SEPTEMBER 19, 2022

Hello, everyone!

In Oakland, California’s Little Saigon neighborhood, community members continue to be made victims of increased violence.

Previously, our newsletter covered several incidents of gun violence in the neighborhood, including the killing of beloved dentist Lili Xu, whose death remains under investigation.

This week, a grandmother, who has been robbed and assaulted before, was shot in her home as stray bullets penetrated her walls in the middle of the night. She is currently in the hospital, receiving treatment for her wounds.

Spotlight 💡
 

• Uyghur author Perhat Tursun initially had his books translated in 2015, but under strict government surveillance, his translator feared for his safety. Now, “The Backstreets,” which was published recently, describes a narrative marred by Han Chinese oppression.

Race in America 🌎
 

• A record number of Indian Americans are employed in important positions throughout U.S. agencies under the Biden Administration. In fact, 180 Indian Americans operate in vital governmental positions. 

• In this op-ed, an Asian American student at the University of Maryland argues that universities should start offering departmental scholarship opportunities for Asian Americans to close the gap between racial demographics within humanities fields. 

In Other Asian News 🗞
 

• In Gaza, a Palestinian farmer found a Byzantine-era mosaic depicting a variety of birds and other animals.
• Four protestors were killed when Iranian police opened fire on a crowd, marking the third day people are gathered to protest the arrest and death of a Kurdish woman at the hands of the morality police.

Film and Culture 📺
 

• Sony is producing a new Karate Kid movie, aiming for a 2024 release. 

• The U.S.’ oldest Asian American pageant crowned new winners for Miss Asian Global and Miss Asian America.

What else is on our minds? 🧠
 

• In Japan, Typhoon Nanmadol has killed at least two people and injured 115.

• A magnitude 6.8 earthquake hit Taiwan, causing one death and 146 people to be injured. 

• The title of “second richest person in the world” no longer belongs to Jeff Bezos. Indian businessman Gautum Adani surpassed Bezos with a $146.9 billion fortune. 

• TikTok, known primarily as a social media app, is becoming a search engine for young users who need help with anything and everything.

• A Chinese student found a bag of money on her bed from her little sister. The gift, labeled with an encouraging message, contained her sister’s savings of $43.