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Right-wing media and politicians have recently targeted prominent Asian Americans, like Dominic Ng, CEO of East West Bank, and Congresswoman Judy Chu, for alleged connections to the Chinese Communist Party.

These allegations have been met with fierce pushback from Democrats and civic and business leaders who have known people like Ng for decades. The allegations come amid rising economic and geopolitical tensions between the U.S. and China and are part of a growing list of Southern California Chinese Americans targeted by right-wing media and politicians.

Chu demanded an apology from Rep. Lance Gooden, who questioned her loyalty or competence, saying that she and Ng were having their loyalty challenged because they are of Chinese descent.

• Japanese American Maya Rogers is the CEO of Blue Planet Software, which manages the Tetris brand worldwide. Rogers helped bring the Apple TV+ original film “Tetris” to the big screen. The geopolitical thriller is based on the true story of her father, Henk Rogers, confronting the KGB to bring Tetris to the masses.

• Maryland's Court of Appeals has reinstated the murder conviction of Adnan Syed, who was the subject of the "Serial" podcast after he was freed last year following a 23-year legal battle against charges that he murdered his former high school girlfriend, Hae Min Lee. The decision came after the court ruled that a trial court had violated the victim's brother's right to attend and be notified of a hearing in September. A new hearing must be held that provides the victim's brother enough notice to attend physically, and Syed remains a free man for the time being while both sides consider their next steps.

• Executives from Japan's biggest whaling company and officials from the travel industry have hosted a banquet for six social media influencers, including journalists, in Osaka to promote Japan's most controversial cuisine: whale meat. Kyodo Senpaku, the country's biggest whaling company, aims to change the negative narrative surrounding the consumption of whale meat and hopes that the influencers will take the industry's message to their followers. The whaling industry is trying to position whale meat as a tourist attraction ahead of a sharp rise in overseas visitors when Covid-19 travel restrictions are lifted.

• Emmy-nominated comedian Margaret Cho is joining the cast of the upcoming romantic dark comedy “Evilou.” Cho will star alongside DJ Qualls (“The Man in the High Castle”) and Marisé Álvarez (“Obi-Wan Kenobi”) in the directorial debut of Andrew Zappin, who also wrote the film’s script. “Evilou” revolves around Lou Vile (Qualls), a cynical podcaster who vehemently opposes love. When he develops romantic feelings for an enchanting single mother (Álvarez), he willingly undergoes a medical procedure that changes his personality so that he can capture her heart. Cho will portray the boss of Earwig Media, Lou’s desired workplace that initially rejects him before his transformation occurs.

• Seiichi Sano, the 89-year-old Japanese man who was recognized as the oldest male to surf by Guinness World Records, says he will continue to catch waves until he is 100 years old.
   
• South Korean National Security Advisor Kim Sung-han has resigned amid allegations he did not relay information to President Yoon Suk-yeol about Blackpink’s invitation to perform at the White House during Yoon’s upcoming U.S. visit. 
   
• Mandopop star JJ Lin and Afro-Korean musician Anderson .Paak have joined forces for the first time by producing a song for the forthcoming East West Bank documentary film “The Bridge.”
   
• Cookbook author Grace Young was named one of USA Today’s Women of the Year, an award given to women by the outlet for their significant impact on their communities and the country.
   
• Jung Ho-yeon, best known for her Emmy-nominated role in the hit Netflix show “Squid Game,” has been cast in the upcoming Korean mystery thriller film “Hope.”