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JYP Entertainnment USA & Canada Audition 2009 from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Isabella, 21, and HKG billionaire Richard Li, 42, started their relationship in March 2008. There were rumours in early 2009 that the actress was pregnant, but nobody took it seriously.

Come to think of it… it’s probably the main reason why her ex-agency EEG had softened over their contract dispute; the company must have realised about the fact (probably told by Richard) and was made to reach the settlement deal in November 2008.

The baby’s name is Ethan Li Changzhi (loose translation). Best wishes.

[image via Thestandard]

Isabella Leong gave birth to baby boy from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Habitat 67 (Image by Paul Lowry)

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Habitat 67, Montreal, Canada from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Update – New music videos (dance version) for Korean girls group SNSD’s hit song “Gee”

Canada – Chinese star Edison Chen testified in Vancouver for sex scandal case [Cri]

Korea – Singer Lee Seung-ki graduates from Dongguk University [K-popped]

Korea – Jang Dong-gun plays president [Hanfever]

Korea – Yoon Eun-hye posed for Vogue [Kbites] and Marie Claire [Popseoul]

Korea – Flower boy Lee Min-ho (pic) [Stareastasia]

Taiwan – S.H.E member Hebe ready for solo debut [Stareastasia]

US – Rihanna’s swollen face after alleged attack by Chris Brown [TMZ]

Entertainment roundup (February 26, 2009) from YeinJee's Asian Journal

The 18-year-old sensation scored 72.24 points on Wednesday (Feb 4), the highest total for a short program under the new judging system. Her performance at the long program (on Friday) was not as impressive, but it’s enough for her to claim the title.

On the other hand, Chinese figure skaters Pang Qing and Tong Jian won the pair skating title, making this event a rather successful outing for Asians.

[Update] Kim broke her record again in the world championship in March.

Kim Yuna sets figure skating record from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Art – Amazing cityscape art made from unusual objects [Neatorama]

Canada – Three Canadian men have claimed a new record for the fastest trek across Antarctica to the South Pole [BBC]

China – A Chinese farmer shows off his self-made rickshaw-pulling robot (pic) near his home in a village at the outskirts of Beijing [Cri]

Germany – Two German children, aged five and six, have been stopped by police on New Year’s Day from eloping to Africa for a sunny wedding… poor kids lol [BBC]

Japan – Said to be Japan’s scariest suspension bridge [Youtube, via Yamatologic]

Space – National Geographic’s top 10 space photos of 2008 [Nat-Geo]

S Korea – Emergency exits used at preschools… cute, but doubtful reliability [Brian]

USA – 6-year-old missed school bus, took mom’s car instead [Neatorama]

Offbeat roundup (January 11, 2009) from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Dingdong Dantes

Well, Edison might be sexier than Takeshi in E!’s point of views (I guess the sex pics might help a bit), but the sexiest Asian title goes to Dingdong Dantes (3th) from the Philippines instead.

Bollywood actor John Abraham is the other Asian celebrity that made the list, and he too was ranked higher than the two Chinese stars at 10th.

This E! sexiest men list is a bit unique as the chosen celebs covered a wide range of different nationalities and ethnicity as compared to most other sexiest/hottest lists which are dominated by Hollywood stars. Arguable… but nice try.

Here are the top 25 sexiest men of the world according to E!…

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Edison Chen sexier than Takeshi Kaneshiro? from YeinJee's Asian Journal

The annual report assesses the ability of countries to provide high levels of prosperity to their citizens, which in turn depends on how productively a country uses available resources. Thus, the index measures the set of institutions, policies, and factors that set the sustainable current and medium-term levels of economic prosperity.

The top 10 overall ranking are USA, Switzerland, Denmark, Sweden, Singapore, Finland, Germany, Japan and Canada.

The top 10 Asian economic entities are Singapore, Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Taiwan, Malaysia, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, China and UAE.

Singapore tops Asia in competitiveness report from YeinJee's Asian Journal

The amazing things is that the 16-year-old Filipina, who was discovered from Youtube, has yet to release a full English album yet; and with legendary music producer David Foster being her mentor, Charice’s future looks great.

[video via pinkrosebud22@Youtube]

Charice Pempengco’s news

Next: Charice Pempengco’s Note to God
Previous: Filipino sensation Charice on Star King Korea

Charice & Celine Dion – Because You Loved Me live from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Canadian comedian Seth Rogen will co-write the movie and star as the main character; and Stephen Chow will star as Kato, Green Hornet’s sidekick which was played by legendary martial arts star Bruce Lee in the TV adaptation in 1960s.

