Tasmania, An All-Year-Round Travel Destination

Tasmania, An All-Year-Round Travel Destination - Anytime is a good time to visit Tasmania in Australia. At least, that’s what many travel agencies will tell you if you were to ask them for a suggestion. But what is there to do or see in Tasmania that makes it a coveted year-round travel destination?

Well firstly, that’s where the Tasmanian devil lives.

That’s right. The classic cartoon character is a real animal – a marsupial, in fact – and can only be found in the wild, in the state of Tasmania. The “devil” is pretty shy, though, so you might have a better chance of spotting a wallaby, wombat or echidna on the heart-shaped island.

Of course, if you head over to places like the Bonorong Wildlife Sanctuary, you can actually get the chance to feed kangaroos, koalas and Tasmanian devils. The sanctuary is a social enterprise that aims to protect wildlife species that are becoming extinct in Australia.

There are tons of adventure activities that you can go on in Tasmania that are not the usual bungy jumping or cliff diving. There’s an adventure park that offers fun zipline rides, and numerous walking tours that would take you through beautiful paths and historical sites.

The Freycinet Experience Walk, for example, is a four-day guided walk that passes through beaches, pink granite mountains and lush forests.

If you’re one for historical visits, head to the Port Arthur Historic Site, a former convict settlement that is now one of the state’s most popular tourist attractions. Take the Ghost Tour if you’re feeling brave enough to find out whether those reports of paranormal activities hold true.

This winter season, Tasmania has several interesting events lined up for tourists and locals alike.

Happening in mid-June is the Dark Mofo at Hobart. It is an annual winter festival hosted by the Museum of Old and New Art (Mona) that features music performances and art showcases.

In August, there’s the Chocolate Winterfest! This is a festival that celebrates all things chocolate and chocolatey from sweet delicacies to wearable art made from chocolate.

Not a fan of desserts? Try the seafood then. From fish and chips to juicy oysters, the island is famous for its fresh seafood; pair your food with local wine or even whisky. The Tasmanian Whisky Week falls in the third week of August so you might want to plan your visit accordingly.

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TV Addicts Research Report: Asians Are Watching How Much Television?

TV Addicts Research Report: Asians Are Watching How Much Television? - Americans are the world’s biggest TV addicts, watching four hours a day.

The average person around the world spent nearly three hours a day in front their TV last year, according to a report released recently. Eurodata TV Worldwide said that television viewing was holding up, despite more and more people watching online platforms like Netflix and Amazon.

Americans and Canadians are the biggest TV addicts, said the report, watching four hours and three minutes on average daily. European viewers came next, watching three hours 49 minutes a day in 2017, just ahead of Russia and Brazil, the data gathered from 95 countries showed.

“The length of time people watch television is holding up despite the growing availability of online content,” said its VP Frederic Vaulpre as the report was presented at MIPTV, the world’s biggest TV market in Cannes, France. “There was a slight fall in TV viewing in North America and Asia, but it is still growing in South America, and in Europe it is maintaining historically high levels.”

Asians watch less TV than any of the other major markets, spending two hours 25 five minutes in front of the box. In China that drops to two hours 12 minutes. In Sweden, one of the most digitally advanced countries in the world, young adults watched slightly less than two hours of TV a day.

But viewing habits were also changing, the report found. Replay services on average “added an extra 8% to audiences” in the 35 countries where they were measured. Millennials and young adults were spending more time on their mobile phones, often catching up with programmes that way.

Eurodata TV found that most young people who watched programmes on the Internet and on replay services were logging on for shows aimed specifically at them. These included reality shows and youth dramas whose audiences were sometimes more than twice as big on the Internet than they were for broadcasts.

The US and Britain remain the world’s two biggest exporters of TV programmes and formats, ahead of France, Germany and Turkey, whose family-orientated soaps have been big hits across the Middle East, South America and the Balkans. But the report found that there were fewer big international blockbuster shows like The Voice than in the past.

“Local productions always go down best” in most markets, said Avril Blondelot of Eurodata TV. She said the big trend was for producers and TV channels to “create content aimed at a particular niche audiences (young people, women or older people) rather than look for something that tried to take in a mass cross-over audience.”

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Victory Puts Hamilton In An Uncomfortable Position

Victory Puts Hamilton In An Uncomfortable Position - Lewis Hamilton stood on top of the Formula One podium for the first time this season in Azerbaijan on Sunday and it made him feel uncomfortable.

