​An easy 5 minute spaghetti for lazy nights when you crave some pasta goodness which comes through best in spaghetti! This Spaghetti Spicy Garlic with Mushroom is a really quick and comforting meal involving really less ingredients. Its perfect for meatless weeknights!

It’s a simple Spaghetti that produces a gluten-free and vegan meal bursting with flavor and taste.

Fragrant garlic and sautéed portobello mushrooms combine to add oomph to the pasta, and a shake of salt and freshly ground pepper spice it up a little.

For a touch of freshness and a pop of color, I also like to sprinkle some fresh chopped parsley just before serving.

Master Pasto is available at Shopee, Lazada, Qoo10, which sells ready-to-eat spaghetti and soups.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MasterPastoSingapore

After taking Broadway by storm with his record-breaking musical Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda is taking a seat behind the camera for his directorial debut. The celebrated creative powerhouse is helming the cinematic adaptation of the Broadway musical tick, tick... BOOM!, which dropped its first trailer on Thursday.

Andrew Garfield stars in the big-screen take of Jonathan Larson's semi-autobiographical work. Garfield plays Jon, a composer trying to make it big on Broadway in the '90s, who starts to suffer a mid-life crisis as he enters his 30s and hasn't yet achieved his biggest dreams.

This first trailer gives fans a look at both Garfield's singing, Miranda's naturalistic directorial style, and a quasi-retro look at Broadway and the Big Apple from the point of view of a struggling artist with big dreams and a lot of anxiety.

The film -- penned by Dear Even Hanson writer Steven Levenson -- also stars Vanessa Hudgens, Alexandra Shipp, Judith Light and Bradley Whitford as famed composer Stephen Sondheim.

Reporters recently spoke with Miranda at the premiere of In the Heights -- the film adaptation of his Broadway musical directed by Jon M. Chu -- and the Pulitzer Prize and Tony winner said it "feels good" to take his talents to the big screen in the director's chair with tick, tick...BOOM!

Miranda noted that he had great directors helping him along the way, and said he had Chu "on speed dial [for] whenever I had a question or a concern" while directing his first feature.

"Honestly, to work with him, to work with Rob Marshall on Mary Poppins Returns, to work with Tommy Kail on Fosse/Verdon, that was my graduate school. That was my film school," Miranda shared. "Every post-Hamilton project has been me learning how to do this. So I hope I'm ready."

Reporters also chatted with Hudgens back in April about her role in the film, and she explained how she plays a back-up vocalist for Garfield's character, which means she ended up singing "quite a bit" in the film.

"There's a lot of  harmonizing, which is my favorite thing. It takes me back to my childhood being eight years old, doing Cinderella and singing the harmonies backstage," she shared. "It just is one of my favorite things to do."

At the time, Hudgens said she hadn't yet seen a cut of the project, but had already heard a lot of good things about what had been assembled.

"I have been told that the director's cut is one of the best director cuts people have seen, which is very exciting," Hudgens shared. "I wouldn't expect anything less from Lin-Manuel Miranda."

Nicole Kidman may be an Oscar-winning actress, but even she gets intimidated by certain roles.

The actress opened up to Chris Rock about her role as Lucille Ball in the biopic Being the Ricardos, where she revealed that she is "way out of my comfort zone." The two, who interviewed each other for Variety's Actors on Actors, began by touching on Kidman taking on different accents, before digging into her latest role.

"I’ve had to put in an enormous amount of time on Lucille Ball right now, because she has a very particular way of speaking," Kidman told Rock. "She is up there…I am way out of my comfort zone right now, Chris. I’m free-falling."

Javier Bardem is taking on the role of Ball's husband, Desi Arnaz. Kidman's casting in the Aaron Sorkin-directed movie raised eyebrows as other actresses campaigned for the part -- but Ball and Arnaz's daughter, Lucie Arnaz, had full confidence she was the right choice.

"The strange thing about Lucille Ball is that everyone thinks we’re remaking the I Love Lucy Show, and it’s so not that," Kidman explained. "It’s about Lucy and Desi and their relationship and their marriage. It’s very deep, actually.”

