Access Asia

The US midterm elections have resulted in the Democratic Party taking control of both chambers of the US Congress, leaving Donald Trump as a lame duck president for the remainder of his term. Professor Steve Tsang of the SOAS China Institute tells FRANCE 24 that, while a weakened Trump could strengthen Beijing's negotiating position, the Chinese leadership is aware that Congress has relatively little sway over foreign policy and is keen to maintain warm personal ties between the two presidents. Also on the show:  Joshua Wong, one of the best-known faces of Hong Kong's pro-democracy movement, has been sentenced to a further 10 years in prison under the Beijing-imposed National Security Law for "colluding with foreign forces". He is the only person to have been prosecuted twice under the controversial law, and the ruling has drawn criticism from human rights groups and Western governments. Meanwhile, the Indian film "Ramayana" has hit cinemas worldwide. Based on a beloved ancient Hindu epic, it has been described as Bollywood's answer to "Star Wars". With a mega-budget of more than €400 million, the film is the biggest production in Indian cinema history and has been dubbed into nearly 40 languages. Finally, Japan's Hiroshima Prefecture has appointed two cats as its tourism ambassadors. Siblings Yamato and Chidori have been serving as stationmasters at Shiwaguchi Station, one of many unmanned stations on a railway line facing possible partial closure due to declining passenger numbers.

In this edition of Access Asia, we explore why anti-Indian sentiment is rising in the United States in the wake of the foiled plot targeting a Hindu temple in Illinois. We ask the executive director of the Center for the Study of Organized Hate what's behind the trend, and whether the rhetoric coming from the Trump White House is to blame. Plus, Beijing acknowledges Kylian Mbappé's apology, but the French footballer is set to learn the hard way not to cross China's red lines after a joke about a meme depicting Mao Zedong.

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 to neighbouring countries.    Also on the show:  The much delayed Yalu River Bridge linking China and North Korea has finally opened after 12 years of delay. It's the latest sign of thawing relations between the two neighbours, strained for years due to Pyongyang's aggressive nuclear development. The four-lane bridge can significantly boost bilateral trade, but observers say North Korea's growing ties with Russia may have been a motive for Beijing.  Meanwhile, as the conflict in the Middle East continues to disrupt maritime trade, South Korea has opened a new shipping route through the Arctic, made possible thanks to melting sea ice. Yuka Royer speaks with Jae Hyeok Lee, associate researcher at the Korea Institute for Maritime Strategy, about the geopolitical, economic and environmental implications of the exploitation.  Finally, in an effort to reduce pedestrian accidents, some Asian countries have taken innovative steps to curb smartphone use while walking. But not all of them have been successful. 

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 country's Election Commission. Journalist Faye D'Souza joins us to unpack how Narendra Modi's government is facing mounting pressure from the political opposition and the Gen Z-led Cockroach Janta Party. She also discusses the wider sense of discontent in India.

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 incident in an upscale neighbourhood of New Delhi prompted authorities to beef up protective measures, but the women say limiting their access to public spaces is not the answer.  Also on the show:  From China dominating the medal count to an 11-year-old Japanese boy clinching gold in e-sport, the Asian Games have been full of remarkable highlights. But there have also been some very public lows as organisers in Japan struggled with logistical issues. FRANCE 24's Charlotte Lam tells us more.  Also, South Korea is preparing to close the curtain on a centuries-old culinary tradition as a landmark nationwide ban on dog meat is set to take full effect in February. The government has provided financial support to phase out the dwindling industry, as animal rights groups continue to rescue dogs from farms.  Plus, Japanese convenience stores have tapped into the creative side of artificial intelligence to create new desserts. We check out the technology's answer to "the weirdest combinations of ingredients that still taste great".