Explainer

National flags of Pacific Islands Forum members fly in the Pacific nation of Nauru on Sept. 3, 2018. 
Indonesian President Joko Widodo (center, in white shirt) leads a plenary cabinet meeting at the Garuda Palace in Nusantara on Aug. 12. The president is in a hurry to move capital functions out of Jakarta before he leaves office in October.
12 August 2024
Japanese government experts gather to discuss the potential for a Nankai Trough earthquake at a meeting on Aug. 8 in Tokyo.
Natural disasters

Japan's Nankai Trough earthquake advisory: 5 things to know

Country reacts with calm concern over heightened chance of major disaster

9 August 2024
People enter former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's official residence in Dhaka after her resignation on Aug. 5.
Bangladesh turmoil

Bangladesh PM Hasina's dramatic fall from grace: 5 things to know

Leader's 15-year hold on power collapsed as mass protests raged over violence

6 August 2024
Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan speaking from his residence in Lahore in May, 2023. Monday marks one year since he was imprisoned.
Politics

Pakistan's Imran Khan completes year in prison: 5 things to know

The uber-popular former prime minister remains a threat to the government

5 August 2024
The fifth Interim Ministerial Meeting of the Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting convenes in Suva, Fiji, on Feb. 12. (Source photos by Kyodo)
International relations

10th Pacific Islands Leaders Meeting: 5 things to know

Three-day meeting is latest step in Japan's deeper engagement to counter China

16 July 2024
Chinese President Xi Jinping attends the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 11, 2024. Communist Party leaders gather this week for another closely watched meeting, known as the third plenum.
Politics

China's third plenum kicks off as GDP disappoints: 5 things to know

All eyes on how Communist Party plans to steer economy through headwinds

15 July 2024
From left: Prime Minister Gabriel Attal, President Emmanuel Macron, Marine Le Pen and Jordan Bardella. Macron's decision to call snap legislative elections may have given the far right a chance at governing France. (Source photos by Reuters)
Politics

Macron faces critical test in France snap polls: 4 things to know

Social issues, immigration have pushed voters to the far right

29 June 2024
Segantii, a hedge fund facing accusations of insider trading in Hong Kong, had $4.8 billion in assets under management as of March, and 151 employees. (Source Photos by Echo Wong and Reuters)
Markets

'Block trade king' goes to court in Hong Kong: 5 things to know

Hedge fund Segantii reportedly shutting down, faces insider trading claim

28 June 2024
Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, right, welcomes Chinese Premier Li Qiang for a bilateral meeting in Putrajaya, Malaysia, on June 19. (Photo courtesy of Prime Minister's Office of Malaysia)
International relations

Malaysia and Thailand keen to join BRICS: 5 things to know

Middle power nations hedge to mitigate effects of major power rivalry, analysts say

24 June 2024
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is trying to restore faith in his ruling Liberal Democratic Party, which is facing record-low approval ratings and local election losses amid an enduring political kickback scandal. (Photo by Uichiro Kasai) 
Politics

Japan passes amended political funds law: 4 things to know

PM Kishida seeks to restore trust amid record-low ratings as slush fund scandal persists

19 June 2024
From left, a senior Congress party leader Rahul Gandhi, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Trinamool Congress Party leader Mamata Banerjee. (Source photos by Reuters, AP, and Suzu Takahashi)
India elections

How Modi's BJP lost its majority in Indian elections: 5 things to know

Leader clinches third term, but coalition could challenge reform agenda

6 June 2024
Staff work at Mazda Motor's main factory in Japan. The nation's auto industry came under the spotlight this week as a safety testing scandal expanded.
Automobiles

Japan's auto testing scandal accelerates: 5 things to know

Risk to reputation of nation's car sector is growing

6 June 2024
Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin, left, and the founder of his party, Thaksin Shinawatra. (Photos by Ken Kobayashi)
Politics

Thailand on shaky political ground: 5 things to know

PM faces removal petition while opposition awaits dissolution ruling

5 June 2024
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, left, and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. attend the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore on May 31.
International relations

China vs. U.S., Zelenskyy appears: 5 takeaways from Shangri-La forum

Asia security summit also highlights leaders' views on South China Sea and Gaza

3 June 2024
Democratic Progressive Party lawmakers protest in the foreground while the Kuomintang's Han Kuo-yu, the parliament speaker, looks on in the background during a legislative session on May 21.
Politics

Taiwan faces legislative showdown as China lashes out: 5 things to know

Pressure mounts on opposition to defuse crisis over its bills seen as 'power grab'

23 May 2024
At the Communist Party National Congress in Hanoi in early 2021: General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, front row, right; and three ousted senior officials -- former President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, front row, left; former Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh, back row, left; ex-Politburo member Truong Thi Mai, back row, right.
Politics

Vietnam rocked by political upheaval: 5 things to know

Security Minister To Lam elected president, nation's No. 2 political post

22 May 2024
A Philippine supply mission vessel is attacked with a water cannon by a China Coast Guard vessel on April 30 in the South China Sea. (Photo by Ramon Royandoyan)
South China Sea

Philippine-China row deepens in South China Sea: 5 things to know

With more incidents in the disputed territory, we ask how far the tensions could go

21 May 2024
POM copolymer belongs to a group of durable and heat-resistant materials known as engineering plastics. Chinese President Xi Jinping's government is thought to be protecting domestic production for economic security. (Source photos by Reuters)
Trade war

China plastics probe hits EU, U.S., Japan, Taiwan: 5 things to know

Target material used in cars and more; timing on eve of Lai inauguration raises eyebrows

21 May 2024
Singapore's fourth Prime Minister, Lawrence Wong, speaks to supporters at a community event after the swearing-in ceremony on May 15. 
Politics

Lawrence Wong, Singapore's new PM, begins term: 5 things to know

51-year-old leader edges toward election as change comes in bunches

18 May 2024
A soldier adjusts a Russian flag in Beijing ahead of a welcome ceremony for Russian President Vladimir Putin in 2018. The U.S. is seeking to squeeze alleged Chinese support for Russia's defense industrial base.
Ukraine war

U.S. sanctions China, Hong Kong entities for Russia links: What we know

Penalties on mostly small companies follow in-person warnings from Blinken, Yellen

2 May 2024
Currency authorities can either buy their home currency to strengthen it, or sell their home currency to weaken it. (Source photos by Nikkei)
Currencies

Yen's surge raises questions over intervention: 3 things to know

Japanese currency rebounds by around 5 to dollar after touching new 34-year low

30 April 2024
Rahul Gandhi, a senior leader of India's main opposition Congress party, and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The leader of the party or coalition that holds the majority of seats in the lower house is elected as prime minister. (Source photos by Reuters)
India elections

India elections set to kick off: 5 things to know

Modi's BJP expected to retain power in world's biggest polls as opposition falters

12 April 2024
Unions representing Samsung Electronics workers have voted to strike after negotiations over working conditions failed to produce an agreement.  
Technology

Samsung Electronics unions vote to strike: 3 things to know

Thousand members set to hold rally next week for better working conditions

10 April 2024
A model of a new fighter jet of the Global Combat Air Programme led by Britain, Japan, and Italy, is seen at the DSEI defence event in London on Sept. 12, 2023.
Defense

Japan approves export of cutting-edge fighter jets: 3 things to know

Japan, U.K. and Italy's GCAP plan signals pivotal shift in regional security

26 March 2024