Hello Everyone, In today's newsletter, we pause to remember a pivotal day in history: September 11th. Just over two decades ago, our country faced a heart-wrenching tragedy. The immense heartbreak, deep loss and the haunting echoes of that day are still felt by all of us.

I can still recall being in my 8th-grade class when our teacher suddenly ran over to the TV and switched on the news. Shortly after, the principal's voice filled the school, updating us on the devastating events. The weight of the day was evident in every classroom. Even though I was young and didn’t fully grasp the event, the reactions of teachers and adults made it clear that something monumental had occurred.

Each year, when I think back to that day, my emotions about the incident intensify. As I've grown older and become a father, I've come to understand more about the sacrifices, courage and resilience tied to 9/11. I remember visiting the 9/11 Memorial in 2018; the names etched there and the emotions they stirred are forever imprinted on my mind.

What I love about my job is that I constantly get to learn about Asian American history. It was only recently that I came to know of heroes like Betty Ong, Zack Zeng and Wesley J. Yoo, who along with countless others, played crucial roles in saving many lives on that fateful day. They're not just Asian American heroes to me — they're American heroes, representing the very best of our shared heritage.

After all, an Asian American story is, at its heart, an American story.

Benny Luo

Founder & CEO

House reps introduce resolution to call out hate, racism after 9/11

A group of lawmakers recently proposed a resolution acknowledging the tragedy of the Sept. 11 attacks while highlighting the hate and discrimination Arab, Muslim, Middle Eastern, South Asian and Sikh communities faced afterward.

Why is this significant? 

After the 9/11 attacks, discrimination against these communities surged. The U.S. government’s actions further compounded the situation, resulting in wrongful interrogations, detentions and more. The resolution aims to recognize and begin healing these past harms.

How did the situation escalate? 

Post-9/11, nearly 1,000 hate incidents targeting these communities were reported in a single month. Additionally, government policies led to overreaching surveillance, coercion and violations of civil liberties against these communities.

Who are the key sponsors? 

Prominent U.S. reps. such as Pramila Jayapal, Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, Judy Chu and others have championed the resolution. They've proposed several measures, including the formation of a task force, resource allocation for hate crime prevention, and studies to gauge the impact of past actions.

The resolution underscores the complex legacy of 9/11, emphasizing the importance of recognizing past missteps. By addressing these issues, lawmakers hope to promote understanding, combat xenophobia and ensure such mistakes aren’t repeated in the future.

President Biden’s historic visit to Vietnam 

President Joe Biden recently visited Vietnam and made some big deals related to tech and special minerals. 

• This visit is a big deal because it means the U.S. and Vietnam are getting closer, especially since Vietnam's putting the U.S. in the same top-friend group as China and Russia. 

• Biden's trip was all about strengthening the U.S.' connections in Asia and making sure the U.S. has reliable sources for tech supplies, without depending too much on China. 

• While all this is happening, Vietnam is trying to stay friendly with all the major countries — even having defense chats with Russia. 

• The U.S. and Vietnam are also working on business deals, with big companies like Google and Intel involved. 

There are still some disagreements between the two countries, especially over human rights. But overall, the trip was about building stronger ties.

📰 Headlines

Michelle Yeoh nominated for IOC: The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Executive Board has nominated eight new members for election this year, including renowned actress Michelle Yeoh. These candidates, set to be elected in Mumbai from October 15-17, underline the IOC's commitment to gender equality, with President Thomas Bach highlighting that female representation in the IOC has increased to 41.1%. Apart from her celebrated acting career, Yeoh has also represented Malaysia in various sports at the national level, including swimming, diving and squash.

NY embraces Lunar New Year in public schools: Governor Kathy Hochul has declared Lunar New Year an official public school holiday in New York. Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie sees this as a chance for Asian students to celebrate their heritage without compromising education. Rep. Grace Meng, who faced ridicule for proposing the bill in 2009, is now championing its recognition at the federal level. This move further emphasizes New York's commitment to the AAPI community, following their recent $30 million fund to combat anti-Asian attacks.

Korean American scores $1.7 million deal with ESPN: Mina Kimes, an NFL analyst for ESPN, has secured a new contract reportedly worth over $1.7 per year with the network. In addition to her ESPN commitments, Kimes collaborates with Peyton Manning’s Omaha Productions for her podcast, “The Mina Kimes Show.” Kimes' salary increase sparked mixed online reactions. A viral post with 22 million views claimed she "never played football" and criticized ESPN for emphasizing gender equity. Kimes clapped back by posting a video of herself punting a football, captioning it: “Cope harder.”

Vietnam is bringing electric cars to the US: VinFast, a Vietnamese electric vehicle maker, is set to import its three-row crossover VF 9 to the U.S. this year and plans to introduce the VF 7 and VF 6 in 2024. The vehicles will be imported from Vietnam until local production begins in their $2 billion North Carolina factory by 2025. Notably, VinFast recently debuted on the Nasdaq Global Select Market, achieving a market cap of $85 billion, surpassing giants like Ford and General Motors. This comes despite the firm registering only 128 cars in the U.S. from January to May this year.

YOSHIKI to receive ‘Hollywood’s rarest honor’: Yoshiki Hayashi, legendary Japanese musician and leader of rock bands X Japan and the Last Rockstars, will be the first Japanese artist to receive a cement imprint at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles. This recognition, described by YOSHIKI as "Hollywood’s rarest honor," places him among a select group of just over 300 that includes Keanu Reeves and Jackie Chan. Following the ceremony, a documentary on YOSHIKI titled "YOSHIKI: Under the Sky" will premiere at the theater. The artist has sold over 30 million records and boasts accomplishments such as performing at Madison Square Garden and composing for renowned shows and films.

Caffeinated Cup Noodles, anyone?

Nissin has introduced a new product in Japan: caffeinated Cup Noodles designed specifically for gamers. Named “Gaming Cup Noodle,” these come in two varieties: curry, which consists of vegetables and pork, and garlic black pepper yakisoba, featuring cabbage, egg, shrimp, and pork. Notably, these noodles lack soup, minimizing potential mess. The launch is in response to Japan's growing gamer demographic, which now exceeds 50 million. These noodles will be available starting September 18, with the curry flavor priced at 298 yen ($2) and the yakisoba at 280 yen ($1.89).

• ‘I hate Asians’: Man arrested for anti-Asian attacks in Portland’s Slabtown district

• AAPI, Black and other diverse groups unite at Nevada multicultural festival

• Asian man drugged, robbed in Colombia by woman he met on a dating app

• Chinese woman arrested for having 16 jobs at the same time without ever working

• Stabbing at Chinatown festival in Vancouver leaves 3 injured

• Elderly Asian couple held at gunpoint in another Seattle home robbery