Latest news with #Katsu
Herald Sun
10-07-2025
- Automotive
- Herald Sun
Racing Confidential: The leading contenders to replace Peter McGauran as ATC chairman
Don't miss out on the headlines from Horse Racing. Followed categories will be added to My News. The Australian Turf Club board will vote on a new chairman and vice-chair at the end of the month in the wake of Wednesday's surprise resignation of incumbent Peter McGauran. McGauran announced his decision this week to vacate his post as chairman and director on the board prior to the expiration of his term in January, 2026. • PUNT LIKE A PRO: Become a Racenet iQ member and get expert tips – with fully transparent return on investment statistics – from Racenet's team of professional punters at our Pro Tips section. SUBSCRIBE NOW! The decision comes in the wake of the ATC's failed bid to sell Rosehill Gardens racecourse, of which McGauran was a staunch advocate, following a members vote in May. McGauran labelled the decision 'a lost opportunity for the club' after 56.1 per cent of members said 'no' to the sale. It led to a petition from the Save Rosehill group calling on McGauran to resign – a fate which has now become a reality. Six directors will remain on the board including current vice-chair Tim Hale as well as Ben Bayot, Caroline Searcy, Natalie Hewson, David McGrath and Annette English. All directors will have the opportunity to contest for the chairman seat at their next board meeting, slated for July 28, with McGauran also set to get a vote before departing his post. Hale and McGrath are understood to be the leading candidates vying for the chairman role. It will be up to the NSW Government and Racing Minister David Harris to determine if another director joins the board and who that may be after McGauran departs. Tim Hale (left) and David McGrath (right) are believed to lead the race to replace departing ATC chairman Peter McGauran. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ FORD IN DOUBT AFTER FALL Group 1 jockey Jay Ford escaped serious injury after falling at Canterbury Park on Wednesday but remains a 50-50 chance of riding at Royal Randwick on Saturday. Ford knocked his head when he came off Investment at the midweek meeting and had to be taken to hospital for further assessment. He released late on Wednesday night but had to forgo his rides at Gosford on Wednesday as he continued to deal with a headache. Ford has been booked for six rides on Saturday. ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ KATSU WEIGHT CHALLENGE Victorian raider Katsu would equal a modern day weight carrying record in Sydney if he was to lug the monster impost of 64kg to victory at Royal Randwick on Saturday. The Lindsay Park galloper was given the topweight of 66kg as a 90-rater in The Agency Real Estate Benchmark 78 Handicap (1000m). The 2kg claim of star apprentice Braith Nock gets him in with a slightly more manageable weight. But history is against Katsu as no horse this century has carried 64kg to victory in a Sydney Saturday race. Katsu will attempt to win with 64kg, which no horse has done in a Sydney Saturday race since 1997. Picture: Racing Photos via Getty Images It was way back on October 26, 1997 that Anthems defied the heavyweight task to score in a 3YOs and Up Two Handicap (1500m) with Rod Quinn aboard at Rosehill Gardens. The John Hawkes-trained gelding was a two-time Group 1 winner as a juvenile. The last horse to carry 64kg in Sydney was My Truth at Warwick Farm on June 12, 2023. He finished last. On a Saturday, Mahagoni lumped the same weight to creditable sixth in the $500,000 Four Pillars at Rosehill Gardens on October 29, 2022. Zoushack carried 64.5kg to salute at the midweeks at Warwick Farm on October 19 of the same year. Katsu is a $4.60 chance to prevail this weekend. Originally published as Racing Confidential: The leading contenders to replace Peter McGauran as ATC chairman
Hype Malaysia
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hype Malaysia
Interview: Local Artist Katsudonno On Pursuing Her Career & Taking Part In Upcoming HoYoFEST
Katsudonno is a full-time artist and fan merchandise creator, whose journey began over 10 years ago during college. Originally trained in animation and 3D modelling, Katsu worked on indie games before transitioning fully into illustration. The introduction of 'Genshin Impact' during the pandemic was a pivotal moment. For the artist, fan art and merchandise are more than expressions of passion: they're a way to explore new ideas, push artistic skills, and build a visual library through constant experimentation. She says sharing art online also inspires and connects with others. She believes Hoyoverse has played an important role in fostering fan creativity, citing the company's openness to fan art, social media engagement, and events like HoYoFEST as vital touchpoints for creator recognition. We sat down with Katsu to learn about her journey, as well as her preparations for the upcoming HoYo FEST. 1. Could you tell us about how you got started in becoming a fan art merch creator? I think it was 2014 or 2015 during college when one of my friends asked me if I wanted to join them. Because AniMangaki was open for registrations, and we were like, why not sell our art? Since we were all art students anyway. I was already drawing fan art on the side, and I've been attending Comic Fiesta since I was a teen. So I decided, why not make some money out of my art, and showcase my work to the world? I thought it'd just be a fun opportunity. 