🍵 Apple's Controversial Promo

In case you missed it:

• China won gold in Men’s Synchronized 3m Springboard

• Korea won gold in Archery Mixed Team

• Zisai Wang and Langyu Yang of China won silver and bronze in Men’s Trampoline

• Qinwen Zheng of China won gold in Women's Singles in Tennis

• Meng Chen of China won gold in Women’s Singles Table Tennis and Zhandong Fan of China won gold in Men’s Singles Table Tennis

• Sihyeon Lim of South Korea wins gold in Women’s Archery and Woojin Kim wins gold in Men’s Archery

• Carlos Yulo of the Philippines wins gold in Men’s Floor and Vault Gymnastics

• Yang Liu of China wins gold in Men's Rings Gymnastics

• China wins gold in Men’s 4x100m Medley Relay

Olympics

IOC defends women boxers amid gender controversy

The International Olympic Committee issued a statement on Friday defending Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting and Algeria’s Imane Khelif, two women boxers embroiled in gender controversy in Paris. Khelif first made headlines after her opponent, Italy’s Angela Carini, abruptly quit their match 46 seconds in on Thursday. Lin, on the other hand, beat Uzbekistan’s Sitora Turdibekova on Friday.

The allegations: Lin and Imane are falsely accused of being transgender women. The allegations follow reports that both athletes failed an unspecified gender eligibility test at last year’s International Boxing Association (IBA) Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi, with officials claiming they had “competitive advantages over other female competitors.” Khelif’s opening victory quickly sparked strong reactions on social media, including from Donald Trump, Elon Musk and J.K. Rowling. Lin received similar reactions.

What the IOC is saying: The IOC stressed that all athletes in the boxing tournament “comply with the competition’s eligibility and entry regulations, as well as all applicable medical regulations set by the Paris 2024 Boxing Unit.” The sporting authority also slammed the allegations as “misleading information,” emphasizing that the athletes in question have been competing in the women’s category for years, including IBA tournaments. “These two athletes were the victims of a sudden and arbitrary decision by the IBA,” it added.

Olympics

Chinese tennis star disparaged, called “cutthroat” by opponent after Olympics victory

American tennis star Emma Navarro (world No.15) launched a scathing attack on Chinese tennis sensation Qinwen Zheng (world No. 7) after their third-round clash in Olympic tennis at Roland Garros on Tuesday. The heated exchange began at the net following Zheng's 6-7, 7-6, 6-1 victory and continued into the post-match press conference.

"Cutthroat" behavior accusation: Navarro, 23, revealed her harsh words to the media, stating, “I just told her I didn’t respect her as a competitor. I think she goes about things in a pretty cutthroat way. It makes for a locker room that doesn’t have a lot of camaraderie, so it’s tough to face an opponent like that, who I really don’t respect.”

Zheng’s response: Zheng, seemingly unfazed by the criticism, responded, “If she’s not happy about my behavior, she can come and tell me. I would like to correct it to become a better player and a better person.” The 21-year-old then added a subtle jab: "I will not consider it an attack because she lost the match." Zheng would go on to defeat Germany's Angelique Kerber in the quarterfinal, followed by an upset victory over world No. 1 Iga Swiatek of Poland in the semifinal on Thursday, making her the first Asian-born player to reach a singles final at the Olympics. She faces Croatia's Donna Vekic on Saturday, vying for the gold medal.

Olympics

China rallies behind Olympic champ after his feats deemed not “humanly possible”

Olympic swimming champion Pan Zhanle has a wave of support from Chinese citizens and media outlets, following criticisms of his world record-breaking 100m freestyle swim at the Paris Olympics on Wednesday. Pan, 19, finished in 46.40 seconds, beating his own previous world record by 0.40 seconds and securing China's first swimming gold medal at the Games.

Questioning legitimacy: Australian commentator Brett Hawke questioned the legitimacy of Pan's win in an Instagram post in which he said "It's not humanly possible to beat that field" and that the swim was "not real life. Not in that pool, against that field." A doping scandal involving 23 Chinese swimmers in 2021 has led to increased scrutiny of the Chinese swimming team despite being cleared by the World Anti-Doping Agency. 

In defense of Pan: Pan, who has passed 21 doping tests leading up to the Games, cited rigorous training and advanced technology as reasons for his success. The state-run Global Times, among other Chinese media outlets, has fiercely defended Pan, noting, "The Chinese swimming team underwent more tests in two weeks than foreign athletes did in an entire year." Chinese swimmer Zhang Yufei told the press Thursday: "Why are Chinese athletes questioned when they swim so fast? Why didn't anyone dare to question Phelps when he won?"

Olympics

Vietnam’s pho, spring rolls served at Paris Olympics

Vietnam’s popular beef broth soup dish, pho, and nem, or vegetable spring rolls, are among the dishes that were selected to be served to athletes at the Paris Olympics. Pho is designated as the soup of the day and is served during three main meals. Both dishes have their nutritional information posted for the athletes. There are reportedly six main dining areas at the Olympics, each categorized by different cuisines, such as two French, one Asian, one African and two international food courts, with meals prepared by Michelin-starred chefs. Other Asian dishes spotted at the Olympics include minced pork with Thai basil and basmati rice, chicken tikka and curry beef with vegetables.

