The horror genre has deep roots in Asia. Homegrown scary movies have gripped regional audiences since the very inception of many local film industries, and inventive horror creations from Japan and South Korea have spooked viewers from all over the world. And the appetite for this fright-filled fare is going strong, as the next wave of horror content emerges from Southeast Asia.
In the Asia-Pacific region, viewing of horror TV and film on Netflix grew 20 percent from 2020 to 2021. Over the same period, viewing hours of horror content in Southeast Asia increased even more, by over 40 percent. The horror stories keeping these audiences on the edge of their seats include new takes on the art of the scare created by Southeast Asian storytellers. One of the latest releases is School Tales The Series, the anthology series crafted by six Thai directors that features eight terrifying ghost stories set in schools. Within the first week of its release on Netflix, the series has made the Top 10 most-watched TV series in four Southeast Asia markets — Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam.
Thai show School Tales The Series is a hit with audiences in Southeast Asia.
“When I read the script, I knew right away that this creative experience would be very challenging as the story plays around with something we cannot see,” says Suppapong Udomkaewkanjana, one of the cast members of School Tales The Series.
Besides the caliber of the writing, the show also ups the ante in other aspects. Director Phontharis Chotkijsadarsopon, who helms the series’ fifth episode (titled Headless Teacher), explains: “Audiences will get to see a series that matches films’ cinematic quality, in both visuals and sound. Five Star Production and Netflix gave me the freedom to put my ideas into the episode, and this enabled me to create ghosts that are different. I could freely play with my direction, and the results turned out exactly how I imagined.”
Other most-popular horror titles in Southeast Asia include: the first season of South Korean zombie series All of Us Are Dead; South Korean zombie vengeance story Kingdom: Ashin of the North; and Taiwanese film Incantation, which tells the story of a mother trying to save her child from a deadly curse.
While Southeast Asian audiences love horror fare from a wide range of markets (German movie Blood Red Sky, and American content Don’t Breathe 2, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Midnight Mass have scored gangbuster viewing numbers in the region), they are definitely staunch consumers of stories rooted in their own cultures.
In Indonesia, for instance, Impetigore, an acclaimed homegrown horror film helmed by director Joko Anwar, was one of the most-popular horror titles. The same is true of The Ancestral in Vietnam, and the two sequels of the Pee Nak franchise and The Medium in Thailand. All these stories take inspiration from their respective countries’ local lore and cultures.
Southeast Asian horror movies are resonating beyond the home countries of individual films as well. Beyond Thailand, The Medium dominated the Top 10 film ranking in Singapore and South Korea when it was released on Netflix in 2021. Another Thai film, The Whole Truth, dominated the Global Top 10 non-English film ranking for five consecutive weeks upon its release in December 2021, and at one point rose to become the most popular non-English film globally.
“There’s a constant mystery that keeps you guessing,” says The Whole Truth director Wisit Sasanatieng of his film, which follows two siblings as they stumble on a strange hole in the wall of their grandparents’ house. “It also has themes like social issues, the generation gap, and a skeleton in the closet. There’s something that’s hidden, something they don’t want the family to know.”
Sutatta Udomsilp, who plays one of the siblings in The Whole Truth, adds: “This is a different kind of story. It has a lot more dimensions than just another horror movie that wants to scare you. It has family drama, as well as horror and suspense. You could say it’s not the kind of movie you get to see very often.”
That, in a nutshell, might just sum up the distinctive appeal of Southeast Asian horror. Check out more scary movies with dimension and depth from the region, including Indonesia’s May The Devil Take You, Vietnam’s The Guardian, Malaysia’s Roh, Dendam Pontianak, and Munafik 1and 2, and the Philippines’ Eerie and Bliss.
And, of course, don’t miss the ongoing School Tales The Series, which also exemplifies Southeast Asian horror’s ability to get under your skin by reaching beyond the visceral thrill of terror. “Every character has a story,” says actor Pattadon Janngeon, who appears in the series’ seventh episode, titled Curse. “They’re all interesting characters, even the ghosts. I think this show is special. There’s more to it than just ghosts and spookiness.”
And, as director Chotkijsadarsopon puts it: “The show being streamed on Netflix is a good opportunity for a Thai horror series to terrify viewers around the world in different ways.”
As a child growing up in post-Soviet Russia, Aleksey Fedorov had two abiding passions—technology and creating more equal societies. He channeled the intersection of those areas to energize Pride at Microsoft.
In June 2015, Aleksey Fedorov joined a sea of people in Seattle for his first Pride parade and was astounded by the scene before him.
