Access Asia FRANCE 24 English

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Troops in Myanmar have confirmed they've withdrawn from their positions in a trade hub near the border with Thailand.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.