🎉On This Day

“There is no such thing as slow freedom. Freedom is like a birth. Till we are fully free we are slaves.”

Today is Gandhi Jayanti, an Indian national holiday marking the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, revered as the "Father of the Nation" in India. This day is also recognized globally as the International Day of Non-Violence by the United Nations, a tribute to Gandhi's philosophy of peaceful resistance. Through his leadership in India's fight for independence, championing non-violence and self-governance, Gandhi earned worldwide admiration and the title “Mahatma,” bestowed upon him by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore. On Gandhi Jayanti, people commemorate his legacy with prayers, cultural programs and tributes at Raj Ghat in New Delhi, his memorial.

News

Breast cancer rate surges 50% among young Asian Americans

 A recent report by the American Cancer Society (ACS) reveals concern in breast cancer trends, especially among younger women and Asian Americans. 

The data: Since 2012, breast cancer rates have increased by 1% annually, with a faster rise of 1.4% per year since 2021 in younger women. Among Asian American and Pacific Islander women under 50, diagnoses have surged by 50% since 2000, now surpassing rates in Black, Hispanic and Indigenous women of the same age. The reasons for this rise in younger women remain unclear, though experts point to modifiable risk factors like environmental exposures, obesity and sedentary lifestyles. 

Racial disparities: Despite advances in treatment, significant racial disparities persist. The report found that AAPIs, American Indian, Alaska Natives, Black and Hispanic women are more likely to develop breast cancer at a younger age compared to white women. However, AAPI and Hispanic women have similar mortality rates to white women. To address the disparities, experts emphasize the need for equitable access, pointing out that socioeconomic factors, including insurance coverage and proximity to care, significantly impact outcomes. “These gaps need to be rectified through systematic efforts to ensure access to high-quality screening and treatment for every woman,” said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the ACS.

News

Could Asian American voters in Georgia be the deciding factor?

As their population rapidly expands, Asian Americans are becoming a decisive force in Georgia’s tight political races. With voter turnout nearly doubling in the 2020 election — and deciding Joe Biden’s slim victory — the group has significantly influenced key battleground districts, potentially reshaping the state’s political landscape.

Rising political engagement: Georgia’s Asian American voters have reportedly surged to over 328,000, transforming traditionally conservative areas like Gwinnett County into multicultural battlegrounds. This shift is highlighted in the county’s District 99, where Michelle Kang, a Korean American Democrat, is challenging incumbent Republican Matt Reeves. With Asian Americans comprising 4.5% of Georgia’s electorate, their influence is steadily growing. The state’s legislature now includes 11 Asian American members, the largest such group in the continental U.S. The rise in political activism, partly spurred by the 2021 Atlanta spa shootings and increasing concerns over anti-Asian hate crimes, has led many in the community to seek representation. “We need to make sure that we have a seat at the table,” Sam Park, the first Asian American Democrat elected to Georgia’s legislature in 2016, told The Washington Post.

The electoral background: Forsyth County, located northeast of Atlanta, mirrors the political transformation, with its growing Asian American community now integral to the Democratic Party’s strategy. Kannan Udayarajan, an Indian American leading the county’s Democrats, credits racial slights like the mocking of Kamala Harris’ name by a GOP senator as the catalyst for his political activism. Forsyth has seen significant demographic changes, with its Asian American voter base doubling over the past two decades. While Biden lost the county in 2020, new Democratic votes from the area helped close the gap, contributing to his narrow win in Georgia.

News

California bans legacy, donor admissions in all colleges and universities

California has banned legacy and donor preferences in the admissions process of private colleges and universities. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed AB 1780 into law on Monday, asserting that merit should drive educational opportunities rather than family connections or wealth.

About the ban: The new law, which takes effect on Sept. 1, 2025, requires private higher education institutions to submit annual compliance reports to the California Legislature and the Department of Justice. “In California, everyone should be able to get ahead through merit, skill and hard work. The California Dream shouldn’t be accessible to just a lucky few,” Newsom said. Assemblymember Phil Ting, the bill’s author, echoed the sentiment, saying, “If we value diversity in higher education, we must level the playing field... Hard work, good grades and a well-rounded background should earn you a spot in the incoming class — not the size of the check your family can write.” Institutions like Santa Clara University and Claremont McKenna and Harvey Mudd colleges reportedly currently practice legacy admissions.

