Fireworks Light Up the Night Sky

My ears perked up as I hear the deep, resonant booms, sharp crackles, and high-pitched whistles. 

My eyes saw the explosive bursts of vibrant, multicolored light (reds, greens, golds) that paint the night sky, ranging from cascading "willow" shapes to sharp "crackle" effects. 

Fireworks in my neighbourhood last night as viewed from my window at 09:36 PM

Not once, not twice, not thrice – but four times! It is CNY, after all! 

MUFG Bank Ltd. (formerly Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ) expect the ringgit to strengthen toward 3.70 against the US Dollar by end-2026, underpinned by a more durable appreciation cycle driven by structural fundamentals. 

Their senior currency analyst, Lloyd Chan, was quoted by local media as saying that the forecast is anchored in sustained information and communications technology (ICT)-led investment inflows, macroeconomic stability, supportive policy settings, and improving capital flows. 

Malaysia's economy is undergoing a strong investment cycle that will support its medium-term growth outlook, he said in a research released on February 12. 

Investment approvals in manufacturing and services rose 14.7% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2025, with foreign direct investment contributing to the capital expenditure upcycle. 

Chan said this reflects renewed confidence in Malaysia's policy framework, infrastructure and role in regional supply chains. 

He highlighted that ICT has emerged as the largest contributor to total approved investments, with strong foreign participation since 2022. Malaysia's ICT investment approvals surged about 32% year-on-year in the first nine months of 2025. 

And Chan added that Malaysia's macroeconomic stability has compressed risk premiums. 

The ringgit climbed to a fresh high of 3.8995 against the US Dollar on Thursday, hovering near its strongest level in almost eight years. It last traded around that level on April 23, 2018, at 3.8965/8995 against the greenback.

It’s Tough Out There for Self-published Authors

Sales of our public speaking books "The Diamond in Your Speech" (2022) and "The Pearls of Your Speech" (2025) are progressing nicely.

Truth be told, it’s tough out there for a self-published author. According to a cross-section of reports:

• The average self-published book sells 250 copies. 
• The average self-published author makes $1,000 per year from their books. 
• 33% of self-published authors make less than $500 per year. 
• 90% of self-published books sell less than 100 copies. 
• 20% of self-published authors report making no income from their books.

And I've read that "many books sell less than 100 copies in the first year, with some selling only 5 or 10 in the first month of publication. Apparently the average yearly sales of books in the US is less than 200 a year, with less than 1,000 in a book’s lifetime!" 

Even as we share the widely held sentiment that selling self-published books is a real grind, we've recognized it at the start and we're committing to give it our best shot. 

We are cognizant of the stark reality that more than 2 million titles are released annually; therefore, the market is highly saturated, making organic discovery challenging. 

It does not matter. We will knock on doors. We're not the type to give up easily! We believe in our books!

Admittedly, our sales output todate has actually been encouraging. That is, in and of itself, enough to fuel us. That keeps the fire burning. That helps us power through. 

Of course, we can do better. We promise you we will do better.

Take our word for it. These two books are best for public speaking.

GET YOUR COPIES TODAY!

2026: Year of the Horse

Happy Chinese New Year! 新年快乐 Xīnnián kuàilè! 

Grab your saddle and put on your riding boots – it’s time to stampede into the Year of the Horse. 

I've read that we can expect 2026 to be a good year.

And today, which is CNY's Eve, I had McDonald's Double Filet-O-Fish, the classic fast-food sandwich featuring two crispy, Alaskan Pollock fish patties, a slice of American cheese, and tartar sauce served on a fluffy bun. And of course, being a Malaysian, smearing generous dollops of chili sauce onto it. 

(To top it, I enjoyed a free fish prosperity burger on Mekdi).

I selected the fish sandwich because in Chinese New Year, fish symbolizes abundance, prosperity, and a surplus of wealth for the coming year. Due to the homophonic nature of the Chinese language, the word for fish, yu (鱼), sounds the same as the word for surplus or abundance (yu, 余), hence, my choice! 😁😁😁

I sense 2026 is gonna be exciting because it is a fire horse year! In Chinese culture, horses were considered critical for winning battles, giving rise to the saying “mǎ dào chéng gōng” – ”upon the arrival of a horse, the success is secured”. Therefore, the Year of the Fire Horse will represent action, speed and momentum. And success.

