亞太 商報
Asian Pacific Business Journal
Issue Number 0123
WWW.APBJOURNAL.COM
2019 June Issue
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An unprecedented futuristic adaptation of Puccini’s Madam Butterfly The New Ms. Butterfly breaks new ground by transforming a beloved classic opera into a new form of musical theater, and in the process, allows a well-known story in a legendary opera to be appreciated by all younger audiences. The mission of the Law Institute is anchored by combining multi-cultural arts and evolving digital technologies in order to enrich entertainment content for wide based audiences. The classic productions of both Madama Butterfly and Miss Saigon involve the story of betrayal of young and vulnerable Asian women by American military officers that ultimately leads to their untimely suicide at a very young age. Yet love, betrayal and sacrifice transcend time and space and ethnicity. Ms Butterfly is conceived as a futuristic adaptation in which, about fifty years from now, a young American heiress will be similarly betrayed by a Chinese naval captain and will share the ultimate tragic fate. All the characters in the original story are reversed ethnically, revealing that human passion and tragedy can befall anyone regardless of time, race or national boundaries. In addition, impactful and meaningful story changes are used in to allow for present-day commonsense interpretation and understanding of this emotional tale. The most striking aspect of this adaptation of Puccini’s music lies in the use of a limited number of futuristic electro-acoustic musical instruments to replace the traditional symphony in order to produce a grand yet futuristic symphonic sound. This unique musical adaptation is occurring at the renowned Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing supervised by notable electronic music composer, Zhou Jiaojiao. However, the audience will appreciate the new and futuristic music coloration made possible by the use of digital technologies, and coupling these with the futuristic symphonic sound, will experience a totally unprecedented musical experience in this re-telling of a famous old story. As this tale of passion and betrayal is set in the future, costume designs by Ah Kuan and makeup designs byJia Le, two of the most accomplished international theatrical designers in China, will need to rise to the occasion to create visual stunning and unforgettable appeal. Set design must also contribute a new and futuristic dimension that allows the story and its associated message to be appreciated. This combination of theatrical elements will assure that our audience experience theater in a manner they have never experienced before.
Dr. Dennis Law
Ms Butterfly will utilize a cast that truly represents the actual age of its characters. Only this approach will allow the audience to experience the depth of the both the love story and its ultimate tragedy. In addition, the ability for Chinese or Asian tenors to sing the role of ”Pinkerton” in any theatrical production of Madama Butterfly is truly a first in the last one hundred years. This alone will make this world premiere historically memorable. This unique adaptation using modern digital advances in music and art direction allows a beloved classic to be appreciated by a contemporary audience. Ms Butterfly’s multi-cultural cast and its East meets West production personnel give this production life in an unprecedented manner. The audience can feel that this emotional tale of love, betrayal, jealousy and sacrifice is not bound by race, national boundaries and history. Even an already great musical story can be enhanced by modern technologies for the betterment of all.
Dr.
Dr. Dennis Law retired from a career as a wellknown surgeon in Denver, Colorado, in 2001. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, he practiced for twenty years in Denver, was a published researcher in the field of surgery and surgical nutrition, and held an academic appointment as associate clinical professor of surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Dr. Law started in the field of entertainment in 1996 as producer of “Warriors of Virtue,” a high budget family feature film distributed by MGM in the United States and by Warner Bros. and Columbia Artists worldwide. In China, Dr. Law later produced prize—winning CCTV children’s film “Xiawa” and （Continued to Page 2）
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Dr. Dennis Law (Continued from Page 1)
the acclaimed television series “April Rhapsody.” After the 2002 acquisition of The Centre in Vancouver for Performing Arts, a state-of-the-art Broadway theater in Canada, Dr. Law became CEO and president of The Centre and its associated production company, Sight, Sound & Action. To support his unique productions of what he called “action-musicals,” he founded the Beijing-based production company Law Brothers Chinese Performing Arts International. Since 2002, ten action-musicals (“Of Heaven & Earth,” “Terracotta Warriors,” “Senses,” “Heartbeat,” “Tang Concubines,” “Phoenixia,” “Heartbeat Hawaii,” “Monkey King,” “Senses-Las Vegas” and “Terracotta Warriors 3D”) have been performed nearly a thousand times at major venues in many cities in North America and China—a feat that is without equal in the history of Chinese performing arts. In 2005, Dr. Law was nominated for a Toronto Dora Award for Best Direction of a Musical (“Heartbeat”). In addition, Sight, Sound & Action garnered a total of seven nominations and three awards for three shows that were performed in Toronto. “Tang Concubines” won Dora Awardsfor Best Costume Design and Best Choreography in 2007, and “Monkey King” won for BestChoreography in 2010.
