Asia Minute

Passengers arriving at Hawaii airports are now being sent to 14 days of self-quarantine. On the same day that policy took effect in the state, a different kind of airport screening started in South Korea.

Thailand is one of the latest countries to declare a state of emergency. It goes into effect today — and lasts at least through the end of April.

Singapore is often cited as a location that has been effective in its initial reaction to the coronavirus pandemic. This week the country is taking new steps because of a spike in new cases — largely because of residents returning from overseas.

New measures being adopted this week across Hawai’i to fight the spread of the coronavirus. In some parts of the Asia Pacific, steps are being taken that are even more severe when it comes to visitors.

Various states, cities and countries continue to take different approaches in battling the spread of the coronavirus. Late last week, Indonesia’s capital city declared a state of emergency.

Travel restrictions continue to increase around the world — including in India. 

Hawaii Governor David Ige has asked tourists to stay away from the islands for at least the next month. Elsewhere, travel restrictions are going into effect that are much more specific and strict. And that includes in the Asia Pacific.

As countries around the world continue to deal with the coronavirus, many are taking different approaches. One country that’s cracking down hard on travel: Malaysia.

As cases of the novel coronavirus continue to grow in the United States and elsewhere, many events around the world are being cancelled or postponed. But at least one big question mark remains: the Tokyo Olympics.

As countries around the world deal with the novel coronavirus, governments are taking different approaches. In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte has made a dramatic move involving the capital city.

Testing for the coronavirus continues here in Hawaii and around the Asia Pacific. That includes in Indonesia — which announced its first cases this week.

This week, Vice President Mike Pence mentioned Singapore as a place the United States could learn from when it comes to fighting the community spread of efforts of the coronavirus. The Southeast Asian nation has had more than 100 cases, and most of the patients have already recovered.

The numbers of those affected by the coronavirus are continuing to rise. But the virus and the measures taken to fight it are having different impacts in various locations — including in the Asia Pacific.

Mention Korea these days and most people are likely to think of the coronavirus. But there’s international news on the peninsula this week that’s not directly related to the virus.

As concerns about the coronavirus continue, countries face varying challenges. In the Asia Pacific, that includes the Philippines.

Japan's government plans to close all public schools in the country for more than a month. Word of that decision comes as the coronavirus continues to cause complications around the region.

Hawaiian Airlines has become the latest carrier to suspend service to South Korea. Increased travel restrictions are part of what has become a rapidly changing picture of daily life in parts of the country.

The coronavirus has led to travel complications in many parts of the world — especially in the Asia Pacific.  Some countries are banning or restricting visitors from places ranging from China to South Korea. And in at least one location, there’s an angry reaction.

Another political surprise has hit a major country in Southeast Asia. The prime minister of Malaysia suddenly resigned on Monday. But he's still running the country in the latest twist of a continuing drama.

Hawaii shares many cultural ties with New Zealand. But the two island groups also share some challenges. And one of them is a consistent shortage of teachers.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been keeping a low profile in recent weeks. And while the region remains focused on the coronavirus, policymakers in Seoul and Washington remain mindful of developments in the north.

The longer the coronavirus lingers, the more of a concern it becomes as a potential threat to global tourism. While that has not yet emerged as a focus in Hawaii, it’s already hitting destinations in the Asia Pacific.

Cities and countries around the Asia Pacific are struggling to deal with the public safety aspects of the coronavirus — as well as its economic impact. While the situation is still developing, some locations are doing better than others.

There’s a new report out this week about plastic pollution in the Pacific Ocean. The study looked at half a dozen countries that together are responsible for most of the plastic in the world’s oceans—and it came to some surprising conclusions.

A week from today, President Trump is scheduled to be in Inida. The two-day visit is expected to include discussions on a variety of topics — from trade to China.

Tomorrow marks one week since the worst mass shooting in the history of Thailand. 30 people were killed and 58 wounded, and many in the nation are still filled with grief and shock.

The spread of the coronavirus has knocked a number of other international stories out of the news. One of those stories centers on the fires that burned through huge parts of Australia.

The coronavirus continues to dominate news coverage in China and across Asia. There’s one part of the story that is getting less attention, but it’s growing.

The Oscar success of the South Korean film “Parasite” has gotten a lot of publicity around the world. An editorial in the South China Morning Post said it “should pave the way for more offerings from different cultural perspectives.” And then there was the reaction from South Korea.

When it comes to the coronavirus, China remains the country with the vast majority of cases. But health officials in one Southeast Asian nation have just raised their alert level.