Coronavirus
Act To Change hosts virtual event to fight AAPI bullying on Vincent Chin’s birthday
Act To Change invites everyone to stand against bullying, hate and racism in a virtual event called “United We Heal” this May 18 at 3 p.m. PST/6 p.m. EST.
One in four Asian American youth report being bullied due to Covid-19. Four out of 10 Pacific Islander students are bullied. In 2021, nonprofit Act To Change’s Asian American Bullying Survey Report showed that 80% of Asians have experienced in-person or online bullying. Despite this, many AAPIs don’t look to get help because of cultural, religious and language barriers.
Korean scientists create world’s first photothermal air filters that kill influenza, COVID-19 viruses
- South Korean researchers have created the world’s first photothermal-effect-based high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) filter that can kill 99.9% of influenza and COVID-19 viruses.
- The new filters, which can be easily installed into existing air purifying systems, were developed by the Korea Institute of Energy Research.
- The researchers coated existing HEPA filters with plasmonic metal nanoparticles to achieve photothermal effects – the mechanism that results in a substance’s production of heat energy.
- “By applying the photothermal HEPA filter technology, up to 99.9% of viruses collected in the filter can be removed, so any secondary contamination can be prevented because bacteria and viruses cannot proliferate in the filter,” lead researcher Yoo Seung-hwan said, according to Korea Herald.
- The new filter, which has been licensed to local air filter developer Cleantech, may be available on the market later this year.
Scientists in South Korea have developed a high-efficiency particulate air filter (HEPA) that can stop 99.9% of influenza and COVID-19 viruses.
On Tuesday, the Korea Institute of Energy Research announced that they have manufactured the world’s first photothermal-effect-based HEPA air filter, reported The Korea Herald.
Taiwanese TV network apologizes for using image of COVID-19 virus edited onto South Korean flag
A Taiwanese cable TV network issued an apology on Tuesday after broadcasting a superimposed image of a COVID-19 virus on the South Korean flag.
TVBS aired the edited image during the network’s broadcast of an episode of its “Focus Global News” program on March 16 that reported on the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in South Korea.
Conspiracy theory claiming COVID-19 came from US-linked labs in Ukraine trends on Weibo
- Chinese social media users are calling for the U.S. government to be investigated after a conspiracy theory linking the emergence of the coronavirus to U.S. laboratories in Ukraine went viral in China.
- Weibo users are buzzing over the article, “BREAKING: British media claim that research confirms that the new coronavirus was made by a US company,” which was posted by the Chinese Communist Party's tabloid Global Times on March 23.
- The article explains that the “patented gene fragment filed by the American company Moderna in February 2016 is in the gene sequence of the new coronavirus.”
- “The best way for the U.S. to prove its innocence is to open its doors and accept the test of the international community generously,” a Weibo user wrote.
Chinese social media users are calling for the U.S. government to be investigated after a conspiracy theory linking the emergence of the coronavirus COVID-19 to U.S. laboratories in Ukraine went viral in China.
Weibo users are buzzing over an article titled “BREAKING: British media claim that research confirms that the new coronavirus was made by a US company,” which was posted by the Chinese state-run tabloid Global Times on March 23. The Weibo discussion thread on the story has been viewed over 1 billion times and has over 300,000 comments.
Daughter of NYC elderly woman beaten in broad daylight weighs in on new anti-Asian racism film
- “The Race Epidemic” documentary aims to memorialize the surge in anti-Asian hate crimes throughout the pandemic.
- Vilma Kari, an elderly hate crime victim, and her daughter Liz urge readers to watch the film, support it and continue speaking out against racism.
- The nonprofit Asian Pacific American Leadership Foundation (APALF) behind the film, of which NextShark is a media partner, is asking for help reaching its $1M fundraising goal to complete the film and tour it across the country.
Filmmakers Ronald W. Wong and Tony Shyu put a finger to the pulse of some of the most notorious anti-Asian hate crimes to make headlines across the country and rock Asian American communities over recent years in their documentary “The Race Epidemic.”
