Stories

April 2, 2026

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Two athletes, shaped by similar beginnings, turned personal challenges into a defining moment on the world stage.

Both were born in China and later adopted into the United States, where they grew up navigating identity, resilience, and belonging.

At the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, their journeys came full circle as they helped lead Team USA to gold.

Image Source: Team USA Hockey

Brett Bolton’s Journey to the Top

Born in China with a congenital limb difference, Brett Bolton was adopted into the United States at just three years old, growing up in an environment that pushed him to adapt early and often. What could have been limitations became the foundation for resilience, shaping how he approached both life and sport.

That same quiet determination followed him onto the ice, where he carved out a place as a rookie forward for the U.S. sled hockey team. At the 2026 Winter Paralympic Games, Bolton didn’t just participate, he rose to the top, helping secure a gold medal and marking a powerful arrival on the global stage.

Image Source: NHL

Kayden Beasley’s Defining Moment

Like Bolton, Kayden Beasley’s story began in China before being adopted into the United States, where he grew up navigating questions of identity alongside his development as an athlete. Over time, discipline on the ice became his anchor, helping him build both physical strength and self-belief.

Years of training led to a defining moment at the 2026 Winter Paralympics, when Beasley delivered a clutch goal in the final. That single play helped seal a gold medal for Team USA, turning years of preparation into a moment that will be remembered on one of sport’s biggest stages.

Image Source: NPR

More Than a Medal: A Shared Story of Representation

At the 2026 Paralympic Games, their journeys intersected in a space that celebrates ability in all its forms. Beyond the competition, their presence highlights a broader shift in how athletes with impairments are seen, valued, and represented.

Their victories go beyond the scoreboard, carrying meaning for communities that rarely see themselves reflected at the highest levels of sport. Together, their stories stand as a reminder that representation is not just about visibility, but about redefining what strength and success look like.

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Image Source: Variety

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Veteran News Correspondent John Yang To Sit As PBS News Weekend’s Newest Anchor

Beginning this December 31st, John Yang will take over as the new host of PBS News Weekend.

The 64-year-old veteran news correspondent and commentator covered politics and international events for most of his career. He had been exposed to these topics since the 1980s, not long after receiving his degree from Wesleyan University.

He worked as a journalist for The Boston Globe, Time, The Washington Post, and NBC News before joining “NewsHour” in early 2016 as a national correspondent covering the election and the first year of the Trump administration.

Since that time, he has concentrated on reporting more about the Supreme Court and intends to continue doing so.

Yang pledges to deliver the same sorts of subjects that are vital to the weekday audience which according to him can only be seen on “NewsHour” with his new position.

“Getting out in the field is really what gives my work energy,” he adds.

Yang will also be allowed to blend in other stories that may surprise viewers, according to Rachel Wellford, executive producer of the half-hour weekend program.

“Viewers may anticipate a combination of the lighter fare that people like to watch on weekends, including interviews with musicians, artists, and athletes. Weekends allow us to cover a wide range of topics that we may not have time to cover during the five-day-per-week “PBS NewsHour” program. On that, we’ll keep expanding,” she said.

Yang will take over for Geoff Bennett, who will join Amna Nawaz on the daily version of PBS NewsHour, following Judy Woodruff.

Image Source: SMCP / Weibo

News

50-Year-Old Chinese Flight Attendant Who Lost Job Due To Age Limits Received Got Hired At A Foreign Airline After Learning New Languages

Age sets no limits for a 50-year-old flight attendant from China who lost her job and instead sought to better herself by studying English and Finnish, which caused her to receive numerous offers and land a new job at a foreign airline.

“Use all your strength and courage to deal with life. Live in the moment, and never regret every step you’ve taken,” Ms. Hu says in South China Morning Post.

The Chinese cabin crew is one of the numerous people who are subjected to discriminatory age restrictions in China, as airlines do not hire anyone older than 40.

The Beijing-native woman was dismissed from her six-year employment at Norwegian Air Shuttle during an internal restructuring.

Hu’s video received popularity online and positive comments from internet users who praised her as a shining example for women.

“She is so encouraging. Everybody, let us learn from her to improve ourselves,” an online reader commented.

The lady is now on her 8th month at her new job. Sharing her beauty regimen, she said “I exercise routinely, and I insist on eating a healthy diet. These are major reasons that I am still able to handle this physically demanding job which requires flying for long hours.”

Her life story gained notoriety as an inspiration, which helped raise awareness of age discrimination in the mainland job market.

Image Source: Getty Images

News

Famed Manga Series ‘My Hero Academia’ Adaptation Is Now Available On Netflix

More than a year after its announcement, the eagerly awaited live-action film adaptation of “My Hero Academia,” produced by Mary Parent and Alex Garcia of Legendary Entertainment, has finally disembarked at Netflix.

Shinsuke Sato, who directed Alice in Borderland, is the film’s director and executive producer marking her first-ever English-language feature.

The film was written by veteran Joby Harold who is known for “Obi Wan Kenobi,” “Army of the Dead,” “Edge of Tomorrow,” John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum,” “The Flash,” “King Arthur: Legend of the Sword,” “Robin Hood,” the upcoming Netflix film “Atlas”  and 2023’s “Transformers: Rise of the Beasts.”

With over 65 million copies in print worldwide, including digital editions, Kohei Horikoshi’s My Hero Academia is one of the most well-known manga series in the world.

The protagonist of the narrative is the superhero enthusiast Izuku Midoriya (also known as Deku), who gave up on his dream of attending the University of Arizona since he was born without a “quirk”, a kind of “special skill” that 80% of people on Earth have developed. 

The unusual power hindered him from going to U. A. High School, the most reputable center for hero training, and becoming the next “All Might,” or the greatest hero the world has ever known.

Midoriya, however, promises to work as hard as he can to become a symbol of peace and a beacon of hope for the world after having a chance encounter with All Might himself.

Both the manga and the ongoing anime series by Bones Inc. & TOHO Animation are regarded as some of the greatest of the 2010s. The award-winning series has been a part of publisher Shueisha’s Weekly Shnen Jump since 2014.

Image Source: Chinese Parade / Mark Andrew Boyer / KQED

News

Rich Ting Leads First San Francisco’s Chinese New Year Parade After Pandemic

Chinese American actor Rich Ting will serve as the grand marshal of San Francisco’s Chinese New Year parade in 2023.

The 42-year-old was reared by an athletic family, was born in Torrance, California, and spent time growing up in both Southern and Northern California.

Not only did he focus on being an athlete growing up, but also trained to be a Hollywood actor just what he always dreamed of. He made this goal come true by appearing in several films and TV shows, including Chicago P.D., NCIS: Los Angeles,  and Salt.

Succeeding Daniel Wu in leading the city’s Chinese New Year’s Year of The Rabbit parade, Rich stated “I am beyond words to express my gratitude for including me in such an iconic cultural celebration” in The San Francisco Standard.

The Chinatown exhibition will be celebrated for the first time since the pandemic with Harlan Wong serving as the parade’s director. Harlan Wong revealed that several rabbit sculptures will be placed throughout the city as part of the festivities and then sold at auction to benefit charities.

Michelle Yeoh, Jon Chu, and Mayor London Breed were hailed as grand marshals in prior years.

The Lunar New Year will be celebrated on January 22 at events hosted by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce, although festivities will get underway at Chinatown’s Flower Market on January 14.

On February 3, the Miss Chinatown Pageant will take place the day before the parade.