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North Korea's Kim Calls Putin His 'Dearest Friend'
Deutsche Welle
31 Dec 2024, 10:12
Photo: Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/AP/picture alliance
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un on Tuesday called Vladimir Putin his "dearest friend and comrade" in his letter to the Russian president praising the close ties between the two countries.
Kim sent New Year greetings "to the fraternal Russian people and all the service personnel of the brave Russian army on behalf of himself, the Korean people and all the service personnel of the armed forces of the DPRK," the state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, using an acronym of the North's formal name.
He also expressed his readiness "to design and push ahead with new projects" after their "meaningful journey in 2024."
North Korea's troop deployments to Russia
In a possible reference to Russia's war in Ukraine, Kim wished that 2025 would be the year "when the Russian army and people defeat neo-Nazism and achieve a great victory."
Seoul and Washington have accused Pyongyang of sending tens of thousands of troops to help Russia fight Ukraine.
North Korean troops are experiencing mass casualties on the frontlines of Russia's war against Ukraine, the Biden administration said last week.
At least 1,000 North Korean troops have either been killed or wounded last week alone in Russia's Kursk region — where Ukrainian troops have been holding territory since this summer — White House spokesperson John Kirby told reporters.
Closer ties between Russia and North Korea
The two nations have strengthened their political, military, and cultural ties since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In June, Putin and Kim signed a landmark defense pact during the Russian leader's visit to North Korea.
The pact calls for each side to provide immediate military aid if the other is attacked.
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Chinmoy Das' Arrest: US Calls for Fair Representation
The arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari, a former ISKCON leader and spokesperson for the Bangladesh Sanatan Jagarana Mancha, was brought up during the US State Department's press briefing.
In response to a question, Vedant Patel, US State Department Spokesperson told a press briefing on Tuesday, "We continue to stress and emphasize that even those who are in detention need to be afforded appropriate representation and need to be treated with basic fundamental freedoms and human rights."
Patel made these remarks during the regular press briefing held on Tuesday, December 3. A journalist had inquired whether the United States had any plans to address violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.
In response, Patel said, "We are consistent with every government in which we have a relationship with – we are clear that there needs to be the respect of fundamental freedoms; there needs to be respect of religious freedom and basic human rights."
He reiterated the importance of respecting religious freedom and fundamental human rights. He further mentioned, "Any kind of protests should be and need to be peaceful, and that any kind of crackdown - not even crackdown – that governments need to respect the rule of law. That's something we'll continue to emphasize."
Notably, Chinmoy Krishna Das was arrested by the Detective Branch (DB) of the police on November 25 at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport while traveling from Dhaka to Chattogram. He faces multiple charges, including sedition.
Nepal Bypasses Delhi, Signs BRI Agreement with China
Nepal has signed a framework agreement with China on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), paving the way for China's growing influence in the country. Although a preliminary agreement was signed seven years ago, the lack of progress had stalled implementation. This new deal aims to facilitate project execution.
Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs disclosed the agreement on Wednesday, December 4, according to Reuters.
Nepali Prime Minister K.P. Sharma Oli, currently on a four-day visit to Beijing, has prioritized strengthening ties with China over traditional first visits to New Delhi. This is his first foreign trip since taking office in July.
A preliminary BRI agreement between Nepal and China was signed in 2017 as part of China's global infrastructure and trade connectivity initiative. However, the absence of a structured framework and political consensus in Nepal prevented any project implementation over the past seven years.
Under the new agreement, both countries will plan and implement projects like road development and transport corridors while deciding on financing mechanisms. However, concerns over debt have sparked debates within Oli's coalition government, with the Nepali Congress opposing any loan-dependent projects.
Nepal's Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on X (formerly Twitter), "Nepal and China have signed a framework for Belt and Road Cooperation today." Further details have not been disclosed.
China has already provided a $216 million loan to Nepal for constructing an international airport in Pokhara, located 125 km from Kathmandu, which became operational last year. While China hails it as a BRI success, the airport faces challenges due to the lack of international flights, as Indian airspace access remains restricted.
India's influence in South Asia appears to be waning, with mounting concerns over ties with Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Bangladesh. Nepal's growing proximity to China and the new BRI agreement further intensify Delhi's unease.
