recently reborn as a 4-piece band with the additions of guitarist Yub and drummer Jin. How is it like working together? Did it become easier or more difficult for you all to decide on the overall sound of the band?

Lunafly: At first, it took some time to get to know each other and what music we like. As soon as the guys came in we had to record our Spanish album “Hermosos Recuerdos (Beautiful Memories)” together so that helped with getting to know each others’ work ethics. Our new sound is something that we are working on and we have written some great songs together already so we are looking forward to our next album’s release.

Let’s talk a little bit about the new members – how did Yub and Jin join the group? In terms of hobbies and talents, tell us more about yourselves.

Yub: I knew Sam and Yun already and actually recorded my guitar parts for some of their previous tracks. Sam, Yun, and our producer asked me to come in, which was an easy decision.

Jin: My professor at my university knows Lunafly’s producer who asked me to come and meet Sam and Yun. After a long talk together, I was honoured to be asked to play drums in the band.

For Jin and Yub, what did you guys think about LUNAFLY before eventually joining the group? Are there any other artistes that you guys look up to?

Yub: As I said I knew Sam and Yun before from playing guitar on some of their tracks and was always impressed with their passion for music and their songwriting skills. I like many guitarists, such as Eric Clapton.

Jin: I knew of Lunafly and knew them as a group who makes great music. I like a lot of jazz and funky music.

How will you guys be involved in the creative process of the band’s future albums?

Yub and Jin: We have already started writing and producing new songs with Sam and Yun. Luckily we realised that with Sam’s skills in the studio we have no need of an engineer and are able to record at any time. We are looking forward to finishing up our next album together.

The band already pulled fans from a lot of different countries for being able to cover songs in different languages. With the new members, does it open up new avenues for Sam and Yun to perform in ways that you might not otherwise?

Sam and Yun: It is something that we are thinking about a lot. We have already performed 2 shows together in Guatemala and Canada and had a lot of fun. We definitely want to keep singing in different languages but perhaps focus more on producing original songs.

“Hermosos Recuerdos” is the group’s 2nd studio album, but it is also the 1st-ever Spanish language album. How long did it take for you guys to learn Spanish and rearrange the songs in the album?

Lunafly: The songs in the album have been written at different times. A few of them were written late last year and another few of them were written 2 weeks before the album was released. Sam firstly wrote the lyrics in English and then we had some friends from Venezuela and Chile help us with the Spanish lyrics. We sung in Spanish before from doing covers so we were comfortable, but our friends really helped us out with the pronunciation.

What were some of the songs that inspired you to work on a Spanish-language album with your producers?

Lunafly: Definitely the songs we’ve covered before from artistes like Jesse & Joy’s “Corre” and “Me Voy”. Reik’s “Creo en ti” also inspired us a lot.

Other than the language itself, how do you think this album is different compared to the previous albums? Were you guys nervous about how the album will be received by fans?

Lunafly: Most songs on this album are very much an acoustic band sound, so we felt like we were kind of reproducing songs from our first ever album which was nice. We were of course very nervous like we always are! But luckily our fans have been very supportive of the album.

Lyrically, which song is your favourite and why?

Lunafly: The title track “A ti” is a very sad song and is our favourite on the album. It’s about a guy who’s going through some tough times because of a girl.

Since the band already released a Spanish-language album, have you ever considered releasing a new album in other languages?

Lunafly: We definitely want to try other languages too. We want to try Malay for sure so you guys should hook us up with some lyric writers!

Are there any moments you remember as particularly exciting while recording the album?

Lunafly: Well, we had to finish the recording very quickly by ourselves so we couldn’t have as much fun as we wanted to, but certainly singing in Spanish brought some very funny moments in terms of pronunciation.

In a recent interview with HelloKpop, Sam stated that the band is going for its 2nd Latin America tour this April. How will Jin and Yub be involved in the tour and what fans can expect from them in the future?

Lunafly: We now perform as a full band on stage so fans can expect a great live show.

Lunafly went on a sold out Latin America tour and European tour last year. What’s the weirdest thing that has happened on tour?

Lunafly: In Latin America, we had some underwears thrown at us on stage for the very first time. That was quite an experience.