2. What are some of the challenges you faced when you were starting out? And how did you overcome them? When I was starting out, I had super bad social anxiety. I could barely say hello to my customers, and my booth mates always told me, 'Daphne, could you at least be friendly with people? Just smile.' But I was a bit too shy for that. After maybe two or three—actually, probably more than that—many booths later, I eventually overcame it with a bit of practice. You know, talking to customers, the typical interactions we all have. I think that helped with most of my social anxiety. Eventually, I made a bunch of friends because of boothing, so I'm kind of glad I overcame that whole shyness part. 3. What are some of the newer challenges you face nowadays as a creator? Definitely catching up with the trends and the grind. These days, there's this thing in sales we call 'recency buyers,' where people tend to only buy merchandise of recently released characters, and older ones get pushed aside. We call those 'dead stock.' So, unfortunately, as creators, we have to constantly keep up with the times and keep producing new merch for every event. That eventually leads to art burnout, which I almost experienced myself. But recently, there's been a rise in creators focusing on their own niches instead. I've started doing that too, with my favourite HoyoVerse characters. I don't necessarily focus on the newest ones anymore—I stick to the ones I really like, like Dottore and Boothill, and I've found niche fans who appreciate that. So there are ways to overcome the pressure, but you have to find what works for you. Otherwise, you'll hit burnout really quickly if you don't find that balance. 4. As an artist, you must've experimented with different art styles over the years, so how did you settle on the one you're known for? I actually started years ago with a super anime-ish style. I was trying to emulate the Japanese artists on Pixiv—like everyone else—because I thought that's what you're supposed to do at anime cons, right? But during the pandemic, I took a step back and looked for styles I genuinely liked. It turned out I was mostly drawn to children's illustration books and old cartoons from the '90s. That's why my style tends to be simpler, with the lineless art style and vibrant colours. My main focus has always been on expressions and actions, because to me, that's the most important way to show what a character is really up to. 5. How did you discover your art style? Have you taken inspiration from other creators? Actually, there's not one particular creator, honestly, because I was actually just looking through old children's books I had in the past. And eventually I did settle on a style that resonates with me, that's like both anime-ish and also that's like kind of chibi-ish. So I'm not sure how to answer that one. It's a mix, honestly, of everything at this point. 6. From your Instagram, you stated that you're a 'full-time silly artist', and from your website, you mentioned that you're a freelance illustrator. Does that also mean you're running this business full-time, or is this more of a side hustle? This is currently a full-time thing now, because I used to do this as a side hustle when I had like from the day I was in college to graduation, to the time I had a job. And all of this was technically a 9-5, and I had to do all of this at night, which was super tiring. So I think around two or three years ago, actually no, it was just two years ago, I decided to take the leap of faith, and I felt like my con career was getting kind of stable, and I decided, why not let's do this as a full-time thing, you know? Take the plunge and do the cons. 7. How did your family and friends react to you pursuing freelance art full-time? They were definitely very concerned. Like, absolutely everybody was just going, telling me, 'Are you sure about this?' Yeah. But I decided, you know what?, I think I've been doing this like long enough, probably more than a decade of drawing fan art. And I've always wanted to make this into at least a permanent part of my life, hopefully. So here's the fun part: when I was in my job, I was actually a 3D modeller. So even though it's still arts, it's still really different from what I normally do. And the more I 3D model every day, the more I realise, 'Oh my god, this is probably not for me.' Yeah. And I always look forward to times when I can come home and do my illustrations again. So when I finally handed in my resignation, there was just nothing. But I was a bit sad because it was honestly a dream job for me, but now I'm just like, 'Oh my god, I get to draw every day all the things I'm passionate about for fun'. Like all the doubts that fretted through my mind immediately got wiped out because I'm just like, 'No, I'm gonna try my best regardless to make this. I'm gonna persevere till the end.' 8. You've also travelled to attend anime events overseas. How long have you been doing this, and how often do you get to travel? Oh, not that often. I'd say probably two or three times a year, depending on the budget and how much I make from the con. It heavily depends on how confident I am in the con as well, because DoKomi is one I would consider one of Europe's biggest. That's why I would pull in most of my budget there. But if I were to do like any other con overseas, I probably would not try. Unfortunately, I could not do the same because it is pricey. With bigger and more popular conventions, at least I get to hit like the biggest fan base, and more of the audience comes there. 