During the summer of 2008, three productions were mounted in 35 performances in Beijing as an action-musical festival to celebrate the Beijing Olympic Games, including the world’s first Chinese rock musical, “Monkey King” In 2011, “Monkey King” became the first theatrical work ever to be produced as a 3D high definition large—screen digital movie, and in 2012, it won the Best Foreign Language Film Award at the first Korean 3D Film Festival and also the Gold Award for 3D in California’s Prestige Film Awards. In 2014, Dr. Law produced and directed “Terracotta Warriors 3D,” the world’s
first 3—D theatrical stage show, In 2015, another world first was accomplished when Sight, Sound & Action successfully produced the first 3D Blu—ray DVD, a live performance of “Terracotta Warriors” using the backdrop of the world’s first 3D LED video wall.
Newman Center for Performing Arts. For DIFAT2019, the three following components will be presented:
“Ode to Nature,” the latest production from Dr. Law and Sight, Sound 8: Action, premiered in 2016. The original concept for this work was an unprecedented large-scale dance oratorio featuring costumed dancers, singers and instrumentalists performing in front of a 3D video wall. For the world premiere at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts—in collaboration with the University of Denver’s Lamont School of Music— “Ode to Nature” was re-conceived as a “theatrical symphonic poem” that showcased a unique odyssey of art and music using a symphony, vocal and instrumental soloists and dancers. “Ode to Nature” will be commercially released in Blu-ray and audio CD formats by Albany Records.
I. Ms Butterfly (a world-premiere) --- an unprecedented futuristic adaptation of Puccini’s Madam Butterfly. Ms. Butterfly will be the opening production at the Denver International Festival of Arts & Technology 2019 in July produced by the Dennis Law Center for Total Music and presented by the Joseph & Loretta Law Institute of Arts and Technology at the University of Denver. See attached material for Ms. Butterfly. --- at Gates Hall, Robert & Judi Newman Center for Performing Arts, July 25th through 28th, 2019. Only authorized Box-Office: newmantix.com II. The Finals for the Denny Award International Competitions for Electronic Music --- July 29th — 31“, 2019 at Hamilton Hall, NewmanCenter for Performing Arts Categories: (i) Electronic music composition only (ii) Electronic music matched to video(film music) (iii) Electro-acoustic music recording and mixing (iv) New Electro-acoustic musical instruments (V) Electronic/lntelligent dance music (EDM/ IDM) composition ---admission free III. Festival Symposium on Arts &Technology --- July 31St 2019, 4pm — 9pm --- at Hamilton Hall, Newman Center for Performing Arts --- admission free --- Section 1: Music & Technology in Health and Wellness --- Section 2: Technologies For Authentication of Chinese Antiquities --- Break: Light Buffet Supper -— Section 3: Presentation of Denny Awards for Special Achievement Keynote Address: ”The Future for Arts and Technology” by Dr. Wang Ge, Assoc. Professor, Stanford University --- Section 4: The Digital Horizon of Electroacoustic Music --- Section 5: Potential for EIectro-acoustic Music in Theate To my dear friends: Most of you know that I made donation and bequest to the University of Denver to establish the Joseph & Loretta Law Institute of Arts and Technology to honor my parents about eighteen months ago. This was done to highlight the increasing confluence of arts and digital technologies and how this would certainly impact humankind in a positive direction. Although the arts (seeming more arbitrary) and technology (seeming more exact and mathematical) (Continued to Page 3)
In fall 2017, the Dennis K. Law Foundation will grant an endowment to the University of Denver to create the Joseph & Loretta Law Institute of Arts and Technology. A unique center for education and research, its mission will enable the creation of intellectual content by combining different multicultural arts with advancing technologies. The inaugural concerts for the institute will took place at the University of Denver’s Newman Center for the Performing Arts in February 2018. Under the umbrella of the Denver International Electronic Music Festival, the concerts will include “War & Peace” and “Kung Fu Organ” (featuring the first North American performance of the Electone electronic organ), as well as the finals for the inaugural Denver International Electronic Music Competition. DENVER INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY The Denver International Festival of Arts & Technology (DIFAT) 2019 will mark the inauguration of this unique festival in a summer format and will run from July 25th, 2019 through July 31st, 2019. This is sponsored and presented by the Joseph & Loretta Law Institute of Arts and Technology at the University of Denver and will take place at the Robert & Judi
