Hey, this is Sham, your very own news curator. I'm back from Italy. Why is it raining in Germany and how can I make it stop?
In issue #342, I applaud Ghana for abolishing the death penalty for almost all crimes, and Taiwan's women leading the #MeToo moment. I do not, however, applaud Argentina's government for the way it is (not) keeping count of its missing children. Plus: a coup in Niger, officially no more speaking French in Mali, a South African comedy series that might push too many boundaries all at the same time, Egypt pardoning two government critics, a relatively new archaeology tool to discover forgotten Mayan cities, a meme video about Japan's most stupid work rules, and two (yes, two) funny news, and 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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Ghana officially abolished the death penalty for almost all crimes
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What happened
The Parliament of Ghana voted to formally abolish the death penalty.
Why this matters:
Ghana is the 124th country to abolish the death penalty; 41 other countries are considered to have de facto bans, as they have not carried out an execution for more than 10 years. However, at least 883 executions across 20 countries were recorded last year – a 53% rise since 2021. There is no conclusive evidence that the death penalty deters crime more effectively than other punishments. Plus, no judicial system is perfect, and there is always a risk of wrongful conviction.
Tell me more
Ghana's parliament voted to amend the criminal offenses act, removing capital punishment for crimes including murder, genocide, piracy, and smuggling. However, the death sentence can still be given for acts of high treason. The 176 prisoners currently on death row will now have their sentences changed to life imprisonment. The country's president, Nana Akufo-Addo, needs to sign the bill into law for it to take effect.
Did you know that Ghana has not carried out an execution since 1993? Courts, however, have continued to issue death sentences.
Why now?
"There has long been evidence that Ghana might be ready to abolish the death penalty," says Francis-Xavier Sosu in this interview with The Death Penalty Project. Sosu is the Ghanaian member of parliament whose private member's Bills abolished the death penalty. There were attempts in 1992, 2010, 2012. "I was sworn in as an MP in January 2021, and for me, once I had been given this chance, trying to abolish the death penalty was an overriding priority. I came into politics because I wanted to be an agent of change, and this was the change I wanted to achieve most of all. I sensed I was pushing at an open door." At the end, he was able to build consensus and majority support through consistent lobbying and engagement with colleagues, civil society organizations, and international bodies such as Amnesty International Ghana and The Death Penalty Project.
What's it like being sentenced to death?
Sosu explains, "On death row, prisoners woke up thinking this could be their last day on earth. They were like the living dead: psychologically, they had ceased to be humans. Overcrowding was endemic: a space meant for about 23 inmates could host over 150 prisoners. Most mornings, the inmates would sing religious or gospel songs, a ritual that helped them cope with the fear that this was the day that would mark the end of their lives. They were then made to perform various tasks in deplorable conditions, and served with meals which most of us would find inedible. They were isolated from their loved ones, and convinced that even if they were not executed, they would die in prison. I would say that overall, their lives amounted to torture. Condemned cells had poor sanitary facilities, and they lacked adequate access to medical care. Many died from avoidable and treatable illnesses before their death sentences were commuted."
What are people in Ghana saying?
Human rights activists have hailed the decision, but they caution that the death penalty has not been entirely abolished and that the country's constitution would need to change for a complete removal of the penalty.
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Taiwan is going through a #MeToo moment right now – thanks to Netflix
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What happened
Why this matters
Taiwan is often considered as Asia's most gender-equal country (don't hate, China). However, sexual harassment is very common in Taiwan, and covering it up and blaming victims is too. The recent #MeToo moment is exposing Taiwan's highly patriarchal culture. For many women, the moment is long overdue.
