Hello, everyone!  

Hochul signed a second bill into law that will conjure a statewide campaign from New York’s Division of Human Rights to promote inclusion, tolerance, diversity and acceptance. She also extended a deadline for New York community-based organizations to receive security equipment and hate crime prevention training.
 

In a press conference, Hochul said, “No Asian woman of any age coming home from work should ever worry about where they stand on a subway platform. No young Jewish boy should ever have to look over his shoulder as he is walking into a yeshiva. No trans man or woman should ever have to fear for their safety or their life.”

• A traditional Japanese tea house at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The structure was erected in 1972 at the request of 15th generation tea master Genshitsu Sen. Since then, the tea house has been a part of tea ceremony courses taught by the university since the 1970s. 

• Oklahoma’s discriminatory universities: Twelve Oklahoma universities have been named in a federal civil rights complaint regarding their participation in a STEM program that allegedly excluded white, Asian and Middle Eastern students. 

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• Asian health in Maryland: A grant worth $830,000 will be split among 10 Asian community organizations in Montgomery County, Maryland. Organizations such as the nonprofit Korean Community Services of Greater Washington will use the funds for health supporting programs.  

• Phone Protests: Workers protesting a pay dispute at the biggest iPhone factory in China were beaten by police. Foxconn, the biggest contract assembler of smartphones, is under pressure to fill iPhone 14 orders after thousands of employees left en masse in Zhengzhou after complaints of unsafe work conditions.   

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• Ancient faith seeks faith from government: There are about 5 million followers of the Sarna Dharma faith in India, but their religion is not recognized in India. Citizens are only allowed to select Hinduism, Buddhism, Christianity, Islam, Jainism, Sikhism or other. Tribal groups have protested to support Sarna Dharma to receive official religious status in the run-up to the forthcoming national census.   

• Shang-Chi vs the legends of Hollywood: Simu Liu called out directors Quentin Tarantino and Martin Scorsese for their criticisms about Marvel films. Liu took to Twitter to write, “If the only gatekeepers to movie stardom came from Tarantino and Scorsese, I would never have had the opportunity to lead a $400 million plus movie. I am in awe of their filmmaking genius. They are transcendent auteurs. But they don't get to point their nose at me or anyone." 

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• A K-pop Christmas: JYP Entertainment girl group NMIXX released their first holiday single, “Funky Glitter Christmas.” The track is co-written by Justin Reinstein of NuVibe Music, who has previously written for NMIXX’s older sister group TWICE and wrote ITZY’s upcoming title track “Cheshire.” The song is the kick off of NMIXX’s “Intermixxion Single” series.   

• Four Chinese nationals were “executed” at a marijuana farm in Oklahoma. 

• Plenty of people are reacting to the upset of Japan beating Germany during their World Cup match. 

• A new film from Jennifer Takaki, “Photographic Justice, The Corky Lee Story,” documents the legendary Asian American photographer. 

• Disney has announced an open casting call to find their next Lilo for a live-adaption of their animated hit “Lilo and Stitch.” 

• Jollibee is receiving praise for their menus accommodating blind and visually impaired people.