Politics

Trump tries to downplay false claims about Harris’ race

Former President Donald Trump attempted to make light of his past false comments on Vice President Kamala Harris’ racial identity at their first debate on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Harris firmly addressed his history of racial division, marking her first direct response to his attacks on her race during the 2024 campaign.

The facts: Harris, the daughter of a Jamaican father and Indian mother, has consistently identified as both Black and South Asian American. Despite this, Trump falsely suggested in a July interview with the National Association of Black Journalists that Harris “turned Black” after previously promoting only her Indian heritage. Trump repeated this at the debate, claiming, “I read where she was not Black, and then I read she was Black,” even though Harris has long publicly identified both sides of her identity.

Walking back: When pressed by the moderators, Trump said he “couldn’t care less” about Harris’ racial identity, stating, “Whatever she wants to be is OK with me.” In response, Harris confronted Trump’s history of racial rhetoric, bringing up his role in the Central Park Five case and his past discriminatory housing practices. Harris emphasized the need for unity, saying, “We don’t want this kind of approach that is just constantly trying to divide us, and especially by race,” and highlighted Trump’s long record of racial division throughout his career.

Crime

Woman fatally shot in front of family during robbery in Manhattan condo

Ying Zhu Liu, a 57-year-old woman from Manhattan, was fatally shot in the face in front of her husband and her son during a botched robbery in their Chinatown condo building on Market Street at around 11 p.m. on Monday.

What happened: According to authorities, two suspects in black ski masks attempted to rob Liu’s 61-year-old husband after following him into an elevator. His son, Yan, was waiting on the eighth floor and tried to intervene, but was pistol-whipped by one of the suspects. Liu, who heard the commotion, came out with a stick to confront the robbers, but was fatally shot in the face. The suspects fled on foot after stealing the husband's cell phone and remain at large.

Ongoing investigation: Both suspects were described as wearing black ski masks and hooded jackets, with one donning a half-red, half-black jacket and the other in black clothing. The family, immigrants who had lived in the building for over a decade, had no prior experiences with crime there. The building, which includes condo units and commercial space, is also home to a preschool. Police are still investigating the case. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-577-TIPS.

News

AAPI History Hub launched to aid K-12 teachers in promoting inclusion

The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) has launched the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) History Hub, a comprehensive educational database aimed at helping K-12 teachers incorporate AAPI history into their curriculum. 

About the hub: The database features nearly 300 resources, including lesson plans, teaching guides, books, films and other academic materials, covering various periods of AAPI history in America. It is designed to be user-friendly, allowing teachers to search for resources by keywords, topics, grade levels and ethnic focus. The foundation also plans to expand the hub’s offerings by adding videos, locally-focused materials and data maps showing AAPI student populations and policy efforts.

Hub’s goals: The foundation launched the hub after finding that 55% of Americans could not name a significant event in Asian American history. By making AAPI history more visible in classrooms, the hub aims to promote inclusion and a shared sense of humanity, ensuring that AAPI students see their identities reflected in the curriculum. This initiative also aligns with efforts in states like California, where laws require K-12 teachers to teach more AAPI history as part of broader efforts to combat anti-Asian hate.

News

TikToker discovers Temu croissant lamp is … an actual croissant

A TikToker who suspected that a croissant-shaped “lamp” their sister purchased from Temu — a Chinese-owned, Boston-based online marketplace known for its low-priced Chinese-made goods — might be made with a real pastry ended up taking a bite to confirm their doubts. TikTok user @froginahatgirl shared the video of their discovery on Sept. 2, amassing over 13.5 million views since.

What happened: The TikToker said they became suspicious about the “lamp” after noticing “hundreds of ants underneath it” when she returned home from work on a hot day. Curious, theybroke it in half to inspect the inside. “That looks like a f*cking croissant. Are you actually joking me? That looks like f*cking pastry. Look at the crumbs. What the actual f*ck, Temu?” the TikToker said of their finding. They then broke off a piece of the “lamp” and tasted it, exclaiming, “It’s literally f*cking food.” The video sparked various reactions from TikTok users, with many expressing concern that she ingested part of the pastry. @Froginahatgirl later posted a follow-up video making light of the situation.

Similar product: Food-based lighting isn’t entirely new. Japanese company Pampshade — which combines “pan,” or  “bread” in Japanese, and “lampshade” — has been selling lamps made from unsold croissants and baguettes for years, with prices ranging between $44 and $220. On its FAQ page, Pampshade advises customers not to take a bite of their product as they come with non-toxic coating on “the surface and inside to preserve the lamp for many years of use.”

Travel

Indonesia, Philippines recognized as top 2024 travel destinations

The 31st World Travel Awards (WTA) Asia & Oceania Gala Ceremony, held in the Philippines on Sept. 3, honored destinations and businesses across the region for their outstanding contributions to the travel industry. Dubbed the "Oscars of the travel industry," the event saw significant wins for Hong Kong, Singapore, Indonesia and the Philippines.

“Must-visit” Philippines: The 2024 WTA saw the Philippines bagging eight major awards, including Asia’s leading dive destination, Asia’s leading beach destination, Asia’s leading island destination and Asia's leading tourist attraction 2024 for the historic walled city of Intramuros. WTA founder Graham Cooke lauded the country for successfully hosting the event, proclaiming it a “must-visit” destination for meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions.

