Latest news with #TheRebelYellowNewsletter
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Hate group numbers dipped because their beliefs became mainstream, new report warns
[Source] While the number of hate and extremist groups in the U.S. decreased slightly in 2024, a new report from the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) claims the decline reflects the growing mainstreaming of their ideologies — not a reduction in their influence. According to the SPLC's annual 'Year in Hate and Extremism' report, released May 22, the total number of active hate and anti-government groups dropped by 5% to 1,371. However, the organization warns that many extremists now feel less need to organize separately, as their views are increasingly echoed in government policies and political rhetoric. Entering the mainstream 'After years of courting politicians and chasing power, hard-right groups are now fully infiltrating our politics and enacting their dangerous ideology into law,' said Margaret Huang, SPLC president and CEO. Trending on NextShark: The report cites the adoption of anti-diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment into state legislation as examples of extremist positions becoming normalized. As these ideas gain traction within political institutions, some former hate groups have disbanded or become less visible, according to the SPLC. Anti-government and male supremacist groups While the overall number of hate groups declined, the report found a rise in anti-government extremist organizations, which increased to 838 in 2024. These groups, which include militias and self-identified sovereign citizens, often characterize the federal government as oppressive and illegitimate. Trending on NextShark: The SPLC also noted a surge in male supremacist groups, which grew to 16 last year. These groups espouse misogynistic ideologies and strict gender hierarchies. The report links their increased visibility to political developments during the 2024 election cycle, including the candidacy of Kamala Harris. This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Trending on NextShark: Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
COVID-19 surges in East and Southeast Asia
[Source] COVID-19 cases are climbing across East and Southeast Asia, with notable increases in Thailand, China, Hong Kong and Singapore. Health authorities attribute the rise to new Omicron subvariants and waning immunity. Thailand and China report sharp increases Thailand reported 33,030 new cases in the week ending May 17, more than doubling the 16,000 recorded the week before. Most infections were concentrated in Bangkok and nearby provinces. Health officials are urging high-risk groups to receive booster vaccinations and are monitoring hospital capacity. In China, COVID-19 positivity rates rose from 7.5% to 16.2% between March 30 and May 10 — the highest in a year. Trending on NextShark: Singapore and Hong Kong signal renewed wave Singapore recorded approximately 14,200 new COVID-19 cases in the week ending May 3, marking a 28% increase from the previous period. Hospitalizations rose by about 30%. In response, the Ministry of Health resumed weekly updates after nearly a year. In Hong Kong, the infection rate rose from 1.7% in mid-March to 11.4%, surpassing the August 2024 peak, according to the Centre for Health Protection. The city recorded 81 serious adult cases and 30 deaths over the past four weeks. Trending on NextShark: New subvariants behind surge The current wave across the region is attributed to Omicron subvariants LF.7 and NB.1.8, both from the JN.1 lineage. These variants exhibit higher transmissibility and may partially evade prior immunity. Common symptoms include sore throat, mild cough, fatigue and fever. Regional responses and precautions Trending on NextShark: In the Philippines, the Department of Health reported 1,774 COVID-19 cases as of May 3, down 87% from the same time last year. Weekly case numbers have slightly declined in recent weeks. Officials urge continued mask use in healthcare settings and early consultation for symptoms. Vietnam has confirmed 148 cases across 27 provinces and cities since early 2025, with no fatalities. The health ministry has directed hospitals to update response plans and enforce infection control protocols. India has expanded testing and surveillance amid rising regional cases. As of May 19, it reported 257 active cases nationwide with no significant rise in hospitalizations. Trending on NextShark: Health authorities across the region continue to promote preventive measures, including mask-wearing in crowded areas, hand hygiene and up-to-date vaccinations. This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Trending on NextShark: Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Judge rules Trump admin's deportation of immigrants to South Sudan violated court order
