KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — The Klang Valley is set to light up with the spirit of Deepavali this year, as major shopping malls and local councils roll out numerous public events and celebrations.

From immersive art exhibitions to traditional dance performances, these events promise a rich display of heritage, creativity, and community togetherness to usher in the festival of lights.

At MyTown Shopping Centre in Cheras, the “Spectacle of Lights,” inspired by the majestic peacock, takes centre stage.

The mall offers a variety of cultural performances, including Bharatanatyam and traditional drum shows, alongside a rotating schedule of hands-on workshops such as henna art, diya painting, and scented candle making.

Sunway 163 Mall in Mont Kiara is hosting “Colours of Light” from November 3 to 18.

The celebration features traditional music performances, including Veena and Sitar recitals, and workshops ranging from diya painting to festive terracotta pot painting.

Shoppers can also enjoy exclusive redemptions, including a Deepavali lunch box, by meeting the spending requirements.

In Bukit Bintang, Fahrenheit 88 invites visitors to its “Art of Deepavali Exhibition” located on the third floor.

This immersive showcase, running until November 9, explores the craftsmanship behind five core festival symbols, including kolam, oil lamps, and traditional clothing.

Meanwhile, Sunway Wangsa Mall has transformed its main entrance into a photo-worthy spot with a vibrant Kolam.

The mall’s festive schedule includes weekend activities like diya making and henna art, as well as unique fitness sessions featuring Bollywood music.

The celebration culminates with a traditional dhol drum performance on November 8.

Avenue K is hosting the “Colours of Deepavali” event until November 8, offering shoppers complimentary henna art, traditional Indian dance performances, and festive treat giveaways.

Across the group, Suria KLCC, along with Alamanda Shopping Centre and Mesra Mall, is celebrating in regal style.

Through November 11, shoppers can enjoy palace-inspired décor, traditional dance performances, and exclusive shopping rewards, including e-vouchers for those who meet specified spending thresholds.

Beyond the retail landscape, the spirit of Deepavali is also being celebrated through larger community gatherings and state-level events.

The Klang Royal City Council (MBDK) is hosting the Selangor State-Level Deepavali Celebration.

Held under the theme “Light of Unity, Prosperous Selangor,” the event will take place on November 14 at Dataran Klang @ Padang Chetty from 6pm to 11.30pm.

The celebration is set to be attended by Selangor Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari.  

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 8 — When the Deepavali festival coincided with Halloween two years ago, content creator and actor Blake Yap noticed something peculiar in malls across the city.

He was baffled to see Halloween decorations taking the centre stage in malls with Deepavali decorations hanging few and far between.

Yap, better known online as Chinepaiyen, which means “Chinese boy” in Tamil, aired his frustrations about the situation on his social media.

The video resonated with Malaysians across ethnic lines, garnered over a million views and sparked a crucial conversation about embracing Deepavali as a truly Malaysian festival. 

Most people would have settled for that as a win. Yap, however, was determined to see the conversation unfold into actions. 

So, last year, the 33-year-old broadcasting graduate started documenting on Deepavali decorations in shopping malls and compared them with Christmas, Chinese New Year and Hari Raya Aidilfitri decorations.

“There was hardly anything to criticise for the Christmas, Chinese New Year and Hari Raya decor because the malls did them well.

“But, their efforts for Deepavali paled in comparison. 

“Deepavali decorations are installed closer to the festival and in some places, I had to ask the concierge when exactly would they install them,” Yap told Malay Mail in a recent interview.

For Yap, festive decorations are not just aesthetics but a yardstick of how well communities in Malaysia are represented.

So this year, Yap began auditing the Deepavali decorations in malls across Klang Valley with a checklist that he drew up based on inputs from his artist friends and social media followers. 

Yap allocates 30 marks for malls that install their Deepavali decorations on the main concourse and gives another 20 marks for malls that create economic opportunities for the Indian vendors either through stalls or cultural events. 

Additional marks go to malls that incorporate educational elements and to managements that credit the artists behind the artwork.

So far, Yap has reviewed Deepavali decorations in 12 shopping malls and said only three have lived up to his standards, namely Suria KLCC, NU Sentral and The Gardens.

Yap posts all his review videos on Instagram and TikTok, inspiring other social media users to review festive decorations as well. 

Some retail outlets like Swedish candy store chain Scandy have also tagged him online to grade and evaluate their Deepavali decor.

“I’m happy to see the conversation moving beyond me and to how the community is represented in our social spaces,” he said. 

Love for Tamil 

Way before his Deepavali decoration reviews, Yap has made waves as Chinepaiyen among the Tamil-speaking Indian audience both here and abroad.

Yap speaks fluent Tamil, having learnt the language only through interactions with friends and from watching Tamil movies and songs. 

“When I was 17, I asked myself why is it that I can speak Malay and Mandarin but not Tamil, our country’s third main language?

“So, I got my friends to teach me five Tamil words every day in school, but I learned the language best through cinema since I always loved movies, songs and dance,” he said.

In 2013, the music enthusiast made a cover of Ethir Neechal, a song composed by Tamil music director Anirudh Ravichander. 

Anirudh later praised the song and shared the video on his X page, drawing thousands of followers from India for Yap. 

“Anirudh’s recognition was a stamp of approval that encouraged me on my creative journey,” Yap said.

Life came full circle for Yap when he was later offered a brief appearance in the Tamil movie Comali (2019) and later made a cameo with Indian actress Nayanthara in Annapoorani (2023).

“I think I manifested the role in Annapoorani because I always told myself that I should act with Nayanthara and my favourite hero Vijay Sethupathi after watching Naanum Rowdy Dhan (2015),” Yap said.

So, for Yap, pushing for a fairer representation of Deepavali in shopping malls is his way of giving back the love he receives from his predominantly Tamil followers. 

Yap will continue to audit Deepavali decorations in malls until November 15 and post his full report, detailing the best-performing ones and those lagging behind. 

While his reviews may have ignited a sense of competition among the malls, Yap’s intention is clear: everyone should come out as winners from his initiative.

“Honestly, I don’t see any downside to this. 

“Malls can attract stronger footfall with better Deepavali decorations, the Indian community feels better represented and traders get new business opportunities,” he said. 

Next month, Yap will be returning to the malls to review their Christmas decorations and he plans to do so for the subsequent festivals taking place in 2027. 

Beyond just creating content, Yap sees the painstaking work as his contribution to preserve the Malaysian narrative of unity in diversity. 

KAJANG, Nov 8 — As Hindus across the country celebrate Deepavali today, two inmates at the Kajang Women’s Prison find themselves celebrating the Festival of Lights far from their families accompanied only by longing and regret.

For Puvi, 32 (not her real name), who has been serving a prison sentence since 2019, spending Deepavali without her parents and her only daughter now nine years old has been an incredibly difficult experience.

The eldest of five siblings, originally from Perak, shared that even when her family makes the long journey to visit, they are only permitted 45 minutes together, with no physical contact or hugs allowed.

“People often ask about the meaning of Deepavali, the victory of light over darkness. But for me, everything remains dark. I am still waiting for something that can lead me out of this darkness,” she said when met by Bernama at the Kajang Women’s Prison recently.

Even more heartbreaking was the time her daughter asked if she could hug her mother but unable to offer an embrace, Puvi could only steer the conversation toward Deepavali preparations and her daughter’s festive attire.

She admitted that while she tries to hold back her sadness in front of her parents, she breaks down in tears once they have left. This experience has made her appreciate her family’s sacrifices all the more and she hopes to apologise and seek her parents’ blessings the next time they meet.

“In the past, I didn’t value small things, like seeking my parents’ blessings. Now, if given the chance, I would kneel at their feet and ask for forgiveness. I have two years left on my sentence, and I want to prove to my mother that I have truly changed,” she said.

For Madhu, 45 (not her real name), this year’s Deepavali brings new hope, as she is scheduled to be released soon.

For Madhu (not her real name), this year’s Deepavali brings new hope, as she is scheduled to be released soon. — Bernama pic

A single mother of five with two grandchildren hailing from Puchong, she used to earn a living selling nasi lemak to support her family before her incarceration in 2024. One of the things she misses most is the tradition of bathing her children with herbal-infused oil during Deepavali.

Madhu shared that the Jalinan Kasih (Bond of Love) programme which allowed her to meet and physically embrace her children last year was a deeply moving experience, especially after months of having no news from her family.

“I wept, reflecting on my own mistakes that led to me being separated from them,” she said.

During her time in prison, Madhu took the opportunity to undergo vocational training in hairdressing, massage, and facial treatments.

Upon her release, she hopes to open a hair salon and offer massage services to support her family.

“I want to prove that those in prison are capable of change that they can apply what they have learned and return to contribute to society,” she said.

Behind the prison walls, Deepavali is still celebrated in a spirit of harmony. Inmates of various ethnicities and nationalities work together to decorate their blocks with thoranai (woven coconut leaf decorations) and kolam (floor artwork), while also enjoying nasi briyani and traditional sweets.

As Deepavali approaches tomorrow, Puvi offers a piece of advice to the younger generation to think carefully before doing anything that could jeopardise your future.

“Think before you act. Don’t get so caught up in trends that you lose sight of boundaries. Once you end up here, no amount of regret can change the past,” she said. — Bernama

MERSING, Nov 8 — With its striking natural rock formations, hidden caves and a stone arch known as ‘Heaven’s Gate’, Pulau Mawar offers visitors a nature experience unlike the usual island getaway.

Located about 28 kilometres from Mersing town, the island has an unusual attraction: visitors can walk to it from Pantai Mawar along a sandy and rocky route during low tide, passing through a mangrove area.

Mersing District Council president TPr Abdul Karim Bakar said Pulau Mawar was part of the Mersing Geopark Zone, which showcases the area’s geological features, biodiversity and local cultural heritage.

Apart from exploring its rock formations and coastline, visitors can enjoy camping, light hiking, fishing and stargazing, with the island also offering opportunities to photograph the Milky Way.

Abdul Karim said the area had potential as a nature-based tourism destination, but any development must be carefully managed to preserve its natural environment.

He said visitor safety and environmental conservation should remain priorities, urging visitors to keep the area clean and avoid damaging its natural habitats.

Those planning to hike or stargaze were also advised to engage trained guides, including forestry department mountain guides or experienced local guides familiar with the island.

One such guide is Mat Razak Awang, 64, better known as Pok Jak, who has been taking visitors around the island since it opened to the public in September 2022.

He said the island had several unusual rock formations resembling a window, a wolf and a baby dinosaur, besides the famous ‘Heaven’s Gate’.

A sandy and rocky route emerges at low tide, allowing visitors to explore Pulau Mawar's coastal landscape and rock formations on foot. — Bernama pic

Pok Jak usually takes about three hours to show visitors around, including stops for photographs, charging from RM10 per person, depending on weather and tidal conditions.

A guide was useful as some trails branched off in different directions, and visitors could easily lose their way, particularly when the tide began to rise, he said. 

He recalled an incident in which visitors took the wrong route to the rock formation resembling a window and could not find their way back because of the rising tide.

Bernama Johor Bureau journalist Kamarul Halim M Kamal, 43, said the nearly three-hour journey from Batu Pahat was worth it, with the island’s granite formations and small caves making the visit memorable.

He said the walk to the island, rather than the usual boat ride associated with island visits, added to its appeal, while the hiking experience and Pok Jak’s knowledge of the local flora and fauna made the trip more enjoyable.

Pulau Mawar attracts about 40,000 visitors annually, with entrance tickets priced from RM5 per person. The ticket counter operates from 8am to 5pm. — Bernama

GUA MUSANG, Nov 7 — The joy of celebrating Deepavali knows no bounds, with some residents of Gua Musang willing to travel hundreds of kilometres to other states in search of festive essentials.

For them, the long journeys to neighbouring states are well worth the effort, as a wider selection, variety of designs and affordable prices are key considerations when preparing festive essentials for the entire family.

Senior citizen P. Raman, 73, said his family preferred to shop for Deepavali clothes at stores in Ipoh, Perak, and Klang, Selangor, which offered a wider range of choices compared with business premises in Gua Musang.

For the father of four and grandfather of seven, online shopping is not an option because shopping in person lets him view designs, assess quality, and try on clothes before deciding.

“When buying from a store, we are more satisfied because we can see and try on the clothes first, although online purchases are definitely cheaper. The price difference can be around RM10 per item of clothing,” he told Bernama recently.

On the other hand, welder M. Elanggo, 40, said online shopping had become an alternative for obtaining clothes at more affordable prices, particularly when preparing festive outfits for the entire family.

He said more than RM1,000 had been set aside to buy clothes for himself, his wife, children, parents and parents-in-law, as well as accessories to complete their festive looks.

“In Gua Musang, the choices are not as extensive as those in major cities. Online shopping therefore makes it easier for us to get clothes according to our preferences and family budget,” he said.

However, he said online shopping came with its own challenges, particularly in terms of clothing sizes, although these could be overcome by having the clothes altered at a tailor’s shop or reselling items that did not fit.

Meanwhile, single mother of seven R. Parvathy, 68, who lives in Kuala Krai, said the limited choices and relatively high prices of festive items had prompted her children, who live in Kuala Lumpur, to help buy clothes for her.

“There are shops selling Deepavali items in Kuala Krai, but the choices are limited and the prices are relatively high compared with other places.

“So my children who live in Kuala Lumpur will buy clothes for me, and they also shop online through platforms such as Shopee and TikTok,” said Parvathy, who will celebrate the festival modestly this year. — Bernama

LOS ANGELES, Nov 7 — One of the world’s most popular fan fiction libraries has been dark for over a week after a cyberattack forced it offline, leaving millions of fans without access to their favourite stories.

Since October 29, anyone trying to reach Archive of Our Own — known to devotees as AO3 — has been met with a message saying the site is down for maintenance.

“It’s all over my social feed. People are in withdrawal,” Johanna Sarriot, a writer and co-founder of pop-up romance bookstore Love Love Books in Los Angeles, told AFP.

Fan fiction refers to stories written by amateur authors using characters and worlds from already-existing books, films or TV shows.

Contributors rewrite endings, invent romances or give minor characters their own adventures, then share them online for free.

Once a niche hobby, it has become a launchpad for the publishing industry, generating breakout smashes like E.L. James’s Fifty Shades of Grey, which began as Twilight fan fiction, and Ali Hazelwood’s bestseller The Love Hypothesis, which sprang from the Star Wars universe.

Launched in 2008, AO3 has become the genre’s main home, with more than 11 million registered users and nearly 18 million works stored on the platform.

In 2019, it won a Hugo Award for Best Related Work, one of science fiction’s most prestigious prizes.

“We wanted to make sure that there was a place for fans to engage in non-commercial creativity in ways that wouldn’t barrage them with ads, censor them to placate advertisers, sell their data, or do anything but provide a space for fandom,” said Harvard Law School professor Rebecca Tushnet, who helped found the Organization for Transformative Works (OTW) which runs the site.

‘AO3 is not gone’

Romance fans have been among the hardest hit by the outage.

“Romance readers read really fast and they read a lot,” explained Sarriot.

For the bookseller, what is at stake goes beyond a website. Fan fiction is where many future authors learn their craft and where readers discover new writers.

“Writers who were able to cut their teeth on fanfiction, and just write as much as they wanted with all the joy and no constraints, can lead to really great novels,” she said.

OTW says it does not believe the user database, which holds usernames, email addresses and encrypted passwords, was stolen, but cannot rule it out.

“AO3 is not gone! There is no data loss and we look forward to restoring the site as soon as possible,” Tushnet added.

The non-profit says it hopes to have things up and running again within a month.

For web developer Yohan Mebrouk, the timeline is a sign of how serious the attack was.

The delay could reflect limited resources, he explained, or the need for a full software upgrade, which he called “an enormous job”.

Well-run sites keep backup copies of their databases, he added. “If they did things right, everyone will get everything back.”

In the meantime, Sarriot is happy to point stranded readers elsewhere.

“Come to Love Love Books and check out a romance novel!” she said, pointing to her shelves full of paperbacks. — AFP

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 7 — The moment Toh Ai Hwa takes her spot on stage in a Teochew iron-rod puppet performance, she will have to remain on stage for the next four hours even when heavily pregnant or sick.

The 76-year-old said her son was almost due for delivery when the troupe leader told her to join a performance in Bukit Mertajam.

“I asked him what if I went into labour and he told me if I go into labour, they will send me to the hospital and it happened that just as the show ended, I went into labour so I dropped the instruments and they took me to the hospital,” she said.