Tell me more
The Netflix drama Wave Makers plays a big role in starting the recent #MeToo movement in Taiwan. Drawing inspiration from real-life political events in Taiwan, the series revolves around a team of campaign staffers during a presidential election and delves into the issue of problematic handling of sexual harassment cases. After the show's release in May, the first real-world accusation came from a former employee of Taiwan's ruling party, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), who said her boss ignored her complaints of workplace harassment. Weeks later, more accusations followed, many people in the DPP resigned, Taiwan's President (the island's first female one) Tsai Ing-wen even apologized publically (don't overstate this because Taiwan is also gearing up for a presidential election next January). In the meantime, the #MeToo wave circulated to other sectors, with prominent activists, writers and TV stars being called out. Some of the most high-profile men accused include Tiananmen protest leader Wang Dan, exiled poet Bei Ling and Polish diplomat Bartosz Ryś.
Did you know that Chien Li-ying, one of the writers behind Wave Makers, said she was assaulted by the poet Bei Ling when she was at university?
Is it really that bad in Taiwan?
The Reporter, a Taiwanese investigative news media, looked at data from the Ministry of Labour and found that last year, 80 percent of people who faced sexual misconduct at work chose not to speak up. Experts attribute this to Taiwan's historical habit of covering up sexual harassment complaints, which they believe is due to victim-blaming and chauvinism (male dominance) in both politics and workplaces. The #MeToo movement in Taiwan is now exposing a long-standing culture where victims are often quieted due to very traditional beliefs.
Why #MeToo now?
Around the same time that the #MeToo movement started in the United States, it also spread to other countries in East Asia like Japan, South Korea, and China. But in Taiwan, which is a democratic country and was the first in Asia to allow same-sex marriage, the movement didn't catch on. "Five years ago when a few accusations surfaced, the public’s attitude was generally sceptical and abusive," Wang Yueh-Hao, executive director of the Garden of Hope Foundation (GHF), a local NGO advocating for women's rights in Taiwan, told FairPlanet's Sarah Li. In other words, although Taiwan’s government shows gender equality – with over 40 percent of the lawmakers being women – the social norm "is not so supportive for the victims" of sexual abuse, which discouraged them from coming forward and speaking out.
What now?
Even though the #MeToo movement is growing, many people in Taiwan who accuse others of sexual harassment are facing lawsuits or the threat of being sued for defamation after they share their experiences. This is why in June, several politicians started a campaign called "Justice Should Not Be a Tool of Intimidation", giving out free legal advice and mental health support to people who need it. If necessary, they also help reduce the cost of hiring a lawyer. A month later, more than 40 lawyers in Taiwan took on a similar approach. Already, some laws are being changed. For example, employers who commit sexual harrassment will now face huge fines (up to US$32,000) and it is now illegal for educators to have a romantic relationship with underage students (although I would have guessed this was already the case, but oh well).
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The government in Argentina doesn't know for sure how many children are missing
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What happened
 Argentinian daily newspaper La Nación analyzed data from the Federal Search System (Sifebu) to find out how many children (under 18 years of age) are still missing in the country. The result: Since the government started keeping a registry in 2011, out of 50,435 registered disappearance reports for children, 21,894 cases remain active. However, this number is not very reliable.
Why this matters
Tell me more
Cases of kids going missing keep popping up in the news in Argentina, like that of Guadalupe Lucero, who disappeared in 2021 at the age of five or that of three-year-old Sofía Herrera, who has been missing since 2008; or the case of Blanca Susana Sola, a 14-year-old teenager who has been missing for 33 years. According to the data analyzed by La Nácion, most cases have been registered in Mendoza, Buenos Aires, Río Negro and Salta.
Is the number reliable?
Yes and no. The other story this number is telling is 'Argentina isn't looking properly for its missing children.' The reported number of active cases doesn't always match reality. This is because, often, even when the person is found, the complaint isn't always removed from the records for various reasons. These reasons all point to one main issue: the search for people in the country is inefficient and lacks resources, according to another investigation by La Nácion published on March 8.
They just stop looking for them?
Well, kind of. Experts say that after some time has passed since a disappearance report, the authorities often stop searching, unless the family is very involved or has a lawyer. So, if the investigators stop looking and the missing person reappears but doesn't report it, their case remains active in the governmental records.
