Access Asia: Recent Episodes
FRANCE 24 English
Exclusive reports, features and analysis of political and social events from across the Asian continent. Monday at 5.45 pm Paris time.
It's time for zoo-goers to forget pandas! Moo Deng, the adorable endangered pygmy hippo who's become an internet sensation in Thailand, now has an official song available on streaming platforms in multiple languages. The track's viral success has sparked a marketing frenzy around the endearing baby animal. We take a closer look.
On this week's Access Asia we speak to Steve Tsang, Director of the SOAS China Institute, who tells us what officials in Beijing really think of Donald Trump's US presidential victory. He discusses the risk of a full-blown trade war erupting. We also get a check on how New Delhi is reacting. Former Indian ambassador to France, Dr Mohan Kuman, tells us that India hopes the US president-elect can bring the wars in Ukraine and Gaza to an end.
China has declared its latest space mission "a total success", after the Shenzhou 19 spaceship carried three astronauts to its space station. The young crew includes the country's first female space engineer. The launch comes some 21 years after China conducted its first manned space flight and takes the country a step closer to its goal of landing astronauts on the Moon by 2030. We take a closer look.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi held their first bilateral talks in five years on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Russia this week. In this edition of Access Asia, we look at the source of the tensions and find out how the apparent thaw is being viewed in China and India respectively. Plus, we speak to North Korea specialist Hazel Smith to find out what Pyongyang stands to gain by sending troops to Russia.
With the festival of lights just around the corner, Mattel has unveiled the first "Diwali Barbie", co-created by Indian fashion designer Anita Dongre. The recently released doll has been embraced by little children around the world. Dongre opens up about how representation matters and where Indian fashion is headed. Plus, we bring you a special report from Cambodia, where online scam centres have generated modern-day slavery conditions for workers.
An 88-year-old Japanese man who had fought to overturn a murder conviction for decades has finally been acquitted. Iwao Hakamata was arrested in 1966 and spent 46 years on death row. In a landmark retrial, a court declared him innocent in late September, and while rejecting the verdict, the prosecution this week announced it would not file an appeal. "I’m so happy, it's as if the past 58 years have just blown away," Hakamata's sister Hideko tells FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer, adding that she'll keep on fighting to save other victims of wrongful convictions and to advocate for the abolition of the death penalty. Plus, FRANCE 24's Charli James takes a closer look at what's behind Japan's staggering 99 percent conviction rate.
Japan’s new prime minister, Shigeru Ishiba, has called for "fundamentally bolstering" the country’s defences in the face of rising regional and global threats. FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer speaks with Robert Ward, Japan Chair at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, about the challenges ahead for the Japanese leader.
On this week's Access Asia, we focus on the elections underway in Indian-administered Kashmir. It’s the first vote to take place in the region in a decade. New Delhi has allowed diplomats to observe the polls, however foreign journalists were kept out. We speak to Anuradha Bhasin, Managing Editor of the Kashmir Times, to find out more about the vote and the climate the elections are taking place in.
Global coffee prices are soaring to record levels but in Vietnam, one of the largest coffee producers, many farmers are switching to other – and more heat-resilient – crops. Yuka Royer speaks with Fairtrade International's Monika Firl. Also, regional elections are underway in Indian-administered Kashmir for the first time since the territory lost its semi-autonomous status in 2019. And we'll visit Indonesia's "Forgotten Island", a hidden gem in the Indian Ocean that's still untouched by mass tourism unlike neighbouring Bali.
In this week's show: Bangladesh's International Crime Tribunal says it's begun the process to request the extradition of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina from India. While Dhaka and New Delhi enjoyed warm relations under Hasina's watch, we ask if relations between the two neighbours have now started to cool since her ouster in August.
It's a story that has gripped the Philippines for months. Alice Guo, the fugitive former mayor of the city of Bamban, has been deported back home after being caught in Indonesia. She faces accusations ranging from shady business dealings involving illegal gambling, to human trafficking as well as questions over her identity and links to China. Yuka Royer and Aurore-Cloé Dupuis discuss the case.
It's been three years since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan. Their policies have rolled back women’s rights. Newly enforced laws require women to veil their faces in public. They are also now prohibited from singing or raising their voices. Afghan artist and activist Fatimah Hossaini reacts to the devastating new laws.
On the show this week, we speak to Kiran Rao, director of "Laapataa Ladies," a film set in rural India and packed with subtle feminist messages. She tells us what inspired her to make the movie and how comedy was used as a tool to talk about female experiences. She argues the men portrayed in the film aren't meek, but empathetic. We also look at a new controversial canal project in Cambodia and head to Thailand, where the "Boys' Love" TV drama is making a splash.
After multiple pre-wedding festivities, the son of India’s richest man ties the knot. Mukesh Ambani's youngest son, Anant, married Radhika Merchant in India's financial capital Mumbai. The event draws international stars and raises some eyebrows. On “Access Asia” we ask Time Magazine's journalist Astha Rajvanshi why Mukesh Ambani is going all out to create such a fuss.
Authorities in India have arrested six people following a deadly stampede in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh. 121 women and children were killed at a religious event where nearly 250,000 had gathered to listen to a guru. To understand what caused this human tragedy, we talk to Sanjay Srivastava, professor of Anthropology at SOAS University of London.
China has become the first country to land a probe on the far side of the Moon and bring samples back to Earth. What does this new milestone mean for science, and how are geopolitics affecting human space exploration? FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer speaks to Martin Barstow, professor of astrophysics and space science at the University of Leicester.
Will India's democratic backsliding continue? Following recent elections which weakened Prime Minister Narendra Modi, FRANCE 24 discusses the latest foreign journalist forced to leave, as well as the prosecution of author Arundhati Roy, with author and professor Alpa Shah.
Tensions have flared up again between North and South Korea in recent weeks, with both sides reviving Cold-war style propaganda campaigns. North Korea has sent hundreds of balloons carrying rubbish and even animal faeces across the border. FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer speaks to Sung-Yoon Lee, a fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.
In this edition of Access Asia we're dissecting the results of the world's largest election. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has won a historic third term in office. However, things will be markedly different this time around as he finds himself with his wings clipped. Modi has been forced into a coalition after his BJP party failed to win an absolute majority for the first time in a decade. FRANCE 24's Delano D'Souza is joined by social activist and lawyer Trisha Shetty and Ashutosh Varshney, professor and director of the Saxena Center for Contemporary South Asia at Brown University.