For sure, I could certainly do with some fire horse energy myself. 

This aside, may all of us prosper in the Year of the Fire Horse! 🔥🔥🔥🐴🐴🐴

Becoming Chinese Trend Goes Viral

China's Foreign Ministry on Friday of last week welcomed the growing global fascination with Chinese lifestyle after "Becoming Chinese" emerged as a viral trend across social media. 

It is delightful to see more foreigners eager to experience China's development and everyday life, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a press conference, as reported by CGTN on February 06. 

He noted that for many overseas visitors, understanding China now goes far beyond traditional symbols such as the Great Wall, pandas or cuisine. 

Foreign visitors can enjoy the convenience of a highly digitalized society, including mobile payments and high-speed transport, while also experiencing the cultural depth of Chinese daily life, the spokesperson said. 

From high-speed rail and 5G networks to lesser-known hidden gem cities and traditional cultural heritage, the mix of history and modernity offers a unique experience that continues to enhance China's attractiveness, he added. 

According to official data cited by Lin, China recorded more than 82 million foreign entries and exits in 2025, up 26.4 percent year on year, while visa-free entries rose by nearly 50 percent. 

With the Year of the Horse around the corner, Lin said China warmly welcomes foreign visitors to celebrate the holiday in the country. He noted that flight bookings by foreign travelers to China for the Spring Festival period have surged by more than 400 percent in the past three weeks.

It is timely that China is acknowledged, recognized and celebrated! 

CNY Rap Gets Nonstop Views

Check out these students in Johor, Malaysia who found themselves in the spotlight after their Chinese New Year music video went viral on social media. 

The 3-minute-5-second video has 40 pupils from SJK(C) Pandan in Johor Bahru – boys and girls alike from Years Four to Six – rapping to a song titled "Nonstop CNY":

 

Ku Chong Sin, chairperson of the school's parent-teacher association, said the video was part of an annual school project involving six teachers. He added that the project took about a week to complete, including composing the song and using artificial intelligence software for recording and post-production. 

The music video features Year Four pupil Oswald Chong Bang Qin as one of its main characters, rapping in sunglasses and casual streetwear. In one scene, Chong appears alongside schoolmates Wong Yu Han and Tan Sze Qi, with the trio performing in a slow-moving car driven by teacher Guok Wei Loon, in a style reminiscent of hip-hop music videos. 

Chong’s role added to the ­video’s appeal, as his name was incorporated into the rap lyrics, giving the song a catchy and playful element. 

The upbeat, family-oriented song focuses on Chinese New Year traditions such as reuniting with loved ones, wearing new clothes and spending time with relatives. 

Uploaded to the school’s Facebook page [新山班兰国民型华文小学（班兰华小） (@official.sjkcpandan)] on January 29, the said video has since garnered more than 1.7 million views and over 60,000 likes as of noon today.

Chinese Santa

Move over, Santa! 

Here's the Chinese version and he's merrily sprinkling joy with an extra, extra dose of “nián nián yǒu yú” (年年有余), a popular Chinese New Year blessing meaning "May you have abundance year after year"! 😆😆😆

The "Chinese Santa" is a character based on the Qing dynasty military figure Oboi (鳌拜) and portrayed by actor Xu Jinjiang, who appeared at a tourist resort in Zhanjiang, China this month. The exact date was around mid-December, as the story went viral on social media around December 10-20, 2025. 

The character's appearance was part of a festive Christmas event at the Chikan Guangdong Overseas Chinese International Tourism Resort. 

Oboi, known for his thick white beard and imposing presence, was featured sitting in a sleigh and waving to visitors, creating a unique, local version of Santa Claus that became a pop culture phenomenon online.

My Sunday's post "1MDB Verdict: Najib Razak Is Guilty" pertains. In his verdict on December 26, judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah delivered a damning rejection of the former prime minister's narrative that billions in his account were from an Arab donor. 

At the height of the 1MDB scandal a decade ago, however, this story had many other proponents – some of whom are still holding office in senior government positions. 

Among them is Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi. In 2015, Zahid told delegates at an UMNO divisional meeting that he had personally met the chief investment officer and wealth trustee of the Arab royal family allegedly behind the RM2.6 billion donation in Najib’s personal account. 

