Which way UP: India’s bellwether election

Max Rodenbeck, The Economist's South Asia bureau chief, dives into the critical Uttar Pradesh election, discussing its implications for Prime Minister Modi and his Hindu-national agenda. Meanwhile, Mathieu Favas, finance correspondent, sheds light on the complex sale of fossil fuel assets by oil majors to private equity, illustrating the tension between sustainability commitments and ongoing hydrocarbon operations. The conversation also touches on the troubling trends in global democracy, examining shifts that have relegated countries like Afghanistan to the bottom of the Democracy Index.