India’s media scene appraised

In India mainstream media – television channels and newspapers – are rapidly losing audiences, possibly because viewers and readers no longer trust them to deliver accurate news. But, as Kavita Chowdhury reports, the same trend is underway in other parts of South Asia, as is demonstrated by Gen Z’s preference for social media as a means of voicing their protests.

Water disputes across Asia

Broken Threads: A Family From Empire to Independence by Mishal Husain

Mishal Husain became well known in Britain as a presenter of BBC Radio 4’s flagship Today programme and she commentated on major royal occasions, including the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. In her new book Broken Threads: A Family from Empire to Independence she tells a family story with great historical significance. Published by Fourth Estate, it is reviewed here by Sindamani Subryan Bridglal.

Bisinomics

Despite a challenging trade environment and tariffs, China had strong GDP growth in the first quarter of 2026,’ The Wall Street Journal reported. There’s been 5% year-on-year growth

Where is India’s economy heading?

As rising fuel and food prices test Indian households, Sam Tully asks whether digital infrastructure and AI can power India’s next economic leap.

Why didn’t Asia fare better in the football World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup has ended and Spain was triumphant. The final took place on 19 July, but for Asia it was over three weeks earlier when Japan lost to Brazil. Fans in China felt encouraged that their underachieving team, which dreams of adding to its 2002 sole appearance, was not that far behind regional rivals. There wasn't much happiness elsewhere on the continent in what has been a sobering summer. John Duerden considers why Asian teams did not perform better.

‘Was Partition a big mistake? I think so.’

Yavar Abbas lived the first part of his life in undivided British-ruled India and the second in Britain, maintaining close contacts with the land of his birth. Last year, at a celebration to mark the end of the Second World War in Asia, in which Yavar fought in Burma, he brought tears to the eyes of King Charles III and Queen Camilla by speaking publicly of the King’s battle with cancer. Yavar is nearing his 106th birthday, so Democracy Asia felt this centenarian deserved to express his personal view.

South Korea in recovery mode

Is a clampdown on free expression the legacy of President Yoon Suk Yeol's attempt in 2024 to declare martial law? Or is it, as current president Lee Jae-myung's party argues, a necessary measure to restore the people's trust in government? Ifang Bremer reports from Seoul.

Iran: A deal that feels like betrayal

The ceasefire announced in mid-June between Iran and the US, and signing by both of a memorandum of understanding, raised hopes for an end to the war. Full-scale war may have ceased, but a game of ‘tit for tat’ for control of the Strait of Hormuz is underway between the combatants: Iran strikes at passing ships, the US hits Iranian missile bases or boats, and Iran responds by targeting US bases on the western side of the Gulf. Meanwhile Fariba Sahraei has been finding out how the memorandum of understanding has been received inside Iran.

Today’s Pakistan: peacemaking abroad, insurgency at home

Pakistan’s army chief has been in the limelight as a peace broker on the international stage. But there are no talks or mediation for dissent at home, as Umber Khairi reports.

Two years on from Bangladesh’s August rebellion

In theory, last February’s national election has restored Bangladesh’s democracy after a period of authoritarian rule was ended by the July-August 2024 protest. In practice polling has restored the once powerful Bangladesh Nationalist Party, founded by former president Ziaur Rahman, and now led by Tarique Rahman. Long-time Bangladesh watcher Nicholas Nugent considers to what extent democracy has been restored.

Alia’s story – it’s hard being a woman in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan

Understanding life in Afghanistan has been difficult since the Taliban came to power – for the second time – in August 2021. One of the few international journalists to have gained access to the country is BBC correspondent Yogita Limaye. Here she tells Alia’s story.