Trump's NIH Pick, Kelly Marie Tran Comes Out, $6 Million Banana

December 02, 2024

Good Morning – December 2, 2024

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

TOP STORIES

The bizarre clues in the puzzling disappearance of Hawaii woman Hannah Kobayashi

Los Angeles police have determined that Hannah Kobayashi, a 30-year-old Hawaii creative who had been missing for weeks, intentionally missed a flight to New York in early November.

  • What we know: Kobayashi, originally from Maui, vanished after missing her connecting flight from Los Angeles to New York on Nov. 8, according to the Los Angeles Police Department. Initially believed to be sightseeing, she visited locations near The Grove shopping center, including a bookstore and a Nike event. On Nov. 9, she made two Venmo payments to two individuals her family does not recognize: one to “Veronica Almendarez” at 6:25 p.m. and another to “Jonathan Taylor” at 7:19 p.m. The latter is believed to be for tarot card reading. She then sent cryptic text messages to a friend on Nov. 11, alleging that “deep hackers” wiped her identity, stole all of her funds and had her “on a mind f*ck since Friday.” Another text message said “I got tricked pretty much into giving away all my funds,” followed by “for someone I thought I loved.” Surveillance footage last captured Kobayashi at the Pico Metro Station on Nov. 11 with an unidentified man, where she appeared distressed. Her phone went silent that evening and she has not been heard from since.

  • What authorities are saying: Los Angeles police have classified Kobayashi as a missing person, with fears she may have been abducted or trafficked. On Wednesday, they confirmed that Kobayashi intentionally missed her flight to New York. Her ex-boyfriend was reportedly on the same New York-bound flight but made it. “We remain fully committed to locating Hannah and supporting the family as they navigate their way through this tragedy,” Police Chief Jim McDonnell said.

  • What her family is saying: Kobayashi’s family remains steadfast in their search, despite profound grief following her father’s suicide on Nov. 24. Ryan Kobayashi had combed dangerous neighborhoods, including Skid Row, before succumbing to despair. Her aunt Larie Pidgeon told the Los Angeles Times, “I know everyone’s focused on Ryan’s death, but he would’ve wanted us to continue searching for his daughter.” The family has distributed missing person flyers and urged nationwide vigilance, as Kobayashi may have been moved out of California. They are also pressing authorities to release key surveillance footage to aid the public in identifying Kobayashi and her last known companion. Anyone with information is urged to contact the LAPD at (877) 527-3247.

Trump picks Indian American COVID lockdown critic as next NIH director

President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, an Indian American Stanford University professor and vocal critic of COVID-19 lockdowns, as the next director of the National Institutes of Health.

  • Driving the news: Trump believes Bhattacharya and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vaccine skeptic he has chosen to lead the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), would work to restore the nation to health. “Together, Jay and RFK Jr. will restore the NIH to a Gold Standard of Medical Research as they examine the underlying causes of, and solutions to, America’s biggest Health challenges, including our Crisis of Chronic Illness and Disease,” Trump said on Tuesday. “Together, they will work hard to Make America Healthy Again!” Both appointments, along with Jim O’Neill as HHS deputy secretary, are subject to Senate confirmation. If confirmed, Bhattacharya would lead the NIH’s $47.7 billion budget and oversee 27 institutes and centers. Responding in an X post, Bhattacharya said he is “honored and humbled” by Trump’s appointment. “We will reform American scientific institutions so that they are worthy of trust again and will deploy the fruits of excellent science to make America healthy again,” he noted.

  • About Bhattacharya: Bhattacharya, a physician and economist, gained prominence in 2020 as a co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, which opposed COVID-19 lockdowns and advocated for achieving herd immunity through natural infection among low-risk groups while protecting the vulnerable. However, many public health experts, including former NIH director Dr. Francis Collins, dismissed the declaration as “dangerous” and “fringe.” World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus also deemed the approach “unethical,” adding that herd immunity has never been used as a response to an outbreak. Meanwhile, Bhattacharya’s criticism of NIH leadership during the pandemic and his call for reforms have drawn support from figures like Elon Musk and Joe Rogan. With his nomination, the future of NIH policies and public health strategies may pivot sharply, reflecting Trump’s broader vision for health care reform.

