Bill Dorman

Many island communities are particularly vulnerable to power outages. They often come from storms, or downed electricity poles. But a massive power outage on Taiwan this week was different. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

China has agreed to enforce United Nations trade sanctions against North Korea, and those actions begin today. Earlier this month, all members of the U.N. Security Council approved the move, but the biggest impact will be on China. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

A children’s game familiar to many in the islands is at the center of new research in Asia. Scientists say it’s helping them learn more about the reasoning ability of primates. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

While rhetoric from and about North Korea has dominated the news lately, the United States is pursuing other strategies to try to influence the leadership in Pyongyang. That includes efforts to further isolate North Korea—but in some parts of Asia that may be challenging. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

More than two dozen countries around the world recognize marriage between members of the same sex. Australia appears to be moving in that direction, but there are some twists and turns along the way. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

President Trump remains on what the White House calls a “working vacation” this week, but members of his cabinet are on the job full time. That includes Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who is wrapping up a short trip to Asia. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

A dispute over a homeless encampment in Australia’s largest city has apparently come to an end. The mayor of Sydney says the city will provide a safe space for the homeless—although several details remain uncertain. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Hawai‘i’s unemployment rate remains at its lowest level in a decade—2.7 percent. But if you’re looking for a new job, and your background is in astronomy, you may be interested in a million-dollar opportunity in China. But there’s a catch. Or several of them. HPR’s Bill Dorman explains in today’s Asia Minute.

Kula Agricultural Park; Art and Science of Interpretation; Arts at Mark’s Board Changes

A government leader with falling popularity shakes up his inner circle. It’s a familiar story to listeners in the United States, but it also describes what’s happening this week in Japan. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Climate change is already forcing adjustments in peoples’ lives in the Asia Pacific. Small islands are among the first areas to feel the impact, but a study out this week says the effects of extreme weather are threatening other parts of the region. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

A decision in Japan is sparking some backlash in the United States this week. It’s about trade—and a very specific export from the United States. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Thousands of people recently demonstrated in the streets of Taiwan’s largest city. The protest had nothing to do with relations with Beijing, or jobs, or political reform. But it is linked to one of Taiwan’s other continuing challenges. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

China can be a challenging market for U.S. products. Government figures show a trade deficit of nearly $350 billion last year when it comes to goods. But one American company is extending a bet on the Chinese consumer—and taking an unusual step. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

One of Australia’s most famous musicians died this week. He’d performed for President Obama and for Queen Elizabeth, but was best known in his own country. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

There have been warm stretches so far this summer across most of the islands. But the heat and occasional humidity are nothing compared to what’s going on in Northeast Asia. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Solar power is at the heart of Hawai‘i’s continuing evolution to increased use of renewable energy. While the economics of solar are still in transition here, they are making faster progress in some other places. And right now, that includes parts of India. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Dozens of stray cats in Hong Kong will be allowed to stay in a place they have adopted as their home. In a reversal of policy, officials will let the cats keep living in a prison. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

A well-known international brand has disappeared from Southeast Asia’s largest economy. 7-Eleven convenience stores operate in 18 countries around the world—with more than half of the in the Asia Pacific. But the stores are no longer in Indonesia. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Archeologists in Australia say they’ve found evidence that people were on the land there much earlier than previously believed. In fact, the difference is nearly 20,000 years. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

  If you’re planning a summer vacation, it might involve flying to another island—or another country. But there’s one location in Asia that is not likely to see a big rise in tourism this summer season—despite the government’s best effort. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Hawai‘i’s minimum wage will rise to 10-dollars and ten cents an hour next year from its current level of $9.25. A proposal to increase it even more was defeated in the legislature earlier this year. This week, the government in South Korea boosted the national minimum wage—by double digits. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Tourism is not only Hawai‘i’s top economic sector, it’s a growing business in many parts of the world. And that includes Indonesia—which has great ambitions and is getting some help from the World Bank. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

The annual Hawai‘i Conservation Congress gets underway tomorrow in Honolulu. While many of the topics and issues will be familiar, the timing of this year’s gathering has some urgency. On Friday, the Asian Development Bank released its latest study about climate change and its impact on the Asia Pacific. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

While a lot of the news about the Korean peninsula these days focuses on security, there’s another issue that has surfaced this week: trade. The U.S. wants to talk about the free trade agreement that’s in force with South Korea. And the reaction from Seoul is cautious. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Apple is planning to spend another billion dollars in China. That investment by itself is not unusual—China is Apple’s second largest market trailing only the United States. But the nature of this investment is drawing attention from the rest of the technology world. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

  The government has approved a deal to finance a multi-billion dollar rail project. Unfortunately for backers of the Honolulu rail plan, this particular construction is thousands of miles from Hawai‘i. It’s a deal announced this week in Thailand for a project that will eventually go to China. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

Six crew members are working their way through a University of Hawai‘i project simulating an 8 month mission on Mars. The team has completed nearly three-quarters of its time with the Hawai‘i Space Exploration Analog and Simulation, or “HI-SEAS,” program on the slopes of Mauna Loa on Hawai‘i Island. In China, a smaller group has just started a similar mission with some differences. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.

More than a third of the electricity generated by Hawai‘i’s largest utility last year came from renewable sources. Hawaiian Electric says the biggest source of renewable energy across the state is solar, followed by wind. A massive new project in Australia focuses on a different part of renewable energy: battery storage. HPR’s Bill Dorman has more in today’s Asia Minute.