Hong Kong actress Kathy Chow dies of illness at age 57

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Actress Kathy Chow Hoi-mei, best known for her role as Zhou Zhiruo in the 1994 TVB series The Heaven Sword And Dragon Saber, died on Monday (Dec 11). She was 57.

Her studio announced in a statement posted on Weibo on Tuesday evening that Chow died after the unsuccessful treatment of an undisclosed illness. The studio wrote: “May there be no sickness in heaven, and may we meet again.”

Chow, who was a Miss Hong Kong contestant in 1985, became a popular leading actress in numerous TVB roles in the late 1980s and 1990s. These include The Feud Of Two Brothers (1986), Looking Back In Anger (1989) and Fight Back To School III (1993).

She relocated to Beijing in 2003 where she appeared in several drama series and reality TV shows, while still making occasional appearances in TVB shows.

Chow had celebrated her 57th birthday on Dec 6 where she shared a video on Douyin, expressing gratitude for the well wishes. Rumours began emerging on Monday that she had died suddenly.

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Filipino celebrity power couple Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla break up after 11 years, shocking the country

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Padilla, 28, also took to Instagram to announce the break-up. He said: “Our memories will always be in my heart and will be the light in my dark days. Thank you for dancing with me during my highs and thank you for singing with me during my lows.”

Kathryn Bernardo and Daniel Padilla first appeared on-screen together in the 2011 television series Growing Up. The first time they were paired as a couple was in 2012’s Princess And I.

Over the years, the two continued starring as love interests in multiple shows and movies, which gave rise to a fanbase that wanted to see them get together in real life. After years of speculation, Bernardo and Padilla confirmed their relationship in 2018 – delighting fans throughout the nation.

News of the break-up has sent shockwaves throughout the Philippines, causing the term Kathniel to trend on social media.

One fan wrote: “I honestly believed KathNiel would soon be engaged or married, this is heartbreaking.”

Fellow celebrities have also showed their support to the former couple, including Filipino-Australian model Anne Smith who wrote, “Sending you a big hug Kath.”

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Four BTS members to begin South Korean military service mid-December

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The remaining four members of K-pop supergroup BTS will begin their military service in mid-December, joining the three who are already serving, South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported on Wednesday (Nov 29), citing music industry sources.

The seven-member group is on a temporary break while members carry out South Korea’s mandatory military service.

South Korea has one of the world’s largest active armies to defend against North Korea, with all able-bodied men between the ages of 18 and 28 required to serve between 18 and 21 months.

There has, however, been public debate over whether BTS members should be given exemptions considering their contributions to the lucrative K-pop industry.

The group’s main rapper and leader RM and vocalist V will enlist on Dec 11, while Jimin and Jung Kook will follow suit the next day, Yonhap reported.

After initial training, the four will serve as active-duty army soldiers for 18 months, according to another report in the entertainment media outlet Star News.

BTS’ management agency HYBE, which has said the four had begun the process of enlistment, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Earlier this month, Jung Kook announced in a blog post he would serve in the military in December.

Jin, 30, the group’s oldest member, is set to be discharged from military service in June.

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Taiwan’s Golden Horse film awards sees return of Chinese stars

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Beijing banned its entertainers from joining Golden Horse, dubbed the Chinese-language Oscars, after a Taiwanese director voiced support for the island’s independence in an acceptance speech in 2018.

China claims democratic Taiwan as its own territory and has long blacklisted its stars over any perceived backing for the island’s independence.

There were no mainland films in the 2019 nomination list and several Hong Kong movies dropped out that year, while big commercial productions were conspicuously absent at both the 2020 and 2021 awards.

But on Saturday, the red carpet was graced by Hu, nominated for best actress in the education drama Carp Leaping Over Dragon’s Gate.

Dressed in a shimmering gown holding a pineapple in her hands, she was accompanied by Chinese film director Yan Xiaolin and some of the film’s cast.

“Our film’s (Chinese) name is Pineapple and Taiwan’s audiences have told me that pineapple means good luck” in Taiwanese culture, Hu said in a brief televised interview.

Hu lost to Taiwan’s 12-year-old Audrey Lin (Trouble Girl), the night’s biggest dark horse who became the youngest ever best actress winner in Golden Horse history.

Lin also saw off Hong Kong’s Jennifer Yu (In Broad Daylight) and Chung Suet-ying (The Lyricist Wannabe), who both attended Saturday’s event.

Taiwanese Hsiao Ya-chuan bagged best director for his family drama Old Fox, while compatriot Wu Kang-ren claimed best actor for playing a mute man in the Malaysian film Abang Adik.

The award for best documentary short film went to The Memo, a video diary of the pandemic lockdown made by a filmmaker couple trapped in a small Shanghai apartment.

Attendance by the mainland Chinese actors was a departure from previous years.

In 2022, Chinese star Cya Liu – nominated for best actress for Hong Kong crime thriller Limbo – gave the ceremony a miss, with no reasons given.

Chinese director Huang Shuli collected the best documentary short film award in person last year – a rare appearance by a mainland filmmaker since the fallout.

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Chris Martin recites Malay pantun at Coldplay concert in Kuala Lumpur

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When translated, Martin’s pantun reads:

Going to the shop to buy vegetables,
Cooking tom yum as asked by mother,
Coldplay is now in Kuala Lumpur,
Treating you to your favourite song

The bit won over the crowd who have called it “one of their favourite moments” from the show. And the love appears to be mutual.

Before reciting the pantun, Martin told the Malaysian crowd that he “wished (Coldplay) came to Malaysia sooner” as they were “one of the best audiences in the world”.

