Japan upsets USA in American football to reach IFAF World Junior final

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Sports

Japan upsets USA in American football to reach IFAF World Junior final

Japan's U20 American football team defeated two-time champion USA 41-20 at the IFAF World Junior Championships in Edmonton, Canada, on Wednesday. A dominant defensive performance in the first half propelled Japan to a commanding lead, which they held onto despite a strong American comeback attempt.

Dominating performance: Linebacker Toshihiro Higashi's fumble recovery and running back Takemi Minobe's touchdown run sparked Japan's early surge. MVP quarterback Nobuaki Kobayashi connected with receiver Tobias Linscott for a crucial 16-yard touchdown pass. USA mounted a second-half comeback, but running back Taisei Urushibara's two touchdowns squashed any momentum.

Major upset against former champs: The victory is a significant upset, as the USA has traditionally dominated the sport and won the last three championships. This is the first time Japan has ever reached the IFAF U20 World Junior Championship final. Japan will face Canada in Sunday's gold medal game.

News

New pandas en route from China to California

Giant pandas Yun Chuan and Xin Bao are on their way to San Diego from China, marking the first panda loans to the U.S. in two decades. The pandas departed from the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Sichuan province on Wednesday night. The loan was finalized in February after Chinese leader Xi Jinping suggested sending pandas to the San Diego Zoo to enhance Sino-American friendship following a meeting with President Joe Biden for the 30th APEC global trade summit in November last year. 

About the pandas: Xin Bao, a “gentle and well-behaved” female born in July 2020, and Yun Chuan, a “smart and lively” male born in July 2019, received a celebratory farewell attended by dignitaries from both countries. Their journey includes fresh bamboo, fruits, vegetables and special cornbread, with a team of breeders and veterinary experts ensuring their well-being. The pandas will acclimate for several weeks before being available to the public. 

Panda diplomacy: The San Diego Zoo has a history of panda research collaboration with China, dating back to 1994. The newest pandas mark the zoo’s renewed panda program about five years after the last pandas were returned to China in 2019. China loans pandas to more than 20 countries through its “panda diplomacy” program. China recognizes the bear species as significant for political and diplomatic purposes, particularly in locations where it aims to enhance influence or foster closer relations.

News

Asians are the fastest growing racial group in Texas

Texas saw the largest increase in new Asian residents among all U.S. states from 2022 to 2023, with a population growth of 5.5% or 91,921 people, as per new U.S. Census Bureau data. Driven by immigration, this growth rate outpaced the state’s overall population increase of 1.6%.

Where they are: Among all U.S. metro areas, the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington area saw the largest increase in its Asian population, adding 44,437 residents to raise the group’s total population to 692,382. Meanwhile, the Austin-Round Rock-San Marcos area recorded the fastest increase at 10.5% among metro areas with Asian populations of at least 10,000.

Greater diversity: Texas also added the most Hispanic (242,000) and Black (91,000) residents out of all U.S. states. Houston led in adding new Hispanic residents, while Dallas saw the largest increase in Black residents.

News

Taiwanese warned against traveling to China after execution threats

Taiwan's Mainland Affairs Council has elevated its travel alert for China, Hong Kong and Macau to the second-highest orange level, advising citizens to avoid unnecessary travel due to increasing safety concerns. The decision stems from recent amendments to national security laws in these regions and new Chinese legal guidelines threatening to execute Taiwan independence advocates. The guidelines, effective since last Friday, mandate the legal system to “severely punish Taiwan independence diehards for splitting the country and inciting secession crimes” to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Council’s advice: The council noted that if residents must travel to these regions, they should “avoid getting involved in or discussing sensitive issues and affairs, photographing ports, airports, military exercise venues, and carrying books on politics, history, religion.”

China-Taiwan tensions: China has intensified pressure on Taiwan since President Lai Ching-te's inauguration last month, branding him an “obstinate separatist.” Lai has stated that Taiwan and the People's Republic of China are "not subordinate to each other." Beijing has not ruled out using force to assert control over the island, which it claims as its territory. While most countries do not recognize Taiwan as independent, the U.S. opposes any forcible takeover and is legally obligated to supply Taiwan with defensive weaponry.

Crime

Fake “Oxford study” used to shame Asian women dating white men

@lightskinbbyrei

Replying to @desertrivers #greenscreenvideo

Online trolls are citing a nonexistent "Oxford study" to portray Asian women in interracial relationships as submissive and hyper-sexualized. These harassers use the fake study to create a false impression of scientific backing for their racist and sexist views.

• The myth of an “Oxford study” began as a joke on TikTok in April 2023 and was later spread by misogynistic online groups who feel these relationships might shrink the dating pool for Asian men.

• Some TikTok users are debunking the “Oxford study” myth. Those subjected to such comments say they feel judged as it reinforces the fetishization of Asian women. References appear to allude to a 2010 study titled "The New Suzie Wong,” which analyzes how Asian women are portrayed in the media but doesn't examine real-life dating habits.

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More Asian News

Asian woman attacked by baseball bat-wielding perps in NYC: A 58-year-old Asian woman checking her phone was viciously attacked by two masked individuals wielding a baseball bat in front of 37 Monroe St. in downtown Manhattan just before 2 p.m. on Tuesday. Surveillance footage shows the attackers running up from behind, with one suspect punching her in the head and the other repeatedly striking her with a bat while trying to steal her purse. The victim, who works at a senior day care center, was hospitalized with bruising on the left leg and swelling in the head but is now recovering at her daughter’s home. Police are still looking for the suspects, who fled empty-handed.

Indian girl stuns “AGT” judges with “rock goddess” performance: Maya Neelakantan, a 10-year-old from India, left “America’s Got Talent” judges Simon Cowell, Sofia Vergara, Heidi Klum and Howie Mandel speechless with her guitar riff rendition of Papa Roach’s “Last Resort” on Tuesday. “You know what I love about this audition?" Cowell asked after Neeelakantan’s performance. “You just weren't expecting this. You were so shy, and you're 10! And then you turned into, like, this rock goddess. That is the beginning of a career, which I always say, ‘Make noise among the noise.’ And you just did that.”

Most Thais support reclassifying cannabis as a narcotic: A majority of participants in a Thai government poll surveyed between June 11 and June 25 expressed support in reclassifying cannabis as a narcotic to ban recreational use, with over 80% of 111,201 respondents backing the plan. Thailand, which was the first Asian country to decriminalize recreational cannabis two years ago, is reversing its policy due to social and health concerns, especially for the youth. The new rules will categorize cannabis buds as narcotics but allow the use of other plant parts. Despite opposition from cannabis advocacy groups and businesses, the draft regulation will be reviewed by the Narcotics Control Board.

American runner flexes “Yu-Gi-Oh” cards during Olympic trials: Track and field athlete Noah Lyles was spotted flexing his Blue Eyes White Dragon and Exodia The Forbidden One cards from “Yu-Gi-Oh” before competing in Team USA’s track and field trials and qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics over the weekend. Lyles pulls “Yu-Gi-Oh” cards to carry during races as part of an ongoing bet with shotputter Chase Ealy, who will wear accessories inspired by the “Naruto” anime. "[Chase] said if I pull out Yu-Gi-Oh! cards each round, she’ll wear the Rock Lee weighted shoes and drop weights during her finals. So I've got to live up to my part of the deal so she lives up to her part of the deal,” he told USA Today.