Dear ST reader, 

Election fever continues to grip India. Debarshi Dasgupta and Rohini Mohan report on how political parties are engaging the Indian diaspora via events such as car rallies and conferences as campaigning continues in the world’s largest election.

Meanwhile, Rohini Mohan writes about how foreign investors are banking on the return of incumbent Prime Minister Narendra Modi to power and hope he will remove business roadblocks. We will continue to bring you the latest until the result is known on June 4.  

Being an influencer can bring great rewards but where does one draw the line? Chinese online influencers are in the authorities’ cross hairs after a content creator faked a story about finding a boy’s missing homework in Paris. Lim Min Zhang reports.

Boom and bust? Joyce ZK Lim looks at the intense competition in China’s growing and yet overcrowded electric vehicle sector. Industry players are bracing themselves for a “bloodbath”, with price wars and businesses potentially exiting the scene.

In Indonesia, Wahyudi Soeriaatmadja tells the story of how a regency in East Java province has picked environmentally friendly projects over the riches of gold mining. “We don’t want yellow gold. We want green and blue gold,” the regent of Trenggalek says.

Tourists from Singapore and seven other Asian countries will soon find it easier to pay for their purchases in Japan using their local QR code wallets under a new joint payment scheme. However, Japan faces the challenge of increasing the adoption of its own QR payment system. Walter Sim reports.

Drumming up support among the Indian diaspora

From pledging to involve them in India’s progress to appointing a minister to handle their affairs, political parties are wooing the 18-million plus strong Indian diaspora.

More on the India election:

Foreign investors hope Modi will prevail

Heatwave could affect voter turnout

Why some moderate Hindus vote for BJP

Wake-up call for Chinese influencers?

A top influencer lied that she found homework books in Paris belonging to a primary school pupil and was seeking to return them to their owner.

Related coverage:

Chinese influencer poses as Russian soldier fighting in Ukraine

China state TV slams beauty influencer

China social media apps pull in S’pore users

Why tech titans are looking at Indonesia

The sheer size of the market and a thriving start-up scene are getting the investors’ attention.

More on the Indonesian tech scene:

TikTok announces deal to restart Indonesia online business

China’s BYD pulls ahead of Tesla in Indonesia’s EV market

S’pore companies poised to benefit from Indonesia’s tech, energy sectors

Israel bans Al Jazeera

The move was dictated by calculations of Israeli domestic politics.

Related coverage:

Israeli police raid Al Jazeera after shutdown order

Al Jazeera says Gaza journalist beaten, arrested by Israeli forces

Murder of boy sparks crack down on school bullying

In March, the remains of a boy were found in an abandoned vegetable garden in Hebei province, China. He was killed and buried by his schoolmates.

More on school bullying:

Bullies force student to eat faeces in middle school in Fujian

Taiwan schools look into cases of teachers bullying students 

Special needs student in Thailand stabs classmate to death over bullying

E-rickshaws gain popularity in India

They are key to the government’s efforts to promote the use of electric vehicles on the roads.

Related coverage:

India’s EV boom is built on mopeds and rickshaws

Man displays personal details on his e-rickshaw to seek bride