To mark the release in Malaysia, Sony Pictures Malaysia hosted a Celebration of Lights, Colours & Sound at TGV Suria KLCC on opening night. Guests arrived in vibrant Deepavali attire and were welcomed by a colourful kolam of the movie poster, then sat down to an Indian buffet dinner at TGV Indulge.

At 8pm the lobby became a stage. A live veena performance was followed by a classical Indian dance in front of the giant Ramayana screen, drawing a crowd of guests with their phones out to capture the moment.

The evening ended with a screening in IMAX 3D. The film was shot for IMAX, and it’s the best way to take in a story of this scale.

“Ramayana: Rise of a Legend” is now showing in cinemas across Malaysia in Tamil, Hindi and English, including IMAX and premium large formats.

Movie info and showtimes: https://tinyurl.com/COMY-Ramayana

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Aina earned her ticket to Bangkok by winning the 40th Anugerah Juara Lagu (AJL) on 15 August. She performs 11th and last with “Bluest Sky”, a song she co-wrote with Malaysian music producer Mac Chew.

The running order

1. Vietnam – Tóc Tiên, “EM TIÊN”
2. Cambodia – Monetrey, “I Let You Go”
3. Laos – Thinla, “BAE”
4. Mongolia – Beck, “Chamguigeer (Without You)”
5. Bhutan – Nyendra, “Lhayi Semo”
6. Philippines – CARMELLE, “Sobra-Sobra”
7. Bangladesh – Beatmosphere, “Tumi Ele”
8. Thailand – MANG x DAOU, “Aroma”
9. South Korea – JUNHEE, “DEEP DIVE”
10. Nepal – Pratik Himal Rai, “Ananta Maya”
11. Malaysia – Aina Abdul, “Bluest Sky”

How to watch

Catch Aina Abdul live on TV3 or stream it on Tonton on Saturday, 14 November at 9.30pm. Viewers outside Malaysia can watch on the official Eurovision YouTube channel.

How voting works

The winner is decided 50% by national juries and 50% by the public vote. Viewers aged 18 and above can vote on the official Eurovision Asia website by signing in with Google, Apple or Privy. Each voter gets 8 free votes, which must be spread across at least 3 entries.

As with Eurovision in Europe, votes cast from Malaysia can’t go to Aina. Fans overseas can vote for her, though, so if you have friends and family abroad, now’s the time to message them!

Feature image: Eurovision Song Contest Asia

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More than 30 delegates took part. Riona advanced through two rounds of cuts, from the Top 20 to the Top 14, before the crown was announced. She also won Miss Popular Choice, an award decided by online public voting, which made her the audience favourite among the delegates.

Sharing the win on Instagram, Riona wrote, “I came to Cambodia as a girl from one of Asia’s smallest nations and I leave with the honour of representing an entire continent.”

She credited her mother as her greatest strength and thanked her National Director, Adeline Hokulani, for guiding her. “I may have stood on that stage alone but I had an entire nation behind me,” she added. “Singapore, we didn’t just make our mark. We made history.”

Riona competed on a platform of children’s education and access, built on charity work she has been doing since she was 11. She has also walked at the New York, London, Milan and Paris Fashion Weeks. She won Miss Teen Universe Singapore 2026 in July, which earned her the place at the regional finals.

Congratulations, Riona!

Photos courtesy of Riona Krishnan Dighe

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Students in these Group B states get one more day. Under the Ministry of Education’s 2026 academic calendar, schools in Johor, Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Pahang, Perak, Perlis, Penang, Sabah, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, Labuan and Putrajaya are also closed on Tuesday, 10 November.

In Kedah, Kelantan and Terengganu (Group A), where the weekend falls on Friday and Saturday, Deepavali itself on Sunday is the holiday, and schools get an additional day off on Monday, 9 November.

For working parents in Group B states, one day of leave on Tuesday, 10 November turns it into a four-day break from 7 to 10 November. The extra school holiday doesn’t automatically apply to private-sector workers, so check with your employer first.

