Entertainment

1st Asian “Bachelorette” gets dumped by fiance in season finale

Jenn Tran, 26, the first Asian American woman to star in “The Bachelorette,” was dumped by her fiance, Devin Strader, 28, just two months after their engagement. Tuesday’s shocking finale of Season 21 left fans stunned as Tran confronted Strader for his sudden change of heart and questionable actions after their breakup.

What happened: Tran, who proposed to Strader in Hawaii in May, revealed that their relationship fell apart two months later. Strader reportedly ended the engagement during a phone call, confessing he no longer loved her. Tran shared her heartbreak onstage, accusing Strader of hiding his doubts while she continued to fight for their relationship. In response, Strader admitted to masking his feelings and said, “I found myself not being able to live up to the things you need and deserve.”

Moving on: Tran also criticized Strader for disrespecting her, especially by following “Bachelor” alum Maria Georgas on Instagram shortly after their breakup. However, she was ready to move on after the season finale. “It was nice to get the closure that I finally needed last night,” she told “Good Morning America” on Wednesday.

Sports

Zheng Qinwen faced sleep deprivation, racist taunts before U.S. Open exit

Chinese Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen's U.S. Open run ended in the quarterfinals with a 6-1, 6-2 loss to Belarus’ Aryna Sabalenka Tuesday evening. Zheng, whose previous match against Croatia’s Donna Vekic lasted until 2:15 a.m. on Monday, attributed her loss to sleep deprivation caused by the demanding schedule.

Lack of sleep: During the post-match interview, the 21-year-old athlete said her performance was affected after only managing to get a few hours of sleep before her match. "I couldn't sleep after I finished the match at 2:30 in the morning. I'm not able to practice yesterday because I was feeling terrible. I couldn't wake up," said Zheng. "Sometimes the schedule is like this. If I hit some balls yesterday maybe it would help for the match today, but it's fine."

Racist taunts: In China, news of Zheng's exit was overshadowed by a racist incident during her match against Vekic. Social media users reported that the racist taunt, "yellow banana, yellow," was first heard when Zheng was leading 30-15 in the third game of the second set. Video footage shows Zheng responding to the taunt with a defiant "I will beat you." This incident, captured by courtside microphones, ignited outrage on Chinese social media, with many praising Zheng for maintaining her focus despite the abuse. This incident echoes a 2021 event in which another Chinese athlete, Liang Jingkun, faced similar racial abuse during the world championships in Texas.

News

Ex-aide to NY governers charged as foreign agent

Linda Sun, a former top aide in the New York state government, has been charged with acting as an illegal agent for the Chinese government, allegedly using her positions to further Beijing’s agenda for financial gain. On Tuesday, Sun was arrested along with her husband, Chris Hu, at their $4 million home on Long Island, which the FBI previously raided after she was fired as deputy commissioner for strategic business development due to misconduct.  

The allegations: Sun worked in state government for about 15 years, holding positions in former Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration before rising to become deputy chief of staff to Gov. Kathy Hochul. At the request of Chinese officials, Sun allegedly used her positions to block Taiwanese diplomats from having access to the governor’s office, share internal documents and grant Chinese officials access to a state COVID-19 response call. The indictment also details Sun's efforts to prevent U.S. officials from engaging with Taiwan and to suppress mentions of China's detention of Uyghurs in New York government communications. 

Sun’s plea: In exchange, Beijing reportedly provided Sun and her husband with millions in kickbacks, allowing them to purchase expensive properties and luxury items. On Tuesday, Sun and Hu pleaded not guilty to various charges, including failing to register as foreign agents and money laundering. They have been released on bail with restricted travel and barred from contact with Chinese officials. Following Sun’s indictment, Hochul also announced the removal of China’s consul general in New York, Huang Ping, condemning the Chinese government’s actions as unacceptable. This case is part of a broader Department of Justice effort to combat covert Chinese influence in the U.S.

News

Climate change poses grave threat to South Korea’s kimchi

Kimchi, South Korea’s national dish, is facing serious shortage challenges as rising temperatures threaten the production of key ingredient napa cabbage. The shrinking supply of the vegetable has already led to soaring prices, putting both farmers and the kimchi industry under strain.

What’s going on: Napa cabbage, which thrives in cool climates, is increasingly vulnerable to climate change. As temperatures rise and extreme weather events like heatwaves and heavy rains become more common, cabbage yields have plummeted. The area of highland cabbage farms has shrunk dramatically, while fungal infections are more prevalent in warmer climates. In the worst-case scenario, South Korea may no longer be able to grow the crop by 2090. “If this continues, then in the summer time we might have to give up cabbage kimchi,” Lee Ha-yeon, a government-designated Kimchi Master, told Reuters.

What’s being done: The South Korean government is taking steps to protect production. Plans include a $40 million investment in new supply facilities and the release of key ingredients to manage shortages during the upcoming “gimjang” season, when families traditionally prepare kimchi for winter. Additionally, scientists are working on developing more resilient cabbage varieties, though there have reportedly been concerns over the taste and cost of these new varieties.

Entertainment

Netflix ramps up Chinese-language content with Taiwan focus

Netflix is significantly expanding its Chinese-language content with a particular focus on productions from Taiwan. The streaming giant, which held its first-ever accessibility premiere in Taiwan for the comedy series "GG Precinct" last month, is prioritizing stories that connect deeply with local audiences while also holding appeal for a wider Asia-Pacific viewership. 

About “Born for the Spotlight": One key title in Netflix’s upcoming Chinese-language lineup is "Born for the Spotlight," a 12-episode series exploring the complexities of female friendships and rivalry within the entertainment industry.  Written and directed by Yen Yi-wen and produced by Olive Ting, the series features renowned Taiwanese actresses Hsieh Ying-xuan and Cheryl Yang. It is set to have its world premiere at the Busan International Film Festival in October before launching on Netflix on Nov. 7.

