South Asian cop killed in mass shooting honored nationwide
Thousands of police officers from across the country joined New York’s South Asian community Thursday to mourn Didarul Islam, the NYPD officer slain in a mass shooting at a Manhattan office building.
The Rebel Yellow - Issue #102
The South Asian and Muslim American communities are mourning NYPD officer Didarul Islam, who was posthumously promoted after being killed in a Manhattan mass shooting. In other developments, NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani faced GOP calls for deportation before returning to the U.S. without incident, and two pedestrians were killed in Chinatown by a repeat traffic offender. Overseas, Trump was credited with brokering a Cambodia-Thailand ceasefire, Taiwan’s president canceled a diplomatic trip amid U.S.-China tensions, and Japan reeled from one of the world’s strongest earthquakes. Plus: a Michelin-starred sushi chef honors a vow, AI’s impact on Asian American law students, and a rare interview on Bruce Lee’s final night.
South Asian NYPD officer killed in mass shooting is honored nationwide
Thousands of police officers from across the country joined New York’s South Asian community Thursday to mourn Didarul Islam, the NYPD officer slain in a mass shooting at a Manhattan office building earlier this week.
Who was Didarul Islam? Islam, 36, was fatally shot by Shane Tamura, a 27-year-old former high school football player from Las Vegas who opened fire at 345 Park Avenue on Monday evening. The Bangladeshi immigrant and four-year department veteran was working an NYPD-approved security assignment at the time of the incident, which left four others — including Tamura, who shot himself later — dead. With the tragedy, Islam became the first Bangladeshi NYPD officer to die in the line of duty, leaving behind a pregnant wife and two young sons. Friends characterized him as deeply religious, regularly attending his local mosque on his off days.
A hero remembered: Officials and community members attended Thursday’s memorial service at Parkchester Jame Masjid mosque, while thousands of officers lined the surrounding streets. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch posthumously promoted Islam to detective first grade, noting that despite having only four years on the job, he “did the work of a cop with twice that time.” She also praised his immigrant journey, saying he believed in the American dream “not as something handed down but as something built with your own hands.” At a press conference shortly after the shooting, Mayor Eric Adams, who also attended Thursday’s funeral, described Islam as “a true blue New Yorker, not only in a uniform he wore.”
What his family and community are saying: “To our family, he was our world. To the city, he was a proud NYPD officer who served with compassion and integrity,” Islam’s widow said in a statement read at the service. Meanwhile, Kamrul Hasan, his brother-in-law and fellow officer, described him as his “protector.” Imam Zakir Ahmed noted that Islam lived “at a time when people like him are too often feared, vilified and made to feel like outsiders,” calling for New York to give back and protect Muslim Americans’ dignity. On Tuesday, Queens Assemblymember Jenifer Rajkumar, the first South Asian American woman elected to New York State office, said New York City’s “tight-knit” Bangladeshi American community “are collectively devastated by the tragic loss.” Muslim and NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, who sat with Islam’s loved ones at the service, said it was “a solemn honor to pray alongside his family, hear words of solace and strength and learn about the legacy” the fallen officer had left behind.
Islam will be buried at a cemetery in Totowa, New Jersey.
Mamdani braced for U.S. reentry confrontation after deportation calls from GOP
New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani’s campaign prepared for possible trouble at John F. Kennedy airport as he returned Wednesday from a vacation in Uganda.
What happened: Mamdani left for Uganda on July 20 to celebrate his recent marriage to Rama Duwaji with family. He returned Wednesday morning, and amid concerns over potential issues, passed through the U.S. Customs without incident. “I did not have issues getting through customs, though I was prepared for the potential of those issues,” he told reporters. “This is a sad reality of living in our president’s United States.” The 33-year-old Queens assemblyman, who calls himself a democratic socialist, has lived in the U.S. since age 7 and became a citizen in 2018.
How they prepared: Mamdani’s campaign reportedly stayed in touch with Gov. Kathy Hochul and Atty. Gen. Letitia James’ offices, which both pledged assistance in the event immigration officials detained Mamdani. These precautions follow attacks from Republican officials such as Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles, who argued on social media that he “needs to be DEPORTED” while calling him “little muhammad [sic].” President Donald Trump, for his part, has not explicitly called for Mamdani’s deportation but has made statements casting doubt on his citizenship. “A lot of people are saying he’s here illegally. We’re going to look at everything,” Trump told reporters on July 1.
