Asia Minute

A United Nations report out this week warns that the world has a dozen years to make dramatic changes in energy use to limit the impact of global warming. That includes dramatically cutting the use of coal. But for several countries in the Asia Pacific, both economics and politics are moving in a different direction.

Visitor spending and arrivals are up across the islands compared to a year ago. That includes visitors from most markets in the Asia Pacific. And residents in one of those countries are setting records for foreign travel.

The United States is facing a diplomatic complication this week with one of its allies in the Asia Pacific. It follows a top-level meeting on Friday — and the outcome remains uncertain.

The Hawaii Tourism Authority says August was another positive month for visitors to the state, although growth came at a slower pace than earlier this year. Elsewhere in the Pacific, there’s a tourist destination that will soon re-open – after the government shut it down for six months because of the wear and tear of too many visitors.

Navy ships from more than a dozen countries will be taking part in an event next week in South Korea. But there is controversy – not about ships or weapons, but about a flag.

If you have travel plans coming up that include a flight to Asia, you may be part of the newest wave of airport technology. The idea is to get passengers on their way more quickly — and without having to always take out a passport.

An election in Japan may have an impact on U.S. military planning in the Asia Pacific. The election was in Okinawa, and the potential effects may stretch all the way to Hawaii.

The continuing trade dispute between the United States and China is starting to hit a variety of products.  Last week, the Trump Administration slapped ten-percent tariffs on another 200-billion dollars of Chinese imports. One area that’s feeling the pinch: seafood.

It’s been a dramatic week at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. The public broadcaster is now under investigation following two high profile departures and allegations of improper government influence.

The issue of trade remains a topic for the Trump Administration with several countries, especially China. And a leading regional financial institution says that ongoing dispute will soon begin to have a wider impact.

There are many ways to measure a country’s progress. It’s not limited to economic growth or per capita income, or even lifespan. A new study looks at a different measure — and the United States is slipping while China is gaining ground.

There’s news this week concerning a train project that has been long-delayed and whose costs have soared way past the original budget. It’s not the Honolulu rail project. This rail is more than 5,000 miles from O’ahu – connecting Hong Kong and southern China.

We’re a week away from the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s annual Global Tourism Summit. While the state will update its latest strategies to attract visitors, other locations are considering similar plans. And that includes the capital of South Korea.

There’s been a lot of media focus on talks this week between the leaders of North and South Korea. Two other long-time foes were moving toward talks this week — until a sudden disruption.

Short-term vacation rentals remain a controversial topic both here in Hawai‘i and in many locations around the world. In Japan, the government has adopted an ambitious plan to regulate the practice. And now there’s a case that’s testing the system.

Hawai‘i’s unemployment rate remains just over 2% — that’s about half the national average. It’s also a very different story than in South Korea — where more discouraging figures came out this week.

Heavy rains and wind have had an impact on transportation around the islands this week. But some flights to Honolulu have been affected by another storm in the Pacific — one that hit last week.

Hurricane Florence continues to threaten parts of the east coast of the mainland. Closer to home, Tropical Storm Olivia is cutting across the islands. But another dangerous storm is moving through another part of the Pacific.

This is a busy week for diplomacy in eastern Asia. Leaders from China, Japan, and Russia are among those who are gathering for a regional economic forum — a gathering that does not include the United States.

It was a weekend of celebration in some communities across India – following last week’s Supreme Court ruling that legalized gay sex. The decision overturned a law that was on the books for more than 150 years, and the development is drawing attention from some of India’s neighbors.

September is full of seasonal events. There’s Labor Day, the start of the National Football League season, and later this month, the United Nations General Assembly. There’s word this week that President Trump will meet South Korea’s president during that period to talk about North Korea; and according to South Korean media, there may be developments to discuss.

Hawaii’s tourism industry is on track for another year of growth. Last week, the Hawaii Tourism Authority reported increased spending and visitor arrivals on every island except the Big Island. The figures are even more dramatic for another location that is expecting continued growth in tourism: Japan.

International sports competitions usually involve teams of highly trained athletes in top condition. That’s the case for many of the events at this year’s Asian Games in Indonesia—but not for all of them.

Outside investment has been part of Hawaii’s residential real estate market for a very long time. But in Malaysia, there are some new questions this week about foreigners buying property. 

The United States and Mexico have reached a preliminary agreement on a new trade deal. It will replace the North American Free Trade Agreement, but many questions remain about the details. And some of the questions stretch all the way to the Asia Pacific.

This was a triumphant weekend for Hawai‘i sports teams. Not only did Honolulu win the Little League World Series, but the underdog UH football team has a perfect record after winning its first game. On the other side of the Pacific there was also big news in amateur sports.

It’s been almost two months since Oahu joined the rest of the state in outlawing single-use plastic bags. In the Asia Pacific, the latest country to ban the use of those plastic bags is New Zealand.

Today marks 100 days in office for the new leadership of Malaysia. The country’s former prime minister has been charged with financial fraud and money laundering. And the current prime minister is starting a crucial trip that mixes diplomacy and business.

The rapid rise of housing prices is a concern in many places around the country---including Hawai‘i. Different communities are taking various approaches to deal with that trend. And one of the most distinctive is coming from New Zealand.

Construction is expected to begin Monday on a project installing more than 4,200 solar panels at the Honolulu Airport. It’s the latest solar project to move ahead in Hawai‘i. In China, scientists have moved ahead with a new development that could affect the next generation of solar panels.