Have any other artistes ever reached out to you after the tour? Any personal checklist of artistes that you guys would like to work with?

Lunafly: Recently in Canada we met a lot of great artistes and bands after our show and hung out a bit. We are actually terrible at networking with other artistes because we are always just working in our studio. That is something we will work on this year!

Sam: They’re are a lot of producers I would like to work with. Steve Aoki, David Guetta, Timbaland, and Pharell being some of them.

After the Latin America tour, any plans of coming back to Malaysia with the new members this year?

Lunafly: We would love to go! We haven’t been to Malaysia for so long now and we miss the people and fans there a lot. We are waiting patiently for a call from our management in Malaysia!

Lunafly: We are going to Bolivia soon to do a show and have other shows lined up later in the year like Australia and some other countries have been in contact. We are currently working on the next album which we are really putting a lot of energy into.

Sam: I have been producing a few tracks for other groups so please look out for them too.

Once again, we would like to thank M.E Malaysia for arranging this interview for us.

For more information about the band, visit Lunafly’s official Facebook page and Twitter. Don’t forget to subscribe to their official YouTube channel for more melodic tunes from them.

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(UPDATE) #Namewee: Controversial Rapper Remanded By Police After Landing In KLIA

Shortly after landing in Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA) at 3:30pm on Sunday (21st August) afternoon, the controversial rapper was arrested by police in relation to his “Oh My God” music video which allegedly insulted Islam.

Namewee, whose real name is Wee Chee Meng, will be remanded for a total of 4 days under Section 295 of the Penal Code for injuring or defiling a place of worship with intent to insult the religion of any class. The remand order was granted by magistrate registrar Ahmad Tajudin Zain and will be effective until Thursday (25th August).

Wee was brought to Penang’s magistrate court this morning (Monday, 22nd August) at 10:20am and was handcuffed while being led by 2 unknown personnel.

A day before his arrest, Namewee uploaded 2 videos on his YouTube page, the edited version of “Oh My God” and a short 3-minute video showing the rapper’s body condition before being remanded.

In July, the 33-year-old released the music video for “Oh My God”, a Mandarin song which touched on the main religions in Malaysia, including Islam. Featuring Taiwanese band Nine-One-One (911), the video, directed and produced by Namewee, was shot in a number of places of worship in Penang.

It also includes a montage of visuals and sounds of religious prayers, a church choir singing, Buddhist meditation chants and gongs, and even the ringing of Hindu temple bells. Namewee can be heard saying, “Hallelujah”, “Om Mani Padme Hum”, “Allah”, and“Namo Amitabha” in the video.

It was soon taken down after complaints from various unnamed non-governmental organisations, although Wee has stated that the video was made with the best of intentions and “to promote harmony within all religions”.

Penang police will seek the assistance of Interpol in locating the 3 men who were featured in Namewee’s music video.

Datuk Abdul Ghafar Rajab, Penang police chief, said that based on information obtained from Namewee, they are sure that the 3 men are Taiwanese. He continued, “Investigations are on-going and we will get assistance from Interpol to find the 3 men to record their statements. So far, police have recorded statement from 7 people.”

The police will also hold a meeting with Penang Islamic Religious Department (JAIPP) to determine the extent of damage caused by the rapper.


10 Of The Most Controversial Concerts In Malaysia

Censorship issue in Malaysia is a long-term subject that has become more apparent in its effort to adapt to current affairs. Malaysia has constantly made international news for banning concerts of various mega superstars due to the strict rules that need to be adhered to by the performers.

In the past decades, a number of mega superstars and celebrities have either been banned from performing or simply decided to cancel their concerts and shows due to many restrictions imposed from various authorities. Entertainers who have tried performing in Malaysia have either been banned or pulled out at the last minute due to clothing restrictions.

Here are 10 most controversial concerts and the different points of views that have banned multiple world class artists from performing in Malaysia.

Did you manage to attend any of the aforementioned concerts?

Sources: Twitter, Reuters, Malaysia Asia, RojakDaily.


