The Post apologizes for misreporting Trump shooter as “Chinese man”

News

The Post apologizes for misreporting Trump shooter as “Chinese man”

The New York Post has apologized for a July 13 article that initially falsely described the shooter in the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump as a “Chinese man.” While the news outlet corrected the story shortly after publishing to indicate that the suspect was a “white male,” an apology was not immediately available, prompting Asian American officials and community leaders to demand one.

Calls for apology: New York State Sens. John Liu and Iwen Chu, Assemblyperson Grace Lee and New York City Councilmembers Sandra Ung and Susan Zhuang called for an apology from the newspaper, highlighting the distress and danger the false report has caused to the Chinese American community. The Committee of 100, an organization of top Chinese American leaders, demanded an apology and urged stricter editorial guidelines to prevent similar mistakes. Nonprofit Stop AAPI Hate likewise demanded an apology, as well as a “formal retraction.”

What it says now: The Asian American community has been particularly sensitive to misreporting and anti-Asian rhetoric due to the rise of anti-Asian hate during the COVID-19 pandemic, with many Asian Americans falsely blamed for spreading the coronavirus. Amid the chorus of criticism, the New York Post updated the article with an editor's note that states: “In a version of this article on July 13, the Post erroneously reported that the shooter was a Chinese man, based on wrong information we obtained from sources. We quickly corrected the mistake. We sincerely apologize for the error.”

News

Top destinations for Chinese students in 2024

Chinese international students have gradually returned to Western institutions since China's post-pandemic reopening, with the U.S. remaining the most popular destination with 289,000 Chinese students enrolled in the 2022–2023 school year. Other top destinations are Canada and the U.K., with Chinese students contributing billions of dollars to their economies.

Staying home: However, the number of Chinese nationals studying abroad are still lower than before. More Chinese students are staying in China for their education, with a rise from 3% in 2021 to 15% in 2023. The students are choosing to stay due to the nation’s growing superpower status and the improving quality of domestic education. Economic factors, such as falling real estate prices, high unemployment and lower household cash flow, also play a role. 

India surpasses China: In the U.S., India has overtaken China as the top source of international students in 2023, with Indian students making up 40% of STEM students compared to 23% for Chinese students. U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell previously stated that U.S. universities will be restricting Chinese international students’ access to STEM fields involving sensitive technology due to security concerns. While Chinese students are still welcome, he urged them to pursue arts instead. 

Crime

Former Arkansas fire captain pleads guilty to assaulting Asian man

Benjamin Snodgrass, 47, has pleaded guilty to second-degree assault, disorderly conduct and public intoxication, receiving a 150-day suspended sentence for assaulting Liem Nguyen outside Oaklawn Racing Casino Resort in Hot Springs, Arkansas, in 2021. Snodgrass is also prohibited from contacting the victim.

What happened: The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on March 13, 2021, when Snodgrass approached the victim, questioning his presence in America and initiating a physical altercation. The victim sustained minor injuries and reported the incident to the police. Snodgrass, who appeared intoxicated and incoherent, was arrested and later resigned from his position at the fire department after 12 years of service.

No hate crime charge: Although Nguyen believed the assault was racially motivated, he could not pursue a federal hate crime charge due to the lack of hate crime laws in the state at the time of the incident. Snodgrass and his lawyer also denied any racist motivations or comments, with the attorney later claiming Snodgrass was unknowingly drugged with a hallucinogen before the altercation. Local resistance, including from Bentonville City Council member Bill Burckart, who viewed the incident as an isolated event involving an inebriated individual rather than a hate crime, further complicated the case. The incident sparked calls for authorities to take allegations of racist assaults more seriously.

Crime

Soccer club defends player accused of racism by Korean player

Italian soccer club Como defended its player against accusations of racism after an incident with South Korean striker Hwang Hee-chan of the Wolverhampton Wanderers. During the second half of a pre-season friendly on Monday, Hwang reported that a Como player referred to him as "Jackie Chan." 

Teammates get involved: The incident angered his teammates and resulted in Wanderers player Daniel Podence punching a Como player and receiving a red card. The Wanderers intend to file a complaint with the Union of European Football Associations. 

In defense of its player: Como posted the following statement on X:  "We spoke to the defender in question to understand what was said. He has told us the comment he made, to his co-defender, was 'ignore him, he thinks he's Jackie Chan.” Como's ownership group believes this comment was a reference to Hwang's name and the nickname "Channy" used by his teammates, not a racist remark. "We are disappointed that the reaction of certain Wolves players has seen the incident blown out of proportion,” they added.