There were children and parents, firefighters and elected officials, colleagues from Microsoft, citizens and representatives of businesses and civic institutions, the government, openly celebrating people being who they are and loving who they love. This would be unimaginable in Russia, where Aleksey (who uses both he and they pronouns) had grown up and left just months earlier with his boyfriend because they no longer felt safe in their country.
Overcome with emotion, his partner at his side, Aleksey cried. He felt joy, but also the years of shame he’d carried as a closeted young gay man in Russia. He felt shy and exposed. He wasn’t yet fully out and was still grappling with his identity. Amid that confusing swirl of feelings, Aleksey, his mind in perpetual motion, was struck by another thought.
He was heartened at seeing Microsoft employees marching in their matching Pride-themed T-shirts and appreciated the volunteer-led effort. But this is Microsoft, they thought. We can do more. We can reach more people and have an even bigger impact.
Those musings planted the seed for Aleksey, now Microsoft’s director of brand activation, to lead a transformation in how one of the world’s biggest tech companies supports the global Pride campaign and, along the way, navigate their own personal evolution.
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Aleksey was born in Saint Petersburg in the late 1980s, the only child of a computer programmer father and a mother who worked in publishing and later finance. Like many Russian families at the time, his parents didn’t have much money. One of Aleksey’s vivid childhood memories was of his parents buying one Snickers bar a month and cutting it into small slices to be savored. Economic hardship was common then and living with his parents and grandparents in a three-room apartment didn’t seem unusual.
Coming of age in a post-Soviet world when a democratic future seemed within reach, at least for a while, Aleksey was animated by the notion of creating more equal societies and saw technology as a potent tool to do that. His passion was personal— though Russia decriminalized gay relationships in 1993, antigay sentiment was deeply ingrained, and Aleksey learned early to keep their orientation to themselves. He came out only when he was in college and just to a few close friends, and he didn’t tell his parents he was gay until a few years ago.
“I didn’t feel comfortable sharing, because it was considered shameful and bad,” Aleksey says.
I didn’t feel comfortable sharing, because it was considered shameful and bad.
A bright student fascinated by political movements, Aleksey studied international relations at Saint Petersburg State University with the goal of applying his education to effect change. But he became disillusioned with the nonprofit sector and started seeing the business world as a more powerful force for impacting society. He headed off to business school and discovered a passion for marketing and branding, disciplines he believed could help make a difference in people’s lives by conveying the good work businesses were doing.
Aleksey was part of a student team that won a Microsoft business competition, and soon after completing a master’s degree in international business in 2011 he was offered a job at Microsoft’s Moscow office. The position, which would be the first of 11 at Microsoft in as many years, involved generating fans and brand love for Windows. Aleksey helped create Windows collaborations with large companies including Disney and Starbucks and drove marketing for Windows apps in Russia.
“Microsoft was kind of a merger of passions for me—for technology and for doing something amazing for the public good with technology,” Aleksey says. “I was always drawn to Microsoft because I feel like the company is fundamentally standing up for the right things.”
Life was going well. Aleksey’s career was flourishing, and he was dating a man, Nikolay, who would later become their husband. They met during the 2011 protests around Russia’s elections and some of their first dates were on the streets of Moscow at demonstrations. When Russia invaded and subsequently annexed Crimea in 2014, they took to the streets again.
But that year, the Russian government passed a law criminalizing protests, and one day Nikolay was arrested and fined. If that happened again, Aleksey knew Nikolay could face a criminal sentence and possible prison time. Staying in Russia was becoming too dangerous. So, Aleksey decided to apply for a job at Microsoft in the United States.
“I really loved my work at Microsoft in Russia, but I wanted to have more impact on the strategy and work—not just in the go-to-market aspect, but the idea behind what we’re doing and why we’re doing it,” he says. “And so these two forces, there was a confluence of them.”
Aleksey was offered a marketing position with Windows Store at Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington, and moved with Nikolay, a visual artist, to Seattle in 2015. A few weeks later, the couple went to Seattle’s Pride parade. It turned out to be a pivotal moment for Aleksey personally and professionally.
At the time, Aleksey says, they didn’t perceive Pride as being very visible at Microsoft’s headquarters. The company had long supported LGBTQIA+ rights and was sponsoring Pride efforts in cities around the world, but Aleksey believed Microsoft had an opportunity to be even more vocal about its values. He envisioned a campaign that would use Microsoft’s platform to amplify LGBTQIA+ voices and create a movement that could engage with customers, with the goal of driving societal change.