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DENVER INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL OF ARTS AND TECHNOLOGY (Continued from Page 2) appear intuitively not compatible, they actually can work together in amazing ways to enhance content for the betterment of all of us. For the first time in a summer festival format, the Law Institute will present the first annual Denver International Festival of Arts 8L Technology (DIFAT) later this July. Attached you will find a package of information regarding the history—making world— premiere production of Ms.Butterfly that will open the Festival at Gates Hall at the Robert & Judi Newman Center of Performing Arts. I guarantee that the production will be both entertaining and provocative. If you and your friends are free, it will be a worthwhile consideration. We will shockingly convert a beloved operatic classic into musical theater suitable for a wide-based audience. In the process, we have set the story to a time fifty years from now, reversed the ethnicity of all the characters, and made some appropriate story twists that makes the Puccini
story much more appropriate for present-day theater goers. The new setting and futuristic costumes and our new musical approach will astound you. Tickets at newmantix.com are only $35 - $20, intentionally designed to make this new work accessible to everyone. Following Ms. Butterfly, the Festival will offer five classes of Finals competition for the Denny Awards for Electro-acoustic music. The competitions are free for observers and the schedule will be published on the www.difat.com website later and handed out during the Ms. Butterfly performances. Following the competitions, the Festival will end with a new annual Symposium on Arts and Technology 4pm to 9pm, on the 31st of July at Hamilton Hall at the Newman Center for Performing Arts. This will be an entertaining albeit educational session with demonstrations and performances and round table discussions on the future and potential of combining the arts with evolving digital technologies. See
the attached information of DIFAT for details. There will be a light supper to break-up the two parts of the Symposium. The event will be ticketed but free, with tickets available at the Newman Center Box Office. The materials offered at this DIFAT symposium will open the door for you to see what lies in the future for music, theater and the arts. The world of entertainment shall be changed in drastic ways. I have enclosed a package of information in the hope that you will share electronically with all your friends and acquaintances. The success of DIFAT lies not only in entertaining you in an extraordinary way, but it will help make successful the University of Denver as well as the city of Denver and the state of Colorado. Please help us by the sharing the good tidings. Hope to see all of you there! (Interview by Wendy Chao and Tong Zhang)
Colorado Governor Jared Polis Signs Landmark LGBTQ Legislation Into Law Denver, CO — This morning, on the steps of the Colorado State Capitol, Governor Jared Polis signed two landmark pieces of LGBTQ legislation into law. Surrounded by bill sponsors, members of the LGBT Legislative Caucus, elected officials, coalition members, and folks who have testified in support of these bills over the last five years, the country’s first openly gay governor signed HB19-1039: Jude’s Law and HB19-1129: Banning Conversion Therapy for Minors. One Colorado, the state’s leading advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) Coloradans and their families, released the following statement from Executive Director Daniel Ramos: “This was a historic session for LGBTQ Coloradans and their families. With legislation that impacts youth, transgender, and non-binary Coloradans, One Colorado championed bills for some of the most vulnerable in our community to improve the everyday lives of LGBTQ Coloradans. The strong bipartisan support of both of these bills further demonstrates that LGBTQ equality should be a nonpartisan issue, and we applaud the Republicans who stood with our community. Colorado will continue to make history as our country’s first openly gay Governor, Jared Polis, signs our pro-equality agenda into law to send a strong message that Colorado is a state that is open to all.” One Colorado’s two priority pieces of legislation were HB19-1039: Jude’s Law and HB19-1129: Prohibit Conversion Therapy for A Minor. Versions of these bills were first introduced in 2015, and were previously sent to kill committees in the republican-controlled Senate after passing the House. This year, both bills passed with bipartisan support in both chambers. Sponsored by the LGBT Caucus co-chairs Representative Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, and Senator Dominick Moreno, D-Commerce City, Jude’s Law will cut through the red tape for transgender and non-binary Coloradans trying to update the gender on their birth certificate, allowing them to have the identification documents that match who they are. Coloradans will be able to update their gender on their birth certificate to M, F, or X — without a sur-