"She was a trailblazer. She formed her production company. Desi was Cuban, and she had to fight to get him on the show," she continued. "They had just so many things in their marriage that are so relevant today, and what she was also dealing with in terms of everything that artists deal with, where you’re up against big corporations. And you’re like, ‘No, this is art.'"

Elsewhere in the interview, Rock asked her what type of role she'd like to do, to which she replied, "I'd like to be funny. I'm never cast as funny."

"Oh, you could be funny. You’re playing Lucille Ball. You better be funny," added Rock.

Sorkin previously teased to reporters that Kidman and Bardem were "going to be fantastic." "I think that the people thought that we've cast them as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo," he said. "The film takes place during a production week of I Love Lucy -- a Monday table read to Friday audience taping, with a whole bunch of long flashbacks which are telling the story that got us here -- and because there's a table read, there's rehearsals and then there's tape night, we do see moments of them being Lucy and Ricky Ricardo."

"We see moments from an episode of I Love Lucy. But mostly they are playing Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. And they're going to be fantastic," Sorkin added. "These are two of the greatest actors ever."

Exo are back, with something old and something new on their latest album Don't Fight the Feeling. Out on Monday, the mini-album, or EP, dubbed a "special album", is fronted by a funky '90s-feeling dance single, also called Don't Fight the Feeling.

In it, the popular K-pop group reflect on the emotions of moving forward in the face of change and choices, motivating listeners to move forward with them.

The music video for the song also arrived yesterday, revisiting some elements previously featured in the band's ongoing sci-fi plotline that rears its head often throughout their music and related content.

Do you have questions about the biggest topics and trends from around the world? Get the answers with SCMP Knowledge, our new platform of curated content with explainers, FAQs, analyses and infographics brought to you by our award-winning team.

Lyrically, Don't Fight the Feeling also refers to "Kwangya", an integral element of the recently announced SMCU, the creative universe revolving around music label SM Entertainment's artists.

The album is "special" for several reasons, most notably because it deviates from Exo's other releases in that not all of the band's nine members are featured. The five-track release has only the voices of Baekhyun, Chanyeol, Lay, D.O., Kai, Xiumin, and Sehun, while Suho and Chen are absent, fulfilling South Korea's mandatory military draft.

The release marks the return of Lay, also known as Zhang Yixing, who is featured on the album and appears in the music video for Don't Fight the Feeling. The star, who is prominent in China's entertainment world, hasn't been featured in the band's work since 2018's Don't Mess Up My Tempo. As he's spent the coronavirus pandemic in China, it appears he filmed and recorded his content remotely from the rest of the Seoul-based band.

Along with it being Lay's first appearance in some time, Don't Fight the Feeling also marks the return of D.O. and Xiumin, who last appeared on the band's 2018 Love Shot, after which they enlisted in South Korea's armed forces. Since its recording, Baekhyun and Chanyeol have enlisted.

Band members, including ones not featured on the album, have been actively promoting it on their personal social media platforms.

According to SM Entertainment, Don't Fight The Feeling made history for the band, breaking their own record with over 1.22 million pre-orders for the album. The single and album also topped real-time music streaming charts across the world upon its release.

Tying into the album's concept, Exo released a special online game for fans to play. EXO-Ship Saga is reminiscent of '70s and '80s classics Space Invaders and Galaga, and can currently be played only on mobile devices through a web browser.

Hongkong actor Chapman To and his wife, former TVB actress Kristal Tin, had to celebrate their 16th wedding anniversary separated from each other this year. 

Chapman, 49, is now based in Taiwan for work, while Kristal, 43, remains in Hongkong. However, they still managed to carve out some time to “share" a meal with each other through a video call on the day of their anniversary. 

On June 7, Kristal posted pictures of their online dinner date on her Instagram, where she compared their marriage to the bowl of mala duck’s blood she was tucking into during their video call. 