Fourteen prominent pro-democracy activists have been found guilty in a landmark subversion trial in Hong Kong. They were among the 47 opposition figures arrested under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law and charged with trying to overthrow the government by organising an unofficial primary for the 2020 legislative election. While Beijing and the Hong Kong government welcomed the verdict, rights groups have voiced deep concern. FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer speaks to Sarah Brooks, China Director at Amnesty International.
As more and more countries around the world seek to close their borders to asylum seekers, we speak to the founder of an online language platform designed for refugees. She tells us how she hopes Chatterbox will redress the demeaning manner in which she feels refugees from around the world are received. But first, we look at the ongoing Indian elections. The campaign rhetoric remains feisty in the final stretch, and the ruling BJP is banking on influencers to boost the youth vote. We finish with a look at the dark side of K-Beauty as we explore the obsession with thinness in South Korea.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has wrapped up his two-day visit to China, where he and his counterpart Xi Jinping pledged a "new era of strategic partnership". The two leaders had tea together and celebrated 75 years of diplomatic relations at a gala, with the Chinese leader giving his guest a warm hug. Moscow has increasingly turned to Beijing for support in the face of Western sanctions and the trip aimed at deepening their military and economic ties.
As India's marathon election rolls on, FRANCE 24 speaks to expert Mitali Mukherjee, who tells us that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ruling BJP is running its campaign on anti-Muslim rhetoric. Also, Thailand's opposition leader speaks about his efforts to reform lese majeste laws. And we bring you the latest on the heatwave that has broken temperature records across Asia, from India to the Philippines.
India's mammoth general election is well under way, with the first two phases of voting over and five more to go. FRANCE 24's Leela Jacinto looks at online campaigning and some controversies that are flaring up. Next, we speak to PEN America about their latest Freedom to Write Index. Writers are increasingly at risk around the world, and China tops those jailed for expressing their opinions. Lastly, what do Olympic stadiums tell us about the times we live in? We meet the architect behind Tokyo's national stadium.
US President Joe Biden has signed into law a bill that targets TikTok. The popular social media app's Chinese owner ByteDance has been given about nine months to either sell its business or face a ban in the United States. The company has vowed to take the battle to the courts. FRANCE 24's Tech Editor Peter O'Brien explains.
In this week’s special edition of Access Asia, we focus on India as the country's record-breaking election gets under way. In the past few years, India's ranking in the World Press Freedom Index has plummeted. With the country’s independent media increasingly under threat, YouTube has become a key medium to fact-check trending topics. Twenty-nine-year-old Dhruv Rathee has been using the platform to fact-check issues and hold the Indian government to account. He spoke to FRANCE 24's Delano D'Souza.
Troops in Myanmar have confirmed they've withdrawn from their positions in a trade hub near the border with Thailand. Fighting between the army and armed resistance groups has been flaring for months, with the ruling junta facing heavy losses. As a result, many Burmese are now fleeing to Thailand. We take a closer look.
China's best-selling sci-fi novel "3 Body Problem" has been adapted into a Netflix series. We look at how Chinese people have reacted online and why the adaptation has stirred up some anger. But first, aftershocks continue to rattle Taiwan after it experienced the strongest earthquake in 25 years. Our team reports from a town near the epicentre. Plus, we see how Russia has recruited hundreds of Nepalese men to fight on the front line in Ukraine, in exchange for the promise of lucrative pay and citizenship.
Arvind Kejriwal, an Indian opposition leader and the chief minister of Delhi, remains in custody following his arrest last week. We take a look at what this means ahead of India's general elections that begin in April. Next, we head to South Korea, where campaigning has begun for parliamentary elections. Politicians are on high alert after two political figures were attacked at the start of the year. Finally, we see how some young people in China are turning to artificial intelligence to find their perfect partner.
Earlier this week, it was "play ball" for the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres at Seoul's Gocheok Sky Dome. The two teams kicked off a new season of Major League Baseball, winning one each of the two-game opening series. FRANCE 24's Leo McGuinn tells more about the event and the popularity of baseball in South Korea.
French lawmakers have approved a bill to slap fines on ultra-fast fashion retailers. The measure effectively takes aim at Chinese companies like Shein and Temu. Temu, a faster and cheaper version of Amazon, has spread from China to around 50 countries after less than two years in operation. China-founded Shein uses AI and algorithms to detect the latest trends and can introduce more than 7,000 new items every day, changing buying habits and encouraging over-consumption. These clothes may be affordable for consumers, but they come at a huge environmental and social cost. FRANCE 24's Aurore Dupuis tells us more.
A decade ago, a Boeing Triple Seven with 239 people onboard, disappeared without a trace en route from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing. "Good Night, Malaysian Three Seven Zero" was the last radio call from the pilot and no distress call was ever made in what became one of aviation's biggest mysteries. Families are still searching for closure, but there's hope of a renewed search in the near future. Jean-Emille Jamine and Olivia Salazar-Winspear bring us this report.
More than 200 million people are registered to vote in Indonesia's polls next week. With a majority of eligible voters aged under 40, social media and AI are playing a huge role as candidates target the youth. Hong Kong pro-democracy activist Agnes Chow is now officially wanted by police. She speaks to us from Canada where she is studying.
Parts made with forced labour in China may be being used in cars around the world, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch. It says it has found "credible evidence" that aluminium producers use workers from government-backed labour transfer programmes linked to the forced labour of Uighurs and other ethnic minorities. The report further details how the metal could then have entered the supply chains of global car companies. For more analysis, we speak to Jim Wormington, lead author of the report.
French President Emmanuel Macron is wrapping up his two-day visit to India, where he paraded through the streets with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and talked business, amid calls from human rights groups not to overlook India's authoritarian shift. For more, we speak to Subir Sinha, Director of the South Asia Institute at SOAS University of London.
In India, tensions have been rising between the country's Hindu majority and the Muslim minority. Some say the ruling party has only exacerbated the situation. Prime Minister Narendra Modi agreed to open a Ram temple in the northern town of Ayodhya. What makes it controversial is the land it sits on. For centuries a mosque stood there, before it was ultimately torn down by Hindu nationalists, incited by Modi's party. Our team on the ground reports on the Ram temple, as well as other sites that could see the same fate.