Happy Deepavali to everyone celebrating!

Source: Ministry of Education 2026 academic calendar

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The GSC x Alliance Bank Popcorn Run 2026 happens on Sunday, 6 December, at Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA Sepang. Flag-off window starts from 5am.

Pick Your Distance

• 5KM Fun Run: for the chill joggers and family squads
• 10KM Competitive Run: for those who want a challenge
• 21KM Competitive Run: for the hardcore ones

Serious runners, take note: top finishers in the competitive categories can win up to RM1,000 cash.

The Race Kit Is Reason Enough to Sign Up!

Everyone gets an “Avengers: Doomsday” race kit worth up to RM400:

• Race jersey
• Finisher medal
• Finisher tee (only for 21KM runners)
• Race towel
• Drawstring bag
• GSC 2D movie ticket

On top of the run, there’ll be Marvel-themed race elements, entertainment and carnival activities, so you can bring the whole family along.

Don’t Wait Too Long

Early bird slots are ending soon. Register now on Race Roster.

https://raceroster.com/events/2026/140008/gsc-popcorn-run

Event Details

• Date: 6 December 2026 (Sunday)
• Time: 5am – 12pm
• Venue: Mitsui Outlet Park KLIA Sepang

Marvel Studios’ “Avengers: Doomsday” is one of the most anticipated films of the year. The movie opens in cinemas on 17 December 2026. Click here for movie details.

#TABnow #GSCPopcornRun #AvengersDoomsday #AllianceBank #RunMalaysia

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The fares were approved by the Cabinet on 16 October. According to the fare table released by ECRL, Economy class tickets on the Transit route, which stops at every station, start from RM24 for Gombak to Bentong and go up to RM125 for the full 523km journey from Gombak to Kota Bharu.

Gombak to Kuala Terengganu starts from RM95, while Gombak to Kuantan Port City starts from RM62.

ECRL Economy class (Transit route) starting fares, one way from Gombak:

• Bentong (40km): RM24
• Temerloh (91km): RM35
• Maran (127km): RM42
• Paya Besar (186km): RM55
• Kota SAS (209km): RM60
• Kuantan Port City (222km): RM62
• Cherating (246km): RM67
• Chukai (256km): RM69
• Kemasik (285km): RM75
• Dungun (317km): RM82
• Kuala Terengganu (378km): RM95
• Bandar Permaisuri (436km): RM107
• Jerteh (473km): RM114
• Pasir Puteh (490km): RM118
• Kota Bharu (523km): RM125

There will also be an Express service with fewer stops. Express fares start from RM68 for Gombak to Kota SAS, RM110 for Gombak to Kuala Terengganu and RM147 for Gombak to Kota Bharu.

The same rates apply for return journeys. All fares are set through a dynamic pricing mechanism, which means ticket prices may change based on travel time, demand and seat availability, so the listed prices are the lowest starting fares.

MRL has previously said ECRL services are expected to begin in January 2027, with the trip from Kota Bharu to Gombak taking about four hours. A date for ticket sales has yet to be announced.

Photo : ECRL.com.my

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The hub was presented to international TV buyers at MIPCOM in Cannes this week. It will let broadcasters from other countries come to Malaysia to film their own local versions of the show, using a ready-made base that includes a permanent headquarters and standing sets in the Lake Kenyir wilderness.

For Malaysia, the move means more international productions coming in, with Fox highlighting access to local crews and the country’s film tax incentives as key reasons for the choice. Fox also says the site has more cameras installed than the Super Bowl.

So what is Extracted? The show, executive produced by Sylvester Stallone, sends ordinary people into the wild to survive on their own, with no training, no supplies and no way to contact the outside world. Their families watch everything from a remote headquarters and get to decide whether their loved one keeps going, or hit the “EXTRACT” button to pull them out, which also ends the family’s chance at the grand prize.