“Over at Mr To’s, he chose to go for steak, while I chose this mala’s duck blood from [Chapman's the food brand]. As I ate, I was sweating at the same time, it’s so thrilling, really so thrilling! Although it’s so spicy, I’ll still want to continue eating! (...) While eating, I told Mr To that this bowl of mala duck’s blood is just like our marriage! It’s so exciting, and while I did think of giving up halfway through, I continued ‘cos it’s so delicious! (...) Happy 16th wedding anniversary! Let’s brave through the ups and downs together,” she wrote.

​According to reports, this is not the first time the couple has had to celebrate a special occasion through video call. In February this year, they marked Valentine’s Day with a meal over FaceTime. 

Chapman and Kristal tied the knot in 2005, after dating for six years. Back in 2018, it was revealed that Chapman had cheated on Kristal back when they were still dating. However, Kristal shared that she chose to forgive Chapman. The couple have no children. 

K-pop girl group Twice brought a romantic vibe to summer on Wednesday (June 9) with the release of their single Alcohol-Free.

The track - which fronts their 10th mini-album, or EP, Taste of Love - is the popular act's first Korean release of 2021, and follows the release of last month's Japanese single Kura Kura .

The single is accompanied by a vibrant, boozy music video that features the nine members of Twice shuffling along to Alcohol-Free's romantic bossa nova instrumentals. They filmed it on the holiday island of Jeju in South Korea.

Despite the song's title, the lyrics are about a love like alcohol that makes the narrator feel they're drunk even though no liquor has passed their lips. Lines compare this love to drinks including margaritas and champagne.

Like many Twice singles, Alcohol-Free is co-written by JY Park, the head of JYP Entertainment, the label under which the band was formed in 2015. Since then, Twice have become one of the most popular girl groups of their generation, with numerous hits and records to their name.

As well as Alcohol-Free, the album features five other brand new songs, each with lyrics written by Twice members Jihyo, Dahyun, Sana, and Nayeon.

First Time features lyrics by Jihyo and was co-written by Jade Thirlwall of the English group Little Mix. Ahead of the album's release, Thirlwall posted to Twitter about her pleasure that Twice were the ones singing it.

"The song is so special to me so I held onto it for the right moment so this bop could fully GET it's moment", Thirlwall said, and added that she had been involved in its writing several years ago. "I'm so excited and honoured that Twice have cut it for their new album," she posted.

Twice performed the song for the first time on Wednesday's episode of US television show The Ellen DeGeneres Show.

If JJ Lin was still in Singapore, the 40-year-old would probably have had the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine like those in his age group here since May 19.

However, the singer returned to Taipei in early March, and it looks like he hasn’t been able to get the jab over there.

On Wednesday night (Jun 9), JJ started an Instagram live stream to chat with fans and update them on how he’s been doing.

He revealed that he hasn’t left the house for an entire month — which honestly doesn’t sound so bad ‘cos have you seen his place!? — due to the recent COVID resurgence in the country, but he’s been “even busier than usual” with song recordings and practice.

During the broadcast, many fans took the opportunity to urge JJ to come home to Singapore to get himself vaccinated.

“I really want to get the injection too, but I’m in Taiwan right now!” he exclaimed. “I want to go back to Singapore to get it, or explore what are the most suitable ways for me to get it.”

However, it may be a while before he has his chance as Taiwan is currently experiencing a vaccine shortage.

Still, he encouraged those who are eligible to quickly go for the shot and expressed his hope for frontline workers in Taiwan to be given priority in the process.

Of course, there’s another reason JJ wants to come back to Singapore: He misses his family, whom he hasn’t seen in months. Thankfully, he finds a bit of comfort in the fact that the pandemic situation here is under control again after the recent rise in cases that led to the implementation of P2HA.

“I actually have a close friend who tested positive, but they’ve recovered, which is a relief,” he shared. “It’s really important to take care of one’s health.”

In the meantime, JJ will be taking things step by step and focusing on preparing for his upcoming online concert on July 10 before looking into any plans to jet home. Hey, maybe some of you might even be lucky enough to spot him at the same vaccination centre.