She said there was no such thing as maternity leave during that era so she had worked throughout her pregnancies.

She recounted another time when she had to perform at a temple on a hill and she had to ride pillion on a motorcycle up the hill while pregnant with another child.

“At that time, I asked my boss what will happen if I go into labour on the hill top so he brought a midwife along as a precaution,” she said, adding that fortunately, she did not go into labour on the hill and only delivered a few days later.

Toh said this is the life of performers that were often dictated by the schedules of their shows as her mother was also pregnant with her when performing in a Chinese Opera.

Teochew iron-rod puppeteer Toh Ai Hwa (right) and her daughter Ling Goh. — Picture by Opalyn Mok

“My mother, who came from China, was a traditional Opera performer here in Penang so she went into labour in the midst of a performance,” she said.

Toh said she came from a long line of performers as her grandmother was also a traditional Opera singer in China and all of her family members have deep interest in performing arts.

She has been in the Teochew iron-rod puppetry field for 64 years, performing even when she was ill and bringing her children and, later, grandchildren along to shows.

“Once, I was so sick, I can only lie down to play the gong and drum during a performance because the show must go on,” she said.

She had taken an apprenticeship in Teochew puppetry at the age of 12 due to her interest in singing and performing.

“It was the 1950s, there were hardly any jobs, I was not educated as my mother didn’t believe girls should go to school, so when I chanced upon the puppetry troupe, I joined them and started learning from the troupe leader,” she said.

She said all apprentices have to learn the art of puppetry first before learning the music and singing.

“The iron-rod wooden puppets were so heavy so I decided to focus on playing the gong and drum, and the singing since I loved to sing,” she said.

When her boss wanted to retire, she said he offered to sell the troupe to her and that was when she took over the Kim Giak Low Choon Teochew Puppet Troupe in 1989.

It was not an easy path to follow in preserving the puppetry tradition as she said at one point, there were hardly any bookings for their performances.

“Sometimes, we only have bookings of one or two performances a month or during some festivals, it was a challenge to earn a living at that time,” she said.

Despite that, she ensured that all four of her children learnt the trade from her so all of them has the skills for puppetry along with playing the gong and drum music.

She said her sister was also a puppeteer and her brother, who was a traditional Opera performer, eventually learnt puppetry from her and set up his own troupe.

“Now, puppetry performances are gaining popularity so there are also other troupes but there was a period when my troupe was the only one in the country because income was low and no one was interested in learning it,” she said.

To ensure continuity of the traditional puppetry performance, Toh said her grandchildren grew up learning the art of puppetry.

One of them is her oldest granddaughter, Goh Sin Ee, 25, who is part of the Gaik Lai Teochew Puppet Show troupe.

Growing up around the troupe, she learnt first how to handle the puppets and later how to sing.

“I have a day job in a factory in Bayan Lepas but after working hours, I spend my time in my family’s puppetry performances,” she said.

She said her younger sister is a full-time performer while her younger brother is a student who is also involved in the troupe.

“All of us learnt the trade from young and all of us can perform, we feel it is important to preserve this family tradition and culture,” she said.

She said the troupe often gets bookings for performances during specific celebrations and festivals such as deities’ birthdays, the Hungry Ghost Month and during the Nine Emperor Gods Festival.

Toh hopes that her grandchildren will continue to pass down the family tradition and culture to their children and grandchildren.

“I hope we can continue this down to the sixth generation or more,” she said.

Apart from the WAKOH recognition, Toh also received the Living Heritage Treasure of Penang award in 2008, a recognition for her lifetime contribution from George Town World Heritage Incorporated in 2020, and the Penang State Arts Icon Award in 2025.

Toh’s Teochew iron-rod puppetry performance was also among 10 traditional trades featured in Penang Global Tourism’s traditional trades campaign this year, held in collaboration with Penang Heritage Trust.

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 7 — Traditional performance arts usually involves singing, acting and dancing but Universiti Sains Malaysia’s (USM) traditional performing arts master Adiguru Che Mat Jusoh hopes the younger generation will look into documenting traditional arts and culture to preserve intangible heritage.

Che Mat, who was awarded the Living National Heritage Award (WAKOH) this year by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac), said traditional arts are not limited to singing, acting and dancing.

“Writing related to traditional arts and culture must also be given serious attention,” he said in a statement issued by USM today.

He added that this aspect was still not given enough emphasis among the younger generation.

“Documentation and writing are important ways to ensure that the knowledge, history and philosophy of heritage were not lost to time,” he said.

Che Mat had spent nearly 58 years to preserving and sustaining the traditional performing arts of Mak Yong and Kelantanese Wayang Kulit.

The 72-year-old is not only a traditional arts practitioner but is also one of the key custodians of traditional knowledge, skills and musical repertoire inherited from earlier generations.

He said the prestigious award was not merely a personal achievement but also recognition of efforts to uphold a heritage that must be safeguarded.

“Of course, I am very happy that all the effort and commitment I have devoted over the years to preserving traditional arts have finally received the government’s attention and recognition,” he said.

Che Mat also said he was among those still able to play old Mak Yong songs that were increasingly being lost to time.

He added that he was proud that a younger generation was now showing interest in learning them.

“However, knowledge of traditional arts cannot be passed down in a hurry. It must be taught little by little, with patience and commitment, just as I learned it myself,” he said.

He said he wanted to ensure that traditional arts and heritage continued to thrive and does not stop with one generation.

“I want them to continue to live, grow and be passed on to future generations. Heritage should not merely be a memory or a relic of history; it must continue to be practised and strengthened,” he said.

Besides his contributions to traditional performing arts, Che Mat, who was previously a resident artist at USM, has also produced literary work with the publication of his latest book, Hikayat Maharaja Seri Rama, this year.

The book was published by Nusa Centre, which has published three of Che Mat’s major works with support from a MOTAC grant. The publication is also part of continuing efforts to preserve the country’s intangible cultural heritage.

The book, compiled by Che Mat, is an important effort to preserve and document a treasure of Malay literature that has developed within the cultural sphere of the Malay Archipelago for more than 1,000 years.

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 7 — Penang’s traditional performing arts master Che Mat Jusoh and Teochew iron-rod puppeteer Toh Ai Hwa were among the recipients of the Living National Heritage Award (Wakoh) this year.

Tourism and creative economy state exco Wong Hon Wai said the duo were among a total of 11 personalities from all over the country who were recognised by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (Motac) under the Sixth National Heritage Declaration 2026.

Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) traditional performing arts master Che Mat Jusoh, 72, was awarded the 2026 Living National Heritage Figure (Wakoh) recognition. — Picture courtesy of USM

He said there were others from Penang who have received the Wakoh recognition prior to this such as Omar Md Hashim for boria, Mohd Bahroodin Ahmad for boria, ronggeng and Penang baba and nyonya culture and Abu Bakar Jaafar, also for boria.

“These three were the 2023 recipients and this year, we have two recipients and Toh is the first Penang woman to ever receive the Wakoh award,” he said in his speech at the opening of the 2026 International Performing Arts Symposium and Puppetry Spectacular, Moved to Life: Tradition and Reinvention in Asian Puppet Theatre here today.

A total of 69 heritage items, including popular foods, have been declared as National Heritage 2026 and three of Penang’s foods were also listed.

Wong said Penang’s nasi kandar was declared as a national heritage alongside char koay kak and pasembur.

“So these three are the heritage food from Penang which have already been recognised by the Penang state government under the state heritage in January this year, and now, have been elevated to the national heritage status,” he said.

Meanwhile, National Heritage Department director-general Mohamad Muda Bahadin said the Wakoh recognition is not the end point.

“It should instead serve as a catalyst for efforts to pass on knowledge, provide training and involve a new generation,” he said in his speech.

A Teochew iron-rod performance by the Giak Lai Teochew puppet troupe. — Picture by Opalyn Mok

“The survival of Teochew iron-rod puppetry requires more young practitioners, the documentation of knowledge and repertoire, the preservation of traditional music, and continuing opportunities for the art to be performed and learned,” he added.

He said the art form also reflects Malaysia’s rich cultural diversity.

“Although rooted in the traditions of the Teochew community, its development in Penang has made it part of the nation’s history and cultural treasures, which we should all appreciate,” he said.

He commended the Teochew Puppet and Opera House, especially Ling Goh, Toh’s daughter, for continuing her family’s legacy as a fourth-generation practitioner and introducing this art to the public through education, performances and creative collaborations.

“Today’s programme, which brings together traditional and contemporary puppetry practitioners from various countries, also provides an important opportunity for the exchange of knowledge and the continuation of heritage,” he said.

Among the highlights of the opening ceremony of the symposium at Penang Institute was a tribute to honour Toh’s achievement as an iron-rod puppeteer and a living national heritage.

The symposium, organised by the Teochew Puppet and Opera House, brought together traditional master puppeteers and contemporary artists from Malaysia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Taiwan and the United States for a two-day event today and tomorrow.

The symposium, running from 9am to 6pm on both days, features live performances, talks, artist discussions, demonstrations and hands-on workshops.

‘Buka Panggung’ featured performances by four Malaysian puppetry traditions (from left) Potehi glove puppetry, Teochew iron-rod puppetry, Malay wayang kulit and string puppetry. — Picture by Opalyn Mok

The opening ceremony started with Buka Panggung, a joint performance featuring four Malaysian puppetry traditions, namely Malay wayang kulit, string puppetry, Potehi glove puppetry and Teochew iron-rod puppetry.

Another highlight is the gathering of Teochew puppetry practitioners from Chaozhou in China, Hong Kong and Malaysia, including Chen Peisen, a nationally recognised master and representative inheritor of China’s Chaozhou iron-rod puppetry tradition.

The programme tomorrow will also include contemporary puppetry with artists such as India’s Anurupa Roy, award-winning American puppeteer Hobey Ford, Japan’s Erina Saji and Taiwan’s Cheng Chia-Yin.

Local groups including Iron Gang Puppet Theatre and Plasticity Theatre Troupe will also participate, while workshops will introduce visitors to object storytelling, Japanese Bunraku-style puppet manipulation and rod-puppet techniques.

There will be two nights of free outdoor puppetry performances at Armenian Park, from 8pm to 11pm, on November 7 and 8.

A wayang kulit performance by Azhar Roslan. — Picture by Opalyn Mok

There will be a screening of the documentary Beyond the Branch followed by a traditional Puppet Battle, featuring wayang kulit, string puppetry, Potehi glove puppetry and Teochew iron-rod puppetry, at the park tonight.

The evening concludes at 10.30pm with Journey to the West: Peril at Gossamer Cave, presented by the Kim Giak Low Choon Teochew Puppet Troupe in collaboration with Filamen.

Tomorrow night, there will be an international showcase featuring traditional and contemporary puppeteers from Malaysia and abroad.

Among the performers are Iron Gang Puppet Theatre, Plasticity, Chen Peisen, Anurupa Roy, Erina Saji, Cheng Chia-Yin and Hobey Ford.

The festival will conclude with a special collaboration involving Roy, Ling Goh and puppeteer Low Zhi Kai.

KOTA BHARU, Nov 7 — Speaking fluently in a thick Kelantan dialect, enjoying ulam budu and serving traditional Indian cuisine to guests of various races are unique aspects of G. Thanaletchumi’s life, reflecting the distinct identity of the state’s Indian community.

Affectionately known as ‘Mek Kelate Mek Manis’, the 48-year-old ensures that despite local culture being deeply ingrained in her everyday life, her family heritage and Indian traditions remain preserved, especially during Deepavali.

Thanaletchumi said communicating in the Kelantan dialect has become second nature when speaking with her family and the local community. Tamil is still used, especially when interacting with the elderly.

“If you hear us speaking without seeing our faces, you might think we are Malay because of our thick Kelantan dialect.

“Using the Kelantan dialect does not mean we forget our mother tongue. We can still speak Tamil, but the Kelantan dialect has become part of our identity as the Indian community in this state,” said the mother of two.

The local cultural influence is also evident in her family’s culinary preferences. Ulam budu is a firm favourite, along with curry dishes her husband and child enjoy.

On Deepavali preparations, she said planning usually begins two months in advance to buy clothes, decorate the house, and source ingredients, followed by a thorough house cleaning two weeks before the festival and making traditional delicacies like murukku, nei urundai (ghee balls), and athirasam (Kuih Peneram) a week later.

Muruku is a must-have treat, while thosai served with mutton or chicken curry is a breakfast favourite that guests eagerly await, especially her Malay friends.

Thanaletchumi making muruku with her children. — Bernama pic

Thanaletchumi said non-Indian guests typically visit on the first day of the festival, while relatives and Indian friends drop by on subsequent days.

“Some even ask a week in advance about the menu because they want to come over. To me, that is the true joy of Deepavali, sharing food, love, and happiness with people of different races,” she told Bernama recently.

She said the overwhelming influx of guests kept the family on their toes, prompting their Malay neighbours to step in to help prepare food.

“It was so lively back then. We had so many guests that we could barely cope. Malay neighbours came to help when they saw the crowd. That is the memory I cherish most because we got to experience the warmth of Deepavali together with the local community,” she said.

Her husband, M. S. Murugaih, 51, said Indian traditions must be passed down to the younger generation by exposing children to family customs and practices from an early age.

He said such efforts are crucial to ensure these cultural traditions are not forgotten but continue to be practised even after the older generation has passed on.

Their son, M. Sai Siddhart, 19, said what he looks forward to most every Deepavali is gathering with family, relatives, and friends during the open house.

Having grown up as the only Indian student among nearly 800 students at his secondary school, he said mingling with Malay friends from a young age made him comfortable living in a multiracial society.

Siddhart hopes the spirit of unity will continue to be strengthened not only during Deepavali but across all major festivals in the country, including Hari Raya Aidilfitri and Chinese New Year. — Bernama

PARIS, Nov 7 — Eclairs, cream puffs and cookies have all been contenders but after a high-end makeover, little chocolate-covered marshmallow bear cubs — “oursons au chocolat” — could be France’s new macarons as they excite taste buds across the country.

Familiar to French palates since the 1960s, pastry chef Christophe Michalak gave the sweet treats a gourmet twist in the early 2000s.

Since then, with social media and pop-up stores boosting interest and visibility, no chocolatier now seems willing to do without them — nor do customers.

Fillings and coatings range from bitter dark chocolate and marshmallow to passion fruit confit and crisp praline—the latter coming from chocolatier Caffet, which has trademarked the phrase: “Without doubt the best bear cubs in the world.”

Comfort blanket

The little bear began its life in a factory back in 1962, produced by confectioner Bouquet d’Or, since bought by Cemoi.

They are still being made in Villeneuve-d’Ascq in northern France, but since their 21st-century makeover, the rate of production has ramped up, according to Cemoi factory boss, Armando Mendes, interviewed by AFP, who prefers not to give any figures.

What might explain the French sweet tooth for the bear cubs?

For Sylvie Douce, creator of the Salon du chocolat and owner of Le Boissier, a specialist in old-fashioned confectionery, their success is rooted in psychology.

“The chocolate-marshmallow teddy has a sort of gustatory comfort-blanket side, “she said.

“Chocolate is the reassuring, hard side, and marshmallow is the soft side,” she added.

“With the bear cub there’s also a kind of impulse, because you eat it by trying to tear off the head or a foot first, it’s thrilling.”

Treat for all seasons

Given their generally high-end range of treats, “chocolatiers need entry-level products,” said Patrick Morliere, managing director of La Maison du Chocolat.

They launched their bear cub range in September, achieving “incredible sales figures,” he said.

Chocolatiers are also eyeing world markets.

For Morliere predicts the US is “only a matter of time”. With Asia however, which has less of a sweet tooth “it’s more complicated”.

Closest national equivalents include Norway’s Bamsemums, the Danish flodeboller, Germany’s Schokokuss, the Israeli Krembo, and Scotland’s Tunnock’s Teacake.

And in promoting it for the world markets they emphasise its versatility: appropriate gifts for Valentine’s Day, Easter, Halloween, and enclosed in Advent calendars at Christmas.

For manufacturing, the bear cub’s production can be partly automated. Its ingredients are relatively insulated from fluctuations in cocoa prices and have an average shelf life of two months.

All of which represents an appealing profit margin for artisan pastry — a sector generally expensive to run. — AFP

SRINAGAR, Nov 7 — After his mother was killed in a bear attack in Kashmir, Indian software engineer Mudasir Ali developed an online early-warning system to help people in the Himalayan region avoid dangerous encounters with wildlife.

Ali created Wildping, a free website where users report sightings of animals such as Himalayan black bears and leopards, triggering alerts to people nearby.

