The Asian Pacific American Media Coalition (APAMC) announced Monday, Jan. 14 that Daniel M. Mayeda of East West Players (EWP) and Priscilla Ouchida of Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) have been elected as its new co-chairs. The APAMC, a coalition comprised of civil rights and media activism organizations, also announced that it will be expanding its activities. Read the full story

Mayor Mike McGinn announced his appointments to the new Community Police Commission on Monday, Jan. 14. The Community Police Commission is a partnership between the police department, its officers, community members, and public officials intended to support the development of reforms, establishment of police priorities, and mechanisms to promote community confidence in the Seattle Police Department. Read the full story

Cindy Ryu

King County Executive Dow Constantine submitted three names to the King County Council today for consideration to fill the vacancy left by the election of Councilmember Bob Ferguson as state attorney general. Read the full story

Eric Schmidt

By Gillian Wong
The Associated Press

BEIJING, China (AP) — The Google chairman wants a firsthand look at North Korea’s economy and social media in his private visit Monday, Jan. 14 to the communist nation, his delegation said, despite misgivings in Washington over the timing of the trip. Read the full story

By Ken Thomas and Sam Hananel
The Associated Press

WASHINGTON, D.C. (AP) — The composition of President Barack Obama’s second term Cabinet became clearer Wednesday, Jam. 9 with Labor Secretary Hilda Solis resigning and three other members of the president’s team deciding to stay on amid concerns about diversity in Obama’s inner circle. Read the full story

By Louise Watt
The Associated Press

Beijing’s air pollution is so thick that it can be easily mistaken for fog. (Photo by David Barrie)

BEIJING, China (AP) — People refused to venture outdoors and buildings disappeared into Beijing’s murky skyline on Sunday, Jan. 13 as the capital’s air quality went off the index. Read the full story

By Staff
The Associated press

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese official says a woman in his town near Tokyo, who became world’s oldest living female just last month, has died at 115. Read the full story

By Staff
The Associated press

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Tens of thousands of opposition demonstrators took to the streets of Taipei on Sunday, Jan. 13 to protest the policies of Taiwan’s China-friendly president, in the largest anti-government action since he was re-elected to a second four-year term a year ago. Read the full story

By Vivian Nguyen
Northwest Asian Weekly

Even though 2013 has only been underway for a few short weeks, there’s already a lot of news to cover, including anti-Americanism, television castings, and even some news straight out of Seattle. Read on to find out about all the buzz of the new year! Read the full story

Nobuyuki Tsujii

By M.  L. Liu
Northwest Asian Weekly

The 13th Van Cliburn International Piano Competition held in 2009 ended with a common scene, the winner cradling his trophy while simultaneously crying and laughing. However, the winner, then 20-year-old Nobuyuki Tsujii, is unlike any of the other competitors — he is completely blind. Read the full story

Compiled by Staff
Northwest Asian Weekly

A community can only be as strong as the bond of its people. If those bonds are weak, the community is easily divided, but the stronger they are, the more the community can work together. Read the full story

By Assunta Ng

I spent my New Year’s in Maui, and I didn’t want to come home. The photos of palm trees and Read the full story

For 50 years, the entrance to Seward Park was distinguished by a 26-foot tall torii, or Japanese gate. Now, community members are inviting the public to help design a replacement for the former neighborhood icon, which was removed in the mid-1980s due to age and decay. Read the full story

White River Buddhist Temple, a member temple of the Buddhist Churches of America, announced that they will be hosting the 2013 Northwest Buddhist Convention. The 66th annual convention is to be held from Friday, Feb. 15 through Sunday, Feb. 17, at the DoubleTree Suites Hotel at Southcenter in Tukwila. Read the full story

The Japanese American Citizens League (JACL) announced the details of its 2013 scholarship program earlier in December. The JACL annually offers approximately 30 college scholarships for students who are incoming college freshmen, undergraduates, and graduates, and those specializing in law or the creative/performing arts. There is also a scholarship for those in need of financial aid in this time of rising tuition costs. Read the full story

The Seattle-Kobe Sister City Association (SKSCA) is pleased to announce the 9th Annual Seattle-Kobe Female Jazz Vocalist Audition. The SKSCA will send one high school-aged and one adult female jazz vocalist from the Greater Seattle area to Kobe, Japan in May 2013 to be a guest singer at the 14th Annual Kobe Jazz Vocal Queen Contest. Read the full story