(UPDATE) #BangkokBlast: Large Explosion Rocks Central Bangkok Intersection

A large explosion rocked a central Bangkok intersection during the evening rush hour, killing at least 3 people and injuring 25 others, police said.

The cause of Monday’s explosion, which sounded like a loud thunderclap to people living nearby, was not immediately known. Police said the injured included some foreigners.

An Associated Press reporter at the scene said he saw one body and body parts. A reporter for the television station Thai PBS said he counted 12 bodies at the scene.

The explosion took place at the Rajprasong intersection, which was the center of many contentious political demonstrations in recent years. It appeared to have occurred in front of the Erawan Shrine, a tourist landmark also popular with Thais.

Thailand’s capital has been relatively peaceful since a military coup ousted a civilian government in May last year after several months of sometime violent political protests against the previous government.

However, there has been some tension in recent months as the ruling junta has made clear it may not hold elections until 2017 and wants a constitution that will allow some type of emergency rule to take the place of an elected government.

Car bombs are almost unknown in Bangkok, but have been used in southern Thailand, where a Muslim separatist insurgency has been flaring for several years.

According to The Guardian, body parts and mangled scooters were scattered across the street after the explosion outside the Erawan shrine in the central Chidlom district of the Thai capital. Dozens of ambulances are at the scene and a nearby metro station has been closed.

At least 2 bombs were found at the scene, a spokesman for Thailand’s ruling junta said. Police with torches have been looking under bushes and walking the grounds of the nearby Royal Thai police station in an apparent effort to search for other bombs.

A long line of ambulances has formed outside a hospital located close to the blast site, so many of the injured are being taken to medical centres further away.

In a report by CNN, citing Thai authorities, the Bangkok blast killed at least 20 people and wounded 123 more. 12 victims died at the scene and the others died later at area hospitals, officials said.

According to The Star Online, 2 Malaysians have been confirmed to be among the people killed in the blast. The Malaysian fatalities were confirmed by a Malaysian embassy official in the Thai capital.

Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon told reporters:

We still don’t know for sure who did this and why. We are not sure if it is politically motivated, but they aim to harm our economy and we will hunt them down.

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

7 Malaysian victims involved in the Bangkok bomb blast are from the same family and according to The Star Online, the deadly Erawan Shrine bomb blast on Monday (17th August) may have claimed a 5th Malaysian life after search teams found part of a hand at the site of the explosion.

Lim Su See, 52, who is related to the other 4 deceased Malaysians, has been pronounced missing in the list of victims as her body has yet to be found. However, rescuers have found a hand that a family member said could likely belong to her.

“They have taken a DNA sample of the hand. The result will be out tomorrow,” said Lim’s relative Khaw Wi Kai, 33, when met at the Police General Hospital’s forensic wing on Tuesday (18th August).

The 4 Malaysians who are confirmed to have died are Lee Tze Siang and his daughter, Lee Jing Xuan, as well as Lim Saw Gek and Neoh Jai Jun. The Malaysian Embassy also confirmed that 3 Malaysians had been injured in the carnage.

Sources: AP, The Independent, BBC, The Guardian, CNN, The Star Online (1), The Star Online (2).

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Yuna Takes Us On Her GALAXY Wonderland Journey

Building on the success of the first project, the award-winning “Sparkle Project“, Samsung and Yuna will now embark on a journey aided by the GALAXY Note II, bringing everything special about Malaysia to life.

“GALAXY Wonderland” is what it’s called, and it promises to be a musical voyage brought to life on Samsung’s latest flagship, the GALAXY Note II. Celebrating Malaysia’s identity through its culture, places, and art, Yuna will once again work with a host of creative collaborators as well as her fans to paint a Malaysian wonderland through the eyes of its people.

To take part in this creation, Malaysians can submit their stories about their inspirations on GALAXY Wonderland’s online portal here. Yuna will then use these personal accounts to find her own creative spark to write a new song. These beautiful representations of Malaysian stories will also be incorporated in a music video featuring Yuna’s new song and produced with the GALAXY Note II.

This creative collaboration with Samsung is special, and it made winning the AIM award possible. I’m very happy to be on board for the next project, and I can’t wait to see the GALAXY Wonderland space brought to life by everyday Malaysians.

