Explainer

Chinese President Xi Jinping walks past members of the Chinese People's Liberation Army at a ceremony to mark Martyrs' Day in Beijing's Tiananmen Square on Sept. 30. 
Politics

China's firing of defense minister: 5 takeaways

Analysts weigh in on unconventional dismissal of Xi's hand-picked official

26 October 2023
People check out Toyota Motor's booth during a press day for the Japan Mobility Show in Tokyo on Oct. 25. (Photo by Yuki Nakao)
Automobiles

New name, new focus: 3 things to know about the Japan Mobility Show

Auto industry event is back after four years with a focus on EVs and hydrogen

25 October 2023
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese speaks during an official campaign launch for the upcoming referendum, in Adelaide on Aug. 30.
Politics

Australians head to Indigenous recognition vote: 3 things to know

Proposed constitutional amendment aimed at addressing long-standing disparity

14 October 2023
Trains on Indonesia's first high-speed railway have eight cars and a capacity of 601 passengers.
Transportation

Indonesia's first high-speed rail opens: 5 things to know

China-backed WHOOSH train brings economic benefits, but some are skeptical

3 October 2023
People walk past a Cyberspace Administration of China office in Beijing.
Caixin

China's softening on cross-border data transfers: 5 things to know

Companies sending data on under 10,000 people to be exempt from strict policies

2 October 2023
A security guard stands outside the Canadian High Commission in New Delhi on Sept. 19.
International relations

How India-Canada ties soured over Sikh separatism: 5 things to know

Democracies locked in diplomatic duel over Khalistan activist's killing

20 September 2023
A vendor sells rice at a store in Quezon City, the Philippines, on Aug. 14. Countries everywhere are scrambling to secure rice after a partial ban on exports by India cut supplies by roughly a fifth.
Commodities

Asia's rice squeeze after India export ban: 4 things to know

Market turmoil, government action, inflation jitters follow supply fears

14 September 2023
The Group of 20 summit in New Delhi wraps up on Sept. 10, the day after leaders reached a consensus on a lengthy joint declaration.
G20 Summit

Ukraine agreement, Global South boost: 5 takeaways from India's G20

Leaders issue statement with softened wording, take steps to spread renewables

11 September 2023
G20 posters are seen in New Delhi on Sept. 8. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)
G20 Summit

India G20 summit faces Ukraine, climate tests: 5 things to know

Modi aims to make most of his big moment with Xi conspicuously absent

8 September 2023
An assembly engineer works on a DUV lithography system at ASML in Veldhoven, the Netherlands, on June 16. The company will need a license to export its certain advanced equipment from Sept. 1.  
Semiconductors

Netherlands' chip tool export controls take effect: 4 things to know

Chinese semiconductor makers rush to buy equipment ahead of new rules

1 September 2023
From left: Singapore presidential candidates Tan Kin Lian, Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Ng Kok Song (Photos by Tsubasa Suruga)
Politics

Singapore presidential election in final stretch: 5 things to know

Candidates for largely ceremonial post are all former finance gurus

31 August 2023
Motorcyclists pass by campaign flags ahead of the state election in Selangor, Malaysia on Aug. 9.
Politics

Malaysia holds key state elections: 5 things to know

About 10 million voters will cast ballots on Saturday in six states

11 August 2023
Foreign ministers and delegates attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Regional Forum in Jakarta on July 14. 
International relations

ASEAN forum highlights resolve and discord: 5 things to know

Myanmar issue continues to strain bloc as it juggles ties with U.S., China, Russia

15 July 2023
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson shake hands over NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg prior to their meeting on the eve of the NATO summit in Vilnius on July 10.
International relations

NATO fuzzy on Ukraine, Sweden and Tokyo office: 3 takeaways

Stoltenberg promised 'historic summit' but deliverables limited

13 July 2023
China has released a new set of export control rules aimed at limiting exports of gallium and germanium and several compound metals. (Source photos by Getty and AP)
Semiconductors

China's chip material export curbs: 4 things to know

Restrictions on gallium and germanium shipments pose risks for global supply chain

4 July 2023
These tanks hold water treated by an advanced liquid processing system at the disabled Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant in the town of Okuma, Fukushima prefecture, Japan.
Politics

Is it safe to release Fukushima water into sea? 3 things to know

Japan hopes IAEA report sways opponents of plan to dump treated waste

4 July 2023
Participants march during the Tokyo Rainbow Pride parade, celebrating advances in LGBTQ rights and calling for marriage equality, in Tokyo on April 23. 
Gender

Japan passes controversial LGBT law: 5 things to know

Sexual minorities and critics say legal framework has no teeth

16 June 2023
A TV salesman watches Pakistani Finance Minister Ishaq Dar present the budget for the next fiscal year on June 9. 
Explainer

Pakistan eyes China debt help in post-budget fog: 5 things to know

Islamabad's spending and borrowing plans draw skepticism as IMF hopes dim

13 June 2023
Ukrainian refugees arrive at Tokyo's Haneda Airport on April 5.
Japan immigration

Japan passes immigration reform bill: 4 things to know

Change allows deportation of people who repeatedly apply for refugee status

9 June 2023
Chinese Defence Minister Li Shangfu says that exchanges with the U.S. should be based on mutual respect as a "fundamental principle."
Indo-Pacific

No China-U.S. talks, NATO in Asia: 5 takeaways from Shangri-La summit

Philippines, Indonesia also make headlines amid growing security concerns

5 June 2023
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hosts a session of the G-7 summit that includes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Hiroshima on May 21.
G-7 in Japan

Zelenskyy, 'de-risking' China: 5 takeaways from Hiroshima G-7 summit

Leaders gathered in Hiroshima work toward pacts to defend rule-based order

21 May 2023
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida aims to underscore the need for a world "without nuclear weapons" as he hosts the Group of Seven leaders in Hiroshima. (Source photos by AP and Getty Images)
G-7 in Japan

G-7 set for a show of resolve in Hiroshima: 5 things to know

Wealthy economies aim to defend rules-based order, woo 'Global South'

17 May 2023
Some 64 million Turks are eligible to vote on Sunday, with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, left, vying to beat key rival Kemal Kilicdaroglu. (Source photos by Reuters)
Turkey elections

Turkey heads to polls in landmark elections: 5 things to know

President Erdogan faces toughest battle of 20-year rule in tight leadership race

12 May 2023
Polling stations will open at 8 a.m. and close at 5 p.m. on May 14. (Source photos by Kosaku Mimura and Ken Kobayashi)
Thai election

Thai vote Sunday offers chance for change: Five things to know

Divided pro-democracy camp aims to overcome leaders tied to military coup

10 May 2023
Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, left; Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwan; opposition candidate Paetongtarn Shinawatra; and Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. (Source photos by Reuters, AP and EPA/Jiji)
Thai election

Prayuth's last run: 5 things to know about Thailand's May 14 vote

Opposition chiefs lead opinion polls as PM faces off against former allies

12 April 2023