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· Carl Samson
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,…
· Carl Samson
Manhattan shooter claims brain disease in suicide note
A former high school football player who opened fire in a Manhattan building Monday — killing four people before fatally shooting himself — left a note seemingly blaming the NFL for giving him a brain disease, investigation reveals. What happened: The mass shooting began at…
· Carl Samson
Michelle Wu maintains wide lead in Boston mayoral poll
Incumbent Michelle Wu continues to dominate Boston’s mayoral polls, leading challenger Josh Kraft 60% to 30% in a Suffolk University/Boston Globe released last week. By the numbers: The July 13-16 poll, which surveyed 500 residents likely to vote in September’s preliminary…
· Ryan General
Taiwan’s Great Recall: Historic bid to remove ‘pro-China’ lawmakers fails
A historic vote in Taiwan on Saturday targeting 24 opposition Kuomintang (KMT) legislators accused of being too friendly with Beijing ended without any removals but nonetheless shook the island nation’s political landscape. The so-called “Great Recall,” Taiwan’s largest…
· Ryan General
Thailand, Cambodia agree to ceasefire talks after border clashes displace thousands
Clashes along the Thailand–Cambodia border erupted on July 24, marking the worst fighting between the two countries in more than a decade. At least 35 people have been killed, including civilians and soldiers on both sides, and over 200,000 have fled their homes as artillery…
· Ryan General
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang advocates for AI: ‘it lifts people’
Artificial intelligence will impact every profession, including his own, according to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. “Everybody’s jobs will be affected,” the 62-year-old billionaire told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria last week, acknowledging that “some jobs will be lost” while “many jobs will…
· Ryan General
Labubu craze turns Pop Mart CEO into China’s youngest billionaire
At 38, Wang Ning, founder and CEO of Pop Mart, has become the youngest member of China’s top 10 richest, joining the ranks of business leaders like ByteDance’s Zhang Yiming, Nongfu Spring’s Zhong Shanshan and Tencent’s Ma Huateng. His $22.7 billion fortune, built on the soaring…
· Editorial Staff
Chinese university expels student over ‘inappropriate behavior’ with Ukrainian
A university in northeastern China has sparked debate in the country by expelling a student for what it calls “inappropriate behavior” with a Ukrainian e-sports player that allegedly damaged national dignity. What the school is saying: Dalian Polytechnic University, located in…
· Carl Samson
Asian Americans face new threats as ICE gains access to Medicaid data
Immigration authorities will now obtain access to sensitive details of 79 million Medicaid recipients for use in locating undocumented immigrants, according to an agreement seen by the Associated Press. New immigration agents? The new data-sharing arrangement reportedly stems…
· Ryan General
Thai woman accused of extorting over $11 million from Buddhist monks
A 35-year-old woman was arrested in Nonthaburi, Thailand, on July 15 for allegedly engaging in sexual relations with senior Buddhist monks and using explicit materials to extort money from them. Blackmail scheme: Police say Wilawan Emsawat targeted at least nine monks,…
· Carl Samson
Trump-inspired ‘Japanese First’ party gains ground in Japan
Sanseito, a Japanese populist party that draws inspiration from Donald Trump’s politics, is gaining support ahead of Sunday’s upper house elections, suggesting a notable shift in the country’s traditionally centrist landscape. State of play: Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s…
· Ryan General
Jet Li opens up about death and explains why he avoids funerals
International superstar Jet Li recently shared his perspective on death and explained why he chooses not to attend funerals in an interview with Chinese magazine Sanlian Lifeweek. At 62, Li described how he has come to accept the impermanence of life as a natural and inevitable…
· Ryan General
AI could wipe out half of white-collar entry jobs, experts warn
Artificial intelligence is poised to eliminate up to 50% of entry-level white-collar jobs within five years, according to Dario Amodei, CEO of AI company Anthropic. In a recent interview with Axios, Amodei warned that industries such as tech, finance, law and consulting are…
· Ryan General
RFK Jr. urges Americans to ‘stop trusting experts’ as he touts AI at HHS
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. appeared on “The Tucker Carlson Show” earlier this month, calling on Americans to “stop trusting experts” and announcing that an “AI revolution” is underway at the department. Kennedy claimed HHS has brought in “top…
· Ryan General
Beijing expands reach as Voice of America exits global airwaves
China’s government is gaining more control over the international media landscape as the U.S.-funded Voice of America (VOA) and other American government broadcasters reduce their presence worldwide. The shift accelerated after the Trump administration ordered deep funding cuts…
· Carl Samson
New York ends STEM race-based policy amid anti-Asian claims
The New York Department of Education has reportedly eliminated race-based admissions criteria for a major STEM enrichment program following a federal lawsuit by Asian parents who alleged discrimination against their children. Catch up The controversy centers on the Science and…
· Carl Samson
Hybe artists gain Grammy voting rights as K-pop’s influence expands
Sixteen artists and producers from Hybe have been granted Grammy voting privileges starting with the 2026 awards ceremony. The Recording Academy’s July 10 announcement of membership invitations included Huh Yun-jin from Le Sserafim, Jungwon from Enhypen, Woozi and Vernon from…
· Carl Samson
Americans with Civil War ancestors have greater claim to US, Vance says
In yet another controversial take, Vice President J.D. Vance recently argued that Americans whose ancestors fought in the Civil War have “a hell of a lot more claim over America” than those who question their belonging. What he said: Speaking at the conservative think tank…
· Ryan General
Ex-Superman Dean Cain criticizes new film’s pro-immigration stance
Dean Cain, the Japanese American actor who portrayed Superman in the 1990s television series “Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” criticized director James Gunn’s approach to the upcoming “Superman” film, arguing that his political framing could alienate some fans and…
· Ryan General
Trump announces new Asian tariffs after failing to secure trade deals by deadline
U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday announced that he had sent letters to the heads of several Asian countries, informing them of a new round of “reciprocal” tariffs after talks failed to produce trade agreements before his self-imposed deadline. The new duties, set at 25% to…
Answer
BTS connects to HYBE, Weverse, memberships, merch, and tickets.