gery, doctor’s note, or court order. This bill removes both the surgery requirement and court order requirement, allowing trans people the ability to self-identify on their ID documents. The bill removes the publication requirement for a name change in order to reflect one’s gender identity. A new birth certificate will be issued instead of an amended birth certificate when updating gender. This law goes into effect on January 1st, 2020. Colorado is the third state in the country (including California and Oregon) to have non-binary gender options for both driver’s licenses and birth certificates. On February 15th, the Colorado House passed House Bill 19-1039 on a bipartisan 41-22 vote, with Representative Donald Valdez, D-La Jara, the only democrat in either chamber to vote against the bill. Representatives Colin Larson, R-Littleton, and Hugh McKean, R-Loveland, were the two Republican votes in support of the bill. On April 17th, the Colorado Senate passed House Bill 19-1039 on a bipartisan 23-12 vote. Senators Don Coram, R-Montrose, Kevin Priola, R- Henderson, Bob Rankin, R-Carbondale, and Jim Smallwood, R-Parker, were the Republican votes in support of the bill. The bill was officially named Jude’s Law to honor the 13-year-old transgender student, Jude, who has testified in support of an iteration of the birth certificate modernization act over the last five sessions. I am so proud that after years of trying, Jude’s Law was finally signed by the Governor today. The State of Colorado should honor individuals and their identities. With this law, transgender Coloradans will finally have government documents that accurately reflect who they are.” – Senator Dominick Moreno. “Jude has testified at the capitol in support of this legislation for years now. We have watched her grow up in front of our eyes. She has been simply asking this legislature to give her the ability to live her most genuine life.” – Representative Daneya Esgar Sponsored by Representatives Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, and Daneya Esgar, D-Pueblo, and Senator Steve Fenberg, D-Boulder, HB19-1129 will ban a state-licensed mental health care provider from engaging in the discredited,
harmful practice conversion therapy on a patient under eighteen years of age in order to change their sexual orientation or gender identity. A physician or mental health care provider who violates this provision engages in unprofessional conduct under the applicable professional licensing board. This law goes into effect on August 2, 2019. Colorado is the 18th state in the country to ban conversion therapy for minors. On February 19th, the Colorado House passed House Bill 19-1129: Prohibit Conversion Therapy for Minors on a bipartisan 42-20 vote. Representatives Colin Larson, R-Littleton, and Hugh McKean, R-Loveland, were the two Republican votes in support of the bill. On March 25th, the Colorado Senate passed House Bill 19-1129: Prohibit Conversion Therapy for Minors on a bipartisan 21-13 vote. Senators Don Coram, R-Montrose, Kevin Priola, RHenderson, and Jack Tate, R-Centennial, were the Republican votes in support of the bill. “Being gay is not a mental illness and it does not need to be fixed. After sponsoring this bill for the past three years, I’m proud this will be the year we put an end to this harmful and deceptive practice.” – Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg “This is the second year I have been the prime sponsor of this bill. The defeat year after year has puzzled and pained me. This year’s passage is so sweet because the people stood up together and said we will not stand for the abuse and discrimination against our children any longer. All children are our children, and the fight for their love and acceptance had a huge win today.” – Representative Dafna Michaelson Jenet. (Articles from One Colorado)
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HTC plans to launch 5G smartphones next year
Taipei, June 15 (CNA) Taiwan-based smartphone brand HTC Corp. is planning to launch 5G smartphones next year as part of its efforts to develop 5G technology. While Taiwan is prepared to start its 5G services next year, Darren Chen, head of HTC Taiwan, said earlier this week that the company will introduce its own 5G smartphones, but did not disclose any details about the time schedule. Taiwan’s government is planning to assign NT$20.4 billion (US$648 million) over a four-year period for the development of 5G mobile networks to give the country a strategic position in the new 5G age. So far, HTC has teamed up with foreign telecom operators to market a first-of-its-kind 5G mobile smart hub of smartphone brand. HTC unveiled the 5G mobile smart hub at the 2019 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona in late February. The product is essentially a 5G mobile hotspot for up to 20 users that will also serve as a mobile hub that can stream TV shows and movies from different apps, and it comes equipped with a battery so that it can be used anywhere. According to HTC, 5G will be the game-changer for virtual reality and augmented reality, and the new HTC 5G Hub will seamlessly deliver the bandwidth of 5G to its VR devices.
