they shut down the main opposition newspaper

Other news of the day: some Chinese provinces have granted 30 days of leave for marriage (instead of three) with the purpose of increasing the fertility rate in the country. Seattle prohibits caste discrimination. The food crisis in North Korea worsens. In Thailand, TikTok prohibits parties from campaigning during elections. Russia opens a naval base in Sudan.

BANGLADESH

The Bangladeshi government, headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, shut down the main opposition newspaper accusing him of violating press laws. Dainik Dinkal has been the spokesperson for the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for over thirty years. The Dhaka district authorities ordered the closure on December 26, but the paper continued to be published while it awaited the outcome of its appeal to the Press Council. Press freedom in Bangladesh is lower than in Russia and Afghanistan.

UNITED STATES – INDIA

Seattle has become the first city in the United States to prohibits discrimination based on caste. The City Council voted yesterday in favor of the proposal presented by Kshama Sawant, the only Seattle councilwoman of Indian origin. However, the Hindu American Foundation and the Coalition of Hindus of North America opposed the decision, saying they believe the resolution further isolates an already vulnerable community. Sawant affirms, for her part, that discrimination transcends national and religious borders.

NORTH KOREA

North Korea is in a serious food crisis; State media announced that senior officials will meet at the end of the month to discuss “fundamental changes” in agricultural policies. Satellite images from the South Korean authorities show that the North produced 180,000 tons less food in 2022 than in 2021, and the price of corn (which is bought as a substitute for rice) rose 20% earlier this year due to to bad harvests.

CHINA

Newly married couples will have 30 days of marriage leave paid, in the hope that couples will seize the opportunity to increase the country’s birth rate. The decision was made in some Chinese provinces such as Gansu and Shanxi, which experts say have had slower economic development. Until now, paid leave in the case of marriage was a maximum of three days.

THAILAND

TikTok Thailand reported that will block all accounts that make political propaganda before and during the national elections scheduled for May. Chanida Klyphun, who manages the platform’s guidelines in the country, said the video app is mainly intended for entertainment content, so procedures have been put in place to prevent political parties from using the platform to spread fake news. , generate support or advertise.

PHILIPPINES

Philippines formally joined the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership last night, the largest free trade pact, which entered into force in January 2021 and includes, in addition to the 10 ASEAN members, China, Japan, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. The Association covers a region of around 2.1 billion inhabitants and represents approximately 30% of the world’s gross domestic product. Manila hopes to attract better jobs and cheaper raw materials while inflation remains at record levels.

RUSSIA – SUDAN

Russia has decided to open a military naval base in Sudan, after long negotiations, from which it will be able to control one of the most important maritime cargo crossing points in the world, with access to the Suez Canal and exit to the Indian Ocean. The agreement includes supplying arms to Sudan and obtaining the exploitation of gold mines.