Indian American cricket hero works full-time as an engineer

Hello and good morning! It’s Monday, June 17. Here is some of the news in our community you need to know today:

 🗽“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses …”

On this day in 1885, the Statue of Liberty arrived in New York Harbor aboard a ship as a gift by France to the United States on the centenary of American independence. Lady Liberty's upraised torch became a beacon of hope for immigrants entering the U.S. through New York. Emma Lazarus' poem "The New Colossus" depicts the statue as a welcoming mother to the millions of immigrants seeking a new life and escape from hardship.

Sports

Indian American cricket hero works full-time as an engineer

Saurabh Netravalkar, a key player in the U.S. upset of Pakistan at the Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup earlier this month, isn't even a full-time athlete — he’s a software engineer at Oracle! The 32-year-old played for India's junior team before moving to the U.S. and landing the principal engineer position at the company before securing a spot on the U.S. national team in 2018.

• In an interview with KTVU, Netravalkar credits Oracle's flexibility for allowing him to compete while keeping his day job: “My manager has been very supportive in the sense of, if I'm on tour, she gives me the flexibility to sort of work remotely. And it helps being a software engineer that I actually don't need to be physically present to do my day job. So that is a blessing in disguise. My cricket coaches and my staff here have also been supportive too, if I have some work commitments during that time.”

• Netravalkar competed against former teammates and childhood friends when the U.S. team faced India in a heartbreaking loss on Wednesday. India's win secured their spot in the Super 8, while Team USA also advanced after their Friday match against Ireland was abandoned, resulting in the elimination of 2009 champions Pakistan.k

Government

Pentagon pushed anti-vax propaganda against China

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. military secretly ran a campaign to undermine China's influence in the Philippines by spreading anti-vaccine propaganda through fake social media accounts, according to a new Reuters report. The operation, which began in spring 2020 and ended in mid-2021, targeted China's Sinovac vaccine, raising doubts about its safety and efficacy. 

• At least 300 accounts on X were linked to the U.S. military operation. These accounts promoted the slogan “#Chinaangvirus,” meaning “China is the virus” in Tagalog. Typical posts included anti-China messages such as, “COVID came from China and the VACCINE also came from China, don’t trust China!” Such messaging led to increased distrust in vaccines, lowering vaccination rates and subsequently increasing COVID-19 infection and mortality rates.

• The campaign also expanded to Central Asia and the Middle East, leveraging local concerns about vaccine ingredients such as false claims about pork gelatin in Chinese vaccines to target Muslim regions. “We weren’t looking at this from a public health perspective. We were looking at how we could drag China through the mud,” a senior military officer involved in the effort was quoted saying.

Politics

Voters doubt Kamala Harris’ future presidential odds

Only a third of voters believe Vice President Kamala Harris would win if she became the Democratic nominee for president, with only 60% of Democrats confident in her chances, according to a new Politico/Morning Consult favorability poll. This raises concerns about her impact in the upcoming election and potential presidency in 2028.

• Both Harris and President Joe Biden recorded low favorability ratings in the poll, with Harris coming at 42% favorable and 52% unfavorable and Biden at 43% favorable and 54% unfavorable. However, the vice president outperformed the latter among key Democratic constituencies, particularly Black and Hispanic voters.

• While strong on issues like abortion and healthcare, Harris scores poorly on immigration and foreign policy. A majority of voters also view the vice president as lacking in leadership and trustworthiness, with 48% seeing her as a weak leader and 46% as untrustworthy.

Crime

Arrest made in fatal stabbing of Japanese national in Vancouver

Timothy Isborn, 32, was arrested on Monday in downtown Vancouver for allegedly stabbing Wataru Kakiuchi, 32, to death on June 5. The incident, which Vancouver Mayor Ken Sim previously denounced as a “senseless act of violence,” occurred just before 3:30 a.m. on Union Square near Main Street in Chinatown.

• Isborn is facing a charge of second-degree murder, which carries a minimum penalty of life in prison without parole for 10 years. He is set to appear in court on June 20.