Onion prices in some parts of the world are eye-wateringly high. India, one of the world's biggest producers, has limited exports, sparking smuggling and price hikes abroad. FRANCE 24's Shirli Sitbon tells us more. But first, we report on how protests have erupted in Pakistan amid rampant killings and enforced disappearances in Baluchistan province. Protesters say the security forces are to blame. Plus, a state of emergency has been declared in Papua New Guinea's capital after more than a dozen people were killed in unrest. Chaos ensued after police went on strike – cars were set on fire and shops looted.
In Taiwan, the stakes are higher than ever as 19 million voters head to the polls on January 13 to choose their new president. China, which claims the island as its own territory, has gone so far as to cast the vote as a choice between war and peace. In this special edition, FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer speaks with Victor Louzon, assistant professor at Paris's Sorbonne University, about one of the most closely-watched elections around the world this year. We also look back at the history of the island. Plus, our correspondents report from the campaign trail.
There is serious concern for thousands of earthquake survivors in China. Earlier this month, over 100 people were killed by a 6.2-magnitude quake in north-western Gansu province. Now, with few resources, they are bracing for a record cold snap. We take a closer look.
China and India have two of the world's biggest populations and are also two of the worst polluters. One has made progress trying to clean up its act while the other has stalled; we take a closer look. Also in this edition: over 40 percent of children in Pakistan suffer from stunted growth. The condition can have long-term health effects but also economic consequences, as our correspondents report. Finally, a Taiwanese rock band denies lip-synching at a concert in China, an offence that could see it pay a fine or even be banned in the country. We speak to Beijing-based journalist Fabian Kretschmer.
Thailand has welcomed the return of a majority of its citizens who'd been held captive in Gaza, while also observing a minute of silence for the 39 others killed during the October 7 Hamas attacks. Thais made up the largest non-Israeli group among the hostages. In order to recover some of these migrant workers, the government turned to Iran for support. We tell you more.
Russia is accused of targeting Central Asian migrants, either to beef up its ranks in the war in Ukraine or to work in Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine. Many workers who used to live in Russia say they have had to return home. Also, North Korea says it has successfully launched its first-ever reconnaissance satellite into orbit. The claim is drawing condemnation but also scepticism from its neighbours. Finally, in a special report, we see how the Philippines is struggling to tackle its massive plastic pollution problem.
Myanmar's junta faces its biggest threat since it seized power two-and-a-half years ago. For the first time, different groups of well-armed rebels have joined forces and are gaining ground, with the aim of restoring democratic rule.
Afghanistan may not have won the Cricket World Cup, but their inspiring run brought them to the cusp of the semi-finals. Each win gave people back home rare opportunities for public celebration in the war-torn, Taliban-controlled country. The team has an uneasy relationship with the government. It still plays under the green, black and red national flag banned by the Taliban and is based abroad. For more analysis, we speak to Sidharth Monga, Senior Cricket Writer at ESPNcricinfo in Goa, India.
In this special edition of Access Asia, we're at Paris's Quai Branly museum, where a new exhibition, "Bollywood superstars", looks back at a century of the Indian film industry. With more than 2,000 movies per year, Bollywood is the biggest movie industry in the world. It evolved from performing arts and silent films to today's big blockbusters. We speak to the exhibition's co-curator Julien Rousseau, as well as Mahina Khanum, a Bollywood dancer and choreographer. Plus, we explore how India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is increasingly using the country's cinema to push its Hindu nationalist agenda.
Former Chinese premier Li Keqiang passed away this week at the age of 68. According to state media, he died of a heart attack. News of Li's death comes the same week that China's defence minister Li Shangfu was sacked after a two-month disappearance. The country's science & technology and finance ministers were also fired this week. For analysis of this leadership shakeup, we speak to Dr Zeno Leoni, a lecturer in defence studies at King's College London and the author of "Grand Strategy and the Rise of China: Made in America".
India's Supreme Court has refused to legalise same-sex marriage, saying the right to marry is not a fundamental one. This comes five years after the same court decriminalised gay sex. In response to more than 20 petitions filed since last year, the court backed the government's view that changing the institution of marriage was a job for parliament and not the court. We speak to Rohin Bhatt, a lawyer and queer rights activist who represented some of the petitioners in the case.
It has more than one billion fans around the world and a near-religious following in India, but cricket has yet to go truly global. Jean-Emile Jammine from our Sports desk tells us more. As the Cricket World Cup opens in India, some matches are being held in the ruling party's stronghold, at a stadium named after Prime Minister Narendra Modi. We see how politics plays a major role in India's favourite sport. Plus we take a closer look at how the iconic leather balls are made, often in difficult working conditions.
India has spent hundreds of millions of euros on hosting the G20 summit, as it seeks to asset itself on the global stage. But the event has also stirred controversy even before it started, from the beautification of the capital New Delhi to the notable absence of China's President Xi Jinping. We speak to Mohan Kumar, a former Indian ambassador to France, about the significance of the event.
Since the start of the new school year in April, secondary school children in India have been learning things differently. The government has extensively revised textbooks. This reform has stirred controversy, with a number of historians and scientists accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of trying to rewrite history and removing material that does not suit its Hindu nationalist vision. Our correspondents report.
Thailand's parliament has rejected a bid by reformist candidate Pita Limjaroenrat to become the next prime minister, in spite of his coalition's victory in the May elections. Pita is a fresh face in Thai politics who's promising a return to full democracy after almost a decade of military rule. Another vote is set for next week and he's vowing to fight on. We take a closer look.
Over 12 years ago, the strongest earthquake in Japan's recorded history caused a massive tsunami that led to a meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi power plant. We take a look at what's to become of the water used to cool the plant's reactors. With the Fukushima facility rapidly running out of storage space, the UN nuclear watchdog and Japanese regulators gave separate approval to a plan to dump over a million tonnes of treated wastewater into the Pacific. Both said the environmental impact would be negligible, but that has not allayed the fears of local people.
Nepal has one of the world's highest rates of cataracts and subsequent blindness, with devastating consequences for the country's poor subsistence farmers. But one surgeon has been working to change that, running treatment camps for years in remote parts of the country. Now, with fresh funding from an ex-convict-turned-tech multimillionaire, he's able to perform the life-changing surgery on ever more people and has ambitious plans. We take a closer look.
