Hello, Everyone!

A report by Columbia University's School of Social Work and Committee of 100 has found that 74% of 6,500 Chinese Americans surveyed have experienced racial discrimination in the last year.

Additionally, 24% are at moderate to severe risk of mental illness. The study showed that Chinese Americans feel they are accepted in society but experience a high sense of discrimination, with 58% feeling conflicted between the American and Chinese ways of doing things. Of the survey participants, 55% worry about their safety from hate crimes or harassment. Over 40% of Asian Americans reported being treated disrespectfully.

Some other bullet points include: 

• 1 in 4 described themselves as being in fair to poor mental health.
• 38% avoid certain places out of fear for their safety.
• 90% of Asian Americans are registered to vote and politically engaged.
• Concerns include racism, crime, gun control, and the economy.
• 79% view the state of U.S.-China relations negatively.

• "The Power of Pi" initiative has been launched by the Broadway play "Life of Pi" to foster connections and partnerships within the AAPI community. The initiative aims to highlight the transformative power of storytelling and encourage the community to celebrate each other. The initiative includes a monthly talkback event called "Tiger Talks," partnering with small businesses in New York City, and a pre-show reception.

• The state of Pennsylvania has declared the Hindu festival of Diwali a national holiday, making it the first state to do so in the U.S. The bill was passed by the state House and Senate, with Senator Nikil Saval tweeting about it on Wednesday. The legislation, introduced in February by Senators Greg Rothman and Nikil Saval, recognizes and celebrates Pennsylvania's cultural diversity and the nearly 200,000 Indian American residents who celebrate the festival every year.

• Japanese space exploration company ispace lost communication with its lunar lander, Hakuto-R, as it was about to land on the moon, resulting in the company’s hopes of being the first commercial firm to land successfully on the lunar surface being dashed. The Hakuto-R lander was carrying a 22-pound rover developed by the UAE and a spherical mini rover developed by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency and Japanese toymaker TOMY. Japan plans to send astronauts to the moon by the end of the decade and aims to become a major space power.

• Michelle Yeoh is set to lend her voice to the upcoming film "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts," which released its official trailer on Thursday. Directed by Steven Caple Jr., the movie will be the seventh installment of the "Transformers" film series and a standalone sequel to 2018's "Bumblebee." It is set primarily in Brooklyn in 1994 and features a star-studded cast, including Anthony Ramos, Dominique Fishback, Lauren Vélez, Tobe Nwigwe, and actors behind the voices of Transformers such as Peter Cullen, Liza Koshy, Pete Davidson, Peter Dinklage and Cristo Fernández.

• A jellyfish with 24 eyes was discovered in Hong Kong. 
   
• Max’s series “Warrior” will premiere season three on June 29.  
   
• Awkwafina will join the cast of the Matt Damon led project “If.” 
   
• Chinese netizens have been using profile photos of Korean actor Ma Dong-Seok for improved customer service.  
   
• McDonald’s in Singapore has released kimchi-spiced burgers in a collaboration with BTS and Line Friends.