China's Rules through Ideologically Indoctrinating the Youth
Education is often viewed as the bedrock of critical thinking and intellectual freedom. Yet, in China, schools and universities serve a different purpose: indoctrination into the ideology of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). From the earliest stages of education to the halls of higher learning, the Chinese education system has been understood to systematically mould students to align with state narratives, enabling compliance and discouraging dissent.
In China, the education system is weaponized by the CCP to inculcate unwavering loyalty to its ideology. Nowhere is this more evident than in the Party’s narratives about Tibet, Xinjiang, and Taiwan. Through manipulating curriculums and state-controlled pedagogy, Chinese schools and universities have transformed classrooms into arenas of political indoctrination, aiming to distort histories and suppress alternative perspectives.
This systematic indoctrination has not only entrenched authoritarian control but has also perpetuated harmful stereotypes and fuelled divisions that has hindered China’s relationship with the international community.
The CCP’s Narratives: A Manufactured Reality
From the earliest stages of education, Chinese students are taught that Tibet and Xinjiang are ‘inseparable parts’ of China and that Taiwan’s sovereignty is non-negotiable. School textbooks have known to whitewash histories of these regions, portraying them as historically Chinese territories and erasing the cultural and political autonomy they once held.
The CCP’s narrative on Tibet emphasizes its “peaceful liberation” in 1951, a euphemism for military invasion. Students are taught that Tibet continues to be backward, yet a feudal society rescued by Chinese intervention. The realities of Tibetan resistance, the destruction of monasteries, and the suppression of Tibetan Buddhism are unsurprisingly absent from these discourses. By presenting Tibet as a grateful beneficiary of Chinese governance, the CCP’s projection has attempted to reinforce its legitimacy while silencing the Tibetan struggle for self-determination.
Similarly, in the case of Xinjiang, elementary school textbooks have emphasized economic development and ethnic harmony, downplaying the harsh realities of mass detentions, cultural erosion, and systemic repression faced by the Uyghur population. These curriculums have projected narratives emphasising how Uyghurs have benefited benefit from Beijing’s policies, glossing over their lived experiences of surveillance and forced assimilation. Students are conditioned to see the CCP’s actions in Xinjiang as necessary measures to combat ‘extremism’, showcasing a nationalistic justification for human rights abuses.
The Limits of a Controlled Narrative
The CCP’s propaganda on Tibet, Xinjiang, and Taiwan, however also does more than distort history. It has for decades bred prejudice and suppressed critical inquiry, especially when it comes to the human rights abused the Party has conducted in these regions. By teaching students to view these regions through the lens of state ideology, the education system has entrenched harmful stereotypes and perpetuates systemic inequality.
For instance, Chinese students are been conditioned to see Tibetans and Uyghurs as ‘ungrateful’ or backward’ for resisting assimilation, reinforcing societal discrimination against these groups. Similarly, the vilification of Taiwan has bred undeniable hostility that has severely undermined the possibility of peaceful cross-strait dialogue.
However, perhaps the most concerning aspect of the CCP’s educational indoctrination is its suppression of dissent. Schools and universities have been equipped with surveillance systems to monitor student behaviour, and classmates are encouraged to report those who express ‘unpatriotic’ views, similar to practices that were exercised during the fateful ‘Cultural Revolution’. This has thus created an atmosphere of fear and conformity, where self-censorship has unfortunately become the norm.
The recent crackdown on students involved in labour movements and human rights advocacy illustrates the lengths to which the Party is prepared to go to silence dissent. These students, who dared to apply the Marxist principles they were taught to contemporary labour struggles, were met with arrests and expulsions, demonstrating the CCP’s hypocrisy in promoting ideology only when it serves its own interests.
The indoctrination of Chinese students has far-reaching consequences beyond China’s borders. As these individuals enter global academic and professional spaces, they will carry with them a worldview shaped by CCP propaganda and Party indoctrination of views. This complicates international dialogue on human rights, as many are unwilling, or unable, to critically engage with the realities of Tibet, Xinjiang, and Taiwan.
Moreover, the CCP’s education model serves as a blueprint for authoritarian regimes worldwide, demonstrating how control over education can be weaponized to sustain power and suppress dissent. The global community must recognize this and push for academic freedom and truthful education as fundamental human rights, for if not, then it must prepare to decimate the state-propaganda machinery run by the Party and its Supremo, Xi Jinping.