India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was once denied a visa to enter the US on human rights grounds, effectively banning him from the country for a decade. But this week, the red carpet was rolled out for India's most powerful leader in decades. With the US in open conflict with Russia and having poor relations with China, India – which recently become the world's most populous country – appears increasingly attractive. FRANCE 24's Leela Jacinto gives us her analysis of Modi's visit.
Lawmakers in Japan have passed major reforms in the country's sex crime legislation. The new laws define non-consensual sex as rape, removing the requirement that the victim had to be forcibly coerced into the act for it to constitute a crime. The legislation also raises the age of consent for the first time in over a century, from 13 to 16. We take a closer look.
Parts of Asia have been hit by severe heat in recent weeks. An international coalition of scientists said it was a "once-in-200-years" event that would have been “virtually impossible” without human-caused climate change. Record-shattering temperatures of up to 45°C have been seen in multiple countries including Bangladesh, Vietnam, Singapore and China. In this special edition, we take a look at how governments, and people, are trying to adapt.
In South Korea, a new kind of #MeToo movement is taking hold on social media; that of people who suffered abuse at school. A growing number of victims have been publicly naming and shaming their former bullies. Inspired in part by a popular Netflix series, it has ensnared everyone from K-pop stars to baseball players.
In India, a low-budget film has sparked huge controversy. "The Kerala Story" tells the fictional tale of three Hindu and Christian women from the southern Indian state, who are lured into the Islamic State group after converting to Islam. Indian PM Narendra Modi praised the film, saying it "exposed the consequences of terrorism in a society", while critics call it an attempt to spread hate and Islamophobia. We take a closer look and speak to journalist and author Debasish Roy Chowdhury.
Driven by young voters, the progressive Move Forward party came out on top in Sunday's elections as Thais delivered a stunning rebuke to the military-backed government that has been in power for nearly a decade. But Move Forward leader Pita Limjaroenrat now faces a difficult path to becoming prime minister. Are Thailand's military rulers ready to let go of power? Yuka Royer speaks to Virot Ali, a lecturer at Thammasat University.
Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan has been released on bail after his arrest earlier this week was ruled unlawful. For months, Khan had managed to avoid arrest, but when he was finally taken into detention while in court this past Tuesday, chaos ensued outside. Nearly 2,000 people have been arrested for violence and at least eight have been killed. Khan faces corruption charges, though his supporters say the case against him is politically motivated. We get analysis from FRANCE 24's Oliver Farry.
Johnny Kitagawa, who died in 2019 at the age of 87, was the architect of Japan's vastly successful boyband empire and his company, Johnny and Associates, still dominates the lucrative J-pop market. Yet allegations of child abuse and sexual exploitation surrounded the music mogul for decades. Yuka Royer speaks to former idol Kauan Okamato, who says he was sexually abused as a teen.
Industrial accidents kill thousands of people and disable thousands of others every year in India. According to the government, at least 6,500 workers died on the job between 2017 and 2021. Labour activists say the figure could be higher. With the aim of becoming an industrial power, India focuses on encouraging investment and innovation, but work-related tragedies keep making the news in the country. Our correspondents Léa Delfolie, Deepika Singh and Akash Bisht report.
In this week's show we head to Afghanistan, where women are struggling more than ever to access healthcare, amid tight restrictions under Sharia law imposed by the Taliban. We have a special report from our correspondents. Next, India's top court hears a landmark case brought by same-sex couples seeking a right to legally marry their partners. One gay couple joins us to tell their touching story. Finally, we take a look at a growing trend in drug abuse among young people in South Korea, where the subject remains taboo but public awareness is starting to change.
India is overtaking China this Friday as the world's most populous country. With 1.4 billion people and counting, India's population is not expected to peak for decades. We take a look at what life is like in the country and what lessons India can learn from neighbouring China. The challenges ahead are numerous: from education to democracy, but also as basic as having enough to eat. For more, we speak to Poonam Muttreja, Executive Director of the Population Foundation of India.
In this week's show we see how Indian officials are furious after China renamed 11 places in Arunachal Pradesh. It is a disputed Himalayan border region under Indian control, which Beijing considers part of southern Tibet. Next, we head to Nepal, which is home to the "most dangerous runway in the world". We get a bird's-eye view of a tiny airfield in the mountains, where tricky landings are a risky but vital part of everyday life. Finally, we head to Thailand, where a cannabis pipe dream is going up in smoke. A year after decriminalisation, marijuana remains a politically divisive issue in the country ahead of elections.
This week, former Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou was on a trip through China as a private citizen, at the same time that Taiwan's current president, Tsai Ing-wen, was in the United States. Tsai's unofficial visit sparked diplomatic anger from Beijing, which considers the self-ruled, democratic island as part of its territory. We take a closer look.
At 87 years old, Iwao Hakamada is on the verge of finding true freedom, more than 50 years after being sentenced to death for murders he says he did not commit. Tokyo's high court ordered a retrial this month, acknowledging that key evidence that led to his conviction had likely been fabricated by investigators. Along with the US, Japan is one of the few developed countries that maintain capital punishment. For more, we speak to Chiara Sangiorgio, death penalty advisor at Amnesty International.
A massive defence deal unveiled this week in San Diego saw Australia, the UK and the US strengthen their alliance and revealed that the multi-decade military partnership is chiefly concerned about China. Under the so-called AUKUS defence pact, Australia will acquire up to eight nuclear-powered submarines costing up to $368 billion between now and the 2050s. Analysts say this next phase of the AUKUS pact is a direct response to growing assertiveness by Beijing. FRANCE 24's Nicholas Rushworth tells us more.
A Thai court has sentenced a 26-year-old man to two years in jail for selling satirical calendars featuring rubber ducks, which authorities said insulted the king. Inflatable yellow ducks were used as a symbol during pro-democracy protests in 2020. The sentencing comes as two women were rushed to hospital after staging a weeks-long hunger strike demanding the release of those arrested under Thailand's draconian lèse majesté law. For more, we talk to Sunai Phasuk, a senior researcher at Human Rights Watch.
The Chinese-owned video-based app TikTok faces bans from several Western governments, who say the platform poses a national security risk. FRANCE 24's Technology Editor Peter O'Brien tells us what this could mean for the future of TikTok, which has more than one billion users worldwide.