POLITICS & POLICY

Steel concedes to Tran in Orange County House race

Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) has conceded her re-election bid to Democrat Derek Tran in California’s 45th Congressional District, marking a critical flip for Democrats in a closely divided House. Tran declared victory on Monday, leading Steel by just over 600 votes out of more than 315,000 cast. In a statement posted on X, Steel, who was born in Seoul, reflected on her journey from immigrant to congresswoman, expressing gratitude for the opportunity to serve. “Everything is God’s will and, like all journeys, this one is ending for a new one to begin,” she wrote, pledging to continue fighting for her supporters. Tran, the son of Vietnamese refugees, celebrated the win as a mandate to address challenges like affordable healthcare and housing while representing his community’s optimism. With this race concluded, the House GOP’s slim majority faces further uncertainty, as the outcome of California’s 13th District and upcoming vacancies could leave Republicans with just a two-seat edge.

Japanese American photographer dies weeks after unprovoked attack in New York

Yasuomi Hashimura, a renowned 79-year-old Japanese American photographer, tragically died on Nov. 11, succumbing to injuries sustained weeks earlier in an unprovoked attack. Hashimura was allegedly shoved to the ground by a homeless man on Oct. 22 while walking home in Manhattan, causing a fatal head injury.

  • What happened: Police say Hashimura was attacked as he was returning home from shopping around 8:25 p.m. on a Manhattan street. An unnamed 32-year-old homeless man reportedly struck Hashimura's cane before shoving him, causing the elderly photographer to hit his head on the sidewalk. Hashimura remained unconscious in critical condition for nearly three weeks before his eventual death. The suspect was arrested the day after the incident and charged with manslaughter.

  • Hashimura’s legacy: Born in post-war Osaka, Hashimura rose to prominence in American advertising photography after moving to the U.S. in 1968. Known for his innovative use of high-speed strobe techniques, he created commercial imagery for global brands such as Coca-Cola and Absolut. One of his celebrated works, “Rainbow in Space,” was selected as a United Nations commemorative art piece in 1985. Despite his commercial success, Hashimura described photography as a way to “help people see things in a way they haven’t seen before.”

Chinese man claims he defaced controversial Tokyo shrine over Fukushima discharge

Jiang Zhuojun, a 29-year-old Chinese national living in Japan, pleaded guilty to charges of property damage and disrespecting a place of worship in Tokyo District Court on Friday. Jiang, who was arrested in July, admitted to spray-painting the word “toilet” on a stone pillar at the Yasukuni Shrine on May 31, causing damage estimated at 4.6  million yen ($30,000). Prosecutors described Jiang as an accomplice who supported two other Chinese nationals, Dong Guangming and Xu Laiyu, by purchasing spray paint and driving them to the shrine. In court, Jiang said his motive was not tied to historical issues, stating, “I was protesting against the discharge of treated radioactive water ... I wanted to protect the ocean.” Reports emerged last year of a Chinese government-backed disinformation campaign exaggerating the dangers of the Fukushima discharge, fueling public anger and leading to boycotts and harassment of Japanese businesses. A video posted on Chinese social media showed one of the men appearing to urinate on the pillar before vandalizing it. Dong and Xu, who both fled to China the following day, remain wanted in Japan.

CULTURE & SOCIETY

Bangladeshi fruit vendor moved to tears as banana he sold for 35 cents fetches millions

Shah Alam, a 74-year-old Bangladeshi fruit vendor in Manhattan, was shocked to discover that a banana he sold for 35 cents was later auctioned off for $6.2 million at Sotheby's auction house as the centerpiece of Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan’s artwork called "Comedian." The piece, which features the banana duct-taped to a wall, was purchased by entrepreneur Justin Sun on Nov. 20. 

  • A banana’s value: Alam, who lives in a basement apartment in the Bronx and works 12-hour shifts at a fruit stand outside the auction house, was moved to tears after learning of the sale from a reporter. “I am a poor man," he told The New York Times. "I have never had this kind of money; I have never seen this kind of money.” He also questioned the sanity of those involved, asking: “Those who bought it, what kind of people are they? Do they not know what a banana is?”

