News

Chinese gold medalist swimmer responds to “humanly impossible” accusation

Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle has responded to Australian coach Brett Hawke's remarks questioning the legitimacy of his record-breaking 100-meter freestyle win at the Paris Olympics. The 20-year-old swimmer's victory, clocking in at 46.40 seconds, not only broke his own world record but also reignited controversy amid past doping allegations against the Chinese swim team. 

Turning doubt into motivation: Hawke's Instagram video, where he commented, "That’s not real… That’s not humanly possible," quickly went viral on Chinese social media, drawing criticism from users who labeled him a sore loser. Pan, who has passed 21 doping tests leading up to the Games, said in an interview with Chinese media that Hawke's doubts fueled his motivation to perform even better. “It helps. All the hostility and disparaging words from everyone can be turned into my motivation,” said the swimmer.

Time for “peace and quiet”: Pan also recently shared his reasons for shutting down his official Weibo fan group, which had garnered over a million followers just five days after his Olympic win. In an interview with CCTV, Pan explained, “Achievements come from step-by-step training. When my performance was poor, they didn’t come to find me. But now they do, it feels really strange and awkward. I hope to keep a low profile and enjoy some peace and quiet.”

News

Bodycam footage shows moments leading to fatal shooting of Victoria Lee by NJ police

Body camera footage released by the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office shows the moments leading up to the fatal shooting of 26-year-old Victoria Lee by police in Fort Lee on July 28. Lee, who had bipolar disorder, was having a crisis when her brother called 911 for medical assistance. Despite emphasizing her mental state and the presence of a small pocket knife, police forcibly entered the apartment at The Pinnacle complex and shot Lee, who had allegedly dropped the knife and was holding a water jug.

Video footage: The bodycam footage shows Lee's mother pleading with officers not to enter as Lee becomes increasingly agitated. As more officers arrive, Officer Tony Pickens Jr. shouts, “I’m gonna break the door down,” to which Lee responds, “Go ahead, and I’ll stab you in the f*cking neck. Shoot me if you want to.” Once the door is opened, the footage captures officers repeatedly shouting, "Drop the knife!" while Lee throws a large water jug at them and steps forward. Moments later, Pickens fires a shot, striking Lee in the chest. The video does not clearly show whether Lee was holding a knife when she was shot.

Calls for justice: Lee later died at the hospital. The shooting remains under investigation amid ongoing public outrage. Lee’s family is demanding justice and accountability, insisting that she was not a threat when she was shot. The family’s attorney argues that lethal force was unnecessary and calls for improved police training for handling mental health crises. Community leaders and activists, including representatives from AAPI, the People’s Organization for Progress and Black Lives Matter, expressed solidarity with the Asian community and called for accountability for the officers involved.

Crime

Korean American teen dies following alleged assault in L.A.’s K-town

Los Angeles police are investigating the death of 19-year-old Joon Hee Han, who succumbed to a head injury after allegedly being assaulted in Koreatown on July 18. 

What happened: Han’s family believes the injury was the result of an attack that occurred in the 700 block of South Harvard Boulevard, where he fell and sustained the injury. He was reportedly fine following the attack but was taken to a Whittier hospital after collapsing on July 23. Han remained in a coma until his recent death last week. 

Ongoing investigation: Detectives have not confirmed the family’s claim of assault, and no suspect has been identified. Police are working to gather evidence and witness statements to clarify the events leading to Han’s death. “As more information becomes available and the sequence of events that led to Joon Hee Han’s death becomes clear, we will provide additional information. Until then, we must refrain from additional comments on this tragic occurrence until the facts are clear,” the LAPD said in a statement. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact the West Bureau Homicide at 213-382-9470.

News

Watch out! Chinese university’s new admission letter could cut you

Using high-tech materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT) has created a new admission letter that is just 0.2 millimeters thick but as sharp as a knife. Several BUCT freshmen have uploaded videos showing themselves cutting vegetables and fruits, including a whole watermelon, using their admission letter.

High-tech material: Dubbed “black gold,” BUCT’s College of Materials Science and Engineering used a new type of carbon fiber composite to create this year’s admission letter. Known for its durability, flexibility and temperature resistance, carbon fiber is widely used in carrier rockets, large aircraft and vessels. “The carbon fiber-made admission letter not only showcases our university's exceptional abilities in the field of carbon fiber composite material but also marks the transformation of China's homegrown carbon fiber composite material from high-end industrial use to daily application,” Yang Xiaoping, a professor at BUCT's College of Materials Science and Engineering, said.

Creative letters: Other universities have also showcased their creativity when designing admission letters, such as Beijing Film Academy, which drew inspiration from film slates, and Zhejiang A&F University, which used thin bamboo fibers produced with the university’s independently developed bamboo slicing technology.

Entertainment

Netflix's Korean content struggles to replicate "Squid Game" success

Netflix is experiencing a decline in users as its Korean originals struggle to replicate the phenomenal success of "Squid Game." While a few series have achieved the top spot in weekly global viewership this year, none have captured the widespread acclaim of previous hits like "Squid Game," "All of Us Are Dead" and "The Glory."

