News

Chinese food YouTuber shares “next chapter” after double James Beard win

Fresh off the prestigious James Beard Foundation Broadcast awards, popular YouTube Chinese food culinary channel Made With Lau shared exciting plans for the future. In a video posted on Aug. 24, creator Randy Lau documented his recent trip to the White House and the awards ceremony in Chicago amidst the anticipation of their second child's birth in June. 

Whirlwind journey: The video takes viewers on the channel’s whirlwind journey, starting with Lau's birthday and the impending birth of he and his wife’s third child. It then transitions to Lau’s recent trip to the White House where he and other YouTube creators met with officials. This experience, despite the channel's recent dip in views and revenue, served as a "visceral reminder to zoom out and see the bigger picture" for Lau. The video culminates with “Made With Lau's” winning “Instructional Visual Media” and “Emerging Voice” awards at the 2024 James Beard Awards. The proud moment, which he shared with his parents, was made even more special as Lau's wife went into labor shortly after.

Writing their next chapters: Lau announced the upcoming release of their first cookbook, focused on Cantonese cuisine. The cookbook, a passion project for the Laus, promises to be a treasure trove of authentic recipes. Lau also hinted at potential new video series exploring diverse culinary traditions and techniques. In a touching closing message, Lau expressed his deep gratitude for the journey he's been on. "I'm just so grateful that we get to do what we do... This has genuinely been the best chapter of my life so far," he shares.

News

Alameda County firefighter put on paid leave over video of racist tirade

A freeway collision near Stockton, California, escalated when an off-duty Alameda County firefighter went on a racist tirade, which was recorded and shared on TikTok. The firefighter, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed, approached the window and hurled racial slurs at the other driver, Vath Touch.

Racist rant: In the video posted over the weekend, the firefighter, who was angry about Touch’s speed in the fast lane, called him a "dumbass Mexican" and "f*cking Filipino." When accused of being racist, he denied it, saying, “I'm not f*cking racist. I'm a firefighter. You’re going to be late for your f*cking $10/hour job, b*tch.” Touch has since spoken out about the incident, noting that he has hired an injury lawyer for his lower back pain. “I'd like to say.. everybody gets respected not just browns, blacks, yellow, purple. It doesn't matter. We all need to get respected. We're living together,” he said.

Fire department statement: On Monday, the Alameda County Fire Department Chief William McDonald confirmed the firefighter's employment and stated that such behavior “does not align with the values and standards we uphold as an organization,” noting that they are taking immediate steps to improve sensitivity training for the department. The firefighter, who has been working with the department for about 20 years, has been placed on unpaid administrative leave while the incident is under investigation. The cause of the accident remains unclear. 

News

Rice is disappearing from Japan’s shelves after disaster threats

The Japanese government issued a warning on Tuesday advising people to remain calm and refrain from panic buying rice in supermarkets. Japan was already experiencing an unprecedented decline in the rice supply, which government officials believe is partially due to a tourism boom.

What caused it: Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Tetsushi Sakamoto said that the panic buying was triggered by a series of events, including a government warning in early August about a potential “megaquake” that could happen within the next 30 years, recent typhoons and the week-long Obon festival, which was held from Aug. 13 to Aug. 16. Some supermarkets are limiting consumers to one bag of rice a day per family.

End of shortage: Sakamoto reassured people that the shortage will be over soon, likely in September when the newly harvested rice will be distributed. “We expect the rice shortage to gradually improve going forward. We ask consumers to act calmly and purchase only the amount of rice they need,” he said. A farmer in Aomori prefecture echoed the same sentiment, telling Kyodo News, “High temperatures are causing rice to grow faster, but it's going well. There was no impact from typhoons. There's no need to panic.”

