U.S. to restrict Chinese students in STEM fields

Space

China becomes 1st country to retrieve samples from Moon’s far side

China's unmanned Chang'e-6 lunar mission successfully landed in Inner Mongolia on Tuesday, bringing home the world’s first-ever samples from the far side of the Moon, a region previously unexplored by sample return missions.

• Unlocking space secrets: The Chang'e-6 probe collected lunar soil from the South Pole-Aitken Basin, a massive crater on the Moon's far side. Scientists believe these samples could hold crucial clues about the formation of the Moon, Earth and the solar system. Chinese and international scientists will be conducting analysis of the samples in Beijing.

• A leap in the space race: In its aim to position itself as a major space power, China plans to launch Chang'e-7 to the lunar south pole in 2026, followed by Chang'e-8 in 2028 to focus on resource utilization for a planned lunar research station. China plans to put astronauts on the Moon by 2030.

Food

Cup Noodles releases poisonous pufferfish ramen

Nissin Group has incorporated pufferfish, one of the world’s most poisonous vertebrates but considered a delicacy in Japanese cuisine, in its new ramen product under the Nissin Raoh line. While the traditional dish known as “fugu” (blowfish) can cost between 10,000 and 30,000 yen ($63 to $188) in a Japanese restaurant, Nissin’s version, released on Monday, is priced at just 298 yen ($2).

• What’s in the pack: Called the “Nissin Raoh Fugu Dashi Salt,” Nissin’s new instant ramen includes a packet of oil that imparts the taste of pufferfish. Other ingredients include dehydrated spring onions, Japanese-style shredded egg and chicken meatballs, all ready to be mixed in a soup base flavored with yuzu, a citrus fruit commonly used in Japanese cuisine.

• Puffer poison: Pufferfish are known for containing the deadly poison tetrodotoxin, which poses significant health risks to humans but not to animals like snakes and toads. Eating poorly prepared pufferfish can cause health issues such as dizziness, convulsions and, in the worst cases, death. Japanese chefs are required to undergo at least two years of training before they are allowed to take examinations to become certified to cook fugu.

Education

U.S. to restrict Chinese students in STEM fields

Speaking to the Council on Foreign Relations on Monday, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell stated that U.S. universities will be restricting Chinese international students’ access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields involving sensitive technology due to security concerns.

• No particle physics: Campbell emphasized the need for more students in STEM fields to fill university spots that Americans are not filling, suggesting India as the primary source for these students due to challenges posed by China in desired academic and scientific collaborations. While Chinese students are still welcome, he urged them to pursue arts instead of STEM courses. “I would like to see more Chinese students coming to the United States to study humanities and social sciences, not particle physics,” he said. 

• Tense U.S.-China relations: Chinese students form the largest group of international students in the U.S., with nearly 290,000 enrolled in the 2022-23 academic year, followed by about 270,000 Indian students. Campbell's comments come amid deteriorating U.S.-China relations, particularly in technology. Critics argue that these strained relations and concerns over intellectual property theft have hindered scientific cooperation and unfairly targeted Chinese students.

Sports

South Korean golfer wins Women's PGA Championship on 75th attempt

Amy Yang finally won her first major title in 75 attempts after a grueling 18 holes at the Women's PGA Championship in Sammamish, Washington, on Sunday. The 34-year-old golfer previously finished as runner-up at the U.S. Women's Open twice but never broke through for a major win.

• Overcoming hiccups: Yang's bogeys on 16 and a double bogey on 17 created late drama but she was able to hold on for a three-shot victory. The victory secures Yang $1.56 million in prize money and a spot on the South Korean Olympic team in Paris.

• Representing South Korea: Yang, who tied for fourth in Rio in 2016 said making her second appearance at the Games was among her “biggest goals” this year. “Missing cuts past few tournaments and I saw my world ranking went down so I wasn’t sure if this winning was enough to make the team,” she added. “But I made it, so I’m very grateful for that.”