Aleksey was elected as Microsoft’s worldwide Pride campaign co-chair in 2017, helping lead a team of more than 200 volunteers working on events in 60 cities around the world. The following year, the team interviewed LGBTQIA+ employees across the company and featured their stories on a new website and on social media.
In 2019, the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall uprising, Microsoft Pride took a significant step forward. Aleksey worked with Microsoft’s industrial design team to develop a Pride Surface type cover and skin, as well as Windows wallpapers and other Pride-related products, to promote inclusion for the LGBTQIA+ community.
As Aleksey saw it, “We have these tremendous products which have millions of customer touch points every single day, and that’s the best channel we have. If we release something for Pride—for Surface or for Office or for Xbox—we will reach millions of people.
“We know that proximity drives empathy,” they say, “and when people are exposed to these messages, they’re more likely to change their minds or act in support of the community.”
That year, Aleksey—who by then had moved from head of brand strategy for Microsoft Store to head of executive communications for Microsoft Gaming—received a company award for their work in promoting diversity and inclusion efforts and revamping brand and design guidelines for Microsoft Store.
Accepting the award, Aleksey was quick to credit their community. “This is about all of us, because every day we make choices (about) who we include and who we do not include,” they said, addressing the audience at the awards ceremony. “This is for all of us making the change in this company and beyond.
Still, Aleksey has been instrumental in driving the vision around Microsoft’s Pride campaign and determining how to build upon it year after year, says Eileen Mikloiche, one of three global Pride co-chairs, along with Aleksey and iAsia Brown in 2022. Since 2021, Aleksey has been the worldwide membership cochair for GLEAM, Microsoft’s employee resource group for the LGBTQIA+ community, one of nine such groups that reflect Microsoft’s diverse employee base. His work with GLEAM, combined with his position in Microsoft branding, gives him a unique perspective on both the internal and external aspects of Microsoft’s Pride campaign, Eileen says.
Aleksey has a clear vision of what he wants to achieve, she says, and doesn’t take no for an answer when he’s passionate about something, which is often.
“You just feel his passion because it’s authentic. It comes from his heart,” she says. “He inspires people to want to be part of something bigger and to see what they can contribute to bring it to life. When you encounter someone like that, the passion is contagious. The excitement is contagious.”
He inspires people to want to be part of something bigger and to see what they can contribute to bring it to life.
Aleksey has a wry sense of humor that often makes her laugh, Eileen says, and is also deeply compassionate. One day, soon after the Uvalde school massacre, she was having a hard time and broke down on a work call. Aleksey encouraged her to take some time to herself, then reached out the next day to see how she was doing.
“He didn’t need to do that,” Eileen says. “Many people may not have remembered, but he did.”
Eli Friedman, a 20-year Microsoft veteran, began mentoring Aleksey not long after he moved to Seattle and has stayed in touch with him through his various roles. He describes Aleksey as a self-directed “hand-raiser” who is eager to learn and unafraid to put himself in unfamiliar or even uncomfortable situations, someone who leads through collaboration and exudes positive energy.
“He’s full of life, and he’s full of light,” says Eli, Microsoft’s general manager of integrated marketing, Modern Life, Search & Devices . “No matter what kind of day you or I are having, Aleksey really lifts people up, which is an awesome trait. It comes from a super genuine and authentic place, which I think people see very quickly in him.”
Describing Aleksey as “one of my favorite people at Microsoft,” Eli says he learns something new every time they talk.
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The theme for Microsoft’s 2022 Pride campaign is “Pride has no borders,” an acknowledgement of the shared challenges faced by people worldwide. The campaign includes stories from Microsoft employees in various countries, a virtual reality event, and the release of a Pride-themed Xbox controller that features 34 LGBTQIA+ flags and is customizable through Xbox Design Lab.
This year’s theme has particular resonance for Aleksey, who has family and friends in Russia and in Ukraine. In the first week after Russia invaded Ukraine in late February, their grandmother was sitting in front of her television in Russia when her heart stopped. Aleksey still hasn’t been able to process her death, since much of his time and energy these days is spent looking for ways to help people in Ukraine. He has a rule for himself—he must do something every day, whether it’s making a donation, writing to a politician, or checking on a friend.
“Every waking hour I’m thinking about folks in Ukraine—how we can help, what we can do,” he said during a recent interview for an internal Microsoft radio show. “That’s what’s been driving me.”
The fight for equality, infused into Aleksey’s consciousness since childhood, has defined their life and career. For them, Pride is not just about gender or sexuality. It’s about people everywhere who are fighting discrimination of any kind. It’s about creating a world in which everyone is welcome.
