5 best U.S. sushi spots for 2024, according to Yelp

Food

5 best U.S. sushi spots for 2024, according to Yelp

Yelp has unveiled its list of Top 100 Sushi Spots in the U.S. for 2024. The crowd-sourced business review website explained in its post that it had used several factors when choosing the restaurants in the sushi category for the list, including the total volume and ratings of reviews.

The top five: Taking the top spot for two years in a row is Kauai Sushi Station, a food truck based in Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii. “We make sushi with aloha from the heart,” sushi chef and owner James Jithitikunchai told Yelp. Rounding out the top five are Imari Sashimi and Sushi in Upland, California; Hamachi Sushi Express in La Habra, California; Taneda Sushi in Kaiseki in Seattle; and Omakase by Korami in New York City.

Love for sushi: The U.S. reportedly ranks as the second-most sushi-obsessed country in the world, with Canada being the first. This ranking is based on the percentage of the population searching for sushi in 2023, which was 3.4% in the U.S. and 5.7% in Canada. Meanwhile, the most-searched type of sushi online last year, receiving over 613,000 Google searches, was the California Roll.

Entertainment

1st Asian American “Bachelorette” reflects on her past

Jenn Tran, a 26-year-old Vietnamese physician assistant student, admits she wasn't always proud of her Vietnamese heritage due to pressures to assimilate in a predominantly white community. In an interview with NextShark, she reveals downplaying her cultural identity to avoid scrutiny. However, her experience at a diverse university and on reality dating shows "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" have helped empower her to embrace her roots and advocate for representation.

Tech

Japan shatters internet speed world record

Researchers at Japan's National Institute of Information and Communications Technology have set a new world record for internet speed, achieving a staggering 402 terabits per second (Tbps). This is 25% faster than the previous fastest data transmission of 321 Tbps and over 1.6 million times faster than the current average broadband speed in the U.S., which is 248.27 megabits per second (Mbps). 

Novel technique: The researchers were able to increase transmission bandwidth by 35% of commercially available optical fibers in a lab setting. The breakthrough, presented at the 47th International Conference on Optical Fiber Communications in March, was achieved by implementing a new technique that unlocks previously inaccessible wavelength ranges of existing infrastructure.

No more buffering: The increased transmission bandwidth allows for the theoretical download of 12,500 movies in a single second. Researchers are hopeful this technology can be used for real-world data transmission across vast distances in the near future.

Study

Chinese researchers discover gene that protects Asians from obesity

Researchers at Fudan University in China have identified a specific gene variant that appears to protect people in southern China and Southeast Asia from obesity. The study, published in the Journal of Genetics and Genomics last month, involved the analyses of 16 basal mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) haplogroups, genetic families that trace back to a common ancestor.

Genetic advantage: Fudan University’s Zheng Hongxiang, Jin Li and Wang Jiucun analyzed genetic data from 2,877 Han Chinese individuals and found a particular type of mtDNA to be linked to a lower risk of obesity. This mtDNA variant, identified as M7b1a1, is prevalent in southern China and Southeast Asia.

Mitochondrial link: The study posits that M7b1a1 reduces the risk of obesity due to a decreased mitochondrial function. The researchers noted that their findings “offer new insights into the genetic basis of obesity-related traits, enhancing our understanding of how genetics can influence body fat distribution and obesity risk.”

News

Harvard probed over alleged harassment of students during anti-CCP protest

House officials initiated a probe into Harvard University after students protesting a speech by Chinese Ambassador Xie Feng on April 20 were removed from the event and allegedly harassed by Chinese students. Students Cosette Wu and Tsering Yangchen were physically dragged out of the room, with Wu being forcefully thrown by a Chinese student and Yangchen being followed and intimidated for the names of the other protesters at the event. 

Concerns of officials: The House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party expressed concerns about possible transnational repression by the Chinese government and the involvement of international students from China in acts of harassment. They urged Harvard to protect students from Beijing’s influence and asked the school for details about the event's security, disciplinary actions against the involved students and measures to ensure students' freedom of expression.