The Mercedes driver knew he had lucked in, with team mate Valtteri Bottas heading for victory until track debris caused a high-speed puncture that ended the Finn's race with three laps to go.

"I was standing on the podium believing that Valtteri should have been standing there because I felt that he had earned it," said the Briton, who delayed the ceremonies by going to commiserate with Bottas.

Hamilton had not won for six races, his last being in the United States in October, and Sunday's surprise success lifted the four-times world champion into the overall lead for the first time this year.

He now heads Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, who finished fourth, by four points after four races.

"I know how difficult it is when you have days like that, when you think you are going to win and then it gets taken away from you, because I've had that before," Hamilton said of Bottas's torment.

He could have celebrated wildly anyway, as other drivers have done when he missed out, but he said that was not his style.

Hamilton had been off the pace throughout practice and, despite qualifying on the front row of the grid, had not looked like occupying anything higher than the lowest rung of the podium.

"I'm wired differently. I like to win because I've outsmarted and outwitted and outclassed every driver out there and today...the performance didn't feel like it was on par with what I'm capable of doing," he said.

"If my normal level is eagle, birdie, then today was partly par -- some pars and then a couple of bogeys. That kind of day when we play golf, and normally when I play golf it's a triple- bogey," he said.

Bottas, on the other hand, did nothing wrong.

"I'm absolutely heartbroken. It hurts a lot," he said.

"It is difficult to say anything. Everyone saw what happened. It's just unfortunate, unlucky. I'll maybe have 10 pints of beer and be fine."

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who said he just wanted to give the Finn a hug, described what had happened to his driver as 'very brutal'.

"It was Valtteri's race to win today," said the Austrian. "Apart from Valtteri, everyone made mistakes today."

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Normal Weight But Wide Waist? Sorry, You’re More At Risk Than Obese Folks

Normal Weight But Wide Waist? Sorry, You’re More At Risk Than Obese Folks - People of “normal” weight who sport a wide waist are more at risk of heart problems than obese people, said researchers recently, urging a rethink of healthy weight guidelines.

How fat is distributed on a person’s frame determined disease risk as much as how much fat they had overall, according to an investigation of nearly 1,700 people aged 45 and over.

Even people who are not classified overweight on the Body Mass Index (BMI) scale, should be concerned if they had an “apple” shape with a waist wider than their hips, said research leader Jose Medina-Inojosa of the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota. Such excess fat around the middle is called “central obesity”.

“Current guidelines do not recommend measuring central obesity in those with normal weight as they claim their is no risk exposure,” Medina-Inojosa told AFP. “We found greater risk … for those with normal weight and central obesity, on the contrary. This has the potential to change guidelines.”

Study participants, 1,692 residents of Olmsted County, Minnesota, had their weight, height, and waist and hip circumference measured between 1997 and 2000. They were monitored until 2016 for cardiovascular diseases such as heart attacks and stroke.

Participants with a normal BMI but central obesity had a two-fold higher long-term risk of disease than pear-shaped participants – even technically obese ones, the research found.

BMI is a ratio of height to weight used to divide people into low- or high-risk categories for developing heart disease, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or certain cancers. A person with a BMI of 25 or more is considered overweight, and 30 or higher obese.

The World Health Organisation has defined “abdominal obesity” as a ratio of waist circumference divided by hip circumference of 0.9 or higher for men, and 0.85 or higher for women, or a BMI of 30 or more. The new data showed that people with a “normal” BMI of 18.5 to 24.9 must not automatically be considered at low risk of heart disease, said Medina-Inojosa.

“If you have fat around your belly and it’s greater than the size of your hips, visit your doctor to assess your cardiovascular health and fat distribution,” he said. “If you have central obesity the target will be waist loss rather than weight loss.”

The data is the latest to question the current reliance on BMI in healthy weight guidelines. The results were presented at a congress of the European Society of Cardiology in Ljubljana, Slovenia. They have yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.

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Macron And Trump Planted Tree At The White House. Why It is Now Missing

Macron And Trump Planted Tree At The White House. Why It is Now Missing - French President Emmanuel Macron celebrated the special relationship between the United States and France during his state visit to Washington last week by planting a tree with President Donald Trump on the grounds of the White House.

Now the oak sapling is gone - at least temporarily.

White House photographers noticed the tree was gone days after it had been planted. Mystery ensued.

