Duckworth grills Pentagon nominee, "Dr. Sleep" wins UFC bout, Bruce Lee honored

Good Morning – November 26, 2024

Your daily update on stories impacting the Asian and Asian American community, along with key insights into business, culture, and trends.

TOP STORIES

Decorated veteran Sen. Duckworth slams Hegseth’s stance against women in combat

Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) has strongly criticized President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, over his stance against women serving in combat roles, calling it “flat-out wrong.” A Thai American decorated combat veteran who lost her legs in Iraq, Duckworth also questioned Hegseth’s qualifications, citing his limited military experience and a past sexual assault allegation.

• Driving the news: Hegseth, a former Fox News host and Army veteran, has sparked controversy by claiming women in combat roles make the military less effective and complicate operations. In a podcast hosted by Shawn Ryan on Nov. 7, he stated, “I’m straight up just saying we should not have women in combat roles. It hasn’t made us more effective. Hasn’t made us more lethal. Has made fighting more complicated.” Hegseth’s nomination also faces scrutiny due to a 2017 sexual assault allegation, which he denies, though he reportedly paid a settlement to the accuser.

• What Duckworth is saying: Duckworth, who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, lambasted Hegseth’s views as indicative of his lack of understanding about modern military needs. “Our military could not go to war without the 220,000-plus women who serve in uniform,” she said on CBS’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday, asserting that women do make the military “more effective” and “more lethal.” Duckworth emphasized that women in combat roles, including Special Forces, have proven their capabilities by meeting the same standards as men. Criticizing Hegseth’s experience, she pointed out that he held only junior leadership roles during his military service and has no experience managing an organization of the Pentagon’s scale, which oversees three million personnel and a $900 billion budget. “This is a man who is inordinately unqualified for the position,” she stressed. As for Hegseth’s sexual assault controversy, Duckworth said it is “frankly an insult and really troubling that Mr. Trump would nominate someone who has admitted he paid off a victim who has claimed rape allegations against him.”

Philippine president condemns VP’s claims she hired an assassin to kill him and his wife

Philippine Vice President Sara Duterte declared in a weekend press conference that she instructed a hitman to assassinate President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., his wife and House Speaker Martin Romualdez if she were to be killed. When Marcos Jr. responded by describing the alleged "criminal plans" as a serious threat, Duterte claimed her comments were “taken out of logical context.”

• Political word war: Duterte, whose office budget is facing scrutiny at the House of Representatives, gave the remarks during a profanity-laden press briefing on Saturday. Without citing any specific threats against herself, she said she told an assassin: "If I get killed, go kill BBM (Marcos), Liza Araneta and Martin Romualdez. No joke. No joke … I said, ‘do not stop until you kill them’ and then he said ‘yes.’"

• Marcos pushes back: In a video statement released on Monday, Marcos described Duterte’s remarks as “troubling” and vowed to fight back against such threats. He criticized the reckless use of violence and profanities, stating, “If planning the assassination of the president is that easy, how much more for ordinary citizens?” The Presidential Security Command has since heightened safety measures for Marcos and his family, calling any threat against the president a serious national security matter. Duterte dismissed Marcos’ response and claimed her statements were “maliciously taken out of context.” She then went on to accuse the Marcos family of orchestrating political violence, including the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr. in 1983. 

• Brewing feud: The hostile verbal exchange comes amid Duterte’s deteriorating alliance with Marcos, her presidential running mate in the 2022 Philippine elections. Their relationship soured earlier this year after Duterte resigned from the cabinet, citing policy and personal differences. The dispute has since grown, with Duterte accusing Marcos of incompetence and his allies slashing her office's budget by two-thirds. 

POLITICS & POLICY

How the world’s largest wholesale market in China predicts the U.S. presidential election

The Yiwu International Trade City in China’s Zhejiang province, the world’s largest wholesale market, has gained fame for its unique method of predicting U.S. presidential election outcomes. Known as the “Yiwu Index,” a term coined by political observers, it analyzes the volume of fake political merchandise sold at the market’s 70,000 stalls across a 12-floor complex. In 2016, the index accurately forecast Donald Trump’s victory over Hillary Clinton based on merchandise sales. However, it fell flat in 2020 when Joe Biden won despite selling fewer items than Trump. For the 2024 election, Trump again appeared to dominate Yiwu’s sales, with one vendor telling VOA Chinese that all orders he received in the first half of the year were for Trump. Kamala Harris also saw a brief surge in demand, with her camouflage campaign caps selling out in just 30 minutes during their debut. However, this spike in popularity failed to translate into an electoral win.

