31 Mar 2023

Asia correspondent Ed White

From Nine To Noon, 9:45 am on 31 March 2023
India National Congress President Rahul Gandhi, address at an election rally in Dimapur, India north eastern state of Nagaland on Wednesday.

Photo: AFP / Caisii Mao / NurPhoto

In India fears are rising that democracy is on the ropes amid the legal challenges and political downfall of longtime opposition leader Rahul Ghandi. Kim Jong Un finally appears to be moving toward a slow reopening of North Korea after more than three years of strict Covid controls, a move that could pave the way for a gradual international reengagement on nuclear talks. Xi Jinping's government is launching something a charm offensive, rolling out the red carpet to global business leaders and this week staging the return of Jack Ma to the mainland. But does this mean Xi's ruthless crackdowns on the Chinese business elite are really over?