And as Aleksey has helped evolve Pride at Microsoft, so too has Pride changed him. The work has made them more comfortable in their own skin, freer to express gender in a way that feels authentic to them. It has connected him with Microsoft employees around the world who share his values, and with people who tell him Pride makes them feel less alone. Those comments mean everything to him.
Aleksey sees Microsoft Pride, with its elected leadership model, as a democratic effort. Its strength, they say, is in the diversity of people whose perspectives will continue defining and evolving the movement going forward.
“It’s not about me,” Aleksey says. “It’s about me finding a way to help other people feel a sense of ownership and accountability. It’s everyone driving it, so it goes on and it moves. It’s really about lifting others’ voices.”
Remix “Harleys in Hawaii” by Katy Perry and “Darl+ing” by SEVENTEEN using GarageBand on iPhone and iPad
Starting today, GarageBand for iOS and iPadOS will include two all-new, in-app Remix Sessions featuring Katy Perry and K-pop supergroup SEVENTEEN. GarageBand Remix Sessions enable anyone to express their inner DJ using tracks from today’s top artists. With in-app inspiration from the artists themselves and step-by-step video instruction from an Apple Creative Pro, the sessions give aspiring musicians the ability to put their own personal spin on the hit songs “Harleys in Hawaii” by Katy Perry and “Darl+ing” by SEVENTEEN.
The Katy Perry and SEVENTEEN Remix Sessions are available as a free download in the GarageBand Sound Library, which also includes a wide variety of free loops, sounds, and instruments that provide all the building blocks needed to mix and match and take the original songs in an all-new direction. Using GarageBand’s popular Live Loops interface to remix, anyone can quickly rearrange and add new elements to the songs, while keeping everything in sync with tempo and key — no music theory expertise required. Remix FX allows even greater variety with filters, repeaters, and more to create the ultimate drop. Whether it’s a complete flip from house to hip-hop, or a mashup of multiple genres, GarageBand users can let their creativity run wild.
Offered in Apple Store locations worldwide, free creative and educational Today at Apple sessions inspire customers to go further with the products they love. Starting today, an all-new Today at Apple session, Music Skills: Remix Katy Perry, will be offered in-person at Apple Store locations worldwide. In this session, Retail Creative Pros will teach customers how to remix Katy Perry’s “Harleys in Hawaii,” using GarageBand on iPad and iPhone. Previous Today at Apple Remix Sessions have featured top music artists including Billie Eilish, Khalid, Lady Gaga, Taylor Swift, and more. Customers can sign up to take part in a session at an Apple Store near them on the Today at Apple homepage.
SEVENTEEN’s Woozi, artist: “We love sharing the music-making experience with our fans. We’ve used GarageBand for years, so it’s an honor to collaborate with Apple on our Remix Session in GarageBand. Now our fans can create music the same way we do. We hope everyone will have fun remixing our song ‘Darl+ing’ with their own sense of style, and we can’t wait for Carats to share their final remixes with us and the rest of the world when they’re done.”
Availability
All-new Remix Sessions are available today as a free download from the Sound Library in GarageBand 2.3.12 for iOS and iPadOS, or later. For more information, visit apple.com/ios/garageband.
For the first time since 2018 Japan will line up as a core team when the women’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023 gets underway in Dubai on 2 December.
Their place on the Series was confirmed on Sunday when they turned in a highly impressive performance to beat Poland in the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series 2022 final in Santiago, Chile.
Chiharu Nakamura scored the opening Sakura Sevens try in the 17-0 win, and she summed up the mood in the squad as she was interviewed following the final whistle. “Finally, we’ve done it!” she told viewers.
Nakamura was captain the last time Japan possessed a ticket to every women’s Series event but she proved she is very much part of the team’s present as she worked tirelessly across three intense days at Estadio Santa Laura.
Japan were imperious from their very first match, the second of the Challenger Series, when they ran in eight tries – four of which were scored by Wakaba Hara – to beat Mexico 44-5.
Victories against Colombia and Kazakhstan followed in Pool F before Belgium were beaten 31-0 in the quarter-finals.
Kenya gave the Sakura Sevens a fright in the semi-finals, Janet Okello’s try cutting the Lionesses’ deficit to two points with less than two minutes to go.
However, Hara put the stamp on a 22-15 win for Japan, and a place in the final, with her third try of the match and 10th of a prolific tournament.
WORKING HARD
Bar an early break that led to Nakamura’s opening try, Hara was kept quiet in the final, but the resolute Japanese rarely looked in trouble against Poland, the Rugby Europe Women’s Sevens Championship 2022 winners.
