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Hype Malaysia
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Interview: K-Pop Group CRAVITY On Performing In Malaysia, Their Latest Comeback & Future Plans
After rocking the stage at 'K-Pop Masterz 2025', the boys of CRAVITY (크래비티) are back with a new image and new music! The nine-membered group recently dropped their second full-length album, 'Dare To Crave', and the title track, 'SET NET G0?' – marking a bold return. We recently got to talk to CRAVITY to learn more about their comeback and their new release. At the same time, we got to learn what the boys thought about performing in Malaysia for the first time, what they did when they were in town, and upcoming projects. Keep reading to learn more! Q. Your performance at 'K-Pop Masterz 2025' on 31st May was your first time performing in Malaysia since your debut in 2020. How did it feel to finally perform for Malaysian LUVITYs? Jungmo: Firstly, the reactions from our Malaysian fans were amazing. We saw them jumping up and enjoying the performance, so we felt energised by them while we were performing. We made a lot of memories together, and we want to go back! Minhee: It was fire! Q. For Taeyoung, it seems that Malaysia has a special place in your heart because you spent your childhood here. How did it feel to return to Malaysia after so many years? Taeyoung: Malaysia felt like my hometown, and I really enjoyed being there! The weather was so nice and I loved the food. The food was what I had expected, so it was really delicious! Q. I'm sure Taeyoung has spoken about Malaysia in the past. To the other members, what was it like visiting Malaysia for the first time? What was your first impression? CRAVITY: It's a beautiful country! Allen: The Petronas Twin Towers were very beautiful! Woobin: The night view was very beautiful. Jungmo: The food was so delicious! CRAVITY: ROTI BOOM! Hyeongun: Right, the food was great. Allen: Very good! Delicioso! Q. We know the members had time to go sightseeing in Kuala Lumpur before the concert. What did you guys do while in the city? Did you guys try any Malaysian food? Wonjin: We met Stitch! Taeyoung: Yeah, we met Stitch! And we went to see the Petronas Twin Towers, and we did some shopping. We also ate a lot of food. Allen: Wait, you saw Stitch? From 'Lilo and Stitch'? Where? Wonjin: At the mall (Pavilion Kuala Lumpur)! There was a pop-up store. Q. Let's talk about your comeback: CRAVITY is set to make their comeback on 23rd June, with a new full-length album. Can you share more about this comeback? Seongmin: We're back with our first full-length album in 3 years. There are 12 tracks total, and our members participated more than ever in creating this album. We hope you look forward to it! Q. The title track 'SET, NET, G0' is described as an electrifying dance track driven by dreamy pluck synths, a pulsating synth bass, and catchy vocal chops. What do you think is the key point of this track? Wonjin: There is a repeating guitar riff and drop that goes with our powerful and impressive performance. That part makes a strong impression, so please look forward to it. Q. Since it's been a while since your last Korean comeback, what do you think has been the biggest change? What can fans look forward to in the upcoming release? Wonjin: All of our members participated in writing lyrics and songs for this album, so I think each of our members included personal messages they wanted to share with LUVITY. It would be great if you paid close attention to the emotions that our members shared through those parts. Q. The comeback is also significant because it's in celebration of CRAVITY's 5th anniversary. What are you hoping to achieve with this new album? Do you have any specific goals? Taeyoung: Since this is our second full-length album, and it marks a major comeback, we hope to reach a new career-high with this album. Q. As we know, the members also took part in creating the songs in the new album. Can you guys share more about your roles in the composition and lyric-making of the songs? Wonjin: For me, I was the DJ for STATION-Z, and I met BrotherSu when he came out as the guest for the program. We connected then, and we wrote songs here and there. This time it started with the message I wanted to share with our fans, and that's how we came up with 'Wish Upon A Star'. Q. Besides the title track, which song from the album is your personal favourite? And which one would you recommend to the public trying to get to know about CRAVITY? Allen: My favourite is 'Underdog'. It's a song given to us by our big brother, JOOHONEY of Monsta X. And it's a very special song to us as well because it contains lyrics that tell our story. It's a very 'CRAVITY-core' and lore-accurate song, so I would recommend it to the public trying to learn more about us. Q. We're halfway through 2025. Do you have any projects planned for the second half of the year that you can share about? Maybe even solo projects? Jungmo: We're having a concert! CRAVITY: Yeah! *claps and cheers* Taeyoung: We're having our solo concert at the biggest venue of our career so far! Hyeongjun: And we're performing at KCON LA! Allen: But about the concert, if you guys want to watch us, you have to come to Seoul! It's a show you don't want to miss! Q. Since you have a new album coming soon, can fans expect a new tour as well? Will CRAVITY return to Malaysia someday? Hyeongjun: We don't have plans for a tour just yet, but if we have the opportunity to go to Malaysia again, we will definitely go. Please come to see us! Q. Can you share a few words for the Malaysian LUVITYs? Wonjin: We will never forget our first time visiting our Malaysian LUVITY, and we miss you already. When we see each other again, let's have a great time together like last time or even better than last time! What's your Reaction? +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0 +1 0
