News

U.S. cities celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival

Mid-Autumn Festival celebrations are underway in the U.S., honoring an ancient tradition rooted in East and Southeast Asian cultures. From lantern parades to mooncake tastings, families and communities across the country are coming together to admire the season’s full moon and embrace the togetherness symbolized by the occasion.

About the festival: The Mid-Autumn Festival, also known as the Moon Festival, has been celebrated for thousands of years in Asian countries like China, South Korea and Vietnam. It falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month — or Sept. 17 this year — coinciding with the harvest season. Traditional observances include lighting lanterns, sharing mooncakes and telling the myth of Chang’e, the moon goddess who took an immortal elixir and now lives on the moon with her rabbit. The festival is also known for family reunions, allowing members to gather and admire the fullest moon of the year. In China, the festival dates back to the Tang Dynasty and was originally a way to offer thanks for the harvest.

How U.S. cities are celebrating: In San Francisco, celebrations kicked off early over the weekend, with local businesses like Asian food delivery platform Hungry Panda delivering special treats. Meanwhile, a Moon Festival Parade was held in Queens, New York City, closing three streets. Across the country, communities marked the festival with various foods, lantern fairs and performances. George Kao, who runs the Royal China restaurant in Dallas, shared mooncakes with customers and reflected on the myth of Chang’e. He recalled looking up at the moon as a child, hoping to catch a glimpse of the moon goddess and her rabbit. “Her husband is missing her so on the brightest moon, he prepares the mooncake,” Kao told WFAA.

News

Princeton, Yale, Duke accused of non-compliance over Asian enrollment drops

The group Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), which successfully sued Harvard to end affirmative action in admissions, is now challenging universities' compliance with the Supreme Court’s ruling. 

SFFA claims: On Tuesday, the group reportedly sent letters to Princeton, Yale and Duke, questioning drops in Asian American enrollment compared to last year. SFFA claims to be positioning itself as a watchdog to ensure universities follow the new rules, suggesting that admissions numbers should not change drastically without race-conscious policies. The group, led by anti-affirmative action litigant Edward Blum, warned that racial diversity figures are inconsistent with "true neutrality" and threatened legal action if schools were found to be in violation.

What critics are saying: However, critics, like researcher OiYan Poon, argue that Blum’s actions are premature, as admissions fluctuate naturally year-to-year. The increase in students not disclosing their race or ethnicity, along with efforts to boost financial aid recipients, further complicates the numbers. Princeton defended its adherence to the Supreme Court’s ruling, while Yale and Duke did not comment immediately. The battle over race-conscious admissions continues, with SFFA signaling an intent to investigate how personal essays are used in admissions decisions, as race can still be considered if mentioned in a student’s essay.

News

Lawmakers’ first-ever “China Week” threatens resurrection of China Initiative

In the House of Representatives’ first-ever “China Week” last week, members passed 28 bills targeting China to address national security concerns and reduce U.S. dependence on Chinese technology. The measures, including the revival of the much-criticized Trump-era “China Initiative” to combat espionage, limitations on foreign farmland purchases, increased congressional oversight of scientific agreements and potential closure of Hong Kong’s trade offices in the U.S., were passed just weeks before pivotal midterm elections, with Republicans positioning themselves as tougher on China than Democrats.

How the floor voted: While several bills passed with bipartisan support, others divided the House. Republicans pushed through a bill requiring Senate approval for international pandemic agreements, which Democrats opposed, favoring collaboration with the World Health Organization. A controversial measure revived the Trump-era “China Initiative” to combat espionage, criticized by Democrats for targeting Chinese American researchers, but it passed 237-180. Some bills, such as restrictions on drones and Chinese biotech contracts, received broad bipartisan backing. A bill targeting Hong Kong’s trade offices also passed with overwhelming support, responding to Beijing’s crackdown on dissent in the region.

Shortcomings and challenges: Not all intended legislation made it to the floor. Bills addressing outbound investment in sensitive Chinese sectors and lowering import tax thresholds faced industry pushback and committee infighting, prompting criticism from Democrats that the efforts did not go far enough. “What’s weak about this package is what’s not in there,” said Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.). Some successful measures, such as those targeting foreign farmland purchases, stirred concerns about discrimination but gained significant support, with lawmakers emphasizing the need to monitor foreign ownership near sensitive sites. Scientific cooperation also became a focus, with a new bill requiring congressional oversight on U.S.-China science agreements, a response to concerns over Beijing exploiting these partnerships to access sensitive technologies.

Crime

"Blessing" scams prey on elderly Asian women in Chicago

Between May and late August, at least five elderly Asian women in Chicago fell victim to "blessing" scams, losing tens of thousands of dollars in cash and family heirlooms. The perpetrators, typically middle-aged Asian women speaking Cantonese, reportedly approach their targets with elaborate stories, exploiting their cultural beliefs and trust.

Modus operandi: The scam, which primarily targets elderly Chinese women, involves the perpetrators claiming to be seeking a miracle doctor, then convincing the victims that they or their loved ones are in danger. They then offer a "blessing" in exchange for cash and valuables. These incidents have occurred in various locations across Chicago, including Chinatown, Bridgeport and Armour Square.

Devastating impact: The victims and their loved ones have spoken up about the attacks, noting that they have been left devastated by the loss of their life savings and cherished possessions. One victim's daughter lamented the lack of arrests and the profound impact the scam has had on her mother: "This is going to kill them slowly, to take everything from them. The depression, the guilt. It's a slow and painful death.” Similar scams have been reported in various major cities, including San Francisco, Seattle, Los Angeles and New York.

