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A record number of AANHPI are a part of Congress.

The swearing-in ceremony for some members of the 118th Congress was organized by the Asian Pacific American Institute for Congressional Studies (APAICS) and it was reported that a record number of 346 Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islanders ran for office in 2022, resulting in a record high of 21 AANHPI members in the current Congress. Among these new members is Shri Thanedar, an Indian-American immigrant who took his oath of office. Another is the first Republican Guam representative to be elected in 30 years, Jim Moylan.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries congratulated the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) in a video message and the Chair, Congresswoman Judy Chu, highlighted the recent leadership and policy achievements of AANHPI congresspeople. Chu also emphasized the significance of having the first Asian American woman, Florence Y. Pan, to be appointed to the DC Circuit Court to conduct the oath. Chu said that this court is important as many Supreme Court justices come from it.

• The Justice Department will be led by Robert Hur, a former U.S. attorney in Maryland, in its investigation of classified documents found at President Joe Biden's home and former private office. Hur served as U.S. Attorney in Maryland from 2017 to 2021 and has played a key role in a number of high-profile cases, including a children’s book scandal involving then-Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh. He has most recently been working in private practice in Washington, DC. In announcing the appointment, Attorney General Merrick Garland noted that Hur “supervised some of the department’s more important national security, public corruption and other high-profile matters” and vowed to “conduct the assigned investigation with fair, impartial, and dispassionate judgment.” 

Council won’t celebrate: Temecula City Council in California has decided not to declare federally-recognized heritage months, including Asian American and Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Month. In the city council’s meeting on Tuesday, Councilmembers Jessica Alexander, James Stewart and Brenden Kalfus voted against declaring citywide proclamations that celebrate cultural diversity, arguing that the “inclusionary” decrees actually “exclude people,” reported The Press-Enterprise. The declarations of commemorative months, including Black History Month, Women’s History Month, Pride Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, and Native American Heritage Month will now be determined by Temecula’s diversity commission. “When we bring one group up above the entire city, we basically exclude everyone else,” Stewart said, according to The Press-Enterprise. “I have a problem with that. I don’t have a problem with any of those proclamations that are inclusionary. I do have a problem at this level of government using this platform to promote another group over another.” “Why, again, are we elevating one (group) over the other?” Alexander, who led the vote, asked. “Maybe these types of cultural proclamations would be a wonderful place for the REDI Commission. That way we don’t get somebody saying, ‘Well you’re elevating this group, and not this group.’’ In the 3-2 vote, newly elected Councilmember Curtis Brown and Mayor Zak Schwank voted no, defending the declarations.

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The Cho commission: The Port of Seattle has made history by appointing Sam Cho as its new Commission President, making him the first person of color and the youngest Commission President in the Port's 111-year history. “I am honored and humbled to begin my term as Port of Seattle Commission President,” said Cho. “Thanks to the work of this Commission, the Port staff, major stakeholders, and everyday community members, we are making real progress on making your Port more efficient, sustainable, and a greater source of economic opportunity. I look forward to continuing our momentum in this work during my presidency.” Furthermore, the Port also made history with the selection of Commission Vice President Toshiko Hasegawa, the first female Vice President of Asian descent. This marks the first time both of the Port Commission’s top officers are of Asian descent. 

China outposts heat up: A six-story office building in New York's Chinatown is home to a Chinese police outpost that is suspected of conducting operations without diplomatic or legal approval. The F.B.I. conducted a search of the building as part of a criminal investigation last fall, marking an escalation in the global dispute over China's efforts to police its diaspora far beyond its borders. Officials from Ireland, Canada, and the Netherlands have called for China to shut down police operations in their countries. China's state news media reports tout the effectiveness of the outposts, which are frequently called overseas police service centers, and some reports describe the Chinese outposts "collecting intelligence" and solving crimes abroad without collaborating with local officials. Western officials see the outposts as part of Beijing's larger drive to keep tabs on Chinese nationals abroad, including dissidents.

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Forced labor funds: Officials in South Korea are proposing the creation of a domestic fund to compensate those who were enslaved by Japanese companies before WWII in an effort to improve relations with Japan, which have been strained in recent years due to historical grievances. The plan, which was announced during a public hearing by the Foreign Ministry, has been met with strong opposition from victims and their legal representatives who insist that reparations should come from Japan. Ties between the two countries have been strained since 2018 when South Korea's Supreme Court ordered Nippon Steel and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to compensate Korean forced laborers, a move which the companies have refused to comply with. Some victims have also demanded an apology from the Japanese companies.

• “Avatar Generations” trailer: A new trailer has dropped for the highly-anticipated “Avatar Generations.” Square Enix's new game is set to be a free-to-play RPG spinoff of the popular Nickelodeon series “Avatar: The Last Airbender.” Developed in partnership with Navigator Games, the game will be available on iOS and Android devices and will allow players to journey across the four nations as characters from the series, such as Aang, Katara, Sokka, Toph, Suki and Zuko, as well as animal companions Appa and Momo. Players will be challenged with squad-based battles and new adventures while building their team and recruiting new members. The game is designed to be accessible to a wide audience and will include new storylines along with notable locations and events from the original series. Pre-registration for Avatar Generations is currently open, but the release date has not yet been announced.

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• ABC first look: Disney recently shared exclusive photos to promote its upcoming series “American Born Chinese,” a TV adaptation of Gene Luen Yang’s graphic novel of the same name. On Dec. 21, 2022, Entertainment Weekly published the photos. One of them highlights Michelle Yeoh’s character Guanyin, the deity of compassion, alongside actor Jim Liu’s character Wei-Chen in a school hallway. Another photo shows “American Born Chinese” protagonist Jin Wang, portrayed by actor Ben Wang, eating with his parents. The third photo features Daniel Wu as Sun Wukong, the Monkey King. Directed by Destin Daniel Cretton, “American Born Chinese” follows Jin Wang, the son of immigrant parents living in the U.S. His life turns upside down once he finds himself entangled in an epic battle that involves Chinese mythological gods. In addition to Yeoh, Liu, Wang and Wu, the series also stars Stephanie Hsu, Chin Han, Yeo Yann Yann, Poppy Liu and Golden Globe winner Ke Huy Quan.

• Reddit users criticized a tourist after he accidentally crashed his drone into the world’s second-tallest building, Merdeka 118 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
   
• The search for a 5-year-old boy, Kyle Doan, in California who went missing due to recent flooding is still ongoing, with more than 100 National Guard members joining search efforts.
   
• Japan remains at the top of a recent ranking of the world’s most powerful passports, with Singapore and South Korea tied for second place.
   
• An angry guest rammed his vehicle through a hotel lobby in central Shanghai following a dispute with staff regarding his missing laptop.
   
• Tennis star Naomi Osaka announced her pregnancy shortly after withdrawing from the 2023 Australian Open.