Other major awards: Indonesia secured the title of Asia's Leading Adventure Tourism Destination, highlighting the country’s growing reputation as a premier destination for adventure seekers, surpassing previous winners Japan, Thailand and Sri Lanka. Hong Kong International Airport was crowned Asia's Leading Airport for the second year in a row, while Singapore Airlines continued its reign as Asia's Leading Airline for the sixth consecutive year. The airline also secured accolades as Asia's leading airline  — first class and Asia's leading airline to the Indian Ocean.

Entertainment

Olivia Rodrigo's $27 “Guts” Philippine concert sparks excitement, scalping concerns

Grammy-winning singer-songwriter Olivia Rodrigo is set to perform her first-ever concert in the Philippines on Oct. 5 at the 55,000-capacity Philippine Arena in Bulacan province. Announced on Wednesday, the “Silver Star Show” has generated excitement due to its affordable ticket price of 1,500 Philippine pesos ($27), with all net proceeds going to Rodrigo's Fund 4 Good organization.

Homecoming queen: Rodrigo, who has Filipino roots through her grandfather and great-grandfather, previously expressed her desire to perform in the Philippines. Fans of the 21-year-old artist lauded the affordable tickets and charitable cause online, with many noting the rare opportunity for Filipinos to see a global superstar perform live. Some fans took to social media to urge international fans to refrain from buying tickets, emphasizing the concert's significance as a “homecoming” show for Rodrigo and her Filipino fans. Part of the “Guts World Tour,”  the Philippine stop marks one of many across Asia, including shows in Bangkok, Seoul, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Singapore, before heading to Australia later in October.

Scalping concerns: Online ticket sales for the show begin on Sept. 14, with a limit of four tickets per purchase and randomized seat assignments to ensure fairness. While the potential for scalping remains a concern for some fans, others point out that the "Silver Star" tickets require a valid ID for both redemption and venue entry to discourage reselling.

Final Bites

First Blasian Book Fair sets stage in Orlando: Orlando will see its first-ever Blasian Book Fair this weekend. Happening at A Perfect Union Art Gallery in West Oaks Mall along W. Colonial Drive on Sept. 14, the free book fair aims to “bridge communities and share similar histories and struggles for justice.” Organized by Blasian March, Make Us Visible Florida and Kizzy Books in partnership with FusionFest, the event will give attendees free books from Black, Asian and Blasian writers and will also feature Native American literature. It will also offer meet-and-greets, signings with the authors and a special appearance by Los Angeles-based Chinese American rapper and activist Jason Chu, among others.

Ang Lee honored with prestigious Praemium Imperiale award: Taiwan-born film director Ang Lee, renowned for his work on "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon," "Life of Pi" and "Brokeback Mountain," was named one of the five recipients of the prestigious Praemium Imperiale award. The awards ceremony, scheduled for Nov. 19 in Tokyo, will honor Lee, aged 69, alongside other distinguished artists including Sophie Calle, Doris Salcedo, Shigeru Ban and Maria João Pires. Each recipient will be granted 15 million yen ($105,500), a testimonial letter and a medal. The Praemium Imperiale, now in its 35th year, stands as the world's most esteemed art award, recognizing exceptional contributions in painting, sculpture, architecture, music and theater/film. Lee, who joins a notable list of previous film sector winners — including Ingmar Bergman, Jean-Luc Godard and Akira Kurosawa — told the Sankei Shimbun that the recognition was a "great honor" and that he was "proud that Taiwan could be recognized this way."

“Jon & Kate Plus 8” star Collin Gosselin accuses mother of child abuse: Collin Gosselin, the former child TV personality made famous by reality show “Jon & Kate Plus 8,” has made serious abuse allegations against his mother, Kate Gosselin. In an interview with The US Sun, Collin, now 20, claimed that Kate would zip-tie him and confine him in a "specially-built" basement room for hours or even an entire day while monitoring him with cameras after her split from Jon Gosselin in 2009. Collin, a sextuplet central to the show, alleges he was treated differently from his siblings and sent to a psychiatric facility despite lacking any diagnosed mental health issues. He shared an emotional note he had written to his father, Jon, asking for help, which eventually led to Jon gaining custody of Collin and his sister Hannah. Kate has denied the allegations, attributing them to Collin’s psychiatric issues. However, The Sun reported that Collin provided "private medical records" indicating he does not have the "behavioral and psychiatric conditions" his mother alleges.

BTS ranks 19th on “Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st century” list: BTS ranked 19th on Billboard’s list of the “Greatest Pop Stars of the 21st Century,” released Tuesday, recognized for breaking barriers in K-pop and boy bands while inspiring a global community through messages of positivity, love and connection. Billboard praised the group’s “Beatles-sized success,” noting their six Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 hits and six Billboard 200 No. 1 albums, and emphasized that “no K-pop group — or group in general — has been able to accomplish what Bangtan has this century.” Their bond with fans, genre-blending music and standout choreography were highlighted as key factors in their dominance.

Ken Jeong celebrates 20 years of marriage with wife in throwback photo: Comedian and actor Ken Jeong and his wife Tran Ho are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary. Jeong shared a throwback photo from their 2004 wedding on Instagram on Sept. 5, expressing his love and gratitude with the caption, “Twenty years down, forever to go. You still complete me, Ho.” The couple met while working as doctors at a Los Angeles hospital and have since supported each other through major life events, including Ho's breast cancer treatment and Jeong's 2009 breakout role in “The Hangover.” Jeong has consistently highlighted how Ho, who made him laugh from their first meeting, has been his biggest supporter throughout their journey together. They share twin daughters, Alexa and Zooey.