Hello, Everyone!

The smoke-filled skies enveloping New York City and other U.S. cities due to Canadian wildfires have struck a chord with Asian residents, evoking memories of the air pollution in their home countries. 

Taking to social media, they expressed the sense of familiarity with the smell and visibility of the smoke. The disproportionately severe impact of climate events on Asian nations was also emphasized, as well as the high levels of air pollution in cities like Delhi, Lahore and Jakarta. 

With New York City experiencing some of the worst air quality globally, health authorities advised limiting outdoor activities, particularly for vulnerable populations.

• Thirteen-year-old golf prodigy Jaden Soong made history by becoming the youngest player ever to reach the final round of U.S. Open qualifying. Despite his impressive feat, Soong fell short in the qualifiers, finishing seven-over par and missing out on a spot in the U.S. Open. However, he remains optimistic and plans to continue improving his game, looking forward to another opportunity to break the record next year when he turns 14.

• Filipino Americans are rallying on TikTok to defend a college graduate who received criticism from a Filipino creator for allegedly breaking the law by wearing a Filipino flag on her graduation stole. The controversy arose when the graduate, known as Soph, shared a video explaining her mistake in wearing the stole incorrectly. The incident sparked a larger conversation about cultural representation and the complex dynamics between Filipinos and Filipino Americans.

• Japan's Fukuoka District Court issued a ruling stating that the absence of legal protection for same-sex marriage was unconstitutional, though falling short of marriage-equality activists' expectations. This follows a previous ruling by another district court declaring the ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional, providing hope for Japan's LGBTQ community. While polls indicate strong public support for same-sex marriage, the conservative ruling party, led by Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, opposes it.

• MGM released a new trailer for the upcoming film “Bottoms” starring Havana Rose Liu, Ayo Edebiri and Rachel Sennott. “Bottoms” follows PK and Josie, “two unpopular queer girls in their senior year [who] start a fight club to try to impress and hook up with cheerleaders,” the film’s synopsis states. The teen sex comedy film headlined this year’s SXSW Film Festival on March 11. It will hit cinemas nationwide on Aug. 25. “Bottoms” was directed by Emma Seligman with a script she co-wrote with Sennott. Max Handelman, Alison Small and Elizabeth Banks, who directed “Cocaine Bear,” served as the film’s producers.

• Ivory Bivens, 24, and Trevor Green, 22, have been charged with murder and special gang enhancements for the shooting death of 23-month-old Jasper Wu in Oakland.
   
• Disney’s live-action “The Little Mermaid” remake performed poorly in the Chinese and South Korean markets, with some moviegoers expressing disappointment in Ariel being played by a Black actor.
   
• Bay Area families were joyfully reunited at San Francisco International Airport after an Air India flight diverted to Russia due to mechanical issues, stranding over 200 passengers in Magadan for nearly two days.
   
• A Malaysian climber, who was rescued from Mount Everest's "death zone," faced accusations on social media of being ungrateful to the Sherpa who saved his life after omitting the Sherpa's name in a media appearance and social media posts.
   
• Three Chinese celebrities have had their private information leaked online after they openly spoke against animal abuse.