A year after Russia began its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the conflict continues with no end in sight. China claims to have a neutral stance, but has so far refused to call the war Russia's invasion, and has declared unlimited friendship with Moscow. One year into the war, the Beijing government has now announced a 12-point document stating its position and called for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia to achieve a "comprehensive ceasefire". For more on what Beijing is trying to do, we speak to Anna Ashton, the director of China Corporate Affairs and US-China at the US think tank Eurasia Group.
Cambodia's strongman leader has ordered the shutdown of one of the country's few remaining local independent media outlets. One of the world's longest-serving leaders, Prime Minister Hun Sen has increasingly cracked down on any opposition as he prepares for elections later this year. We take a closer look.
They’ve come to be known as the Hong Kong 47. A group of prominent activists, former lawmakers and student leaders went on trial this week, accused of trying to topple the pro-Beijing government. Most of them, including Benny Tai and Joshua Wong, have been detained since their arrests two years ago. They have pleaded guilty in pre-trial proceedings to avoid long prison sentences that could carry up to life in jail. We take a closer look.
This week, a major upheaval hit one of India’s top business empires. Adani Group has operations in everything from coal mining to telecoms. Its seven main units were recently worth an estimated $220 billion. But a blistering report by an American investor research firm accusing the conglomerate of massive fraud and market manipulation has sent its stock price plummeting, along with the personal fortune of billionaire founder Gautam Adani. Bryan Quinn, from FRANCE 24's business desk, explains.
Japan faces an existential threat with its birth rate at an all-time low, yet the island nation has still to fully embrace immigration as a solution to the population decline. To tackle the problem, the government has slowly turned to bringing in foreign workers. We take a closer look.
The Lunar New Year is a huge holiday in China, but also in other Asian countries like Korea and Vietnam. More than one billion people will be celebrating the event, which begins on January 22. For most, it's the Year of the Rabbit but in Vietnam, people will mark the Year of the Cat. Celebrations this year are particularly welcome, as Covid restrictions have finally been eased in China. But there are fears that another wave of infections is approaching. We take a closer look in this special edition.
In this week's show, our reporters head to Pakistan's Swat Valley. Following the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan, violence by extremists has skyrocketed in the border area. Next, we see how Indonesia is moving its capital from Jakarta. We investigate the ecological impact of building a new city in the rainforests of Borneo. Finally, we talk to film critic Tanul Thakur in New Delhi about the Golden Globe-winning movie "RRR". We ask him if the film's runaway success could give a boost to India's film industry internationally.
In China, there are fears not just of a Covid wave but maybe a tsunami. Funeral parlours are overwhelmed and hospitals are packed with elderly patients on respirators. This comes after the lifting of China's zero-Covid restrictions following protests. The World Health Organization, meanwhile, is pointing the finger, saying China's official virus data is being under-reported.
The Japanese government has unveiled plans to drastically expand its defence capabilities. In what would be the biggest military build-up since World War II, Tokyo aims to double its defence spending over the next five years and install missiles capable of striking an enemy launch site. It's a controversial move, marking another major step away from the country's pacifist constitution that severely limits the use of military force. For more, we speak to Daniel Darling, a senior international military markets analyst.
China has now relaxed many of its Covid restrictions, removing requirements for PCR tests in many places and allowing people to isolate at home. The new measures come following a wave of anti-lockdown protests. Although the changes have been welcomed, there's also concern that Covid will spread among a population where many elderly people are not vaccinated. FRANCE 24's former Hong Kong correspondent Oliver Farry gives us his insight into the situation.
Cities across China have rolled back some Covid-19 restrictions, requiring less testing and allowing people to isolate at home instead of in quarantine centres. The authorities have been careful not to send any signal that the relaxing of rules were in any way a response to rare displays of public discontent. For more, we speak to Nathan Law, a Hong Kong pro-democracy activist who was a prominent student leader during the 2014 Umbrella Movement and now lives in exile in London.
In 1977, 13-year-old Megumi Yokota vanished from the Japanese coastal city of Niigata on her way home from school. Twenty-five years later, North Korea admitted that its agents had snatched her away, along with 12 other Japanese citizens, in order to train its spies. In a groundbreaking diplomatic move, Pyongyang returned five of them in 2002, but not Megumi, claiming she had committed suicide. Her brothers Takuya and Tetsuya Yokota, who have spent the last 45 years waiting for answers, speak to FRANCE 24.
As the 2022 World Cup kicks off in Qatar, we take a look at the fate of thousands of migrant workers, mostly from South Asia, who helped build infrastructure but went home in coffins. We also speak to Swedish investigative journalist Martin Schibbye, who spoke to their families and created alternative football cards with their stories. Finally, we look at how millions of people in India still have no access to clean sanitary facilities, despite a years-long government drive to eradicate open defecation.
Climate change is a global threat, but countries in Asia are particularly vulnerable. We speak to Melati Wijsden, a climate youth leader and the founder of YOUTHTOPIA, about her mission to eliminate plastic waste and inspire other young people to become actors for change. Also in this edition: millions of people in Pakistan remain displayed after historic flooding, and Bangladesh turns to coal amid an energy crisis.
Japan is the only G7 country which does not recognise same-sex unions. But this week, its capital Tokyo began rolling out a partnership certificate scheme. It allows same-sex couples to be treated as married couples for certain public services, this for the first time. Those services include housing, medicine and welfare. To analyse how big a victory this is for same-sex couples, we're joined by Olivier Fabre, a member of a LGBTQ+ advocacy group in Japan.
In this special edition of the programme, we take you to Asia NOW, Europe's premier Asian art fair. This year, it was relocated from a private mansion in the French capital to the Monnaie de Paris, which houses the world’s oldest continuously running mint. Some 27,000 people attended this eighth edition. Many galleries managed to sell the majority of their works on display, with some netting six-figure sums. While there were big names like Takashi Murakami or Ai Weiwei, the fair also featured young talents who may become the art world's stars of tomorrow.
In this special edition of the programme, we take you to Asia NOW, Europe's premier Asian art fair. This year, it was relocated from a private mansion in the French capital to the Monnaie de Paris, which houses the world’s oldest continuously running mint. Some 27,000 people attended this eighth edition. Many galleries managed to sell the majority of their works on display, with some netting six-figure sums. While there were big names like Takashi Murakami or Ai Weiwei, the fair also featured young talents who may become the art world's stars of tomorrow.
In this edition we meet two women from the two Koreas who have joined forces to write a powerful book. The pair hail from neighbouring countries that share common roots and culture, yet have remained technically at war for seven decades. Jihyun Park and Seh-lynn Chai tell Access Asia how their chance encounter led to a lasting friendship, as well as their book.