The Sakura Sevens dug in when they needed to, including an energy-sapping stand midway through the first half, and took their chances when they presented themselves.
Captain Yume Hirano and Michiyo Suda supplied exceptional finishes either side of half-time to add to Nakamura’s score and ultimately take Japan beyond Poland’s reach. Having waited four years, Japan were a core team on the Series once again.
“There were various kinds of extra pressures around them, but our players played hard to show our brand of rugby,” coach Takashi Suzuki said.
“This victory came from hard work from all of them. This is the start for us, and we’d like to get together as a team and work hard again to move on to our next stage.”
COMPETING AGAINST THE WORLD
It was not only the players on the ground in Santiago who helped Japan get back to where they wanted to be.
A shadow squad, the Sevens Development Squad [SDS], has been working alongside the Sakura Sevens in Japan, providing opposition in training matches and helping the players reach peak condition for the Challenger Series.
“I am proud of our team-mates and team staff, all of us who have kept working hard through to the very last minute,” Hirano said.
“I am also thankful to our colleagues of the SDS who took a role as our opponents and played hard against us in our preparation.
“I can tell you that our determination to qualify for the World Series in this tournament was so firm and far stronger than any other teams, for sure.
“We were able to put all the feelings into our performance, and that has helped us clinch the tournament.”
Before Japan can return to the Series in Dubai in December, there is the not-so-insignificant matter of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 and a round of 16 match against Olympic bronze medallists, Fiji.
Having tasted victory at Estadio Santa Laura, Hirano believes her team-mates will only get better as they switch their focus to Cape Town and then the Series.
“Now, finally we can stand on the starting line to compete against the world,” she added. “We’ll move on to develop ourselves from here.
“We are playing in Rugby World Cup Sevens next month. We’ll refresh ourselves to set our focus and get together as a team to have a good preparation for that.”
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Godolphin’s Native Trail goes into the clash with unbeaten Baaeed in Wednesday’s G1 Juddmonte International at York with an impressive record of delivering on the big occasion, which trainer Charlie Appleby believes gives him excellent credentials for the challenge.
“It’s a fantastic race with a rich history and has been won by some great horses,” Appleby said. “Baaeed is top class with an outstanding profile, who holds everything in front of him, but we feel we have the right horse to take him on and make a race of it.
“Racing likes to see good horses go at one another and hopefully that’s what we will see at York,” the trainer added. “Native Trail’s work has been great, “ Appleby continued.
“The condition of this horse is second to none. He thrives on his work, and after giving him a break following the Eclipse last month, we have been winding his work up week by week.
“He is thriving, you can see that in him as an individual. He is progressing with each piece of work. He goes into the race off the back of a very uncomplicated training program. You ask, and he delivers,” he added.
Native Trail was a precocious juvenile, who dominated his year, but it has been more than his physique that has seen him add another G1 to his record at three.
“He has always been a very mature individual physically. He was a champion two-year-old, who has carried that level of form on from two to three. He’s in great order. He’s going to be one of the stand-out picks in the paddock, that’s for sure, because he’s a strapping, good-looking individual.
“Baaeed is the horse we all have to beat and respect. But the confidence we take into the race is that Native Trail has been over the trip. He finished a creditable third against some very nice middle-distance horses at Sandown. He’s a champion two-year-old, who has gone on to win a Classic at three…a multiple G1 winner with six wins from eight starts…that’s an impressive CV,” he added.
ACOMB RUNNER
Charlie Appleby said: “Local Dynasty is a son of Dubawi, who won his only start at Newmarket impressively. He’s come out of the race well and he’s the type, who could naturally progress into a Pattern horse. He’s got a very progressive profile.
STRONG HAND IN THE VOLTIGEUR
Secret State will be attempting his fifth win on the trot when tackling the G2 Great Voltigeur, a race that over the years has been a guide to the G1 St Leger and even the G1 Melbourne Cup. He is backed up by stablemate Walk Of Stars.
Appleby said: “Secret State won the King George V Handicap at Ascot and the form of that race has worked out well, with the second Deauville Legend going on to win the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket.
“Secret State backed that up at Goodwood with another good performance there, over the (12f) distance. He’s a Dubawi, who is progressing race on race. He goes there a worthy favourite.
“We are lucky to have New London, who is currently favourite for the St Leger, which has always been his target. As for Secret State, we will make a decision regarding his trip after the Voltigeur. There’s a question mark over whether he would get a strong 1m 6f. We will see in time.”
