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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.