Exclusive reports, features and analysis of political and social events from across the Asian continent. Friday at 3:45pm Paris time.
Latest episodes
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13 min
Indonesia's forest fires spark public health crisis across Southeast Asia
Massive wildfires in Indonesia show no sign of letting up. The environmental disaster is turning into a pollution crisis across Southeast Asia, as toxic haze from the blazes spread…
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13 min
India protests grow over Election Commission mistrust
In this edition of Access Asia, we find out why multiple protests have broken out in India after an investigation by The Indian Express raised concerns about the integrity of the c…
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12 min
'Make our streets safer!' Mass women's protests sweep India over sexual violence
In India, thousands of women have been taking to the streets calling for better protection of female students, following the suspected gang rape of a 17-year-old girl. The alleged…
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13 min
AI safety: No, China will not hit the brakes
A spate of warnings in recent days about the dangers of AI have sparked mixed reactions: from Donald Trump dismissing the fears as a hoax, to Beijing criticising calls for the US t…
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13 min
'My Feed My Way': Australia takes on the algorithm
Australia, which became the first country to ban social media for minors, is planning to crack down on Big Tech further. The government introduced new legislation to force social m…
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13 min
Himalayan hydropower buildout: Expert says risk management is key
Following devastating floods in Nepal and Tibet, Access Asia takes a closer look at the fragile state of the Himalayan mountains. Dr Arun Bhakta Shrestha, an expert on the environm…
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13 min
Family of detained US scientist breaks silence after quiet diplomacy stalls
On this edition of Access Asia, we speak to a former FBI official helping Youlin Chen's family. The 54-year-old American scientist has been detained on espionage charges in China s…
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12 min
Foreign workers feel the heat as Japan hardens nationalist stance
On this week's edition of Access Asia, we bring you a report from Japan, where visa fees have been increased for foreign nationals applying for permanent residency. The government…
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12 min
Seoul soul-searching after World Cup exit
On this edition of Access Asia, we find out why anger is brewing in South Korea after the country's national team was eliminated from the World Cup. We also ask our Sports Editor w…
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12 min
How far will Japan go to preserve the 2,600-year-old male imperial bloodline?
Japan's imperial family is running out of male heirs, and a debate over how to preserve the hereditary lineage that has continued unbroken for centuries is dividing the nation. Mea…
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13 min
India goes football crazy: Is politics holding the country back?
In this edition of Access Asia, we explore why the world's most populous country struggles to qualify for the World Cup, despite a growing appetite for the sport. We also explore h…
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13 min
Japan's love-hate relationship with bears
This week, a town north of Tokyo shut down nearly 100 schools following a spate of bear sightings. In another Japanese town last week, a bear attacked four people, opened a water t…
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12 min
India’s Cockroach Party fights attempts to discredit the movement
On this edition of Access Asia, we explore how India’s nascent Cockroach Janta Party has tapped into the frustrations of the country’s youth. We speak with the party’s spokesperson…
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12 min
‘Scamdemic’: Inside Southeast Asia's cyber fraud industry
It is one of the world's fastest-growing industries. Cyber fraud operated out of scam centres scattered across the Mekong region generates tens of billions of euros every year -- b…
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13 min
'The world has let this happen': Wu'er Kaixi on Hong Kong's loss of freedoms
As a trial of former organisers of Hong Kong's Tiananmen vigils has concluded, FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer speaks with Wu'er Kaixi, one of the student leaders who led mass protests lead…
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12 min
Trump's silence on Taiwan during summit with Xi comes as relief for island nation
Donald Trump has wrapped up a high-stakes visit to China. While host Xi Jinping warned that the Taiwan issue, if mishandled, could lead to conflict between the two superpowers, the…
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13 min
Iran war hangs over Trump's Beijing visit
In this edition of Access Asia, we look ahead to the US president's upcoming visit to China. While both sides will be seeking to reset ties, the war in Iran is set to cloud the tri…
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13 min
From life in North Korea to pink hair dye: K-pop band 1VERSE spills all
From North Korea to Japan to the United States, the members of K-pop band 1VERSE are from diverse backgrounds. Yuka Royer sat down with Seok, Aito, Kenny and Nathan, as they made a…
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13 min
India-Pakistan ties 'not good', a year after Kashmir attack
A year after the deadly terror attack in Kashmir, relations between India and Pakistan remain at an all-time low. Since then, Islamabad has emerged as a key mediator seeking to end…
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13 min
China steps out of the shadows in Iran war
China's President Xi Jinping has broken a six-week silence about the war in Iran, vowing to take a "constructive" role in efforts to end the conflict. Beijing is wary of being draw…