In a result confounding pundits, South Korea's ruling conservative Saenuri Party lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in 16 years. Earlier predictions suggested President Park Geun-hye's party would easily win. It is said that voters registered their dissatisfaction with the President's economic record and soaring youth unemployment. The election result could jeopardize an economic reform program Park wants to push through before her term ends next year. The program would introduce economic deregulation and labor reforms in response to the country's stagnant economy. The result left the three liberal opposition parties with a combined 167 seats in the 300-seat legislature. Park said she "humbly" accepted her ruling party's shock electoral defeat and vowed to work together with the current opposition.

71 years after the US dropped an atomic bomb on Hiroshima, the US Secretary of State, John Kerry, is making a visit to the Hiroshima memorial to pay tribute to the victims. Kerry arrived on April 10 to the G7 meeting of foreign ministers to discuss, among other topics, the Syrian war and the refugee crisis. His counterparts are expected to lay a wreath at the altar. In addition, Kerry clarified that he does not intent to apologize for the bombing. Obama, who will attend the G7 meeting in Japan in May, is considering a visit to Hiroshima – which, if takes place, will be the first time a sitting US president will visit the city.

The National League for Democracy party leader and longtime democracy figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi has been given a position in Myanmar's government - one that has been created especially for her. On Tuesday, Myanmar’s lower house of Parliament approved measures that will make Aung San Suu Kyi, who is minister of the President’s office and foreign minister, a "State Counselor". This is a way for her to effectively lead the country outside the Presidency. Parliament’s upper house had previously approved the measure. It now goes for the signature of Myanmar’s new President, Htin Kyaw, one of her close allies. 

Following the EU-India Summit, a wide array of issues were mentioned on which the EU and India would work closer, such as security, trade, infrastructure, human rights, business, science and climate change. India’s role in the region was emphasized as a security player. Although a main objective, no huge progress was announced with regards to the free trade agreement between the countries, apart from a remark that they would "re-engage in discussions". The Summit was overshadowed by terrorism. Leaders condemned the terrorist attacks of 22 March in Brussels and made clear they would step up security cooperation to tackle terrorism.

Resuming negotiations on a free trade agreement between the European Union (EU) and India is the main objective of the 13th EU-India Summit that will be held in Brussels. Furthermore, the EU-India Agenda for Action 2020 and the priorities of their strategic partnership will be discussed. Other issues on the agenda are migration and mobility, access to drinking water, joint initiatives in the field of energy and tackling climate change. Leaders of EU and India will also focus on the current main challenges to international security, such as terrorism and the situation in Ukraine.

Myanmar's parliament has elected Htin Kyaw as the country's next president, the first civilian leader after more than 50 years of military rule. Htin Kyaw is a close ally of Aung San Suu Kyi, whose National League for Democracy (NLD) party swept to victory in historic elections in November. The new government will take office on April 1, marking the end of five decades of military dictatorship and another five years of army-backed rule.