CRIME & LEGAL

Dartmouth frat members, sorority charged in student’s drowning

A sorority and two members of a fraternity in Dartmouth College were charged in connection with the fatal drowning of Won Jang, a 20-year-old student whose body was found in the Connecticut River after an off-campus party in July. Jang, who could not swim and had a blood alcohol level of 0.167, was left behind as others fled the river during a heavy rainstorm.

• What happened: The party on July 6 was hosted by the Alpha Phi sorority, where members of the Beta Alpha Omega fraternity supplied alcohol, according to Hanover police. Most attendees were reportedly underage, including Jang, a member of Beta Alpha Omega and a biomedical engineering major from Delaware. After the party, a spontaneous decision by several attendees to swim in the Connecticut River turned tragic when a rainstorm prompted most to leave the area in groups. Jang was last seen near the docks before his body was recovered 65 feet (19.8 meters) offshore the following evening. His death was ruled as drowning and authorities investigated whether hazing played a role.

• What the college is saying: Following the incident, Dartmouth immediately suspended both Greek organizations, with those suspensions still in effect pending an internal investigation. In a statement, Dartmouth emphasized the importance of Greek organizations adhering to their stated values. The college has since implemented new safety measures, including enhanced lighting and signage near waterfronts, increased security patrols, free swimming lessons and additional mental health and wellness programming for students.

• About the charges: On Friday, police charged Alpha Phi with one misdemeanor count of facilitating an underage alcohol house and two Beta Alpha Omega members, Matthew Catrambone and Samuel Terry, with providing alcohol to a person under 21. The police described Jang’s drowning as a result of alcohol consumption and lack of supervision, with no one realizing he was unaccounted for after the group dispersed during the storm. 

Father of missing Hawaii woman dies in apparent suicide

Ryan Kobayashi, the father of missing Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi, was found dead early Sunday in an apparent suicide near LAX, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Kobayashi reportedly jumped off from a parking structure near the airport at around 4 a.m. The 58-year-old had been in Los Angeles for 13 days searching for his daughter, who disappeared after missing a connecting flight at LAX on Nov. 8. Family members described receiving “strange” text messages from Hannah on Nov. 11 about someone trying to steal her identity, after which all calls went unanswered. Surveillance footage later showed her at a Metro station on Nov. 18, wearing black leggings, a tie-dye sweatshirt and a green backpack. In a statement, the Kobayashi family expressed profound grief over Ryan’s death, calling him “the family’s pillar,” while urging the public to remain focused on finding Hannah, who is believed to be in imminent danger. Anyone with information about Hannah’s whereabouts is urged to call 911 and obtain photographs.

If you or anyone you know is at risk of self-harm, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24-hour support at 988.

CULTURE & SOCIETY

Happy 84th birthday, Bruce Lee — Seattle murals to celebrate icon’s legacy

Two new murals honoring Bruce Lee, created by artist Louie Gong, will be installed in Seattle's Chinatown International District this week to coincide with Lee's 84th birthday on Nov. 27. The 10-foot by 10-foot murals, titled "The Journey Begins Here" and "One With Water," feature symbolic imagery reflecting the martial arts icon's life and philosophy, including references to local landmarks like the Space Needle and Tai Tung restaurant. Instead of depicting Lee's likeness, Gong chose to represent his journey of self-discovery through Coast Salish-inspired designs and subtle references to Lee's iconic hairstyle and martial arts. Commissioned by the Seattle Office of Arts & Culture, the murals will be displayed on the Rex Apartments and the New Central Building on Maynard Avenue. Shannon Lee, Bruce Lee's daughter, expressed her hope that the murals will enrich the neighborhood and inspire those who see them.

BUSINESS & ECONOMY

Elon Musk reacts to Asian American women earning more than white men

Elon Musk sparked discussions on X after sharing reported 2019 data on wage disparity that shows Asian American women as earning more than white men. Musk, 53, reposted the figures first shared by another X user, writing in the caption, “Interesting.”