Why this matters: Legacy and donor preferences have been excluded from the admissions process of public universities in California for decades. AB 1780 responds to growing concerns about admissions biases after the Supreme Court restricted race-based affirmative action last summer. Legacy admissions have been criticized for favoring affluent and predominantly white applicants, perpetuating inequalities in higher education. A 2022 study published in the American Sociological Review revealed that legacy applicants were admitted at rates significantly higher than their non-legacy peers, despite similar qualifications. Although the law lacks specific penalties for violations, the new law represents a critical shift in how admissions are approached in California, making it the fifth state to enact such a ban, following Colorado, Maryland, Virginia and Illinois.

News

Delaware is 7th state to mandate Asian American history in schools 

On Sept. 26, Delaware Governor John Carney signed legislation officially creating the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Commission and codifying the Delaware Hispanic Commission (DHC) into state law. The move ensures permanent representation for both communities and mandates that the histories of all racial and ethnic groups, including AAPIs, be included in the state's K-12 curriculum.

AAPI history: AAPIs make up 4% of Delaware’s population, with Indian Americans as the largest subgroup. The new law makes Delaware the seventh state in the U.S. to mandate AAPI history in its schools, which aims to promote inclusivity and cultural awareness. Student advocate Devin Jiang, who spearheaded the commission, further noted that its principle goal is “to find ways to bring together and unite all the Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the state…[and] center our voices whenever we make recommendations.”

The next steps: As the commission develops, Jiang suggests beginning with a comprehensive count of AAPI residents and assessing the community’s key issues, including healthcare, education and business. “That’s just the first step, there’s a lot of work to be done: building relationships with school districts, supporting our teachers, making sure that the curriculum goes into our classrooms and that every student has access to it,” he said. The curriculum will highlight notable figures like Thai Civil War veteran George 'Yod' Dupont and transgender advocate Sylvia Rivera.

News

Study suggests iconic Lion of Venice was made in China

A new study has suggested that Venice, Italy’s iconic winged lion statue may have been created in China well before Marco Polo's famous travels. Researchers from the University of Padua announced in September that the statue has bronze components traced back to Chinese copper ore deposits. 

A question of origin: The Lion of Venice, an emblem of the city and its patron saint, Saint Mark, has long been a symbol of power and courage, prominently displayed in St. Mark’s Square. It is believed that the statue was brought to Venice in pieces, possibly by Marco Polo's relatives after their time at Kublai Khan's court. While previous research suggested a Near Eastern origin, the new findings indicate a far more extensive network of trade between Europe and Asia, dating back to the medieval period.

A riddle solved: Lead researcher Massimo Vidale shared that the chemical analysis his team conducted linked the statue to the lower Yangzi River region, historically known for its copper mining. “Now, we have solved for good a long-inherited archaeological riddle,” Vidale stated, noting that stylistic and chemical data align with the hypothesis of a Chinese origin. He believes that the lion was originally a hybrid creature resembling a Chinese tomb guardian and was modified over time to appear more lion-like.

Final Bites

👑 81-year-old model loses Miss Universe Korea crown to 22-year-old: Choi Soon-hwa, 81, defied age norms and became a symbol of empowerment after competing in the Miss Universe Korea pageant on Sept. 30. Miss Universe lifted its age restriction this year, opening the door for greater diversity and representation. A former hospital care worker, Choi began her modeling career in her 70s. She was among 32 contestants in a reimagined competition that eliminated the swimsuit segment and removed various eligibility criteria related to education and physical attributes.While Choi didn't win the crown, she took home the "Best Dresser" award. The coveted crown was ultimately won by 22-year-old fashion student, Han Ariel, who will now represent South Korea at the 2025 Miss Universe pageant in Mexico City.

📺 Charles Melton says “Beef” Season 2 scripts “best I’ve ever read”: Charles Melton confirmed his casting in "Beef" Season 2 during a recent interview with V Man magazine. While chatting with fellow actor Greta Lee, the 33-year-old star shared his excitement for the upcoming season, calling the scripts "some of the best stuff I've ever read." Although Netflix hasn't officially greenlit a new season for the show, production is rumored to begin soon, with Melton and "Priscilla" star Cailee Spaeny leading the cast as one of two warring couples. The Emmy-winning dark comedy's first season starred Ali Wong and Steven Yeun, who Melton shared he bumped into on a recent train ride. "Beef" creator Lee Sung Jin previously hinted at an anthology format for future seasons, leaving the door open for a variety of potential storylines.