Japan Times
20-06-2025
- Sport
- Japan Times
China set to deploy teenage 'Moving Great Wall' Zhang Ziyu at Women's Asia Cup
China looks set to unleash its 226-cm "moving Great Wall" at the Women's Asia Cup after teenager Zhang Ziyu put in another towering display days after her debut. The 18-year-old center scored 18 points as China beat rival Japan 101-92 on Wednesday in Xi'an in a warm up for the regional tournament next month on home soil. It was her third appearance for the senior Chinese squad, having helped China to blowout victories over Bosnia and Herzegovina over the weekend. Chinese state media dubbed her and gangly center Han Xu the "Twin Towers." Zhang's looming presence on court — footage showed her barely needing to jump to make a basket — seemed to stump Japan head coach Corey Gaines. Asked if he had figured out a way "to deal" with the teenager, the American former NBA guard told reporters: "We'll just say: Interesting. Very interesting." Zhang hails from northern China's Shandong province and had reached 210-cm by the end of primary school. She has been likened by Chinese fans to former Houston Rockets great Yao Ming. Yao, who at 229-cm was one of the tallest NBA players in history, was known as the "moving Great Wall" before retiring from basketball in 2011, and Zhang has now taken on the nickname. Both of Zhang's parents played professional basketball. Her father, Zhang Lei, played for the Chinese Basketball Association's Jinan Military Region while her mother, Yu Ying, was a center for Shandong, according to local media. The teenager may have a distinct height advantage, but she has been told she needs to sharpen up. Experienced center Yang Liwei said after Wednesday's win that Zhang "could have been tougher on some shots." "I think she played at her normal level," added Yang, who helped China win the Asian title in 2023.
South China Morning Post
19-06-2025
- Sport
- South China Morning Post
China's towering teen basketball ace Zhang Ziyu stars again in Asia Cup build-up
China look set to unleash their 2.26-metre (7ft 5in) 'moving Great Wall' at the Women's Asia Cup after teenager Zhang Ziyu put in another towering display days after her debut. The 18-year-old centre scored 18 points as China beat great rivals Japan 101-92 on Wednesday in Xian in a warm-up for the regional tournament next month on home soil. It was her third appearance for the senior Chinese squad, having helped them to blowout victories over Bosnia and Herzegovina over the weekend. Chinese state media dubbed her and gangly centre Han Xu the 'Twin Towers'. Zhang's looming presence on court – footage showed her barely needing to jump to make a basket – seemed to stump Japan head coach Corey Gaines. Zhang Ziyu greets an umpire before the match against Japan in Xian. Photo: AFP Asked if he had figured out a way 'to deal' with the teenager, the American ex-NBA guard told reporters: 'We'll just say: Interesting. Very interesting.'
Newsweek
19-06-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
The U.S. Has Never Been a Bigger Target for Terrorism. Trump Is Why
Advocates for ideas and draws conclusions based on the interpretation of facts and data. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. In 1941, the Japanese high command was considering launching a surprise attack on the United States. Their top commander, Admiral Yamamoto Isoroku, handed them a plan for a crippling strike on Pearl Harbor. But it came with an ominous warning: "In the first six to twelve months of a war with the United States ... I will run wild and win victory upon victory. But then, if the war continues after that, I have no expectation of success." Before Pearl Harbor, America had been willfully blind to the world burning. The anti-war arguments of the rabidly isolationist America First Committee (AFC) carried crushing support in public opinion polls. Two days after Pearl Harbor, American public backing for war had become nearly unanimous and AFC had "pledged their full support." President Donald Trump walks toward members of the media prior to answering questions before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on April 29, 2025, in Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump walks toward members of the media prior to answering questions before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House on April 29, 2025, in Washington, years later, the post-9/11 rally around the flag showed that this American capacity to unify and mobilize in a crisis was undimmed. Former President George W. Bush had a bare majority of public backing, with Democrats still bitter from the 2000 election. Two weeks after the Twin Towers fell, Bush had soared to 90 percent approval, and a Congress evenly split between the parties would go on to overwhelmingly pass 48 vigorous legislative responses, while the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan would decimate the leadership of Al-Qaeda. For the past century, that's been the hidden power of this superpower: a strategic reserve of mutual trust and dormant energy which allowed us to black start from divided jumble to fearsome juggernaut. This