(Source: Mekong News)
Chinese Consumers Tighten Budgets, Hotel Industry Struggles
As China’s economy flounders, Chinese consumers are saving money, leading to a struggling hotel industry, even during the busy holiday season, including October’s National Day week and November’s “Double 11” holiday—also known as Singles Day.
Hotels engaged in a fierce price war after the National Day holiday from October 1 to October 7, deemed “the worst golden week” by some industry professionals. On October 15, travel website C-trip launched a “stock up now, pay later” promotion for Double 11, offering a “Zero Yuan Order” and major discounts on hotel packages.
Fliggy, a Chinese online travel agency, sold 100,000 three-night hotel packages at 999 yuan ($140) within 10 minutes of its “Double 11 sale” on October 21.
The aggressive price war ahead of the holiday season is raising concerns. Ji Qi, founder of H World Group, which runs 10,000 hotels worldwide, warned that excessive discounts could hurt competitiveness.
A Shanghai hotel employee noted, citing Hotel Tech Report, that this year’s market is weaker than last year’s due to the economic situation.
He mentioned that hotel rates have dropped, with rooms that used to cost 500 yuan ($70) per night now going for 300 yuan ($42) per night.
However, he also noted a decline in quality, as four-star and five-star hotels are cutting corners on amenities.
During the National Day holiday week, while the number of tourists rose, the financial performance was disappointing due to a widespread consumption downgrade in China.
Some tourism industry professionals described it as the “worst National Golden Week” in history, as reported by the Chinese language newspaper World Journal.
Official data from China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism showed that 765 million people travelled domestically during the holiday, marking a 10.2 percent increase from the same period in 2019, just before the COVID-19 pandemic. However, spending only rose by 7.9 percent.
Based on data from Fliggy, upscale hotel bookings in China during this year’s National Day holiday surged by nearly 40 percent compared to the same period last year.
However, the average price for hotel bookings dropped by around 6 percent year over year.
In late September, a hotel owner in Changsha took to social media to voice their struggles, stating, “At this price, even in a prime location, we can’t cover basic rent. After accounting for labour, utilities, and platform commissions, I’m facing a significant deficit. I don’t know how we can sustain this.”
Despite a fierce price war among Chinese hotels, the industry is rapidly expanding nationwide.
As of March 31, Huazhu China, a subsidiary of H Group, operated 9,684 hotels across 1,290 cities, marking an increase of 158 cities from the same period last year, according to Sohu Travel.
Wang He, a U.S.-based China affairs observer, told The Epoch Times that with tourists traveling on tight budgets, hotel prices are unlikely to rise. He criticized the large-scale hotel construction and expansion under these circumstances as being impractical.
Davy J. Wong, a Chinese American economist, explained to The Epoch Times that the Chinese hotel industry is suffering from over-expansion and capital-driven growth, causing hotels to cluster in certain areas and compete excessively.
Wong highlighted serious issues beyond the imbalance between supply and demand.
He noted that consumption has significantly downgraded, with a rise in short-term rentals, homestays, and budget accommodations.
This shift has made it difficult for capital-investment-dependent hotels to compete with lower-end options, resulting in intensified competition within the industry.
Wong forecasted a significant shake-up in the hotel industry, anticipating that many hotels in China could face bankruptcy within the next three to five years.
Tian informed The Epoch Times that domestic hotels are laying off staff to survive.
“With no government or corporate conferences, the related liaison and sales departments in hotels will be disbanded, catering will be outsourced, and hotels will focus solely on providing guest rooms,” he explained.
Since the onset of the China-U.S. trade war in 2018, the decline in foreign tourists has posed significant challenges to China’s hotel industry.
Tian highlighted that increasing tensions between China and the U.S., as well as China and Europe, coupled with the Chinese government’s support for Russia in the Russian-Ukrainian war, have contributed to negative perceptions of China in the West.
The strict three-year zero-COVID policy further exacerbated the issue, resulting in a sharp drop in foreign tourists, visitors, students, and investments.
Despite implementing unilateral visa-free entry policies to attract tourists, the expected boost to the industry has not materialized.
“It’s ineffective,” Wong stated. He added that the Chinese government’s anti-Japanese and anti-American propaganda and education, along with incidents of violence against foreigners, have also had negative impacts.
Wang highlighted that foreigners are no longer coming to China. “The issue isn’t about visas.
The three-year COVID-19 lockdown imposed by the Chinese Communist Party has frightened Westerners away.
