Haley calls for GOP unity with “strong endorsement” of Trump

Politics

Haley calls for GOP unity with “strong endorsement” of Trump

Nikki Haley delivered a “strong endorsement” of Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention on Tuesday, urging party unity days after an assassination attempt on the former president. The last candidate to stand between Trump and the GOP nomination, Haley reportedly received a late invitation to speak at the convention, which also saw ex-rivals Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy.

A unifying message: The former U.N. ambassador called for unity within the party following a heated campaign that saw Trump call her a new insult, promote a false birther conspiracy, distort her plans for Social Security and accuse her of relying on “Democrats and liberals.” Addressing those who remain skeptical of Trump — many of them her supporters — she emphasized that she and the former president agree “more often” than disagree and that “you don’t have to agree with Trump 100% of the time to vote for him.”

Reactions: Haley mostly received cheers from the crowd, but there were also light boos. Trump, who previously stated that she will join his team “in some form,” expressed approval at her remarks while seated with his newly minted running mate, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance.

Politics

Sikh Republican leader faces backlash for praying for Trump

Harmeet Dhillon, a Sikh Republican leader, made headlines at the Republican National Convention by reciting Ardas, a Sikh prayer, marking a significant moment of cultural and religious representation. She prayed for America in both Gurmukhi and English and thanked God for protecting Donald Trump in the attempted assassination at a Pennsylvania rally on Saturday.

Online criticism: However, her prayer sparked backlash from some Christian fundamentalists and ultra-conservatives who deemed it "anti-Christian" and "blasphemous," with some even calling it "witchcraft." Prominent conservative commentators criticized her for praying to a "foreign god" and promoting a non-Christian religion at a GOP event. “How about you get deported instead, you pagan blasphemer. God saves our president and the RNC mocks him with this witchcraft,” tweeted far-right political activist Lauren Witzke.

Dhillon’s response: Despite the criticism, Dhillon reported feeling warmly received by the Republican audience, noting the respectful silence and positive reactions she encountered in person. She defended her actions by emphasizing the universality of God and dismissed the online negativity. “Do not portray me as a victim. Yes, there are definitely some negative comments online, but members of the RNC, delegates at the RNC in the Trump campaign approved of me doing this prayer,” Dhillon told the New York Post.

Politics

She could be the first Indian American second lady

Usha Vance, the 38-year-old wife of Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance, Donald Trump’s running mate, is an accomplished lawyer and daughter of Indian immigrants. Her journey from a San Diego upbringing to the national spotlight is marked by her own achievements and a supportive role in her husband’s political career.

Background and education: Usha, a practicing Hindu, was raised by a biologist mother and an engineer father. She holds undergraduate and master’s degrees from Yale and Cambridge, respectively. She completed her law degree at Yale Law School, where she met J.D., who went on to describe her as his “Yale spirit guide” in his 2016 memoir “Hillbilly Elegy.” They married in 2014 and have three children: Ewan, 6; Vivek, 4; and Mirabel, 2.

Career and political transition: Usha clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh when he was an appeals court judge. She later worked as a corporate litigator at the prestigious law firm Munger, Tolles & Olson, which describes its corporate culture as “radically progressive.” Her departure from the firm was announced shortly after her husband was selected as Trump’s running mate. Public records show she voted in Democratic primaries until 2014 but switched to the Republican primary in 2022, aligning with her husband’s politics.

News

6 dead, hundreds injured in Bangladesh anti-job quota protests

Six people were killed and more than 400 were injured during violent clashes in Bangladesh earlier this week as students protest the government’s job quota system. The policy, which was reinstated on June 5 after being abolished in 2018, reserves up to 30% of public jobs for family members of veterans who fought in the 1971 War of Independence from Pakistan.

What happened: The protests, which began shortly after the system’s reinstatement, escalated on Monday as demonstrators clashed with members of the Awami League, Bangladesh’s ruling party that led the country to independence. The violence continued on Wednesday after security forces were deployed outside Dhaka University.

The aftermath: Following the deaths and injuries reported on Tuesday, the University Grants Commission urged all public and private universities to close indefinitely. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina announced a judicial investigation into the killings and urged protesters to trust the Supreme Court's upcoming decision on the quota system.