Walk Of Stars has had one start since being gelded, finishing a promising third to Deauville Legend in the Bahrain Trophy at Newmarket.
“We’ve always held him in high regard. We ran him in the Derby because we felt he was one of our better middle-distance horses at the time. Since gelding, we have seen a marked improvement in him mentally. If he can put it together, a race such as the Voltigeur is well within his compass.
“We have used this race before as a guide to future targets at home and abroad, with Yibir being a good example. If he runs well, we might look at America for him later in the year,” he added.
DOING THE GIMCRACK IN STYLE
Noble Style by-passed Royal Ascot in June but has always been highly-regarded at Moulton Paddocks and is seen as an ideal candidate for the historic G2 Gimcrack Stakes, over 6f.
Charlie Appleby said: “He looked very smart when winning his maiden at Ascot but I was not entirely happy with him coming into the Royal meeting so we missed his intended target there.
“I’m a believer that sometimes missing those type of races in the summer can benefit them in the second half of the season. He had his break, then he came back under a penalty in a Newmarket novice. We got the job done but, most importantly, we could see improvement for that run.
“His work has been good. He’s definitely come on for that experience. The Gimcrack is the right race for him now, but in time, I think he will benefit for stepping up in trip,” he added.
BATTLE-HARDENED LAZULI BACKS UP IN NUNTHORPE
Lazuli has become a familiar face in big sprints of late and is ready to have another crack at a major five-furlong contest, according to his trainer.
Charlie Appleby said: “I think the draw at Goodwood (in the King George Stakes) was a negative factor for Lazuli. It was a good, solid run nevertheless, and he remains in good order.
“In the Nunthorpe, experience is invaluable. We put a line through Ascot, where he was stuck out on a wing, but he came on for the race. What he brings to the Nunthorpe is an abundance of experience at the 5f trip. He will be a player.”
CONVIVIAL CONTENDERS
Desert Order and City Of Kings will carry the hopes of Godolphin in the Convivial Maiden, over 7f, a race that never fails to generate interest due to the high quality of entry over the years.
Charlie Appleby said: “Desert Order has twice finished second but Sandown seemed to ride like a good race. He brings experience and a good deal of ability to this. He might not need to improve much more to win a Convivial.”
“City Of Kings was involved in a stalls incident at Newmarket, but all being well, we would like to run him in the Convivial, as well. A stalls test pass is required.”
GLOBAL STORM HEADS A BIG TEAM ON BUSY EBOR DAY
There are several good chances for Godolphin on the fourth and final day at York, headed by stalwart Global Storm, who backs up for another crack at the Ebor, over 1m 6f.
Charlie Appleby said: “Global Storm ran a creditable race in last year’s Ebor. His best race this year was to finish third in the Princess Of Wales’s Stakes at Newmarket (behind stablemate Yibir).
“He put up another good performance at Goodwood, making it hard for himself. But he has come out of the race well. He’s battle-hardened but probably at the wrong end of the handicap to be winning it. But he will run a big race.”
More opportunities await Godolphin in the Melrose Handicap, also over 1m 6f, in which Wild Crusade and Al Nafir take their chance.
Appleby said: “The Melrose is a great staying handicap for the younger brigade and also a ‘win and you’re in’ for the Ebor. We’ve got two nice Dubawis going for this.
“Wild Crusade put up a great front-running effort at Ascot, with runner-up Warren Point going on to win at Goodwood, so unfortunately he took a rise in the handicap for standing in his box at home.
“He looks a nice staying type for the future and this is a good stepping stone into better company.
“Al Nafir is a full brother to Ghaiyyath and we are going further up in trip with this horse. His pedigree says he will be suited by it.”
Valiant Prince tackles the G3 Strensall Stakes, with Appleby pointing out: “He goes there in great order. We have purposely targeted this race as we believe stepping up in trip will suit him.”
Al Suhail will line up in the G2 City Of York Stakes, over 7f, won last year by Space Blues, who went on to win a Breeders’ Cup for Godolphin.
Appleby said: “Al Suhail has always shown a huge amount of talent. He won at Newmarket in the autumn last year but he then disappointed on his only start at Meydan. His prep for this has been faultless. His work has been great. I feel it’s the right race for him. “
12th American national was announced as the latest US$1 million winner in the Dubai Duty Free Millennium Millionaire promotion at the draw held on 17 August at Concourse C of Dubai International Airport.
Mr. Fakhreldin Eltegane Ali Sabel, an American national living in New York became the latest US$1 million winner in Millennium Millionaire Series 397 with ticket number 0680, which he purchased 22 July.