Lack of buzzworthy content: Netflix saw its subscriber base shrink by 16% in South Korea, dropping from 13.06 million in December last year to 10.96 million in June, according to data from Mobile Index. This decline coincides with a lack of significant buzz around its newer series, as none have topped GoodData's weekly buzzworthiness rankings this year. Critics point out that Netflix's focus on genre-specific content, especially action-thrillers, may be sidelining the diverse storytelling that originally fueled the K-drama wave.

Recapturing the “Squid Game” magic: Netflix revealed its plans to produce a wider variety of Korean content last year, announcing a $2.5 billion investment planned over the course of four years. Experts say the highly anticipated second season of "Squid Game," set to premiere in December, could help revitalize its Korean content and win back viewers. The streaming giant also has a slate of promising Korean content lined up for this year, including the crime thriller drama "The Frog," "The Trunk,"  the second seasons of "Gyeongseong Creature" and "Hellbound.”

News

Martial arts film world mourns death of Hong Kong director

Corey Yuen, the legendary action star, choreographer and film director, died in 2022 due to complications from COVID-19. His death was kept private at his family's request until it was recently revealed by Jackie Chan in a Weibo post. Yuen's six-decade career left an undeniable mark on the martial arts film industry in both Hong Kong cinema and Hollywood.

Humble beginnings: Yuen began his career as part of the Seven Little Fortunes, a renowned Peking Opera troupe that also included Chan and Sammo Hung. He transitioned into acting in the early 1970s, with notable roles in films like "Fist of Fury" and "The 14 Amazons." He later expanded his talents into action choreography, stunts and directing, becoming a driving force behind the success of many A-list stars.

Hero among stars: Yuen's influence extended to both Hong Kong and Hollywood, playing a pivotal role in launching the careers of stars like Stephen Chow and Michelle Yeoh. He also collaborated extensively with Jet Li, directing hits like "The Legend" (1993) and choreographing Hollywood blockbusters like "Lethal Weapon 4" (1998), “X-Men" (2000) and "The Expendables" (2010), among others. He is well regarded among peers as one of the industry's finest action directors.

Final Bites

Meet the J-pop boy band behind viral hit “Just Like Dat”: Japanese boy band Psychic Fever from Exile Tribe is gaining global momentum thanks to their viral 2000s hip-hop-inspired song “Just Like Dat,” which has sparked a dance challenge trend on TikTok. In an interview with NextShark, the seven-member group shares insights into their impact on the evolving J-pop scene and the diverse talents they bring to the table. “The name Psychic Fever means we have a lot of identities and different strengths. We can sing, rap and dance. So with these strengths, the Psychic Fever means like causing chemical reactions with each other,” rapper Jimmy says. Known for their hip-hop and R&B styles, the group is currently on their first Asia tour and hints at future plans for a U.S. tour.

Michelle Yeoh won’t be in James Cameron’s “Avatar” anytime soon: James Cameron revealed that it may take a few more years before fans see Michelle Yeoh in the “Avatar” franchise. The confirmation follows a misunderstanding in late producer Jon Landau’s Instagram post in 2019, when Yeoh visited the “Avatar: Fire and Ash” set and sparked theories that she will appear in the third installment. Cameron told Entertainment Weekly that the Oscar-winning actor will not appear in 2025’s “Avatar: Fire and Ash” and will instead make her franchise debut in “Avatar 4” and “Avatar 5.” The director said, “We love Michelle. She was always a movie star, but she's blown up into a huge, huge phenomenon. I look forward to working there." Disney announced in 2019 that Yeoh will be playing the scientist Dr. Karina Mogue in the sequels.

Simu Liu says “Shang-Chi” sequel now in the works: Simu Liu confirmed that the sequel to his 2021 hit Marvel film "Shang-Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings" is in development, but declined to reveal specific details. "It's definitely happening," Liu told the Press Trust of India, expressing his excitement for the project and echoing his statement in May. Currently promoting his new film "Jackpot," Liu also reflected on the "jackpot moment" in his own life: receiving the call from Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige offering him the role of Shang-Chi. He described the experience as life-changing, likening it to "winning the lottery 10 times over."

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Chinese athlete goes viral for drinking “boba sea”: Zhang Guowei, a former Chinese high jumper, has gone viral for drinking boba from a large water container while riding public transportation. Zhang, who now creates online content, posted the video on Douyin on Aug. 3. The video garnered over 1.4 million likes and more than 2.8 million views on Instagram, where it was re-shared. While Zhang’s video was meant to be humorous, it’s important to note that excessive boba consumption could lead to medical conditions such as constipation and kidney stones.

ICYMI 👀

Celine Dion singing in perfect Mandarin: Celine Dion performed in flawless Mandarin on Chinese state TV as part of a New Year Gala show ushering in the Lunar New Year in 2013. Alongside Chinese soprano Song Zuying, the Canadian vocal powerhouse enchanted audiences with a special rendition of “Mo Li Hua,” an 18th-century folk song which translates to “Jasmine Flower.” She then performed her hit song “My Heart Will Go On.” Dion, who has been diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome and made an emotional stage comeback at the Paris Olympics, has sung in various other languages, including Japanese — with Japanese American singer Yuna Ito — French, Italian, Neapolitan and Spanish.