  • Art or cruel joke?: The stark contrast between Alam's circumstances and the artwork's exorbitant price tag has resonated with many. An anonymous individual even launched a GoFundMe campaign to support Alam, with a promise to match donations up to $5,000. "Do we really want to live in a city where we can shrug off a street vendor who’s moved to tears by the fact that he’s been made the butt of a joke involving an amount of wealth obscene to him?" the GoFundMe page asks. The campaign has raised over $14,650 as of this writing.

Abandoned plan: Sun, whose net worth is estimated to be $1.4 billion, initially planned to purchase $25,000 worth of bananas from Alam's stand and distribute them globally for free. However, this plan was quickly abandoned due to logistical and financial challenges involved in procuring and transporting such a large quantity of fruit, which Alam himself pointed out.

ENTERTAINMENT

Ador asserts contract validity as NewJeans decides to exit label

Ador, the management agency of NewJeans, has rejected the group’s abrupt announcement of contract termination, asserting that their exclusive agreement remains valid until July 31, 2029. The K-pop label’s response came after NewJeans held a press conference Thursday to reveal their decision, citing Ador’s alleged breaches, including failure to address accusations of bullying, emotional distress and the dismissal of their favored former CEO Min Hee-jin. Ador, a subsidiary of Hybe Labels, called the announcement “regrettable” and maintained it has upheld all contractual obligations, including supporting the group’s music activities and compensation. The agency also reiterated that trust issues and demands, such as reinstating Min, were not grounds for termination and stressed the need for dialogue, claiming prior attempts to meet had failed. “We hope that even now, they can open their hearts, meet and have a sincere conversation,” Ador said, while also revealing plans for a 2025 album and world tour. NewJeans, however, stated that continuing the partnership “would be a waste of time and would only prolong our mental distress.” The group on Friday underscored that Ador’s inability to resolve their concerns within the notice period justified their decision, declaring, “The contract is null and void.”

Kelly Marie Tran comes out as queer

Kelly Marie Tran, known for her roles in "Star Wars" and "Raya and the Last Dragon," has publicly come out as queer. In an interview with Vanity Fair published last week, the 35-year-old Vietnamese American star spoke about her identity while discussing her upcoming role in the queer rom-com "The Wedding Banquet." "I haven’t said this publicly yet, but I’m a queer person,” Tran shared.  She expressed excitement about playing a character she deeply connected with and being part of a welcoming queer space for the first time. "I don’t feel like I’m acting at all in this movie. I’m here doing this amazing movie with these amazing people. I’ve never been in a queer space before. I’ve never truly felt this accepted before.” Tran also revealed that scenes with her on-screen mother, played by Joan Chen, mirrored her own coming out experience. "The Wedding Banquet," directed by Andrew Ahn and also stars Bowen Yang, Lily Gladstone and Youn Yuh-jung, is a remake of Ang Lee's 1993 film and is set to premiere in theaters in the spring.

SPORTS

NBA Rookie of the Year frontrunner Jared McCain reveals Filipino heritage

Philadelphia 76ers rookie Jared McCain recently gave a “shout out to my Asian community” and shared that he is "probably like 10% Filipino," marking his first public acknowledgment of his Asian roots. The 20-year-old guard, who pundits say has been a bright spot in an otherwise challenging season for the Sixers, made the revelation in a social media video shared on Wednesday. He did not, however, specify whether his Filipino heritage comes from his father's or mother's side. Born in Sacramento, California, McCain's diverse background has sparked discussions about the possibility of him representing the Philippine men’s basketball team, Gilas Pilipinas, in future FIBA tournaments, provided eligibility requirements are met. McCain, who was drafted 16th overall in the 2024 NBA Draft, is currently averaging 16.5 points, 2.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists while shooting an impressive 46.2% from the field. His on-court performances and off-court charm, including his viral TikTok dances, have made him a fan favorite and a strong contender for Rookie of the Year. McCain joins Utah Jazz guard Jordan Clarkson and Houston Rockets guard Jalen Green as current NBA players with Filipino heritage.

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