“When I asked them why they donated $700 million to Malaysia, they said, ‘Malaysia is not the only country we are channelling our money to. There are many more friendly Muslim countries to which we are donating’. They want UMNO and BN to continue ruling the country”. He even claimed to have seen the original documents of the transfer. 

The MACC similarly described the funds as a donation, not from 1MDB. Moreover, Azam Baki told reporters on December 07 that year that their investigators had met with the supposed donor. The MACC chief commissioner at the time was Abu Kassim Mohamed, while Azam was the investigation director at the time and has since taken over the top position. 

The stance was echoed by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Azalina Othman Said, who told Parliament in 2016 that the MACC confirmed that the money came from a donation. 

“In the RM2.6 billion case investigation, MACC had confirmed that the funds given to the prime minister personally indeed came from the Saudi royal family, based on testimonies by witnesses and supporting documents. Based on the overall facts and testimonies, the attorney-general was happy that there was no element of crime in these cases”, she said in a written reply. 

Another proponent was former health minister Khairy Jamaluddin. As the UMNO Youth chief at the time, he had argued that the “political donation” into Najib’s account is not a crime and rallied party members to come to Najib’s defence. 

Shouldn't these people be hauled up?!?! 

FYI, the court had dismissed the Arab donation letters presented by Najib’s defence team in his 1MDB trial as “forgeries”. 

“(The) Arab donation narrative is not meritorious. The Arab donation letters were forgeries, and the evidence pointed unmistakably to the fact that the money was, in fact, derived from 1MDB funds. This court has found the Arab donation defence to be incapable of belief and has not succeeded in rebutting the presumption of gratification under Section 23 of the MACC Act”, the judge said in delivering his guilty verdict.

2026 Happy Chinese New Year Celebration Mascot Unveiled

On November 25, China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism unveiled the mascot for the 2026 "Happy Chinese New Year" global celebration – the auspicious horse. 

The mascot and its related cultural and creative products will be widely used throughout the 2026 festivities, bringing new highlights to Spring Festival celebrations around the world. 

"The auspicious horse figure is beloved across cultures worldwide. We hope that through this mascot, overseas audiences can gain a more intuitive and emotional connection to the Chinese New Year, Chinese culture, and especially the zodiac tradition", Lin Cunzhen, head of the design team at the Central Academy of Fine Arts, told the Global Times. 

Drawing inspiration from the Bronze Galloping Horse Treading on a Flying Swallow in the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220), which was unearthed in 1960s Wuwei, Northwest China's Gansu Province, the auspicious horse incorporates mane decorations referencing the Tang-era (618-907) wuhua (literally translated as five colors) horse style. Its primary color is Chinese red, complemented by classic motifs such as auspicious clouds and ruyi patterns (a symbol of good luck), embodying the warmth and festive spirit of the Chinese New Year. 

"The auspicious horse's mane is styled in five tufts. In traditional culture, wuhua ma [five-color horse] does not refer to color but to a decorative form in which the mane is arranged into five braided groups", Lin explained. 

"By adopting this classic motif, we aimed to give the horse a more dynamic, flowing look, while grounding the design firmly in cultural heritage", she added. 

During research, and following the advice of paleontologists, the design team selected the Zhada three-toed horse, an ancient equid that lived on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau around 4.6 million years ago and the highest-altitude ancient horse species known to science – as the biological prototype for the mascot, according to Lin. 

"The core function of the Happy Chinese New Year mascot is to serve as a cultural vehicle that helps bring Chinese culture to the world", Lin noted. "In the past, these mascots were used mainly overseas, but now they are increasingly appearing in China as well, including in commercial products and onsite events". 

Liverpool secured a much-needed 2-0 victory over bottom of the table West Ham United in the Premier League on Sunday. 

Florian Wirtz linked up well with Cody Gakpo, who crossed for Alexander Isak, and the Sweden international opened up his body before guiding his shot past the Hammers keeper on the hour mark. And the Reds wrapped up the win through Gakpo, who fired a half-volley into the back of the net in the 92nd minute.

This triumph allows the English champions to move up to eighth place in the table – three points off the top four.

Next, Liverpool play Sunderland on Wednesday in what is another big match at Anfield. If the Reds can make it back-to-back wins, they will look in a much better place.