Why this matters: Mamdani’s absence came amid New York’s deadliest mass shooting in 25 years that killed four victims Monday, including NYPD officer and fellow Muslim Didarul Islam. His adviser, Morris Katz, reportedly woke him at 4 a.m. in Uganda to alert him of the incident. Speaking to CNN, Mamdani said he went directly from Kennedy airport to Islam’s home in Parkchester, where his family “refused to let me leave until I had breakfast with them.” At Wednesday’s press conference with Smith Etienne, brother of security guard Aland Etienne — another shooting victim — and union leaders, scrutiny intensified over Mamdani’s past statements on defunding the police, including “We don’t need an investigation to know that the NYPD is racist, anti-queer and a major threat to public safety. What we need is to #DefundTheNYPD.” He has also defended eliminating the NYPD’s Strategic Response Group, which responded to Monday’s shooting.
Despite the controversy, Mamdani maintains his lead in recent polls, including 50% support in a Zenith Research and Public Progress Solutions poll released this week.
NYC Chinatown deaths at hands of repeat offender cast light on stalled safety promises
Community members and officials are demanding immediate action after learning that the driver in a recent Manhattan crash had been arrested for another traffic incident a few months prior.
Catch up: Autumn Donna Ascencio Romero, 23, on July 19 drove a stolen rental car that came off the Manhattan Bridge at high speed and struck Kevin Cruickshank, 55, and May Kwok, 63, at Canal and Bowery streets, killing both. Police found drugs, an open tequila bottle and two semi-automatic weapons in the car, which also crashed into an empty police van. Investigation revealed Romero had been arrested three months earlier for leaving the scene of an April 13 Brooklyn crash that left a 22-year-old pedestrian seriously injured, though she was released under New York’s bail reform laws. In connection with the latest incident, she is now facing second-degree murder, aggravated vehicular homicide, manslaughter and other charges, while her passenger Kennedy Lecraft, 22, faces weapons and stolen property charges.
What loved ones are saying: Cruickshank’s sister, Sarah Witt, remembered her brother in a vigil Monday. “One Christmas Santa brought my brother and I matching bicycles. Winter did not stop Kevin. He was out the door riding his bike in the snow. His love of riding a bike followed him throughout his life,” she said. Meanwhile, his friend Ron Gentile criticized the layout of the intersection, where 12 people have reportedly died. “This is the fully predictable consequence of the design of this intersection,” Gentile said. “All your studies are stupid. This is an easy fix. Install concrete barriers immediately, and then install bollards,” he added, before slamming Mayor Eric Adams for characterizing the crash as an “unfortunate incident.”
The big picture: The deaths highlight ongoing problems with the city’s Vision Zero traffic safety program, particularly in underserved neighborhoods. Canal Street, for one, was designated a priority corridor in 2015, yet “no meaningful progress has been made,” Assemblymember Grace Lee said. Multiple studies and redesign plans have not helped: since 2022, another 18 people have been killed or seriously injured in the area. About 15,000 vulnerable residents reportedly live within a quarter-mile of Canal Street, prompting even more urgent solutions.
The Department of Transportation, which is currently studying safety upgrades, aims to update the community in the fall.
Trump credited by Cambodian official with brokering ceasefire with Thailand
Lim Menghour, director general of the Commission on Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Cambodia’s National Assembly, credited former U.S. President Donald Trump with helping secure a ceasefire that took effect at midnight on July 28 after five days of deadly clashes on the Cambodia-Thailand border. Speaking to ABC News that same day, Lim said Prime Minister Hun Manet accepted Trump’s offer to mediate “immediately” during a phone call and described Trump’s intervention as decisive in “bringing about peace.”
Ceasefire breakthrough
Negotiations in Putrajaya, Malaysia, were led by Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and included U.S. and Chinese diplomats. The talks produced an unconditional ceasefire that took effect the same night, ending fierce artillery exchanges and airstrikes in Oddar Meanchey and Surin provinces. At least 43 people were killed during the conflict, including civilians and soldiers and more than 300,000 were forced to flee their homes as schools, homes and public infrastructure suffered severe damage.
Trump warned both sides that U.S. trade talks would end and a 36% tariff would be imposed if hostilities continued. This threat led Thailand to drop its opposition to outside mediation and agree to international monitoring. Following the ceasefire, U.S. Commerce officials confirmed new trade deals with both Cambodia and Thailand were signed just before the August 1 deadline.