In fact, the tree, from Belleau Wood in France where almost 2,000 American soldiers died in a World War One battle, had been dug up not long after it was planted. It was put in quarantine, according to U.S. and French officials. The problem: Parasites on the tree could spread to others on the White House property.

"Since then, it has returned to quarantine and will soon be replanted in the White House gardens," the official said, adding: "Don’t worry, the tree is doing very well."

(Reporting by Yuri Gipas and Mike Stone in Washington and Michel Rose in Paris;

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Foreigners Still Seek MGS

Foreigners Still Seek MGS - The persistent upward pressure will likely see Malaysian government bond yields surpassing last year’s level and exceeding the 4% mark this year.

Economists and bond analysts expect the Malaysian government securities (MGS) yields to stay elevated, although most agree it would not dampen investors’ appetite as prices for these instruments would be able to hold up. Bond yields and prices have an inverse relationship.

MGS yields have been on the uptrend recently, following the movement of the US treasuries (UST), which has shot up substantially since the beginning of the year.

The 10-year UST yield crept up by 54 basis points (bps) to 3% on April 24 from 2.46% on Jan 2. During the same period, the 10-year MGS yield had risen 29 bps to 4.2% from 3.91%. The recent spike in MGS yields has been due to the hawkish tone by the US Federal Reserve (Fed) to raise more rates this year, a slight weakness in the ringgit and the upcoming general election.

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“This is mildly higher from the end-2017 level of 3.91%. We expect the three-year MGS to hover near 3.55% by the fourth quarter, thus projecting the yield curve to remain relatively flat, assuming stable economic conditions.

“We expect the MGS against UST spreads along the 10-year tenures to tighten from 110-120 bps currently to 80-90 bps later in the year. The modest tightening means that returns from investing in Malaysia’s government bonds would remain very attractive vis-a-vis the UST,” he added.

Chu expected foreign investors to stick with Malaysia’s bonds, as it would remain offering returns of at least 80 bps more than the UST. He attributed this to the country’s solid economic fundamentals, with economic growth expected at above 5.00% whilst inflation to be contained and fiscal and trade balances as well as debt levels remaining controlled.

Malaysian Rating Corp Bhd chief economist Nor Zahidi Alias said while there could be some jitters in the market, he did not foresee the 10-year MGS yield surpassing its highest level attained at 4.46% after the US election in November 2016 in the near term.

“Overall, Malaysia’s positive economic growth outlook, improving business sentiment and supportive government policies and regulations should continue to drive demand for local bonds. This should help somewhat moderate the potential rise in the ringgit bond yields against a backdrop of interest rate increases by global central banks. As such, we expect the 10-year MGS yield to range between 3.9% and 4.4% in 2018,” he said.

Zahidi expects foreign holdings of local government bonds to continue rising towards year-end and record a net positive inflow. Meanwhile, RAM Ratings head of research Kristina Fong said up until March, the country had experienced a net inflow of foreign investment in bonds of RM3.5bil, a stark contrast to the significant net outflows seen in the first quarter of last year.

Overall, she said there was more foreign interest in emerging-market assets this year and for Malaysia, the strong macroeconomic story and benign inflation environment have made bonds even more attractive.

“Most of the bond flow changes so far this year are largely attributed to movements in short-term paper holdings driven by monetary policy tightening in global capital markets and other geopolitical uncertainties. This characteristic of fund flows is likely to continue this year,” Fong noted.

Maybank Kim Eng head of fixed income research Winson Phoon said while the ringgit was expected to continue to outperform regional currencies, the outlook on foreign fund flows to local bonds could be more challenging if the US dollar regains its strength against regional currencies.

“Our 10-year MGS target yield is 4.20% for 2018, which is about the current level. On average, MGS yields this year are expected to be slightly higher than 2017 because of the higher interest rate environment.

“It is natural for 10-year MGS and 10-year UST yield spreads to narrow in the US rate normalisation cycle. Compared to two to three years ago, the spread has noticeably narrowed. It could get narrower if the US Fed steepens its rate hike path because of, say, higher than expected inflation,” Phoon said.

In view of the encouraging signs of constructive resolutions to global trade and regional geo-political tensions, OCBC Bank (M) Bhd head of global treasury Stantley Tan felt this could open up the possibility of a further overnight policy rate or OPR hike sometime in the third quarter, which would move the interest rate swap rates and MGS yields higher.