The Green Hornet and Kato, played by Van Williams and Bruce Lee in 1960s TV series

It’s said that the movie will be more comedic than the original versions (comic, radio and TV)… but I have doubts over the making of this movie regardless. It just doesn’t click for me, and I don’t think the young generations could relate to the characters.

The Green Hornet is scheduled to premier in Summer 2010.

Stephen Chow to direct and star in Green Hornet from YeinJee's Asian Journal

I was planning to go for a show on Wednesday, but the weather was not permitting; will try my luck again on Sunday. Meanwhile, catch a video below, produced by an official media partner of MIFC with the Malaysian team performing on August 12.

Besides the Malaysian team, other teams that are competing in the event this year are from China, Spain, Canada and Australia.

Update – check out a few photos taken by yours truly during one of the shows.

Malaysia Int’l Fireworks Competition 2008 from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Avril has told MTV earlier that the concert will go ahead as planned; and there were other sources hinting that Galaxy Group, the concert promoter, has successfully appeal to the initial ban. It has now been officially confirmed that the show will go on.

Earlier this week, Malaysian authority made the call to bar Avril from performing as scheduled, stating that the concert is unsuitable for Malaysian culture, particularly not when the country is celebrating independence day on August 31st.

The decision echoed the call from an Islamic opposition party for the show to be scrapped, that the show is considered too sexy for Malaysians and would promote the wrong values as Malaysia’s independence day is looming near.

It’s almost deja vu for Malaysians… as the authority had barred Indonesian singer Inul Daratista from performing in late July 2008 following similar protest that her performance was too erotic. Luckily for Avril’s fans, Galaxy has managed to appeal for the concert to run as planned.

Do mind that Malaysians in general are not that conservative; in fact lots of the Muslims are quite liberal in these kind of matters. Unfortunately the men that make the initial decision were not quite as open minded… glad that the final decision makers are showing more sense.

Avril Lavigne’s KL concert is back on from YeinJee's Asian Journal

The auditions will be held from September 19 to October 25 in Hawaii, Los Angeles, Washington DC, Orange County (CA), New York, San Francisco, Toronto and Vancouver. Nationality doesn’t matters, but it seems like they are looking for Asian faces only.

It’s funny that SM is calling it a ‘global’ audition when in fact the locations are limited to US and Canada. Regardless, it’s a chance for young Asian talents to try their luck if they are interested with the entertainment business.

Set aside the publicity purpose, SM do mean business with the auditions. If not mistaken Tiffany from SNSD and Henry from Suju-M were discovered from previous auditions… there might be a few more that I’m not aware of.

Check SM’s website for details and updates. Good luck if there is any taker here.

SM Entertainment Global Audition 2008 (US & Canada) from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Scanned image of Shōnen Jump, the Japanese magazine that published the original manga… featuring some introduction about the cast and characters (via Dbthemovie)

Dragonball movie is starring Justin Chatwin, James Marsters, Jamie Chung, Emmy Rossum, Chow Yun Fat, Joon Park and Eriko Tamura etc.

The movie created some hype when it was announced last year that Hong Kong star Stephen Chow, a renowned DB fan, would be working with Twentieth Century Fox to produce a live movie adapted from the popular Japanese anime and manga.

The initial buzz was not all positive though, as lots of the Dragon Ball fans are worried that the movie would spoil the original work. Judging from some recent developments, it seems that their worry are not entirely baseless.

I won’t say that I am a huge fan of Dragon Ball, but it was one of the first Japanese manga that I read… and I do like it. Hope that the movie will at least be watchable.

What’s up with Dragonball movie? from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Read more on Bloomberg , BBC or CBC.

I’m wordless… it’s shocking.

Gruesome bus killing in Manitoba, Canada from YeinJee's Asian Journal

Avril’s Malaysia concert promotional poster

I used to like Avril a lot; if she was to have a concert here a couple of years ago I won’t hesitate to get a VIP ticket for the show… but now, I am not sure. Hmmm got to think fast, considering her popularity here (and some neighbouring countries), the nice seats could be sold out pretty soon.

Avril’s world tour will kick start on August 1st in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; the KL concert will be her first stop in Asia. Other Asian countries that are part of the tour include Philippines, South Korea, Taiwan, Japan and China [check schedule]

There are 11 concerts in Japan, more than USA and Canada combined (10)… never knew that she is that popular in the land of the rising sun.

Avril Lavigne live in Malaysia 2008 from YeinJee's Asian Journal