Hey, this is Sham, your very own news curator. I'm trying to find a new term that better describes the region of so-called "Latin America". Is "the Americas" a good alternative?
In issue #333, I talk about a case of organ trafficking that put a Nigerian senator and his wife behind bars in the UK, cars that spontaneously catch fire in Venezuela and why "smelling" gasoline has become a meme there, and some good news from Japan as the country next month is going to introduce better laws against sex crimes. Plus, brave women in Afghanistan, a Salvadoran high school senior who got lucky, an Instagram page from Tajikistan and my new favorite song from India. So much more.
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Estimated reading time: 10 min
You have access to all of my sources by clicking on what's underlined.
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A Nigerian senator was jailed for organ trafficking in the UK
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What happened
Ike Ekweremadu, a senior Nigerian politician, has been jailed by a London court for trafficking a young street trader from Lagos, Nigeria to the UK to illegally extract a kidney for a transplant for his seriously ill daughter.
Why this matters
This is the first organ trafficking conviction under the Modern Slavery Act. Organ trafficking often preys on vulnerable populations, such as the poor, migrants, and refugees, who may be coerced or deceived into selling their organs or may have their organs forcibly removed without their consent. Ike Ekweremadu is a wealthy opposition senator and former deputy president of the Nigerian Senate, and had previously been one of the driving forces behind the ban on organ trafficking in Nigeria.
Tell me more
The UK’s Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said on Friday that Ike Ekweremadu had been sentenced to nine years and eight months, while his wife Beatrice, 56, was sentenced to four years and six months. Nigerian doctor Obinna Obeta, 51 – described by prosecutors as a middleman – was jailed for 10 years, the CPS said. Joanne Jakymec, the Chief Crown Prosecutor, stated that "the convicted defendants showed utter disregard for the victim’s welfare, health and well-being and used their considerable influence to a high degree of control throughout, with the victim having a limited understanding of what was really going on here."
How did this case come to light?
The family had tried to pass off the proposed donor, aged about 21, as their daughter’s cousin. In earlier media reports during the trial, the Guardian and the BBC reported that the victim had even been asked to dress up and eat at a posh restaurant with the family to create the impression that he was there to willingly donate a kidney to a family member. Although he had been promised opportunities in the UK, he says he only really realized what was going on when he attended a hospital appointment, which turned out to be a kidney screening exam. The case came to light when the man went to police saying he had been trafficked and someone was trying to harvest his kidney. The victim was being supported by Justice and Care, a charity that campaigns for the victims of modern slavery.
Any words from Nigeria?
The Nigerian Senate and the Economic Community of West African States tried to urge the British judicial authorities to show clemency to Ekweremadu – but no luck. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo chimed in as well, "He's a patriot, god-fearing, philanthropic and progressive citizen." No words for the young street trader though.
What now?
The victim said he is afraid of reprisals against him and his family, and was worried that his father had been approached to drop the case. He said: "I can’t think about going home to Nigeria. These people are extremely powerful, and I’m worried for my safety." He also refused legal compensation from the defendants because he said "receiving anything from the bad people would be cursed", the court heard. Yes, the sentences send a signal that powerful people are not above the law, but at what cost to the victim?
A book on Nigerian classism, recommended by ChatGPT
"An Orchestra of Minorities by Chigozie Obioma (2019). This book tells the story of a Nigerian poultry farmer who, in an attempt to improve his social status and win the love of a woman from a wealthier background, embarks on a journey that leads him to face harsh realities about class and social mobility." One goodreads reviewer named Emily said, "As I said, it can be a tough read. The characters often switch between Nigerian Pidgin, untranslated Igbo, and the "language of the White man", but it is impressive how easily I understood everything without knowing a word of Igbo."
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A lot of cars catch fire in Venezuela and people believe it's because of cheap gasoline
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What happened
 On a daily basis, videos of cars on fire in different parts of the country keep flooding Venezuelan social media. For example, in Maracaibo, Zulia (northwestern state), the fire department receives an average of four calls a day for vehicles that suddenly catch fire. At least 26 vehicles have caught fire in Zulia so far this year. People suspect that this has something to do with poor gasoline quality in the country. The state oil company Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), which is responsible for gasoline quality and distribution in the country, denies this.
Why this matters
Venezuela, with a population of 28 million, has for years struggled under economic collapse, leading some seven million people to flee the country. In 2021, 65.2 percent of the country's inhabitants lived in poverty, according to a study produced by the Universidad Catolica Andres Bello (UCAB). To give you a better sense of just how limited people's resources currently are: the richest 10 percent in the country make an average of US$553.20 a month, the poorest 10 percent survive on just US$8 per month.