“We expect the 10-year MGS to end 2018 at around 4.30%, given the upward pressure from higher global yields and Malaysia’s current growth prospects and supportive inflation dynamics,” he said.

Expressing a bullish view of the debt market, Maybank Kim Eng’s regional head of investment banking and advisory Caroline Teoh said the local corporate bond market started a robust 2018, recording a total issuance of RM29.6bil in the first quarter, up 7% from a year ago and being the strongest start seen over the past six years.

“The larger issuances came from infrastructure names such as Edra Energy (RM5.1bil), Danainfra (RM4.0bil) and Prasarana (RM3.0bil). We expect the strong issuance momentum to continue for the remainder of 2018 underpinned by funding for infrastructure-related projects (ie, the East Coast Rail Line and Pan Borneo Highway) and healthy domestic economic growth.

“Taking those factors into consideration, we forecast the corporate bonds’ gross supply to be RM110bil for 2018, with a larger portion of that figure being lon

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Japanese Rock Star Hyde Will Eat ‘Anything But Durian’ When He Visits KL In May

Japanese Rock Star Hyde Will Eat ‘Anything But Durian’ When He Visits KL In May - Hyde is finally coming to Malaysia and for fans, it’s been a long wait. The Japanese rock star is holding a concert in Kuala Lumpur, the only stop in South-East Asia for his solo concert series tour, The Hyde Acoustic Concert Tour 2018 Kuro Misa Asia.

Organised by Toybox Projects, the concert will be held on May 12 at MCA Hall.

As lead vocalist of legendary Japanese rock band L’Arc-en-Ciel, as well as Vamps, the 49-year-old juggles two groups, a solo career, composing, producing and even had time to act in a few movies as well – Moon Child (2003) and Kagen No Tsuki (2004) – and voicing his own character in the anime Bakumen (2011).

Known as one of the most influential vocalists in Japan, he has released four solo albums – Roentgen (2002), 666 (2003), Faith (2006) and Hyde (2009).

His songs have also been used in a number of movies – The Cape Of Storms was the theme song for Kagen No Tsuki; his single Horizon was featured in Sky High; and Shining Over You was used in the video game, Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings And The Lost Ocean.

One his most well-known compositions is Glamorous Sky which was featured in the movie Nana, based on a manga by Ai Yazawa.

Although released in 2005, the song – sung by Mika Nakashima, with lyrics written by Yazawa – continues to be an extremely popular song until today. He included an English version of the song in his self-titled album.

We managed to catch hold of him for an exclusive e-mail interview on what to expect for his KL concert.

Hyde said as this will be his first visit to Malaysia, he would like to go to a beachside resort. But when it comes to food, the singer is not as adventurous as he humorously said, “anything but durian.” So fans thinking of sending him durian, please don’t.

On what fans can expect from the show, Hyde said: “I’ll be playing lots of different songs, mostly from my solo album Roentgen and I think you can enjoy the songs comfortably from your seats.”

He’s also currently in the process of working on his latest solo album, but unfortunately, it doesn’t look like we’ll be getting a preview.

“The songs I’m making now differ from Kuro Misa (tour) as it’s hard rock. I’d be happy if these could also be played live in Malaysia someday.” Let’s hope he’ll come back for another concert!

He’s rather noncommittal in terms of inspiration, saying that there isn’t a particular person who inspires him. Instead, he said when he sees Japanese people pursuing activities abroad, he’s inspired to do the same.

As someone’s who’s been active in the industry for 30 years, it’s no mean feat maintaining his popularity. So how does he do it?

“I think ‘sense’ is important. It’s not limited to what sells, but about whether you’ve developed an understanding of the connection to a larger sense of things,” came his reply.

He doesn’t have an answer for the secret of his longevity saying modestly that he thinks he’s just lucky. Now if we could all be that lucky …

On whether he sees himself performing on stage in his 60s: “I will, but from heaven,” We certainly hope not!

As to the kind of projects that attracts him or something he would like to do in the future, Hyde wants to dabble in folk craft, such as wood carvings and making plates.

Since it’s Hyde, we had to ask him about fashion. Known for his eclectic style and theatrical costumes on stage, he’s not afraid to push boundaries either. He’s even broken the internet in Japan dressed as Harley Quinn (from the movie Suicide Squad) at the Vamps annual Halloween event in Tokyo in 2016.

So what’s his personal style like? “Usually I’m on my bicycle with a beard, sporting a Mohawk, wearing a leopard print bikini with knee high socks and high heels.” This being Hyde, we wouldn’t be surprised if he actually meant it.

