News

New poll shows how AAPI adults view legal, illegal immigration

A new poll shows that 8 in 10 Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander (AAPI) adults believe legal immigration significantly boosts the U.S. economy. The survey, conducted by AAPI Data and the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research in early September, highlights that AAPI adults are more likely than the general U.S. population to view legal immigrants as contributing positively to the nation's economic growth.

Views on illegal immigration: The poll highlights that the AAPI community’s views on illegal immigration align more closely with those of the general U.S. public. While nearly three-quarters of AAPI voters acknowledge the importance of skilled immigrants in science and technology, only 40% agree that undocumented immigrants contribute to economic progress. On the topic of border security, about half of AAPI respondents consider strengthening the U.S.-Mexico border a high priority.

Behind the survey: The poll comes as immigration continues to be a hot-button issue in the U.S., with political debates often focusing on illegal immigration. “AAPI adults want to see solutions both on the border and for legal migration pathways,” said Karthick Ramakrishnan, founder of AAPI Data. He noted that many AAPI groups are heavily invested in legal immigration, particularly because they often face long wait times to sponsor family members or obtain visas.

News

Simu Liu defends boba company owners amid cultural appropriation accusations

Shang-Chi” star Simu Liu has come to the defense of two “Dragons' Den” contestants after they became the target of online hate and threats. The entrepreneurs, Sebastien Fiset and Jessica Frenette, were accused online of cultural appropriation after pitching their alcoholic bubble tea business Bobba in a recent episode.

Passing on Bobba: Liu, who appeared as a guest investor on the show, voiced concerns about the potential appropriation of bubble tea during the episode that aired last week. After listening to their pitch, he questioned the founders about their respect for the cultural significance of bubble tea. He then went on to explain why he decided not to invest in them: “I started this venture company… primarily to uplift minority  entrepreneurs and not only do I feel like this is not happening here, but that I would be uplifting a business that is profiting off of something that feels so dear to my cultural heritage. I want to be a part of bringing boba to the masses, but not like this.”

Denouncing hate: The episode sparked online discussions about cultural appropriation and harassment directed at Fiset and Frenette. Liu took to social media to condemn online bullying and emphasize the importance of open dialogue. "Let's disagree with each other. Let's critique each other...But what we're not going to do is threaten people's physical safety," Liu stated in a TikTok video. He further clarified his stance on Instagram, acknowledging the entrepreneurs' missteps but urging the public to offer them "grace" and view this as a "learning moment."

News

Exhibit features rare look at U.S.-China friendship

An ongoing exhibit at the Beijing American Center in China offers a unique glimpse into a forgotten era of U.S.-China cooperation, showcasing photos from World War II that highlight a seldom-remembered alliance. Curated by Chinese collector Zou Dehuai, the exhibit draws on his personal archive to rekindle stories of heroism, camaraderie and mutual sacrifice that defined the China-Burma-India theater.

What’s in it: The exhibit, which runs from Sept. 26 to Oct. 25, features more than 10,000 photos from Zou’s collection that depict the wartime experiences of U.S. and Chinese soldiers who fought together against Japanese forces during World War II. Among them are rare images of figures like Gen. Joseph Stilwell and the Flying Tigers, led by Gen. Claire Lee Chennault, as well as Chinese American pilots, African American soldiers and wartime nurses. Personal moments, such as a U.S. soldier learning to use chopsticks from Chinese soldiers, bring to life the human connections formed amid the chaos of war. “This friendship, of fighting shoulder to shoulder, should be remembered forever,” Zou, who has been collecting historical images since 2012, told the South China Morning Post.

Why this matters: The exhibit shines a light on a largely forgotten chapter of U.S.-China relations, where the two nations united for a common cause. During the war, over 250,000 Americans joined forces with Chinese soldiers in the China-Burma-India theater, with many risking their lives for freedom. This bond has been overlooked in both countries due to ideological rifts that followed the war. For decades in China, it was taboo to acknowledge U.S. support for Chiang Kai-shek’s Kuomintang, while U.S. veterans who fought alongside the Chinese later found themselves fighting against them in conflicts like the Korean and Vietnam wars. Despite this complicated legacy, Zou’s exhibition is part of a broader effort to revive the spirit of U.S.-China cooperation, often exemplified by the Flying Tigers, which remains a symbol of hope even in today’s tense relations.

News

Vietnamese American professor solves decades-long math problems

Rutgers University professor Pham Huu Tiep solved two separate, fundamental math problems that have baffled experts for decades: Brauer’s Height Zero Conjecture from 1955 and a complex issue within the Deligne-Lusztig theory, dating back to 1976. His breakthroughs, achieved in collaboration with local and international colleagues, were recently published in Annals of Mathematics (1, 2) and Inventiones Mathematicae.

How he did it: Tiep worked intensively on Brauer’s Height Zero Conjecture for the past decade, although he thought about it for most of his career. “A conjecture is an idea that you believe has some validity,” he told Rutgers Today. “But conjectures have to be proven. I was hoping to advance the field. I never expected to be able to solve this one.” Meanwhile, Tiep, along with two others, also addressed a longstanding problem in the Deligne-Lusztig theory, solving a crucial issue related to the traces of matrices. Both breakthroughs advance a subfield of algebra called representation theory of finite groups. They may further our understanding of symmetries of structures in nature, as well as long-term behavior of random processes arising in fields such as chemistry, physics, engineering, computer science and economics.