33 Days to Rake Up $2B Ticket Sales Globally

This year’s biggest blockbuster (so far) isn’t from Marvel, Pixar or James Cameron. In fact, most Americans aren’t even familiar with the animation juggernaut – because it’s barely playing in the United States. 

"Ne Zha 2" is an unparalleled smash. Simply put, the Chinese mega-blockbuster is freaking awesome! It is the first animated title, the first non-Hollywood and the first non-English film to pass the $2 billion milestone globally! More precisely, it took just 33 days (i.e., January 29-March 03) to achieve this unprecedented feat. 

The success of Ne Zha 2 goes beyond just its box office numbers – it has sparked widespread emotional connections with viewers. The movie's portrayal of complex relationships, especially familial bonds and friendships, resonates with audiences, particularly during Chinese New Year, a time when family reunions are a central theme.  

Ne Zha 2's box office accomplishment reflects China's rising cultural soft power. Made on a budget of just $80 million, the film is showing no sign of slowing down and I anticipate it will break more box office records in days to come.

Happy Chinese New Year 2025

Here's wishing you and your family a very happy Chinese New Year! 

新年快乐 (Xīnnián kuàilè)!

My choice of CNY videos this year. It's a light-hearted skit that celebrates family, tradition, and the importance of remaining true to our roots regardless of where life takes us. 

My yesterday's post "Everybody Is Freaking Out About DeepSeek" refers. 

Major US tech stocks – including Nvidia, Microsoft and Tesla – suffered a stunning $1 trillion rout on Monday as fears over an advanced Chinese artificial intelligence model triggered hysteria from Wall Street to Silicon Valley. 

Chipmaker Nvidia, which rode the AI wave last year to become the richest company in the world, plunged nearly 17% – erasing $589 billion in value in the largest one-day drop in market history – as investors learned about DeepSeek, a China-based startup launched just last month. 

DeepSeek’s launch – referred to by tech investor Marc Andreessen as “AI’s Sputnik moment” – triggered a global meltdown that slammed AI firms and chipmakers.

The Smart-ass Predictions on China

Predictions of China's collapse are not new. And it is the same old same old in 2025.

 

In fact, in less than two weeks, China will find itself in a situation predicted ever so often by Western media and anti-China propagandists: factories shutting down, shops closing, an inoperative government, the stock market unavailable, the moneyed class rushing overseas with their families in tow, locals eager to exchange currency for food, many families posting slogans on their doors expressing their demands, streets filled with the smell of gunpowder left by explosives, most people having nothing to do, except maybe drinking and playing cards all day and children even going out in groups asking for money.

 

Now, I cannot disagree. Still, they don't know shit; the situation they describe is popularly referred to as Chinese New Year! 

 

😂😂😂 

Anyway, China announced Monday that its trade surplus reached almost $1 trillion last year as its exports swamped the globe, while the country's own businesses and households spent cautiously on imports.

 

The country's General Administration of Customs said that the country exported $3.58 trillion worth of goods and services in 2024, while importing $2.59 trillion. The resulting surplus of $990 billion broke China's previous record, which was $838 billion in 2022. 

 

When adjusted for inflation, China's trade surplus last year far exceeded any in the world in the past century, even those of export powerhouses like Germany, Japan or the United States. Chinese factories are dominating global manufacturing on a scale not experienced by any country since the United States after World War II.

 

To illustrate what a manufacturing powerhouse China is, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization claim that the country now produces about a third of the world's manufactured goods. That is more than Germany, Japan, South Korea, UK and United States combined.

 

The question is whether China can maintain its lead if other countries begin raising tariffs. Yet many importers find that China remains the most competitive place to buy goods.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pearly Tan-Thinaah Muralitharan bounced back from their Malaysia Open disappointment to win their first match of the season, reaching the second round of the India Open yesterday. 

 

The world No. 7 women's doubles pair defeated India's Mrunmayee Deshpande-Prerana Alvekar 21-8, 21-19 in New Delhi in just 26 minutes. A much-needed win for Pearly-Thinaah, who suffered a first-round exit at the season-opening Malaysia Open last week. 

 

Their next test comes today against China's Jia Yi Fan-Zhang Shu Xian, the Malaysia Open runners-up.

Malaysia is a Top Global Destination for CNY

This year's Chinese New Year celebration witnessed a significant resurgence in consumer spending in cross-border tourism in Malaysia, signalling a robust rebound post-Covid-19. 