Finally, does he have a message for his Malaysian fans?

“I’m happy to be able to go to Malaysia for the first time. I’m really blessed to have fans there.

“Please look forward to the concert as I’ll do one that won’t let you down.”

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Trump Tweets Threat To Opponents Of U.S. 2026 World Cup Bid

Trump Tweets Threat To Opponents Of U.S. 2026 World Cup Bid - United States president Donald Trump on Thursday tweeted his support for the North American bid for the 2026 soccer World Cup and issued a veiled threat to nations that might oppose it.

Morocco is the only rival to a joint bid to stage the event from the United States, Canada and Mexico, with the FIFA Congress due to choose the hosts in Moscow on June 13.

"The U.S. has put together a STRONG bid w/ Canada & Mexico for the 2026 World Cup," Trump tweeted.

"It would be a shame if countries that we always support were to lobby against the U.S. bid. Why should we be supporting these countries when they don’t support us (including at the United Nations)?"

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The Morocco bid is expected to receive strong backing from FIFA's African and Middle East countries.

France plans to back Morocco, the country's football federation president told local media recently, while Russia, which will host the 2018 tournament from June 14-July 15, has said it will also vote for the north African nation's bid.

The U.S. previously hosted the World Cup in 1994.

FIFA member countries receive one vote each, no matter their size, which gives disproportionate influence to small soccer nations.

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‘Stranger Things’ Coming To Universal Studios Singapore

‘Stranger Things’ Coming To Universal Studios Singapore - Things are about to get very strange at Universal Studios Singapore. The theme park is partnering with Netflix to bring Stranger Things to life at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights event.

Fans of the mega hit series will be able to brave the Upside Down and confront the supernatural when the park debuts all-new mazes inspired by the show.

Apart from Singapore, the maze – featuring the predatory Demogorgon – will also be available in Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort in the United States. Visitors will be transported into artfully recreated scenes and storylines.

Resorts World Sentosa senior vice president (attractions) Jason Horkin said visitors are in for a terrifying treat at the new attraction.

“Fans can expect to be transported into iconic scenes in this all-new haunted house,” he said, adding that the three-park collaboration is the first in the theme park’s history.

From the menacing Hawkins National Laboratory, under the US Department of Energy, to the Byers home adorned with an erratic display of flashing Christmas lights and the eerie Upside Down woods oozing a shower of floating orb-like spores, the chilling new mazes will offer surprising twists and unexpected turns around every corner.

Multiple movie-quality mazes based on iconic horror television shows, films and original stories haunt visitors during the Halloween Horror Nights event. The streets of each park’s event are transformed into highly-themed scare zones where menacing scare-actors lunge from every darkened corner.

This year, the annual affair begins Sept 28 in Singapore. The event kicks off earlier on Sept 14 in Hollywood and Orlando.

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Having A Positive Outlook Can Help Elderly Folk To Stave Off Dementia

Having A Positive Outlook Can Help Elderly Folk To Stave Off Dementia - People who are pessimistic about what life is like during old age may be helping to make their fears come true.

A new study finds that older Americans with negative beliefs about ageing were significantly more likely to develop dementia than their peers who embraced their senior years with zeal.

The difference was hardly trivial: Study participants who had positive beliefs about ageing were 44% less likely to develop dementia over the next four years than were their counterparts with negative beliefs.

Even after the researchers accounted for other risk factors for dementia – including smoking, diabetes and cardiovascular disease – they still found that the odds for the condition were lower among those with a positive attitude toward ageing.

Also striking: The apparent benefits of positivity were even greater among the subgroup of adults whose genes put them at greater risk of dementia. In fact, the researchers said, a positive attitude toward ageing could essentially erase the handicap associated with carrying a risky variant of the APOE gene.

The findings, published recently in the journal PLOS One, suggest that fighting negative stereotypes about ageing could have broad benefits for public health.

A host of earlier research shows that attitudes about growing older may influence cognitive performance, most likely because they affect stress levels. There’s even some evidence that the brains of people who are pessimistic are more likely to have the amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles associated with Alzheimer’s disease.

Stereotypes aren’t easy to overcome. But considering that there are no treatments that can cure dementia (or even do much to slow it down), researchers are eager to spot any risk factor that people can actually change.

For the new research, a team led by Becca Levy of the Yale School of Public Health used survey results from the Health and Retirement Study, which is conducted every other year by the University of Michigan Institute of Social Research.