The 33-year-old launched the platform in October, on the first anniversary of his mother’s death.

She was among at least 50 people killed, with hundreds more mauled, in wildlife attacks in the territory since 2023, according to official data.

“Since then, I have always had it in my mind that I should use my skills to develop a technology that people living in these hotspots, where such incidents occur, can use to protect themselves,” Ali told AFP.

“I have gone through this pain, and I don’t want anyone else to experience it,” he said, as he monitored sightings in his area on the site.

Human-wildlife conflict has become a growing concern across the Himalayas, where deforestation and shrinking habitats are bringing people into closer contact with wild animals.

“It won’t stop conflict by itself. It can buy a family a few minutes: keep the kids inside, skip the walk, or call for help,” the site explains.

Users can set up alert zones around specific locations, and if a bear approaches, they get a warning on their telephone.

“Home, farm, school, the path kids walk: each gets a watch zone,” the site explains.

Software engineer Mudasir Ali developed Wildping, a free wildlife alert app. — AFP pic

‘Help save lives’

In Kashmir, human-wildlife conflict has been compounded by decades of conflict.

The mountain region has been divided between India and Pakistan since independence from British rule in 1947, with both countries claiming it in full. The dispute has triggered multiple wars and a long-running insurgency.

Fencing and extensive military deployments have also disrupted animal movement, potentially increasing encounters with people.

Two bear species inhabit the region: Himalayan black bears, which live in forested mountain areas, and brown bears, usually found at higher elevations. Leopards also prowl the forests.

The Himalayan black bear accounts for more than 80 percent of wildlife-related deaths and maulings in the region, according to experts.

Although crowd-sourced wildlife reporting platforms exist in other countries, Ali wanted to create one tailored to the dangers facing communities in Kashmir.

The site is available in three languages — English, Hindi and Urdu.

Wildping has attracted around 9,000 visitors in less than a month since its launch, with hundreds of users returning regularly.

“Last week, I spotted a bear, so I immediately used the app to report the sighting,” said Yasir Iqbal, 34.

“Many people in our village are now using it,” he added. “It is a good and useful app that could help save lives by keeping us informed about where wild animals have been spotted.” — AFP

IPOH, Nov 6 — The sari remains a popular choice among those preparing to celebrate Deepavali, with many opting for the traditional attire to mark the festive occasion.

The traditional garment symbolises elegance, cultural identity and customs passed down through generations.

Despite its timeless appeal, draping a six-metre-long sari can be challenging for those unfamiliar with the technique, particularly on Deepavali morning, as the process can take between 20 minutes and an hour.

To simplify the process, fashion designer and tailor S.C. Kavitha has introduced ready-made and pre-pleated saris, offering a convenient alternative for those unfamiliar with traditional draping techniques.

Kavitha said ready-made and pre-pleated saris started gaining popularity about five years ago, with demand for the garments rising ahead of Deepavali each year.

“Teenagers often find wearing a sari difficult because they need help putting it on and getting the pleats right. It can take up to an hour, so many prefer simpler outfits like anarkalis, kurtis or modern dresses.

“With ready-made and pre-pleated saris now available, more young people are interested in wearing them,” said Kavitha, who has been in the business since 2008, when met at her shop recently.

She explained that the pre-pleating process involves measuring the sari, arranging it into neat pleats to fit the wearer, steam-pressing the fabric and securing the folds with safety pins.

Fashion designer and tailor S.C. Kavitha. — Bernama pic

Kavitha said the wearer can simply slip on the pre-pleated sari, wrap it around her body and be ready in about five minutes without needing any assistance.

Ready-made saris, meanwhile, are even easier to wear, as they come with a buckle or hooks at the waist, much like a regular kain sarung, she added.

“The wearer only needs to fasten the hooks and drape the pallu (the loose end of the sari) over her shoulder, all in less than a minute.

“This takes the stress out of getting ready, especially when welcoming guests or heading to the temple,” she said.

Kavitha said ready-made and pre-pleated saris have also become popular among Malays and Chinese, who are drawn to the traditional attire for weddings, workplace cultural events and school celebrations.

“I get many orders from Malays and Chinese who want to wear saris to their Indian friends’ weddings, multicultural events or school functions. It’s nice to see people from different backgrounds celebrating our diverse cultures,” she said.

Kavitha said she charges RM30 to RM40 for pre-pleating a sari, depending on the type of fabric, while the tailoring fee for a ready-to-wear sari is RM85 to RM90 per set.

Keen to share her skills, Kavitha, who is also a professional make-up artist, conducts sari-draping classes, offering one-day intensive courses and two-day workshops.

She said mastering sari draping takes time and cannot be achieved in less than six hours, as the technique requires plenty of hands-on practice.

“I want my students to learn the technique properly and remember what they have been taught so they can one day pass on their skills to others,” she said. — Bernama 

LONDON, Nov 6 — British classicist Mary Beard has read and lectured about Homer and Virgil’s epics countless times. This year she embarked on an odyssey of her own: reading 163 works of fiction in six months to judge the Booker prize.

“I’ve never worked as hard in my life. I mean, writing a book is easier than that. It was a revelation and a privilege,” Beard, who is chairing the Booker prize judges, told AFP.

For the prize — which celebrates the best long-form fiction by writers of any nationality, written in English and published in the last year — the panel of five judges whittled down 163 entries to a shortlist of six books.

The winner will be announced in London on Monday, with six authors, including previous winners Douglas Stuart and Marlon James in the running. The person who wins the Booker crown will walk away with £50,000 (RM271,695) and see their careers transformed.

The gruelling judging process behind one of the most coveted prizes in the literary calendar has been a source of intrigue and drama since it launched in 1969.

Around December last year, the judges began receiving cartons of some 30 books at a time to digest on a strict schedule, reading one a day or more.

They’re not allowed to divulge what books they’re reading, working under a shroud of secrecy. “It’s proved to be terribly easy to keep mum,” said Beard.

When she slipped behind at one point, Beard sequestered herself in a seaside hotel in Greece reading 12 hours a day. But the judging routines, for the most part, were far from glamorous.

“You just end up taking a book with you wherever you go,” Rebecca Liu, a writer and critic, told AFP. Once she ended up reading a few pages while waiting in a nightclub line.

‘Tossing books’

Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker meanwhile had to squeeze in his reading while on tour with his legendary Britpop band, exchanging boxes of books for digital iPad versions.

“It is quite dull when you’re travelling,” Cocker told a September press conference. The books “took me somewhere, it was like having somebody”.

He recalled one judges’ meeting while in Australia on tour, when he joined in the middle of the night in a bathrobe with a glass of wine.

Poet Raymond Antrobus said he would “cry” every night a month into the process, and the books began affecting his dreams.

“You’re trying to enter these people’s universes that they’ve created, but also their ambition, that’s a very human thing,” Antrobus said.

In recent years, the Booker prize has expanded its pool of judges beyond novelists and literary critics to include celebrities such as Cocker and American actor Sarah Jessica Parker.

Over six months, each of the five judges reads every entry, so “every book gets five chances to be noticed”, said Beard.

They create a longlist of 13 books, known as the Booker Dozen, then re-read them for the shortlist and repeat the process to pick a winner.

Then, during three-hour closed door meetings — this year hosted at London’s Fortnum & Mason luxury store — the judges hash it out.

“I was standing up a lot and tossing books across the room,” American poet Patricia Lockwood said.

‘Celebrating flaws’

There were disagreements — Lockwood said at one point they tussled like “pigs in the mud” — but the judges found ways to reach consensus.

One system, the “traffic light” method, involved each judge classing a book as green, amber or red. “The really interesting ones are where you get mixtures of red and green,” said Beard.

There is no fixed judging criteria, which has resulted in the prize being criticised as arbitrary in the past. Judges this year settled on two questions: “Would you read it again?” and “would you recommend it?”

Lockwood joked her cat helped pick a book by “bleeding over it”.

Ultimately, the judges found themselves looking for “distinctly human” books, Liu said, wary of the threat of artificial intelligence.

“I think we consciously towards the end wanted to make a human shortlist... things that celebrated the flaws, that were strange and weird,” said Liu. — AFP

SHAH ALAM, Nov 6 — QL Eggs marked the successful conclusion of its Beli dan Menang Telur Emas campaign with a prize-giving ceremony at Shah Alam, celebrating the continued trust and support of Malaysian consumers with over RM100,000 worth of golden rewards.

Running from August 1 to September 30, 2026, the Beli dan Menang Telur Emas campaign received an overwhelming response from Malaysians across the nation, offering exciting rewards including a 65g golden egg grand prize valued at RM45,750, 20 gold plates and 650 e-wallet credit prizes worth RM10, RM20 and RM50 each.

Among the lucky winners was Nabilah binti MD Yusof, who walked away with the coveted 65g golden egg grand prize. “Saya berasa sangat terharu dan tidak menyangka akan memenangi hadiah utama ini. Terima kasih QL Eggs atas kejutan yang cukup bermakna ini!” she shared.

Held in conjunction with World Egg Month, the prize-giving ceremony marked more than the conclusion of a campaign. It was also an opportunity for QL Eggs to express its appreciation to our customers for their continued support, while reaffirming its commitment to nourishing the nation.

“Everything we have achieved today is made possible by those who continue to choose QL Eggs for their families. Beli dan Menang Telur Emas is our way of showing appreciation for that trust and support. As a leading brand in the egg industry, we believe our responsibility goes beyond providing quality eggs. We also have a role to play in helping Malaysians understand the nutritional value of eggs and make better-informed choices for themselves and their families,” said Harvey Lim, Brand Manager of QL Eggs.

Earlier this month, QL Eggs celebrated World Egg Day on October 9, giving away 100,000 eggs nationwide as part of its mission to make quality nutrition more accessible to Malaysians. Together with Beli dan Menang Telur Emas campaign, the initiative reflects QL Eggs’ continued commitment to giving back to consumers while raising awareness of the importance of quality nutrition.

At the heart of QL Group’s mission is the belief that quality nutrition should never be a luxury, but accessible to all. Supported by quality feed, modern farm management systems and stringent biosecurity measures, QL Eggs remains committed to consistently producing high-quality eggs for Malaysian consumers.

“World Egg Day is a meaningful opportunity for us to celebrate the goodness of eggs and encourage Malaysians to know their eggs better. Through our continued focus on innovation and nutrition, we want to nourish the nation with 2X Goodness — Omega-3 for heart, DHA for mind. This is part of our promise of Breakthrough Goodness, and we look forward to bringing Malaysians more exciting initiatives in the future,” added Lim.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 —  Barely 4 per cent of Malaysians feel their smartphones are genuinely secure against hackers and scammers, according to a survey by digital wealth platform Versa, published just days before the annual 11.11 shopping blitz.

The survey of 1,022 local users revealed that 78 per cent had crossed paths with a scam over the preceding two years, either falling victim themselves or seeing family and acquaintances targeted.

Among the 798 respondents who encountered these rackets, nearly three in four pointed to their mobile phones as the primary point of contact. Direct phone calls and SMS messages proved the most persistent channels, cited by 80 per cent of affected respondents, while messaging apps trailed closely behind at 76 per cent.

Versa warned that syndicates deliberately exploit the fast-paced frenzy of year-end flash sales and bogus parcel delivery texts. Rushed buyers frequently tap dubious tracking links or surrender personal banking credentials without second thought.

The survey findings align with grim data from federal police. Bukit Aman’s Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) reported that online crime almost doubled in 2025, topping 66,000 cases and draining RM2.97 billion from victims nationwide.

That momentum has barely slowed in 2026. Police tracked 16,880 online scams siphoning more than RM555.7 million in the first quarter alone, including 4,858 cases tied to e-commerce fraud. During the first half of the year, another 5,134 QR-code fraud cases bled RM28.67 million from consumers.

Practical defences before checking out

To safeguard shoppers ahead of the 11.11 sales, Versa outlined several critical precautions. Consumers should first verify unfamiliar recipient bank accounts and phone numbers on the police’s Semak Mule portal before making any direct funds transfer.

Purchases should remain strictly within established e-commerce platforms, with any seller request to switch to WhatsApp or pay via manual bank transfer treated as an immediate red flag.

Shoppers must also resist artificial urgency, such as countdown timers and low-stock alerts designed to rush buyers past basic security checks. Sensitive credentials, including OTPs, TAC codes, and banking passwords, should never be disclosed, as legitimate merchants and courier services will never ask for them.

When considering financial products, consumers must verify that the platform holds a valid licence using the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) Investment Checker, ensuring the firm does not appear on the SC Investor Alert List. In the event of a suspected breach, victims should act swiftly by freezing their accounts through bank fraud desks, contacting the National Scam Response Centre at 997, and filing an official police report.

“This sale season, the strongest financial defence is simply taking a five-second pause to double-check where your money is actually going,” Versa chief executive and co-founder Teoh Wei Xiang said.

The fintech platform has also rolled out an educational video starring brand ambassador Khairy Jamaluddin, featuring a dramatised encounter with an operative from a scam syndicate.

Versa noted that the 4 per cent security confidence score and the 78 per cent exposure rate originate from an in-app survey conducted among its registered user base in February 2025.

Because the dataset relies on self-reported answers from platform members collected over 18 months ago, the findings provide an indicative snapshot rather than an exhaustive representation of the entire Malaysian population.

NOVEMBER 6 — When daylight fades across the forested landscapes of Zoo Negara Malaysia, an extraordinary natural phenomenon emerges from the darkness.

Beneath the canopy, on decaying branches, fallen leaves and tree trunks, tiny fungal organisms may reveal an unexpected spectacle: a naturally occurring greenish glow.

These luminous organisms, known as bioluminescent fungi, represent one of nature’s most fascinating yet comparatively underexplored biological phenomena.

Although their appearance may seem almost magical, their light is the result of a remarkable biochemical process occurring within living organisms.

A recent study conducted within the forest habitats of Zoo Negara Malaysia has documented the diversity, distribution and ecological characteristics of bioluminescent fungi, offering new insights into the hidden biodiversity of an urban zoological and conservation landscape.

Discovering the forest’s hidden light

Bioluminescence is the ability of living organisms to produce and emit light through chemical reactions.

In fungi, this process produces a characteristic greenish glow that can become visible under sufficiently dark conditions.

Globally, approximately 109 fungal species are recognised as bioluminescent, with many belonging to tropical forest ecosystems.

Despite Malaysia’s exceptional tropical biodiversity, research documenting these organisms remains relatively limited.

The study at Zoo Negara Malaysia was conducted during nocturnal field observations in October 2026, between 7.00pm and 8.00pm, when the researchers searched for fungal specimens along forest trails and within suitable microhabitats.

The investigation focused on fallen branches, decaying wood, dead leaves, tree stumps and other organic substrates where fungi commonly establish themselves.

Specimens were photographed and documented according to their morphological characteristics, abundance, growth patterns and associated substrates.

Through this field investigation, researchers recorded 13 fungal taxa or collection categories, including representatives of the Mycenoid and Omphalotus lineages.

Five groups or species were identified as exhibiting bioluminescence, including Mycena chlorophos, Filoboletus manipularis, Roridomyces roridus, Mycena species and Neonothopanus nambi.

The findings demonstrate that even within a managed urban landscape, forest habitats can support fascinating biological communities that remain largely invisible during conventional daytime observations.

A closer look at Malaysia’s glowing fungi

Among the fungi documented, Mycena chlorophos was particularly noteworthy.

The species was encountered at multiple sampling locations and was associated primarily with dead twigs and branches.

Another remarkable species, Neonothopanus nambi, was recorded with 43 individuals associated with a single living tree buttress.

This observation highlights the distinctive ecological relationships that certain fungi may establish with their substrates.

Meanwhile, Filoboletus manipularis was observed growing on dead branches, while Roridomyces roridus was associated with dead leaves.

The researchers also identified fungal specimens that could only be determined to the genus level.

Their bioluminescent properties remain to be confirmed through further investigation.

The study therefore provides an important foundation for future taxonomic and ecological research into Malaysia’s nocturnal fungal biodiversity.

Small organisms, significant ecological contributions

Although bioluminescent fungi are visually captivating, their ecological importance extends far beyond their ability to produce light.

Many fungi function as decomposers, breaking down dead organic material and contributing to nutrient cycling within forest ecosystems.

Through the decomposition of wood, leaves and other organic matter, they help release nutrients that support soil processes and plant growth.

The presence of fungi associated with decaying woody substrates also illustrates the ecological importance of retaining organic material within forest environments.