 

Malaysia became the fifth most popular destination globally for Chinese tourists, according to data from Alipay+ and Paynet. Other countries in Asia on the list of preferred travel locations for Chinese travelers are Japan, Thailand, Singapore and South Korea by their Alipay spending.

 

The data stated that spending in Malaysia in the first seven days of CNY was two times that of the same period in 2019 and more than 10 times that of 2023.

 

In fact, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore combined saw a 7.5 percent increase over 2019 and a 580 percent leap over 2023, with Thailand leading in total volume and Malaysia showing the most significant growth, according to a news report from New Straits Times published February 27. 

 

New visa-free policies from major Southeast Asia destinations, including Malaysia, are critical enablers of the cross-border travel boom, it is said.

 

[Note: Since November 2023, Alipay+ has been accepted by more than 1.9 million DuitNow QR merchants, giving Chinese tourists greater convenience to pay via their home e-wallets no matter where in the country they visit]. 

 

And if you exclude Chinese tourists, Malaysia ranks as the sixth most popular destination amongst other Asian tourists. 

 

The same New Straits Times had on January 23 highlighted Malaysia as the third most popular destination – after Japan and Thailand – for tourists to celebrate the Lunar New Year, according to digital travel platform Agoda. 

 

Booking data showed that Singapore, Brunei, China, Indonesia and South Korea as the top inbound markets to Malaysia, marking China's return as a top-five source market for the first time since 2019. 

 

And the five most popular destinations visited within Malaysia are Kuala Lumpur, followed by Johor Baru, Kota Kinabalu, Malacca and Penang", said Agoda in a statement.

The Fifteenth Day of the First Lunar Month

On the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, is another important traditional Chinese festival, the Chinese Lantern Festival or Yuan Xiao Jie or Yuanxiao Festival (元宵节). It marks the first full moon of the new lunar year and the end of the Chinese New Year (Spring Festival) period. 

Malaysians tend to call this day as Chap Goh Meh (which is Penang Hokkien for what might be best translated as "the ending on the 15th"). 

In olden times, Chinese women were allowed to venture out only on the last day of the new year celebrations. For the guys, it is the chance for them to catch a glimpse of these maidens. This explains why Chap Goh Meh is regarded as the Chinese Valentine’s Day. 

A popular Chap Goh Meh tradition is the mandarin orange-tossing ceremony for single women wishing to find love. Customarily, young single women write their names and phone numbers on mandarin oranges (Citrus reticulata) before throwing them into the lake (or any body of water), in the belief it will bring the ladies good luck in finding a good boyfriend or husband. The single men will wait eagerly on the opposite bank to collect the floating oranges.

The Chinese Lantern Festival 2024 or Chap Goh Meh is today, in case you don't know. 

And give a listen to a classic Chinese poem on the Lantern Festival read by CGTN's digital avatar:

Welcoming Chinese New Year 2024

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Brace yourself for a spectacular East-meets-West musical fusion! 

 

CGTN have invited artists from nine countries and 12 cities worldwide to interpret the Chinese percussion classic "Rising Dragons, Leaping Tigers":

 

 

May these beats bring you energy-giving vibes and deliver auspicious Chinese New Year wishes to all and sundry!

Everyone Can Make a Connection

I saw this Chinese New Year video by Maybank today. 

 

I was not expecting this because it's not the normal CNY commercial. And it reminds me of a speech Chong Kai Zhen gave at World Speech Day 2021 Kuala Lumpur:

It's worth noting that 80% of communication is non-verbal.

Everyone can make a connection! As Tom Ford, American fashion designer and filmmaker said: “The most important things in life are the connections you make with others”.

Indeed, never underestimate the empowering effect of human connection.

Dragons Descend Into Kuala Lumpur

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It’s the year of the dragon and shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia have gone all out in getting ready to usher in a memorable Chinese New Year.

 

Not to be outdone, Kuala Lumpur International Airport are welcoming the lunar new year with a giant golden dragon sculpture. 

 

Standing tall at 12 feet in height and 25 feet in length, the hand-crafted model made of polystyrene and painted in dazzling gold is the crown jewel of KLIA’s Chinese New Year campaign themed Celestial Splendour at Terminal 1 this year.

 

The dragon which symbolises power, tradition and imperial grandeur is also accompanied by a majestic dragon throne centrepiece, taking passengers back to the glorious days of ‘Old China’.