Levy and her team focused on a cohort of 4,765 older Americans (their average age was 72) who answered five questions about their attitudes toward ageing. For instance, participants were asked whether they were as happy now as they were when they were younger, whether they felt that things got better or worse with age, and whether they felt less useful as the years piled on.

The cognitive status of the study participants was assessed by a standard test conducted over the phone. Among other things, they were asked to count backward from 20, to name the president and vice president, and to recall a list of 10 items. Only people who did not have dementia when they entered the study were included in the analysis. Participants retook the test every two years.

Finally, most of the study participants provided saliva samples that were sent off to the National Institutes of Health to see whether they had a version of the APOE gene that put them at increased risk of getting Alzheimer’s disease. Among those who were tested, 26% had an e4 variant of the gene, which makes the disease more likely.

In the four years after joining the study, 4.6% of the adults with negative beliefs about ageing went on to develop dementia. So did 2.6% of the adults with positive beliefs.

Among those with an e4 variant of the APOE gene, 6.14% of adults with negative beliefs about ageing developed dementia, compared with 2.7% of those with positive beliefs.

Both of the differences remained statistically significant after the researchers controlled for age, sex, educational history, initial cognitive performance, health conditions and other factors that influence dementia risk. In the entire group, having a positive attitude toward ageing was associated with a 19% reduced risk of dementia; in the high-risk group, those with a positive attitude were 31% less likely to develop dementia.

“Age beliefs tend to be internalised early in life and then remain stable over the lifespan, without interventions,” Levy and her colleagues wrote. “Our finding could provide a rationale for a public-health campaign to combat the societal sources of negative age beliefs.”

The study was funded by the National Institute on Aging.

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U.S. Hopeful Korea Talks Will Achieve Progress Toward Peace

U.S. Hopeful Korea Talks Will Achieve Progress Toward Peace - The United States is hopeful talks between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in will make progress on achieving peace and prosperity, the White House said in a statement on Thursday as the two men began their summit.

The White House also said it looks forward to continuing discussions with South Korea in preparation for the planned meeting of President Donald Trump and Kim in the coming weeks.

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Kenanga Maintains Market Perform On LPI

Kenanga Maintains Market Perform On LPI - Kenanga Research said LPI Capital Bhd's Q1 core net profit of RM72.5mil came in line with its and consensus expectations.

The group's 1Q18 revenue grew 10% on the back of higher gross earned premium in the general insurance segment. Growth in the fire insurance and miscellaneous insurance segments made up for the shortfall in the flat motor insurance segment.

On operating profit, earnings before interest and tax grew by a narrower 3% on higher combined ratio driven by higher claims incurred ratio (CIR) of 47.1%.

"Note that higher motor claims were observed during 1Q18 alongside the absence of “incurred but not reported” claims release from Malaysia Motor Insurance Pool, hence poorer claims experience.

"However, its CIR should normalise back to the low-40% level for the remaining

quarters."

THe research house said there was not much of revision to premiums following the commencement of Phase 2 of the framework on phased liberalisation of Motor and Fire Tariffs due to the risk-based capital framework and thin margins among motor insurers.

It added that the group has limited portfolio exposure to the stagnating motor insurance segment, which contributed 24% of its 1Q18 gross written premiums.  

Kenanga Research maintained market perform on the counter with a higher rollover target price of RM16.30 fro RM15.10 previously.

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Actor Zul Ariffin Explains X-Rated Photo On His Instagram

Actor Zul Ariffin Explains X-Rated Photo On His Instagram - Fans of Zul Ariffin were shocked when a photo of a man’s private part appeared on the actor’s Instagram account.

The 31-year-old actor explained his account had been hacked.

“I had no idea that photo was up there until my friend told me about it,” he said, adding he still doesn’t know who the culprit is.

The explicit photo was uploaded on Zul’s Instagram story last Friday (April 20) around 8pm. It was taken down two minutes later.

Zul, who spoke to reporters at a Hari Raya fashion event in Kuala Lumpur tonight (April 25), changed his password after the incident and hopes it doesn’t happen again.

Asked if he thought the incident could be an act of sabotage by a close friend, Zul responded: “I have no idea.”

The J Revolusi actor is confident the explicit photo won’t have a negative effect on his career.