Bioluminescence itself is believed to contribute to ecological interactions, including the attraction of insects that may assist in fungal spore dispersal.

These interactions demonstrate how seemingly inconspicuous organisms participate in complex ecological processes.

Consequently, fungi should not be regarded merely as decorative or unusual organisms, but as integral components of forest biodiversity.

Biodiversity beyond the daytime landscape

Zoo Negara Malaysia is widely recognised for its wildlife conservation, environmental education and zoological programmes.

However, its forested habitats also support a range of lesser-known organisms that contribute to the ecological complexity of the landscape.

The discovery of bioluminescent fungi underscores the importance of viewing conservation landscapes through a broader biodiversity perspective.

While charismatic wildlife often attracts public attention, smaller organisms such as fungi, insects, mosses and other forest-floor communities perform essential ecological functions.

Their presence can provide valuable insights into habitat conditions, organic matter availability and ecological processes.

The research recorded a Shannon–Wiener diversity index of 1.258 and an evenness index of 0.782.

These findings indicate comparatively low recorded fungal diversity alongside relatively high evenness within the surveyed assemblage.

However, the researchers emphasise that the findings represent baseline information derived from opportunistic sampling rather than a comprehensive inventory of all fungal species present within Zoo Negara Malaysia.

Additional surveys across different seasons, habitats and environmental conditions could reveal further fungal diversity and improve understanding of their ecological distribution.

Illuminating the future of conservation research

The study also highlights opportunities for integrating fungal biodiversity into environmental education and conservation awareness initiatives.

Bioluminescent fungi provide an engaging subject through which visitors can explore the relationship between biodiversity, decomposition, forest ecology and the importance of protecting natural habitats.

Their unusual ability to produce light offers a particularly compelling educational opportunity, encouraging curiosity about organisms that are often overlooked during conventional nature experiences.

For researchers, the findings establish a foundation for future investigations into nocturnal biodiversity, fungal taxonomy, ecological distribution and habitat relationships within managed tropical landscapes.

Ultimately, the glowing fungi of Zoo Negara Malaysia remind us that biodiversity extends far beyond the species most readily seen or recognised.

Within the darkness of tropical forests, countless ecological processes continue to unfold, sustained by organisms whose importance is often hidden from view.

By documenting these remarkable fungi, researchers are helping illuminate another dimension of Malaysia’s natural heritage — one that reinforces the importance of conserving forest ecosystems, appreciating overlooked biodiversity and continuing scientific exploration within urban conservation landscapes.

* Dr Norida Hanim Awing and Dr Linda Salim are reasearchers Zoo Negara Malaysia.

BANGKOK, Nov 6 — A giant rodent weighing around 30 kilograms roamed what is now southern Thailand 33 to 35 million years ago, scientists said, after identifying a previously unknown species from two fossilised teeth.

The ancient animal, which one geologist on the team called a “giant rat”, was among the largest known from the Paleogene period, offering new clues about how early rodents evolved to enormous sizes.

The findings, published yesterday in the journal Scientific Reports, were based on a molar and an incisor discovered in 2004 at a coal mine in southern Krabi province.

Pannipa Tian, a geologist with Thailand’s Department of Mineral Resources who found the incisor, said she initially misidentified the fossil because of its “unusually large size”.

“At first, I thought it was a bone. I showed it to my supervisor, who told me it was a giant rat’s tooth,” Pannipa, 51, told AFP today.

The cream-coloured fossil stood out against the dark coal deposits, while another expedition member found the dark-coloured molar the same day.

The Krabi basin has previously yielded fossils of ancient primates, carnivores and hoofed mammals.

But at the time of the discovery, the team lacked sufficient evidence and technology to identify the species.

More than two decades later, researchers from Thailand, France and Canada were able to do so through detailed analysis of the teeth.

The animal weighed around 30 kilograms — an estimated half as much as a large capybara, the world’s largest living rodent, they said.

Unlike the South American capybara, however, the prehistoric rodent belonged to the now-extinct Ischyromyidae family, one of the earliest major groups of rodents.

“It tells a lot about the diversity of life in the past,” Pannipa said, suggesting that ancient rodents may have evolved in what is now Thailand before spreading to other parts of the world.

But with only two teeth recovered, the animal’s appearance, diet and behaviour remain unknown.

The species was named Yakamys sirindhornae in honour of Thailand’s Princess Sirindhorn, a supporter of scientific and palaeontological research. — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 — At 79, veteran artiste Norlia Ghani is not allowing her age to stand in the way of staying relevant, having now made a name for herself as an active content creator on TikTok.

However, Norlia, who affectionately refers to herself as ‘Mama’, said her transition to the digital platform was driven by health considerations, although she continues to receive acting offers.

“Mama has to be selective about the roles she takes on because of her age. At this stage of life, I need to take care of my health as I am no longer as strong as I used to be, so I have to be more careful.

“Filming also involves long hours on set. Occasionally, Mama will accept acting offers. If there are none, Mama focuses on TikTok,” she told Bernama after the Tribute and Appreciation Programme for National Veteran Figures, held in conjunction with the 35th Malaysian Film Festival (FFM) at Finas in Hulu Kelang yesterday.

National Film Development Corporation Malaysia (Finas) chairman Datuk Dr Hans Isaac poses with veteran actors AR Badul and Norlia Ghani during a tribute and appreciation programme held in conjunction with the 35th Malaysia Film Festival at FINAS in Hulu Kelang on November 4, 2026. — Bernama pic

The actress, who is widely recognised for her portrayal of Joyah in the popular television drama series Opah, described TikTok as an ideal alternative platform to stay connected with her fans while earning an income.

Through the platform, Norlia actively takes on various opportunities, including product reviews, food promotions and invitations to official events, which not only provide lucrative returns but also offer a smoother payment process.

“Payment for review jobs is faster. Once the work is completed, I receive my payment immediately, unlike drama productions where we have to wait a little longer,” she said, expressing gratitude that her videos had garnered millions of views.

The mother of actor Rusdi Ramli said creating digital content was, in fact, not very different from her original profession in front of the camera.

“Whether it is drama or TikTok, Mama feels as though I am acting because when we do affiliate collaborations with products, we still have to speak in front of the camera. It is all the same,” she said, adding that she was grateful for the strong support from her children and positive comments from fans.

Brushing aside cynical remarks by some who believe senior citizens should not be overly enthusiastic about using social media, Norlia said she chose to ignore such criticism as her only intention was to earn an honest living. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 5 — Rooted in Malay folklore, the legend of Puteri Gunung Ledang is a timeless tale of love, loyalty and sacrifice.

When it was first staged 20 years ago as a musical, Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical captivated the imagination of all who watched it.

When the curtain rose on October 31 for its latest production, the packed house at the Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre (JCPAC) were probably unaware that it was a personally significant moment for Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah.

For Cheah, the return of Puteri Gunung Ledang carries a meaning that extends well beyond the success of a single production.

Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah sees the performing arts as an important part of Malaysia’s cultural growth.

It represents something he has long believed in, that Malaysia possesses an abundance of artistic talent, a rich cultural inheritance and stories worthy of the world’s finest stages.

While Cheah spent more than five decades building businesses and communities in Malaysia, he has always felt that a country’s progress must be measured by more than just economic prosperity.

He believes that a truly flourishing nation must also provide room for imagination, cultural expression and the preservation of the traditions that give its people a sense of identity and belonging.

JCPAC, a RM200 million investment by Sunway Group, at Sunway Square in Sunway City Kuala Lumpur was conceived with that philosophy at heart.

The Jeffrey Cheah Performing Arts Centre was developed as a space for major productions and emerging talent.

“I firmly believe that Malaysian artistes deserve the opportunity to learn and develop their craft on the finest stages. With the right support, facilities and encouragement, there’s no limit to what they can achieve,” he said, at the opening of JCPAC on October 16.

The centre’s 1,200-seat Grand Theatre, equipped with sophisticated immersive sound and acoustic technology, provides the scale and technical capabilities for major theatrical productions.

It’s adjoining 150-seat Studio offers a more intimate setting for emerging talent and experimental work.

But more than the state-of-the-art equipment, the space is about the possibilities it will help create for aspiring artistes.

And few productions could have marked the centre’s arrival more meaningfully than Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical.

Over 18,000 tickets were snapped up within hours across the pre-sale and public sale launches, with more than 22,000 people still waiting in the online queue.

The 2026 revival of ‘Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical’ brought the much-loved Malaysian production back to a new generation of audiences.

The response was a powerful affirmation of the place that Malaysian stories continue to hold in the hearts of the people.

Its return in 2026 brings together some of Malaysia’s most accomplished performers and rising stars, including Aisha Retno, Mila Mohsin, Aqasha, Mimi Fly and Nadia Aqilah.

The revival introduces the story to younger audiences while allowing those who remember the original production to experience its magic anew.

“For those of us who have dedicated our lives to building Malaysia’s creative industry, having visionary leaders like Tan Sri Jeffrey Cheah believe in the power of the arts makes all the difference,” said Puan Sri Tiara Jacquelina, Chief Dream Maker of Enfiniti.

Enfiniti Productions, the Malaysian theatre and entertainment company founded by Tiara, first brought Puteri Gunung Ledang The Musical to the stage 20 years ago and is behind its return.

For Cheah, who has devoted much of his life to building communities in Malaysia, it is another expression of his faith in the country he calls home, that its people deserve the best opportunities, its cultures deserve to be cherished, and its stories deserve to be heard.

SHAH ALAM, Nov 5 — UMW Toyota Motor (UMWT) has launched a nationwide service campaign for reconditioned Toyota vehicles, extending its aftersales services to owners through Toyota Extra Mile.

The campaign gives owners access to Toyota-certified technicians, genuine parts and established maintenance standards, the company said in a statement today.

UMWT said the initiative was aimed at ensuring reconditioned Toyota vehicles received professional care to maintain their performance and dependability.

The company said its aftersales network of 103 Toyota service centres nationwide would provide owners with convenient access to vehicle maintenance, supported by consistent service procedures and customer care standards.

UMWT said the network reflected Toyota’s continued investment in maintaining vehicle quality throughout their lifespan.

Owners can find out more about the campaign and participating locations at www.toyota.com.my, or enquire at their nearest authorised Toyota service centre or GR Garage.

BRISBANE, Nov 5 — An Italian chef in Australia has lost a bid to challenge his dismissal after he was fired for refusing to put pineapple on pizzas, arguing the topping was an insult to his culture. 

According to the BBC, Davide Tamburella was dismissed from Brisbane restaurant La Costa in May after a series of workplace issues, including his refusal to prepare ham and pineapple pizzas for guests at a private function.

According to a ruling by Australia’s Fair Work Commission, Tamburella maintained that instructions from management did not need to be followed if they were offensive to his culture. 

The commission noted that Tamburella regarded pineapple on pizza as “an insult to his culture” as an Italian and that the incident was not the first of its kind. The ruling said it was the third occasion in four years that he had refused to use pineapple on pizzas, and that he had previously urged his employer to understand how strongly many Italians feel about the controversial topping. 

Queensland, where the restaurant was located, is Australia’s main pineapple-producing state and home to the iconic Big Pineapple tourist landmark on the Sunshine Coast. 

The commission also heard complaints about Tamburella’s workplace conduct, including allegations relating to foul language, communication issues and escalating frustration at work. Another incident detailed in the ruling involved the chef fracturing bones in his hand after striking a metal handrail. 

Tamburella had hoped the restaurant would sponsor his application for permanent residency through a skilled-worker visa programme. However, the sponsorship process was halted following his dismissal. 

His unfair dismissal claim ultimately failed because the application was lodged after the statutory deadline, meaning the commission did not reinstate him. 

Restaurant managing director Elliot Ingram later said the case involved more than a disagreement over pizza toppings, describing the pineapple dispute as only one of several issues raised during disciplinary proceedings.

LOS ANGELES, Nov 5 —  When Anthony Ippolito learned Hollywood was planning a new Rocky-related film, he rigged up a punching bag in his grandmother’s basement and improvised his audition.

It was a bold move that paid off: the up-and-coming actor essentially secured the coveted role of a young Sylvester Stallone before the official casting process for the biographical drama, headed to theaters this month, even began.

“I just really wanted to try to get my foot in the door for it if possible,” the 27-year-old told AFP. “I was kind of just making stuff and sending it their way, just hoping they would respond.”

“Thankfully, they did.”

Directed by Oscar-winner Peter Farrelly (Green Book), I Play Rocky chronicles Stallone’s difficult early days, when he at times slept on the streets while dreaming of a career on the big screen.

Stallone caught the attention of two producers after writing a screenplay about a boxer who, against all odds, gets his big break when the American champion Apollo Creed (played by Carl Weathers) challenges him in the ring.

The narrative served as a metaphor for Stallone’s own life.

He was once so poor he had to sell his dog because he couldn’t afford to feed it (he would later get the dog back).

He turned down lucrative studio offers for his script, insisting that he would only sell it if he were cast in the lead role.

The rest, of course, is history: Stallone catapulted to stardom and Rocky won three Academy Awards, including best picture.

Rocky became a cultural phenomenon and its iconic imagery lives on to this day: the Philadelphia museum steps, the gray sweatsuit, and the unmistakable cry of “Adrian!”

And now, a half-century after the original film’s release, the story has opened the gates of Hollywood to Ippolito.

‘Love letter’ to Rocky, and to film 

One of the few suggestions Stallone made for I Play Rocky was to cast a little-known actor, said producer Michele Weiss at a press conference.

So the team launched a worldwide search.

Ippolito surprised them with an audition in which he managed to capture the essence of Stallone, including his mannerisms and physique.

But despite impressing the likes of Stallone himself, for Ippolito — who played a young Al Pacino in The Offer, a mini-series chronicling the making of The Godfather — the pressure was on.

He had to portray Stallone but also the iconic character of Rocky, an immortal of pop culture.

The character, Ippolito said, is “such a hero to people” who have an almost “spiritual connection” to his story.

“It’s just a lot to take on,” he said.

Stallone met with Ippolito a month before filming began, and shared the story of his difficult journey towards Rocky.

“He was dealing with facial paralysis that he suffered from a birth accident that is so singular to him, and followed him throughout his youth, and made trying to become an actor so much harder for him,” Ippolito recounted.

“There are definitely elements of his story that are very unique to him, and that make it even more inspiring.”

The Los Angeles premiere of I Play Rocky gathered key figures from the story’s era.

For Frank Stallone, watching a film that chronicles his older brother’s challenges was “very touching.”

Bill Conti — who composed the Gonna Fly Now theme of Rocky, a track instantly recognizable for its triumphant brass swells — it’s “a story about a story.”

Ippolito said he couldn’t imagine what Stallone must have felt seeing his own life story unfold onscreen.

For the actor the film is “really a love letter,” an homage both to Stallone’s perseverance through to struggle and to filmmaking itself. — AFP

LONDON, Nov 5 — Prince Harry and his wife Meghan will speak in Brussels about the dangers children face on social media, in their first public appearance since allegations emerged that her father had possessed child abuse images.

The couple, also known as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, will attend the Tuesday opening of a video installation commemorating children who have lost their lives due to harm experienced via social media, a spokesperson told AFP.

The royals will open The Lost Screen Memorial at the European Parliament displaying images of children affected by online abuse and exploitation and give a joint speech before taking part in a panel event with international activists.

The event will be Meghan’s first public appearance since revelations that police in the Philippines have found child sexual abuse material on devices at the former home of her estranged father, Thomas Markle.

It will also be the first time that the couple appear together at a public event abroad since returning to live in Britain this summer.

The event, hosted by Spanish MEP Antonio Lopez-Isturiz, highlights the “urgent need to make the digital world safer for every child”, a statement said, calling it a “call to action” for policymakers, technology companies and society to do more to protect children.

The couple, who have two young children, Archie and Lilibet, together unveiled the installation in New York in April 2025 and it has also been shown in Los Angeles.

Meghan gave a speech at its opening in Geneva in May.

The installation shows 50 enlarged images of children who died as a result of harm they suffered on social media, taken from their parents’ lock screens.

At the event in Brussels, the European Parliament chief Roberta Metsola will give an address, as will Sandra Spitaels, whose 15-year-old son Glenn committed suicide in 2017 after a nude image of him was posted online. — AFP

VATICAN CITY, Nov 5 — Pope Leo XIV today received Bob Dylan in the Vatican at an audience for which the US folk music legend wore a black hooded sweater.

The 85-year-old singer-songwriter, born Robert Allen Zimmerman, is currently in Italy on tour.

A report on the official Vatican News website said the meeting was “brief, consisting of greetings and a few lighthearted exchanges”.

