News

Jenn Tran’s brother emerges as fan favorite after brutal “Bachelorette” finale

James Tran, the brother of Jenn Tran, became an unexpected fan favorite after Tuesday’s heartbreaking “Bachelorette” finale as viewers found appreciation for his candid and protective approach toward his sister’s suitors. Season 21 concluded with Jenn getting dumped by fiance Devin Strader.

What he said: James quickly stole the show after expressing skepticism about Devin. His decision to withhold his blessing from Devin proved insightful, as the latter called off the relationship two months after Jenn proposed on camera. Fans appreciated James’ concern and wisdom, with one viewer reportedly calling him “the real MVP of this season.” On Instagram, James reflected on the painful finale, describing it as “needlessly cruel” while acknowledging that “sometimes things don’t align perfectly.” He also encouraged his sister to “hang tight,” telling her, “Your heart will be beating to a much better rhythm soon.”

A painful reunion: The finale reached a difficult climax when Jenn was forced to watch the replay of her proposal to Devin, despite their breakup. Through tears, Jenn explained how Devin had pulled away after their engagement, saying, “He basically said he didn’t love me anymore.” Despite the emotional strain, Jenn maintained, “I do not regret proposing to that man... but that man doesn’t exist anymore.” Fans were outraged by the producers’ decision to make her relive the moment, with many criticizing the show’s treatment of Jenn as “cruel” and “traumatizing.”

News

Younger Asian Americans report more discrimination but seek less help, survey reveals

A survey of Asian Americans in Los Angeles and New York released last month shows that younger generations experience discrimination at higher rates than their elders but are less likely to seek support. Conducted by Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California (AJSOCAL) and the Rand Corporation, the survey highlights a gap in awareness and response between generations.

Broader bias perception: The report indicates that younger respondents, who came of age during the surge of anti-Asian incidents amid the COVID-19 pandemic, have a broader view of discrimination, including microaggressions and verbal harassment. June Lim, a researcher involved in the survey, emphasized that older generations might not view microaggressions as acts of hate, while younger generations see these as part of a larger pattern of bias.

Call for more tailored solutions: The researchers acknowledge that more tailored efforts are needed to connect with younger, English-speaking Asian Americans to ensure they feel supported in combating discrimination. “What can community organizations do to stay connected with later generations of Asian Americans?” Lim said. “How do we continue to outreach to them so that we may be relevant and serve them too?” To bridge this gap, AJSOCAL has developed resources like the Asian Resource Hub, offering support to various Asian communities nationwide.

News

Asian American woman touts balancing family, business as sole breadwinner

Ellen Yin, an Asian American business owner based in Oregon, recently opened up about the pressures and joys of being the sole breadwinner for her family. In a Business Insider article published last month, the eldest daughter of first-generation immigrants shares how she has built a successful social media marketing business while her husband Dustin manages their household, a partnership she values deeply.

Journey to entrepreneurship: Yin’s enterprising path started in 2017 when she left her second corporate job without a backup plan, encouraged by her husband. After gaining her first freelance clients, she scaled her efforts into a media business — with a podcast as a flagship product — that earned over $550,000 in 2023. “My greatest personal-development experience has been growing a business and being a female breadwinner,” she shared.

Balancing family and business dynamics: Dustin plays a crucial role in their household, managing chores while working a few hours a week for her business. “He’s good at taking care of the household labor in a way that I’m not,” Yin said, noting that their marriage thrives on equality and communication. Despite the pressure of being the sole earner, Yin said she is proud to be able to support their family on her income. Her story has drawn positive comments on Instagram, where she clarified some details and expressed further gratitude for her husband.

News

China ends foreign adoptions

China is ending most foreign adoptions, leaving hundreds of American and other foreign families with pending applications in uncertainty. 

Driving the news: The Chinese government announced the termination of its international adoption program on Thursday, citing alignment with global trends and a need to reverse the country’s declining birth rate, which threatens its economic and social stability. The only exceptions to the ban will be for foreigners adopting children or stepchildren of blood relatives in China. “This is in line with the spirit of relevant international conventions,” ministry spokesperson Mao Ning told reporters. 

China's adoption program: Since the early 1990s, China's international adoption program placed over 160,000 children abroad, with approximately half adopted by U.S. families. The program was largely driven by the country’s now-defunct one-child policy, which led to the abandonment of many children, particularly those with disabilities. Adoptions were suspended in 2020 during the pandemic to “ensure the health and safety” of the children. Last year, only 16 were sent to the U.S. Despite additional incentives like tax breaks and extended maternity leave, China has yet to see a definitive reversal of its declining birth rate.

Science

Japanese scientists bring robots to life with living skin

Researchers at the University of Tokyo's Biohybrid Systems Laboratory successfully attached live, self-healing skin to a robot's face, enabling it to mimic human expressions. Led by biohybrid robotics pioneer Shoji Takeuchi, the breakthrough paves the way for more realistic, interactive humanoid robots in the future.

How it works: Inspired by human skin ligaments, the new binding technique utilizes "anchors" and a special collagen gel to securely attach cultured skin tissue to a robotic actuator. This allows the robot to move its "face" without tearing or damaging the skin. While the current prototype resembles a cartoonish appearance, the team aims to enhance its realism by adding wrinkles and a thicker epidermis and integrating biological components.