News

HK journalists convicted in landmark sedition case

A Hong Kong court on Thursday convicted two former editors of the now-defunct Stand News in a landmark sedition case that has raised concerns about the future of press freedom in the city. The convictions of Chung Pui-kuen, the paper’s former editor-in-chief, and Patrick Lam, the former acting editor-in-chief, are seen as emblematic of a broader crackdown on dissent and free speech under Beijing’s tightening grip on Hong Kong.

Details of the case: Chung, 54, and Lam, 36, were charged with conspiracy to publish seditious materials, specifically related to 17 articles published between July 2020 and December 2021. The articles, which included commentaries by exiled activists and journalists, were deemed by the court to have incited hatred against the Chinese and Hong Kong governments. The case brought the first sedition trial targeting journalists since Hong Kong’s handover to China in 1997. Both editors face up to two years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for Sept. 26. Lam, who did not appear in court over health reasons, emphasized in a mitigation letter that “the only way for journalists to defend press freedom is to report.” On the other hand, Chung, who spent 36 days on the witness stand, said that Stand News had only “recorded the facts and reported the truth.”

The big picture: The convictions are a stark indicator of the deteriorating press freedom in Hong Kong, which was once a bastion of free speech in Asia. The trial has drawn international criticism, with U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller labeling the verdict a “direct attack on media freedom.” Critics argue that the case exemplifies the broader clampdown on dissent following the imposition of the national security law in 2020, which has already led to the shutdown of several outspoken media outlets and the exile of numerous journalists. The case also highlighted the chilling effect on the local media landscape, with many journalists now forced to exercise self-censorship to avoid crossing the increasingly perilous red lines set by authorities.

News

Hong Kong advises teens to play badminton instead of having sex in new guidelines

Hong Kong's new sex education guidelines, which include advising teenagers to avoid premarital sex by engaging in activities like badminton, have sparked mixed reactions in the city. Some found the 70-page document from the Education Bureau amusing, coining terms like “friends with badminton” as a play on “friends with benefits.”

Criticism: Critics including some sex educators argue that the guidelines are regressive and emphasize controlling sexual impulses rather than understanding them. The curriculum, which includes warnings about "sexy clothing" and suggests filling out forms to set intimacy boundaries, is seen as perpetuating gender stereotypes and harmful myths. “Teaching the idea that someone’s choice of clothing can ‘visually stimulate’ or provoke sexual assault perpetuates harmful rape myths,” said Doris Tsz-Wai Chong, executive director of the Association Concerning Sexual Violence Against Women.

Officials’ response: Despite the backlash, Hong Kong officials, including the education secretary and the city's leader, defended the guidelines as a tool to help 12- to 14-year-olds manage the consequences of premarital sex. Developed by local academics and reviewed by educators, the curriculum is reportedly intended to be “read as a whole and within context.”

Entertainment

P-pop superstars Bini, SB19 receive Voices of Asia Award at Billboard Korea

Billboard on Tuesday celebrated the launch of Billboard Korea with a grand event at the Yeong Bin Gwan Hall of The Shilla Seoul, honoring K-pop pioneers and global artists. At the Billboard K POWER 100 event, P-pop groups Bini and SB19 received the Voices of Asia Award for their “groundbreaking contributions to Filipino music and their unwavering championing of P-pop on the global stage,” according to Billboard Philippines.

What they’re saying: Bini and SB19 expressed gratitude and acknowledged their team, fans and the broader P-pop movement. “This award belongs not just to us, but to the entire P-pop movement, OPM and of course to every Filipino that shares their creativity and passion across Asia and the world,” SB19 said. Meanwhile, Bini shared, “This award reminds us that anything is possible with hard work and dedication. We will continue to uplift Filipino music. Thank you very much.”

Performances: The groups also performed at the event, with Bini showcasing a medley of their hit songs "Cherry On Top" and "Pantropiko" and SB19 delivering a powerful rendition of "Gento." SB19 recently won the Billboard Fan Army Face-Off 2024 for the second consecutive year and was named the ​​favorite Asian act at 2024 Kids’ Choice Awards, while Bini is fresh from their performance at this year’s KCON LA and North American tour. The girl group is set to have their two-night “Grand Biniverse” concert at the Philippines’ Araneta Coliseum on Nov. 16 and 17.