• What it shows: The numbers, reportedly derived from 2019 Census Bureau data on median earnings for full-time, year-round female workers by ethnic/ancestry group, shows that Asian American female workers had higher salaries than white men, who  earned $57,003 that year. Taiwanese American women ranked first with $78,153, followed by Asian Indian American women with $75,985, Turkish American women with $67,759, Iranian American women with $64,220, Chinese American women with $62,488; Lebanese American women with $61,372; Japanese American women with $60,035 and Korean American women with $60,014.

• Dive deeper: Despite this, Asian American women  faced a gender pay gap when compared to men within their demographic in 2019, having earned only 77% of what Asian American male workers made, as per the Bureau of Labor Statistics. A more recent graph on the Department of Labor website shows that Asian American male workers had a median annual earning of $87,410 in 2022, while Asian American women recorded $70,580, highlighting the persistence of the issue. Interestingly, the National Asian Pacific American Women's Forum (NAPAWF) noted in its 2023 report that AANHPI women earn less than white men — about 80 cents for every $1 the latter makes. To address the wage gap, the report noted that AANHPI women are compelled to work longer hours and take on multiple jobs.

• Reactions: Musk’s post garnered various reactions from X users. One wrote, “Turns out...working hard and making good choices pays off...no matter who you are. Go figure!” Another commented, “Is this because they do a better job than white male Americans or is this DEI (Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)?” Another noted, “The natural conclusion is that the society we live in is neither racist nor is it sexist.”

SPORTS

Rising UFC star who is also a full-time doctor says parents unaware of her MMA career

Chinese fighter Ming Shi cemented her place as a rising MMA star on Nov. 23 at UFC Macau, when she delivered a spectacular third-round head-kick knockout to claim the Road to UFC Season 3 strawweight championship. Shi’s head kick, which left her opponent, Xiaocan Feng, unconscious and stretchered out of the arena, also earned her the “Performance of the Night” bonus of $50,000.

• “Dr. Sleep”: Shi, who was nicknamed “Dr. Sleep” during the broadcast, is actually a full-time medical doctor specializing in acupuncture. Hailing from Heilongjiang, China, the 30-year-old fighter began training in taekwondo at 13 and transitioned to MMA in her 20s. Despite her 5'2" stature, she has developed a  striking prowess and fierce fighting style that has allowed her to maintain an impressive 17-5 professional record.

• Shi’s little secret: Following her Road to UFC win, Shi shared that her parents remain unaware of her MMA career, believing she participates in traditional martial arts. “I don’t think I’m going to mention it to them,” Shi was quoted as saying. “For my parents, they are traditional Chinese parents and they worry about me. Only doctor or a lawyer, I don’t have other choice. So, I’m going to fight UFC, but maybe every time I will go back home after I recover.”

Mamiko Tanaka fist-bumps husband Shohei Ohtani after MVP win

Spouses Mamiko Tanaka and Shohei Ohtani had a wholesome celebration after the Los Angeles Dodgers designated hitter was named the National League’s most valuable player (MVP) this season. Tanaka, along with their dog Decoy, were by Ohtani’s side when Dodgers teammate Clayton Kershaw broke the news on Thursday. The couple and others in the room celebrated the announcement with applause, prompting Decoy to jump off the couch. Ohtani and Tanaka were briefly spotted later giving each other a fist bump before the camera cuts off. This is Ohtani’s first NL MVP award after winning two American League MVP recognitions in 2021 and 2023 while he was still with the Los Angeles Angels. All three MVP awards were unanimous, making it the first in MLB’s history. Instagram users spotted the cheerful moment between the couple, with one commenting, “Was that his wife he fist bumped?!?!?” Another user wrote, “Fist bump?! They are so cute.”

Video shows former UFC fighter Nam Phan’s severe speech deterioration over the years

A viral TikTok video uploaded in July highlights the stark decline in speech clarity of former UFC fighter Nam Phan. Phan, 41, who began his professional career in 2001 and retired from mixed martial arts in 2017, has continued competing in boxing and Muay Thai despite evident signs of neurological damage. The video highlights a progressive deterioration in his speech, from clear articulation in earlier years to noticeable slurring and difficulty pronouncing words in more recent footage. Commenters speculate that Phan may be suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain condition linked to repeated head trauma, though the condition can only be confirmed post-mortem. As Phan has expressed interest in fighting again despite concerns over his health, many have called for stricter oversight to prevent fighters like Phan to risk further harm.