HTC entered the VR market in 2015 with its first VR headset -- the Vive -- and then introduced subsequent models, including the Vive Pro Eye and the Vive Focus Plus, to try to create new revenue streams to offset falling smartphone sales. Meanwhile, HTC has signed a memorandum of understanding with Chunghwa Telecom Co., a leading Taiwanese telecom services provider, to extend their cooperation in 5G technology development from 2018. In 2018, HTC joined a Taiwan 5G industry development alliance led by Chunghwa Telecom. Under the alliance, HTC and Chunghwa Telecom have successfully tested their 5G technology through
the smartphone brand’s virtual reality headset Vive Pro in the Taipei Music Center, a pop music performance venue located in Taipei’s Xinyi District. In Taipei Computex, one of the largest information communications technology trade exhibitions in the world, both sides demonstrated vertical applications based on 5G technology. According to the MOU, the two partners are expected to maintain the lead over their peers in 5G development. Before launching 5G smartphones, HTC introduced earlier this week two mid-range models, the HTC U19e and the HTC Desire 19+, which carry a starting price tag of NT$14,900 and NT$9,900, respectively. The U19e went on sale around Taiwan on Wednesday, while the Desire 19+ is scheduled to hit store shelves in early July. According to HTC, smartphones priced at around NT$10,000 accounted for about 40 percent of the total sales in Taiwan and the two new models eye the upcoming replacement waves. The U19e is powered by Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 710 processor and features an 18:9 six-inch edgeto-edge display, while the Desire 19+, with a 6.2 inch full screen with a ratio of 19:9, is the first HTC’s smartphone to have triple lenses in its main camera. (By Jiang Ming-yan and Frances Huang)
After waiting for 20 hours, fan becomes 1st visitor to new Apple store Taipei, June 15 (CNA) A loyal fan waited for about 20 hours to be the first person to enter the second official Apple store in Taiwan, which had a grand opening in Xinyi District, downtown Taipei, at 10 a.m. Saturday. “I came here between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. yesterday because I wanted to become the first visitor to the new Apple store,” Lu Shao-hua, 33, said excitedly when he spoke with CNA. In July 2017 when Apple opened its first official store inside the Taipei 101 shopping center, the landmark building in the capital, also in Xinyi District, the first visitor was a 28-year-old foreigner who lined up for 68 hours. “This time, I, a Taiwanese, was the first visitor to the new Apple store, instead of a foreigner,” Lu said. Unlike the first Apple store in Taiwan, the new Apple store -- Apple Xinyi A13 -- is located at an independent location at the corner of Songshou Road and Songren Road. Before its grand opening Saturday morning, about 1,200 fans were lining up and waiting to visit the store. Inside the new Apple store, visitors can see stone, wood and metal construction materials which are the same materials used by the company’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. The new Apple Store’s exterior resembles Ap-
ple’s flagship outlet in Chicago -- Apple Michigan Avenue -- an airy glass box with a curved-edge roof modeled on a MacBook. According to Apple, the first group of visitors received the company’s T-shirts to celebrate the grand opening. However, the American consumer electronics giant did not disclose how many T-shirts were given to the visitors Saturday. Lu, the first visitor on Saturday, said the first Apple product he bought in 2006 was an iPod Shuffle and ever since then he has become a fan of Apple for 13 years. So far, he has bought at least 20 Apple products. To his knowledge, Lu said, many of the other people lining up to enter the new store have been Apple’s fans for two or even three decades. Lu is one of the few Apple Certified Trainers in Taiwan. Lu said since Apple has an independent new store and it will not restricted by business hours in a shopping mall, the company is expected to have a flexible schedule to launch a comprehensive series of activities for its customers. After becoming the first visitor to the new Apple store, Lu said he just wanted to go home to get some rest, adding that he is planning to participate in the Apple photography courses in the near future. After Apple released the information about its
second store in Taipei on May 24, some netizens in Taiwan said they hoped Apple will open its next official store outside of Taipei. Apple sells most of its products in Taiwan through its own online channel and authorized resellers like Studio A, iStore, and Data Express, in addition to its official store. (By Jeffrey Wu and Frances Huang)
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Unemployment Still Near Historic Low; Robust Wage Growth Continues in May
