Philippines men’s basketball team stuns world No. 6 Latvia

Hello and happy 4th!

Today is Filipino-American Friendship Day: On this date in 1946, the Philippines gained independence from the U.S., who played a role in assisting the country during World War II. July 4th was initially celebrated as Philippine Independence Day but was later officially designated Filipino-American Friendship Day in 1984 to commemorate the longtime partnership between the nations.

Here’s the news you need to know today:

Sports

Philippines men’s basketball team stuns world No. 6 Latvia

Gilas Pilipinas pulled off a stunning upset, defeating world No. 6 Latvia, a team boasting NBA talent like Davis Bertans, 89-80 in their opening game of the 2024 FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Riga, Latvia, on Wednesday. This tournament is a last-chance qualifier for teams to earn a spot in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Masterful performance: Despite missing NBA star Jordan Clarkson and other key players, Gilas Pilipinas led throughout the game, with their lead reaching as high as 26 points. Kai Sotto, Justin Brownlee, Dwight Ramos and June Mar Fajardo led the Philippines, combining for 67 points. 

Olympic dream alive: The victory marks the first time a Filipino national team has won against a European team in an official FIBA competition since 1960. The Philippines will now face Georgia in their final group stage game, with a win securing them the top seed and a place in the semifinals.

Tech

Elon Musk responds to girl who found Tesla bug

A 7-year-old Chinese girl named Molly attracted the attention of Tesla CEO Elon Musk after reporting a bug she found on the touchscreen display of their Tesla Model 3 in a video. Molly’s mother initially uploaded the video to her Weibo account on Sunday before it was reposted on X the following day.

Showing the bug: In her video, Molly, who enjoys drawing on the touchscreen display, demonstrates the bug she discovered, showing how a previously drawn line disappears after the user inputs a new stroke. “You see it? So can you fix it? Thank you,” she says in English. According to Chinese media, the girl was accompanying her mother to work when she discovered the bug on June 30. Her parents suggested she film a video to report the bug to Musk.

Musk’s response: Musk commented under the post hours after it was reshared on X, writing, “Sure.” Reacting to Musk’s response, Molly’s mother said that while she was happy, Molly just returned to playing after seeing the comment. “Actually, the various opinions from the outside world don't really affect a little child that much. However, the fact that Musk responded to Molly's action, I think, is very meaningful for my daughter,” she said.

Crime

74-year-old woman shoved in front of San Francisco train

Corazon Dandan died after being pushed into an oncoming BART train at San Francisco’s Powell Street Station at around 11 p.m on Monday night. The suspect, 49-year-old Trevor Belmont, also known as Hoak Taing, was arrested at the scene and booked into the San Francisco County Jail on suspicion of homicide and elder abuse. He is being held without bail. The incident marks the first homicide on the BART system in 2024.

About Dandan: According to authorities, Dandan hit her head on the train and fell on the platform after being pushed. She was rushed to San Francisco General Hospital, where she later died. Dandan, who was Filipino American, was a dedicated telephone operator at the Westin St. Francis and other hotels. Despite not needing to work for financial reasons, she continued because she loved her job, according to her nephew, Alvin Dandan. She was described by her neighbors as “friendly,” “kind” and someone who would “give vegetables.” 

Investigation: Authorities are currently investigating the incident. Belmont is reportedly a homeless man who has been involved in nearly two dozen criminal cases in the city since 2013. The tragic event highlights ongoing safety concerns on the BART system, which has seen a significant decline in ridership due to safety fears. The BART Police Department's recent report shows an increase in violent crimes and arrests as the department works to improve safety by recruiting more officers and increasing their presence on trains. 

News

U.S. deports over 100 Chinese migrants

Over the weekend, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) deported 116 Chinese migrants, marking its first “large charter flight” since 2018. The deportation is part of ongoing efforts to enforce immigration laws and reduce illegal migration and human smuggling. DHS is collaborating with Chinese authorities on additional removal flights and emphasized consequences for illegal migration amid ongoing political debates of border policies under President Joe Biden.

DHS efforts: “We will continue to enforce our immigration laws and remove individuals without a legal basis to remain in the United States,” Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said in a statement. Efforts are also being made to shut down key migration routes, including a U.S. agreement with Panama to cover repatriation costs for migrants entering Panama illegally and Ecuador reinstating visa requirements for Chinese nationals. 

