Asia Minute

New Zealand’s Prime Minister had a surprise announcement for her electorate earlier today: she’s pregnant. It’s an unusual situation for a prime minister, but it’s not unprecedented. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

This weekend’s false alarm about a missile attack has refocused attention on security on the Korean peninsula, but also on diplomacy. And it’s been an active several days on that front. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Just days after this weekend’s false alarm of a missile bound for Hawai‘i, there was a similar event in Japan. But there were also some major differences. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

It’s a little over three weeks until the opening ceremonies of the Winter Olympics in South Korea. As long as the details can be worked out, a team from North Korea will be there. But there are a lot of other uncertainties about the North’s participation in the games. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The final numbers aren’t in yet, but tourism officials expect 2017 to be another record year for visitors to Hawai‘i. That would make it the sixth straight year for record growth. That closely matches another Pacific location that also continues to set tourism records. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

2018 is an election year, and not just in Hawai‘i. There are mid-term congressional elections as well as races for governor in 36 states and three territories. There will also be an election in Malaysia—where just this week a familiar candidate joined a key race. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

A majority of states now allow the use of medical marijuana. And research in the area continues in a number of states. It’s also going on in other locations—including one in the Asia Pacific that may be surprising. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

It’s been ten years since Hawai‘i launched its “Clean Energy Initiative” to reduce the state’s dependence on fossil fuels.  According to the Department of Land and Natural Resources, renewable energy now accounts for about 27 percent of utility electricity sales across the state. So far, off shore wind energy has not played a role in those figures, but it’s a different story elsewhere. And in Japan, government officials are taking steps to increase its use. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

While temperatures remain frigid across much of the mainland United States this week, it’s another story entirely in many parts of the Asia Pacific. That includes Australia—where some cities are seeing their hottest temperatures in decades. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The last several months have seen a number of developments at Hawai‘i’s largest shopping mall. The Ala Moana Center has seen the debut of Target, the return of Sears, and the introduction of a gym. But on a national level, shopping malls are in decline. And in Asia, a billion dollar deal involving shopping malls in China tells an economic story beyond the stores. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

A move to protect coral reefs in the Pacific is sparking some controversy because of the impact it’s having on local jobs. The government of Fiji banned the export of live corals a week ago—but there’s still some confusion about the policy. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Japanese visitors have played an important role in driving Hawaii’s tourism numbers to new records. But since North Korea made threats about Guam this summer, Japanese travel to that Pacific island has dropped. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

South Korea has proposed a round of direct talks with North Korea in less than a week. A South Korean cabinet minister says one topic of the high level talks would be North Korea’s possible participation in the Winter Olympics. The history of talks between the two governments goes back decades, and has been uneven at best. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The final numbers are not in yet, but expectations are that 2017 will turn out to be another record year for tourism in Hawai‘i. Conversations are continuing about balancing tourism growth with protection of natural resources around the state. But elsewhere in the Pacific, an island that likes to compare itself to Hawai‘i is making some changes. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Most stock markets around the world turned in strong performances for 2017. And that's true for the major markets of the Asia Pacific. HPR's Bill Dorman has some regional highlights in today's Asia Minute.

It’s been more than 60 years since the United States blew up a massive hydrogen bomb on Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean. It was one of a series of tests—but the size of this explosion took scientists by surprise. It was a thousand times more powerful than the nuclear bombs at Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Legal cases about the bombing continue to this day—including one with developments this week. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Criticism of the government is a daily occurrence on line in this country. But that’s not the case everywhere. And leaders in one nation in the Asia Pacific are taking new steps to crack down on views they don’t like. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Not counting today, there are four days left in 2017. And if you’re a baseball fan that means it’s about six and a half weeks until pitchers and catchers report to spring training. This year that event may get some new attention from a distant shore of Asia. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Unemployment in Hawai‘i hit a record low last month—at 2-percent. And as 2017 draws to a close, the state has one of the lowest jobless rates in the country—although wages still remain relatively low and the cost of living is near the top of the national charts. Heading into the new year, the employment situation is a very different story in South Korea. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

On this Christmas Day, there are many places around the Asia Pacific that celebrate the holiday. While the region is a diverse mix of religions from Buddhism and Hinduism to Islam and other faiths, celebrations of Christmas often followed colonial settlements—including one particular location in India. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The holiday season brings its own traditions in many places, and a lot of them are related to food. In Hawai‘i, many look for ‘ahi in the New Year, while other treats of various kinds are part of celebrations.  In Japan, there’s been a more recent food tradition that started in the 1970’s—and has a new twist this year. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The Winter Olympics are scheduled to open seven weeks from tomorrow. The games will be held in South Korea, and the government there is asking the United States to delay a set of annual joint military exercises until after the Olympics. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

News about wildlife frequently involves endangered species. In Hawai‘i, there’s also a lot of attention to invasive species. It’s a lot less common to talk about NEW species—but that’s the focus of news from Asia this week. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

One of the world’s biggest mining companies may pull out of several industry lobbying groups. The issue is a difference in approach to climate change. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The economy of Hawai‘i’s top international tourist market continues to show strength. Business confidence in Japan is the latest figure to reach its highest level in more than a decade. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

For weeks now, Congress has been working on changes to the U.S. tax code. But it’s not only the United States that is pushing tax reform. It was also a campaign pledge on the other side of the Pacific. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

This week, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said the United States would be open to direct talks with North Korea. The White House has played down the prospects for any immediate discussions, but regional diplomacy is on the agenda for another event this week involving two key players. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

A retired business executive in Japan threw an unusual party this week. He held the gathering to thank friends, family and colleagues—and to say goodbye. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

In recent weeks, the political world in the United States has been focused on today’s U.S. Senate election in Alabama. But on the other side of the world, there’s a legislature that’s consumed by allegations of corruption. And it’s starting to take a political toll. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Last week brought another wave of developments related to sexual harassment. While the “hashtag me too” movement has swept across this country, it’s been a very different story in China. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.