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Liverpool Look To Avoid More Late Drama Against Stoke

Liverpool Look To Avoid More Late Drama Against Stoke - Stoke City will hope that the Liverpool they face on Saturday is the team that wobbled alarmingly in the final 10 minutes of their Champions League semi-final against AS Roma, not the one that dismantled the Italians over the previous 80.

Nothing is ever clear with Juergen Klopp's side who ended up kicking themselves after the whistle went at Anfield on Tuesday despite ending up the right side of a 5-2 first-leg scoreline.

Liverpool also conceded twice late on in their previous league game at West Bromwich Albion to prove that, no matter what magic Mohamed Salah provides, there is always hope against them if you hang in long enough.

Or, at least, that will probably be the gist of Stoke manager Paul Lambert's team talk as he contemplates the daunting challenge of securing an away win in the battle against relegation.

Four points off safety with only three games remaining, Stoke could even go down if they lose and Swansea City beat Chelsea, who are still intent on denying Liverpool a top-four finish.

That should be motivation enough for Liverpool to ensure they do not slip up again although Klopp faces a tricky job in deciding his line-up after injuries reduced him to three fit midfielders.

Even that may not be too much of a problem, however, if Salah continues in his current form as he chases down the five goals required to beat Ian Rush's club record of 47 goals in a season.

Champions Manchester City will also be in the mood for records at West Ham United on Sunday. City need just six more goals and two wins from their final four games to establish new Premier League scoring and points records, both of which look well within their grasp.

But, as one of 11 teams still scrapping to avoid relegation, West Ham have every incentive to put up a fight. The Hammers are six points above the drop zone, where Southampton sit just above Stoke and West Brom, who must beat Newcastle to stand any hope of survival.

Saints manager Mark Hughes has never experienced relegation as manager or player but, having also been in charge of Stoke this season, he could yet break his record by helping to take two teams down in one campaign.

Only victory will do on Saturday at home to neighbours Bournemouth, who probably need just a point to secure their own safety. Crystal Palace and Huddersfield Town look to have winnable games against Leicester City and Everton respectively while Brighton and Hove Albion travel to Burnley.

Time was when Manchester United v Arsenal at this time of the year would have been a title decider but on Sunday most interest will centre on whether Jose Mourinho pitches Alexis Sanchez against his former side as United seek to consolidate their hold on second place.

Tottenham Hotspur, who they beat in last week's FA Cup semi-final, play Watford on Monday. Like Liverpool, Spurs must keep their momentum to hang on to a top-four position.

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Stranger Things Coming To Universal Studios Singapore

Stranger Things Coming To Universal Studios Singapore - Things are about to get very strange at Universal Studios Singapore. The theme park is partnering with Netflix to bring Stranger Things to life at this year’s Halloween Horror Nights event.

Fans of the mega hit series will be able to brave the Upside Down and confront the supernatural when the park debuts all-new mazes inspired by the show.

Apart from Singapore, the maze – featuring the predatory Demogorgon – will also be available in Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort in the United States. Visitors will be transported into artfully recreated scenes and storylines.

Resorts World Sentosa senior vice president (attractions) Jason Horkin said visitors are in for a terrifying treat at the new attraction.

“Fans can expect to be transported into iconic scenes in this all-new haunted house,” he said, adding that the three-park collaboration is the first in the theme park’s history.

From the menacing Hawkins National Laboratory, under the US Department of Energy, to the Byers home adorned with an erratic display of flashing Christmas lights and the eerie Upside Down woods oozing a shower of floating orb-like spores, the chilling new mazes will offer surprising twists and unexpected turns around every corner.

Multiple movie-quality mazes based on iconic horror television shows, films and original stories haunt visitors during the Halloween Horror Nights event. The streets of each park’s event are transformed into highly-themed scare zones where menacing scare-actors lunge from every darkened corner.

This year, the annual affair begins Sept 28 in Singapore. The event kicks off earlier on Sept 14 in Hollywood and Orlando.

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Ensuring Your Baby Gets Enough Sleep

Ensuring Your Baby Gets Enough Sleep - Sleep hygiene means good bedtime habits that help you get a good night’s sleep. The key to good sleep hygiene for children is setting a routine.

Insufficient sleep can result in many problems, such as negative impact on his ability to function properly during the day in terms of behaviour and cognitive development.

School-going children may experience problems with academic performance and a higher risk of accidental injury.

Studies have also shown that sleep problems in early life, if left unchecked, are linked with behavioural and emotional problems in later life.