🎮 Hideo Kojima on "Death Stranding" film, new game with Jordan Peele: Game development legend Hideo Kojima, creator of the acclaimed "Death Stranding" and "Metal Gear" series, recently signed with talent agency WME to adapt his video game IP, "Death Stranding," into a movie. In an interview with Variety published Friday, the 61-year-old auteur shared that while he won't be directing the film himself due to his commitment to developing "Death Stranding 2," "Physint" and a game with Jordan Peele called "O.D.", he will oversee the project to ensure it resonates with movie fans. “Right now, movies and games are two different branches, but pretty soon, it will be very similar,” he said. “So, it’s not about making a video game out of ‘Nope’ or having Jordan adapt ‘Death Stranding’ into a film. It’s about making something new together.”

📰 South Korea picks K-pop idol to testify on workplace bullying: NewJeans member Hanni has been asked to testify at a South Korean National Assembly audit on workplace bullying. The Environment and Labor Committee is summoning Hanni and 34 other individuals, including Ador CEO Kim Ju-young, for the audit scheduled on Oct. 25. The inquiry follows Hanni’s allegations made during a YouTube livestream with fellow NewJeans members on Sept. 11, where she recounted an incident in which a manager from another group instructed artists to ignore her greetings. While she reported the incident to Kim, the latter allegedly dismissed it. “Seeing her ignoring the issue made me feel like there was no one to protect us [NewJeans],” Hanni said. The committee, led by Rep. An Ho-young, aims to address harassment issues and the responses of industry leaders like Kim, who faces scrutiny over her handling of such complaints.

🌐 Japan’s new PM once cosplayed as a “Dragon Ball” character: New Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba once appeared in cosplay as Majin Buu, one of the most memorable villains — who later turned into a friend — in “Dragon Ball Z.” Screenshots from a video of Ishiba’s quirky disguise surfaced online before he assumed office on Tuesday. The video shows him in what appears to be a Japanese comedy show, wearing the “good” version of Majin Buu. Ishiba was attending the opening of the Kurayoshi Figure Museum in April 2018 when an organizer reportedly handed him the costume and asked him to wear it. Masahiko Inajima, president of the Kurayoshi Figure Museum, told Japanese reporters that they made an advanced request to other guests to be in cosplay, while Ishiba was only told at the event as a playful “sneak attack.”

✈️ Japan is offering free domestic flights for foreign tourists: Japan Airlines (JAL) is wooing foreign tourists to explore Japan by offering complimentary domestic flights. Announced on Sept. 13, the offer is available to travelers who choose to book a round-trip international ticket with JAL and a corresponding domestic flight in the same reservation. With this, tourists can visit attractions beyond Tokyo including Kinosaki — dubbed as one of the “best onsen towns in Japan” — in Hyogo prefecture, beaches in Okinawa and UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Kyoto. Currently, the free domestic flights are available to travelers from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Thailand, Singapore, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Dalian, Tianjin and Taipei. Travelers from the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Dalian and Tianjin will have to pay a $100 stopover charge if they stay at their initial destination for over 24 hours. A JAL spokesperson told Business Insider that "no end date has been set" for the offer.

💪 New doc about “Iron Man of Asia” available to watch free on YouTube: A recent documentary from Taiwan pays homage to Yang Chuan-kwang, also known as C.K. Yang, a decathlon Olympian dubbed the “Iron Man of Asia” in the 1960s. Born on July 10, 1933, in Taiwan during the Japanese occupation (1895–1945), Yang made history at the 1960 Rome Olympics as the first Taiwanese athlete and the first person with a Chinese name to win a silver medal at any Olympic Games. Directed by Taiwanese Canadian filmmaker Frank W. Chen, the 45-minute TaiwanPlus documentary, first released in July, also features Yang’s rival and teammate Rafer Johnson, who was the first Black flag bearer for the U.S. team. Yang and Johnson developed a friendly rivalry while studying and training at the University of California, Los Angeles. “I think our film came out at a good time as we celebrate our athletes returning from the Paris Olympics,” Chen told Global Voices. “It’s my hope that our film serves to stir up the conversation, calling attention to the proper memorialization of our sporting heroes of the present and the past.”