By Jennie L. Ilustre   On February 9, “Parasite,” the South Korean film about greed and class discrimination, made history in a spectacular fashion. Expected to win as the best foreign film, incredibly, it won for Best Picture at the 92nd annual awards ceremony of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, better known as the Oscars. It is …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   It’s the beginning, not the end, for Andrew Yang, the first male Asian American to run for president. The successful tech investment entrepreneur, who calls himself the Math Guy, made the decision to end his campaign following the dismal numbers he got in Iowa, the Democratic Party’s first primary.     To be sure, political …

The 2020 Palisade rides on an all-new SUV chassis with exceptional second- and third-row roominess coupled with generous cargo area and reconfiguration flexibility. “The new 2020 Hyundai Palisade clearly evokes design imagery worthy of Hyundai’s flagship SUV, with new levels of all-road, all-weather capability, technology, safety, roominess and efficiency, all packaged in cutting-edge design,” said Mike O’Brien, vice president of …

In with the newly designed At the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show, Toyota revealed a series of firsts, including: Corolla Hybrid. Since its debut 53 years ago, Corolla has seen many changes that have made it the best-selling nameplate in the world. But none is more exciting than the first-ever Hybrid edition. The 2020 Corolla Hybrid’s 1.8-liter engine maximizes fuel efficiency …

Presented for the first time at the 2019 San Antonio Auto & Truck Show, the all-new 2020 Family Green Car of the Year™ award recognizes the increasingly important role that environmental performance plays in the family vehicle market. The Outlander PHEV was recognized for its blend of environmental performance and family-friendly versatility in a popular crossover package. The publication further …

By Jennie L. Ilustre     The Democratic-dominated House of Representatives, voted to impeach President Trump on charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congressional investigations on December 18 last year, along party lines.  The acquittal of the president in the Senate, which is mandated by the Constitution to hold a trial, is also expected to be along party …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   “Parasite” made history on January 19 as the first foreign language film to win the top award as Best Cast. Will it make history again at the prestigious Academy Awards ceremony early next month? The South Korean film about greed and class discrimination between a rich and a poor family, has earned nominations for six …

Large, bold, capable and comfortable, the midsize Telluride SUV opens the door to exploring in a whole new way. Imagined in America, designed at Kia’s design studio in California, and assembled in Georgia, the Telluride is all about big skies, desert roads, mountain passes, shady forests, smooth highways, and long coastal drives. The largest Kia ever, it provides comfortable seating …

The Kia Niro EV is a great fit for consumers who love crossover characteristics but also desire all the benefits electric vehicles have to offer. It combines all the functionality of a traditional crossover, while allowing owners to happily drive without stopping at gas stations. Thoughtful on Safety The Niro EV is a blast to drive due to its powerful and torquey motor,  and …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Americans of Asian descent, reflecting the nation’s increasing polarization, are strongly divided on the impeachment of President Trump by the House of Representatives on December 18. Trump was impeached for abuse of power and obstruction of Congress. The impeachment issue has also galvanized Asian American groups from both political parties into intensifying their efforts in …

New York City Council approves bill naming major thoroughfares as ‘Gurdwara Street’ and ‘Punjab Way’ The renaming “is a long overdue recognition for the contributions of the Sikh and Punjabi communities both locally and throughout the City”, says Council Member Adrienne Adams By Geeta Goindi By Geeta Goindi December 22, 2019 – To honor members of the Sikh and larger …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Annie Ai-Li Wu’s father is a physician at Johns Hopkins Hospital. But that is not the main reason she decided to be a doctor.   “My initial interest in medicine began when I was about age seven, when I learned that my nine-year old brother was battling leukemia,” she recalled. The gravity of his illness …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Go to any Asian American party on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day and chances are, you will find round fruits on the dining table because they evoke coins or wealth. Or you will notice that a sumptuous noodle dish is always on the menu.   Who doesn’t know that long, unbroken noodles signify …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Advocates and politicians like to emphasize the urgency of their causes by noting that it is about “the future of our children and our children’s children.” It is not a cliché at this turning point in the nation’s history.     Truly, too many issues have acquired fire-alarm urgency. And because globalization and technology have …

Last month,  district courts blocked the Trump administration’s rule that attempted to deny green cards to immigrants who fail to meet tough income tests or use public programs.  This victory for immigrants means that the rule that was supposed to take effect on October 15 will be stopped while the court battles proceed. It’s still important to understand how the …

Standing-room only at special event for Guru Nanak’s 550th birth anniversary organized by the Indian Embassy in Washington By Geeta Goindi Washington, DC, November 19, 2019 – To aptly commemorate the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev Ji, the founder of Sikhism, and to reach out to the Sikh community in America, the Indian Embassy here organized a special …

Artistes of Nrityaki Dance Academy rivet diverse crowd with myriad performances By Geeta Goindi Dulles, Virginia, October 29, 2019 – In a historic first, Diwali, the popular Indian festival of lights, was celebrated in the national capital region’s famed Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) — a riveting sight for passengers, visitors, airport personnel, flight and cabin crew. Akanksha Sharma, marketing …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   If a synonym for succeed is “go far,” consider this: Asian American showbiz talents have gone really far, indeed. To paraphrase “Star Trek,” some have even gone boldly where no one has gone before – like directing a James Bond movie, or starring in a hit TV show. Suddenly, Americans of Asian heritage are making …

In special Diwali message, Trump reiterates his commitment to religious liberty By Geeta Goindi Washington, DC, October 27, 2019 – For the third consecutive year, President Donald Trump celebrated Diwali, the popular Indian festival of lights, in the White House by lighting the ceremonial ‘diya’ (traditional lamp). It was a private event held Thursday afternoon in the Oval Office with …

By Jennie L. Ilustre   Bravo, Washington Performing Arts! Take a well-deserved bow for conjuring up a magical night performers and audience alike will surely remember all their lives.   On November 15 at 8 p.m., Taiwan American virtuoso violinist Paul Huang and the Taipei Symphony Orchestra (TSO), which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, are performing a work by a major …

By Christian Oh   As a teenager growing up in Roanoke Virginia, I was a wrestling fanatic. I was glued for hours to the TV set, watching superstars like Rick Flair, Rowdy Roddy Piper, Hulk Hogan and Andre the Giant. But my hero at the time was Ricky Steamboat, the only Asian American wrestler. I cheered him on every time …

At the 2018 Los Angeles Auto Show today, Kia Motors America (KMA) introduced a better way to roll with the world debut of the all-new 2020 Soul, a completely new yet familiar version of Kia’s beloved and award-winning urban runabout. Taking everything that helped popularize the quirky, unconventionally styled subcompact, Kia Motors poured more of its soul into nearly every …

Hyundai’s Ioniq line-up continues to improve its product offering for the 2019 model year, with new and broader applications of active safety features, enhanced voice-recognition features and standard remote charge management for Plug-in and Electric models. Hyundai’s approach for the Ioniq line delivers an uncompromising design and driving experience coupled with the latest in safety and convenience technologies, making it …

Kona Electric rides on an all-new CUV platform and is Hyundai’s first compact electric crossover for the U.S. market, appealing to consumers with active, eco-focused lifestyles of all kinds. Kona Electric’s exterior styling features voluminous, aggressive body styling complemented by a low and wide stance for great looks and confident handling in a variety of urban and adventure-oriented driving environments. …