• Authorities do not believe the victim and the suspect knew each other and are still determining a possible motive. Kakiuchi, a Burnaby resident and former chef at Hapa Izakaya known for his positive energy and musical talent, arrived in Canada in 2016 and had been waiting for the renewal of his work permit to return to the restaurant. 

China

Prominent Chinese #MeToo activists jailed for “subversion”

A court in Guangzhou, China, on Friday sentenced independent feminist journalist Huang Xueqin to five years in prison and labor activist Wang Jianbing to three years and six months for “inciting subversion of the state” exactly 1,000 days after they were arrested in September 2021. The charges reportedly stem from their involvement in organizing discussions, supporting other activists and participating in overseas training.

• Huang, 35, who was also fined 100,000 yuan ($14,000), played a pivotal role in China's #MeToo movement in 2018. She subsequently reported on Hong Kong’s 2019 protests. Meanwhile, Wang, 40, focused on labor rights, supporting workers with physical disabilities and occupational diseases. He also helped #MeToo victims be heard.

• Both activists’ closed-door trial was held for a day in September 2023. Their sentencing reflects a broader trend of suppressing social justice efforts in China. In a statement, Amnesty International’s China Director Sarah Brooks said, “These malicious and totally groundless convictions show just how terrified the Chinese government is of the emerging wave of activists who dare to speak out to protect the rights of others.”

South Korea

South Korean gym bans “aunties”

An unnamed gym in Incheon has sparked controversy by banning “ajummas,” a term used to describe women aged 30 and up that also carries a connotation of rude and obnoxious behavior. The gym only allows “cultured and elegant women” to enter its establishment, according to one of its signs.

• “[Some older women customers] would spend an hour or two in the changing room to do their laundry, steal items including towels, soaps or hair dryers,” the gym’s owner told Yonhap News TV. “They would sit in a row and comment and judge other people’s bodies.”

• The gym also listed eight traits that they believe define an ajumma, including the tendency to want things for free, frequently taking reserved seats for pregnant women on public transportation even though they are not pregnant and secretly disposing of food in public restroom toilets. The gym’s decision to restrict certain customers reportedly does not violate any South Korean laws.

More News

• Korean American founder of frozen yogurt chain dies: Solomon Choi, founder of 16 Handles, died at age 44 on June 7 from an undisclosed cause. Survived by his wife and two children, he sold the then-30-unit chain to Neil Hershman in 2022. Hershman mourned Choi's death and praised him as a visionary, saying, “I owe so much to Solomon for the opportunities, education, mentorship and friendship he provided me throughout the years.” Known for optimism and a significant career in restaurants, Choi also founded the food and beverage consultant Jabba Brands and was active in venture capital through the Hustle Fund’s Angel Squad. 

• Younger workers feel “lonely,” “isolated” at their jobs: The American Psychological Association (APA) conducted a survey of 2,000 working American adults and found that nearly half (45%) of those aged 18-25 feel lonely and stressed. Young workers reported struggling to connect with colleagues of different ages and preferring to work with peers their own age. The rapid adoption of AI tools also raises anxieties about their job security.“To remain competitive, employers should invest in strategies that support their workers’ well-being and mental health,” said APA CEO Arthur C. Evans Jr.

• “My Spy” sequel goes to Italy in action-packed trailer: The first trailer for “My Spy: The Eternal City,” the follow-up to the 2020 action-comedy ”My Spy,” dropped on Wednesday. The film, which heads straight to streaming on Prime Video on July 18, reunites Dave Bautista as gruff CIA operative JJ and Chloe Coleman as his teenaged stepdaughter Sophie as they head on a school trip to Italy. Ken Jeong and Kristen Schaal also reprise their roles from the first film.

  

• Internet-famous “Japanese girl” gamer isn’t actually Japanese or a girl: Midori, known online for leaking Sega and Atlus video game information on X, admitted last week that he is a white man. Previously known by the online moniker MysticDistance, he is accused of creating the persona of Midori, a Japanese woman who speaks broken English, which has garnered criticism for its racist caricature. “This persona was never used to catfish anyone or garner more followers. In all honesty, I decided on this persona at random,” MysticDistance wrote in a subsequent post.