Hello, everyone!  

Former President Trump has reignited anti-Asian rhetoric with his 2024 GOP presidential campaign announcement.
 

During his 2024 presidential run, he declared, “We call it the China virus.” He also touched on America’s energy supply challenges and said China “is watching us die and they’re laughing as it happens.” 
 

The organization Stop AAPI Hate expressed concern over the return of Trump’s language. “Donald Trump’s return as a presidential candidate is chilling. Trump’s systematic use of anti-AAPI racist rhetoric drove such an increase in hate incidents that we are still dealing with the aftermath today. Right now, many AAPIs are justifiably afraid for our communities, our loved ones and ourselves.”

• Emmy Award-winning Pakistani journalist Amna Nawaz has been named a co-anchor of “PBS NewsHour.” Nawaz has received Peabody awards for her work and was the managing editor of NBC’s Asian America platform. She will start her new role on Monday, January 2, 2023.

• Austin’s AAPI representation: The Austin Police Department has increased their AAPI representation within their organization. A year ago, AAPI representation within the department was just under 3%. Now, it’s between 4.1% to 4.9%, with the new batch of officers sworn in last week. The city’s Asian population is nearly 10%. 

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• Jesse Jackson to the rescue?: Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson is imploring the U.S. attorney’s office to look at possible racism and discrimination in the sentencing of Nikesh Patel, an investment banker convicted of selling fraudulent loans. Patel was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2018, a sentence 2.5x longer than his partner and co-conspirator Timothy Fisher. 

• The truth about Iran’s death sentences: A post claiming Iran will execute 15,000 protestors has gone viral online. The post is false, but has been reshared by the likes of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, actor Viola Davis and more. Two protestors have been sentenced to death, but can appeal. Over 15,000 protestors have been detained in Iran following the protests and unrest over the death of Mahsa Amini.   

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• Take your child to work day, North Korea style: An image was released on Saturday of Kim Jong Un and a child, who is believed to be daughter, Ju Ae, inspecting an intercontinental ballistic missile. Experts suspect the child’s inclusion was meant to be a signal of stability within the family. 

• Netflix’s AAPI talent: Netflix, Goldhouse and The Hollywood Reporter came together to host the Asian Pacific Islander Excellence Celebration. Celebrities from Netflix hits like “Bling Empire” and “Never Have I Ever” were in attendance. 

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• May the power protect you: Actor Jason David Frank, best known for playing the character Tommy Oliver in the “Power Rangers” franchise, has died of suicide at the age of 49. Frank’s character Tommy was a mainstay in the long-running canon of the show. He was a green ranger, white ranger, red ranger and black ranger across multiple series. 

• A bankrupt Chinese restaurant tycoon is hoping to pay off millions in debt by selling sausages as a street vendor. 
   
• The giant panda Tuan Tuan, a gift from Beijing to Taiwan 14 years ago, has died.  
   
• Walking on all fours has become a trend in China. 
   
• A Chinese man has been arrested for illegally catching and killing over 1,000 birds by snapping their necks with his bare hands. 
   
• A new survey has found that a third of Japanese women wish to be housewives.