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India Today
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- India Today
Magic Man 2 review: Jackson Wang's alchemy of the self
If 'Magic Man' (2022) was Jackson Wang exposing the cracks of his soul, then 'Magic Man 2' (2025) is someone who rises from it. Someone more tempered, wiser, and achingly human. The Hong Kong-born artist, known for being a genre disruptor, brings us an 11-track confessional that's less concerned with pop perfection and more invested in emotional truth. With his unique blend of artistic vision and fearlessness, Jackson crafts a body of work that is equal parts whisper and war album is framed around four internal phases: manic highs, losing control, realisation, and acceptance. 'Magic Man 2' seems like a natural successor to 'Magic Man', as these phases unfold organically, from the production choices to Jackson's vocal opening track 'High Alone' sets the tone with moody synths and cavernous reverb. Euphoric yet empty, it captures the isolation that creeps in at the top with the music video capturing the show in a way that is aesthetically heartbreaking. 'Not For Me' follows with a mid-tempo pulse and lyrical disillusionment, as Jackson reflects, 'Who should I be?', peeling back the layers of self-image crafted under fame. 'Access' throws us back into club-mode swagger with a hypnotic electro-pop beat, but it feels more like armor than indulgence, a reminder that not all confidence is genuine. 'BUCK,' his collaboration with Diljit Dosanjh, marks a shift in energy. It's fierce, pulsing with desi flair and East-meets-West bravado. From there, the energy blurs into a haze on 'GBAD,' where live instrumentation and synth overlays melt into a meditation on moral ambiguity. The groove is dark, the emotion ambiguous, perfect for midnight introspection about setting boundaries and why being 'bad' may not be 'BAD' thing.'Hate to Love' sees Jackson stuck in a toxic loop, battling attachment with guitar and synth textures echoing the emotional push and pull. By track seven, the emotional walls begin to collapse and he slowly progresses towards realisation. 'One Time' is one of the most lyrically devastating cuts: 'The people I loved... it was all lies.' There's no metaphor, just Jackson, bare and betrayed.'Everything' and 'Dear': plunge even deeper. The former aches with loneliness, while the latter sees him calling out to his parents in a near-whispered plea: 'Don't let me drown'. It's a haunting moment of childlike vulnerability. In 'Sophie Ricky', named after his parents, Jackson reflects on legacy, sacrifice, and pressure with rhythmic cadence. 'Could I put aside all my vices?' he asks, caught between gratitude and album closes with 'Made Me a Man', a heartfelt acoustic number that doesn't aim to resolve the pain, but to honour the person who helped him find peace through it. 'You were the light when I was lost in the dark', he sings, voice raw but calm. It's the kind of finale that speaks of acceptance rather than Jackson Wang's evolution is striking. There's no performative sadness or over-saturated metaphor here. Lines like 'I learned how to run before I could walk / They silenced my voice before I could talk' (from 'Made Me a Man') and 'This shit could get lonely' (from 'Everything') hit not because they're clever, but because they're true. There's maturity in his 'Magic Man 2', Jackson Wang doesn't reinvent himself, he reveals himself. This album isn't chasing radio hits or viral hooks. It's an emotional map from chaos to clarity, from rage to reflection. In a music industry obsessed with curated vulnerability, Jackson offers us something far rarer: honesty without agenda. This is the work of a man who has lived, lost, and decided to tell the story in his own voice, on his own terms.'Magic Man 2' is messy. It's brave. And ultimately, it's magic.- Ends
Tatler Asia
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Tatler Asia
Culture meets craft: Chow Tai Fook's Timeless Harmony high jewellery dazzles in Hangzhou
Set in Hangzhou, the launch of the Chow Tai Fook Timeless Harmony high jewellery collection embraced traditional Chinese motifs without clichés Chow Tai Fook debuted its latest high jewellery collection, Timeless Harmony, at Hangzhou's West Lake. But this was no ordinary launch—it was an exemplar of how cultural heritage can be honoured without resorting to cliché. Rather than relying on overt Chinese cultural symbols such as dragons or phoenixes, Chow Tai Fook's creative director of high jewellery Nicholas Lieou crafted something far more nuanced. The Hong Kong-born jewellery designer presented a seven-part collection that draws inspiration from Chinese philosophy and architecture, translating concepts such as stillness, balance and structural harmony into wearable art. Despite being characterised by clean and precise forms, Timeless Harmony was several years in the making, with some of the pieces requiring hundreds or even thousands of hours to complete. The resulting 100-plus pieces—made from precious metals, such as platinum, pure gold and 18 karat gold, as well as jadeite, pearls, diamonds and other, coloured gemstones—that are a quiet ode to the jewellery maison's eastern heritage. In case you missed it: Vault Unlocked: Inside Piaget's world of rare gemstones with Guillaume Chautru