The pope gave Dylan a rosary and the singer gifted the leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics his autobiography, the report said.

Leo, the first US pope, quoted a Bob Dylan lyric in the preface to a book about disarmament published earlier this year, according to Vatican News.

Leo, 71, has taken strongly anti-war positions and clashed with US President Donald Trump following his criticism of the Middle East war.

Leo is not the first pope Dylan has met.

He sang at a prayer vigil for young people in Bologna in 1997 hosted by John Paul II.

Dylan, who released his first album in 1963, was awarded a Nobel Prize for literature in 2016. — AFP

SANDAKAN, Nov 4 — Fire-hit families in Kampung Bahagia, who were left without safe water and proper toilets when a blaze tore through their water village in April, now have new facilities to help them recover.

Mercy Malaysia and Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) today officially launched the water, sanitation and hygiene facilities at a ceremony at the Kampung Bahagia Children’s Humanitarian Development Centre near here, followed by a site visit.

“Clean water and safe sanitation are the foundation of health and dignity, especially for families rebuilding their lives after losing their homes,” Mercy Malaysia president Datuk Dr Ahmad Faizal Mohd Perdaus said in a statement.

“When the fire devastated Kampung Bahagia, restoring these basic services was among the community’s most urgent needs,” he added.

Funded by a RM300,000 contribution from YSD and delivered by Mercy Malaysia, the project includes four temporary communal blocks for toilet, bathing and washing use, as well as a water storage tank and a piping network.

The extra water storage is also meant to help the community prepare for future emergencies, including fighting fires, the organisers said.

Yayasan Sime Darby CEO Yatela Zainal Abidin gives a speech in Kampung Bahagia, Sabah.

YSD chief executive officer Yatela Zainal Abidin said the foundation had earlier distributed RM270,000 in emergency aid to 1,000 affected families.

She said YSD knew that “many families would continue to face challenges long after the initial relief efforts”.

Mercy Malaysia worked with local craftsmen, local authorities and community representatives from planning to completion of the project.

Mercy Malaysia exco Dr Khamarrul Azahari Razak gives a speech in Kampung Bahagia, Sabah. — Picture courtesy of Mercy Malaysia

The April 19 fire destroyed about 1,000 stilt houses and affected nearly 9,000 residents.

By September 22, some 300 families were still living in donated tents and plywood huts beside the burnt site, with some lacking electricity or regular clean water, Bernama said.

Back then, village head Sharif Hashim Sharif Titing said most residents want to rebuild on the same site, where the Sabah Lands and Surveys Department had conducted its preliminary site mapping.

ROME, Nov 4 — An elegant woman gazes out from her portrait with expressive eyes, a gilded wreath worn in her hair and a gentle, questioning look on her face.

She is one of the 2,000-year-old “Faces of Fayum”, startlingly realistic funerary—or mummy—portraits painted after Egypt became part of the Roman empire.

The fragile portraits dating from the first to third centuries AD—painted on thin wooden panels and designed to be placed over the face of mummies—will go on display in Rome in what organisers hail as a “milestone” collaboration between Italy and Egypt.

“Egypt and Rome, the Faces of Fayum”, opening Wednesday at Rome’s Ara Pacis museum, also includes mummies, masks, shrouds, jewellery, marble busts and statuary.

The majority of the artefacts come from Egypt, with some allowed to leave the country for the first time.

Such is the case of the “Tondo of the Two Brothers” from Cairo’s Egyptian Museum, a freshly restored double portrait from the time of Emperor Hadrian that depicts two curly-haired young men, possibly brothers, with soulful eyes.

Rome’s top official for cultural heritage, Claudio Parisi Presicce, called the work an “absolute masterpiece, perhaps the most important pictorial work to have survived from antiquity”.

“These are simple wooden panels, often just a few millimetres thick, made of wood... and they were used to depict, through extremely naturalistic painting, the faces of the individuals who were being buried,” Parisi Presicce told a press conference Monday.

Rooted in the tradition of Hellenistic painting, the portraits placed over the head of the mummy and secured into its wrappings come from a relatively brief period between the first and third centuries AD, after Egypt became a province of Rome.

In a fusion of two great civilisations—Egyptian and Roman—the men, women and children portrayed often bear Egyptian features, but wear Roman dress.

Their faces are vivid, and haunting, whether bearing signs of greying hair and wrinkles, or the long eyelashes and chubby cheeks of a child.

“These people are not dead,” Italian figurative painter Amedeo Modigliani once said of the Fayum portraits.

“They are more alive than those who gaze upon them.”

Ushering the dead 

Works from the Louvre, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the J. Paul Getty Museum, the Landesmuseum Württemberg and other international museums round out the exhibit.

A fertile area of Egypt on the edge of the desert, Fayum’s arid climate helped preserve the delicate painted wood, textiles and papyrus on display in the exhibition.

One work, on loan from the Louvre, is a spectacular, near-pristine linen shroud depicting a man standing between the mummy he will become and Anubis, the jackal-headed god who helped usher the dead into the Afterlife.

Some of the female portraits are adorned in sumptuous jewellery, such as that of the woman “Isidora” from the first century AD, whose three-tiered gold necklace adorned with precious stones, pearl earrings and elaborately curled hairdo project her status.

Parisi Presicce said that “countless questions” remain about the compelling portraits.

“Were they made earlier and kept until the moment of death? Were they painted at the time the deceased was buried? Were they panels that were hung in homes, in residences?” he asked.

A nail found at the top of one of the portraits makes this theory plausible, he said.

Hisham El-Leithy, secretary-general of Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities, said the images from so long ago have an uncanny power to move us.

“They are people like us, we look at them, they look back at you across 2,000 years,” he said.

“That is the power of the portrait.”

The exhibition runs until May 2. — AFP

KINGSTON, Nov 3 — British adventurer Karl Bushby enjoyed an emotional reunion with his mother and family on Monday as he arrived back home after a 28-year, 50,000-kilometre (31,000-mile) trek from South America, crossing four continents on foot.

Cheers erupted as the 57-year-old former paratrooper was greeted in the street outside his mother’s house in the northeastern UK port city of Hull.

Bushby, who set off on his odyssey from Chile in 1998, had two golden rules for his journey—avoid all forms of transport to advance and not return until he completed his challenge.

He was met in the centre of Hull by a crowd of up to 1,000 cheering people before being reunited with his mother, Angela, 36-year-old son Adam and a 12-year-old granddaughter he had never met.

Speaking after the reunion, Bushby paid tribute to the kindness of the strangers he had met, from hotel owners to the “poorest of the poor” who had given him bowls of rice and something to drink along the way.

”And that would happen throughout the world,” he said adding that the world had been his “support network”.

‘Indiana Jones’ moments 

The route back to his home city has seen him walk the length of the Americas, across the frozen Bering Strait from Alaska to Russia and then through parts of Central Asia and Europe covering jungles, mountains, and deserts.

The journey had been full of logistical headaches and scary “Indiana Jones” and “I think I’m going to die moments”, he told reporters.

Bushby had already been applauded Sunday as he crossed the iconic Humber Bridge near Hull in thick mist, ahead of his final push into the city centre and then on to his mother’s home where he grew up.

”So many people have followed Karl on his epic journey. We have all felt inspired by his spirit, tenacity and dogged determination,” Hull Mayor Maria Coward said ahead of his arrival.

”It’s quite emotional. I’m proud of him and what he’s done. What an achievement,” neighbour Laura Chaplin, 47, told AFP as he returned home.

British leader Andy Burnham’s spokesman said it was “an extraordinary achievement and the prime minister welcomes him back to the UK”.

Challenges met 

Bushby began his adventure when he was 29, after his marriage broke down and his wife returned to Northern Ireland with their son.

He was forced to pause the journey several times, including when Moscow refused him a visa. The 2008 financial crisis and then the Covid-19 pandemic caused other hold-ups.

At those times, he stepped away from the journey, living notably at a base in Mexico, then once the situation had been resolved, he would resume from the exact spot where he had left off.

Erin Anderson, 28, a theatre marketing officer among the crowd in Hull, said she thought Bushby was “amazing”.

”I’ve been following him for the last eight years. He’s been walking for as long as I’ve been alive. It’s brilliant”.

UK soil 

Bushby swam across the Channel from France in early October to arrive back in the UK.

Legendary German filmmaker Werner Herzog and a film crew accompanied Bushby on his homecoming, making a feature-length documentary about the journey entitled “Walk of Life”.

The production company behind the film has been supporting Bushby’s progress for the past 16 years, providing financial and logistical assistance.

Bushby said he would now be focusing on the documentary as well as writing a book and making the adjustment back into normal life.

”I’m still in that shocked phase,” he told AFP. “Over the last few days it’s been the last time I’ve been camping in my tent... last time spending all day on the road.

”Each one of those has been an emotional event and then walking down my childhood street into my childhood home with mother (there), that’s been quite something,” he said.

He added that he still had the drive for adventure but ruled out any more big walks.

”I think I’m hanging my boots up -- 28 years is a good run,” he said. — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR, November 3 — Despite merchandise sales for The Weeknd’s After Hours Til Dawn Tour in KL opening at 2pm, eager fans began lining up as early as 10am, hoping to secure official concert gear.

Held at Car Park C of the TM National Stadium in Bukit Jalil, today’s merchandise pre-sale drew crowds of eager fans, personal shoppers, and supportive parents, all braving the sweltering afternoon heat. 

Fortunately for fans, organiser Livenation Malaysia has prepared several water stations around the area as well as a medic team on standby to accommodate queuing fans. 

And not just that, several fans also came prepared with umbrellas, snacks, handheld fans and some even brought along foldable chairs to get through the day. 

Personal shopper Ammarcs is one of the earliest in line for the merchandise.  — Picture by Arif Zikri 

One of the first in line was Ammarcs, a 23-year-old personal shopper from Kepong who has been waiting in line since 10am. 

“I was afraid the line would be massive by the time I got here, but luckily the crowd wasn’t too big yet.

“If I came late, my main concern was missing out on the exact sizes my customers asked for,” Ammarcs told Malay Mail.

Ammarcs who is also a student, said that he has been a personal shopper for around two years now and for today’s session, he decided to open up 20 slots where he would charge RM10 per item. 

He pointed out that he could get more customers however he decided to cap his customer list at 20 people only to not stress himself out.

Armed with just an umbrella, a powerbank and a luggage bag, Ammarcs said that these are amongst the essential items he needs whenever he is on the job. 

“A mobile phone is a must, followed by a power bank and, of course, a luggage bag—which actually has several other bags packed inside it. 

“I also brought a lot of IKEA bags as backups to put all the stuff in along with a pen and notebook just in case my phone freezes, so I still have all the order details written down,” he said. 

He added that personal shopping is just a part-time gig for him as it is a great way for him to secure some extra income especially with him still studying at the moment. 

Nina Ibrahim and her family waiting for her daughter who was in queue for the merchandise. — Picture by Raymond Manuel.

Meanwhile, 47-year-old Nina Ibrahim and her husband have been taking shelter under a tree since 12pm while waiting for their 20-year-old daughter who was in queue for the merchandise. 

Nina and her family are from Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, and they are currently in town to visit their relatives here. 

“We came to visit relatives, and the concert timing just happened to align.

“My daughter is a big fan of The Weeknd, and since we traveled a long way, I was worried about safety if she queued alone.

“That’s why we decided to join her here today,” Nina said. 

Aside from that, 26-year-old Shaqeel from Sri Lanka who was also in the queuing line wished that he came more prepared. 

“I really wished I’ve brought an umbrella, a fan and a bottle of water with me because I didnt expect it would be this hot.

“I didnt come prepared at all. 

“But I’m wearing shorts so at least I have that going for me and I got my powerbank with me to keep my phone alive, so that’s good enough,” he said. 

Shaqeel who has been a fan of The Weeknd since 2013 said that he came all the way from Sri Lanka just to catch The Weeknd live in person and he has been enjoying the Malaysia experience so far. 

“I just flew in from Sri Lanka a day before yesterday and although I came here alone, but I am meeting up with a few friends who are living here. 

“My experience has been great so far, I’m staying nearby Pavillion in Bukit Bintang and I have to say the food here are great. 

“I will be staying here for until Monday and I might be visiting other places such as Melaka and also Genting Highlands while I’m here,” he said. 

19 years old Mohd Arfat Abdul Rashid has been saving up for The Weeknd in Malaysia. — Picture by Raymond Manuel.

As the merchandise pre-sale booth opens sharply at 2pm,  it only took 20 minutes for 19-year-old Mohd Arfat Abdul Rashid to secure his merchandise. 

Arfat who was in queue since 11am initially wanted to buy just a hoodie for himself however ended up buying another jersey because the quality is too good for him to resist. 

“It was better than I expected, I really thought the jersey was just going to be a normal jersey but then I found out its a thick layer kind of jersey. 

“I’m like wow, the thing is, I wasn’t even planning to buy the jersey but it was actually nice, I just had to buy it,” he said. 

Arfat is a student who is also working a part time job and he said that he had to make excuses to his boss in order for him to line up for the merchandise. 

“I’m so excited for the show tomorrow, and I’m really proud of myself for making it here.

“I’ve been wanting to see him live for so long, so I saved up for months—it took me eight months to afford the ticket and this jersey. 

“Even though I couldn’t get VIP passes, just being able to attend is more than good enough for me,” Arfat said. 

The Weeknd will be performing in Malaysia on November 4 and 5 at the TM National Stadium in Bukit Jalil in part of his After Hours Till Dawn Tour. 

This will also mark his final stop for the tour which has been ongoing since 2022. 

SINGAPORE, Nov 3 — A former employee of socialite Kim Lim was yesterday sentenced to 22 months’ jail after stealing a luxury watch and cash from her employer, misusing a company credit card and drink-driving in a company vehicle.

Tey Jing Wen, 33, was also fined S$3,500 (RM11,200) and disqualified from holding or obtaining a driving licence for two years from her release.

She pleaded guilty on October 8 to five charges, including theft as a servant, criminal breach of trust as an employee, driving without a valid licence and drink-driving. 

Another five charges were taken into consideration during sentencing on Monday.

The court documents stated that the stolen items included a Patek Philippe watch valued at S$73,000 and red packets containing an estimated S$8,000 in cash, amounting to S$81,000.

Stole watch and cash from employer’s safe

Tey joined Lim’s beauty, wellness and healthcare company KL Health as a human resource assistant in June 2022, reported CNA.

She worked closely with Lim, who is the daughter of billionaire Peter Lim, on the company’s daily administrative matters. When Lim was away, employees would approach Tey for instructions, which she would relay after obtaining Lim’s approval.

In August 2024, Lim entrusted Tey with the combination to her office safe after her personal assistant resigned.

Between November 2024 and June 2025, Tey stole a Patek Philippe watch valued at S$73,000 and red packets containing about S$8,000 in cash, according to the charge sheets.

She later sold the watch for S$16,500 to a person who claimed to be a second-hand dealer while she was out on bail.

She used part of the proceeds to repay part of her unauthorised credit card spending, while the remaining money and stolen cash went towards her personal expenses, CNA reported.

Misused company credit card for personal spending

Tey also used a company credit card entrusted to her for personal expenses.

The charge sheets stated that she used the card on eight occasions between May 21 and 26, 2025, spending a total of S$19,191.12 at Bai Gong Premium Club and House Singapore.

Other charges listed in the court documents included cheating a private establishment into providing S$10,101 worth of beverages by using the company credit card.

She was also charged with criminal breach of trust involving S$66,000 and another S$8,000, which she had allegedly misappropriated for personal expenses.

A separate theft charge involved other valuables belonging to Lim, including a Christian Dior perfume worth S$705, Tiffany & Co earrings valued at S$3,600 and a Chanel cardigan worth S$6,929.

The items, which also included a Bvlgari bracelet and several bottles of Dior and Louis Vuitton perfumes, were valued at at least S$11,234.

Caught driving against traffic after drinking

Tey was arrested in the early hours of June 3, 2025, after a traffic police officer spotted her driving against the flow of traffic along Coleman Lane towards Coleman Street.

According to the charge sheets, she had 46 microgrammes of alcohol per 100ml of breath, exceeding the prescribed limit of 35 microgrammes.

She was also driving without a valid Class 3 driving licence and without third-party insurance for the vehicle.

The car had been reportedly rented by KL Health for designated drivers to use for daily errands, and Tey had been tasked with keeping its keys.