News

North Korea executes 30 teens for watching K-dramas

North Korea reportedly executed around 30 teenagers for watching South Korean dramas earlier this month. The deceased, who were all middle school students, allegedly consumed the prohibited content from USBs sent via balloons by North Korean defector groups from Seoul.

Driving the news: The students were publicly shot. The executions underscore the harsh penalties under Pyongyang’s Reactionary Ideology and Culture Rejection Act, a 2020 law that punishes possession, consumption or distribution of South Korean media — including movies, videos, songs, books, photos and drawings — with years of labor or death. Earlier this year, a rare footage of two 16-year-old boys being sentenced to 12 years of hard labor for watching K-dramas made rounds in international media.

Ongoing resistance: Despite the country’s draconian laws, there is ongoing resistance from the younger generation — known as the “jangmadang generation” — who reportedly continue to seek out and engage with forbidden content, demonstrating a persistent defiance against the regime’s oppressive control. Their stories, through eight defectors, were highlighted in a 2017 documentary.

Arts

San Francisco is looking for Asian American artists

San Francisco Mayor London Breed announced the launch of the Chinatown Artist Registry on Thursday, encouraging artists to apply for consideration in three upcoming publicly funded art projects in San Francisco's Chinatown. The registry is led by the San Francisco Arts Commission (SFAC) in partnership with the Chinese Culture Center of San Francisco.

Call for artists: With an investment of over $2 million into the proposed art installations, the registry will be used to select artists whose work will be displayed at improvement projects in Chinatown, such as Portsmouth Square, Chinatown Public Health Center and Chinatown Him Mark Lai Branch Library. Breed is encouraging nationwide artists with any connection to Chinatown to apply to the registry. Once approved by the SFAC, artists chosen for the projects will receive contracts in early 2025. The deadline for the request for qualifications is set to end on Sept. 11.

What they’re saying: In a statement, Breed noted that this initiative will allow the city to “tap into the creative minds of artists who will spotlight and uplift this amazing neighborhood while creating beautiful and welcoming environments for future generations.” Jenny Leung, CCC of San Francisco’s executive director, said the registry would help “ensure that under-represented artists have an opportunity to be a part of the public art and community’s future. There is a great opportunity for Asian American artists to shine in creating works for Chinatown.”

More Asian News

BTS member carries Olympic torch in Paris amid massive fan support: BTS’s Jin carried the Olympic torch for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics on Sunday — which was also Bastille Day, a French national holiday — energizing fans who gathered in large numbers at the Louvre Museum. Emerging from the torch relay center, he received an enthusiastic reception from the crowd, who waved signs and Korean flags and chanted his name. After running 200 meters on Rue de Rivoli, the 31-year-old star returned the torch and later thanked fans in a video message. The relay, which began in Marseille on May 8, will continue to traverse Paris before heading to the provinces and returning for the opening ceremony on July 26.

Chinese prospect shines in NBA Summer League debut: Yongxi "Jacky" Cui, who attended the NBA Global Academy in Australia before joining the Chinese Basketball Association, made his debut at the NBA Summer League for the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday against the Philadelphia 76ers, quickly showing off his impressive shooting skills by draining back-to-back threes. He finished with 6 points and 1 assist in just eight minutes of play. The 21-year-old guard, who previously impressed by hitting 23 out of 25 threes at the G League Elite Camp, secured an Exhibit 10 contract, a one-year deal that pays the minimum NBA salary.

Celebrated Hong Kong filmmaker turns 66 today: Legendary director Wong Kar-wai is renowned for his visually stunning and emotionally resonant films that have captivated audiences globally.  His unique storytelling style is showcased in must-watch films like the poignant "In the Mood for Love" (2000), the vibrant "Chungking Express" (1994), the neo-noir "Fallen Angels" (1995) and the passionate "Happy Together" (1997), all available for streaming on Max. 

Hawaii man scammed out of $275,000: Alan Sue, a 78-year-old Asian man, wired $275,000 to Dream Auto Collection in Hollywood, Florida, to buy a 2023 Mercedes Benz G63 with a rare BRABUS package he found online but never received. Sue made the transaction without ever seeing the vehicle or meeting the dealer. He later called the purchase “stupid and foolish” and said he “thought about killing [himself]” when interviewed by Local 10 News. Following media attention, the dealership, known for previous scams, promised Sue a refund. He has since filed complaints with the FBI, Hollywood Police Department and the State Attorney General’s Office.