🍵 A house, condo and mac & cheese for life

In case you missed it:

• Bin Feng of China wins silver in Women’s Discus Throw

• Shinnosuke Oka of Japan wins gold in Men’s Horizontal Bars and silver in Men’s Parallel Bars

• Yaqin Zhou of China wins silver in Women’s Balance Beam

• Jingyuan Zou of China wins gold in Men’s Parallel Bars

• Se Young An of Korea wins gold in Women’s Singles Badminton and Bing Jiao He of China won silver

• Yuehong Li and Xinjie Wang of China win gold and silver while Yeongjae Cho of South Korea wins silver in shooting 25m Rapid Fire Pistol

Olympics

Filipino gymnast wins gold medals, a house, condo and mac & cheese for life

Gymnast Carlos Yulo made history at the 2024 Paris Olympics, winning the Philippines’ second and third gold Olympic medals ever, adding to Hidilyn Diaz's weightlifting win in Tokyo in 2021. The 24-year-old athlete clinched his first Olympic gold in the men's floor exercise final on Saturday, then followed up with another gold in the men's vault final on Sunday. 

Historic win: Yulo, who became the first Filipino to win multiple gold medals, expressed his gratitude for the support he received, calling his second gold medal his "sweetest" victory. "I'm grateful for the people who truly believed in me through the ups and downs,” he said. "I was just hoping to perform well. I didn't really expect a medal. It really felt like a bonus for me. It's crazy, because last night I couldn't sleep.”

The Philippines’ golden boy: Yulo is set to receive numerous rewards, including 10 million Philippine pesos ($172,800) from the Philippine Sports Commission, 6 million PHP ($103,700) from the House of Representatives, a house and lot from the Philippine Olympic Committee, a 35-million-peso ($604,700) condominium unit in McKinley Hill Taguig City and 3 million pesos ($51,800) cash from Megaworld Corporation. Yulo will receive a hero's welcome upon his arrival in Manila, as well as free furniture, department store perks and lifetime supplies of food, including mac and cheese, from various

Olympics

China's tennis players deliver historic performance at Paris 2024

China's tennis players impressed at the 2024 Olympics, achieving their best-ever results in both women's singles and mixed doubles. Zheng Qinwen won China's second Olympic tennis gold medal and first-ever gold medal in women's singles, defeating Croatia's Donna Vekic 6-2, 6-3 on Saturday. Zhang Zhizhen and Wang Xinyu secured a silver medal in the mixed doubles on Friday, narrowly losing a thrilling three-set match to the Czech Republic.

Inspired by Li Na: Zheng’s historic victory took place on the same court where her idol, Li Na, became China's first Grand Slam champion in 2011. "I feel my country will be proud of me, I'm proud of myself,” she said. “My family are at home, I'm sure they are screaming at the TV. I just fight every match. I have a special energy playing for my country. I never give up."

Hard-fought silver: The mixed doubles team, formed last-minute, expressed pride in their achievements and hope to inspire a new generation of Chinese tennis fans. Wang said: "At this moment, I feel grateful for being a tennis player. Ten years, or 15 years ago, not so many people knew about this sport. I am super happy about this progress."

Olympics

Free pineapple pizza topping offered in Hong Kong after fencer’s gold win

Pizza Hut Hong Kong celebrated Edgar Cheung’s gold medal win against Italy’s Filippo Macchi, in a 15-14 victory in the men's individual foil fencing event at the Paris Olympics on Tuesday, by offering free pineapple toppings for its Hawaiian Paradise Pizza. The promotion was available at all Pizza Hut Hong Kong branches on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Disputed result: Cheung’s win in sudden death, which came after three stoppages during which referees had to review video after the fencing machine registered the athletes’ points simultaneously,  prompted the Italian Fencing Federation to file an official protest to the International Olympic Committee and the International Fencing Federation over the result. Italian Fencing Federation President Paolo Azzi noted in a statement on Instagram, “Filippo Macchi is the real winner and he was denied a gold he deserved.” Italy’s Olympic Committee President Giovanni Malago also pointed out in his statement that “the two judges were from Taipei and Korea in a final between Italy and Hong Kong,” seemingly suggesting that the two Asian nations were biased in favor of Hong Kong.

Why pineapple?: As a long-running internet debate, pineapple on pizza has always been viewed by some, including Italians, as “sacrilegious” because the fruity topping seems out of place in the popular Italian dish, which traditionally consists of meat, cheese, tomato sauce and herbs. Some fans in Hong Kong reportedly stoked the fire by commenting on Cheung’s Instagram post, “I like pineapple pizza and pasta with soy sauce.”