Tell me more
Cases have also been reported in the eastern part of the country and in the capital Caracas. In Zulia, a former PDVSA director, told AFP: "There have been refinery failures" at the Paraguana complex. The government maintains all is well at the complex that serves as Zulia's main crude oil-to-fuel processing, refinery and distribution center. It is one of Venezuela's largest refineries, but Zulia is one of the states hardest hit by years of fuel shortages as the government favors the capital Caracas.
Fuel shortages? Venezuela swims in oil.
Despite having the world’s largest oil reserves, Venezuela, where heavily subsidized gasoline sells for just 50 cent per liter, was only the 25th largest oil producer in the world last year. Years of mismanagement and corruption led to the collapse of the oil industry, which is also going through the siege of the sanctions imposed by the United States that have complicated the commercialization of crude oil since 2019. Large-scale smuggling to Colombia made everything worse, as the domestic supply failures necessitated the importation of "poor quality fuels" from Iran.
What's PDVSA doing about it?
So far, PDVSA has not issued an official statement on the situation, but it did post a video on its Twitter account in which they asked people buying fuel at a gas station to "smell" gasoline in a plastic container to verify the quality of the product. "PDVSA founds the first academy of gasoline sommeliers," said one social media user named "The Fake Post," in response. In another video, quality controller Yamaru Duran of the Venezuelan Institute of Petroleum Technology (Intevep), insists that gasoline distributed in Zulia had passed all the quality tests.
What now?
People in Venezuela cannot afford all of this 'car care taking' for too long. A car battery costs between US$15 and US$30 dollars. Fire extinguisher sales have skyrocketed, according to merchants, with one unit selling for US$5 to US$20. To be continued.
Interesting fact about Venezuela, written by ChatGPT
"In 1863, Venezuela abolished the death penalty for all crimes. It was the first-ever country to do so." This one is true, but can you believe I fact-checked four facts that ChatGPT provided me, and they were all fake? Please. Fact-Check. Everything. On. ChatGPT.
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Starting next month, Japan will introduce better laws against sex crimes
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What happened
 Next month, Japan's lawmakers are going to introduce stronger legislation against different sex crimes.
Why this matters
Sexualized violence violates the fundamental human right of bodily integrity and autonomy. Everyone has the right to live free from violence, abuse, and exploitation. Plus, it has a devastating impact on survivors.
Tell me more
Japan has been looking at several penal code changes to strengthen legislation against different sex crimes. The proposed reforms would unify and expand the scope of criminal cases under national law, and increase penalties to imprisonment. The reforms are expected to be passed in June, and will also include criminalizing upskirting, raising the age of consent from 13 to 16, extending the time limit for reporting rape to 15 years, and criminalizing the grooming of minors.
What's upskirting?
A huge problem in Japan. Upskirting is where someone takes a picture under a person's clothing from a position that allows someone to look up inside a person's dress or skirt, without their permission. This is why many phones in Japan have the "clicking" sound when you take a photo that can't be turned off. In 2021, Japanese police made a record number of over 5,000 arrests for clandestine photography, which is about three times the cases in 2010. A survey by a national aviation trade union in March found that about 70 percent of flight attendants in Japan reported their photos being secretly taken.
Zoom out: Some Asian countries have laws against voyeurism, but enforcement varies. In South Korea, violators may face a fine up to 10 million won (US$7,500) or a prison sentence of up to five years. However, only 5% of 2,000 cases that went to court between 2011 and 2016 resulted in jail time.
To end on a good note, did you know that on April 23, Tokyo's Rainbow Pride Parade took place for the first time in four years? Around 10,000 people gathered in the downtown Shibuya district, calling on the Japanese government to prioritize LGBTQ+ rights.
Japanese feminists to follow, recommended by ChatGPT
"Mieko Kawakami, Minori Kitahara, Machiko Osawa and Kazuko Fukuda." I have Kawakami's "Sisters in Yellow" on my to-read list, it only recently came out. Did you know that Kawakami is also a successful singer-songwriter in Japan? I've added some of her songs to this newsletter's very own Spotify playlist, 'Go Global Weekly'.
