Daily roundup: McDonald's and Tokidoki to release limited-edition collectible charms from June 12 — and other top stories today, World News
Stay in the know with a recap of our top stories today.
1. McDonald's and Tokidoki to release limited-edition collectible charms from June 12
After releasing a series of blindboxes with popular video game Minecraft back in March, McDonald's Singapore has announced another collaboration - this time with Italian lifestyle brand Tokidoki to release a series of limited-edition collectible charms... » READ MORE
2. Bus swayed uncontrollably and was speeding: Survivors of crash which killed 15 students in Malaysia describe terrifying moments
Several university students who survived a deadly bus accident which killed 15 of their schoolmates have claimed the vehicle was speeding before it crashed in Gerik, Perak, after midnight on June 9... » READ MORE
3. RM and V discharged from military service, Hybe headquarters decorated for BTS' return
June is an exciting month for K-pop boy band BTS — evident from the fanfare around RM and V's return as well as the decor on Hybe's headquarters... » READ MORE
4. This 'officer' never sleeps: Geylang Serai market carpark to have digital sentry to keep watch on errant motorists
A new enforcement 'officer' will be deployed at the carpark next to Geylang Serai Hawker Centre and Market to keep watch on errant motorists... » READ MORE
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AsiaOne
an hour ago
- AsiaOne
'Everyone looked at us with pitiful eyes': BTS' Jimin and Jungkook share funny military experiences, Entertainment News
In a Weverse livestream today (June 11), Jimin and Jungkook from K-pop boy band BTS got cosy and talked humorously about their experiences in the military. The duo was discharged earlier this morning, having enlisted into the 5th Infantry Division Artillery Brigade together in December 2023. Jimin, 29, revealed his pre-enlistment anxiety woes, sharing: "I was a mess, super stressed about going into boot camp. Jungkook seemed okay, but I struggled every night after dinner just trying to get through it. He gave me so much strength. "However, once we got our unit assignments, the roles were reversed — Jungkook started having a hard time every day." According to a report by The Korea Herald, Jungkook, 27, served as a cook and Jimin was an artilleryman. For Jimin, it was a surprise that he ended up in the front lines. He admitted: "I didn't think I'd be in the artillery unit. The day we got transferred, the cold wave started. It was probably -20°c, and one of the seniors said it was the second coldest winter in their 20-year career. I was like, 'Why is this happening to us?' "It's a place where you can't help but swear all the time," he remarked. "I enlisted with Jungkook because I thought it'd be better with him — but how were we supposed to know we'd end up at the front line? Everyone looked at us with pitiful eyes that said, 'Why did you come here?' At the time, we didn't have the strength." The idol's time in the military seems to have had a profound impact on his appreciation for soldiers around him. Earlier in the morning after his discharge, Jimin spoke to fans and reporters: "It was my first time in the military, and honestly, it wasn't that easy. If you ever see soldiers passing by, I'd be very grateful if you could offer them kind words." Sharing more training camp stories during the livestream, Jimin and Jungkook reminisced about how they had clung to each other on their first day. "The two of us kept talking. We were just stuck together and no one else was saying a word, but we were the only ones laughing and the rest of them were just like this..." they recounted, as Jimin and Jungkook mimicked a stern posture with arms outstretched, palms on their knees. Jimin added: "When the assistant instructor came, we got really close to him. The platoon commander was great too — he's two years older than me. He treated me as if we were real brothers and he felt like a father to me by the time I was discharged." #Jimin & #Jungkook sharing their first day story at training center..🥹 — BTS Updates, News & Charts ⁷ (@_BTSMoments_) June 11, 2025 Jimin and Jungkook were glued at the hip, as they even happened to sleep next to each other at night. Jimin recalled a bedtime instance that tickled both of them. He explained: "When I was sleeping, I put my arms up by my head. Every time I fell asleep, my dreams had this droning 'tak-tak-tak' construction noise that woke me up. "My arm was so numb that I woke up with a start — and then I saw Jungkook's face, sound asleep on my arm and I realised the noise was him snoring." Jungkook laughed and pleaded guilty, joking: "I guess I wanted to lean on you." He also shared a photo strip the two of them took together in a BTS Festa booth upon the completion of their duties in celebration of their discharge. Yesterday, their fellow bandmates RM and V were discharged from the military as well, holding yet another Weverse livestream. Jin and J-Hope were the first to finish serving the nation in 2024 and have been pursuing solo activities. Suga will be the last member to complete his duties, with his discharge scheduled for June 21. [[nid:718966]]