The charter flight comes a month after Biden announced a broad asylum ban that temporarily halts asylum requests when weekly border arrests average above 2,500. In 2023, U.S. border authorities apprehended over 37,000 Chinese nationals at the southern border, a tenfold increase compared to the previous year. Since October, the Customs and Border Protection have also encountered over 21,000 Chinese nationals at the southern border, exceeding the number of Mexican nationals. 

Japan

Dead train passenger in Japan goes unnoticed over 12 hours, 400 miles

A Japanese man died on a Tokyo commuter train on May 11 and remained unnoticed among sleeping passengers for nearly 12 hours. The unnamed passenger boarded in Shibuya and traveled over 400 miles before being discovered. 

• Final journey: The train's route typically involves multiple round trips between Tokyo and neighboring prefectures. Authorities believe the man passed away sometime before reaching the first northernmost stop, Utsunomiya.

• Among the nappers: The man's cause of death remains unknown, with foul play ruled out. Passengers likely mistook him as sleeping due to the common sight of napping on commuter trains.

India

Stampede at Hindu gathering in northern India claims 121 lives

A stampede at a Hindu gathering in the district of Hathras in India’s Uttar Pradesh state on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of at least 121 people, predominantly women, according to authorities. The event, which was led by a preacher known as “Bhole Baba,” saw an overwhelming turnout of 250,000 people at a makeshift tent authorized only for 80,000 attendees.

What happened: Conflicting reports suggest the stampede began either when devotees surged forward to approach the preacher as he descended from the stage, or when attendees sought to exit the tent due to oppressive heat and humidity near the end of the event. The situation reportedly worsened as attendees rushed toward the preacher's departing vehicle to collect dust that was considered holy, resulting in further casualties.

What’s next: India has a troubling history of stampedes during religious events, often attributed to inadequate safety measures despite guidelines issued by disaster management authorities. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a judicial inquiry into the latest tragedy and assigned culpable homicide charges to event organizers. Bhole Baba, who changed his real name from Suraj Pal Singh to Narayan Sakar Hari, has not been named among the accused. Meanwhile, the Indian government announced compensation for the families of the deceased.News

More Asian News

BTS’ Jin to represent South Korea as torchbearer in Paris 2024: BTS member Jin, who recently completed South Korea’s mandatory military service, will represent his country as a torchbearer in the Paris Olympics, which will run from July 26 to Aug. 11. His participation reportedly aims to spread the messages of “harmony” and “peace.” His return to the spotlight marks a pivotal moment as he gears up for new music releases and television variety shows later this year. “The results will be out in a few months, so please wait a little longer,” he recently told fans.

P-pop sensation dominates inaugural Billboard Philippines charts: Billboard Philippines has launched its own version of the Hot 100 and the Top Philippine Songs charts, ranking the top songs in the country based on official streams from digital music services and download sales. In its inaugural week (July 6), girl group Bini dominated the Top Philippine Songs chart with six song entries, including securing positions 2 to 4. Meanwhile, OPM artist Maki took the No. 1 spot on both charts with his single “Dilaw,” featuring Bini’s Maloi in its music video. Other international hits on the nation’s Hot 100 chart include Sabrina Carpenter’s “Please Please Please” and Billie Eilish’s “Birds Of A Feather.”

Naomi Osaka claims first Wimbledon win in 5 years: Naomi Osaka secured her first Wimbledon victory since 2018 by defeating France’s Diane Parry on Monday. The victory, which comes on the eve of her daughter's first birthday, marks a significant milestone in her comeback after taking a break from tennis last year. Osaka, who is currently ranked 113th and playing on a wildcard, advances to the second round to face American teenager Emma Navarro on Wednesday. 

Din Tai Fung begins accepting reservations for NYC opening: Famous Taiwanese restaurant chain Din Tai Fung is set to open its first Northeast U.S. branch in New York City on July 18, with reservations now available through Yelp. The upcoming branch, located at 1633 Broadway between West 50th and 51st Streets, is reportedly the company’s largest restaurant, capable of accommodating up to 450 people. Din Tai Fung NYC accepts diners by reservation only, with limited walk-ins.

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