About Tiep: Tiep, currently the Joshua Barlaz Distinguished Professor of Mathematics at Rutgers, has been a pioneer in higher mathematics throughout his career. Born in Hanoi, he won a silver medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad at the age of 16 and later earned his doctorate degree in Moscow, as per VnExpress. Since moving to the U.S. in 1996, he has held key positions at various prestigious institutions, publishing over 200 research papers and authoring five books. Known for his dedication to the representation theory of finite groups, He says he conducts his research using nothing more than a pen and paper, finding inspiration in everyday moments.

Entertainment

K-pop popularity soars over 300% in 5 years, Spotify reveals

K-pop saw a massive popularity surge in five years on Spotify, with the U.S. making the biggest contribution among all countries. Spotify shared the numbers at a “K-pop talks session” event in Seoul on Tuesday.

Zoom in: From 2018 to 2023, K-pop streams on Spotify increased by 362% globally, with Southeast Asia seeing a 423% rise. The U.S. led individual countries with a 182% increase, followed by Indonesia, the Philippines, Japan and Mexico. “K-pop has become a global force, with artists breaking into international charts like Billboard,” Park Jung-joo, head of Spotify Korea's music team said.

Top songs: The streaming platform also highlighted K-pop tracks that entered its Billions Club — songs that have recorded over 1 billion streams — including BTS’ Jimin’s “Like Crazy,” Blackpink’s Lisa’s “Money,” Blackpink’s “How You Like That” and BTS’ Jungkook’s “Seven,” which became the fastest song to reach a billion streams in just 108 days. The platform also noted rising global monthly listeners for new groups such as Illit (10 million), Babymonster (7.5 million) and Kiss of Life (6.7 million). “K-pop artists are expanding internationally by releasing albums in collaboration with various global artists. This is helping them gain new listeners,” Park added.

Final Bites

💃Jenn Tran and Sasha Farber dating rumors intensify: Rumors of Jenn Tran and “Dancing With The Stars” partner Sasha Farber dating are growing even louder. On Sunday, Farber, 40, took to Instagram to share a photo of the “Bachelorette” star smiling while holding a glass of drink in what appears to be a dinner for two. Not long ago, Farber called Tran “babe” in a TikTok video, sending fans into a frenzy. Last Thursday, Tran, 26, compared Farber to “a little teddy bear” in an interview with Us Weekly. “[He] always wants to make sure that I’m OK. I wouldn’t really describe him as tough,” she added. “He really just pushes me to be my best. But he also is very, very caring. He’s such a compassionate guy.”

🍽️Michelin-starred restaurant serves $100 Vietnamese broken rice: Anan Saigon, the Michelin-starred restaurant in Ho Chi Minh City, has reimagined the humble Vietnamese broken rice dish with a luxurious $100 version. This elevated take features 2.2 pounds of prime Angus beef ribs, slow-cooked sous vide for nearly 12 hours and then grilled. Chef Peter Cuong, known for his innovative approach to Vietnamese cuisine, spent three months perfecting this dish, which also includes fried eggs, beef broth with watercress and meticulously prepared broken rice.

🎶Jennie dominates iTunes charts with “Mantra”: Jennie is killing it with “Mantra,” her solo comeback — and debut single under her label, OA Entertainment — in six years. The self-love track, which was released on Friday, reportedly topped iTunes’ Top Songs chart in 47 countries, including the Philippines, Singapore and the U.S., as of 9 a.m. on Saturday. The feat effectively made Jennie — who launched her solo career with “Solo” in 2018 — the first K-pop female soloist to top the U.S. chart this year. The Blackpink member is set to perform “Mantra” on Tuesday’s episode of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

📺Gay rom-com “A Nice Indian Boy” nearly didn’t get made due to “racist” Hollywood: Roshan Sethi’s “A Nice Indian Boy” is lighting up the BFI London Film Festival, but its path to the screen was anything but smooth. The gay rom-com, starring Sethi’s real-life partner, Karan Soni (“Deadpool”), and Jonathan Groff (“Mindhunter,” “Glee”), nearly didn’t get made due to financial challenges. “We barely got this movie made,” Sethi revealed in a new interview with Variety, noting that they struggled for years. The Indian American director, writer and physician said Groff’s involvement became crucial to secure funding. “None of the Indian actors are deemed meaningful enough to obtain financing,” he added, calling Hollywood “one of the most racist industries in America. “A Nice Indian Boy” explores cultural tensions when a socially reserved Indian American doctor (Soni) introduces his white fiancé (Groff) to his traditional family. Interestingly, Groff did not know that Soni was gay and that he and Sethi were a couple when he asked for Soni to be his love interest, Sethi told The Daily Beast in March.

📰Watch these Filipino researchers use sound waves to extinguish a fire: A group of researchers from the Philippines is making headlines for creating a “fire exterminator” device that uses sound waves. The device was created by University of Mindanao engineering graduates Francis Bagol, Franco Bellera and Chris John Pogoy, along with their adviser Stephen Paul Alagao. The project was designed to extinguish fires on electrical wiring or gadgets that would otherwise be dangerous to put out with water. It incorporates a sensor that automatically detects and stops fire from a maximum range of two meters, making it an ideal home safety device. Not only is the device chemical-free; it is also safe for the human ears as it produces only around 80 decibels, the approximate equivalent of the sound produced by a vacuum cleaner. Winning second place at the 2022 National Invention Contest and Exhibit of the Department of Science and Technology, the group has patented the project, which was registered on March 13, 2023.