Asia Minute

According to a national report out last week, Hawaii is the third most dangerous state in the country for pedestrians over the age of 50. The report from the advocacy group “Smart Growth America” found older pedestrians are three times more likely to be killed than people under 50. For another island community in the Pacific, there’s a renewed focus on safety and older drivers.

Plastic is a growing problem for ocean waters — not only in Hawaii but around the world. And new research this week from an Asian island nation shows part of that challenge involves the travel and tourism industry.

As the U.S. and China continue talking about trade, some U.S. companies may not wait for the results to take actions of their own. According to a report from Japan, Apple is looking at revising its supply chain.

It appears that President Trump will be meeting China’s president Xi Jinping next week in Japan. But while that may be the center of attention at the Group of 20 meeting, it’s not the only high-level meeting for the Chinese president.

Summer doesn't officially arrive until the end of next week, but weather patterns have been warmer lately around much of the state. But it's nothing like the heat wave that is sweeping much of India.

While short-term vacation rentals remain the focus of political debate in Hawaii, other locations are taking different approaches to the issue. That includes Japan.

It’s been about five and a half years since same-sex marriage has been legal in Hawaii. In most countries in the Asia Pacific, those marriages are not recognized. But LGBT activists are cheering a decision this week by the highest court in Hong Kong.

President Trump marked the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion with a visit to France, following his stop in the United Kingdom. But he’s not the only world leader on the road this week. It’s been getting less media attention in this country, but there’s been another gathering that has implications for U.S. policy in the Asia Pacific.

One more country is taking steps to cut back on single-use plastic bags. Japan is proposing some changes ahead of hosting an international gathering later this month.

Today marks the 30th anniversary of Tiananmen Square crackdown in Beijing. Much of the coverage centers on memories of that bloody night, and how its impact is still felt today. Another part of the story is the international media itself, and why so many of them were in Beijing at that time.

President Trump’s threat of tariffs on goods coming from Mexico has disrupted financial markets. And while the move would impact the earnings of a number of U.S. companies, it’s also a concern in Asia.

One of the world’s better-known jewelry collections may soon be going on sale. It’s a collection that has ties to Hawaiʻi – as well as a volatile period in part of the Asia Pacific.

President Trump’s recent visit to Japan included a stop on a Japanese helicopter carrier. The president talked about military exercises involving regional allies, but China is having similar discussions this week.

Teachers across New Zealand went on strike today. It’s the latest development in a long-running dispute between the nation’s two teachers’ unions and the federal government.

According to figures from the United Nations, Australia’s use of crystal methamphetamine is among the highest in the world. Recent news shows an increase in the amount of the drug that is being shipped into the country.

President Trump is spending Memorial Day in Japan. He spent part of the day visiting U.S. forces there — a reminder of how many U.S. servicemen and women are spending this Memorial Day in the Asia Pacific.

Your weekend plans may include watching some television — but where was your television set made? Chances are good the answer is someplace in Asia, but increasingly the details are changing. 

At least half a dozen people in Jakarta have been killed in rioting over the past several days. The protests followed the release of the official results of Indonesia’s presidential election.

President Trump is heading to Japan this week. He’s also going back next month for a meeting of regional leaders, but the trip starting later this week may have less policy substance than photo opportunities.

Political commentators in Australia are moving on from their initial shock about this weekend’s elections. The center-right party of Prime Minister Scott Morrison stunned political pollsters by defeating the opposition Labor Party. One likely future battleground: renewable energy.

One of the latest hits with Wall Street investors is a Chinese coffee company. It’s giving some competition to Starbucks, but with a very different approach.

Thousands of pounds of man-made trash wash up each year at Kamilo Point, on the southeast side of the Big Island. It’s pushed there by ocean currents and winds. Some other islands in the Pacific suffer from a similar problem, and there’s news this week of some alarming specifics.

The Philippines has recalled its ambassador and all its consuls from Canada. The diplomatic flare-up doesn’t concern international politics — it’s based on a dispute over garbage.

Hawaii is not the only set of islands dealing with changing expectations for the tourism industry. This week, New Zealand has recalibrated its goals for visitors, and their impact on the economy and the environment.

While U.S. stocks are trading higher this morning, trade tensions with China remain a concern for world financial markets. And there are further complications in the Asia Pacific.

The Tokyo Summer Olympics are still more than a year away, but the process of selling tickets has started — at least for residents of Japan. That got underway last week with some challenges, but organizers have already scored a victory in another area: recycling.

Trade talks between the United States and China remain a focus for global financial markets, as they have been for much of the week. But there’s other trade news involving China this week — and it’s a story involving billions of dollars and renewable energy.

Hawai’i is not the only place where residents and governments are wrestling with vacation rentals. It’s a hot topic around the world — including a surprising development this week in one Asian city.

The president of Indonesia is on a shopping trip this week. He recently won re-election to a second term, and at the top of his wish list is a new capital.

Trade negotiations between China and the United States are a focus for global financial markets this week. But there’s another development involving China that also has implications for the United States.