A large international gathering gets underway today on a small island in the South Pacific. The Cook Islands are hosting the Pacific Islands Forum. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

You may remember the so-called “golf ball” floating radar that has occasionally pulled into Pearl Harbor for maintenance. It’s called the SBX—the Sea-Based X-Band Radar platform. And according to a new report, the U.S. plans to add similar devices in Asia. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Here’s an idea that might be part of your future: flexible batteries. Researchers in Korea have come up with the prototype of a device that could have a number of applications. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

We’re still about three months away from the end of this year’s hurricane season for Hawaii. Federal officials expect the rest of the season to be relatively quiet. As for the western Pacific, scientists have been studying which areas are most vulnerable to storms and other natural disasters. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The Southeast Asian country of Myanmar is continuing its gradual political reforms. The most recent developments will ease some censorship of the press. But it’s still a long way from a truly independent media. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.