Mr. Sabel, who is the 12th American national to have won US$1 million since the start of the Millennium Millionaire promotion in 1999, is currently uncontactable but will no doubt be surprised when he learns of his newfound wealth.
Today’s Millennium Millionaire draw was conducted by Dubai Duty Free’s Chief Operating Officer, Ramesh Cidambi, Salah Tahlak, Joint Chief Operating Officer and Sharon Beecham, SVP – Purchasing.
Following the Millennium Millionaire draw, the Finest Surprise draw was conducted for two luxury vehicles.
Two luxury vehicles drawn in the Finest Surprise Promotion in Series 1813 and 509
Mr. Elie Chami, a French national based in Lebanon, won a BMW 750Li xDrive M Sport (Donington Grey) car, with ticket number 1181 in Finest Surprise Series 1813, which he purchased online on 26 July.
Mr. Chami who celebrates his 50th birthday tomorrow (18 August) was thrilled to hear the news of his win and exclaimed: “What an amazing birthday gift! Thank you so much Dubai Duty Free for this unexpected surprise!”
Lastly, Mr. Mohammed Hashir, an Indian national based in Sharjah, won a BMW R1250 RS (Black Storm Metallic) motorbike, with ticket number 0159 in Finest Surprise Series 509, which he purchased online at dubaidutyfree.com.
A 33-year-old mechanical engineer living in Sharjah, Mr. Hashir is a regular participant in the Finest Surprise promotion and has been waiting for his dream motorbike for a few years now.
“I’m delighted to have finally won and would like to thank Dubai Duty Free for this amazing promotion, I can’t wait to see my new bike and looking forward to having a first ride” he said.
Canada’s Best New Restaurants celebrates its 21st year, making it the longest-running national culinary talent search and the only cross-country restaurant ranking to use a single, anonymous reviewer who sets out to sample the year’s best new restaurants. Based on the recommendations of our national panel of food experts, Air Canada sent one undercover writer on a month-long culinary marathon in search of the top 30 most notable openings across the country, all of which are now contenders for the coveted Top 10 list.
The 2022 Canada’s Best New Restaurants longlist spans 15 cities across eight provinces. From a four-seat Sichuan noodle counter at a Chinese grocery store in Montreal to a steakhouse reimagined in a panoramic lounge 40 floors above Calgary, this year’s list features 30 restaurants in a range of formats, including a permanent pop-up, an art gallery-housed takeout spot, and pandemic-delayed visions that finally came to fruition.
“Air Canada applauds and congratulates the work of the chefs and restaurateurs who undertook the incredible journey of opening up a restaurant over the past year, which is already a feat during the best of times,” says Andy Shibata, Vice President, Brand, Air Canada. “We are committed to sharing their stories and how they also successfully embraced new ways to explore cultural identity and made strides to advance sustainability and workplace equity.”
The 2022 nominees for Canada’s Best New Restaurants are:
Alentours, Québec City; Bar Susu, Vancouver; Le Clan, Québec; Delara, Vancouver; Drift, Halifax; Elephant, Vancouver; Fonda Balam, Toronto; Fox & Monocle, North Saanich; Fu’s Repair Shop, Edmonton; Gia Vin & Grill, Montréal; Hayloft Steak + Fish, Edmonton; Hearts Tavern & Bar, Kimberley; J’ai Feng, Montréal; Jeju, Tofino; Major Tom, Calgary; Mastard, Montréal; Mimi Chinese, Toronto; Mokili, Montréal; Một Tô, Calgary; Namjim at Bannerman Brewing Co., St. John’s; Nola, Winnipeg; Osteria Giulia, Toronto; Parcelles, Austin; Pei Pei Chei Ow, Edmonton; Perch, Ottawa; Pichai, Montréal; Pop Wine Bar, Saskatoon; Prime Seafood Palace, Toronto; Restaurant 20 Victoria, Toronto; Roy’s Korean Kitchen, Calgary
Canada’s Best New Restaurants 2022 highlights the top restaurants that have opened across the country between late spring 2021 and May 31, 2022 and deliver exceptional experiences through the quality of their food, level of service and commitment to culinary creativity.
The annual Top 10 ranking will be unveiled at a celebration in Toronto on November 1, 2022. The winners will also be showcased on CanadasBestNewRestaurants.com and in the November issue of Air Canada enRoute magazine.
A special thank you to Canada’s Best New Restaurants sponsors Diageo (gold) and American Express (silver).
