Politics

Kamala Harris shares stories about her immigrant mother on historic night at DNC

Kamala Harris made history as the first Black and South Asian woman to accept the Democratic presidential nomination on Thursday night, pledging a "new way forward" and urging voters to reject Donald Trump. In her speech at the party's convention in Chicago, she emphasized unity and shared personal stories about her upbringing and her mother’s influence. 

Daughter of immigrants: Harris introduced herself as a blue-collar child of immigrants from India and Jamaica, contrasting her background with Trump's and presenting herself as a candidate of change. “My mother was a brilliant, five-foot-tall, brown woman with an accent. As the eldest child, I saw how the world would treat her but my mother never lost her cool. She was tough, courageous, a trailblazer in the fight for women’s health, and she taught us to never complain about injustice but to do something about it,” she said. 

Unity and freedom: After highlighting her background as a prosecutor and vice-president as qualifications for the presidency, Harris effectively reframed Democratic values and redefined “freedom,” emphasizing unity and discipline. She addressed key issues like Israel and Gaza, noting that she and President Biden “are working to end this war such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom and self-determination.” Despite a strong convention performance, Harris faces a tight race, with Democrats acknowledging the need for continued effort and voter engagement.

News

Kamala Harris inspires daily prayers and pride in grandfather’s Indian village

Residents have been praying daily for Kamala Harris to win the U.S. presidential election in the small southern Indian village of Thulasendrapuram, where her maternal grandfather P.V. Gopalan lived about 100 years ago. “May Kamala Harris win this election. May she visit this temple and do good for our village,” they pray, according to NPR. 

“Daughter of the land”: Local politician Arulmozhi Sudhakar has organized prayers, made daily offerings of milk and coconuts and put up billboards featuring Harris, drawing significant media attention. However, many residents are not deeply familiar with Harris' political positions, including her stance on India's decision to revoke Kashmir's semi-autonomous status. Despite this, Sudhakar proudly refers to Harris as the "daughter of the land," highlighting the pride they take in her achievements.

Media attention: The media spotlight has brought unexpected benefits to the village, including community welfare projects from a local bank. R. Usha, the village librarian, hopes Harris’ victory and potential visit would also lead to improvements in local infrastructure.

Politics

Grace Yoo aims to be first Korean American female LA council member

Attorney Grace Yoo has launched her campaign fundraising efforts for the November Los Angeles City Council District 10 election, aiming to become the first Korean American female city council member representing Koreatown. 

Fundraising efforts: At a press conference, Yoo announced the "1004 Campaign," leveraging the city's matching funds program, which could help her reach her campaign goal up to $700,000. Recent polls show Yoo in a close race against incumbent Heather Hutt, with encouraging signs that she could win if she secures sufficient campaign funds. Yoo is urging the Korean American community for financial support and volunteer efforts to strengthen her chances. 

About Yoo: Yoo is a community advocate, attorney and former L.A. City Commissioner with over 30 years of experience working on behalf of local communities and addressing issues like environmental protection and zoning violations, including suing the City of Los Angeles three times to address these concerns. Yoo is running for City Council with a focus on improving representation, city services and addressing key issues such as homelessness. She has also been involved in senior services and transportation, informed by her background in public policy.

Politics

North Texas race features historic showdown between Asian candidates

Texas House District 112 is set to witness a rare electoral battle as Democrat Averie Bishop, 28, challenges incumbent Republican Rep. Angie Chen Button, 70, in a race this November featuring two Asian American candidates. Bishop’s campaign, fueled by a grassroots volunteer force, contrasts sharply with Button’s well-established political machine.

Banking on experience: Button, a Taiwanese immigrant and the second-ever Asian woman to serve in the Texas Legislature, has served eight terms and built a reputation as a bipartisan, no-drama lawmaker. Known for her close ties to Gov. Greg Abbott, Button has championed issues like public school funding and workforce development in the state legislature. Reflecting on her experience, Button said last year, “I spent years working in the industry, serving the community, across the board, to learn that kind of experience to propel me to really, really make a difference.” This will be the second time in Texas history that Button is facing off against another Asian candidate for a legislative seat, the first being in 2008 when she defeated Vietnamese American Democrat Sandra Phuong Vu Le.

Offering a fresh perspective: Bishop, a Filipino American former beauty queen whose vibrant social media presence resonates with younger voters, could become the youngest member of the Texas Legislature. She advocates for stronger public education, reproductive rights and gun control. Positioning herself as a voice for the next generation, her campaign aims to challenge the status quo in an increasingly competitive district. “It’s time for a change. It’s time for the next generation of Texans to lead,” said in a video announcing her candidacy last year. “It’s time to remember every time we say y’all, it has to mean all.”

Crime

Husband of missing Virginia mom accused of murder

Criminal complaint documents reveal disturbing details about the disappearance of 28-year-old Mamta Kafle Bhatt, a Virginia mother who has been missing for weeks. According to the documents obtained by WJLA, Mamta’s husband Naresh Bhatt, facing a felony charge of concealing a body, allegedly killed her “on or about” July 30 and dragged her body from their Manassas Park home. During a recent court appearance, Bhatt was denied bail.

Uncovered evidence: Mamta was last seen at her workplace, UVA Health Prince William Medical Center, on July 27, leading her co-workers to request a welfare check on Aug. 2. The search of the couple’s home uncovered evidence suggesting that Mamta’s body was moved and dragged inside the residence. Investigators used BlueStar Technology to detect blood stains and spatter, including in the bathroom and on the carpet. Further investigation revealed that Mamta's phone went silent after July 29, and evidence showed Naresh purchased cleaning supplies and knives around the time of her disappearance.