Scottish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Troubling warning to parents over fake Labubu dolls in UK as thousands of toys risk ‘chemical exposure'
Plus, tips on how to spot a fake Labubu 'BE VIGILANT' Troubling warning to parents over fake Labubu dolls in UK as thousands of toys risk 'chemical exposure' PARENTS have been warned about fake Labubu dolls hitting the UK shore as they could pose a serious harm. A Welsh council has issued a warning after discovering counterfeit toys in Pontypridd. 2 Parents have been warned over fake Labubus sold in the UK Credit: 2 The counterfeit toys didn't pass safety tests Credit: Facebook/Rhondda Cynon Taf Council After mammoth success overseas, the Labubu craze has now made its way to the UK. A single Labubu, a plushie designed by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung, can cost anywhere from £13.50 to £211, depending on the rarity of the design. A blind box of six from Pop Mart will set you back a whopping £105. Meanwhile, the counterfeit Labubus were being sold for as little as £2.99 and £3.99. Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has seized more than 32 keyrings and 95 boxes of these fake dolls. Safety risk It was discovered that the toys lacked essential safety testing that guarantees they adhere to regulations. Rhian Hope, Head of Public Protection and Regulatory Services at Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, told Wales Online: "Following the discovery of counterfeit toys, we want to alert consumers and particularly parents to be extra vigilant. "These counterfeit toys can seem like a bargain compared with trying to source the genuine toy, especially when they are a much-sought-after item, but they are potentially dangerous. "Counterfeit toys can potentially pose significant dangers to young children such as chemical exposure and choking hazards. "These products routinely lack proper safety testing and we encourage anyone concerned about the safety of toys they've purchased to get in touch with us via Consumer Advice." I snagged one of the viral Labubu dolls in Dublin store and unboxing was a huge success The council has warned parents that unauthorised electrical toys can result in fires or electrocution while toxic materials can cause burns and serious injury. Bargain hunters should also be aware that phoney and cheap toys can shatter and create injuries or choking risks. Councillor Bob Harris, Cabinet Member for Public Health and Communities, said: "These counterfeiters are cashing in on the latest craze and prioritising profit over safety. "As well as infringing the genuine product's trademark, they are not carrying out the required testing to ensure the product is safe." How to spot a fake Labubu Packaging: Real Labubu's come in a box with a matte finish and smooth feel. Real Labubu's come in a box with a matte finish and smooth feel. QR code: Newer Labubu's have a QR code that takes you to Pop Mart's website and confirm if they're real or fake Newer Labubu's have a QR code that takes you to Pop Mart's website and confirm if they're real or fake Features: Real Labubu's have ears that point slightly inward, nine teeth, bright and lively eyes (not closed) and pale, peachy faces. Real Labubu's have ears that point slightly inward, nine teeth, bright and lively eyes (not closed) and pale, peachy faces. Quality: Real Labubu's have soft fur and seamless stitching. Real Labubu's have soft fur and seamless stitching. Foot stamp: Labubu's have a Pop Mart logo on their right foot Labubu's have a Pop Mart logo on their right foot UKCA/CE Mark: MOST IMPORTANT - there should be UKCA/CE mark on the product itself (unless too small - in which case must be supplied with the item, e.g. on box) and there needs to be a name of importer into the UK (i.e. a UK on the label). Source: Rhondda Cynon Taf Council Businesses face legal action The council's Trading Standards division has already confiscated the counterfeit goods and will destroy them. Firms found selling the fake Labubus risk facing legal action if they don't stop immediately. Harris continued: "Enforcement is always a last resort, that is only undertaken when we believe a law has been broken that would cause harm to the public. "But the message is clear: if you are found selling these items, we will take action!" Parents have been advised to buy only from trusted, verified merchants to avoid risks to health. The Sun has reached out to Pop Mart for a comment. Where to buy Labubu? Labubu dolls are sold on Amazon, the Pop Mart website, as well as in the toy retailer's various UK outlets. Among these are London's famous Oxford Street, as well as Westfield shopping centres and Manchester's Chinatown district. Pop Mart is a Chinese toy retailer, known for its collectible designer models that are often sold in a blind box format, meaning you don't know what you've got until you've opened it.