Speaking in Malay, Martin added: “We’re so happy to be here. Let’s healing together.”

Coldplay’s Kuala Lumpur concert marked their final one for the year. They will be back on the road in January 2024 which will see them delighting audiences in the Phillipines and of course, Singapore.

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Chow Yun Fat, 68, completes his first 21km half marathon in a little over 2 hours

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Did Chow Yun Fat just outdo himself again? On Sunday (Nov 19), the 68-year-old Hong Kong film legend, affectionately known as Fat Gor (Cantonese for Big Brother Fat), participated in his first ever half marathon at the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. 

Guess how long Chow, who as usual turned up in his signature all-black sports attire, took to finish the 21km run?

Only 2hrs 27mins and 56secs. For your reference, the average half marathon finish time is 1hr 50 mins for men but the star is already pushing 70, mind you.

Some netizens also managed to get a glimpse of the actor crossing the finishing line, looking suave as ever and not panting at all. 

He even raised his hand to wave at the crowd while everyone cheered for him. What a champ, right?

After the run, Chow also told the media that he was happy with his performance. His timing met the goal set by the organisers and he will be joining the run again next year. 

This half marathon is just one of the many sporting milestones Chow has achieved recently.

In February this year, Fat Gor took part in the 10km run at the Standard Chartered Hong Kong Marathon, and finished it in 1hr 3mins and 57secs.

Last December, he participated in the Hong Kong Athletics Cross Country Championships, which he completed in 56mins and 39secs. 

At that time, he was asked if he would want to try running a half marathon. His reply? “Maybe a few years later.”

Guess he couldn’t wait to check that off his to do list.

This story was originally published in 8Days. 

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Coldplay wins praise at Tokyo concert after performing song for fan who lost her husband

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Coldplay singer Chris Martin saw two fans( a mother and son ) holding up a sign after playing & nbsp, Hymn For The Weekend, and he read it off while asking,” Can you play Everglow?” Everglow is not a member of & nbsp, Music Of The Spheres’ permanent setlist, which caused the crowd to roar.

The two supporters were then invited to the stage by Martin, who then led them to his music. Martin took the sign to convey its entire message to the rest of the market after the two supporters had settled in:” Can you perform Everglow for my father in heaven?”

The audience erupted into a sea of applause and cheers as Martin responded,” Yes( I ) can and we will ,” and the two fans began to cry.

Martin defined the song’s meaning before launching into a soulful rendition of Everglow, saying,” This music is about when someone leaves the human kind and they stay with you in your heart and your mind. Additionally, they are close by, watch over you, and love you. I therefore believe that this is a wise decision.

Both fans and non-fans have been moved by Martin’s heartwarming gesture in movies, with the majority of them referring to him as a” wonderful human being.” Some shared their thoughts of their deceased loved ones while watching the videos, saying they had cried.

This January, Coldplay will give a record-breaking six times at Singapore National Stadium. Even after organizers added a small number of cards last October, all six shows’ cards have already been sold out.

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Members of K-pop groups Aespa, (G)I-dle and Ive to collaborate on a song

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In the days leading up to the album’s launch, the people who are taking part in Nobody will be made known on the M: USB YouTube channel and social media pages. That hasn’t stopped viewers from making educated guesses and discussing their ideal lineup, though.

El Capitxn, a singer-songwriter who has collaborated with BTS and IU, and Seo Ji-eum, the poet who wrote Ive’s megahit track Love Dive, are among those who took part in the production of Nobody.

Nobody is allegedly the K-pop industry” joining forces” in an article published by South Korean media outlet & nbsp, Sports Seoul, in the hopes that South Korea will host the 2030 World Expo. The creator of Nobody stated in the same content,” This is a partnership that was accomplished by destroying existing beliefs.” It will be a unique gift for fans of international music because the participating performers, composers, lyricists and team all represent K-pop.

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Former TVB actress Jacqueline Wong marries musician Lai Man Wang in intimate ceremony

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The ceremony took place on a lawn, and the banquet in a white marquee tent. According to the venue’s website, it costs at least HK$98000 (S$17,100) to book the place.

In his speech, Lai thanked Wong for always being there to lend a listening ear when he’s home. “Thank you for taking care of me all the time. I hope to use everyone’s applause to thank my wonderful wife,” he added.

Wong, on the other hand, wished for good health and for everyone’s dreams to come true.

The couple’s relationship first made the news when they were spotted walking their dogs together in 2022. At that time, Wong’s contract for TVB had just ended. She was put in ‘cold storage’ by the broadcaster when she was secretly filmed kissing pop diva Sammi Cheng’s husband Andy Hui in a car.

The actress, who now calls herself a singer-songwriter, saw her reputation take a nosedive and was quickly branded “Asia’s most famous mistress”.

This story was originally published in 8Days. 

For more 8Days stories, visit https://www.8days.sg/

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Blackpink’s Lisa shares photos from Crazy Horse Paris show: ‘Call me whenever you need someone to fill a spot’

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Nearly 9 million people have liked Lisa’s photos in less than a day, and they have sparked an net hysteria as fans laud her for redefining what it means to be the K-pop idol. Sorn and Tong Thanayut, two Thai artists, have also praised Lisa profusely.

Yet Facebook’s official Instagram page, which posted,” Mother is mothering,” couldn’t contain their excitement.

Lisa described her time at Crazy Horse Paris as” such an awesome experience” and appears to have enjoyed it. Visit me whenever you need someone to fill a spot, she implied in her post, indicating that she would be willing to perform it once more.

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