Ongoing investigation: Prosecutors accuse Bhatt of making inconsistent statements about Mamta's whereabouts and failing to report her missing until Aug. 6. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 24. The couple's 11-month-old daughter is being cared for by a Department of Social Services-approved caregiver. Mamta’s family from Nepal is seeking emergency custody of the child and is working to come to the U.S. as her case continues to unfold.

Entertainment

Massively successful 12-year-old YouTuber makes his movie debut

Popular YouTube channel “Ryan's World” made its big-screen debut with "Ryan's World the Movie: Titan Universe Adventure" on Aug. 16. The live-action/animated superhero comedy film, directed by Albie Hecht and written by Rose Frankel, follows 12-year-old Ryan Kaji as he embarks on a journey into a comic book world to rescue his younger sisters.

Chilly reception: The film, produced by Ryan's parents Loann and Shion Kaji, premiered at the Cleveland International Film Festival in April and was released in over 2,100 theaters across the U.S. last week. Produced on a budget of under $10 million, the movie grossed only over $430,000 worldwide as of Aug. 19, failing to capitalize on the channel’s massive following. It received largely negative reviews from critics, with Common Sense Media calling it an "underwhelming influencer movie."

Meteoric rise: Ryan’s journey to internet stardom began in 2015 at age 4 when he started posting toy unboxing videos on YouTube. His infectious enthusiasm quickly captivated young audiences, and his channel, Ryan's World, exploded in popularity. Today, it has become a billion-dollar brand, while Ryan is estimated to be worth $30 million. He has successfully navigated the transition from toy reviews to more diverse content as he grows older, including DIY science experiments and animated adventures.

News

China’s rising unemployment rate creates “rotten-tail kids”

Rising unemployment in China is forcing millions of college graduates into low-paying jobs or dependence on their parents, creating a new "rotten-tail kids" working class that is being compared to the unfinished "rotten-tail buildings" plaguing the nation’s economy since 2021. 

Jobless youth: A record number of graduates are struggling to find jobs amid a labor market weakened by COVID-19 and regulatory crackdowns on finance, tech and education. Youth unemployment hit a record high of 21.3% in June 2023, prompting officials to suspend data reporting for reassessment. Despite government efforts, the jobless rate remains high, reaching 17.1% in July this year. 

No guarantees: Many graduates in China are finding that their degrees no longer guarantee upward mobility or better job prospects, leading some to reconsider their career paths or further their education in hopes of better opportunities. However, even graduates with advanced degrees are struggling to find jobs as the competitive academic environment has not translated into job security. China has expanded university enrollment since 1999, but the supply of graduates continues to outpace job availability. The imbalance is expected to persist until 2037, when declining fertility rates may reduce the surplus of graduates.

Final Bites

How P-pop girl group Bini is transforming Filipino womanhood and pop culture: Historically, the Tagalog term “binibini” was used as a respectful and formal way of addressing a young woman, often carrying connotations of elegance and modesty. However, in recent years, the term has been increasingly critiqued for the unrealistic and restrictive expectations it imposes on women. In an interview with NextShark, P-pop girl group Bini discusses how they are actively redefining what it means to be a modern Filipina, particularly at the forefront of the Philippine music industry’s cultural shift. The eight-member group shares how P-pop is transforming Filipino pop culture by championing the power of authenticity. According to Jhoanna, the qualities of today’s binibini are “being aware, informed and empowered.” “When you just keep inspiring people, that’s what makes you a modern Filipina,” she says.

Japan’s record drop in rice supplies blamed on tourism: Japanese government officials believe that a massive increase in tourism may be one of the reasons for the country’s decreasing rice stockpile. Rice inventories in the private sector fell to 1.56 million tons in June, the lowest level since Japan began gathering data in 1999 and 20% lower than the 1.97 million tons recorded in June 2023. Over 3 million tourists visited Japan in March, a 69.5% increase compared to the same period the previous year. Despite the declining rice stockpile, farm ministry official Hiroshi Itakura told Agence France-Presse that “we are not in a situation of facing shortages of rice.”

Lost Chinese girl uses ATM to reunite with her granddad: An 8-year-old girl from Quzhou, Zhejiang, received widespread praise on social media for her ingenuity after becoming separated from her grandfather on the way home on July 30. Instead of asking a stranger for help, the child located a nearby ATM booth, where she pressed on its red emergency button to be connected to the bank’s monitoring center. She reached Zhou Dongying, a staff member from the Quzhou Rural Commercial Bank, who alerted the police and kept the girl calm until officers arrived and reunited her with her grandfather. In China, many local ATMs are equipped with two types of emergency buttons: an "emergency call" button for contacting the bank and a red "emergency alarm" button for alerting the police. This incident highlights the effective use of ATM emergency buttons, a method previously used in similar situations.

ICYMI — Celine Dion singing in perfect Mandarin: Celine Dion performed in flawless Mandarin on Chinese state TV as part of a New Year Gala show ushering in the Lunar New Year in 2013. Alongside Chinese soprano Song Zuying, the Canadian vocal powerhouse enchanted audiences with a special rendition of “Mo Li Hua,” an 18th-century folk song which translates to “Jasmine Flower.” She then performed her hit song “My Heart Will Go On.” Dion, who has been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome and made an emotional stage comeback at the Paris Olympics, has sung in various other languages, including Japanese — with Japanese American singer Yuna Ito — French, Italian, Neapolitan and Spanish.