In this edition we meet two women from the two Koreas who have joined forces to write a powerful book. The pair hail from neighbouring countries that share common roots and culture, yet have remained technically at war for seven decades. Jihyun Park and Seh-lynn Chai tell Access Asia how their chance encounter led to a lasting friendship, as well as their book.
This week’s show is entirely dedicated to China’s Communist Party Congress, taking place this week. It’s a days-long conclave that meets once every five years and shapes the country’s leadership. This year’s congress will be particularly closely watched with President Xi Jinping expected to further cement his rule.
This week’s show is entirely dedicated to China’s Communist Party Congress, taking place this week. It’s a days-long conclave that meets once every five years and shapes the country’s leadership. This year’s congress will be particularly closely watched with President Xi Jinping expected to further cement his rule.
North Korea's latest spate of missile launches has put its neighbours on edge. The barrage of weapons tests includes one that flew over Japan in the longest-ever recorded distance, capable of reaching the US territory of Guam. The latest show of force comes after Kim Jong Un's regime passed a law outlining conditions for launching a pre-emptive nuclear strike. For more, we speak to Erik Mobrand, the Korea policy chair at the US defence think tank RAND Corporation.
North Korea's latest spate of missile launches has put its neighbours on edge. The barrage of weapons tests includes one that flew over Japan in the longest-ever recorded distance, capable of reaching the US territory of Guam. The latest show of force comes after Kim Jong Un's regime passed a law outlining conditions for launching a pre-emptive nuclear strike. For more, we speak to Erik Mobrand, the Korea policy chair at the US defence think tank RAND Corporation.
Amnesty International accuses Facebook of exacerbating human rights violations in Myanmar. It claims the social network proactively "amplified" anti-Rohingya content back in 2017, when the country's military launched a deadly crackdown on the ethnic minority. Patrick de Brun, a researcher at Amnesty International who wrote the report, tells us more about how the evidence came to light.
Anger is growing in Japan over the state funeral for Shinzo Abe, who was assassinated in July. The former prime minister had links to the Unification Church, a controversial religious organisation based in South Korea. We find out more about the relationship between the sect and Japan's political elite by speaking to Koichi Nakano, a professor of political science. Our reporters also take us to meet a former member of the group in Tokyo.
Water has started receding in parts of Pakistan after the worst monsoon floods in history. But now, a second disaster is looming with cases of water-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever rising, as stagnant waters have become breeding grounds for mosquitos. We take a closer look.
Concern is growing in India for one of the country's few independent TV news channels after a hostile takeover bid by billionaire businessman Gautam Adani. NDTV is currently one of India's most trusted sources of information, in a country where most news channels function as government mouthpieces. FRANCE 24's reporter and senior online editor Leela Jacinto, who recently wrote a piece on this topic, tells us more.
More than 6 million people are in urgent need of help in Pakistan, which is grappling with the worst floods in living memory. Since mid-June, unprecedented monsoon rains have left more than 1,300 dead, washed away entire villages and destroyed farmlands. Our team on the ground travelled to the southern Sindh province, where the country's largest lake is on the verge of overflowing.
As Sri Lanka's protest movement reaches 100 days, the people proudly and defiantly said that their fight is not over. Indeed, in addition to political uncertainty, the country faces a long list of problems, with years of mismanagement coupled with external shocks. The coronavirus pandemic has battered the tourism industry, and the war in Ukraine has contributed to soaring inflation. On the ground, there are also long queues for food and fuel. For more, we speak to France 24's correspondent Navodita Kumari in Colombo.
In this edition, we take a closer look at climate change in Asia and its impact on extreme weather events. Whether it be scorching heatwaves in Pakistan or devastating floods in Bangladesh, the likelihood of these events occurring is increasing along with global temperatures.
Glen Wood has come to symbolise a growing fight against "paternity harassment" in Japan. In of the of the country's very first cases of its kind, Wood alleged on-the-job harassment and unlawful dismissal from his position at Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley after taking parental leave when his son was born prematurely in 2015. Last month, the Tokyo High Court rejected the Canadian native's appeal. In a 21-page ruling, the court defended the company's actions as "inevitable".
The devastating earthquake that hit south-eastern Afghanistan on June 22 has caused immeasurable damage. With over a thousand people killed and tens of thousands now homeless, daily life will be even harder in a country that was already suffering from a humanitarian crisis following the Taliban's return to power. International aid is trickling in, but longer-term help is needed. Our regional correspondents Shahzaib Wahlah and Sonia Ghezali report.
A violent attack on several women in northern China earlier this month has raised questions over gender-based violence in the country. CCTV footage from a restaurant in the city of Tangshan showed a man getting rebuffed after he put his hand on the back of a woman. He then slapped her, then with other men beat the group of women before punching, kicking and dragging them outdoors. For more on women's safety and their rights in China, we talk to Professor Maria Jaschok from the University of Oxford.
In India, derogatory comments about the Prophet Mohammed made two officials from India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party have sparked a mixture of deadly protests and diplomatic spats. Countries like Oman, Qatar, Malaysia and Indonesia have lodged complaints with India's ambassadors. We take a closer look and get analysis from Subir Sinha, a lecturer in development studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London.
Japan was one of the last countries in the world to keep its borders shut to foreign tourists because of the Covid-19 pandemic, but that is slowly changing. The government is cautiously taking steps to revive tourism. But in a crucial election year and with the border restrictions popular among voters, it's a tricky balancing act for Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. We speak to Professor Seijiro Takeshita from the University of Shizuoka.
The western Chinese region of Xinjiang and its Muslim inhabitants have been in the headlines for several years amid reports of mass incarceration, family separations, forced labour and even forced sterilisation. Last week, UN human rights chief Michelle Bachelet went on a long-awaited visit to the region. But her six-day tour was not about fact-finding. Bachelet spoke only briefly about the repression in Xinjiang, urging Beijing to make sure any counter-terrorism measures don't infringe on human rights. Eleanor Hart, assistant director at the European Uyghur Institute, gives us her analysis.
Since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan last year, international aid for the country has dried up. The pandemic and the ongoing food crisis have complicated an already dire economic situation. Unicef says that as more families are pushed deeper into poverty, they are forced to make desperate choices, such as putting children to work and marrying girls off at a young age. Our France 2 colleagues report.