However, she took the keys without Lim’s permission while her employer was overseas and drove from the company’s office to Tanjong Pagar for dinner. — AsiaOne

TOKYO, Nov 3 — A Swiss luxury watch worth about US$290,000 (RM1.2 million) that was stolen from a Tokyo store last week has been returned with an apology note, according to local media.

The theft occurred when a man posing as a customer tried on the Audemars Piguet timepiece and then fled the shop in the Japanese capital while it was still on his wrist.

But the case took a twist when the store received a package containing the watch — and a handwritten note saying sorry, the Asahi Shimbun newspaper and other media reported yesterday, citing unnamed investigative sources.

The watch’s serial number reportedly identified it as the stolen item.

The shop declined to comment when contacted by AFP.

Tokyo police are still searching for the man on suspicion of theft, according to the Asahi.

In August, four luxury watches worth ¥200 million were stolen from another store in the same shopping complex. — AFP

CHICLAYO, Nov 3 — A luckless Peruvian town that has for centuries been dismissed as cursed is hoping for a new lease on life when Pope Leo visits this month.

Under Spanish colonial rule in the 16th century, Zana — home to around 4,000 souls — was a wealthy centre of commerce dotted with grandiose churches.

But three centuries after it was nearly destroyed by a flood of biblical proportions, vultures now roost in its ruined steeples.

Zana’s identity is strongly associated with Catholicism, thanks to legends of divine punishment — before the flood, it was regularly attacked by pirates — to the death in the town in 1606 of Toribio de Mogrovejo, a Spanish missionary who converted Indigenous Peruvians to Christianity.

Saint Toribio, who denounced abuses by the Spanish crown, has been feted as a role model by Leo, who will celebrate the 300th anniversary of his canonization in Zana in northern Peru during a three-country tour of South America.

“The curse is over,” said Maria Colchado, a 63-year-old homemaker who is helping prepare the town for the visit on November 14.

The mere fact of the US-born pontiff entering Zana means “we are already more than blessed,” she told AFP.

Colchado is one of the volunteers in charge of maintaining the modest church that will receive Pope Leo, who served as archbishop in this region from 2015 to 2023.

The facade is currently getting a lick of new white and burgundy paint, financed by the sale of raffle tickets.

An altar at the site where Saint Toribio de Mogrovejo died is pictured, in Zana, Lambayeque region of northern Peru October 13, 2026. — AFP pic

Pope Leo, who recently underwent surgery for lung cancer, will wrap up his first Latin American tour in Peru, after visiting Uruguay and Argentina.

“The Holy Father holds Zana dear,” Edinson Farfan, the pope’s successor as bishop of the city of Chiclayo near Zana, told AFP during a visit to inspect the town’s preparations.

“Everyone wants to showcase the best” of the ill-starred town, Farfan added.

‘Coming home’ 

Born and raised in Chicago, Leo became a Peruvian citizen in 2015 after living in the country for almost two decades.

He left a profound mark on the Andean nation, which adopted him as one of its own.

In Zana, he was a regular visitor for the feast of Saint Toribio on April 27, among other events.

“The Pope is coming home,” Colchado said, echoing sentiments expressed in Chiclayo since Leo was named leader of the world’s 1.4 billion Catholics last year.

Hundreds of Vatican flags have been ordered to festoon homes in Zana for his visit.

Maria Colchado speaks outside her house in Zana, Lambayeque region of northern Peru October 13, 2026. — AFP pic

Rosario Cossio, head of the town’s Afro-Peruvian Museum, said that Zana’s reputation for being cursed was linked to the murder of a priest during the colonial era.

After the cleric’s death, Zana “was not considered suitable for Catholic sacraments,” she told AFP.

In spite of, or perhaps because of its history, the town these days is a wellspring of devotion.

Huge posters depicting Saint Toribio and Leo XIV adorn the walls of the town hall and the main church, where a piece of the saint’s tibia is housed as a relic.

A slogan painted on a motorcycle taxi reads: “Christ loves you.”

The local Catholic Church has asked residents to open their doors to pilgrims who make the journey for the pope’s visit.

Colchado and her family are preparing to host about 30 people in their large, one-story house with ochre walls.

“We are ready,” she assured. — AFP

TANAH MERAH, Nov 3 — The rhythmic beats of the rebana mangkuk are becoming increasingly rare, heard only during cultural events or selected occasions, mainly in Kelantan, particularly in the Tanah Merah district. It is therefore hardly surprising that many people are unfamiliar with this traditional musical instrument.

Played in groups, usually comprising 12 musicians, the rebana mangkuk is a traditional percussion instrument rooted in Kelantanese Malay rhythms and drumming traditions. Today, it faces the risk of extinction, not in terms of performances but in the art of making the instrument itself.

It is believed that only three people remain actively involved in crafting the rebana mangkuk, all belonging to the same family in the district.

“Making a rebana mangkuk is an intricate process that requires patience. On top of that, the basic materials needed to produce the instrument are becoming increasingly difficult to obtain,” one of the remaining craftsmen, Mohd Hasbullah Aling, told Bernama.

With nearly 15 years of experience in making the instrument, the 43-year-old said that, to his knowledge, only his uncle, Yusoff Abdullah, 79, and cousin, Mohd Sabri Yusoff, 46, were truly skilled in crafting the rebana mangkuk.

It all begins with a bowl

Mohd Hasbullah said the rebana mangkuk was unique because its main components were closely associated with the rubber tree. These include a ceramic latex-collection bowl, once commonly used to collect latex from rubber trees, and a drumhead made from thin sheets of natural rubber. The beater used to strike the instrument is also made of natural rubber.

The craftsman explained that the process begins with selecting a ceramic latex-collection bowl to serve as the drum’s body, as ceramic produces a sharper sound than other materials.

The drumhead is made from natural rubber latex, which is allowed to coagulate without any additional substances. It is then dried, cut and stretched until it becomes as thin as an onion skin.

Mohd Hasbullah Aling, 43, and his uncle Yusoff Abdullah, 79, are among just three known craftsmen still making the traditional ‘rebana mangkuk’ in Tanah Merah, Kelantan. — Bernama pic

According to Mohd Hasbullah, each drum requires between 33 and 48 layers of rubber to achieve the desired tone.

“After completing each layer, we test the sound first. If it is not quite right, we add more layers until we achieve the sound we want,” he said.

Once the layering process is completed, the rebana is assembled using metal fittings and specially prepared rattan before being tuned with wedges at the bottom of its body to ensure that all six rebana mangkuk in a set produce the same pitch.

It takes him about a week to complete one rebana mangkuk, although he can produce up to 20 drums a month when there are sufficient orders.

When the mind shapes the music

Mohd Hasbullah said crafting a rebana mangkuk requires not only manual dexterity but also a calm mind, particularly when stretching the rubber layers.

“If you are impatient, the rubber will tear. If you are stressed or have too many problems on your mind, it is also difficult to do the work because your hands become rougher in their movements, eventually damaging the rubber,” he said.

He said natural rubber latex was the defining feature of the rebana mangkuk, giving it a sharper, mellower and more distinctive resonance than a drum made using goatskin.

“You can use goatskin, but the sound is not the same. With natural rubber latex, the rebana mangkuk produces a sharper sound that is more stirring to the soul,” he explained.

The ‘rebana mangkuk’ is a traditional Kelantanese percussion instrument made using a ceramic rubber-tapping bowl and layers of natural rubber latex. — Bernama pic

He added that every drum in a set must be carefully tuned to achieve a balanced sound, as even slight differences in pitch could affect the overall performance.

A heritage craft becoming harder to preserve

Apart from the intricate manufacturing process, obtaining raw materials has become another major challenge for the craftsmen.

Mohd Hasbullah said ceramic latex-collection bowls, a key component of the instrument, were increasingly difficult to find as most rubber tappers had switched to plastic bowls.

“Ceramic bowls are now very difficult to obtain. Even when they are available, they usually have to be specially ordered because those sold in the market have holes and are unsuitable for making the drums,” he said.

Natural rubber latex is also becoming harder to source, as the material must be collected while still fresh, before it coagulates in the collection bowl.

“Rattan is also difficult to obtain. All these factors have caused the cost of producing the rebana mangkuk to continue rising,” he said, adding that a drum currently costs about RM170, depending on raw material prices.

Only three craftsmen left

Mohd Hasbullah said he learnt the craft from his uncle, Yusoff Abdullah, alongside his cousin Mohd Sabri, who is Yusoff’s son.

Each ‘rebana mangkuk’ requires between 33 and 48 layers of natural rubber to produce its distinctive sound, with craftsmen spending about a week completing a single drum. — Bernama pic

Although more young people are showing an interest in playing the rebana mangkuk, he said few are willing to learn the intricate process of making the traditional instrument.

“Many are interested in playing it, but when it comes to learning how to make it, not many are willing to take up the challenge. If anyone is genuinely interested in learning, I will teach them. I do not want this knowledge to disappear,” he said, expressing concern that the craft could one day become extinct.

Mohd Hasbullah also revealed that he had once considered giving up the rebana mangkuk tradition after feeling sidelined by a group with which he had worked to promote the art form.

He said that as the instrument gained wider recognition, the group began receiving invitations to perform, but he was not invited to participate.

“At the time, I felt as though I had been pushed aside. We were the ones who had worked so hard to introduce the rebana mangkuk, but in the end, I felt excluded,” he said.

The disappointment led him to abandon plans to establish an association and apply for grants to further develop and promote the traditional art form.

However, encouragement from several individuals helped rekindle his enthusiasm, particularly Kang Boon Ann, a traditional shadow puppet theatre practitioner from Persatuan Sri Cindayu, who continued to urge him to persevere.

“I thought to myself, if I stop, who else will introduce the rebana mangkuk to the public? That was why I decided to rise again,” he said.

Mohd Hasbullah Aling, 43, and his uncle Yusoff Abdullah, 79, play the traditional ‘rebana mangkuk’, a Kelantanese percussion instrument whose intricate craft of making is at risk of disappearing. — Bernama pic

Hoping to nurture a new generation

Today, Mohd Hasbullah has a greater ambition: to see more support from the government, cultural agencies and relevant organisations to facilitate workshops on making and playing the rebana mangkuk.

He said such initiatives were essential to ensure that more young people could not only play the instrument but also master the techniques involved in crafting it.

“With the necessary assistance and support, I want to teach people how to make and play the instrument, and nurture more successors so that the rebana mangkuk will continue to be recognised throughout Malaysia,” he said.

For Mohd Hasbullah, every layer of natural rubber stretched as thin as an onion skin represents more than just a component of a musical instrument. Together, the layers preserve the history, culture and identity of a community whose heritage is beyond measure.

As long as there are hands willing to learn the craft and hearts committed to passing it on, the rebana mangkuk can continue to echo as one of Kelantan’s treasured cultural legacies, worthy of preservation for generations to come. — Bernama

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 3 — Planning to book dinner at Rembayung soon? With Grab Dine Out, you can now book a table at the highly popular restaurant.

Previously, Rembayung used Umai to manage its table reservations. However, securing a table was often a nightmare, as the booking system was frequently overwhelmed by heavy traffic, resulting in crashes and long delays in the virtual waiting room. Diners were also left waiting without real-time notifications when reservation slots were fully booked.

Khairul Aming teams up with Grab to counter scalpers

Previously, Khairul Aming says a lot of table or dining reservations were taken up by scalpers. The Kelantanese admitted this is a major issue because a lot of genuine customers missed out on their bookings.

Khairul Aming himself added that he was “stuck” when dealing with this issue, even declining the suggestion to include IC as a way to make bookings due to safety and privacy concerns.

Now, the local entrepreneur announced a partnership with Grab to address this issue. Khairul Aming said that booking a table Rembayung can now be done via Grab’s Dine Out feature.

What’s the difference between Umai and Grab?

For context, Umai is a cloud-based restaurant reservation and guest management (CRM) software that was used by Rembayung to handle bookings or reservations. 

Through Umai’s system, bookings opened daily at 9pm (except Fridays) and it offered two-tiered windows for reservations. The first being short-term reservations (two days in advance) and longer-term bookings (up to two weeks in advance).

Additionally, the number of customers are limited to a minimum of two people per session or a maximum of eight people per session. Through Umai, your dining sessions are limited to around one hour 45 minutes to one hour 50 minutes.  

Customers will also need to pay deposit of RM10 per person through the portal. The reservations are also limited to one booking per day, if the system found out a guest had double booked, the booking will be cancelled and the RM10 will not be refunded. This was done to ensure fairness for other customers.

Those who made a booking would also need to show their proof of purchase on email at the entrance.

On the other hand, Grab provides two options — Dine in and Take Away, depending on the guest’s preferences. If you want to dine in, you can make a booking via Grab Dine Out. Reservations open from 11am to 9pm. If customers want a take away meal, the booking options starts from 12:45pm to 6:45pm.

The number of diners per booking starts from a minimum of three people per session and caps at a maximum of eight people. Do keep in mind that children and babies are also considered as one person. For example, you can book a table for eight guests, that being four adults and four children.

Moreover, diners are only allowed one reservation within seven days before or after an active booking. Double booking would result in cancellation without refund. Like Umai, diners are also given one hour and 45 minutes for each dining session.

Besides that, diners can also make a special request such as strollers or wheelchairs, subject to availability and restaurant’s discretion. Should they be late to Rembayung, the restaurant will only hold the table for 15 minutes. Late comers would result in automatic cancellation with no refunds.

Rembayung also strictly forbid table swapping or transfer booking ownership to prevent scalpers from getting table reservations. Diners will need to present their proof of purchase directly to the PoC at the entrance. Remember, Rembayung does not accept screenshots as proof.

Currently, Rembayung only accepts cashless transactions like Debit, Credit card and QR only.

How you can use Grab Dine Out to book a table at Rembayung

Making dinner reservations at Rembayung through Grab Dine Out is quite straightforward. First, tap on the “Dine Out” feature, type  “Rembayung” on the search bar, then tap “Book A Table”.

Customers can then choose their preferred number of pax, date and seating preference. After they are done, they will be led to the payment page and complete their payments there.

For diners based overseas such as Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei. They can still make a booking by switching their locations to Malaysia. — SoyaCincau

KINGSTON UPON HULL, Nov 2 — After 28 years, British adventurer Karl Bushby on Monday ends a  50,000-kilometre (31,000-mile) trek home from Chile across four continents without using any transport.

Bushby, who set off on his odyssey from south America in 1998, had two golden rules for his journey — he should avoid all forms of transport to advance and not return until he completed his challenge.

The route back to his home city of Hull in north-eastern England has seen him walk the length of the Americas, across the Bering Strait from Alaska to Russia and then through parts of central Asia and Europe covering jungles, mountains, deserts and a frozen sea.

People on Sunday applauded him as he crossed the Humber Bridge near Hull in thick mist, ahead of his final push into the city centre and then on to his mother’s home.

The 57-year-old former paratrooper, who pushed his belongings with him on a metal-framed cart, told BBC radio he was “absolutely overwhelmed” by the reception.

He will be given a civic welcome Monday by the city’s mayor and members of the public.

“So many people have followed Karl on his epic journey. We have all felt inspired by his spirit, tenacity and dogged determination,” said Hull’s mayor Maria Coward, adding the city took “pride in his incredible achievement”.

He will then embark on the very final leg of his journey to north Hull to be reunited with his mother Angela, his 36-year-old son Adam and a 12-year-old granddaughter he has never met.

‘UK soil’ 

Bushby began his odyssey adventure when he was 29 after his marriage broke down and his wife returned to Northern Ireland with their son.

He paused the journey several times, including when Moscow refused him a visa. The 2008 financial crisis and then the Covid-19 pandemic proved to be other hold-ups.

At those times, he stepped away from the journey, living notably at a base in Mexico, then once the situation had been resolved, he would resume from the exact spot where he had left off.

He reached Britain early last month by swimming across the busy English Channel from northern France.

A small gathering of friends and family including his father greeted him on the beach near Dover in southern England.

“Feels good to have UK soil under my feet after all these years,” he said afterwards in a statement, adding his journey “hadn’t been easy, and that’s part of the point — proving I’m more capable than I give myself credit for”.

“All of us can accomplish more than we will ever imagine,” he said.

Legendary German filmmaker Werner Herzog and a film crew are accompanying Bushby on his homecoming.

Herzog is making a feature-length documentary about the journey entitled “Walk of Life”.

The production company behind the film has been supporting Bushby’s progress for the past 16 years, providing financial and logistical assistance.

In an interview with AFP from northern France in September, Bushby voiced some apprehension about returning to a more normal life back in Britain.