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Uganda: The parliament of Uganda passed new anti-LGBTQ+ laws after president Yoweri Museveni requested reforms. The bill maintains the death penalty as a punishment for "aggravated homosexuality". (Reuters)
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DRC: At least 176 people were killed by floods in the villages of Bushushu and Nyamukubi in South Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Al Jazeera)
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Burkina Faso: Soldiers alleged to be from Burkina Faso’s army massacred nearly 150 people in the northern village of Karma village late last month, according to Amnesty International. An investigation has been opened by the prosecutor in Ouahigouya, the provincial capital. The army, which has fought Islamist insurgents in the country since 2015, has not responded to media requests for comment on claims that the attackers wore military uniforms. (Amnesty International)
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Guatemala: Last Tuesday, the trial began against journalist José Rubén Zamora (former president of the newspaper elPeriódico) and Samari Gómez (former assistant to the Special Prosecutor's Office against Impunity). This is the first time a Guatemalan journalist has been taken to court for being accused of money laundering. (Plaza Publica, Spanish)
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South Africa / United Kingdom: The Coronation of King Charles III took place on Saturday. The diamond placed in the British crown jewels, which was historically discovered in South Africa, is being demanded back by a group of South Africans. It is set in the royal scepter that King Charles III held during his coronation and is the world’s largest known clear-cut diamond. (Africanews)
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Somalia: Somalia will conduct its first national census in 48 years to gather vital data on population and the state of the economy. The Somalia National Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday that the 2024/25 census would be conducted in partnership with the United Nations. (Nation)
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Paraguay: Santiago Peña was declared the winner of the Paraguayan presidential election. (BBC News)
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Bolivia: The Senate of Bolivia approved legislation aimed at monetizing gold reserves for international trade amid concerns of a shortage of dollars. (Reuters)
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Mexico: National Immigration Institute (INM) Commissioner Francisco Garduño was charged in connection with the migrant detention center fire in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, that took the lives of forty migrants from Central and South America. (NBC)
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Afghanistan: Women in Kabul took to the streets of Kabul last week to demand their fundamental rights of work and education and to strongly criticize the United Nations for holding a two-day, closed-door meeting in Doha, Qatar on "how to engage with the Taliban" on issues including human rights, in particular women's and girls' rights, inclusive governance, countering terrorism and drug trafficking." The women fear that these talks could lead to new levels of recognition for the Taliban. (CBS)
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Myanmar: Myanmar's military junta commuted 38 death sentences to life imprisonment as part of a wider amnesty. (Al Jazeera)
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Russia: Researchers announced the successful extraction of ancient DNA from a 20,000-year-old elk-tooth pendant found in Denisova Cave. (Reuters)
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United States / El Salvador: The LA Times recently featured a story about Jonathan Cornejo, a high school senior from Los Angeles who is originally from El Salvador. Despite his aspirations to attend his dream college, financial difficulties have prevented him from doing so. However, after the story was published, readers donated money to him, which allowed him and another classmate to be able to commit to their first choice colleges.
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Watch... Instagram page: "Tell Me Sister" by Elena Nazhmetdinova and Farzona Saidzoda. The two friends have founded the page to encourage Tajikistan’s urban youth, who are often active social media users, to share their experiences of physical and verbal harassment. Tell Me Sister publishes these accounts anonymously.
Listen to... Podcast episode: "Word on the Street" (34 min) by Kerning Cultures. Do you know the meaning of the street you live on? I like to google them. Mine is about a German man in history I had absolutely no knowledge of. And now I do, hundreds of years after he had died. In this episode, the hosts dive into: "Two stories about two streets, and the justices hidden in their names. Follow us to Tehran and Khartoum as we uncover two histories brought together by one common denominator."
Read... Book: "Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions" by Omolola Ogunyemi. Academic and author of Jollof Rice and Other Revolutions, Omolola Ogunyemi, wanted her debut novel to capture the ways in which the lives of Nigerian women have changed over several generations: "I was always intrigued by stories of how things used to be, especially when I found out that my grandmother’s older sister was once married to a woman who couldn’t have children of her own, and that this was once a perfectly acceptable part of the culture in her region of what is now Nigeria." In this interview with The Republic, she also talks about her next book, which is a fictionalized take on her great-grandfather’s life. "He was found with a cache of guns in what is now the Delta area of Nigeria in 1897 and was banished by the British as a result. No one knows where he ended up or died—some think Calabar or another area of Nigeria, where he didn’t speak the language. My research thus far has found that many Africans who challenged colonization were banished..."
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"Back to College" by Manan Bhardwaj premiered on Saturday. More than three million people have watched this video already. I totally get it; the song is so catchy, and it's playing on my Spotify 24/7.
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Stealing iPhones is lucrative. Did you read about the break-in at a Seattle Apple store last month? The thieves reportedly entered the store by cutting a hole in the bathroom wall of a nearby coffee supply shop and managed to steal $500,000 worth of iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches.
Not long after, thousands of kilometers further east, another group of thieves got caught. In India, the Delhi police arrested five people who were involved in buying and reselling stolen iPhones.
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That's it from me. This issue has been written while on a FaceTime Audio call with my best friend.
For the maps, say thanks to Wikimedia Commons.
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Hey, I'm Sham, the person behind this newsletter. Since 2014, I email a bunch of strangers once a week, curating news headlines from Asia, Africa and Latin America. I work under the assumption that, here in the West (I live in Berlin, Germany), we don't read or know much about the global majority, aka the rest of the world.
My goal is to help you burst your Western-centric bubble.
If you want to know more about me, visit my website or follow me on Twitter or Instagram.
Questions or feedback? Just reply to this email. I intend to write back.
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