As age catches up, we begin to experience the effects of hormonal ageing that often starts at 25. Our metabolism rate slows and we tend to put on weight easily, collagen production slows down and our skin starts to sag and be dry, our body aches more, and our sleep becomes less restful.

These are sure signs of hormonal ageing and hormonal imbalance – unwelcome yet unavoidable changes in our body's biochemistry as we age. If you have tried various remedies to alleviate these symptoms but nothing seems to help, it is because you have not addressed the root cause of your problem: hormonal ageing.

Jiao Feng Tang Herbal Cream is a skin application health care product that is absorbed through the skin (body’s largest organ), quickly replenishing the body’s energy & enhancing immunity.

By regulating the function of the body's 8 major endocrine glands, improving sub-health problems & letting one maintain good spirit, good mood & good health.

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4. Aging
5. Promote Metabolism
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7. Enhance Vitality

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The resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Taiwan has not boded well for businesses there, and those owned by stars haven’t been spared either, with many changing operating hours or closing down temporarily amidst the tightened measures.

However, there is one star-founded company that allegedly hasn’t been keeping in line with government restrictions.

Recently, employees of Jay Chou’s streetwear label PHANTACi, specifically those working in the office in Taipei’s Eastern District, claimed that their bosses have been ignoring safety regulations and requiring everyone to still physically be at work every day.

What’s more, workers were even instructed to come into the office on Saturdays and public holidays. This makes them worry not just for their lives, but also that they might be breaching government measures.

PHANTACi director and co-founder Ric Chiang, a long-time friend of Jay’s, has since responded to the allegations, calling them completely untrue.

He said that ever since the Level 3 restrictions were announced in mid-May, employees have stopped going to work and have been granted paid leave.

While their office reopened on May 24 and their stores resumed business on June 3, the staff are segregated for their safety and travel to and from work outside of the usual rush hours. Those who need to work on a public holiday are also given time off.

Ric added that strict crowd control measures have been implemented at the boutiques as well, with only one customer or one group of two customers being allowed into the shop at a time.

​According to reports, Ric personally handled store operations by himself during the first two weeks of paid leave. Employees have also discussed going to work on alternate days of the week.

Under Taiwan’s Level 3 restrictions, employees are still allowed to continue working, but companies must abide by COVID-19 guidelines and enforce measures such as staggered shifts or working from home.

Taiwanese singer Waa Wei, 38, had a rude shock when she opened her front door to receive a delivery earlier this week.

Believe it or not, the deliveryman left behind not just the singer's parcel but also... his own poop.

“I can totally understand how difficult it is to be a deliveryman. Everyone has experienced the pain of not being able to find a toilet when you have to go. But his poop was all over the floor, walls and even the corners (…) He had diarrhea!" she ranted on Instagram. 

“He even left behind a pile of soiled toilet paper, which he placed on top of a bucket outside our house,” she added. “Why didn’t he just poop in the bucket, and why did he have to leave his mess for us without cleaning it up?”

Waa Wei said that she and her husband, Taiwanese actor Chris Lung, had to "haul buckets of water" to their front door to clean up the disgusting mess.

While she took a photo of the, um, crime scene to lodge a complaint to the delivery company, she decided not to post the pic on her IG for obvious reasons.

The singer said that she’s now thinking of isolating herself at home because she's been exposed to the deliveryman's germs and she doesn't know if he's healthy or not. 

Strangely, Waa Wei ended up getting slammed by a small group of netizens who accused her of being “inconsiderate about what the deliveryman had to go through” and “too privileged to understand the pains of regular people”.

One such netizen scoffed: “It’s just poop. What’s the big deal? You’re making it sound as though he left a bomb on your doorstep.”

​Other more rational netizens interjected and reminded everyone that we live in a civilised society and it’s wrong to defecate on anyone's doorstep. 

“The least he could have done was to clean up his mess and apologise,” said one netizen.