THE LIGHTS 🌟

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Greetings 👋 

Hi, how was your weekend? 

This week, millions around the world are celebrating Diwali. It’s a time to slow down, reflect on how far we’ve come, and share brightness with the people around us.

Wherever you are, may this Diwali remind you that light always finds a way through the dark.

If you find this newsletter interesting, refer it to your friends by sharing this link and receive amazing gifts from AHN!

Singapore Global Network is looking for college creators and influencers to work with

This Friendsgiving, Singapore Global Network (SGN) and Prima Taste are teaming up to bring a comforting taste of home to students across the United States through a special giveaway. This limited-time giveaway will give a chance for Overseas Singaporeans and friends to try a slice of Singaporean flavor.

You’ll receive a Prima Taste care package featuring their famous noodles and meal sauce kits, and we’d love for you to share your unboxing and first impressions in a short, fun Instagram Reel or TikTok.

Participants must be a college student from a QS Top50 school and have a social media presence on Instagram or TikTok with at least 5,000 followers.

Interested? Complete the form below.

NBC dismantles ‘NBC Asian America’ editorial team

NBC has reportedly shut down the editorial teams behind its identity-focused verticals — including NBC Asian America, NBC BLK, NBC Latino, and NBC Out — as part of a company-wide layoff of over 150 employees.

According to The Advocate, while the verticals themselves will remain, their coverage will now rely on reporting from NBC’s broader newsroom rather than dedicated editorial teams. Some staff were laid off, while others have been reassigned.

The move sparked disappointment among many in the communities these verticals served. 

Read the full article here.

South Korean author Baek Se-hee, who wrote I Want To Die But I Want To Eat Tteokbokki, dies at 35

While the cause of death has not been disclosed, the Korea Organ Donation Agency confirmed that Baek donated her heart, lungs, liver, and both kidneys, saving five lives through organ donation.

Her widely acclaimed book, which has sold over a million copies globally, explored her struggles with mental health through candid conversations with her psychiatrist. Originally self-published via crowdfunding, its success led to a major publishing deal and international recognition.

Read the full article here.

‘Work from the air’: Chinese airline offers free Wi-Fi to lure back travellers

China’s major airlines are ramping up free in-flight Wi-Fi to lure back business travellers who increasingly prefer high-speed trains for domestic travel. The move comes as airlines struggle against China’s expanding bullet train network, which offers reliable Wi-Fi, 5G access, and greater convenience for business travellers.

China Eastern Airlines recently began offering free “basic” Wi-Fi on all widebody planes flying domestic routes. Air China and China Southern Airlines already provide free Wi-Fi on some domestic flights, but on a smaller scale.

Read the full article here.

Olympic shooting champion Liu Yukun breaks world record to win second National Games gold

Chinese shooter Liu Yukun, the reigning Olympic champion from Shaanxi, broke his own world record to win gold in the men’s 50m rifle three positions event at the National Games shooting competition in Guangzhou.

The 28-year-old scored 470.1 points, surpassing his previous world record of 468.9 set at the Baku World Cup in May 2024. Liu finished 6.7 points ahead of Zhao Wenyu of Tianjin, while Du Linshu of Hebei claimed bronze.

Read the full article here.

LAST WEEK, ASIAN LEADERS DID 🎉

🚀C Bhagyanath, Indian illustrator, was honored with the inaugural Artist Namboodiri Samman award for excellence in literary illustration at a ceremony in Kochi.

🚀 Thân Thị Thu Huyền, founder and CEO of Vietnam’s immersive art-performance resort Hội An Memories Land, won double honors at the Asia Pacific Enterprise Awards (APEA 2025) — Inspirational Brand and Master Entrepreneur.

🚀 Arpit Mittal, Founder & CEO of SpeakX, raised US $16 million in a funding round led by WestBridge Capital to expand its pivot into an English-learning app and scale globally.

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COMPANIES DISCOVERED ✅

The Other Group: AI-First Growth Strategy for Modern Commerce

In an age where AI technology evolves faster than strategy, The Other Group is positioning itself as a new kind of growth partner: one built for the intersection of AI, brand, and commerce.

Founded by Dennis Yao Yu, a former executive at Shopify, Art.com, and Firework, The Other Group operates less like a consultancy and more like an embedded task force. Described as an “AI-first growth special forces” team, the firm partners with founders and CEOs to accelerate growth through integrated, data-driven systems.

What sets The Other Group apart is its hands-on model. Rather than offering distant advice, the team embeds directly within client organizations, working alongside senior leaders to translate strategy into measurable results. This hybrid approach allows The Other Group to bridge long-term vision with daily execution - a rare balance in today’s fragmented advisory landscape.

The firm’s portfolio spans direct-to-consumer brands, commerce technology companies, and scaling startups seeking sustainable, profitable growth. By combining expertise in marketing, product, data, and AI, The Other Group helps businesses build smarter go-to-market systems and long-term retention strategies.

🎁 Special Offer for AHN Community:

Ready to future-proof your brand for the AI era? Get your hands on Dennis Yu’s Strategic & Tactical Best Practices of Generative Engine Optimization for Brands - an exclusive playbook for brands that want to stay discoverable and competitive in the age of ChatGPT and Gemini.

Just contact Dennis Yao Yu on LinkedIn and mention “Referred by AHN” to claim your complimentary copy.

Where The Sun Sets

What does it really cost to chase freedom, and who do we become when we finally find it?

Where The Sun Sets pays homage to 20th-century Southeast Asian immigrants in a story about ambition, romance, and the price of pursuit. The web series follows an ambitious seamstress (Azy Intara) who escapes persecution for Los Angeles, where she meets a diplomatic yet dangerous writer (Mirth). Set against the nostalgic glow of LA’s Chinatown, their love story unravels into a haunting meditation on identity, desire, and the quiet ache of starting over.

If you’re a fan of Wong Kar-Wai, you’ll love this series’s poetic melancholy, intimate cinematography, and slow-burning emotional tension.

A rising Thai actress and model, Azy Intara (known for ENTICED and The Thai Interpreter) brings grace and intensity to her role, blending vulnerability with quiet strength. Opposite her, Mirth — a Vietnamese-American actor who began his career as a stuntman before breaking through with AZNBBGRL and Seal of Death 2 — channels the restless charm of a man caught between brilliance and ruin.

Produced by Wind Flows East, Where The Sun Sets is the first story in an ongoing web series, with each new set of episodes featuring a different plotline. With National Film Award–winning cinematographer Abhilash Nanda behind the lens, the film weaves emotion into every frame, transforming memory into motion.

During the making of this project, Azy opened up about her personal connection to the story, sharing:

“As an Asian — especially a Southeast Asian — woman in Hollywood, you feel the pressure to either disappear into the background or become a stereotype. I’ve experienced both. That’s why Where The Sun Sets means so much to me — it gives space for Southeast Asian characters to be seen in all their depth and complexity.”

Where The Sun Sets is set to premiere their first episode in January 2026 on Instagram and YouTube.

Follow @windflowseast on Instagram for latest news of the series.

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