Access Asia FRANCE 24 English

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.