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· Ryan General
California tax fight spotlights how billionaires escape taxes
As wealthy donors commit at least $35 million to defeating California’s proposed 5% tax on billionaires, the escalating campaign is focusing attention on how much of the nation’s largest fortunes go untaxed each year. The measure would apply to residents whose wealth is largely…
· Editorial Staff
Former Massachusetts official claims anti-Asian racism led to her ouster
A former Massachusetts official tasked with senior welfare has filed a lawsuit alleging that anti-Asian bias drove her out of a job in Gov. Maura Healey’s administration. About Chen and her leadership tenure: Elizabeth Chen, who immigrated from Taiwan in 1971, was appointed by…
· Carl Samson
Democratic cities are building a wall against ICE, and it matters for Asian Americans
Democratic local officials are mounting a coordinated resistance to the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement as operations in Minnesota begin to cool down. What they’re doing: Over the past few weeks, mayors in Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, Oakland and…
· Ryan General
AI research boom draws scrutiny after single author claims 113 papers in one year
Academics say artificial intelligence research is being diluted by a surge of rapidly produced papers that receive only cursory peer review. The criticism has intensified after Kevin Zhu, a recent Berkeley graduate, claimed authorship on 113 AI papers in a single year.…
· Ryan General
Report alleges pilot deliberately cut fuel before deadly Air India Flight 171 crash
Investigators examining last year’s deadly Air India Flight 171 crash in Ahmedabad have concluded the disaster was caused by the pilot in command deliberately moving both engine fuel control switches to cutoff, according to a report published Thursday. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner…
· Ryan General
Detroit Tigers’ Jahmai Jones joins Asian MLB stars at 2026 World Baseball Classic
Detroit Tigers outfielder Jahmai Jones was named to South Korea’s 30-man roster for the 2026 World Baseball Classic, which begins March 5 at the Tokyo Dome in Tokyo. Jone will join a group of prominent Asian Major League Baseball (MLB) players participating in the tournament,…
· Ryan General
Steven Cheung uses slur against Ro Khanna in fight over unredacted Epstein files
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung used a disability slur on X to attack Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) during a dispute over the release of FBI files tied to Jeffrey Epstein. Cheung also targeted Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) writing that the two were “some of the…
· Ryan General
Epstein email casts new scrutiny on Anwar as Malaysia weighs political fallout
An internal email connected to Jeffrey Epstein described Malaysia’s Anwar Ibrahim as a potential political asset years before he became prime minister, according to documents unsealed last week. The email suggested Anwar could facilitate introductions for a major bank, but…
· Ryan General
Asians win at the 2026 Grammys, but top categories remain out of reach
Asian artists secured historic wins at the 68th Annual Grammy Awards held Feb. 1 at the Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles, while mostly being shut out of the ceremony’s most influential categories. “Golden,” performed by Ejae, Audrey Nuna and Rei Ami, earned best song written for…
· Carl Samson
Indian student beaten on Chicago train considers leaving U.S.
An international student’s assault on a Chicago train last month has reignited fears about safety and belonging for foreign nationals studying in the country. What happened: Roosevelt University student Shubham Patil, 23, was heading home on the Red Line after studying late at…
· Carl Samson
The Dalai Lama just won his first Grammy
The Tibetan spiritual leader secured his first Grammy Award on Sunday for Best Audiobook, Narration and Storytelling Recording with “Meditations: The Reflections Of His Holiness The Dalai Lama” at the 68th annual ceremony. First win: At 90 years old, the Dalai Lama won alongside…
· Carl Samson
Northern California county reaches settlement on Asian American discrimination claims
After years of legal battles over allegations of systematic racial bias, a northern California county has committed to overhauling its policing practices and submitting to independent oversight. Catch up: Siskiyou County’s Board of Supervisors and Sheriff’s Office finalized a…
· Carl Samson
Border Patrol detained a man over his accent. For Asian immigrants, it’s an alarm bell
Border Patrol agents detained a U.S. passport holder based solely on his accent in Minneapolis last week, raising concerns about expanded racial profiling that threatens Asian American communities. What happened: The arrest, which was caught in a now-viral video, occurred just…
· Ryan General
Former US Navy sailor sentenced in San Diego for Chinese espionage
A federal judge in San Diego on Monday sentenced former U.S. Navy sailor Jinchao Wei to 200 months in federal prison for his role in an espionage case involving China. The 25-year-old, who’s also known as Patrick Wei, was convicted by a federal jury in August 2025 of conspiracy…
· Ryan General
Bowen Yang apologizes for discouraging donations to Rep. Jasmine Crockett campaign
Bowen Yang has apologized following backlash over agreeing with comments on his “Las Culturistas” podcast that urged listeners not to donate to Rep. Jasmine Crockett’s U.S. Senate campaign in Texas. The remarks were made during an episode posted on Jan. 7 in which co-host Matt…
· Ryan General
Malaysia, Indonesia block Elon Musk’s Grok over explicit AI deepfakes
Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked access to Elon Musk’s AI chatbot Grok after regulators said the tool was repeatedly used to generate sexually explicit, nonconsensual deepfake images. Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs ordered the restriction on Jan. 10…
· Ryan General
For Japanese American survivors, today’s immigration tactics feel painfully familiar
Decades after Japanese Americans were forcibly removed from their homes during World War II, survivors and advocates say the same legal and racial logic is resurfacing in Trump’s immigration enforcement. The renewed use of wartime authorities such as the Alien Enemies Act, the…
· Ryan General
Bowen Yang explains his decision to leave ‘SNL’
Bowen Yang said he left “Saturday Night Live” in December after deciding he had reached the limit of what the show’s sketch format could offer him creatively. Speaking on a recent episode of his podcast “Las Culturistas,” Yang said he felt boxed into narrow archetypes during his…
· Ryan General
Maduro arrest fuels Taiwan-focused debate across Chinese social media
The Trump administration’s capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3 triggered a surge of debate on Chinese social media, pushing related hashtags to the top of Weibo’s trending charts. While Beijing has framed the seizure as a sovereignty violation, online…
· Ryan General
Nvidia’s Jensen Huang ‘perfectly fine’ with prospect of California billionaire tax
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang told Bloomberg Television in an interview that California’s proposed billionaire wealth tax does not concern him. The proposal would tax individuals with net worth exceeding $1 billion and is being promoted by labor unions seeking to fund health care and…
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.