Final Bites

2 men targeting Asian American homes in Houston burglaries arrested: Two men believed to be targeting Asian American-owned homes in burglaries on Houston’s southwest side were arrested after fleeing from a home invasion on Saturday. Mario Watson, 31, and Anthony Alexander, 21, along with other perpetrators, allegedly burglarized the home located in a gated community on Ashford Shadow Drive near Beechnut. The suspects allegedly tied up and pistol-whipped a woman and stole jewelry and cash.. Both Watson and Alexander were charged with burglary of a habitation and evading, while Watson faces an additional drug charge for allegedly possessing methamphetamine. Their alleged accomplices remain at large.

Fans line up hours for Shohei Ohtani bobblehead: Los Angeles Dodgers fans braved long lines and the sweltering heat hours before Wednesday's game against the Baltimore Orioles, all for a chance to snag one of the 40,000 limited-edition bobbleheads featuring two-way star Shohei Ohtani and his dog, Decoy. Before the game, Ohtani and Decoy, sporting a No. 17 jersey, took the field for a ceremonial first pitch, with Decoy adorably delivering the ball to his owner. Some lucky fans even scored golden versions of the bobblehead, which now fetch over $1,000 on auction sites. Ohtani, who signed a record-breaking $700 million deal with the Dodgers last year, capped off the memorable night with a home run and two stolen bases.

This Filipino chef is behind TikTok’s viral chocolate: The pastry chef behind one of TikTok’s latest trends featuring content creators enjoying a chunky, crunchy and delicious-looking piece of chocolate called FIX Dessert Chocolatier was revealed to be a Filipino. Chef Nouel Omamalin, in partnership with Sara Hamouda — a creative content expert and founder of the Dubai-based chocolate brand FIX (which stands for “freaking incredible experience”) — crafted the delectable treat during the COVID-19 pandemic. As seen in the videos, it is a chunky chocolate bar filled with pistachio spread and kataifi, a thread-like Middle Eastern pastry. Omamalin’s creation has taken TikTok by storm, with one post by content creator Maria Vehera amassing over 75.5 million views for her December 2023 video.

University professor revealed to be frontman of Chinese black metal band: Liu Yao, a 41-year-old professor at China’s Shandong University who has published over 80 scientific papers was uncovered as the lead singer of popular Chinese black metal band Zuriaake. But while Liu’s secret identity as a rockstar was only highlighted in a Douyin post last week, his career as a musician was mentioned in a Teacher’s Day tribute post as early as September 2021. The band, which consists of members going by aliases Bloodfire, Bloodsea and Deadsphere, was formed in 1998 in Jinan, Shandong province, and incorporates traditional Chinese instruments like handbells and Chinese poetry into their songs. The band went on hiatus between 2008 and 2012 while Liu pursued his doctoral degree at the Technical University of Berlin in Germany. The band released their EP “Resentment in the Ancient Courtyard” in 2019 and performed in Australia in June 2023.

Dalai Lama documentary to premiere at Zurich Film Festival: The Swiss documentary "Wisdom of Happiness," which features the Dalai Lama's message of inner peace, is set to premiere at the Zurich Film Festival, running from Oct. 3 to 13. The film's debut trailer, unveiled on Aug. 20, promises a unique "meditative cinema experience" as the 89-year-old spiritual leader shares his insights on happiness and compassion while speaking directly to viewers. Producer Richard Gere expressed enthusiasm for the project's potential to “have a profound effect on how we think and feel about ourselves and others with whom we share this beautiful planet.” The Dalai Lama’s sister, Jetsun Pema, and the Prime Minister of Tibet in Exile, Sikyong Penpa Tserin, will be accompanying Gere at the Zurich event.