Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Philippines

Today's three stories you should know

Bangladesh

Bangladeshis go to the polls tomorrow in an election billed as the first democratic vote in years. A violent student-led street uprising in 2024 ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who had been in power since 2009, forcing her into exile in neighboring India. With Hasina’s Awami League party banned from competing, analysts say the election is a two-way race between the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and a coalition led by Jamaat-e-Islami, the leading Islamist party. But the BNP’s Tarique Rahman, who returned to the country in December after 17 years of self-imposed exile, is a slight favorite to win. Many Bangladeshis will be hoping for stability after months of unrest in the run-up to the poll.

NB: Proximities previously published a deep dive on the Bangladesh elections for paid subscribers. Consider going paid for weekly Q&As that put our world in context.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe’s cabinet has approved draft legislation to extend presidential terms from five to seven years and allow MPs to choose presidents rather than a public vote. The move paves the way for 83-year-old President Emmerson Mnangagwa to stay in power until 2030. Mnangagwa, known as “the crocodile” for his ruthless political manoeuvring, came to power after longtime leader Robert Mugabe was toppled in 2017. The opposition condemned the plan, which has been floated for some time, and police cracked down on crowds who attempted to demonstrate against it. Mnangagwa, once Mugabe’s deputy, has been accused of facilitating corruption and of violating human rights during his almost decade-long tenure.

More from Al Jazeera here.

Philippines

The Philippines government has urged the Chinese embassy in Manila to “calm” its rhetoric amid an escalating war of words over maritime rights. The foreign ministry asked the Chinese to be constructive in their statements while adding it welcomed “vigorous debate.” The row comes after the Philippine Senate condemned the Chinese embassy for attacking Philippine officials over their defense of the country’s sovereignty in the South China Sea. The two have had a series of maritime confrontations in recent years, with the Philippines accusing Beijing of crossing into its exclusive economic zones, and China shooting back that the Philippines has invaded territory it claims as its own.

More from Reuters here.