“I’ve got to try and get established in the grown-up world again,” he said. — AFP 

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 — Popular homegrown food and beverage chains BananaBro and Boat Noodle are mourning the death of their founder, Tony Lim, whose passing at the age of 47 was confirmed in heartfelt tributes released by both brands today.

In a statement, the BananaBro team said it shared the news “with heavy hearts”, remembering Lim as a passionate visionary determined to take Malaysia’s traditional banana leaf dining culture to the global stage through generosity, resilience, and creative conviction.

“Tony gave more than just his vision. He gave his heart to the people and the journey he believed in,” the statement read, adding that his legacy would continue to live on “in every banana leaf we serve and every life he has touched.”

Boat Noodle, the popular Thai street dining chain Lim founded in 2014, remembered him as “a dreamer, a fighter, a mentor, and above all, someone who truly believed in people.” The company noted that Lim built the enterprise on sheer determination and continuous progress, motivating staff with the conviction that they could always improve, even by just 1 per cent each day.

The company explained that Lim’s operating philosophy was encapsulated in the motto “Together We Grow,” stressing that the sentiment “were never just words” to the late entrepreneur, whose daily mentoring focused on resilience, self-belief, and shared accomplishment.

Expressing gratitude to patrons who had “shared a bowl, a smile,” or accompanied the franchise along its journey, Boat Noodle pledged to safeguard his memory by preserving his fighting spirit, warm smile, and faith in his employees. Both memorial statements closed with warm expressions of gratitude, signed off by “The BananaBro Family” and “Your Boat Noodle Family.”

An automotive engineer by training, Lim took a bold leap into the Malaysian food scene in 2014 when he launched Boat Noodle, sparking a nationwide dining craze by introducing halal

Thai boat noodles served in traditional small bowls across local shopping malls. He followed that success in 2018 by founding BananaBro, modernising the classic banana leaf rice format into a contemporary, quick-service brand for urban diners.

Neither brand disclosed the cause or date of Lim’s death, and details regarding memorial services or funeral arrangements have yet to be made public.

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 2 — Rapid KL will extend operating hours across selected rail networks on November 4 and 5 to accommodate concertgoers attending Canadian pop star The Weeknd’s two-night After Hours Til Dawn tour at the National Stadium in Bukit Jalil.

The public transport operator announced that the final boarding deadline at the Bukit Jalil LRT station along the Sri Petaling Line is set at 12.30am for direct services travelling towards both the Putra Heights and Sentul Timur terminals.

Passengers requiring transfers must leave the stadium earlier to secure connecting trains. Commuters heading towards the LRT Ampang Line must board at Bukit Jalil by 12.00am to catch the final interchange service departing Chan Sow Lin at 12.13am.

The midnight cut-off also applies to those connecting to the MRT Putrajaya Line via Sungai Besi, where the last outbound train departs for Kwasa Damansara at 12.15am and for Putrajaya Sentral at 12.34am.

Concertgoers relying on the LRT Kelana Jaya Line, the KL Monorail, or the MRT Kajang Line face an earlier departure deadline of 11.30pm from Bukit Jalil.

Kelana Jaya Line passengers can transfer at Masjid Jamek to catch the final train to Putra Heights at 12.03am or towards Gombak at 12.17am. For monorail users, the interchange at Hang Tuah offers final departures to Titiwangsa at 12.08am and KL Sentral at 12.10am.

Those travelling along the MRT Kajang Line must complete a two-step transit manoeuvrer by boarding at Bukit Jalil before 11.30pm. Commuters must first switch to the Putrajaya Line at Sungai Besi by 11.45pm, then complete a second transfer at Tun Razak Exchange (TRX) before the final trains depart for Kwasa Damansara at 12.10am and Kajang at 12.13am.

To alleviate traffic congestion around Bukit Jalil, Rapid KL urged concertgoers to utilise its Park and Ride facilities linked to the LRT Ampang, Sri Petaling, and MRT Putrajaya networks.

The LRT Ampang and Sri Petaling corridors feature 15 designated park-and-ride hubs, including multi-level complexes at Ampang, Pandan Jaya, Taman Perindustrian Puchong, Kinrara BK5, Sentul, Putra Heights, and Sungai Besi. A further 14 multi-storey facilities are situated along the MRT Putrajaya Line, serving stations such as Metro Prima, Sri Damansara Timur, Cyberjaya Utara, Sungai Besi, UPM, and Taman Naga Emas.

Motorists can access flat parking rates between RM4.30 and RM5.00 per entry at official rail-operated parking structures, provided they tap in and out using the exact same Touch ‘n Go card for both their parking entry and train fares. Commuters can monitor real-time parking bay availability on concert days through the MyRapid Pulse mobile application.

The four-time Grammy winner brings his record-shattering global tour to Kuala Lumpur after grossing over US$1 billion (RM4.5 billion) across 7.5 million tickets, making it the highest-grossing tour by a male solo artist in music history. After touring Europe, the Americas, and Australia since 2022, the multi-year stadium run enters its concluding phase with its Southeast Asian debut at the 80,000-capacity National Stadium.

IPOH, Nov 2 — For one private-sector employee, Deepavali celebrations are never complete without coffee snacks from Kampung Kacang Putih in Buntong, which he serves to guests at home, even if it means travelling more than 200 kilometres from Kuala Lumpur to get them. It has become an annual routine.

For P. Ravi, 56, Buntong kacang putih snacks are more than just a Deepavali treat. He said their quality was distinctly different from those sold elsewhere, while their prices were also more affordable.

“I leave Kuala Lumpur at around 7.30am and it takes me more than two hours to get here. It is not a burden because this place has been my family's choice for the past six years.

“We usually come here a week before the festival, and among our favourite items to serve guests are mixed murukku, plain murukku and tapioca chips,” he told Bernama at Kampung Kacang Putih here today.

The Melaka-born man said he usually set aside between RM500 and RM1,000 to buy various types of snacks from several shops in the area.

He said the snacks were not only served during Deepavali but were also given as gifts to relatives, neighbours and colleagues who visited their home.

“It has become a family tradition every time we celebrate the festival, as a way of strengthening ties with colleagues and neighbours,” he said.

Civil servant K. Gaayathri, 30, said the snacks were a must-have during Deepavali celebrations as they were among the favourites of guests visiting her home.

Gaayathri, who hails from Kuala Lumpur, said the wide variety of snacks and flavours made them popular among many people.

“That is why I never forget to get white these snacks here. Deepavali celebrations just do not feel complete without such snacks being served to guests,” she said.

She also hoped that this year's Deepavali celebrations would further strengthen the spirit of harmony and bring the light of goodness and joy to all Hindus in the country.

Meanwhile, DNS Kacang Putih manager S. Sathis Kumar said demand for the snacks at his premises increased by 60 per cent during the Deepavali festive season compared with normal days.

He said demand came not only from Hindu customers but also from people of various ethnic backgrounds across the country.

“Usually, we start making preparations two weeks before Deepavali as we know demand will increase and customers will want to buy the various types of snacks sold here.

“Among the products that are in high demand are spicy mixed murukku, kuih loyang, round murukku, kuih batu, as well as various types of sweets and ladoo,” he said.

Kampung Kacang Putih in Buntong here has been renowned for its wide variety of white kacang putih snacks and other delicacies, particularly in the run-up to Deepavali, for the past 60 years. The business has been passed down through three generations and remains popular among Malaysians of various ethnic backgrounds.

Among the varieties of snacks sold at the business centre are mixed murukku, pakoda, sivel, dal, aulu, poori, Sri Lankan pakoda, omom, kadalai, kacang susu and tapioca chips. — Bernama

MEXICO CITY, Nov 1 — While Day of the Dead is a centuries-old tradition in Mexico, its parade in the capital is a newer addition — with thanks to Bond, James Bond.

The Day of the Dead, when Mexico honours its deceased by blending pre-Columbian traditions with the Christian All Saints’ Day, is historically a family affair.

Relatives visit cemeteries and set up altars with food and other items their loved ones enjoyed in life.

Then came 007.

Miguel Angel Mancera, who served as Mexico City mayor from 2012 to 2018, organised the city's first Day of the Dead parade in 2016. — AFP pic

The 2015 Bond film “Spectre” opens with the British spy walking through a crowd dressed as the dead in downtown Mexico City.

Yesterday, giant skeletons, floats and performers in feathered headdresses and masks filled the streets of Mexico City for the 10th anniversary of the Day of the Dead parade.

Musicians and acrobats joined the colourful floats, giving the downtown avenues a carnival atmosphere.

People take part in the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 31, 2026. — AFP pic

“Everyone started asking me, ‘What about the parade? When’s the parade?’”

Miguel Angel Mancera, who organised the first parade while serving as Mexico City mayor from 2012 to 2018, told AFP. “It was an adventure.”

City officials expect more than half a million visitors from Mexico and abroad to watch this year’s parade, which falls on the same weekend as the city’s Formula One Grand Prix race.

People attend the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 31, 2026.

Some of the giant figures used in the film appeared in the first parade in 2016.

“It’s a very, very big thing now,” Mancera said. “It’s something I’m really proud of.”

An 11-storey Catrina — an elegantly dressed female skeleton — stands in the Zocalo, the capital’s main square, as part of this year’s festivities.

Two women wearing Catrina costumes attend the Day of the Dead parade in Mexico City on October 31, 2026.

What was once a “more intimate” celebration has become “a mass event,” said Roberto Montalvo, an academic at the Iberoamerican University.

Tourists now pack some cemeteries, competing with families for space. “Do we adapt the visit to the ritual, or does the ritual adapt to the visitor?” Montalvo asked. — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 1 — The capital’s retail scene welcomed a new addition today with the opening of 118 Mall, a seven-storey shopping destination at the foot of Menara 118, the world’s second-tallest skyscraper.

Today’s opening adds another dimension to the Merdeka 118 precinct, which is being developed into a destination combining retail, hospitality and commercial offerings in the heart of KL.

The mall was scheduled to open its doors to the public at 11.18 am, in a symbolic nod to Menara 118, but eager visitors were allowed in earlier ahead of the official opening ceremony at around 10.30am.

Excitement was evident among early visitors, including administrative executive Lim Jit Hong, who queued before the mall opened to be among the first to explore its shops and attractions.

Lim was among the early visitors waiting for 118 Mall to open its doors to the public today. — Picture by Yusof Isa

The 56-year-old from Cheras said he arrived via public transport around 9am, two hours before the mall’s slated opening, hoping to take advantage of promotional offers by various tenants marking its launch.

“I’m here for the free chicken! Nando’s is offering a free quarter chicken to the first 118 customers, and I also wanted to take advantage of Boost Juice’s opening promotions,” he told Malay Mail, gesturing towards the promotions listed on his mobile phone.

When asked if he was also interested in other tenants, Lim said he will be exploring the mall to its fullest once he has achieved his ‘mission’.

Maizatul speaks to the Malay Mail as 118 Mall opens its doors to the public today. — Picture by Yusof Isa

For civil servant Maizatul Akma, the opening of 118 Mall is a welcome addition to her weekend routine, which includes jogging at the nearby Stadium Merdeka, giving her another place to explore after her workout.

Maizatul, who is from Ampang, said she had been following updates on the mall’s opening on social media and was excited to finally see it open its doors after anticipating its arrival.

“After walking around, I would like to point out something very interesting that I have not seen in other shopping malls.

“It’s called the ‘Raincloud,’ a multi-level water feature with projected light displays. It just looks so pretty,” she said.

She said she was likely to make regular visits to 118 Mall, adding that she would definitely drop by after her weekly jogging sessions.

The Raincloud, a multi-level water feature with projected light displays seen here in 118 Mall. — Picture by Yusof Isa

PNB president and group chief executive Datuk Rizal Rickman Ramli said the group never intended to build just another shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur, but rather create a destination that reflected PNB’s values, offered something different and enhanced the city’s retail landscape.

“We believe we have done that. 118 Mall serves the needs of the precinct, from the people who work in the tower to those who will visit the wider development, while remaining open and accessible to the surrounding community.

“Merdeka 118 was never meant to be just a tower. It was always envisioned as an integrated precinct, and the mall is central to that vision.

“Its completion will be a welcome addition not only for the tenants in the tower, but also for the broader precinct and for Kuala Lumpur as a whole,” he said in his opening speech.

PNB president and group chief executive Datuk Rizal Rickman Ramli giving his opening speech. — Picture by Yusof Isa

With 158 stores operating at its official opening and more expected to come on board in the coming months, Rizal said this reflected strong leasing momentum and retailers’ growing confidence in Merdeka 118 as a premier destination.

Also present during the opening ceremony were PNB Merdeka Ventures Sdn Bhd chief executive Datuk Izwan Hasli Ibrahim and PNB group chairman Tan Sri Arshad Raja Tun Uda.

The mall currently feature a curated mix of international flagships and premium homegrown brands.

Among its key attractions is The Atmosphere, a 20,000-square-foot event piazza located on Level 4 above the retail floors, featuring an 88-metre glass dome that allows natural sunlight to illuminate the space.

BANGKOK, Nov 1 — An argument reportedly sparked by a barking dog ended with a Buddhist monk and a temple undertaker both in hospital after a fistfight in Nonthaburi, Thai news portal The Thaiger reported.

Police were called to a temple in Sai Noi district at around 7.30pm on October 29 after reports of a fight between 65-year-old monk Chet and 53-year-old undertaker Somchat.

Both men suffered injuries to their faces and heads, and municipal rescue workers gave first aid before taking them to hospital.

Chet told police the trouble began when Somchat shouted at a barking temple dog and chased it away.

The monk said he had merely cleared his throat, which apparently irritated the undertaker.

Chet claimed Somchat appeared to be drunk, struck him with a wooden stick and threw stones at him, injuring his ear and head.

Somchat gave a very different version, saying the pair had argued over funeral arrangements after Chet told him there was no money.

He also insisted the dog had been barking on its own and that the monk had not provoked it.

The undertaker, who appeared heavily intoxicated, acknowledged that he regularly drinks alcohol.

With an injury to his mouth, he accused Chet of grabbing his head and banging it against the ground.

The temple’s abbot, however, backed the barking-dog story, saying the monk had tried to quieten the animal but it kept barking.

He said Somchat threw objects during the dispute, and that police had already visited the temple earlier that evening over an argument between the two men.

The confrontation resumed later, with both men grappling on the ground, the abbot said.

By his account, the monk slapped the undertaker while the undertaker struck the monk with a wooden stick.

The abbot added that Somchat lives at the temple and regularly gets into arguments when drunk.

Police detained Somchat after the incident, while both men received treatment for their injuries.

There was no word on the dog’s version of events.

BEIJING, Nov 1 — A young orphan from southwest China who feared his wedding would be sparsely attended after a lifetime marked by loss received an overwhelming response after inviting strangers online to celebrate with him.

Xu Chenghong, a 24-year-old man from Zhaotong in Yunnan province, turned to social media ahead of his wedding after worrying that too few relatives would be present on his big day. 

According to reports, Xu lost his father at the age of three. His mother remarried two years later, leaving him and his older brother to be raised by their grandmother, who also died when he was still a child. 

Having grown up with little family support, Xu worked various jobs and reportedly saved more than 160,000 yuan (RM94,000) to marry his girlfriend, Luo Chui. As the wedding approached, however, he realised there would not be enough relatives and friends to fill even a few banquet tables. 

In a video posted on Douyin, China’s version of TikTok, Xu invited members of the public to attend the wedding, saying he simply wanted people to share the occasion with him. 

The appeal quickly went viral.

What began as an open invitation to a handful of strangers soon snowballed into a nationwide wave of goodwill, with thousands of people expressing interest in attending and many travelling to Xu’s village to take part in the celebrations. 

Guests arrived bearing gifts ranging from household appliances and food supplies to livestock and wedding necessities. Volunteer chefs offered to prepare banquet dishes, while others helped decorate the venue and organise wedding logistics. A convoy of wedding cars was also arranged by supporters, with one well-wisher reportedly providing a luxury Maybach vehicle for the newlyweds. 

The turnout grew so large that organisers were forced to move the event from its original venue to a larger public space, with local authorities assisting in crowd management, traffic control and food-safety arrangements. 

Videos of the celebration circulated widely on Chinese social media, where many users described the wedding as a powerful reminder of human kindness.

“For Xiao Xiao Xu, the response meant that his wedding would not be defined by the family members he had lost or the empty tables he had feared,” one report noted. 

The story has resonated across China and beyond, transforming what could have been a lonely family occasion into a mass celebration of community, compassion and the kindness of strangers. 