Decades of conflict
Tensions along the Cambodia-Thailand border have simmered for decades, rooted in competing claims over land and historic temple sites dating back to the colonial era. The most prominent disputes center around areas near Preah Vihear and Ta Moan Thom temples. The International Court of Justice awarded Preah Vihear temple to Cambodia in 1962, but surrounding land remains contested, fueling periodic confrontations.
The latest escalation follows years of unresolved border demarcation and a series of military standoffs in the past two decades. Skirmishes broke out in 2008, 2011 and subsequent years, often triggered by troop movements or nationalist rhetoric. The two countries have yet to finalize a mutually accepted boundary for several stretches of their 800-kilometer frontier. Both governments have used the issue to rally domestic support at times of political pressure, contributing to cycles of tension and violence.
Next steps
A General Border Committee meeting is scheduled for August 4 to monitor compliance and address ongoing disputes.
Thousands of displaced families remain in temporary shelters as schools and infrastructure in border areas await repairs. International relief organizations are delivering aid while foreign diplomats and journalists have visited the region to assess the aftermath and verify adherence to the ceasefire. Analysts caution that unresolved territorial disputes could threaten long-term stability if not addressed through ongoing regional diplomacy.
Taiwan president’s Americas trip shelved over Beijing’s objections
Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te has reportedly shelved his planned August trip to diplomatic allies in the Americas amid reports that the Trump administration blocked a New York stopover after Beijing raised objections.
State of play: Lai was expected to travel to Belize, Guatemala and Paraguay — Taiwan’s remaining diplomatic allies in the region — with U.S. stopovers planned for New York and Dallas. But on Monday, his office cited recovery from recent typhoon damage and ongoing U.S. tariff discussions as reasons he has “no plans to travel overseas in the near future.” Embassy officials in Guatemala and Paraguay later confirmed the visit was postponed indefinitely. Meanwhile, sources reportedly told the Financial Times that the U.S. blocked Lai’s New York visit after Beijing objected to Washington.
Trade talk timing: The move comes amid Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s trade talks with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng in Stockholm as the Trump administration sets its eyes on a possible summit with President Xi Jinping. Bessent, however, denied any link between the travel matter and trade negotiations, saying, “We are very careful to keep trade and national security separate.” Meanwhile, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce dismissed the reports, saying the situation is “hypothetical” and that “there have been no plans — travel plans for the president.”
The big picture: The reported decision has drawn bipartisan criticism, with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi warning that it sends “a dangerous signal” showing the U.S. “can be bullied by Beijing into silence on Taiwan.” House Democrat Raja Krishnamoorthi called it “another example of the Trump administration caving to China in hopes of reaching a trade deal.” Paraguay, for its part, also faces domestic pressure, with ruling party congressman Hugo Meza saying the country is “wasting time” maintaining ties with Taiwan.
The tensions follow Lai’s declaration in June that “Taiwan is of course an independent country," prompting China’s Taiwan Affairs Office to denounce his statements as “heresy,” “hostile” and “separatist.”
Sixth-largest earthquake in world history caused whales to beach on Japanese coast
A powerful magnitude 8.8 earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula early Wednesday, immediately triggering tsunami warnings for Japan and the U.S. The quake, one of the six largest ever recorded in the world, set off evacuation orders along the Pacific and sent waves rolling to distant coasts. Hours later, residents in Chiba Prefecture, Japan found four whales washed ashore, raising new environmental concerns in the wake of the disaster.
Global tsunami alerts triggered
The earthquake struck at 8:25 a.m. local time, about 75 miles southeast of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky at a depth of 12 miles. Officials in Russia, Japan, Hawaii and the U.S. West Coast quickly issued tsunami warnings, urging residents to move to higher ground. Waves up to 16 feet struck parts of Russia’s Kamchatka and Kuril Islands, flooding the port of Severo-Kurilsk and sweeping away small vessels. Evacuation orders stretched across the Pacific, reaching as far as French Polynesia and the Galapagos Islands as authorities braced for dangerous surges.
Ripple effects in Asia
Four dead beluga whale carcasses were discovered on a beach in Tateyama, Chiba Prefecture, shortly after the earthquake and tsunami waves reached Japan’s coast. Locals filmed the scene and shared videos on social media, raising questions about whether seismic activity disoriented or killed the animals. No direct link between the beaching and the quake has been confirmed, but marine scientists say large earthquakes can sometimes disturb marine mammal navigation. High water and flooding were also reported in parts of Hokkaido and Sakhalin Island, though no serious casualties were recorded.