Australia is counting down to its next federal election on May 21. The environmental crisis is high on voters' minds and smaller parties and independents are gaining momentum by riding a wave of disillusionment over the conservative coalition's lack of climate action. With a hung parliament looking likely, these minor players could force the traditional parties to do more to tackle global warming. Climate change is an increasingly hot-button issue since the country's devastating bushfires of 2019-20. Our correspondents Richelle Harrison Plesse and Gregory Plesse report.
The Marcos political dynasty is back in power in the Philippines. Ferdinand Marcos Jr., the son of the late dictator, has rebranded his family name and won the presidential election. Nonetheless his popularity comes as something of a surprise, as his father was ousted by a popular revolt 36 years ago. We take a closer look.
In Singapore, the fate of two Malaysian men on death row has sparked local mobilisation and attracted international attention. On April 25th, Nagaenthran Dharmalingam was hanged. With an IQ of 69, which is recognized as a disability, his execution could amount to a breach of international law. The next day, 36-year-old Datchinamurthy Kataiah won a last minute reprieve from Singapore's top court, thereby suspending his execution. We talk to journalist and anti-death penalty activist Kirsten Han.
Earlier this month, India's northwest sweltered under a heatwave that came unusually early. Every year, hundreds of people die during heatwaves in India and the country usually also suffers severe water shortages. There are fears that because of climate change, heatwaves are coming earlier and may be more severe. Nagraj Adve, a climate activist and author of "Global Warming in the Indian Context", tells us more.
This week, we look into how Hollywood blockbusters adapt or even self-censor to reach the Chinese market. The new "Fantastic Beasts" movie "The Secrets of Dumbledore" came out in Chinese theatres with one small change: six seconds of dialogue referring to a romantic relationship between two male characters were cut out. For more on the relationship between Hollywood and Beijing, we speak to Erich Schwartzel, the author of "Red Carpet: Hollywood, China, and the Global Battle for Cultural Supremacy".
Some coronavirus restrictions are being eased in Shanghai, despite the Chinese city reporting recent record highs of new cases. Residents have grown increasingly frustrated as they've struggled to find enough food and medicine. We get analysis from Carl Minzner, senior fellow for China studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and a professor at Fordham Law School specialising in Chinese politics and law.
Pakistan is currently in the midst of political upheaval. Prime Minister Imran Khan was faced with a vote of no-confidence vote on Sunday, which was expected to remove him from power. But before the vote could happen, it was thrown out by the deputy speaker. Khan then announced the dissolution of parliament. He insists that the push to oust him is a foreign conspiracy. We take a closer look.
After Shanghai recently reported a new daily record for asymptomatic coronavirus infections, the city is locking down in two stages. It's the biggest step taken in the Chinese metropolis since the Covid-19 pandemic began more than two years ago. But some residents are complaining that the cost of China's strict aggressive zero-Covid strategy has become too great. We take a closer look.
After first appearing in China more than two years ago, Covid-19 has returned to the Middle Kingdom. The country had largely succeeded in keeping infection and mortality rates in check. But in recent weeks, the Omicron variant has posed a significant challenge to the country's zero-Covid strategy. Once again, harsh lockdowns and restrictions are being enforced. We take a closer look.
How far is China willing to go to support Russia amid its war in Ukraine? Washington has warned there will be consequences if Beijing offers financial assistance or military support to Moscow. Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping may have pledged a no limits relationship, but there is a cost to standing up together to their joint rival: America. Regardless, the war provides China with a case study of Western resolve, and an opportunity to learn from Russia's mistakes.
This week, we're focusing on the consequences of Russia's war in Ukraine for Asian powers. The conflict calls into question China and India's close ties to Moscow and could affect other disputed areas like Taiwan and Kashmir. We take a closer look and speak to Professor Steve Tsang from SOAS University of London. We also hear from our New Delhi correspondent Edward Haywood.
Hong Kong is facing its toughest test yet in its "Dynamic Zero Covid" strategy. The number of cases this year is now higher than the number of infections seen in both 2020 and 2021. The city's health system is under pressure, suffering from a lack of hospital beds, inadequate testing capacities and over-strained quarantine centers. But the health crisis is turning political. For more on this, we turn to Jean-Pierre Cabestan, a political scientist at Hong Kong Baptist University.
Six months after the Taliban took over Afghanistan, the health system is collapsing. Amid the deteriorating humanitarian situation, a raging measles outbreak has already killed more than 150 people and infected tens of thousands more in January alone. Measles is not the only sanitary threat facing young children in the country. FRANCE 24's Health Editor Julia Sieger tells us more.
In China, all eyes are on the ongoing Winter Olympics. Although the Games have come under scrutiny for a number of reasons beyond sport, they are also the culmination of an impressive campaign to convert more than 300 million people into winter sport aficionados. Our correspondents report. We also speak to Susan Brownell, a professor of anthropology at the University of Missouri–Saint Louis.
While the International Olympic Committee has said that politics and sport do not mix, there are many examples to the contrary. Athletes have often been advocates for social change, while activists are angry about Beijing hosting the Winter Olympics despite rampant allegations of human rights abuses. More than 200 global groups have made a joint call for a diplomatic boycott. We take a closer look.
In Afghanistan, men, women and children are increasingly in dire straits: turning to begging, offering up their young daughters in marriage and even selling a kidney in order to be able to put food on the table. With most international aid cut off since the Taliban came back to power, some 23 million people – more than half the population – are facing famine. Our France 2 colleagues report, with FRANCE 24's Olivia Salazar-Winspear.
The birth rate in the world's most populous country, China, has fallen for a fifth consecutive year to hit a record low. The population is ageing and the workforce is shrinking. Despite ending the decades-long one-child policy, the baby boom officials had hoped for never materialised. These rapidly changing demographics foreshadow a crisis that could undercut the country's economic and social stability.
The new year began in Kazakhstan with the government lifting its price cap on fuel, virtually doubling the cost for people to fill up their cars. Protests spread across the nation of 19 million inhabitants and soon transformed into violent unrest and a bloody crackdown. Over 100 people were killed and thousands were arrested. At the request of Kazakhstan's president, Russia sent paratroopers to help "stabilise" the country. We take a closer look at the former Soviet republic.
