Race in America 🌎

A rally gathered in Queens, New York this weekend for Nirmal Singh, the 70 year-old Sikh man that was attacked a week ago. 

While Singh is back in India, the rally was one of a resounding demand: to end hate and violence. 

Assemblywoman Jenifer Rajkumar, the first South Asian woman elected to New York State office, stood with her community and reiterated that, “an attack on him is like an attack on my own family.”

For Sherry Chen, her work as a hydrologist has been drenched in a spying case that has damaged her career. 

Chen, a 66 year-old Chinese immigrant, dedicated her work to protect American cities with her analysis on water and flooding, and yet, an accusation from the Justice Department has inflicted a “nightmare” leading to her work being ignored and erased.

Chen is currently on administrative leave from her job at the National Weather Service, but she’s still fighting. Alongside “more than 1,000 organizations and individuals, including the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund and National Asian Pacific American Bar Association,” they are demanding a formal apology and a reinstatement. (NBC)

In Other Asian News 🗞

New data shows that around the world, childcare costs are rising. But, while South Korea tops the list, China has also become the second most expensive place to raise a child.

From a lens that calculates the total amount of money spent, China may not seem that expensive comparatively, but by adjusting that data to reflect the average percentage of disposable income, that number significantly changes.

While Beijing is taking steps to tackle this problem by making after-school tutoring more accessible, there are more areas in which the government and its lawmakers can tackle the price tag. Next on the list would be nursery and kindergarten costs.



On Friday, an ex-Goldman Sachs banker was convicted by a jury on corruption charges, specifically looting from Malaysia’s 1MDB development fund.

Roger Ng, formerly the top investment banker for Malaysia pled not guilty, however, his former boss, ​​Tim Leissner, whom he supposedly helped embezzle those funds, had falsely implicated Ng for a lighter sentence. 

Ng was found guilty of two counts of “conspiracy to violate the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) through bribery and circumvention of Goldman's internal accounting controls, as well as one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering.” (Reuters)

Entertainment 📺

If you were looking for another restaurant to try out, the first Michelin star Filipino restaurant is right here in the US.

Kasama, located in Chicago, started as a cafe with pastries back in 2020 and now, it is replete with a 13-course tasting menu and dinners that brought a shining star. The course came out of the COVID surge to combat a severe lack of customers and revenue. 

Tim Flores and Genie Kwon, the founders of Kasama, did not plan for a fine dining experience, but it is a bittersweet legacy that Flores remembers distinctly. He recalls that “so many people have teared up at dinner,” which wasn’t his intention but connected the Filipino community with their roots. 



Remember Tamagotchis from your childhood — those tiny little characters in a hand-held device that sparked endless hours of joy?!

Well, now, BTS has partnered with Bandai Namco to create TinyTan Tamagotchi characters. These small BTS-inspired characters come with games such as Dance! Dynamite! and Make a Custard Tart! which serves their favorite foods.

The regular Tamagotchis come in two red versions: one inspired by their song “Magic Door,” and another inspired by “Mic Drop.” The exclusive black version, TinyTan Hugmy Tamagotchi, however, is hugged by a soft vinyl figure inspired by one of the 7 members. 

What else is on our minds? 🧠

Chinese survivors on the Titanic?
Six Chinese members of the Titanic were forgotten during the luxurious ship’s tragic sinking; however, in the documentary, “The Six,” their stories are uplifted and remembered.

Zelenskyy asks South Korea for arms? 
In a video address to South Korean government officials, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked for support in Ukraine, specifically for weaponry. President Zelenskyy reiterates that he, as well as Ukraine, would appreciate the help of South Korea in fighting against Russian ammunition.
 

North Korea celebrates 10 years of rule?
This Monday marked the 10 year anniversary of Kim Jong Un’s rule in North Korea. The nation praised his leadership in developing nuclear weaponry, highlighted his other political achievements, and also unveiled new portraits and exhibitions for this celebration.