JERTIH, Nov 1 — What began as a search for udang pusu (mud prawns) to prepare a meal for his family has turned into a source of income for a young man in Kampung Limbongan, near Kampung Raja here, who is now receiving orders from customers, including those outside Terengganu.

Mohd Azuan Mahadi, 31, who has spent the past 11 years making a living catching river creatures such as eels, mud snails and giant freshwater prawns, developed an interest in udang pusu after visiting Riau, Indonesia, two years ago.

During the visit, a friend introduced him to fried udang pusu served with oyster sauce, and he was immediately taken by its sweet-tasting flesh, which he said was almost similar to that of mud crabs.

“My first taste of the prawns, which my friend cooked in Riau, made me appreciate their delicious, sweet flesh. I ate about 10 of them but still wanted more because they were so tasty,” he told Bernama when met in Kampung Limbongan here.

Mohd Azuan said he also learnt how to catch the brackish-water creatures during his visit, using a mixture of water and edible lime poured into their mud burrows to coax them out. 

The prawns would usually emerge after about 45 minutes to an hour.

Upon returning home, the father of three began searching for udang pusu in the nipah palm swamps near his house, initially just to prepare meals for his family.

However, the activity gradually became an additional source of income after he shared his catches on social media, attracting interest from potential customers.

Today, he receives orders for about 80 kilogrammes of udang pusu a week, selling them for between RM25 and RM30 per kilogramme, depending on their size.

However, he said the catch was unpredictable, and finding larger prawns remained a challenge as most customers preferred bigger ones.

“The catch is not always consistent, and I am not always lucky enough to find large udang pusu. That is the challenge I face because most customers prefer the bigger ones,” he said.

Although still relatively unknown to many, udang pusu typically inhabit brackish-water areas in mangrove and nipah palm swamps, where they dig burrows and build mud mounds known locally as pusu.

Mohd Azuan said the prawns usually emerged from their burrows during the flood season and could be found on their mud mounds or among the trees.

“Previously, I thought they were not edible because of their rather unusual appearance,” he said.

Catching udang pusu has since become part of his daily routine, with Mohd Azuan usually heading out from 8am to 1pm to fulfil customer orders.

He also cleans every prawn thoroughly to remove mud and dirt, including removing certain organs in the head to prevent customers from feeling dizzy or nauseous after eating them.

With demand continuing to grow, he is now assisted by his friend, Shahrul Izwan Mat Ghani, 39, to ensure orders are fulfilled on time. — Bernama

TOKYO, Nov 1 — Chanting and swishing a wooden wand, a Japanese priest blessed a cat, a shiba inu and several Yorkshire terriers at a shrine in Tokyo on Saturday, in a rite usually reserved for children.

The annual “Shichi-Go-San” festival literally means “Seven-Five-Three” and traditionally allows families to celebrate the growth of their children at those ages.

But with Japan’s population in decline, more and more worshippers are bringing beloved animals to the event instead.

“I came here to pray for my pet’s healthy growth and well-being,” Shoko Kodama, a 46-year-old doctor, told AFP at Ichigaya Kamegaoka Hachimangu, a Shinto shrine in the capital.

The 46-year-old doctor said she had spent two months hand-crafting a bespoke, bright-red kimono for her cat, a five-year-old British shorthair called Amber.

“This little one is like my child,” she said. “Just having her around makes all the unpleasant things in life melt away.”

Outside the shrine, other pet owners dressed their fluffy companions in colourful kimonos and posed them for photos to mark the special occasion.

They then brought them into the inner sanctuary, where the priest, Kenji Kaji, performed a purification rite with a wand decorated with white paper streamers.

He told AFP the role of pets in people’s lives had shifted as “the family structure has changed” in Japan, which is grappling with an ageing population and a low birth rate.

Dogs dressed in kimonos pose at Ichigaya Kamegaoka Hachimangu Shrine in Tokyo on October 31, 2026. — AFP pic

“I think the number of instances where people who don’t have children, or have finished raising them, and welcome a dog or cat as a member of the family has been increasing,” Kaji said.

Kaji’s shrine has been accepting around 400 families for each festival since the early 2000s, due to demand from pet owners.

Miyu Shiro, the 23-year-old owner of two Yorkshire terriers, said marking the event with her dogs “feels perfectly natural”.

“They’re part of our family,” she said, as she snapped photos of her pups, neatly combed and wearing flower-shaped hair clips.

Data in June showed that Japan’s fertility rate fell again last year to a record low, underscoring the demographic crisis gnawing at the world’s fourth-largest economy.

With a median age of 49.9 years, Japan also has the second-oldest population in the world, after the tiny city-state of Monaco, according to the World Bank.

Koichi Ohara, 57, who attended the festival with his wife and friends, said his three Chihuahuas gave him “unconditional love”.

“They’re more affectionate than human children. They listen to what we say too,” he laughed, adding that he had three kids.

“Just like us humans, I hope they can live long and in peace.” — AFP

MELBOURNE, Nov 1 — More than 107,000 species are used and traded worldwide, more than double previous estimates, according to a new study that warns the true scale could be far greater due to major gaps in global monitoring data, reported Xinhua.

Published in Science Advances and led by Australia’s University of Melbourne, the study identified 107,356 species traded across plants, animals and fungi, compared with previous estimates of about 50,000 species in trade worldwide, according to a university statement released yesterday.

Wildlife trade was a well-established driver of biodiversity loss, but information on its extent and sustainability remained incomplete and fragmented, said lead researcher Professor Alice Hughes from the university’s School of BioSciences.

Wildlife trade extended far beyond the illegal trade of elephants, tigers and pangolins, encompassing timber, seafood, medicinal plants, pets, cut flowers, ornamental fish and fungi, most of which were legal, Hughes said.

“For most of these species we have little to no data. There is no data on quantity and origins, let alone the population level data to assess if trade poses a risk to species survival,” she said, adding the global biodiversity framework’s existing trade target covered only about 2 to 3 per cent of species in trade, missing the remaining 97 per cent.

The researchers called for standardised data collection and more comprehensive, transparent and globally coordinated reporting, saying existing customs and animal health inspection processes could be adapted to improve wildlife trade monitoring. — Bernama-Xinhua

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 31— Crowds began gathering at Padang Merdeka here as early as 5.30am today, eager to join celebrity Bella Astillah and Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman in celebrating their marriage at a Kenduri Rakyat.

The reception drew more than 20,000 people, turning the field in the heart of the city into a sea of well-wishers celebrating the newlyweds.

Adding colour to the wedding festivities were guests dressed in traditional attire representing various ethnic communities, reflecting Sabah’s rich cultural diversity and harmony.

Among the traditional outfits that caught the eye were those of the Bajau Semporna, Bajau Sama, Kadazan, Dusun Tindal, Dusun Kujau, Murut, Bugis, Bidayuh and Lundayeh communities, each showcasing its distinctive cultural heritage.

The vibrant colours, intricate patterns and distinctive designs added to the festive atmosphere, turning Padang Merdeka into a colourful showcase of Sabah’s cultural heritage. 

For guest Cynthia D Baga, the Kenduri Rakyat was special not only because of the large turnout but also because it provided an opportunity to showcase Sabah’s rich cultural heritage through traditional attire.

“This is what makes Sabah unique,” she told Bernama.

Another guest, Esther Glorie Leow, described the wedding reception as a special occasion that brought together people of all ages and backgrounds to celebrate the newlyweds.

“It’s really wonderful to see so many people coming together to celebrate this special occasion. What makes it even more meaningful is seeing everyone proudly wearing their traditional costumes, showcasing the beautiful diversity of cultures we have here in Sabah,” she said.

Bella and Syed Saddiq arrived at Padang Merdeka at about 1pm.

Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Sabah and Sarawak) Datuk Mustapha Sakmud was also among those who attended the wedding reception. — Bernama

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 31 — About 10,000 people gathered at Padang Merdeka here today for the Kenduri Rakyat of celebrity Bella Astillah and Muar MP Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman, Daily Express reported.

Fans and well-wishers began queueing outside the venue from as early as 8am, with many dressed in traditional attire representing Sabah’s various ethnic groups.

Bella, whose real name is Dayang Ara Nabellah Awang Astillah, told the Sabah daily that guests had been encouraged, but not required, to come in traditional dress.

It was further reported that, Bella aid guests were free to wear whatever they were comfortable in, as the main aim was to celebrate the occasion together with fellow Sabahans.

Bella said she hoped the event would showcase pride in the state’s heritage, noting that Sabah is home to more than 70 ethnic groups.

She added that members of her own family were dressed in traditional Kadayan, Kadazan and Bajau Sama attire.

The couple, popularly known as BASS, married at Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur on October 10.

They held a reception at the Malaysia International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Mitec) on October 18 and a Kenduri Rakyat in Muar on October 25 before bringing the celebrations to Sabah.

VANCOUVER, Oct 31 — At a landmark Canadian trial focused on the government’s obligations to fight climate change, the young plaintiffs suing Ottawa over alleged policy failures have sought to focus attention their mental health.

In the civil trial that opened in the west coast city of Vancouver on Monday, 15 Canadians aged 17 to 25 are asking the court to impose legally binding greenhouse gas emissions targets on the federal government.

The case is unprecedented in Canada and part of a growing global movement by environmental activists seeking to use courts to force stronger climate protections.

Lawyers for the plaintiffs have said that part of their case hinges on proving the consequences of climate change are not hypothetical future risks, but that Canadians are already suffering.

In testimony this week, child and adolescent psychiatrist Elizabeth Pinsky told the court that young Canadians, including those affected by devastating wildfires, have experienced depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.

She cited a condition called “eco-anxiety,” which she defined as “a category of psychological harm that has to do with anger, a sense of betrayal.”

‘A scary world’ 

Montreal resident Albert Lalonde, a plaintiff in the case, testified that although he loves being outside on his bike, he stayed indoors more often this summer because of “chokingly toxic air” caused by wildfires.

He recalled feelings of “betrayal” after concluding that he was no longer safe outside.

“I just no longer expect anything from governments,” he told the court, mentioning policy moves by Prime Minister Mark Carney including the removal of a carbon tax on consumers.

Leandrea Reeves, another plaintiff, testified about a broader sense of loss and said she feels “disadvantaged” because climate-linked extreme weather events are limiting her experiences.

Lauren Wright from the central province of Saskatchewan lived through 2015 wildfires that displaced thousands.

Wright told the court about the “profound sense of calm” the outdoors provides.

But the 22-year-old testified that enjoying the outdoors and working as a farmer have been restricted by heat-related illnesses.

A 2022 Canadian health ministry report noted that “climate change disproportionately and inequitably affects the mental health” of certain groups, including youth.

Pinsky testified that concerns about the climate were fueling a general trepidation about the future among young Canadians. Forty percent of youth are unsure whether they want children because of global warming, she said.

“It is a scary world. I struggle to think about what the future holds,” plaintiff Saj Starcevich testified, crying as she voiced doubts about becoming a parent, something she had previously dreamed of.

The plaintiffs argue that successive Canadian governments have failed to protect their rights to life and security through insufficient action on climate change.

But government lawyers counter that climate change is a global problem and that even if a court order bound Ottawa to certain emissions targets, it still would not protect Canadians from the harms of climate change. — AFP

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 31 —The Korean Cultural Centre (KCC) in Malaysia, which officially opened yesterday, is a new bridge that links both countries through culture, bringing the hearts of two peoples closer together, said South Korea’s Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Kim Young-soo.

He said the centre, which will open to the public on Nov 2, will help South Koreans and Malaysians better understand and respect each other’s cultures, and further strengthen friendship and trust between the two countries.

“Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1960, Korea and Malaysia have enjoyed 66 years of close friendship,” he said in his speech during the official opening of the Korean Cultural Centre here.

Reflecting on the close ties and how bridges connect the two nations, Kim said in the 1960s, when South Korea faced economic difficulties, Malaysia helped build a bridge in Paju, Gyeonggi Province. In gratitude for this support, the bridge was named the “Malaysia Bridge”.

Meanwhile, in the 1980s, Korean construction companies took part in building the Penang Bridge, connecting Penang Island to Peninsular Malaysia, which later became a landmark of the country’s economic growth, he said.

“In the past, we built bridges on each other’s soil, and today we are building a new bridge through culture,” the Vice Minister added.

Malaysia’s Deputy Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture Chiew Choon Man, in his speech, said that while diplomacy and economic cooperation provide important foundations for the Malaysia-South Korea relationship, culture gives that relationship depth and meaning.

He noted that through the centre’s programmes and activities, Korean culture would become more accessible to the Malaysian public and create opportunities for dialogue with Malaysia’s cultural community.

“It allows our people to encounter one another’s values, appreciate different perspectives and discover common ground. Cultural exchange flourishes when that interest flows in both directions.

“As Malaysians discover more about Korea, we also welcome opportunities for Korean audiences to engage with Malaysian friends, artists, cultural practitioners and communities,” he said.

Malaysian Foreign Ministry deputy secretary-general (bilateral affairs) Datuk Syed Mohd Hasrin Tengku Hussin and South Korea’s Ambassador-designate to Malaysia Choi Jungrok also attended the grand opening.

The centre, in a statement, said it will introduce Malaysian audiences to the diversity of Korean culture, ranging from traditional heritage and arts to contemporary K-culture, while placing a strong emphasis on two-way cultural exchange and creating opportunities for Korean and Malaysian artists, cultural institutions and communities to work together.

The establishment of the KCC builds on the Memorandum of Understanding on Cultural Cooperation between the South Korean and Malaysian governments signed in 2020. — Bernama

CHICAGO, Oct 31 —New NIQ insights reveal changing attitudes toward appearance and aging, while purchasing data points to opportunities beyond products marketed specifically to men 

NielsenIQ (NYSE: NIQ), a global leader in consumer intelligence, today shared findings showing that 36% of men say looking their best, including beauty and skincare, matters more to them than it did five years ago.

More than half (54%) say aging well has become more important over the same period.

Yet the opportunity for beauty brands may extend beyond products specifically marketed to men. Across 10 Western European markets, sales value of skincare positioned for all genders grew 7% year over year, while male-targeted skincare was flat.

The findings suggest that brands should look beyond traditional product positioning to understand men’s needs, shopping behavior, and the products they choose.

In its report, The Permission Gap: The Global State of Male Beauty, NIQ examines how social expectations, generational differences and purchasing behavior are shaping men´s engagement with beauty across markets and categories. 

Key findings 

•    Appearance and aging matter more: 36% of men say looking their best, including beauty and skincare, matters more than it did five years ago. 54% say the same about aging well. 

* Interest varies substantially by market: Men’s attitudes toward appearance vary significantly across markets. Interest is particularly strong in markets such as India (69%), Mexico (63%), the UAE (57%) and Brazil (51%), where men are more likely to say looking their best matters more today than it did five years ago. Comparatively lower levels are reported in the U.S. (37%), the UK (22%), and Germany (17%), highlighting regional differences in beauty engagement and consumer priorities. 

* Younger generations connect appearance with individuality: 42% of Millennial men and 40% of Gen Z men agree that their individuality is reflected in how they look and what they buy, compared with 28% of Baby Boomers. 

While consumer attitudes point to a growing interest in appearance globally, purchasing behaviors can vary by market. NIQ’s retail and shopper data provides additional insight into how these trends are translating into category growth across measured markets: 

* Men already spend more in some categories: Men accounted for approximately 51% of online fragrance spending, averaged across the UK, France, Spain, Italy, and Germany, over the year through June 2026. Across the US, Canada, and Australia, NIQ also finds that shaving and fragrance are the only personal care categories in the analysis where male buyers outspend female buyers on average. 

* Skincare growth extends beyond men’s products: Across ten Western European markets, skincare positioned for all genders grew 7% in value year over year, while male-targeted skincare was flat. Across 57 countries, brands explicitly marketed to men grew 3%, compared with 7% for beauty and personal care overall. 

Fragrance is an established area of spending, while NIQ’s online skincare analysis identifies men buying products from brands focused on ingredients and benefits, including dermocosmetics and K-Beauty.

A shopper concerned about aging skin, for example, may search for a product that addresses that concern without looking for a “for men” label. Brands need to understand these different paths into the category and the products men actually choose.

“Men’s interest in looking their best is growing, and their purchases already extend across beauty categories. The opportunity for brands is not simply to create more products for men, but to understand the needs behind their purchases and recognize where those needs extend beyond traditional product categories.

Brands that focus only on products labeled ‘for men’ may overlook shoppers and opportunities across the wider beauty market,” said Tara James Taylor, SVP, Global Beauty Personal Care Vertical, NIQ.