[Source] A federal judge ruled Wednesday that the Trump administration breached his court order when it sent immigrants — including from Asian countries — to war-torn South Sudan without providing adequate due process. What happened: Eight men were flown from Texas to South Sudan on Tuesday despite most of them being protected under a federal court injunction. The deportees had been convicted of serious crimes such as homicide, attempted murder, sexual assault and robbery, according to DHS officials. Two of them, originally from Myanmar and Vietnam, have attorneys who reportedly learned Monday evening about the removal plan and discovered by Tuesday morning that they were already on their way to the African nation. Authorities characterized the mission as having both diplomatic and military components but refused to specify the exact destination, citing security concerns. Judge responds: U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy said the government's conduct clearly breached his court directive, noting that the advance notification was inadequate for proper legal challenge. He cautioned that officials could face criminal contempt charges for violating his April order that mandates substantial opportunity to challenge removal to non-origin countries. The judge directed the government to conduct fear assessment interviews for six individuals and provide them no less than 15 days to reopen their immigration cases if their safety concerns are found insufficient. The big picture: The decision appears to be one of the most forceful judicial criticisms of the second Trump administration's actions on immigration to date. The matter follows previous blocked removal efforts to Libya, where rival governments both declined the proposal. In response to the matter, the White House labeled Murphy 'a far-left activist judge' while DHS spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin described his decision as 'deranged,' claiming he was attempting to 'dictate the foreign policy and national security' of the U.S. Trending on NextShark: This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Trending on NextShark: Subscribe here now! Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fear grips Hawaii's Filipino teaching community after ICE home raid
[Source] A federal immigration raid at a Maui residence housing Filipino teachers has heightened anxiety among educators and drawn sharp criticism from Hawaii lawmakers. What went down: Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents reportedly executed a federal search warrant at a multi-family residence in Kahului on May 6, detaining approximately 10 to 12 teachers and family members for roughly 45 minutes during their search. Among those detained were Filipino nationals working legally on J-1 visas. The operation is said to have targeted a Hispanic man who had previously lived at the address. The warrant, however, was shown to the landlord allegedly only after agents completed their search. Lawmakers speak out: Sen. Brian Schatz first denounced the operation in a statement, characterizing it as 'racial profiling and a shameful abuse of power' designed to create fear. Sen. Mazie Hirono also criticized the administration's approach to immigration on social media, writing, 'Rather than making our communities safer, Trump is focused solely on sowing chaos and instilling fear in vulnerable communities.' ICE responds: ICE, for its part, defended the operation, saying Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents conduct themselves professionally and do not target specific ethnic or professional groups. 'Making unsubstantiated comments to suggest otherwise places our agents and our communities at risk and erodes public faith in law enforcement for no reason,' it stated. 'HSI will aggressively push back on false accusations to ensure the public has access to the truth and is informed on our mission to support public safety.' Trending on NextShark: The big picture: The home search was part of a broader four-day enforcement operation from May 5 to 8 that led to 50 arrests across Hawaii's three main islands, targeting individuals with various immigration violations and criminal histories. Earlier this week, Filipino officials confirmed that no Filipino nationals were arrested in the Kahului raid and that all affected teachers remain safe. This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Trending on NextShark: Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
China steps up to fill US leadership void with $500 million WHO pledge
[Source] China has pledged $500 million to the World Health Organization over five years as the country is set to replace the U.S. as the agency's top state donor following President Donald Trump's order for withdrawal in January. Why it matters: Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong announced the contribution at Tuesday's World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva. 'The world is now facing the impacts of unilateralism and power politics, bringing major challenges to global health security,' Liu said, adding that 'only with solidarity and mutual assistance can we create a healthy world together.' Due to the expected loss of its top donor, the WHO has revised its 2026-2027 budget down 21% to $4.2 billion. The new budget will increase countries' mandatory fees by 20% over two years, making China the largest state contributor. The big picture: The donation highlights Beijing's strategy to step into global leadership roles as Washington retreats from international cooperation under Trump's 'America First' policy. On Monday, China alongside Pakistan successfully blocked Taiwan's participation in the WHA for the ninth consecutive year, with Chinese Ambassador Chen Xu calling the participation proposal an attempt that 'openly challenges the authority of the UN and the post-war international order.' Trending on NextShark: This story is part of The Rebel Yellow Newsletter — a bold weekly newsletter from the creators of NextShark, reclaiming our stories and celebrating Asian American voices. Subscribe free to join the movement. If you love what we're building, consider becoming a paid member — your support helps us grow our team, investigate impactful stories, and uplift our community. Subscribe here now! Trending on NextShark: Download the NextShark App: Want to keep up to date on Asian American News? Download the NextShark App today!