9. Now let's talk HoYoverse. How long have you been a fan of their games, and which game is your personal favourite? I started in 2021 when 'Genshin (Impact)' wrapped up the Liyue Archon Quest, just before Dragonspine was out. That's when I first got into the game, and that became my personal favourite afterwards. I played 'Honkai StarRail', and I did give 'Zenless Zone Zero' a try, but only for a very short while, because after that, the convention started going in, so I couldn't continue. But hey, I'm now that I'm free. I'm looking forward to getting back into it. Most of my favourite characters come from 'Genshin', and I love the world of exploration. And also the character, the interaction with them and each personality is so unique to me that I absolutely love engaging with every single character from each region, especially back to Mondstadt. 10. What was your reaction when you got the call that you would be participating in HoYoFEST 2025? Firstly, shocked. Definitely shocked because why me? I'm so grateful for this amazing opportunity because again, why me? This is honestly so cool. I get to finally go to HoyoFEST after 2 years, but now as part of the festival. It's like a game that I'm super passionate about for the past few years, and getting this opportunity is insane. 11. From the official announcements, what are you personally looking forward to at HoYoFEST this year? Other than artisans, I'm not sure, actually, because I haven't looked up much of the official announcements yet. But there's going to be merch, I'm not sure what else will be there? Also, you know, seeing cosplayers, because I heard there's going to be a bunch of cosplay group meetups as well. So I'm really excited. Especially if there's going to be a Fatui cosplay group, I am there for it. 12. Which of the merch usually takes the longest to create? What are the challenges when creating that particular piece? Okay, so I have two types of merch. One is illustrations—they take a bit of time because I need to work on the composition, figure out where all the characters are going to go, and how the colours will match harmoniously, since they all have different costumes. So it's a bit hard and takes a while for me to figure everything out—probably like a week or more. The other, more complicated merch I've ever made—this one took even longer than the illustrations—was Dakimakuras. I've made at least two Dakimakuras of two of my favourite characters, and personally, they were the biggest challenges for me. Because, as you know, a body pillow is life-size, and you're going to see all the details up close, so you can't cheat any of them at all. What I did was go in-game and go insane, basically—I got every single angle of this specific character. He was an NPC as well, so I had to replay the story and go back to screenshot every single part, just to get the outfit correct. Because it has two sides as well. It took a week plus to finish because like I really wanted like to get every single part of the costume correct, especially how lovely Hoyo designed it. So, I want each part to get appreciated. 13. Have you considered straying from the original concept of the character to design something uniquely yours? Oh, I've definitely considered it—yeah, a few times. That's why I do it for other arts, unless there are certain parts where I think the main design is perfect. I'm here to appreciate it, and I want to get it correct in the fan art. One day, once I finish the main one, I'll obviously continue on with what people call this alternate universe style. You know how people love doing office AUs or school AUs? I love those! I love all the creative fan takes on how characters might be reimagined outside of their original world. So one day, I also want to try getting into that as well. 14. What's your favourite thing about being part of the Artist Alley, not just for HoYoFest but other conventions as well? I would say getting to interact with fellow fans, because, you know, it's so ironic—the first thing I was afraid of was interacting, but now it's my favourite thing. Like, you can chat online with anybody you want these days, but talking in real life, it's a whole different vibe, you know? And I think I really like the cute interactions with my customers, because sometimes they come in cosplaying my favourite characters—or theirs—or even in pairs sometimes, and then the pairs buy each other merch from the booth, and I'm like, this is so adorable. These are the kinds of moments you don't get when someone's just buying from your online shop and all. And also, whenever I see a customer and their buying pattern, right, there's always a certain taste with each one. I always like observing, and then when I comment like, 'Oh, you really like this certain trope—like the found family trope—in your purchases,' you know, like Klee and Albedo, or Kaeya and Diluc, the whole found family thing, and then the way they talk about their favorite characters with so much passion—it's honestly my favorite thing to watch as well. 15. As a creator, obviously, it takes a lot of time, effort and money to do what you do, so what's your advice for those who may be considering starting their own business and be part of this community? Just be very, very budget-conscious about your merch, like it's okay to start out with smaller merch like prints and stickers and see where that takes you. See how well it fares at conventions. Did you find your audience through that? And if you did, that's amazing! Because now you can take it to the next step and go on to bigger stuff like acrylics, plushies and everything else. That's the more insane merch that people make these days, because the last thing you want is dead stock in your room, you know, like nothing's moving at all, so always do something smooth to test out first because that's what I did back in the day.
