The Indian government has scrapped an order which gave manufacturers 90 days to pre-install a state-backed security app on all new smartphones. The move came following a huge public outcry and resistance from tech firms. Yuka Royer speaks with Nikhil Pahwa, a digital policy analyst in New Delhi, about what the app – which is still available albeit no longer mandatory – is intended for and why there was so much concern about what it could potentially do.  

People in Hong Kong are searching for answers after the worst fire there in decades. The blaze that ripped through seven high-rise apartment blocks took more than 24 hours to bring under control, and put the spotlight on the continued use of bamboo scaffolding in the city.  

We analyse the renewed tensions between China and Japan, who have been locked in an escalating diplomatic row. The spat was set off by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's suggestion earlier this month that Japan could respond militarily in the scenario that China attacks Taiwan. The dispute has led Beijing to cancel Japan-bound flights, suspend concerts and ban imports of Japanese seafood.

When she was elected head of Japan's ruling party, Sanae Takaichi declared that she had abandoned the term "work-life balance" and asked fellow party members to "work like a horse". A month into office, the country's first female prime minister appears to have put her words into action. She told parliament that she was only sleeping two to four hours at night, a few days after organising a 3am staff meeting. In a country plagued by a culture of overwork, this hasn't gone down well. 

Zohran Mamdani celebrated his Indian roots during his campaign for mayor of New York City. After winning the race, the 34-year-old’s victory was celebrated by Indians online – but officials in New Delhi have remained tight-lipped. In this edition of Access Asia, we find out why. Plus, Indian engineering students put their US ambitions on hold as new H-1B visa rules kick in.

Recently back from military service, BTS's leader RM made history by becoming the first K-pop idol to give a keynote address at an APEC CEO summit in South Korea, calling on global leaders to support culture and embrace diversity. Coming four years after the band were invited to speak at the UN General Assembly, it was the latest display of Seoul's soft-power diplomacy, capitalising on K-pop's phenomenal global success. 

On the show this week, we explore where things stand between the US and India, as reports emerge that the two sides are nearing a trade agreement. We ask our expert whether trust can be restored with Washington, and examine what lies ahead for relations with Moscow as Russian crude imports may soon dry up. We also look at where Japan is headed as its first female prime minister takes office. Plus, sumo wrestlers return to London for the second time — and become an instant hit.

In a remarkable turnaround in bilateral relations, India has extended a warm welcome to the Taliban's Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during his week-long trip. The first visit in years by a senior Taliban official sparked controversy, including the exclusion of female journalists from a press conference which he later reorganised. Yuka Royer speaks with Subir Sinha, director of SOAS's South Asia Institute, about the significance of this visit and its regional implications. 

On the show this week, we ask what message Kim Jong-un is trying to send to the West, and the US in particular, as he marks 80 years since the founding of the North Korean Workers' Party. We also explore how India's stance in the Middle East has shifted, as it tilts closer to Israel. Plus, an HPV vaccine drive faces road bumps in Pakistan over claims of misinformation.

Chinese lawmakers are reviewing a new law that tells parents to teach their children to love the Communist Party and criminalises any activity deemed to be damaging "ethnic unity". Yuka Royer speaks with Human Rights Watch's Asia director, who says the bill is a part of a broader effort under President Xi Jinping to try to erase individual ethnic and cultural identities, and that if passed, it would entrench repression of minorities and expand Beijing's ideological control beyond its borders. 

Is India being forced to reconsider its relationship with the United States? In Access Asia, we explore how the aftershocks of the US's new H-1B visa policy are being felt in New Delhi. We also bring you the latest on Indonesia making overtures towards Israel after recognising Palestine back in 1988. Plus, we tell you why the Disney+ K-drama "Tempest" is stirring up a storm in China.