May’s Employment Situation Report highlighted the historically low unemployment rate, which remained at 3.6 percent in May—matching the lowest rate in almost 50 years (since 1969). This marks the 15th consecutive month where the rate has been at or below 4 percent. In addition the unemployment rate for Hispanics remained at 4.2 percent—matching the lowest rate since the series began in 1973. Among African Americans, the un-employment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points to 6.2 percent, nearing the historic low of 5.9 percent. The unemployment rate for those with some college or an associate degree declined by 0.3 percentage points to 2.8 percent—the lowest rate since March 2001. The unemployment rate for high school graduates who did not attend college remained at 3.5 percent, matching the lowest since July 2000. The U-6 unemployment rate, the broadest measure produced by Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of unemployment and underemployment, reached 7.1 percent—the lowest rate since December 2000 as shown in the figure below. Wages continued to rise in May as well. Nominal average hourly earnings rose by 3.1 percent over the past 12 months—the 10th straight month that yearover-year wage gains were at or above 3 percent. Pri-
or to 2018, nominal average hourly wage gains had not reached 3 percent since April 2009. Real wages (taking inflation into account) are also growing. Based on the most recent Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) price index data from April, inflation in the past year was 1.5 percent, and based on the most recent Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) price data from April, inflation in the past year was 2.0 percent (May inflation data is not yet available for either series). If inflation does not change in May, using the PCE price index, real wages are growing about 1.6 percent, or nearly $900 per year for someone working 40 hours per week all year
at the average wage rate. For a family with two full time workers at this wage, this represents an increase of nearly $1,800 per year. Looking at the Employment Situation Report, the economy added 75,000 jobs in May, and continued the streak of over 100 straight months of job gains. The average jobs growth in the past 12 months was a healthy 196,000 jobs and remains above the 2017 annual average of 179,000 jobs per month. The economy has added over 5.8 million jobs since the election. Even though the payroll employment growth fell short of expectations, one month does not make a trend. Furthermore, the totality of this month’s jobs report—including strong wage growth, low unemployment rate, and the continuation of the longest consecutive streak of jobs gains—reflects the continued growth and strength of the United States labor market. Sustaining continued job growth with near record low unemployment will require bringing more individuals off the sidelines. Programs like the Pledge to America’s Workers, which will provide roughly 9 million new education and training opportunities over the next 5 years, are key tools for the continued health of the U.S. labor market. （Article from https://www.whitehouse.gov）
New Government Data Shows the Broad Strength of the United States Job Market New data released this morning from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS) showed that there were 7.4 million job openings in April, once again illustrating the strong job market for people looking for work. For more than a year these data have found that there are more job openings than unemployed workers. For the first time, a new experimental series recently produced by the BLS also allows for an analysis of job openings at the State level. This new data demonstrates that this national trend is also true on a State level. Comparing the number of unemployed people in each State from BLS data to the number of job openings shows that, as of the 4th quarter of 2018 (the most recent data available at the State level), there were more job openings than people looking for work in 44 States and the District of Columbia. Furthermore, in most of these States, the number of available job openings far exceeded the number unemployed – with fewer than 90 unemployed workers per 100 job openings in 40 States and the District of Columbia. The very best States to look for work, in which there were fewer than 60 unemployed workers per 100 job openings, included many of the States in the Midwest and the Great Plains and certain States in New England (See Figure). Although this is an experimental series that the BLS expects to continue refining, this data represents a valuable new tool for understanding where policies to encourage job training and pull workers off the sidelines may be targeted in order for them to be most effective. Additionally, by providing new details on the geog-
raphies of job openings, these new data provide further evidence that the strong economy is benefiting workers throughout the United States. （Article from https://www.whitehouse.gov）
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Xi, Trump poised to meet at G20
President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday. Trump said he looks forward to meeting with Xi on the sidelines of the upcoming G20 Leaders’ Summit in Osaka, Japan, to discuss in-depth bilateral ties and issues of common concern, Xinhua News Agen-
cy reported. Washington values China-US economic and trade cooperation, and it hopes that the working teams of the two sides will communicate and find solutions to their existing differences at an early date, Trump said, adding that he believes the world would like to see an agreement reached between the US and China.