People & Works
Open
Person · Screen
Anna Sawai
Her 'Shogun' win cracked a category that had never gone to an Asian actor in 76 years of the Emmys — a ceiling break that arrived only once the industry let an Asian-led epic play in its own language.
Culture surface · Beauty
Beauty retail
Beauty retail is a culture-first entry point into the listed company behind it.
Person · Music
Dimash Qudaibergen
A Kazakh singer with a freakish multi-octave range conquered China's living rooms overnight and became Central Asia's most improbable soft-power export — a diaspora-of-one proving fandom now flows East before West.
IP · Anime
Haikyu!! films
Haikyu!! is the rare franchise that peaked commercially after its manga ended — the 2024 film cleared $100M worldwide and back-catalog sales grew ~50% post-conclusion, evidence that a well-timed theatrical event can reactivate a completed IP rather than merely close it out.
Platform · Platforms
Kakao Entertainment
Kakao Entertainment connects to Kakao and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Platforms
Kling AI
Kling AI connects to Kuaishou and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Platforms
Kuaishou
Kuaishou connects to Kuaishou and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Platforms
Kwai
Kwai connects to Kuaishou and the broader platforms story around it.
Culture surface · Retail
Lifestyle retail
Lifestyle retail connects to Miniso and the broader retail story around it.
Results
Culture · brand
Uniqlo
Uniqlo connects to Fast Retailing, the company behind the stores, basics, and repeat buying habit.
Culture · routine / beauty brands
K-beauty
K-beauty connects to companies built around skincare routines, hero products, and travel retail.
Culture · platform
Weverse
Weverse connects to HYBE, the platform where memberships, merch, content, and fandom access keep moving after the song.
Company · Japan · TYO:7832
Bandai Namco Holdings
Bandai Namco sits behind toys, anime IP, games, and licensing that turn fandom into everyday consumer products.
Company · China · HKEX:1024
Kuaishou
Kuaishou is China's number-two short-video platform, where livestream selling turned everyday creators into a shopping channel and rewired how goods get sold.
Company · India · NSE:ZEEL
Zee Entertainment
Zee is one of India's largest media networks — the TV channels and ZEE5 streaming that carry Bollywood and regional-language entertainment to a billion viewers and the diaspora.
Company · Japan · TYO:9983
Fast Retailing
Fast Retailing matters because Uniqlo is an everyday consumer habit, not just a stock story.
Company · Korea · KOSDAQ:035900
JYP Entertainment
JYP is tied to groups that drive albums, tours, subscriptions, merch, and international fan activity.
Company · Korea · KOSDAQ:041510
SM Entertainment
SM is tied to idol groups, tours, fan clubs, and the long-running system behind some of K-pop's most recognizable acts.
Company · Korea · KOSDAQ:122870
YG Entertainment
YG connects global K-pop attention to touring, brand deals, fan demand, and artist-centered entertainment revenue.
Company · China · NYSE:BABA
Alibaba
Alibaba is China's commerce-and-entertainment backbone — Taobao and Tmall shopping habits fund Youku streaming and Alibaba Pictures, tying online spending to what China watches.
Alibaba · Platforms · NYSE:BABA
The Grammys created an award for Asian pop. BTS said no.
Alibaba is China's commerce-and-entertainment backbone — Taobao and Tmall shopping habits fund Youku streaming and Alibaba Pictures, tying online spending to what China watches.
Fast Retailing · Fashion · TYO:9983
Your Uniqlo basics keep you coming back.
This shows up when you go back to Uniqlo for another pack of basics instead of treating the brand like a one-time fashion buy.
NetEase · Streaming · HKEX:9999
Your playlist depends on deals you never see.
NetEase helps explain gaming, music streaming, and online entertainment habits in Chinese consumer culture.
CJ ENM · Entertainment · KOSDAQ:035760
Before the first song drops, H//PE Princess already has a global Warner deal.
A debut deal matters less than whether the group turns into repeat listening, touring, merch, and fandom across markets.
Explainer · Sanrio
Hello Kitty is not just something you buy anymore. Sanrio wants you to play inside the world.
Sanrio shows how character fandom becomes retail, licensing, collabs, parks, and global consumer demand.
Explainer · Amorepacific
K-beauty won the Amazon cart. The real prize is your second bottle.
The first sale matters less than the repeat routine. If a product sticks, the brand can keep winning on replenishment, retail placement, and cross-market demand.