Olympics

Tom Kim says tears after Olympic loss unrelated to South Korea’s conscription

South Korean golfer Tom Kim clarified that his crying after missing the chance to earn his country a medal at the Paris Olympics were unrelated to his mandatory military service. Kim, 22, was seen wiping away tears while signing golf balls on Sunday after placing eighth in the Olympic golf tournament, just four shots away from a bronze medal.

What he’s saying: “I wasn’t really thinking about that at all,” Kim, a three-time PGA Tour winner, told the media, referencing whether he was crying about his future conscription. “I was just trying to get a medal for my country and not myself. I’ve never been really this emotional after a round. These emotions are surprising but I think it’s just all the hard work I’ve done this year to put myself in this position – those things are coming out,” he continued, adding that American gold medal winner Scottie Scheffler’s words also got to him after the round. “He’s a really good buddy of mine and understands what I’ve gone through.”

What’s next: In South Korea, able-bodied men are required to serve in the military for 18 to 21 months, typically enlisting after turning 18 or delaying until the age of 28. Those who win medals at the Olympics or Asian Games are exempt from mandatory military service. If Kim wants to be exempt before the cutoff age of 28, he must win a medal at either the 2026 Asian Games or the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Olympics

Taiwanese fans face restrictions in celebrating badminton victory over China

Taiwan beat China to secure its first gold medal at the Paris Olympics in men’s doubles badminton on Sunday. The triumph sparked celebrations across the self-governing island and highlighted ongoing geopolitical tensions with Beijing, which sees it as a breakaway province.

Expressions of Taiwanese identity: Fans in Paris chanted “Taiwan” and “Taiwan No. 1,” celebrating the victory of athletes Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin over China’s Liang Weikeng and Wang Chang. Despite restrictions on banners that include religious or political messages, Taiwanese supporters found ways to express their national pride. Officials reportedly seized such signs and even ejected one out of the venue. The Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the confiscation, while the Taipei Representative Office in France said it would file a complaint with the IOC.

Geopolitical tensions: Taiwan competes under the name “Chinese Taipei” due to Chinese pressure. Citing “very clear rules,” IOC spokesperson Mark Adams defended the removal of the banners, saying “We have to try to bring 206 national Olympic committees together in one place.” In China, state broadcaster CCTV cut its broadcast of the badminton match seconds after the Taiwanese victory and did not show the medal ceremony. Chinese social media also saw a backlash against the Taiwanese athletes, with nationalists calling them “gross separatists.”

Olympic Bites

Suni Lee wins 6th Olympic medal: Sunisa “Suni” Lee became the first American woman to win two Olympic medals on the uneven bars. The 21-year-old gymnast’s bronze medal in Sunday's final is her sixth Olympic medal overall, with two gold, one silver and three bronze earned across the 2020 and 2024 games. With one more event to go in Paris, Lee has the opportunity to further add to her impressive medal count and tie Shannon Miller with seven total Olympic medals.

Defending surf champ confirms retirement after Paris Olympics defeat: Surfer Carissa Moore, who is of Native Hawaiian and Filipino descent, competed in what may be her final elite-level appearance at the Paris 2024 Olympics in Teahupo’o, Tahiti, on Aug. 1. A five-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist, Moore entered the competition aiming to defend her gold medal title but lost to France’s Johanne Defay. Moore had announced her intention to retire after the 2024 Games earlier in January. After her loss, she confirmed her plan “to just take a break,” delivering a retirement speech: “The last thing I want to say is that I want to express my gratitude to everyone that’s been there and supported me, not only in this event but my whole life. It’s just nice to have a community behind you. So, thank you.” 

Taiwanese boxer secures medal amid gender controversy: Taiwan’s Lin Yu-ting clinched a guaranteed medal by defeating Bulgaria’s Svetlana Kamenova Staneva in the women’s 57-kilogram boxing quarterfinals on Sunday. Both Lin and Algerian fighter Imane Khelif face scrutiny after the International Boxing Association reported that they failed an unspecified gender eligibility test in last year’s Women’s World Boxing Championships in New Delhi. The International Olympic Committee, which dismissed the IBA’s decision as “sudden and arbitrary,” has defended Lin and Khelif against the discrimination they are facing. Lin is set to fight Turkey's Ezra Yildiz Kahraman in the semifinals on Wednesday, with the winner competing for gold on Saturday. “Today is not a period, full stop, but a comma. Our goal hasn’t been achieved yet. So we cannot give up on any opportunity, I will keep fighting,” she said.