Tech

VinFast to release electric mini-SUV to mitigate losses

Vietnamese electric vehicle (EV) automaker VinFast is releasing the VF3, a $9,200, 10-foot-long electric mini-SUV, in the Asian market as the company scrambles to mitigate financial losses after a dwindling expansion in the Western market. The new EV will first be available in Vietnam and the Philippines this year, with expansions into Indonesia, Thailand, the U.S. and Europe planned for next year.

• Where to get it: The five-seater mini-SUV is available through Southeast Asian e-commerce platform Shopee for an initial deposit of $2,000. Hoping to sell 20,000 cars this year, VinFast has reportedly already seen 27,000 people place their orders since it began taking orders on May 13. Deliveries are projected to begin in August.

• Ongoing struggles: To mitigate Vinfast’s financial bleeding, company founder and chief executive Pham Nhat Vuong invested $1 billion in April, on top of its $11.4 billion financial injection as of December 2023. The billionaire’s investment came nearly two months after the company reported a $2 billion loss following its Nasdaq debut in August 2023. “We will never let VinFast go,” Vuong told shareholders at Vingroup’s annual general meeting in April. “We are encouraging everyone to help build VinFast. Vingroup subsidiaries will also make contributions."

News

Groper learns not to mess with Taiwan’s “most beautiful politician”

Chihning Ho, a Taiwanese lawmaker also known for her physical beauty, reportedly kicked a drunk man in the groin after he sexually assaulted her during her recent trip to Japan. The incident occurred outside Otsuka Station in Tokyo on June 15.

• Caught on video: A video shared by FNN shows an apparently inebriated man repeatedly harassing Ho on the street despite her telling him "no" and waving him off. The man continued to pursue Ho even when she tried to hide inside a bookstore. As she was leaving the store, the man reportedly touched her buttocks twice, prompting Ho to defend herself by kicking him in the groin before calling the police.

• “Super grateful”: In an update on her Instagram, Ho clarified that the man was not a Japanese citizen, adding that she never had the chance to confirm his nationality. Elsewhere in the post, Ho thanked the police for their assistance, writing, “In light of this incident, I am very grateful to the Japanese police for their efforts in apprehending the suspect. They even arranged for a translator to help me with my statement. The Japanese police worked very hard, and I am super grateful for their efforts.”

More Asian News

• Jollibee data breach compromises millions of customers: The National Privacy Commission revealed a data breach affecting 11 million customers across Jollibee Group's brands, compromising sensitive details like dates of birth and Senior Citizen ID numbers. Deep Web Konek, a cybersecurity firm, initially reported the breach on June 20, noting that a cybercrime forum claims to have data from 32 million customers and 650 million records related to Jollibee's food delivery services. Jollibee has launched an investigation and assured that its e-commerce platforms are operational and unaffected. The company stated it has implemented response protocols and enhanced security measures to protect against further threats.

• Sunisa Lee models Kim Kardashian’s Olympics-inspired Skims: Sunisa "Sunni" Lee has joined other American athletes in modeling Kim Kardashian’s Olympics-inspired Skims clothing line as Team USA partners with the apparel brand ahead of the 2024 Paris Olympics. Lee described Team USA’s partnership with the brand as a “dream come true” for her, noting, “I’m so lucky that I get to experiment with my style while competing, but when I’m not in the gym, I still want to look and feel great.” Team USA and Skims also partnered during the 2020 Tokyo and 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

• Jay Park joins OnlyFans: Korean American rapper Jay Park surprised fans on Tuesday with a social media announcement revealing his new OnlyFans account, featuring the handle and hashtag #McNasty. Known for his bold moves and entrepreneurial spirit, Park left fans questioning whether the new endeavor is a genuine venture into the adult-oriented platform or a strategic move to promote his upcoming single, "McNasty." The account, which features thirst-trap content alongside a teaser for the new release, is not paid subscription-based.

• Microplastics found in human penises for first time: In a study published in IJIR: Your Sexual Medicine Journal, researchers found seven different kinds of microplastics in four out of five samples from men undergoing surgery for erectile dysfunction at the University of Miami between August and September 2023. The most prevalent microplastics were polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene, which are commonly used in food and drink packaging. Lead researcher Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy emphasized the need for further investigation into whether microplastics contribute to conditions like erectile dysfunction and male infertility. Another recent study found microplastics in human testicles.

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