Explained

Asia’s major economies have become increasingly important at the multilateral forum, which experts say is an opportunity for the likes of China and Japan to step into leadership roles formerly dominated by the West.

The BJP’s Narendra Modi swept to power on a wave of optimism and a catchy slogan. Five years on, an economic slowdown, agrarian distress and rising intolerance have soured the mood

Rodrigo Duterte ran for president in 2016 promising brutal purge of suspected drug dealers. Upon his election, he followed through on his campaign pledge.

After more than 30 years on the Chrysanthemum Throne, Japan’s emperor will on April 30 abdicate for his son to take over a hereditary monarchy that has continuously lasted for centuries.

Both sides have focused on economic issues in the campaign but religious identity politics and fake news have been used to mobilise popular support.

Indonesia is made up entirely of islands, India has 1 million voting stations to disperse and Australia has to reach extremely remote communities. But officials in all three have a plan to include everyone in the democratic process.

Indonesia was a Dutch colony from the early 19th century until it was occupied by the Japanese from 1942-45.

From budget airlines and a boom in passengers to the mystery disappearance of MH370 and the Lion Air crash, Asia’s aviation sector has seen stunning highs – and devastating lows.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is promising voters he’s India’s ‘watchman’. Religious violence, unemployment, demonetisation, fake news and big-name opposition are some of the things he should have seen coming.

Five years after the latest in a long string of coups, democracy is back in town in Thailand. Or at least, that’s what it looks like. But in Sunday’s election, winning the most votes and winning power are not the same thing.

These are the players and the situation on the ground as the junta-led Southeast Asian nation gears up for its first election since 2011.

Apec promotes economic growth, cooperation, and trade and investment liberalisation in the Pacific Rim. Its members are referred to as economies, not states, so delegates from China, Hong Kong and Taiwan can all participate.

Taiwan and Australia are beacons of progress on LGBTQ issues, while India is improving (but Hong Kong not so much). Meanwhile, Indonesia and Malaysia are going backwards.

In 2017, China, India and Japan were ranked first, third and fifth among the world’s worst polluting countries.

India and Pakistan are among the world’s nine nuclear weapons states, alongside China, France, Israel, North Korea, Russia, the United Kingdom and the US.

Several Asian countries rely heavily on social media for information, making them particularly vulnerable to the spread of fake news.