For more information on GALAXY Wonderland and the new Samsung GALAXY Note II, please visit GALAXY Wonderland’s portal here or visit Samsung Mobile Malaysia’s Facebook page.


CONTEST: A “Smash”-ing Giveaway

The latest musical-themed TV drama series hits home (read: Malaysia) and there’s only one way to celebrate its success! If you’ve absolutely no idea what we’re talking about, then watch this:

[youtube id=”5mwHDfl_GIE” width=”600″ height=”350″]

Thanks to DIVA Universal, we’re giving out exclusive Smash merchandise to some lucky Hype readers! Think you deserve to win it?

Do the above and you stand a chance in snagging these:

We personally like the “blings” on the Limited Edition Smash Ladies Tee – but we can’t keep it. Oh well! Contest is open to those residing in Selangor only and it ends on the 25th of May 2012 (Friday). Good luck!

Don’t forget to catch Smash every Monday at 9pm on DIVA Universal, Astro Channel 702. For more information, visit Smash NBC’s official website.


7 Reasons We’re OBSESSED With Mid Valley Megamall & The Gardens Mall!

The Klang Valley is home to numerous things, including the trendiest cafes, the most luxurious spas, the most happening entertainment venues, and, you guessed it, the biggest malls! Visiting malls is a quintessential part of the Malaysian lifestyle, especially as at least one is just a stone’s throw away from you. Yet, among all the malls in the Klang Valley you may believe are the best, we raise you Mid Valley Megamall and The Gardens Mall!

Look, they may appear to you to be “ordinary” malls, but we believe these two are more than meets the eye. So, rather than gushing about how much we adore them, we’ve compiled a neat list of seven reasons why they rock:

Mid Valley Megamall and The Gardens Mall are two of the few malls that are attached. When two malls are combined, guests will not notice the overcrowding as much as they would if they were in a single mall. With two malls comes double the retail stores, so customers will have a diverse assortment of stores to choose from, ranging from low-cost to high-end goods and services.

While most malls are characterised as family-friendly, these malls offer activities that cater to every single family member’s needs. Want to try bowling for the first time? Head on over to Mid Valley Megamall’s newly-opened Supreme Bowl. Or, planning to belt out a song to your heart’s content with your family? The Gardens Mall’s Redbox offers an exclusive karaoke experience unlike any other.

In case you haven’t heard, nestled somewhere on the rooftop of The Gardens Mall is a quaint little cafe that is home to delicious food… and rows and rows of books. Red Red Botak Head is located inside BookXcess and was opened in December last year. It’s one of several cafes at the two malls you don’t want to miss out on. With beautiful and stunning interiors accompanied by delectable food and drinks, your cafe-hopping experience will be unforgettable.

During national festivities, Malaysian shopping malls go all out on their decorations – and Mid Valley Megamall and The Gardens Mall are no exception. Their decor would rival even the most popular malls in the Klang Valley, and the competition can be very steep. Both malls top themselves each year with stunning displays – and we can’t wait for the next holiday!

The world is not a safe space for the ladies and that includes the bookstore. Hence, BookXcess had opened a ladies only space, perfect for women to enjoy their book-reading journey without the expense of their safety. It’s one of our favourite things about The Gardens Mall as not only do they provide ladies only parking, but ladies only spaces like BookXcess as well.

With two big malls, you obviously would expect tons of eateries. Sure enough, Mid Valley Megamall and The Gardens are burgeoning with restaurants, cafes and food courts that give you a hard time in choosing which to go to to fill up your belly. They offer a wide variety of cuisines – so much so that you’d feel like you’re travelling from one country to another. From K-BBQ and Thai dishes to local cuisine and vegan foods, your stomach will have to thank these malls later.

Shoppers at Mid Valley Megamall and The Gardens Mall have a field day, as they have literally hundreds of stores to go through. The malls’ shops will basically cater to every need, regardless of where you fall on the financial spectrum. From clothing and electronics to services and accessories – if you’re on the market for something, chances are you’ll find it at the two malls.

Do you think that’s more than enough reason to love both Mid Valley Megamall and The Gardens Mall? Tell us what YOU love these malls too!

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