New Paper
5 days ago
- Sport
- New Paper
Choi's Storm To Finish lives up to his name
Trainer Ricky Choi was the man of the moment at the trials which were run off at Sungai Besi on the morning of July 15. Not only did the Hong Kong-born handler win the second of four hit-outs, he introduced two outstanding newcomers to the racing ranks. They were Storm To Finish and Superb Winner. The latter did not quite live up to his name. He did not win the trial but ran second. But, Storm To Finish did exactly what his name suggested he could do. After squirming his way through three front runners in Trial 2, the Anders two-year-old stormed to the lead, jealously holding on to it. At the finish, he had beaten his stablemate Superb Winner by 1¼ lengths and his time for the 1,000m was not too shabby. He did the trip in 1min 0.92sec - missing out by a whisker to break the minute mark. Formerly based in Macau, Choi had, when setting up shop at Sungai Besi, hinted that he would be bringing over some talented youngsters. Well, over the months, he has kept that part of the promise, and we saw two more of them at the trials. Here is how the action unfolded. Ridden by Troy See, Storm To Finish had no issues leaving the chutes and he soon settled into fourth spot, allowing Superb Winner, One Alakazam and Solidasarock to do battle up front. He was still parked fourth when the field straightened up, but See must have known that he had a good horse beneath him and he just "marked time" as the fight up front continued. With 250m to go, he fashioned a run and asked his mount for an effort. Storm To Finish took the bit, found an opening between the pack and quickly claimed the lead. Superb Winner, ridden by Liang Xiaochuan, raised an effort but it was not enough. The momentum was with Storm To Finish who went on to win with plenty still in the tank. Superb Winner, who is also an unraced two-year-old, did well to hold off third-placed Solidasarock. The winning turn of the son of Super Seth should be coming up soon. Earlier in the first trial of the morning, trainer Richard Lim introduced racegoers to another talented resident at his yard - Fortune Tree. A three-year-old by Ardrossan, Fortune Tree won his trial - which also served as a starting stall test - with loads of authority. Ridden by Shafiq Rizuan and having to clear the outermost gate, he was neatly into stride and immediately took a spot at the withers of the front runner, Diaz. Looking comfortable, he remained there until they had covered 800m of the required 1,000m. Soon, it was time to go and, like a bolt from out of the blue, Fortune Tree took off, collared Diaz and drew clear to win by half-a-length in 1:00.65. Although new to the Malaysian scene, Fortune Tree is not wet behind the ears. Until being flown out to Malaysia, he raced in Australia where he won a race at Seymour in the state of Victoria. That was on July 2, 2024 and, racing under the name of Jazzclub, he claimed a 1,300m race for two-year-olds at set weights. Now that he was seen in action at the trials, it is only fair to say that he could be a force to reckon with at his Malaysian debut. Runner-up Diaz was on veterinary orders, as he had just served a three-month ban after having bled at his last start on Feb 16. With no issues after his trial, the Nick Selvan-trained Winning Rupert five-year-old should be close to returning to the races. brian@
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
British tennis star given FOUR-YEAR doping ban despite being cleared 18 months ago
The International Tennis Integrity Agency's appeal over the decision to clear Tara Moore has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport and she's now been suspended British tennis star Tara Moore has been hit with a four-year ban for doping - despite being cleared 18 months ago. Moore, 32, had been allowed to play again following an independent tribunal last year. But the International Tennis Integrity Agency's appeal over the decision to clear her has been upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport and she's now been suspended with immediate effect. Moore's ban will be reduced, though, as she served the first 19 months through a provisional suspension which began after the case came to light in 2022. The Hong Kong-born star was Britain's top-ranked doubles player at the time, having tested positive for nandrolone and boldenone during a tournament in the Colombian capital of Bogota in April 2022. An independent tribunal ruled that contaminated meat was the source of her positive drugs test and that Moore 'bore no fault or negligence'. The 32-year-old said that she'd been through '19 months of lost time and emotional distress', adding that her reputation had been tarnished as a result of the case. Moore returned to the ITF World Tour last year and was in the draw for Wimbledon, the US Open and featured at the Australian Open in January. She won't be allowed to return to the court until the beginning of 2028. A statement from CAS read: "After reviewing the scientific and legal evidence, the majority of the CAS Panel considered that the player did not succeed in proving that the concentration of nandrolone in her sample was consistent with the ingestion of contaminated meat. "The panel concluded that Ms Moore failed to establish that the ADRV (Anti-Doping Rule Violation) was not intentional. The appeal by the ITIA is therefore upheld and the decision rendered by the Independent Tribunal is set aside." ITIA chief executive Karen Moorhouse argued that Moore's explanation wasn't 'adequate', saying: "For the ITIA, every case is considered according to the individual facts and circumstances. "Our bar for appealing a first instance decision is high, and the decision is not taken lightly. In this case, our independent scientific advice was that the player did not adequately explain the high level of nandrolone present in their sample. Today's ruling is consistent with this position. "We understand that players and their support teams may have questions about this decision, and we will answer these fully once we have reviewed the details of the ruling." Moore's suspension comes at a time where the topic of doping in tennis has been intensely discussed. Both the men's and women's singles champions at Wimbledon, Jannik Sinner and Iga Swiatek, had served bans after failing drugs tests. It's the first time in Wimbledon history that both the men's and women's champions have served suspensions for banned substances. "I don't think it's a good look for the sport," Nick Kyrgios, who later posted an asterisk emoji following Sinner's win, said ahead of both singles finals. Italian Sinner had tested positive for low levels of the banned anabolic steroid clostebol in March 2024, earning him two provisional bans which he appealed against and had lifted within one and three days respectively. The 23-year-old was later cleared of any wrongdoing by an independent tribunal after they accepted that an over-the-counter spray to treat a cut on his hand had been inadvertently contaminated by his physiotherapist. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), however, appealed against the panel's ruling that Sinner 'bore no fault or negligence' and said that it was seeking a ban of between one and two years. In February, shortly after the 23-year-old retained his Australian Open title, it was announced that Sinner and WADA had reached a controversial settlement which saw him banned for just three months. Six-time Grand Slam winner Swiatek tested positive for heart medication trimetazidine (TMZ) in August 2024 and served a one-month suspension which ended in early December. The ITIA accepted that the Pole's test was caused by contamination of a regulated non-prescription medicine which she said she took for jet lag and sleep problems.