They’ve mentally distanced themselves from the regime. Many Westerners in China feel the need to leave the country. This has resulted in a significant decline in the number of Westerners traveling to China, and it hasn’t recovered,” he explained.
(Source: KHABARHUB)
Pakistan to Launch Direct Flights in Bangladesh Soon
S.M. Mahbubul Alam, Bangladesh's Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi has announced that direct flights between Bangladesh and Pakistan will be launched soon. He stated that this initiative would significantly strengthen business relations between the two countries.
According to a report published by Pakistan's The Express Tribune on Friday (December 6), the deputy high commissioner disclosed this during his visit to the Hyderabad Chamber of Small Traders and Small Industry (HCSTSI). He added that an exhibition for importers and exporters from both countries would also be organized in Hyderabad in collaboration with HCSTSI.
Additionally, Mahbubul Alam invited Pakistan's business community to participate in the annual trade fair scheduled to be held in Dhaka in January 2025. He assured them that the visa process for Pakistani traders would be made easier to facilitate their participation in the event.
During the visit, the deputy high commissioner highlighted that Dr. Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor of Bangladesh's interim government, emphasized leveraging opportunities to enhance trade relations with Pakistan. He described Bangladesh as an attractive market for Pakistani businesses and encouraged HCSTSI to send a delegation to Dhaka. He also pledged to monitor and expedite the visa process for traders.
Mahbubul Alam pointed out that Bangladesh exports its products to 80 countries, generating billions of dollars in revenue. However, he stressed the need to further strengthen bilateral trade ties with Pakistan to foster broader relations.
It is noteworthy that Pakistan has introduced free e-visa applications for Bangladeshi citizens. Applications can be submitted online, with e-visas being issued within a few hours. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has long expressed interest in carrying Bangladeshi passengers to various destinations in Pakistan.
In light of growing interest from Bangladeshi travelers, PIA is now planning to operate direct flights.
Saudi Arabia Unveils World's First Date-Based Soft Drink: 'Milaf Cola'
Saudi Arabia has launched the world's first soft drink made from dates. The first date-based soft drink, "Milaf Cola," has been introduced to the market by Saudi Arabia. While many avoid soft drinks for health reasons, the country promises to maintain a balance between taste and nutrition.
This drink was unveiled at the Riyadh Date Festival in November by Saudi Agriculture Minister Abdulrahman Al-Fadli and CEO of Thurat Al-Madina Company Bandar Al-Kahtani.
The company states that "Milaf Cola" is the result of years of research. It has been produced while maintaining international food safety and quality standards, with a strong focus on taste and nutrition. They expect it to gain significant popularity in both local and global markets.
The manufacturer of Milaf Cola also mentions that the soft drink is made using high-quality, locally sourced dates from Saudi Arabia. It is much healthier and more nutritious compared to traditional soft drinks.
In line with Saudi Arabia's vision to promote environmentally friendly and local products, Thurat Al-Madina is working on the development of various date-based food products, like Milaf Cola.
Bangladeshi Man Sentenced Lifetime Imprisonment for Rape and Murder in Greece
A Bangladeshi man has been sentenced to lifetime imprisonment in Greece for the kidnapping, rape, and murder of a young Polish woman.
On Friday, December 6, the court delivered the verdict against Salahuddin (33), a Bangladeshi expatriate, for his involvement in the crime committed in June last year on the Greek island of Kosw.
The victim, 27-year-old Polish woman Anastasia-Patricia Rubinska, was abducted, raped, and murdered in June 2023. Following her disappearance, Salahuddin was arrested as the prime suspect.
Anastasia, who worked at a hotel on Kos Island, went missing on June 12, 2023, after finishing her shift. The next day, her boyfriend, who also worked at the same hotel, reported her disappearance to the police. Six days later, Anastasia’s body was discovered.
CCTV footage revealed Anastasia shopping and spending time with a group of South Asian workers, including Salahuddin. She was last seen alive riding on Salahuddin’s scooter to his residence.
David Burzaki, the lead investigator, stated, “Salahuddin had purchased a plane ticket to Italy and was planning to leave the island.” He added, “He had searched on Google for phrases like, ‘How to hide a body,’ ‘How to erase fingerprints,’ and ‘Ways to mislead investigators.’”
After thorough investigations, the trial began on December 2, 2024. The prosecution accused Salahuddin of abduction, rape, and murder. Following the hearings, the court sentenced him to life imprisonment on Friday.