GMA Network
25-06-2025
- Entertainment
- GMA Network
Esnyr gets heart to heart talk with dad; Charlie Fleming reunites with mom
Charlie Fleming and Esnyr, the first duo to make it to the Big Four, received a gift from Kuya in the latest episode of "Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition." On Wednesday, Charlie's mother and Esnyr's dad, Mommy Flong and Daddy Jhun, entered the house to surprise the CharEs duo ahead of the Big Night. Mommy Flong brought Katsu curry for Charlie, while Daddy Jhun brought chicken curry for Esnyr. Both housemates were overjoyed to hug their parents again and excitedly introduced them to their fellow boarders ni Kuya. Meanwhile, Esnyr got to spend some time alone with Daddy Jhun for a long-awaited heart-to-heart talk. He apologized for sharing to the housemates their previous rift earlier in the season. "Wala ka dapat ihingi ng paumanhin. Dahil nagsabi ka lang ng totoo. Hindi mali magsabi ng totoo," Daddy Jhun said in Bisaya. Esnyr also said sorry for whatever comments his dad might have read online after that episode aired, as the social media star said then that his father sometimes failed to ask after his well-being when messaging him. "Kung 'yan ang ikinababahala mo, hindi dapat. Naging challenge ito para sa akin na may pagkukulang ako, na hindi dapat ganito ang pakitungo ko sa mga anak ko, na ganito ang pagtrato ko para hindi ka magkimkim ng sama ng loob sa akin," he said. Daddy Jhun said he was not able to show his love to his children due to being preoccupied with his side jobs and apologized for it. "May pagkukulang ako bilang ama mo. Kaya nagpapasalamat ako dahil na-realize ko ang pagkakamali ko. Dahil bilang ama mo dapat ipinakita ko ang pagmamahal ko sa 'yo para hindi ka nagdamdam. Dapat ipinakita ko in words and physical attachment," he said. "Patawad kung nakapagsalita ako ng masakit dahil naging selfish ako, hindi ako naging open sa 'yo," he added. Esnyr thanked his father and they embraced each other. Shortly after, Daddy Jhun and Mommy Flong had to say goodbye to the housemates and leave the house. "Pinoy Big Brother: Celebrity Collab Edition" airs new episodes on GMA Network Mondays to Saturdays at 9:35 p.m. —MGP, GMA Integrated News
The Irish Sun
17-06-2025
- Business
- The Irish Sun
‘Waiting so long for this', scream fans as popular restaurant reopens after closures and foodies sigh ‘you were missed'
FOODIE fans are in luck as a popular restaurant is opening its doors once again to the public just in time for summer. The much-loved Asian eatery Wagamama is making a sizzling return to 4 The much-loved Asian style restaurant is set to be back in Dublin this summer Credit: Getty Images - Getty 4 With famous dishes like their signature Katsu chicken curry on the menu Credit: 4 Enjoy their ramen once again as they aim to open their doors to customers on June 23 Credit: Irish Wagamama fans were left heartbroken after the restaurant chain shut in September 2024. More than 106 employees lost their jobs after the decision to cease trading immediately came to light. restructuring its franchise agreement in Ireland. But lovers of the restaurant will be happy to know that they are back in business this summer. READ MORE ON MONEY Their big reopening is set to take place on June 23 in Liffey Valley. With their infamous Dundrum location set to return in mid-August. In a post to their Instagram, they let fans know of their anticipated arrival with the caption: "Guess who's back?". Many of their followers couldn't contain their excitement as they flooded the post with comments. Most read in Money One fan exclaimed: "I cannot wait. I have been watching since the signs went up!!" Another echoed "Can't wait!" and that they were "super excited". Why McDonald's Cancelled Its New Drive-Thru Plans in Scottish Town (1) Patience paid off for all the Asian-style food lovers as many expressed their relief for the return of the restaurant chain to Ireland. Another happy foodie said: "Thank god!!! You were missed." Ruffy Magat, general manager for Wagamama "Whether it's your first taste or your fiftieth bowl, everyone's welcome back at our benches.' Liffey Valley Shopping Centre Director Denis O'Connell added: 'We are thrilled to welcome wagamama to Liffey Valley Shopping Centre. "The addition of wagamama to the retailer line up is further evidence of our constant drive to enhance the Liffey Valley customer experience." And better yet the popular food chain is giving fans a chance to view their new menu for free. All you have to do is sign up through the for one of the exclusive tasting events. Where you get to enjoy one of the 1,000 free meals but you need to be quick to get your ramen fix, as slots are booking quick! The return of Wagamama to Dublin is part of ambitious plans to open further restaurants in the coming months, bringing fresh, flavour-packed dishes to even more locations in Ireland. 