How long should my child sleep?

Make sure that your child gets enough sleep. Infants and toddlers tend to require a lot more sleep, but not all at once, i.e. they may only sleep for an hour or two at a time.

Do take note of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) sleep duration guidelines on a daily and regular basis:

• Infants (four-12 months): 12-16 hours of sleep (with daytime naps)

• Toddlers (one-two years): 11-14 hours of sleep (with daytime naps)

• Preschool children (three-five years): 10-13 hours of sleep (with daytime naps)

• School-going children (six-12 years): nine-12 hours of sleep

• Adolescents (13-18): eight-10 hours of sleep

Getting ready for sleep

Start practising good sleep hygiene from the beginning. Ideally, both parent and child should have a bedtime ritual that is conducive to promoting sleep and discourages problematic sleep behaviour.

Your sleep hygiene process may include “training” your infant or toddler to develop a regular circadian rhythm by conditioning his bedtime behaviour, ideally by reducing his anxiety, eliminating environmental stimulation and enhancing relaxation.

Here are the main aspects to look at:

Physical comfort: The room should be cool (around 24°C is recommended) with sufficient air ventilation.

Air-conditioned rooms can cause low humidity, resulting in breathing difficulties.

Proper sleep environment: A quiet, dark room is best; if necessary, use a gentle/dim nightlight that does not shine into his eyes.

Keep other light sources (e.g. TV or handphones) out of the room.

Sleep should be linked with “lights out” to encourage proper circadian sleep rhythm.

Bedtime stories or lullabies: Reading bedtime stories or singing lullabies can help alleviate your child’s night-time fears.

Use a calm and soothing tone of voice to get him in the right mood for sleep.

Consistent bedtime and routines: Bedtime should be set at the same time and for the same duration on a consistent basis. You may need to start preparing 30 minutes ahead, especially for young children.

The biggest obstacle to bedtime is often parental inconsistency.

No more naps when schooling: Children above six years should not require daily daytime naps. It may interfere with bedtime and sleep quality, making it harder for him to get up in the morning.

If he is very tired or sleepy, limit naps to 20 minutes or less.

A better alternative: send him to bed earlier!

Avoid heavy meals before bedtime: Going to bed with a stuffed tummy can interfere with his sleep.

Also, if he feels too hungry, he may be too uncomfortable to sleep. A light supper of a cup of milk will do.

Avoid caffeine-rich drinks: Discourage him from taking caffeine. This can be found in energy drinks, coffee, tea, some soft drinks (e.g. cola) and even chocolate.

Making it a (good) habit

As every child is unique, tailor your approach to sleep hygiene. The tips given are a general guide, so adjust them accordingly.

Infants do not have the same circadian cycle as adults and will normally sleep and then awaken for a few hours throughout the day – this is perfectly normal.

In this situation, you can try to sleep when he does.

At the same time, get him to associate night time with sleep; for daytime naps and night bedtime, put him in a dark room.

Over time, he will eventually sleep more at night and be able to get by with fewer naps during the day.

Sleep suggestions

Place babies and toddlers in their bed/cot drowsy but still awake, not asleep. Some may need “baby-cot rocking” or “patting in their cot” to make the transition to sleep easier.

Teach young children how to “self-soothe” by allowing them to learn how to do it themselves. Ensure they are comfortable by providing comfort toys, favourite pillows or nightlights.

As your child grows older, he may try to delay his bedtime because of TV, digital gadgets or some other activity.

Enforce a strict no screen-time rule before bedtime; this will also help him to mentally wind down and be ready for sleep.

Above all, stick to a consistent routine.

For school-going children, bedtime and wake-up time should be maintained, even on non-school nights. The difference should not exceed one hour.

Make the final hour before bedtime a quiet, low-activity-level time with no TV, gadget or screen use two hours before bedtime.

Research has shown that screen light interferes with melatonin hormone production, which is critical for sleep-wake cycles.

Just 30 minutes of TV before bed can drop melatonin levels sufficiently to keep your child awake for an extra two hours. The same holds true for adults!

Avoid sleeping in on weekends to catch-up on sleep. It is better to get enough sleep every night than to make up a sleep debt on the weekend.

Do also spend time outside every day as exposure to sunlight helps to keep the body’s internal clock on track.

Consult his paediatrician if you consistently have trouble getting your child to sleep or if all of your efforts to enforce sleep hygiene are not working.

Above all, do not resort to using sleep medications!

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