News

Mystery of Vietnamese tourists found fatally poisoned in Bangkok hotel

Six Vietnamese tourists, including two Vietnamese American dual citizens, were found dead in a locked hotel room at the Grand Hyatt Erawan in Bangkok on Tuesday. Authorities believe they were poisoned with cyanide after traces of the substance were found in their teacups and blood.

Mass suicide ruled out: The victims, three men and three women aged 37-56, were discovered after they failed to check out. Investigators have ruled out the possibility of a mass suicide, citing the victims' arrangements for future activities and the positioning of the bodies within the hotel room. 

Investigation underway: Police believe one of the victims may have poisoned the others due to a financial dispute over a planned hospital investment in Japan. Four of the six victims had invested money together and it is suspected that a debt dispute related to this investment may have led to the tragedy. The FBI is set to assist Thai authorities in their investigation.

Study

1 in 10 young Japanese report being groped in public

A landmark government survey conducted by Japan's Cabinet Office revealed that 10.5% of young people aged 16-29 have been groped or experienced indecent acts in public. The survey, the first of its kind focused on victims of molestation, found that women account for nearly 90% of victims, with crowded trains being the most frequent location (63%).

Unreported abuse: Despite ongoing efforts to combat "chikan" (the Japanese term for groping in public), the survey found that a staggering 80% of incidents go unreported. Many victims cite fear, a perception that authorities don't take such crimes seriously and a complex reporting process as reasons for not coming forward. Experts are calling for increased public awareness, improved support for victims and a stronger law enforcement response.

Lasting impact: The survey highlights the psychological impact of groping, with some victims reporting long-term trauma. One respondent shared: "The memory of (groping) never fades even after so many years. I want (the perpetrator) to know that I have been traumatized for a long time."

NextShark Exclusive

The silent powerhouse bridging cultures and languages in "The Boys"

Japanese American actress Karen Fukuhara, known for her role as Kimiko Miyashiro on Amazon Prime Video series “The Boys,” attended Japanese language school for 11 years and started her career as a translator and subtitle editor for Japanese dramas, giving her insights into cultural nuances and untranslatable expressions. Her character Kimiko is a mute, superpowered individual who becomes a member of the vigilante group known as “The Boys.” In an interview with NextShark, Fukuhara stated, “Communication can be done non-verbally; signing is just as powerful as audible languages. Sometimes listening is the biggest part of a conversation, especially playing this character because it's active listening, and it's quite hard to do if you're not used to doing it.”

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Final Bites

Carmelo Anthony denies jealousy towards Jeremy Lin: Retired New York Knicks star Carmelo Anthony addressed long-standing rumors about his reaction to teammate Jeremy Lin's breakout "Linsanity" run in 2012. On his podcast "7PM in Brooklyn," Anthony denied any jealousy towards Lin's sudden success, which had been speculated as a factor in Lin's departure from the Knicks. Anthony claimed that he and his teammates actively supported Lin, even attempting to help him secure lucrative endorsement deals. Anthony said he estimated the potential value of these deals at "$100 million," but Lin reportedly declined and cited his upbringing and family values as priorities.

P-pop boy group wins Favorite Asian Act at 2024 Kids’ Choice Awards: The Philippines’ SB19 beat out K-pop boy group Enhypen, Japanese girl group NiziU, Malaysian singer Iman Troye and Indonesian singer Tiara Andini in the Favorite Asian Act category at Nickelodeon’s 2024 Kids’ Choice Awards on June 13. “Thank you so much for voting us... It’s such an honor to represent the Philippines. We appreciate all your love and support,” the group said in a video posted by Nickelodeon Asia. SB19 also celebrated their fans, A’TIN, who were recently nominated for the Billboard Fan Army Face-Off 2024. The fandom previously won the contest in 2023, making history as the first Filipino act's fandom to do so. 

Mongolia's traditional dress-inspired Olympic uniforms go viral: Mongolia's Olympic uniforms, designed by Ulaanbaatar-based label Michel & Amazonka, have become a viral sensation on social media, with TikTok videos showcasing the designs garnering millions of views. Founded in 2015 by sisters Michel and Amazonka Choigaalaa, the label created four unique looks incorporating Mongolia's national colors and the Soyombo symbol: two for men, two for women and special outfits for flag bearers featuring traditional elements like pointed hats and boots. Each intricately embroidered, traditional dress-inspired outfit took over 20 hours to craft.