What’s next: Takeuchi envisions a future where robots possess other anatomical parts found in the human skin, including sweat glands, sebaceous glands, pores and even nerves and blood vessels. “Of course, movement is also a crucial factor, not just the material, so another important challenge is creating humanlike expressions by integrating sophisticated actuators, or muscles, inside the robot,” Takeuchi said. “Creating robots that can heal themselves, sense their environment more accurately and perform tasks with human-like dexterity is incredibly motivating.”

News

Japanese woman gets booed for winning Spain’s prestigious flamenco competition

Japanese dancer Junko Hagiwara was booed on stage after becoming the first foreigner to win one of Spain’s most prestigious flamenco competitions at the Cante de las Minas festival in the town of La Union in Murcia in early August. Hagiwara, who goes by her stage name La Yunko, was receiving the “Desplante” — the competition’s top dance award — when some in the crowd began to heckle her by whistling and jeering.

On winning the top prize: After being announced as the winner, Hagiwara told La Opinion de Murcia that her mind “went blank,” noting that she did not expect to win and even had trouble going up the stairs to receive her award. “They gave me the prize, and I felt an enormous weight, both physical and emotional, because it's a huge responsibility to live up to this recognition,” she added. Considering herself a purist of the flamenco — a Spanish dance style that combines singing, dancing and guitar playing — Hagiwara said, “When I dance, I don’t think I am a foreigner, that I am Japanese. It doesn’t occur to me. I am simply on stage, I listen to the guitar, the singing, and what I feel I express in my dancing.”

Rigging allegations: Some audience members and competitors, including María Canea, claimed that the jury’s decision was “a fix” and based on “politics” to help boost the festival’s international appeal. Jury Chairman Francisco Paredes, however, immediately dispelled the allegations, saying, “People are saying ridiculous things, that the competition was rigged by the mayor, which is completely false.”

Entertainment

And the most beloved K-pop group of the 21st century is…

Girls’ Generation, Blackpink and BTS were named the most beloved K-pop groups of the 21st century, according to a Gallup Korea poll conducted between Aug. 19 and Aug. 23. The survey, which polled 1,052 South Koreans aged 19 to 69, revealed that Girls' Generation and Blackpink tied as the most-loved girl groups, while BTS overwhelmingly ranked first among boy groups.

Results: Girls’ Generation and Blackpink each received 42% of the votes as the most-loved girl groups. NewJeans followed in third place with 25%, while Wonder Girls (21%) and Twice (13%) rounded out the top five. Among boy groups, BTS dominated with 74% of the votes, far surpassing second-place Big Bang, which garnered 33%. Super Junior (15%), TVXQ (14%) and Exo (13%) completed the top five.

What’s next for the groups: Most of BTS’ members are currently serving in the military, but they have pre-filmed various projects that are being rolled out. For one, Jimin and Jungkook’s travel reality show premiered on Disney Plus on Aug. 8, while a pair of documentaries focused on Jungkook and RM’s solo careers are set to be released within the next month. Blackpink, on the other hand, will make a comeback and begin another world tour next year. Girls’ Generation, while currently inactive, returned with a full album in 2022 to mark their 15th anniversary.

Final Bites

Over a million evacuated as Super Typhoon Yagi hits China: Super Typhoon Yagi made landfall on China’s Hainan Island on Friday, bringing heavy rain and winds up to 245 kilometers per hour which make it 2024’s second-strongest tropical cyclone globally. Over 400,000 people in Hainan and 670,000 in Guangdong province were evacuated. Schools and businesses were shut down and flights were canceled across the region, including in Hong Kong and Macau. The storm is expected to cause significant disruptions before heading toward Vietnam and Laos, where four airports have already been closed. Yagi previously struck the northern Philippines, causing 16 deaths. Scientists link the stronger typhoons to warmer oceans driven by climate change.

Adult Swim releases trailer for Junji Ito’s “Uzumaki” anime: Adult Swim on Thursday released a trailer for the highly-anticipated horror anime adaptation of Junji Ito’s “Uzumaki.” The four-episode series, which was delayed multiple times since the COVID-19 pandemic, will premiere on Adult Swim’s Toonami block on Sept. 28, followed by a streaming release on Max on Sept. 29. First announced in 2019, “Uzumaki” follows the story of a town plagued by a spiral-shaped anomaly that causes madness among its residents.

This purrfect Japanese company has 10 feline “employees”: Qnote, a web and app design company in Tokyo, is a haven for cat lovers, having 10 felines that freely interact with employees during work hours. Interestingly, each cat has a designated “job,” with Futaba — the oldest at 20 after being adopted from a sushi restaurant in 2004 — serving as the “chaircat.” Featured on the company’s website, the cats help create a positive atmosphere, encouraging employees to take breaks whenever they interrupt their work. The felines also help attract job applicants and reduce employee turnover, says company boss Nobuyuki Tsuruta. Qnote made sure to accommodate the cats when it moved to a new building in 2020, refurbishing some floors to install litter boxes and shelves for them.