is not an infinitely renewable resource. It requires confidence that our leaders will wield the awesome power of our shared determination to act in the nation's best interests. That confidence can be depleted. As Bush began to exchange patriotic determination for the cheaper coin of political leverage—in order to push ahead with his attack on Iraq and quixotic partisan projects like privatizing Social Security—Democrats became justifiably suspicious that they had been played, their trauma used and then weaponized not against enemies, but against them. That left cracks in our shared vessel. Over the past 10 years, President Donald Trump has shattered them wide open. Trump has repeatedly shown that for him, there is no national interest. He cares only for ever more money, vengeance, and power. Like any junkie, he continually ups the dosage, provoking his opposition with greater outrage to stoke the division that fuels his political life and the petty dominance displays that apparently feed his soul. In just the past month he has monetized the presidency to the tune of billions of dollars (crypto dinners, Qatari jets) handed out favors to those who pay him (corrupt pardons, more crypto operators) or fluff him (reality stars, corrupt right wing officials), sought retribution against opponents (law firms, New York Attorney General Leticia James, Democrats), and picked fights with everyone (NATO, China, Ukraine, Russia, Canada, Denmark, penguins). Our strategic trust reserve is now dry. There is no action that this government could take in a crisis that we could rally around. And that is incredibly dangerous. We've seen why. Remember that Israel's defense establishment warned that Benjamin Netanyahu's Trumpian moves in 2023 would make Israel a target for terrorist attack. They did. As former vice presidential candidate and Congressman Jack Kemp observed, weakness is provocative. What a provocation America now presents. Consider this thought experiment (our enemies surely have): what would happen if there were even a moderate-sized terrorist attack in America tomorrow? Well, look at the reaction to last week's protests in Los Angeles. Trump's every move created only more anger and fear—likely intentionally. And that was a minor security situation. So imagine how America would respond to a major act of terrorism. Could we take border security measures at face value after Trump's multiple cries of "wolf?" In a biological attack, would anyone follow the guidance of a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under the thumb of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who doesn't believe that germs cause disease? If Trump launched a military response, would half of America see it as a self-serving "wag the dog" exercise? Maybe we would reach deep into our DNA and rally. But far more likely is that America would melt into lawsuits, infighting, and paranoia. The whole point of terrorism is to have an asymmetrical impact: for a small force to achieve a big effect. It is hard to imagine a time where such a vast potential effect has been on offer, where our country could be so easily broken to pieces. Our enemies undoubtedly see this, certainly can imagine what they could do now that our greatest deterrent asset has been sapped. Abraham Lincoln once warned that a house divided against itself cannot stand. Trump is daily ripping out the beams. Matt Robison is a writer, podcast host, and former congressional staffer. The views in this article are the writer's own.
Malay Mail
19-06-2025
- Sport
- Malay Mail
Move over Yao Ming, 2.26-metre teen phenom Zhang Ziyu is China's new hoop weapon
BEIJING, June 19 — China look set to unleash their 2.26m (7ft 5in) 'moving Great Wall' at the Women's Asia Cup after teenager Zhang Ziyu put in another towering display days after her debut. The 18-year-old centre scored 18 points as China beat great rivals Japan 101-92 yesterday in Xi'an in a warm-up for the regional tournament next month on home soil. It was her third appearance for the senior Chinese squad, having helped them to blowout victories over Bosnia and Herzegovina over the weekend. Chinese state media dubbed her and gangly centre Han Xu the 'Twin Towers'. Zhang's looming presence on court — footage showed her barely needing to jump to make a basket — seemed to stump Japan head coach Corey Gaines. Asked if he had figured out a way 'to deal' with the teenager, the American ex-NBA guard told reporters: 'We'll just say: Interesting. Very interesting.' Zhang hails from northern China's Shandong province and had reached 2.10m by the end of primary school. She has been likened by Chinese fans to Houston Rockets great Yao Ming. Yao, who at 2.29m was one of the tallest NBA players in history, was known as the 'moving Great Wall' before retiring from basketball in 2011 and Zhang has now taken on the nickname. Both of Zhang's parents played professional basketball. Her father, Zhang Lei, turned out for the Chinese Basketball Association's Jinan Military Region while her mother Yu Ying played as a centre for Shandong, according to local media. The teenager may have a distinct height advantage but she has been told she needs to sharpen up. Experienced centre Yang Liwei said after yesterday's win that Zhang 'could have been tougher on some shots'. 'I think she played at her normal level,' added Yang, who helped China win the Asian title in 2023. China meet Japan again tomorrow at home for another warm-up. Both will play at the Women's Asia Cup in Shenzhen from July 13. — AFP