News

Thailand proposes new bill to regulate cannabis

Thailand has introduced a new bill to regulate its cannabis industry, focusing on medical and research uses as the government moves to curb recreational consumption. 

What it says: The draft legislation, published earlier this week by the Ministry of Public Health, allows cannabis and its extracts for medical treatment and research, as well as food, herbal and cosmetic products. Notably, the bill does not ban recreational cannabis outright — a shift from previous drafts — and avoids reclassifying the plant as a narcotic. It also tightens rules on growing, selling and exporting cannabis, requiring new licenses or permits. Public feedback on the proposed bill is open until Sept. 30, with potential changes before it is submitted to parliament for approval.

Penalties: Under the bill, non-medical consumption could result in fines of up to 60,000 baht ($1,800), while unauthorized sales could lead to a year in jail or fines up to 100,000 baht ($3,000). This follows Thailand’s 2022 decision to decriminalize cannabis, which saw over 9,400 dispensaries open nationwide. Political opposition from the Bhumjaithai Party, which supports keeping cannabis legal, has influenced the ruling Pheu Thai Party to abandon plans to re-list the plant as a narcotic.

News

Survey: Only 0.8% of Japan's top firms are led by women

A new survey by Kyodo News has revealed a stark gender disparity in Japan's corporate leadership, with only 13 female CEOs leading the country's top 1,600 listed companies. This translates to a mere 0.8% of firms on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's Prime Market being led by women.

Limited opportunities: The survey, based on fiscal 2023 financial statements, attributes the gender discrepancy in top executive positions to companies' preference for external hires over internal promotions. This practice, as noted by Ryusuke Ishii from the Japan Research Institute, could limit opportunities for women who may have steadily climbed the ranks within their companies.While the ratio is improving in Japan, it still lags behind rates of 30% to 40% in Europe and North America.

Silver lining: The Japanese government's ambitious goal of having 30% female executives by 2030 is driving some progress. While currently only 122 companies meet this target and a worrying 68 firms have no female representation in top-level management, last year’s increase in female board members to over 3,000 since 2019 indicates positive movement.

Final Bites

Harris targets Asian American voters with new ad about her mom’s influence: Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday launched a new ad titled “My Mother,” aimed at Asian American voters in key battleground states such as Arizona, Georgia and Michigan. The 60-second ad, part of the Harris-Walz campaign’s $370 million advertising push, highlights Harris’ personal story and values instilled by her mother, Shyamala Gopalan Harris, a breast cancer researcher and immigrant from India. “She taught us to never complain about injustice, but do something about it,” Harris says in the ad. Asian Americans, the fastest-growing voting bloc, saw the largest voter registration increase since 2020, suggesting that their support could be pivotal in tight races.

Steph Curry draws scores of Chinese fans even in face of approaching typhoon: Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry's recent trip to China to promote his Curry Brand merchandise faced unexpected challenges due to overwhelming fan enthusiasm. The sheer number of fans swarming Curry in public spaces forced the cancellation of several events and even led to the skipping of planned activities in Xi'an due to overcrowding concerns raised by the local government. Other public appearances, like a 3-point contest in Chengdu and a visit to the ancient city wall in Xi'an, were also scrapped. However, the trip still achieved some key objectives, including the opening of the world's first Curry Brand store and the unveiling of De'Aaron Fox's signature shoe in Chengdu. Curry also hosted a public event in Shanghai on Monday, drawing a crowd of over 10,000 people despite an approaching typhoon.

Blackpink member named #1 influencer at New York Fashion Week SS25: Influencer analysis site Lefty ranked Blackpink member Jisoo as the No. 1 influencer at New York Fashion Week Womenswear Spring/Summer 2025, with an impressive $8 million earned media value (EMV), largely attributed to her appearance at the Tommy Hilfiger show. The ranking also propelled the brand to the top of the fashion week list with a $56.4 million EMV. The hashtag #JISOOxTommyHilfigerSS25 was used over 243,579 times, surpassing even the event’s main hashtag. Making a surprise return to NYFW after last attending in 2018, Jisoo arrived from Seoul to support Tommy Hilfiger, wearing a chic ensemble featuring a black mini skirt, white top and varsity jacket. The fashion world regular is also an ambassador for Dior, Cartier and other brands.

Olivia Rodrigo's Philippine $27 concert tickets queue shatters records: Filipino American singer Olivia Rodrigo made history in the Philippine concert scene, with a record-breaking 745,000 fans joining the virtual queue for her upcoming "Manila Silver Star Show" concert. Live Nation Philippines confirmed that the queue was the highest its ticket-selling platform has ever seen. The 21-year-old Filipino American singer ensured her Filipino fans could experience the special "Manila Silver Star Show" on Oct. 5 at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan province by pricing tickets at an affordable 1,500 Philippine pesos ($27). The concert, part of Rodrigo’s “Guts World Tour,” will also support her Fund 4 Good initiative, which promotes gender equality and women’s rights. Fans who failed to secure tickets expressed their frustration online through the singer's own lyrics like "It’s brutal out here!" and "Jealousy, jealousy."

Jackie Chan pokes fun at martial arts legacy in new "Panda Plan" trailer: The first trailer for Jackie Chan-starring action comedy “Panda Plan” debuted on Monday. In the film, the 70-year-old star plays a fictionalized version of himself, poking fun at his legacy as a martial arts icon while using his skills to save a rare baby panda from mercenaries. The action-packed trailer promises a heartwarming blend of humor and adventure, with Chan leading the charge alongside his adorable panda co-star. The film, also featuring Shi Ce, Wei Xiang and Han Yanbo, hits Chinese theaters on Oct. 1, with no U.S. release date yet announced.