Warnings lifted as damage contained
Tsunami warnings and evacuation orders were lifted by evening in Japan, Hawaii and along the US west coast as wave heights remained lower than feared. The highest surges measured about 5.5 feet in Hawaii, 4.3 feet on Japan’s east coast and just over 3.5 feet in northern California. Russian emergency services reported only minor injuries as most residents followed evacuation protocols. Officials credited early warning systems and updated building codes for preventing major casualties and widespread destruction.
Shaolin Temple’s “CEO monk” accused of embezzlement, sexual misconduct
Authorities are investigating the abbot of China’s iconic Shaolin Temple for suspected embezzlement and improper relationships with women, reviving similar allegations from 2015.
The allegations: Shi Yongxin, 59, also known as “CEO monk,” is accused of embezzling project funds and temple assets while breaking Buddhist vows by having relationships with multiple women and fathering children. Police reportedly detained him last week as the probe began, while China’s Buddhist Association revoked his ordination certificate Monday. His Weibo page, which has nearly 900,000 followers, went silent after July 24. A now-debunked fake police notice also claimed that he had 174 illegitimate children, illegally transferred $41.3 billion and tried to flee to the U.S. with mistresses and some kids.
About the temple and Shi: The historic Shaolin Temple, founded more than 1,500 years ago in Henan province, holds UNESCO World Heritage status as the birthplace of Zen Buddhism and kung fu martial arts. Since becoming abbot in 1999, Shi earned his “CEO monk” reputation by building a commercial empire that operates across 40 countries. His business ventures included touring kung fu shows, licensing deals for movies and games, and running companies in publishing, traditional Chinese medicine and property development. Addressing criticism of his business approach, Shi once told state media, “If China can import Disney resorts, why can’t other countries import the Shaolin Monastery?”
Why this matters: The scandal raises questions about oversight within Buddhism in Asia. Thai authorities recently arrested a woman who extorted nine monks she allegedly had sex with for $11.9 million, leading to temple investigations nationwide.
Vendors near the Shaolin Temple now say fewer tourists are visiting, with one describing Shi as a monk whose personal conduct hurt Buddhism’s reputation. Now, the abbot’s quarters have been sealed off with barriers and inscriptions on a 1999 monument honoring his leadership have been covered. Authorities promise to release further information as the multi-agency investigation continues. Temple officials appointed Shi Yinle as the new abbot Tuesday.
AI is altering the legal profession as record number of Asian Americans enter law school
Artificial intelligence is transforming legal careers just as Asian American enrollment in U.S. law schools has reached an all-time high.
Raising the alarm on AI: In an X post on July 26, lawyer and former presidential candidate Andrew Yang cited a law firm partner who told him, “AI is now doing work that used to be done by first to third year associates. AI can generate a motion in an hour that might take an associate a week. And the work is better. Someone should tell the folks applying to law school right now.” Yang is one of many who forecast widespread automation reshaping opportunities for new graduates.
Asian enrollment record: Nearly 10% of first-year law students in 2024 identify as Asian American, according to new data from the American Bar Association. This marks a sharp rise from 7.5% last year and reverses a decline that saw Asian American enrollment drop by 40% between 2009 and 2016. Experts say the current surge reflects wider recruitment, growing Asian American populations and a greater emphasis on diversity in law schools. New scholarships and outreach programs have contributed to the most diverse law school classes on record.
AI adoption in law firms: The surge in Asian American law students comes as law firms rapidly adopt AI in daily practice. At least half of the 10 largest US law firms now use generative AI tools for drafting documents, reviewing contracts and compliance. DLA Piper uses Microsoft Copilot and custom models for routine work, while Ropes & Gray relies on Harvey and Hebbia to cut the time for fund document review from 10 hours to two.
Current challenges: Recent surveys by the Thomson Reuters Institute show that while most lawyers now use generative AI tools weekly and 95% of law firms expect AI to be central to their workflows within five years, only about 10 % currently have formal AI policies in place. High-profile cases have exposed risks, with attorneys in New York and Texas facing court sanctions for submitting filings containing fictitious citations generated by AI programs such as ChatGPT.
First female sushi chef to win Michelin star keeps promise to late husband
Chizuko Kimura honored a promise to her dying husband by taking over Sushi Shunei in Paris and mastering the art of Edomae-style sushi. In March, Kimura, 54, became the first female sushi chef to earn a Michelin star, just three years after her husband’s death.
