Purdue star Zach Edey selected 9th overall in NBA Draft

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Sports

Purdue star Zach Edey selected 9th overall in NBA Draft

The Memphis Grizzlies made a potential steal in Wednesday's NBA Draft by selecting 7-foot-4 center Zach Edey with the ninth overall pick. The 22-year-old Chinese Canadian, a two-time College Basketball Player of the Year at Purdue University, is widely regarded as one of the most dominant collegiate players in recent history.

Pure dominance: Edey averaged an impressive 23.8 points and 12.5 rebounds during his last two seasons with Purdue. He then averaged nearly 30 points and 15 rebounds per game during March Madness. In the NCAA Championship game, he carried Purdue with nearly two-thirds of their points in a losing effort against UConn.

Dream fulfilled: Edey, who chose to watch the draft on TV with his former Purdue teammates instead of attending the event at the Barclay’s Center, said: “This is a dream come true. Memphis has such a great core, and I am really excited to get down there and work.”

Sports

7-foot-3 Chinese girl hyped as the “next Yao Ming

Zhang Ziyu, a Chinese basketball sensation, is dominating the FIBA U18 Women's Asia Cup with her towering presence and scoring prowess. The 17-year-old's exceptional height and skill have drawn comparisons to NBA legend Yao Ming, who retired from play in 2011.

Rising star: Ziyu's dominance was on full display against Indonesia on Monday, where she scored 19 points on perfect shooting (9-for-9) and grabbed seven rebounds in just 13 minutes of play. Her impressive performance continued against New Zealand on Tuesday, where she poured in a massive 36 points on 80% shooting.

Viral clips: FIBA's highlight videos showcasing Zhang's dominance have gone viral, with fans and commentators marveling at her skills. Some are already buzzing about her potential future in the WNBA, with some calling her the "WNBA's Yao Ming."

News

FBI quietly releases extensive Vincent Chin file

The FBI discreetly released a 602-page file on Vincent Chin, a Chinese American draftsman whose infamous 1982 killing catalyzed Asian American activism and civil rights movements. The document, which was posted on June 20 and first reported by the Detroit Free Press, includes witness reports, FBI memos, letters, interviews and newspaper clippings, offering a comprehensive account of the case.

About the case: Chin died on June 23, 1982, after being struck with a baseball bat by Ronald Ebens in Highland Park, Michigan, four days earlier. The Justice Department launched an investigation into the case, examining whether racial discrimination laws were violated. Ebens was acquitted of civil rights charges after a retrial. This ignited protests over perceived lenient sentencing and anti-Asian sentiment in Detroit.

Conflicting accounts: The file features previously unseen documents, including eyewitness accounts of Chin’s final moments. Interviews reveal conflicting accounts of anti-Asian slurs during the incident, with some witnesses reporting hearing racial slurs and others claiming that Ebens showed no prejudice.

Crime

Chinese woman dies shielding Japanese mom and child from knife attack

Hu Youping, a school bus attendant in Suzhou, China, died after attempting to shield a Japanese mother and her child from a knife attack at a bus stop outside a Japanese school at around 4 p.m. on Monday. She sustained severe injuries and received treatment at a hospital before her death. The 52-year-old male assailant, surnamed Zhou, was arrested at the scene. The mother and child suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

• The local government honored Hu as a “Righteous and Courageous Role Model,” and the Japanese embassy in China lowered its flag to half-mast in her memory. “We believe [Ms Hu's] courage and kindness also represent that of the Chinese people. We pay tribute to her righteous deeds. May she rest in peace,” the embassy wrote on Weibo.

• On Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning expressed "regret" over the attack, stating that China will take effective measures to protect foreigners in the country, just as it protects its own citizens. This incident follows a recent stabbing that injured four U.S. college instructors in China’s Jilin province on June 10. China has seen a series of knife attacks over the past year, including deadly incidents at a primary school in Jiangxi, a hospital in Yunnan and a kindergarten in Guangdong. 