4 And the popular Dundrum location is set to return in mid August Credit: Getty Images - Getty
Daily Mirror
30-05-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
McDonald's fans fume after 'best' item quietly axed from menu
The wrap was first introduced back in the summer of 2023 and consists of chicken breast strips - either fried or grilled - crispy onions, rashers of bacon and lettuce, wrapped in a soft tortilla McDonald's has quietly axed the "best" menu item, and fans are fuming. The fast food chain has confirmed that it's taken off the Chicken Bacon Caesar Wrap from its menu. The wrap was first introduced back in the summer of 2023 and consists of chicken breast strips - either fried or grilled - crispy onions, rashers of bacon and lettuce, wrapped in a soft tortilla. The item quickly became a firm favourite with fans saying it was "perfect for lunch". McDonald's discontinued the item earlier this month as part of a "rotation" of its menu, which the brand is known to do every few months. A spokesperson told the Sun: "As part of our regular wrap rotation, we've taken the Caesar wrap off the menu for now. We're always evolving our menu with our customers in mind to keep things fresh and exciting." As McDonald's is known for shaking up the menu every few months, often discontinued items do make a return. That means there is a chance the Chicken Caesar Wrap could come back in the future. Sign up to Mirror Money's newsletter for the latest advice and news From universal credit to furlough, employment rights, travel updates and emergency financial aid - we've got all of the big financial stories you need to know about right now. Fans of the wrap took to social media to question where it had gone earlier this month. Posting on Reddit, one fan said: "Where has it gone? Please don't tell me it's discontinued. It's the best one of them all!" Another chipped in: "What the hell?! Why's this not been publicised anywhere. It was the best one of all of them. I can't believe they've decided to go with the Katsu over it. How can I complain." A third added: "It was the only good one in this current line up, I'll gladly die in (sic) this hill." This month, McDonald's added several new items to its menu for spring, as well as brought back a few fan favourites. Maccies intrododuced a new frozen Cherry Lemonade which is described as a tangy frozen lemonade with a sweet cherry flavoured swirl. Join Money Saving Club's specialist topics For all you savvy savers and bargain hunters out there, there's a golden opportunity to stretch your pounds further. The Money Saving Club newsletter, a favourite among thousands who thrive on catching the best deals, is stepping up its game. Simply follow the link and select one or more of the following topics to get all the latest deals and advice on: Travel; Property; Pets, family and home; Personal finance; Shopping and discounts; Utilities. The McSpicy X Frank's RedHot made a grand return this month. The burger contains a chicken breast in a hot and crispy coating, topped with lettuce, cheese made with Emmental, jalapenos, slivered onions, and Frank's RedHot Mayo. The SteakHouse Stack also came back alongside its Biscoff McFlurry and Biscoff Frappe. The fast food chain also started a new Breakfast Savers Menu across the north of England in May. The menu includes a brand new Sausage Sandwich (£1.99) and a savers version of the popular Bacon Roll (£2.19). Some selected McDonald's restaurants across the North will also offer a new Breakfast Bundle Deal which comes with a Saver Bacon Roll or Sausage Sandwich, plus a drink, for £2.99. If successful, it could be rolled out to more McDonald's stores across the UK.