The film touches on the pattern of U.S. racism against Asians throughout the country’s history and how the COVID-19 pandemic served as the spark for the wave of violence and discrimination against Asians.
Survival of AAPI-owned businesses depends on health of Los Angeles communities
Editor’s Note: The opinions expressed in this piece are those of the author’s and do not necessarily represent NextShark’s views.
The emergence of the recent Omicron variant demonstrates that the pandemic is not over, and few know this disheartening fact better than our Asian American small business community. Over the past year and a half, I have witnessed the devastating effects of the pandemic on this community in Los Angeles. What were once bustling areas of our beloved Chinatown, and beyond, are now quiet streets, empty restaurants, and closed doors.
Debunked: Viral video showing Chinese woman fainting from COVID-19 vaccination
A viral video purporting to show a young girl in China collapsing after receiving a COVID-19 vaccination actually dates back to 2018, before the pandemic began.
The video, which contains disturbing images of a young girl collapsing and subsequently receiving CPR, was shared on Twitter in November. A caption written in Chinese and translated by Agence France-Presse (AFP) read: “A little girl in China suddenly fell to the ground and a warm-hearted person gave her first aid. Is it another phenomenon caused by Covid-19 vaccination?” AFP debunked the anti-vax claims in the video caption, using reverse search to show that the video had in fact emerged from China in 2018. The video appears to have been taken in May 2018 in Qingdao Province, China, and depicts an 11-year-old girl who fainted on the roadside. She was later confirmed to have recovered.Multiple social media accounts reposted the video, which gained thousands of views, all with the same anti-vaccination explanation.
Shannon Lee, Simu Liu, JLin and Bao Nguyen share how Bruce Lee transcended cinema to become a global cultural icon
There may never be a day where Bruce Lee is forgotten for his major contributions to martial arts and film, which have solidified his status not just as a martial artist, but also as a cultural icon.
Lee had an unyielding drive that propelled him to pursue American stardom in the ‘60s and ‘70s — a time when it was nearly impossible for any Asian actor to break into Hollywood. During that period, Hollywood cinema was full of racism and caricatured Asian Americans as subservient jokes or scheming villains. The men were commonly portrayed as emasculated and weak while the women were exoticized and fetishized.
Eva Chen, Apolo Ohno and Kevin Kwan say where they’re ‘really from’ in AAF poster campaign
The Asian American Federation (AAF) launched a series of travel posters showcasing the roots of prominent Asian Americans and declaring they are “really from” their respective cities across the U.S.
In bright, vibrant colors, the posters showcase locations across the U.S., including Houston, Seattle and New York. Dynamic illustrations spotlight enclaves like Chinatown and Little Manila, and feature culinary dishes like rice and fish, green tea and curry. Central to each poster are the words “I’m really from…”.
China says it can beat COVID-19 Omicron variant as world rushes to impose travel bans
While many parts of the world are imposing new travel restrictions to counter the emergence of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, China is confident about beating it through a policy it has used to fight other strains.
About the Omicron variant: The B.1.1.529 variant, officially named Omicron, was first reported in South Africa on Nov. 9. Since then, it was found to have a large number of mutations, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Filipina believed to be the oldest person in the world passes away at the age of 124
The last surviving person born in the 19th century, Francisca Susano, passed away this month at the age of 124.
Lola Iska: Susano, who was affectionately known as “Lola Iska,” passed away in her sleep at around 6:45 p.m. on Nov. 22 in Negros Occidental, Philippines.
Myanmar’s military-appointed election body charges Suu Kyi with electoral fraud
Myanmar’s deposed leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been charged for alleged fraud in the country’s national election last year.
Junta’s allegations: On Tuesday, state-run publication Global New Light of Myanmar published the Union Election Commission’s announcement that Suu Kyi, 76, and other senior politicians are facing electoral fraud charges, reported the Associated Press.
