1,200+ Iranian girls across hundreds of schools have been poisoned. As government investigations, still largely unknown, continue into who is responsible and what their motivations are, the death penalty has been promised–if the attacks are found to be deliberate. These girls reported symptoms consistent with toxic gas poisoning–like dizziness, headaches, heart palpitations, and difficulty moving. They also reported smelling rotten food, chlorine, or cleaning agents before fainting. While many people are pointing to fundamentalist groups targeting girls education, Iran’s government is blaming “foreign enemies” and their supreme leader is calling it an “unforgivable” crime. What is clear, Iranian girls are paying the price. Will the true perpetrators be found and held accountable? First arrests were announced on Tuesday.

‘Song for the Mute’ is an avant-garde clothing brand hailing from Sydney, Australia. They’re recognized as innovators by the Hypebeasts and tastemakers of the world, have graced fashion shows from Milan to Shanghai, and have die-hard fans tattoo the brand name on themselves. In the past year, ‘Song for the Mute’ have begun to leave their indelible mark on mainstream culture, including a collaboration with Adidas and having the likes of BTS’s Jungkook and Usher adorn their wild pieces. But Melvin Tanaya and Lyna Ty – founders of Song for the Mute – will tell you that the brand prioritizes sharing their own stories over inflated price tags and the exclusivity of the fashion world. That's why as they change, so do their collections.

Turkish authorities have arrested 184 building contractors and property owners, who were allegedly involved in shoddy construction methods. However, the government knew about these unsafe practices near the faultlines for years. Who's really responsible? Since the initial earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria, there have been over 10,000 aftershocks and over 50,000 people have died. 1.5 million people are living in makeshift shelters and 160,000 buildings collapsed. But corrupt building practices and flawed urban development can’t be solely pinned on construction contractors when the government continues to focus on speed more than safety.

TW: gun violence & PTSD⚠️ When a 72-year-old Chinese man shot and killed 10 people on the eve of Lunar New Year in Monterey Park, after the years of Asian hate we’ve experienced, many were quick to assume it was a hate crime. Today, the Asian community is considering the tragedy as an alert to destigmatize mentalhealth and heal--especially for men. Many people, especially after Covid and the isolation it forced, are going through the hardest, loneliest times of their lives. The Monterey Park killer had indicated clear signs of paranoia, reporting to police twice in January that someone was trying to poison him. He was in emotional turmoil, had no support system, and owned a lot of guns. As PTSD riddles our communities, who have seen war, dictatorship, famine, genocide, and poverty, we are expected to be “good” because we are in America now. But without acknowledging our feelings, suppressing and internalizing will only lead to detrimental — and sometimes dangerous — outcomes. Not only do we face a communal and cultural issue with lack of vulnerability and sharing, our men are socialized to be angry and avoidant–not intimate or safe. Will we finally put down the “boys don’t cry” mindset and begin to heal?

Is the Asian community experiencing a mental health crisis? Issues like PTSD are on the rise in our diaspora for many reasons, including long standing racism and cultural shame seeking help. How have immigration and gentrification impacted our mental health? In the past year, five major killings have been by Asian men. This includes last week’s U-haul driver, Weng Sor, whose violent rampage left 1 dead and 8 others injured. Sor was 62-years-old, homeless, and estranged from his family. Experts point to the spur of Asian hate in the past few years, isolation and fear about being blamed for Covid, and the continued gentrification of places like Chinatown as factors to why these tragedies continue to occur. How will our governments address this–and more importantly, how will our communities handle it?

In 2019, streetwear designer Khanh Ngo launched his online store and made $90K in less than three months. He landed his “dream job” at Levi’s, but when COVID hit, he lost his job. Growing up in a rough neighborhood, Khanh wasn’t typical in the fashion industry, and people judged him for not being the model minority Asian. He also felt shamed by his father–a Veteran and Captain, who projected his own losses onto his son. Between familial pressures and stereotyping, Khanh wasn’t in a good place. Today, Khanh speaks on how those difficulties made him more authentic, and a source of inspiration, for even his own family. He’s proud to represent where he’s from and tell the stories he believes are important. He’s also focused on love–not normalizing being defensive “because you’re Asian” anymore.