 

The whole "Coming collapse of China" thing is a boring Western propaganda that keeps repeating and repeating and repeating. Somebody, anybody, please tell Uncle Sam, it is a futile pursuit!

 

Whether the US likes it or not, China remains the engine of growth for the global economy.

 

In Malaysia's case, we must recognise that our trade with China is already substantial, comprising over $200 billion and constituting 20% of China's total trade with ASEAN.

 

As the trade volume between China and ASEAN is projected to surpass $1 trillion this year, Malaysia could be in an advantageous position and benefit.

Hot Air Over a Balloon

A balloon that flew at roughly 60,000 feet, an altitude about twice that of normal civilian air traffic, across US skies caused a meltdown in that country! LOL! 

 

The US military had tracked the balloon’s flight path above the Aleutian Islands and Alaska two Saturdays ago, then through Canadian airspace on Monday, after which it re-entered US territory over Idaho on Tuesday. And it traveled over Montana on Wednesday – the state is home to Malmstrom Air Force Base, one of three bases that hosts nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile fields. 

 

It is a Chinese spy balloon, the government had shrieked in alarm! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On Friday, China confirmed that the massive balloon – US Defense officials estimated the balloon was about the size of three buses – was theirs on Friday, while insisting it was merely a “civilian airship” used for weather research that accidentally drifted into US airspace. 

 

The Pentagon refuted this portrayal, saying the aircraft was just the latest in a string of Chinese balloons that had traversed over the US and other countries collecting aerial intelligence. 

 

And yet, the Pentagon hadn’t revealed what type of spy technology was on the Chinese balloon, only that the “large payload” doesn’t give China any additional surveillance capabilities beyond what it already can collect through spy satellites currently orbiting the Earth. 

 

On Saturday, two F-22 Raptor fighter jets flew out Langley Air Force base in Hampton, Virginia to intercept the balloon. One of them fired a single AIM-9X Sidewinder missile, popped the balloon and sent it plummeting into the Atlantic Ocean off the South Carolina coast. The supersonic, heat-seeking, air-to-air missile cost $380,000, if you are interested to know.

 

“I told them to shoot it down”, Biden smugly told reporters. 

 

It’s just typical of the Americans to make a mountain out of a molehill. 

 

Important advice to American moms: Keep balloons away from your kids, lest they be shot by Raptors armed with Sidewinder missiles! 

 

A "What If" question. What if the thousands of sky lanterns that were released in China yesterday – the 15th day of the Chinese New Year referred to as the Spring Lantern Festival ("Yuan Xiao Jie") – actually entered US airspace? I know it's wishful thinking but I reckon it’ll be hysterically hilarious if it can happen! 

 

 

 

Lunar New Year Is Now An Official State Holiday In California

While the Chinese New Year has long been celebrated in Chinatowns across the US, this year marks the first time anywhere in the US, it is an official state holiday in California – although they're calling it the Lunar New Year. 

That's because the celebrations also encompass the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, actually Tet Nguyen Dan (or Tet) as well as the Seollal (설날), the Korean celebration of the Lunar New Year.

 

Governor Gavin Newsom signed it into law on September 29 last year. 

 

But state employees will not get a paid day off – the new designation is just mere tokenism. It is supposedly viewed as a gesture of solidarity amid a wave of anti-Asian sentiment and violence fueled by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

 

FYI, between March 2020 and 2022, the Stop AAPI Hate non-profit recorded nearly 11,500 hate incidents against Asian Americans, ranging from verbal harassment to violent beatings. 

 

Home to more than six million residents of Asian descent, California became somewhat of an epicentre for bigotry, according to the Stop AAPI HATE report, with more than a third (4,333) of documented incidents. 

 

Celtic progressed to the last 16 of the Scottish Cup with a comfortable 5-0 win over second-tier Greenock Morton yesterday. 

 

Aaron Mooy's eighteenth minute penalty put Celtic in front and Kyogo Furuhashi quickly doubled their advantage 3 minutes later. 

 

David Turnbull's tidy finish in the forty-second minute and another from Kyogo (45+1) had Celtic four up at the break and afterward, Mooy struck his second in the eighty-fourth minute. And Ange Postecoglou's side are the first to claim a place in Sunday's draw.