Taiwan focus: Since Netflix is unavailable in mainland China, Taiwan has become the focal point for Netflix's Chinese-language content strategy. With upcoming Taiwan-made shows like "The Resurrected" and "Forget You Not," Netflix Head of Chinese Language Content Maya Huang emphasized the importance of the region. She stated, “What we are looking for is really to have stories that will first and foremost resonate with our local audience, which is in Taiwan. Because when we talk about Chinese-language content, we are not talking about a diaspora all over the world — we are more focused on Taiwan and then the Asia-Pacific regional audience.”

Entertainment

Manny Jacinto keeps “The Acolyte Season 2” as life goal

Manny Jacinto, known for his role as Qimir/the Stranger in the canceled “Star Wars” series “The Acolyte,” expressed his hope for a second season at Dragon Con in Atlanta this week. The show's cancellation, which unfortunately coincided with his birthday, disappointed many, including Marvel star Simu Liu. 

A Sith’s goal: During the pop culture convention’s panel, Jacinto was asked about his future goals and what he would like to achieve before he leaves “this mortal coil.” He responded with “Season 2 of ‘The Acolyte,’” eliciting cheers from the crowd.

Superhero support: Liu, star of “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings,” was among those who expressed his support for Jacinto when the cancellation was announced. Commenting on one of Jacinto's Instagram posts about the show, Liu wrote, “Justice for Manny!! Bro you were so effing good in this show and the dedication was so apparent. Bigger and brighter things ahead. Rooting for you always.”

Final Bites

San Francisco appoints first Asian American interim fire chief: Sandy Tong has been appointed as San Francisco's new interim Fire Department chief, becoming the first Asian American and first paramedic to lead the agency. Mayor London Breed announced Tong's appointment on Tuesday following former chief Jeanine Nicholson's resignation in July. Tong, with over 35 years of EMS experience, previously served as assistant deputy chief of emergency medical services. Breed praised Tong's deep knowledge of the department, highlighting her leadership during the interim period as the search for a permanent chief begins. Tong expressed her commitment, saying, “I will carry on the legacy of the San Francisco Fire Department and… we will continue to meet day-to-day challenges and keep the city safe.” The decision to appoint a Chinese American comes as Breed seeks to strengthen support among Asian American voters amid her reelection campaign.

Filipino ex-pageant queen accused of running Ponzi scheme: Maria Dulce Pino Dickerson, a former Filipino pageant queen, was arrested and charged with 24 counts of wire fraud, one count of securities fraud and seven counts of money laundering for allegedly running a Ponzi scheme targeting members of the Filipino American community. The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission alleges that Dickerson raised approximately $7 million from over 130 investors, promising them returns as high as 10% to 17.5% per month through fraudulent securities offerings via her purported shell companies. Dickerson allegedly claimed that the money would be used to provide loans to personal injury attorneys to fund their lawsuits and that Creative Legal Fundings would then receive a portion of the settlements or recoveries. Instead, she used money from new investors to pay earlier ones to keep the scheme going, according to the complaint. She is also accused of using investors’ money to fund her lifestyle, including expenses related to gambling, cars and properties totaling at least $2.5 million.

Ashley Park says Meryl Streep letter still makes her cry: Ashley Park recently shared on Jesse Tyler Ferguson’s “Dinner’s On Me” podcast that the letter Meryl Streep had left her after their first scene together on Hulu’s “Only Murders in the Building” still brings her to tears. The “Emily in Paris” star explained that she had everyone on the set sign her fake playbill, following the tradition of Broadway shows when they end. “Everyone was signing their name and I gave it to Meryl and she signed it and she gave it back to me. And it said, ‘I see you, Ash.’ She was just like, ‘I really, I really see you. You’re doing it,’” she said, adding, “Like still, it’s a year later, and it makes me want to cry.” Park and Streep shared a duet in the third episode of Season 3, “Grab Your Hankies,” last year.

Typhoon Shanshan destroys Japan’s 3,000-year-old “Princess Mononoke” tree: Typhoon Shanshan, also known as Typhoon No. 10 in Japan's numerical naming system, tore a 3,000-year-old Yayoi Sugi (or Yayoi Cedar) tree — – believed to be the inspiration for Studio Ghibli’s “Princess Mononoke” — – in half while leaving a trail of destruction across Japan's southwestern areas last week. Several tour guides confirmed the destruction of the tree, located in the Shiratani Unsuikyo scenic spot on the island of Yakushima, on Aug. 31. The Yayoi Cedar, once standing 26 meters tall and with a circumference of 8 meters around its trunk, was estimated to date back to the Yayoi Pottery Culture Period between 1000 B.C. and 250 A.D. Meanwhile, around 1,000 homes were destroyed, more than 120 people were injured and at least seven people have been confirmed dead since Typhoon Shanshan, which has now been downgraded to a tropical storm, made landfall in southwestern Japan on Aug. 29.

Viral video shows Thai mom sending love to daughter via CCTV: A heartwarming video of a Thai mother giving her daughter virtual hugs and kisses through a CCTV camera on Aug. 27 has gone viral on TikTok, amassing over 1.7 million views. TikTok user Aum Aum (@aumaum1017) posted the video with the caption, “Missing my mum. [Wait for me] to save some money, and I’ll return home to give her a big hug.” In the CCTV footage,  Aum Aum’s mother can be heard saying in Thai, “I miss you, take good care of yourself” and “I love you.” Aum Aum  reportedly moved to Chonburi province, nearly 400 kilometers away from their home in Buriram province, to work as a factory worker. She installed the camera so she could communicate with her mother and ensure her safety.