Vow fulfilled: Sushi Shunei, located in Paris, is known for its traditional omakase or multi-course tasting menu and meticulous attention to detail. Kimura learned every step from her husband Shunei, who opened the restaurant with her in 2021 and taught her the art of Edomae-style sushi while silently battling liver cancer. “He never said to me, ‘Learn how to make sushi,’ but he showed me everything,” Kimura said. After Shunei’s death in 2022, she honored his legacy by stepping into the kitchen, driven by her promise to keep the restaurant alive.
Return of a star: Sushi Shunei earned its first Michelin star in 2022, three months before Shunei died at age 65. Kimura lost the star in 2023, which she described as “losing him a second time.” She deepened her training, working with sushi master Takeshi Morooka and visiting Michelin-starred restaurants in Japan. When the star was awarded again in 2025, Kimura said, “I felt, deep inside, that I had not betrayed his memory. For me, this is not a new star. It’s Shunei’s star that I managed to win back.”
Breaking barriers: Kimura’s accomplishment stands out in Paris’s competitive sushi scene, where traditional Japanese kitchens have long excluded women from senior roles. She leads Sushi Shunei with strict attention to Edomae tradition, overseeing a team that sources fish from Tokyo’s Toyosu Market and prepares an omakase menu of up to 18 courses, including specialties like akami tuna and sea bream nigiri. Kimura now mentors apprentices in her kitchen and hopes her story will encourage others to pursue their ambitions regardless of age or background.
Bruce Lee’s former companion gives rare account of his final night
Betty Ting Pei, the actress at the center of Bruce Lee’s sudden death in 1973, gave a rare and emotional interview for Part 3 of TVB’s documentary series “Ctrl+F The Truth” reexamining Lee’s passing, which aired on Wednesday. Ting, now 78, described in detail the night the martial arts icon died at age 33 in her Kowloon Tong apartment and broke decades of silence about her role in one of cinema’s most debated tragedies.
Last evening in Kowloon Tong
Ting shared that Lee arrived at her home at 5 p.m. after a long day of rehearsals and meetings. She noted that Lee complained of a headache at 7 p.m. and took a painkiller she provided. He lay down to rest but never woke for dinner with producer Raymond Chow. Chow called to check on their whereabouts and Ting tried to wake Lee with no success. Chow arrived around 9:45 p.m. and also could not rouse him. Ting’s doctor called for an ambulance around 10 p.m. Lee was pronounced dead at Queen Elizabeth Hospital. “They said I poisoned him. But it was just a headache pill. Why am I the one blamed?” Ting said.
Ting explained that Chow had instructed her to wait for his arrival before calling emergency services. She admitted she panicked and was unsure what to do. Chow thought the situation might resemble an earlier episode in May 1973 when Lee briefly fell into a coma but recovered. “I was 26 years old at the time and the man adored by millions died in my bed. I became the enemy of the public,” Ting said.
Relationship, public fallout
Ting said she met Lee in 1970 through Raymond Chow and that Lee pursued her despite being married to Linda Lee. “The whole world loved him. It would have been strange if I didn’t,” Ting said. Lee was drawn to her honesty and straightforwardness. Ting became inseparable from Lee and accompanied him to meetings and picked out his clothes. On set staff called her “Little Dragon Girl” for her constant presence at Lee’s side. Ting recalled taking Lee for haircuts during the filming of “The Way of the Dragon” in 1972.
After Lee’s death, rumors spread that Ting had given him poison or an aphrodisiac. She denied the accusations and said she had never even heard of those drugs. Ting initially denied the ambulance’s origin and her romantic involvement with Lee following Chow’s and Lee’s family’s wishes. “I felt I had no right to speak out,” she said.
A coroner later concluded Lee likely died from cerebral edema possibly due to an allergic reaction to a common painkiller. Ting stressed the medicine was one Lee and her own family had taken before. “Frankly, even if the medicine caused it, what could I have done? I didn’t create the drug.”
Enduring trauma
Ting said the trauma of that night still lingers and she checks on her daughter at night to make sure she is breathing. She expressed a spiritual view of Lee’s fate: “Beloved artists often have short lives like Teresa Teng Leslie Cheung Anita Mui. People who are hated like me live on. That’s not my will, not yours, it's heaven’s will.”
Recent medical reports have cast doubt on the original cause of Lee’s death suggesting possible genetic factors or epilepsy since Lee’s father and brother also died while resting. Experts on the TVB program questioned if Equagesic was the true cause and noted Lee’s earlier fainting spells and seizures. “His symptoms before were almost identical. We cannot rule out a chronic problem” Dr. Lee Hei said.
The program left open the possibility that Lee’s death remains an unresolved medical mystery.