After China ended 2021 with its biggest one-week number of coronavirus cases in two years, the government countered with one of the strictest responses in the world. Total lockdowns have returned to China, with millions of people forced to stay home. But there has been a backlash, with reports of food shortages and harsh penalties for those breaking the rules. We take a closer look.
Myanmar's ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi has been sentenced to jail for inciting unrest and breaching Covid-19 rules, a verdict condemned by human rights groups and governments around the world as a travesty of justice. Since February's coup, the ruling junta has consolidated its power, not only through the arrests of Suu Kyi's party members, but also with a deadly crackdown on opponents. We take a closer look.
Chinese real estate giant Evergrande, saddled with around $300 billion in debt, has been struggling to meet interest payments on its loans. If it collapses, some of its partner firms could be driven to bankruptcy, prospective homebuyers could lose deposits and some banks would lend less money, which would lead to a credit crunch in the world's second-biggest economy. Property developers in China have in fact created an oversupply: there is enough empty property in the country to house more than 90 million people. FRANCE 24's team reports.
Since the Taliban returned to power in August, life in Afghanistan has become more and more difficult. The country, which was already beset by an economic crisis, is now confronted with a worsening humanitarian catastrophe. Billions of dollars in aid money have dried up, funding for hospitals is non-existent and nearly half the population faces acute hunger. Our team on the ground reports.
Before the Taliban swept to power in Afghanistan, Kabul was a city with a vibrant nightlife and arts scene. But since then, there has been a radical transformation. Thousands of longtime Taliban fighters have poured into the capital, now working in round-the-clock security patrols. Meanwhile, financial disputes and quarrels between neighbours are being settled by Islamic judges. FRANCE 24's Catherine Norris-Trent and Roméo Langlois report from Kabul.
China and Taiwan have entered dangerous territory. Beijing regards the latter as a breakaway province and has vowed peaceful reunification. But Taiwan's leaders say it is a sovereign state. The self-ruled island has strategically important maritime borders and is a longtime source of tension between China and the US. We take a look at what's behind the divide.
It's been one year since a series of agriculture bills were rushed through India's parliament. The reforms were meant to empower farmers but instead sparked protest. The government was accused of a lack of transparency and of putting millions of peoples' livelihoods in jeopardy. While the laws have been suspended, talks between unions and officials have stalled. Our correspondents Thomas Denis, Adil Bhat, Edward Haywood and Sreya Banerjee report.
Since the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan, women's rights have been quashed. Women are being told what to wear, what to study and being segregated from men at universities. After a violent crackdown on female protesters, a demonstration has taken place in Kabul by women deemed supportive of the Taliban's ultra-hardline interpretation of Islam. Images of that rally have sparked considerable reaction on social media. FRANCE 24's Haxie Meyers-Belkin tells us more.
In this week's edition, we explore what the turmoil in Afghanistan could mean for the wider region, from emboldened extremist groups to political realignment. To understand what's at stake, we talk to Michael Kugelman, deputy director and senior associate for South Asia at The Wilson Center think tank.
The Covid-19 outbreak continues to worsen in Indonesia. Fuelled by the highly transmissible Delta variant, cases and deaths have been soaring across the country. Hospitals have become overwhelmed, forcing some of the newly infected no other choice but to isolate at home. We see how volunteers have been helping out.
French magistrates have begun investigating claims that four major fashion groups have benefited from forced labour in their supply chains. The multinational companies are accused of using cotton from China's Xinjiang region, where it's believed at least one million Uighur Muslims are being detained and subjected to forced labour. The case is based on allegations by a number of parties, including the human rights and anti-corruption NGO Sherpa. We speak to the group's director Sandra Cossart.
Despite warnings from health bosses, thousands of Japanese spectators will be allowed to attend events at this summer's Olympic Games. Fans will not be permitted to shout or speak loudly, and must wear face masks at all times while in venues. However, government officials say they will consider tightening restrictions if there is a rapid increase in Covid-19 infections.
Sometimes lost in the cacophony of Covid-19 – the death toll, the case count and the economic damage – is how hard it is for bereaved survivors to carry on. Among those feeling the most acute pain are children. In India, the pandemic has created thousands of orphans. Their struggle is not just to cope but to avoid falling victim to abuse or human trafficking. Our correspondents Diya Gupta and Thomas Denis explain.
Although Covid-19 vaccine rollouts are accelerating in many parts of the world, the effort is slowing down in India, one of the worst hit countries. Despite being the world's biggest producer of vaccines, the country is facing an internal shortage and has placed a temporary hold on all exports to meet domestic demand. Our correspondents Alban Alvarez, Deepika Singha and Sreya Banerjee report.
A French court has dismissed a lawsuit against more than a dozen multinationals that produced and sold Agent Orange to US troops during the Vietnam War. The case was filed in 2014 by Tran To Nga, a Franco-Vietnamese woman who says she's suffered numerous medical problems after being exposed to the toxic substance, which was used by the US army to destroy dense jungle and crops during the war. She says she plans to appeal the court's decision. We take a closer look.
Two months ago, India declared it had defeated Covid-19, but now it has become the epicentre of the pandemic. Many accuse the government of indifference and incompetence, especially after encouraging election rallies and a massive month-long Hindu festival to take place despite the risks. Since then, the country is repeatedly shattering global daily records of new coronavirus infections. Hospitals face fatal shortages of staff, beds, blood and oxygen. FRANCE 24’s Emerald Maxwell reports.
While Covid-19 appears to be under control in China, authorities want to keep it that way. But given low infection rates, motivation has been lacking for some people to get vaccinated. As a result, some places are offering free ice cream, while people who are hesitant or late in getting inoculated are named and shamed. Meanwhile, recent reports say the effectiveness of Chinese-made vaccines may actually be quite low. That could have an impact not just on China's domestic inoculations but also on what's known as its vaccine diplomacy. FRANCE 24's Bryan Quinn tells us more.
In South Korea, a new breed of media star has recently emerged. Often worshipped by youngsters, these new kids on the block are known as Broadcast Jockeys. You'll need to open your laptop and log on to enjoy what these livestreamers have to say, the music they want to share, plus the fun and games they want you partake in. We take a closer look.
For weeks now, hundreds of thousands of people in Myanmar have marched against the military junta to protest last month’s coup. The people’s demand for democracy has put them in the army's crosshairs. Dozens have been killed, thousands more detained. But they have help. A network of exiled Burmese citizens living in Thailand is organising and financing their resistance movement.