Xi said that China-US ties have encountered some difficulties recently, which are not in the interests of either side. Cooperation benefits both countries, while antagonism harms both, he said. The two sides should follow the consensus he and Trump reached and advance China-US ties — featuring coordination, cooperation and stability — based on mutual respect and mutual benefit, Xi said. As the two largest economies in the world, China and the US should jointly play guiding roles, push the G20 Osaka Summit to yield outcomes and inject confidence and vitality into the global market, Xi added. Xi said he is willing to meet with Trump on the sidelines of the summit and exchange views on fundamental issues related to the development of China-US ties. Xi stressed that the two sides should resolve their economic and trade issues through dialogue on an equal footing, and the key is to pay heed to each other’s reasonable concerns. China also hopes that the US will treat Chinese enterprises fairly, Xi said. He added that he agrees that the economic and trade teams of the two countries should maintain communication on how to resolve their differences.
Rescue operation continues as death toll rises to 13 in China earthquake Workers clean a road at Shuanghe Town in Changning County of Yibin City, southwest China’s Sichuan Province, June 18, 2019. (Xinhua/Liu Kun) CHENGDU, June 18 (Xinhua) -- Thirteen people died and nearly 200 were injured as of around 4 p.m. Tuesday after a 6.0-magnitude earthquake hit southwest China’s Sichuan Province Monday night, local authorities said at a press conference. The earthquake hit Changning County of Yibin City at 10:55 p.m. Monday (Beijing Time). The epicenter, with a depth of 16 km, was monitored at 28.34 degrees north latitude and 104.90 degrees east longitude, according to the China Earthquake Networks Center. Nine people died in Changning and four more in neighboring Gongxian County, Li Tinggen, secretary-general of the municipal government of Yibin, said at the press conference. As of Tuesday afternoon, nearly 200 people were injured. Among them, six are in critical conditions and another 16 are severely injured. At around 6:30 p.m., a severely injured victim was transported by a helicopter to the Sichuan provincial people’s hospital for further treatment. Nie Taimin, deputy director of the municipal bureau of emergency management, said the number of injured has increased as the conditions of some remote areas with poor communications were updated during the day. The quake affected more than 140,000 people and damaged over 12,700 houses. Some 8,447 residents have been evacuated in quake-hit areas so far. RESCUE CONTINUES AMID AFTERSHOCKS In a temporary shelter in Shuanghe Township, dozens of relief tents had been set up. Each tent was about 12 square meters, with five simple beds inside
and two dry powder fire extinguishers outside. Outside the tents, people were provided with free water, instant noodles, bread and other food, and power workers were offering charging services. Luo Lian, 30, was still shaken when she recalled last night’s earthquake. “We were scared to death and rushed out having no shoes on. Our legs were shaking even after we were safe,” Luo said. On Monday evening, Luo stayed on the third floor with her two children when the quake struck. At the beginning, she thought the shake was just an illusion. However, a stronger tremor was felt soon, as the whole house clanged and the kids began to cry. When Luo realized it was a quake, the electricity was cut off at her home. The mother had to run downstairs with her children in the dark. Luo was grateful that the workers in the shelter took good care of her and her children. “Now we don’t worry about the food supply. We’re just afraid of the aftershocks and can’t go home.” As of 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, a total of 17 aftershocks
measuring 3-magnitude or above have been recorded in the areas. Statistics showed that more than 3,000 people joined the rescue work. The Ministry of Emergency Management has activated an emergency response and sent a working team to the stricken areas to provide guidance in rescue and disaster relief. The ministry and the National Food and Strategic Reserves Administration have dispatched 5,000 tents, 10,000 folding beds and 20,000 quilts to the quake-hit areas. Li said 15 medical teams with about 60 members from Yibin’s hospitals have reached the quake-hit areas. China’s armed police forces were also dispatched for rescue soon after the earthquake. Meanwhile, more than 1,800 militia members have been mobilized overnight to offer emergency relief, including on-the-spot rescue, disaster detection, and duties of vigilance, in the quake-stricken areas. Seven main roads connecting Changning and Gongxian counties with the epicenter have been cleared and reopened by Tuesday afternoon, according to Li. As of 4 p.m. Tuesday, State Grid Sichuan Electric Power Company has mobilized 294 emergency rescue personnel and 70 vehicles to the quake areas for the power repair and temporary power supply. More than 24,000 households have regained power. EARLY WARNING SYSTEM On Monday night, Yibin residents received alarms 10 seconds before the quake hit, while citizens in the provincial capital Chengdu, more than 200 km away from the epicenter, got alarms about a minute before (Continued to Page 8)
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Asian Pacific Business Journal
2019 June Issue
Rescue operation continues as death toll rises to 13 in China earthquake
(Contined from Page 7) the seismic waves hit the city. Early warnings were issued through a variety of channels, including public broadcasting system, local television stations, mobile apps and the Internet. The early warning system was jointly built by the Institute of Care-Life, an organization that studies earthquakes in Chengdu, and local emergency management authorities. Preliminary statistics showed that 79 county-level areas in 13 cities and prefectures issued early warnings via television stations. A total of 212 schools in several cities and 101 residential communities in Chengdu received alarms in advance. “The system was not designed to predict earthquakes,” said Wang Tun, director of Care-Life. “It uses the theory that radio waves travel faster than seismic waves and provides automatic warnings sec-
onds before quake waves arrive.” Earthquake research has found that being aware of an earthquake three seconds beforehand can save 14 percent of casualties, 10 seconds can save 39 percent of casualties and 20 seconds can save 63 percent of casualties.
