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…

Armenians vote in parliamentary elections seen as ‘referendum on independence’

Armenians are voting on Sunday in parliamentary elections as the incumbent government, facing mounting pressure from…

Parliamentary elections mark ‘historical moment’ for Armenia, expert says

Armenia's upcoming parliamentary elections, which could reshape the country's ties with Russia and the West, mark…

Discipline and togetherness: Japan’s strategy for football greatness

On Sunday, Japan sealed a 2-2 draw against the higher-ranked Netherlands in their 2026 World Cup opener. Since…

Unbreakable Kim? China’s Xi visits Russia-backed North Korean leader

It takes convincing these days to get China's leader to go abroad. Xi Jinping has just…

Escaping Kabul: The secret operation to exfiltrate the Afghan women’s cycling team

Nearly five years ago, the Taliban seized control of Kabul and imposed Sharia law in Afghanistan.…

Escaping Kabul: The secret operation to exfiltrate the Afghan women’s cycling team

Nearly five years ago, the Taliban seized control of Kabul and imposed Sharia law in Afghanistan.…

‘A special sense of closeness’: China’s Xi vows stronger ties with North Korea in rare visit

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday said that China world not swerve from its commitment ?to safeguarding…

‘Democratic backsliding’: Armenia’s ‘extreme polarisation, hate speech, stigmatization’ mar election

FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin is pleased to welcome Dr Narek Sukiasyan, Senior Policy Researcher at Friedrich…

Armenia’s PM secures win in election ‘with highest turnout in a decade’

In a heavily scrutinised election, Armenia's ruling party has won the country's legislative election. The election…

Russian disinformation in Armenia ‘neither a surprise nor effective’, expert says

Fake news spread by Russia in Armenia as the country held legislative elections came as "neither…

Cockroach Janata Party holds first protest in New Delhi

Hundreds of supporters of the Cockroach Janata Party, an online joke that drew millions across India,…

Supporters of India’s Gen Z ‘cockroach’ party stage first protest in New Delhi

Hundreds of mostly young Indians gathered in New Dehli on Saturday for the first street protest…

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…

Thailand: Sexual abuse scandal inside family business empire forces public reckoning

#Thailand is facing a rare public reckoning over how it deals with matters of sexual #abuse…

‘I am a prisoner of conscience’: Ali Karimli, the opposition figure defying Azerbaijan’s regime

Azerbaijan’s opposition leader Ali Karimli, a former secretary of state, goes on trial in Baku on…

Xi meeting ‘was a success for Kim Jong Un’, expert says

Speaking with FRANCE 24's Monte Francis, Edward Howell, Lecturer in International Relations at the University of…

Bear captured in Japan after multi-day search as attacks rise

A bear that roamed the streets of a Japanese city for four days, forcing mass school closures, was caught on June 9, capping a search involving dozens of hunters and police. Bear attacks have been on the rise in Japan. Last week, a bear attack in the northeastern city of Fukushima left at least four people injured, and authorities failed at capturing it.

Extreme heatwaves: Indians struggle and suffer from water shortages

In late April, 98 of the world's 100 hottest cities were located in India. From mid-April…

EU set to discuss deportation of Afghan refugees with Taliban

The EU has invited Taliban representatives to Brussels for technical talks on deportations, which could take…

Beijing condemns US move to blacklist Chinese companies

China said Tuesday that it “firmly opposed” the US decision to blacklist major Chinese companies including…

Armenian election largely seen as ‘national referendum on country’s direction’

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's party won parliamentary elections, according to preliminary results on June 8.…