Crime

Stockton man sentenced for orchestrating 2022 murder of wealthy dentist

Stockton, California, resident Hasheem Bason, 35, was sentenced to 15 years to life in state prison for the 2022 murder of Oakland dentist Dr. Lili Xu. Bason pleaded no contest to second-degree murder. Prosecutors revealed that Xu's romantic partner, Nelson Chia, orchestrated the murder to gain control of her assets after she discovered his infidelity. Xu was worth between $12 million and $14 million in property and assets from life insurance policies, and Chia was a trustee who would immediately receive $1 million if Xu died, according to officials.  

Catch up: Xu, 60, was shot and killed while inside a car with Chia at the intersection of East 11th St. and Fifth Avenue in Oakland on Aug. 21, 2022. Phone records and communications show Chia conspired in a murder-for-hire plot with Bason, offering him significant money for the murder. He allegedly manipulated Bason, who had a vulnerable past, into committing the crime. Chia later died by suicide to avoid prosecution. Bason will reportedly appear in court for his sentencing on Aug. 20.  

Remembering Xu: Xu was remembered as a dedicated dentist and passionate ballerina, with a community vigil held in her honor. The Chinese American moved to the U.S. in 1995 and had been a dentist for about 15 years. She and Chia, who lived together in the Oakland Hills, were romantically involved for 10 years. “The shooting death of popular dentist Lili Xu traumatized our entire community. In this case, we learned extreme mitigating circumstances that had to be considered in resolving the case against Mr. Bason,” District Attorney Pamela Price said in a statement.

News

Apple sparks controversy in Thailand over “outdated” portrayal in promo video

A recent Apple promo video set in Thailand has ignited strong reactions, with critics arguing that it presents an outdated and stereotypical view of the country. Apple, which has not responded to the backlash, has disabled the comments section of the video.

What critics are saying: The 10-minute video, titled “The Underdogs: OOO (Out of Office)” — part of Apple’s “Apple at Work” series — follows four characters using Apple devices to solve workplace crises during a trip to Thailand. Critics of the ad slammed its use of a sepia filter, old-fashioned taxis, rundown architecture and an archaic image of Suvarnabhumi Airport. “This looked like Thailand 70 years ago,” said David William, an American TikToker based in the country.

Government support: The promo, which involved local studio Indochina Productions in its creation, found support in the Thai government. A spokesperson for Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin praised the video for promoting Thai “soft power” through culture, food and tourist attractions. The government also highlighted the video’s potential to boost the new Destination Thailand Visa initiative, which is aimed at attracting digital nomads.

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Final Bites

South Asian American leaders endorse Kamala Harris for President: South Asian American state and local officials across the U.S. endorsed Kamala Harris for president, citing her potential to create a "fairer and more inclusive" immigration system, her coalition-building skills and her potential to inspire all Asian Americans, communities of color and women. Prominent supporters include Maryland Lieutenant Governor Aruna Katragadda Miller and Washington State Senate Deputy Majority Leader Manka Dhingra. The officials also highlighted Harris and President Joe Biden's efforts on climate change, voting rights, gun violence, student debt, prescription drug costs and abortion rights. “She is the nation’s fiercest champion on abortion rights and makes the strongest case for why women should have the right to make decisions about their own bodies,” officials said in a statement issued by The Indian American Impact Fund.

Western New York appoints first Asian American federal judge: Monroe County Court Judge Meredith Vacca, 43, made history as the first woman of color and first Asian American to become a federal judge in western New York on Wednesday. Confirmed by the Senate with a 50-41 vote, Vacca, a Korean American and University at Buffalo School of Law graduate, will serve in the 17-county western federal court district. Vacca's background includes tenure as a prosecutor handling severe child abuse and domestic violence cases before her 2020 election to county court. Senator Charles Schumer praised Vacca’s historic win, noting, “As a Korean American who was adopted at six months old and comes from a family of attorneys, she has a unique perspective and deep commitment to equal justice for all.”

Jon M. Chu to direct Britney Spears biopic: Filmmaker Jon M. Chu, known for his work on "Crazy Rich Asians," "In The Heights" and the upcoming "Wicked" adaptation, is set to direct a biopic on pop icon Britney Spears based on the Grammy-winner's best-selling memoir "The Woman in Me." The film, to be produced by Marc Platt ("La La Land") for Universal Pictures, promises a deep dive into Spears' tumultuous journey to stardom, her highly publicized conservatorship and her personal struggles. Spears herself shared the news on social media, expressing her excitement for the project.

Check out the world’s first British K-pop boy group: SM Entertainment unveiled its first British K-pop boy group, Dear Alice, at a press conference in London on Thursday. The five-member group — composed of Blaise Noon, Dexter Greenwood, James Sharp, Olly Quinn and Reese Carter — was co-produced by SM, SM & Kakao Entertainment America and Moon & Back Media, a British entertainment company. Dear Alice will debut with the six-part TV series “Made in Korea: The K-pop Experience,” airing on BBC One and iPlayer later this month and showcasing their 100-day K-pop training journey in Seoul. “Training at SM has been an incredible journey for all of us,” Greenwood told reporters. “Everyone at SM and in Korea has been so supportive and it was a new experience for all of us.”