The early warning system has covered an area of 2.2 million square km, providing services to about 90 percent of the population in China’s quake-prone regions, according to Wang. (Article and Pictures from www.news.cn)
Taiwan’s Lei wins individual gold at World Archery Championships Taipei, June 16 (CNA) Taiwanese archer Lei Chien-ying (雷千瑩) followed up her team recurve gold earlier Sunday with a history-making second gold medal in the women’s individual recurve event at the 2019 World Archery Championships in the Netherlands on Sunday. Lei, ranked 22nd in the world but seeded second in the draw after posting the second highest qualification score, pulled off a dramatic comeback against the top seed and world No. 1, Kang Chae Young of South Korea, in the final to win gold. It was the first ever gold medal won by a Taiwanese in an individual recurve event at a World Championship. In individual competition, archers compete over five sets of three arrows each, with the winner of a
set getting two points, and one point going to each archer for a tie. The first to six points wins. In the final, Lei trailed 5-3 after four sets, but one point away from defeat, she pulled the match at 5-5 by edging Kang 29-28 in the fifth set, setting up a single-arrow tiebreaker. Lei shot a nine while Kang could only manage a seven, giving the Taiwanese the title. To get the final Lei had to defeat another South Korean, Choi Misun, but she did it with far more breathing room, sweeping three sets for a 6-0 win. In fact, in her four matches leading up to the final, she won three of them 6-0 and the other one 7-3, a dominant performance by any standard. (By Long Po-an and Emerson Lim)
Taiwan’s WTO mission hosts orchid show for third straight year
Geneva, June 17 (CNA) The Taiwan Orchids Exhibition, hosted by Taiwan’s mission to the World Trade Organization (WTO), launched its third annual event in Geneva over the weekend. This year, the show featured more than 1,000 flower stems from over 20 orchid species, Tseng Chun-pi (曾俊弼), secretary-general of the Taiwan Orchid Growers Association, which helped organize the event, said Sunday. The seedlings for the orchids were provided by state-run Taiwan Sugar Corp. (Taisugar), and first shipped to its nursery near Paris to allow them to fully blossom over the past three months, before being transported to Geneva.The event is another good way to help promote foreign diplomacy for Taiwan, as Geneva is home to many international organizations and foreign ambassadors to the WTO, Tseng said.Phalaenopsis orchids were first discovered on Lanyu Island off the coast of eastern Taiwan
in 1879. After years of cultivation, 90 percent of the world’s species now come from Taiwan, Cyrus Chu (朱敬一), Taiwan’s representative to the WTO, said in his opening speech.Today, the flowers come in a variety of blooming colors, much like Taiwan’s multicultural diversity and democracy, Chu said.One of the main attractions this year is the show’s “World Map” depicting five continents using different colored orchids. As with previous events, the exhibition is being held at Taiwan’s WTO office in Geneva, and will run until Wednesday. (By Lin Yu-li and Ko Lin)
Asian Pacific Business Journal Honored Advisor: Winston L. Yang, Ph.D. Publisher: Wendy Chao President: Frank Chao Report: Wendy Chao, Tong Zhang Editing: Da Xia