Beijing’s influence on U.S. campuses: Chairman John Moolenaar also cited a recent case where a former Berklee College of Music student from China was convicted for threatening a fellow student over pro-democracy flyers. He emphasized the increasing presence of Chinese students in the U.S. since 2009 and the corresponding rise in Chinese government attempts to monitor and manipulate them through organizations like the Chinese Students and Scholars Associations. Moolenaar asked, “Did Harvard exercise sole responsibility for security at the event? If not, did Harvard partner with representatives of the Chinese government or any private agency?” 

News

U.S. woman lauds India’s “incredible” healthcare system

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Mackenzie, known for her travel content, took to Instagram to express her astonishment at India’s healthcare system after her British boyfriend fell “super, super sick” during their trip. Anticipating challenges based on her experiences in both the U.S. and U.K., she was surprised to learn patients in India could book tests at their convenience and have samples collected at home.

Accessible and affordable: A local friend helped Mackenzie arrange for tests and treatment. While she initially worried about costs, she was amazed when the entire process cost only $14.

Reactions: Mackenzie’s video has since gone viral with over 200,000 likes, with viewers sharing their own positive experiences. Still, others highlighted limitations in India’s healthcare system, particularly for economically disadvantaged members of society.

News

Adopted Chinese man finds birth parents after 12-year search

Gouming Martens, a Chinese-born Dutch man, reunited with his biological mother after 28 years that included a 12-year search. The Ph.D. graduate was separated from his parents at the age of 3 during a trip in 1994.

Adoption and breakthrough: Martens, who was sent to an orphanage after getting lost, was adopted by Dutch couple Jozef and Maria Martens in 1996. As an adult, he set out to find his biological roots. Last October, DNA testing confirmed his match with his birth mother, Wen Xurong. His father, Gao Xianjun, died in 2009.

Reunion: Martens, whom his parents knew as Gao Yang, reunited with his mother and half-siblings in Sichuan province during the Spring Festival in February. He also visited his late father’s grave in Jiangsu province, where his uncle handed him funds saved for him over the years.

More Asian News

Awkwafina flees bounty hunters in chaotic “Jackpot!” trailer: "Jackpot!", an upcoming action-comedy starring Awkwafina and John Cena, released its first trailer on Tuesday. The film, set to premiere on Prime Video on August 15th, takes place in 2030 and follows Katie (Awkwafina), who wins a grand lottery with a deadly twist: anyone can kill her before sundown to claim the multi-billion-dollar prize. The three-minute trailer shows Katie on the run from numerous bounty hunters (Simu Liu among them) trying to steal her winnings.

Filipino vlogger dies after gorging on fried chicken: Dongz Dongz Apatan, a mukbang content creator from Iligan City in Northern Mindanao who had over 400,000 Facebook followers, died from a hemorrhagic stroke – a condition where a blood vessel in the brain ruptures and bleeds – on June 15 after eating a large amount of fried chicken and rice for content. Leah, Apatan’s sister, told 24 Oras that many social media users disrespected Apatan’s death, noting how they turned him “into a laughing stock” because he was “greedy about food.” She added, “He doesn’t really eat much. He doesn’t really finish it either. Manoy is not greedy. He has helped a lot of people.”

The “new normal in L.A.”?: Influencer Brianna Via was shocked to learn from a real estate agent that break-ins in Los Angeles are now “the new normal” while browsing for an apartment in the city. In a video uploaded to TikTok on June 21, Via reads the message the agent wrote her, saying, “My building is a nice new building, too, and it gets broken into 3-4 times a year and I live in a good area. Can’t do anything about it.” Via adds, “So I basically tell him I’m not ready to experience three to four break ins a year, especially paying $6,000 to get robbed. I don’t want that.”

@brialiving

Storytime of chatting w/ a beverly hills real estate agent… getting robbed in beverly hills is the “new LA” i guess?? #lacrime #losangeles

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