UFC head Dana White says he learned how to play Baccarat from Chinese women

Ultimate Fighting Championship CEO Dana White recently shared that Chinese people taught him how to play Baccarat. White, 55, shared the story in an episode of “2 Bears, 1 Cave with Tom Segura and Bert Kreischer.” In the interview, he said it all started when he went down to the high-limit room of Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. To his surprise, the Baccarat area was filled with Chinese and other Asians who purportedly could sit there all night until 10 a.m. the next day. “I learned how to play Baccarat from them, from the Chinese, those are all my people now down to Ceasars Palace,” the UFC boss said. He noted that Chinese women are “even better than the men because the women have more patience than the men do.” White added that he invested three months into learning the comparing card game from the Chinese players and started playing seriously in January 2024.

ENTERTAINMENT HIGHLIGHTS

Aespa, Seventeen bag major wins at 2024 MAMA Awards

Aespa and Seventeen dominated the 2024 MAMA Awards, with both groups taking home major honors. Aespa claimed their first daesang (grand prize), song of the year, for “Supernova,” along with five additional trophies, including best female group and best music video. “We never imagined this,” they shared, reflecting on their journey since debuting and expressing gratitude to fans for making their first post-pandemic MAMA attendance unforgettable. Meanwhile, Seventeen continued their remarkable streak with five awards, two of which were daesangs: artist of the year and album of the year for “Seventeenth Heaven.” Woozi, Seventeen’s vocal unit leader, remarked, “Winning the grand prize two years in a row was something we couldn’t even dream of.” BTS’s Jimin won the fourth daesang, fans’ choice. Jungkook also won best male artist, while Blackpink’s Jennie secured four awards, including two for her collaboration with Zico. “Global Sensation” went to Rosé and Bruno Mars for their viral hit “APT.,” while actor Byun Woo Seok earned the favorite global trending music award for his role in “Lovely Runner.” The three-day event, which was held in Los Angeles and Osaka, showcased the best in music and entertainment, cementing MAMA’s status as a premier celebration of K-pop’s influence.

Jon M. Chu wants “Crazy Rich Asians” sequel to be "worth it" first

Filmmaker Jon M. Chu, fresh off the success of “Wicked,” confirmed that the long-anticipated sequel to “Crazy Rich Asians” remains in development but won’t proceed until it meets high expectations. Speaking on the “Crew Call” podcast, Chu emphasized, “I won’t bring everyone back unless it’s worth it ... There’s no way I’m dragging the audience back.” Chu had earlier shared that the sequel, potentially combining elements from Kevin Kwan’s second and third books ("China Rich Girlfriend" and "Rich People Problems"), is facing challenges in adapting the source material while staying true to the spirit of the first film. In the meantime, fans can look forward to a “Crazy Rich Asians Broadway” musical, which Chu describes as "very exciting and very fun."

FOOD

Burger King Japan releases a very Japanese Whopper

Burger King Japan has released a Whopper with rice sandwiched between two rice-made buns. Dubbed the “Kyoto Whopper,” the burger contains the traditional Burger King patty, lettuce, onion and tomato. Needless to say, what sets this limited-edition menu apart is the white rice nestled between the sandwich, as well as the buns made from unpolished brown rice. The unique addition that blends American and Japanese cuisine was created in collaboration with Kyoto rice merchant company Hachidaime Gihey, which has been in the business since 1787. Aside from the rice, the “Kyoto Whopper” comes with a “special Japanese-style ginger sauce” made with “dashi soy sauce” (fusing the flavors of bonito, shiitake mushroom, mackerel and kelp) and four traditional spices, including roasted chili peppers, Japanese pepper, ginger and dried tangerine peel. Released on Nov. 1, “Kyoto Whopper” is available in all Burger King branches in Japan for 990 yen ($6).

Stay informed, stay inspired. We’ll be back tomorrow with more stories that matter to the Asian and Asian American community.