AsiaOne
3 hours ago
- AsiaOne
Put their logo and priced it 10 times higher: Netizens upset exact copy of Enhypen's merch available cheaply on Taobao, Entertainment News
K-pop boy group Enhypen's new merchandise line is going viral but not for the right reasons. Among the items sold in their Walk the Line in Japan - Summer Edition merchandise is a water gun, and fans quickly discovered that the design looks a little too familiar. In a post that has garnered close to three million views and over 19,000 reposts on X, a user compared a photo of the water gun to a listing on the Chinese e-commerce platform Taobao. The water gun on the latter is identical in design down to the colours and costs 16.8 yuan (S$3), while Enhypen's is going for 30,450 won (S$29). "It's really not good to take something that sells for 3,000 won on Taobao and sell it for 30,000 won with only a logo on it," said the user who shared the post on X. Netizens took to the quotes section to express their distaste for the situation. 아니…….좀 성의있게 다른 디자인으로 바꿔서 팔든가 타오바오에서 3천원에 파는거 그대로 가져와서 로고만 박고 3만원에 파는거 진짜별로다 — LUCKY 곰방와 (@g_mvely) June 9, 2025 "I want to boycott all the goods and albums of the agencies and make them come to their senses," said one angry netizen. Another remarked: "If it were me, I would buy it from Taobao, draw the Enhypen logo on it, and use it as if it were official goods." A few others also felt the one on Taobao looks "cuter". A quick look at the Weverse website shows that the item is no longer listed. Enhypen debuted in 2020 with seven members: Heeseung, Jake, Sunghoon, Sunoo, Jungwon, Jay and Niki. [[nid:718966]] syarifahsn@ No part of this article can be reproduced without permission from AsiaOne.
CNA
7 hours ago
- CNA
Tears, tattoos, Cartier watches: Fan frenzy at BTS army discharge
South Korea's Yeoncheon county, just kilometres from the heavily fortified border with the nuclear-armed North, is best known for its honey. But on Wednesday (Jun 11), it was flooded with K-pop supergroup BTS fans. Despite pleas from the band's agency HYBE to stay away from the area where members Jimin and Jungkook were being released from mandatory military service, a screaming, weeping frenzy ensued early Wednesday. Decked out in the band's signature purple, and some even sporting BTS tattoos, fans began gathering at 3am. Some had flown in from Brazil and Indonesia, eager to catch the first glimpse of the pair after their discharge. As the two BTS stars emerged, fans screamed, cried and hugged each other. Wu Ruohan, an 18-year-old Chinese fan, said this was her "dream come true". Their release means that six of the seven members of BTS have now finished their service. The final member – Suga – is due out on Jun 21, bringing the group one step closer to reunion and new music. Security moved the cordons to keep fans at bay as Jimin and Jungkook arrived, dressed in camouflage military uniforms, AFP journalists saw. The K-pop idols, who have spent 18 months on the frontline with North Korea serving in the 5th Infantry Division Artillery Brigade, thanked the crowd for waiting for them. "It's been a while since I've been in front of a camera, and I'm a bit embarrassed because I didn't even put on makeup," said Jungkook, who looked slightly flustered at the mass gathering. Jimin confessed they had gone for a 5am jog, hoping to look their best. The pair bowed to fans and media before getting into a black minivan and driving off, promising to speak on their superfan platform WeVerse later. "NOT REAL FANS"? Online, fans bickered about whether it was right to turn up at the bases, against requests from HYBE and BTS. Before they enlisted, the BTS members had knelt during a live broadcast to earnestly entreat their fans not to show up at army bases as they entered military life. "They're not real fans, the boys even knelt and begged for them to not come," one social media user wrote, sharing screenshots of those at the scene, in a seeming effort to shame them. Experts have said the members will likely have a "visual adjustment period" of a few months, while they grow out their military buzz cuts and hone their K-pop look. Even so, fashion enthusiasts were looking for any scraps of personality amid their military attire, seizing on the watch worn by member V who was discharged Tuesday. His Cartier piece was estimated to be worth around 20 million won (US$14,649). In contrast, his bandmate RM wore an affordable Casio. But to the disappointment of online sleuths, neither Jimin nor Jungkook wore a watch on Wednesday. On Friday, the seven-member group celebrates the 12th anniversary of its debut, known as FESTA. Fans from around the world are pouring into South Korea for the occasion. On Wednesday, thousands of people were seen outside HYBE's headquarters in downtown Seoul waiting for vans carrying the stars to arrive. While waiting to see their idols, fans sang along to BTS songs and chanted 'Jimin, Jungkook,' as multiple local broadcasters aired the scene live.