Thailand gets its first Olympic badminton medal: Kunlavut Vitidsarn made history by becoming the first badminton player from Thailand's national team to reach the finals on Sunday. The Thai badminton star defeated Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia with scores of 21-14 and 21-15. Unfortunately, his Olympic run ended in the finals, where he lost to Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen with scores of 21-11 and 21-11 on Monday. “As I have said many times earlier, it will be very difficult to win a medal in my first Olympics. But as I’m in the final now, if possible, I’d love to win the gold for our country,” he said before the match.

Crime

Oakland father-of-two shot in the head while sleeping

Run Hua Kuang, 33, is fighting for his life after being shot in the head while taking a nap at home after completing his shift as a delivery driver on Aug. 1.  

What happened: The bullet reportedly went through the headboard in Kuang’s East Oakland home, penetrating the back of his skull and exiting through his left eye at about 3:30 p.m. Kuang is currently on life support in the ICU after a seven-hour surgery. The Oakland Police Department has yet to release a statement regarding the incident. Details about the bullet or its shooter remain unknown. 

About Kuang: Kuang, a delivery truck driver, is the sole breadwinner for his wife of seven years and their 7-year-old and 3-month-old daughters. The incident has left the family traumatized and in financial distress. Kuang, who immigrated from Taishan, China, in 2005, speaks limited English and handles all responsibilities and communications for his household. His sister has created a GoFundMe page, which has now raised over $71,000 out of its $150,000 goal. “We are keeping Hua in our prayers for a miracle. We are sincerely grateful for any financial support that you can provide,” Jasmine Kuang wrote. 

Crime

Asian man dragged out of car amid violent UK riots

Videos posted to social media capture a mob of racist rioters in Hull, England, dragging an Asian man out of his car and vandalizing it amid widespread riots in Britain on Saturday. These riots emerged following the Southport incident where 17-year-old Axel Rudakubana was accused of murdering three young girls and attempting 10 other murders at a dance event. Misinformation spread by far-right groups contributed to the violent unrest across the U.K.

What happened: The footage shows rioters yelling racial slurs, pushing a shopping trolley and surrounding the vehicle, which had its windscreen smashed. A group can be seen charging towards a gray vehicle as they yell the word “Paki” at the driver. The racial slur is used primarily in the U.K. to refer to people of Pakistani origin, but it has also been used more broadly against South Asians, including Indians and Bangladeshis. The violence only dispersed when anti-riot police arrived. 

Widespread protests: The incident is part of broader unrest linked to far-right anti-immigration protests across the U.K. In Hull, cars have been set on fire, and tear gas was deployed against demonstrators who attacked a hotel housing asylum seekers. Riots have also erupted in Manchester, Nottingham and Liverpool, with significant violence and multiple arrests. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has pledged “full support” for police action against “extremists” inciting hate and intimidation.

Final Bites

Harris makes history as official Democratic nominee: Vice President Kamala Harris officially clinched the Democratic presidential nomination on Monday, marking a historic moment as the first black woman and first South Asian woman to become the nominee for a major U.S. political party. Harris, who secured the nomination through a virtual roll call ahead of the Democratic National Convention, is expected to announce her running mate on Tuesday. She has already interviewed potential candidates, including Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly and Transportation Sec. Pete Buttigieg. Following her nomination, Harris is scheduled to appear with her new running mate at a Philadelphia rally, kicking off a five-day tour across seven battleground states. The campaign has raised a record $310 million in July, more than doubling the Trump campaign's fundraising efforts for the same period.

Ex-Trump officials, Republicans endorse Harris: On Sunday, Vice President Kamala Harris' campaign announced a new initiative called “Republicans for Harris,” showcasing endorsements from nearly 30 former GOP members, including some from Donald Trump's administration. This list includes Stephanie Grisham, Olivia Troye, Chuck Hagel and Ray LaHood. The development follows President Biden’s recent withdrawal from the race and endorsement of Harris, which has boosted her campaign with increased donations and poll support. Despite this momentum, Harris and Trump remain in a tight race, with Harris' campaign now focusing on persuading undecided Republicans. “[We] are working overtime to earn the support of my fellow Republicans who care about defending democracy and restoring decency,” said Austin Weatherford, the Harris campaign’s national director of Republican outreach.