Crime

Border arrest of murder suspect underscores vetting concerns

Junnan Ge, a 37-year-old Chinese migrant wanted for a 2004 Los Angeles murder, was arrested in San Diego on June 14 after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border and turning himself in, expecting release into the U.S. However, border agents discovered his outstanding homicide warrant during background checks. Ge had previously crossed the border in 2011 following the alleged murder, but it is unclear if he was released or removed from the country at that time.

• Ge’s attempted return emphasizes the limitations of border agents’ vetting procedures, which have allowed some suspects and offenders to be unknowingly released into the U.S. Since October last year, federal data shows that 587 migrants with warrants and over 10,000 convicted criminals have been apprehended.

• 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 in recent months. On June 4, President Joe Biden announced a broad asylum ban that temporarily halts asylum requests when weekly border arrests average above 2,500. However, the new policy exempts migrants in San Diego from over 100 countries, including China, and are generally being released into the U.S. with future court dates, according to a leaked memo. 

South Korea

Busan government offers cash for singles to hook up

Saha-gu, a district in Busan, South Korea, is set to hold a blind date event in October where the local government will provide cash subsidies of 1 million won ($720) or 500,000 won ($360) each to newly formed couples who meet at the event. While the specific rules have not yet been disclosed, interested participants must undergo a vetting process that includes applications and interviews.

More cash incentives: The event is open to people aged between 23 and 43 who are working and living in the district. Besides the initial 1 million won cash incentive, potential future partners will also receive an additional 2 million won ($1,440) if they meet each other’s parents, and a substantial cash incentive of 20 million won ($14,430) if they get married. The district will also support newlyweds with a 30 million won ($21,650) housing deposit or 800,000 won ($580) in monthly rent for up to five years.

What they’re saying: “This project is designed to overcome the demographic crisis amid South Korea's low birth rate by forming a multicultural local community in the future,” district head Lee Gap-jun said. If successful, the district hopes to hold similar events in the future, potentially including foreigners living and working in Saha-gu.

More Asian News

Studio Ghibli films with the most delicious-looking food: In a survey from Japanese firms Nexer and Hachimenroppi, 500 participants ranked Studio Ghibli films based on how appetizing their food scenes are. “Castle in the Sky” topped the list due to Pazu's memorable creation of “Laputa bread,” or fried eggs on toast, with “Spirited Away” in a close second for its diverse dishes like Haku's rice balls and Chihiro’s parents’ meal with meat. “Kiki’s Delivery Service” ranked third for its bakery scenes with bread, coffee, chocolate cake and herring pie. “My Neighbor Totoro” came fourth, noted for Satsuki’s bento and fresh countryside produce, while “Howl’s Moving Castle” completed the top five, highlighted by Calcifer’s bacon-and-egg combo.

Vera Wang shares throwback photo on 75th birthday: Fashion guru Vera Wang uploaded a picture of herself at 7 years old as she celebrated her 75th birthday on Thursday. “Circa 1956. Just me. Twas the night before my birthday and all through the house,” Wang wrote in her post. Wang told People in April that after turning 75, she plans to “keep prodding on because I feel as though I'm able to do my best work more and more. I'm really trying to respect that in me, that voice in me, that I feel very happy to be creating. That's what it's all about, really.”

Japanese hotel allegedly denies Israeli tourist over “war crimes”: A Kyoto hotel allegedly refused to accommodate an Israeli man last week due to perceived ties to the Israeli military in Gaza. The alleged action, which the hotel has declined to comment on, has sparked outrage among local officials, who deemed it a violation of the Hotel Business Act. In response, the Israeli Embassy in Tokyo condemned the act as “a clear case of discrimination,” though it emphasized that it was isolated and not reflective of Japan’s hospitality standards. Meanwhile, Japanese Foreign Minister Yoko Kamikawa called it “unacceptable.”

How a bank bridged opportunities for Asian American success: A documentary that delves into how East West Bank empowers Asian American communities is now streaming on Apple TV, Google Play and Prime Video. Directed by Evan Leong, “The Bridge” comes as the bank founded in Los Angeles’ Chinatown celebrates its 50th anniversary. Watch the official trailer here.