About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada’s largest airline, the country’s flag carrier and a founding member of Star Alliance, the world’s most comprehensive air transportation network celebrating its 25thanniversary in 2022. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 51 airports in Canada, 51 in the United States and 86 internationally. It is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking from Skytrax, which in 2021 gave Air Canada awards for the Best Airline Staff in North America, Best Airline Staff in Canada, Best Business Class Lounge in North America, and an excellence award for managing COVID-19. Through its leading travel loyalty Aeroplan program, Air Canada offers the ability to earn or redeem points on the world’s largest airline partner network of 45 airlines, plus through an extensive range of merchandise, hotel and car rental rewards. Its freight division, Air Canada Cargo, provides air freight lift and connectivity to hundreds of destinations across six continents using Air Canada’s passenger flights and cargo-only flights with its fleet of Boeing 767-300 freighters. Air Canada has committed to a net zero emissions goal from all global operations by 2050.
About Air Canada enRoute
Air Canada enRoute is Air Canada’s award-winning travel media brand published by Spafax. An inspirational authority for the global traveller, it reaches passengers at every step of their journey through its multimedia portfolio: including print, digital channels (enroute.aircanada.com) and many prestigious programs and events. The Air Canada enRoute Canada’s Best New Restaurants print magazine will be distributed nationally through Globe and Mail home subscriptions and by direct mail to Aeroplan Super Elite and Million Miler members in November. Follow on Twitter and Instagram: @enroutemag, #AirCanadaTop10.
Group confirms full-year outlook2Q 2022: Total revenues rise 8.2 percent to 37.1 billion eurosOperating profit increases 5.3 percent to 3.5 billion euros, driven by Property-Casualty business segmentNet income attributable to shareholders amounts to 1.7 billion euros, down 23.3 percent Robust Solvency II capitalization ratio of 200 percent16M 2022: Total revenues surge 7.2 percent to 81.2 billion eurosOperating profit rises 1.2 percent to 6.7 billion euros Net income attributable to shareholders 2.3 billion euros, a decrease of 52.7 percent, mostly due to a provision booked in the first quarter in relation to the AllianzGI U.S. Structured Alpha proceedings Outlook:2022 operating profit target confirmed at 13.4 billion euros, plus or minus 1 billion euros2
Burberry is the first luxury fashion brand and one of the first companies globally to receive approval from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) for its net-zero emissions target.
This validation confirms that the goals Burberry has set to reach net-zero emissions by 2040 are based on the latest climate science and meet the urgent need to keep warming to 1.5°C in line with the Paris Agreement. Burberry’s net-zero target is underpinned by a series of commitments across scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.
In the near term, we commit to reduce absolute scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 95% by 2023 from a 2017 base year, and reduce absolute scope 3 GHG emissions 46.2% by 2030 from a 2019 base year.
In the long term, we commit to maintaining at least 95% absolute scope 1 and 2 GHG reductions from 2023 through 2040 against a FY2017 base year, while reducing absolute scope 3 GHG emissions 90% by 2040 from a 2019 base year.
Scopes 1 and 2 cover emissions generated from Burberry’s own operations, such as electricity and gas in stores, manufacturing hubs and offices. Scope 3 refers to emissions in Burberry’s extended supply chain, such as energy usage by manufacturing and material sourcing partners.
Burberry’s net-zero emissions target builds on the British luxury brand’s longstanding commitment to reduce its direct and indirect environmental impacts and make a positive difference to the lives of people around the world. Burberry is currently carbon neutral across its own operations globally, all the electricity it uses is from renewable sources and almost every product it makes has a social or environmental benefit. Over the past five years, Burberry’s community programmes have positively impacted more than 1 million people.
Caroline Laurie, VP of Corporate Responsibility, Burberry: “The Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) plays a critical role in ensuring ambitions set by businesses are in line with the latest climate science and will contribute to tackling the climate emergency. Rooting our commitments in science has always been a priority at Burberry, so we can ensure the steps we are taking will have the necessary impact and bring about lasting change. We continue to challenge ourselves to drive measurement, improvement and transparency across our operations and we are committed to continue working with our suppliers and partners to accelerate the adoption of more sustainable practices. We hope this encourages others to do the same.”
Luiz Amaral, Chief Executive Officer of the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi): “Climate science tells us that we need rapid and deep emissions cuts if we are to achieve global net-zero and prevent the most damaging effects of climate change. Burberry’s net-zero targets match the urgency of the climate crisis and set a clear example that their peers must follow.”
Two luxury vehicles drawn in the Finest Surprise Promotion in Series 1813 and 509