The show launched last year and has been a big hit for Fox, pulling in 45 million viewers over its first two seasons, with a third season already confirmed. The first two seasons were filmed in British Columbia, Canada.

Fox Entertainment Global President Prentiss Fraser said the Malaysian hub would help bring the show to more countries faster, giving partners the facilities and know-how to make their own versions without losing the scale and intensity of the original.

There’s no word yet on which countries will be the first to film at Lake Kenyir, but it looks like Terengganu’s wilderness is set to be seen by TV audiences around the world.

Photo source: Tasikkenyir.com.my FoxGlobal

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In a statement issued on 8 October 2026, Director-General of Education Datuk Dr. Mohd Azam bin Ahmad announced that all educational institutions in areas recording Air Pollutant Index (API) readings exceeding 180 are required to close from Friday, 9 October 2026. Areas where API readings exceed 150 for three consecutive days will follow suit from Monday, 12 October 2026.

Affected schools are required to conduct home-based teaching and learning (PdPR) during the closure period. Teachers and support staff are also permitted to work from home throughout this time.

This weekend’s National Sports Day celebrations in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Johor, Kedah, Penang, Negeri Sembilan and Melaka have also been postponed. New dates will be announced once air quality improves.

If you’re in an affected area, stay indoors where possible, keep windows closed, and wear a mask if you need to go out. Check the latest API readings at apims.doe.gov.my before heading out.

Photo source: IQAir (iqair.com)

#Haze #Malaysia #Schools #TABnow

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The standard one-way adult fare between KL Sentral and KLIA Terminals 1 and 2 will rise from RM55 to RM65. A return adult ticket between KL Sentral and KLIA will be priced at RM118, while the one-way child fare (ages 6–15) will be RM29. Children below six continue to travel for free.

Why the Increase?

Express Rail Link Sdn Bhd (ERL) said the fare revision follows the last review in 2016 and is driven by higher operating and maintenance costs under its concession agreement with the Government.

ERL also noted that more than 141 million passengers have used its services since operations began, with 2026 marking the 24th anniversary of the KLIA rail link.

It is also worth noting that ERL may work with business partners to offer ticket discounts ahead of the fare revision — so keep an eye on their official channels for any announcements. For the full fare breakdown, head to www.kliaekspres.com.

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KinoFest offers audiences the chance to discover the richness and diversity of German filmmaking, while creating space for cultural exchange and dialogue through the shared experience of cinema. The 2026 edition features a carefully curated programme with films for different audiences, from family-friendly productions to critically acclaimed and award-winning works.

Spanning themes of family, friendship, identity, coming of age, resilience and the complexities of everyday life, the programme offers a multifaceted glimpse into contemporary Germany and the stories that shape its society. Through different genres, perspectives and cinematic voices, KinoFest invites Malaysian audiences to connect with experiences that may be culturally specific, yet resonate across borders.

Following its Kuala Lumpur programme at GSC Mid Valley from 22 to 25 October, KinoFest will continue in Penang from 20 to 22 November at the Malaysian German Society, extending the festival’s celebration of German cinema beyond the capital.

In Kuala Lumpur, the festival opens with The Secret Floor (Das geheime Stockwerk), a film centred on a child’s encounter with a hidden world. Also featured is Yellow Letters, winner of the Golden Bear for Best Film at the 76th Berlin International Film Festival (Berlinale). Wayang Budiman will curate post-screening discussions for selected titles.

In Penang, the festival opens with Amrum on 20 November. Told through the eyes of a child, the film explores survival, memory and historical change.

Through its collaboration with GSC International Screens and the Malaysian German Society, KinoFest continues to strengthen the connection between German filmmakers and Malaysian audiences, bringing German-language and German-produced cinema to the big screen and encouraging a wider appreciation of European film.

You can find the list of movies and more details here https://cinema.com.my/filmfestivals/kinofestgff2026

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