What are the reasons the kids go missing?
They range from accidents, domestic violence, parental kidnapping, abuse, trafficking, and sexual exploitation.
Again: How many children are missing right now?
Argentina simply doesn't know.
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India (Jammu and Kashmir): A five-month-old girl died when Indian forces fired tear gas at Rohingya refugees trying to escape a detention centre in Hiranagar, Jammu and Kashmir. (The Guardian) The police arrested 74 people, including ten minors.
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Global: United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres declared that Earth has entered an "age of global boiling" as scientists confirm that this year's heat waves have been some of the hottest in recorded history. (The Guardian)
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Syria: Six people were killed and 20 others were injured during a bombing at the Sayyidah Zaynab's Shi'ite mosque in Rif Dimashq Governorate, Syria. (AFP via Hindustan Times)
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Israel: The Knesset voted 64–0, with the 56-member opposition boycotting, to approve a law that prevents the Supreme Court from overturning government decisions on the basis of "reasonableness." (Reuters)
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Singapore: Singapore executeed Saridewi Djamani, the first woman to be executed in the country in nearly twenty years. Djamani was found guilty of trafficking 30 grams of heroin in 2018. (BBC News)
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Kuwait: Kuwait executed five men, including one involved in the suicide bombing of a mosque in 2015. (AP via ABC News)
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Kenya / Haiti: Kenyan foreign minister Alfred Mutua announced the country's plan to deploy 1,000 police officers to Haiti, leading a multinational force to assist local law enforcement and restoring stability. (AFP)
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Malaysia: Ahead of the six state elections that will be held in Malaysia next month, Malaysiakini analyzed the results of last year’s general election to explore how the nation’s electorate cast their votes along generational lines: Young voters mostly opted for Perikatan Nasional, a relatively new political alliance formed in 2020, while older voters still leaned towards Barisan Nasional, a long-standing coalition that had governed the country for over 60 years. (Malaysiakini)
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Japan: Every one of Japan’s 47 prefectures posted a population drop in 2022, while the total number of Japanese people fell by nearly 800,000. This has never happened before. (The Guardian)
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Siberia: A 46,000-year-old worm found in Siberian permafrost was brought back to life, and started having babies. (Business Insider)
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Colombia: Colombian police arrested the son of President Gustavo Petro and his ex-wife on charges of money laundering and illicit enrichment related to the alleged acceptance of funds from drug traffickers during Petro's 2022 presidential campaign. (AFP via France 24)
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Niger: Nigerien army general Abdourahamane Tchiani declared himself the new President of Niger following Wednesday's coup d'état. (BBC News) The United Nations suspended humanitarian aid to Niger in response to the coup.
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Mali: Mali downgrades the French language from official language to working language in accordance with the new constitution. (Africanews)
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Cambodia: Cambodian prime minister Hun Sen announces his upcoming resignation after four decades in power, with his son Hun Manet succeeding him. (CNA)
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Belgium: Six men were found guilty of murder for their participation in the Islamic terrorist bombings in Brussels in 2016, with two of them also being found guilty of their roles in the Paris attacks in 2015. (BBC News)
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South Korea: Casey Phair, participating as part of the South Korean football team in a match against Colombia, became the youngest player to appear at a FIFA Women's World Cup game at 16 years old. (NPR)
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United States: The United States justice department filed a lawsuit against the state of Texas for placing buoys in the Rio Grande as part of the state's effort to deter migrants from crossing into the United States. (NBC News)
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New Zealand: New Zealand justice minister Kiri Allan resigned following charges of careless driving and refusal to accompany police after an alcohol-related car accident. (AP)
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Global: NASA announced that the James Webb Space Telescope has discovered water vapor around the PDS 70 star. (Forbes)
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Watch... "ROSA, Republic of South Ah Sh**t" is a Netflix comedy series from South Africa, bringin together an ensemble cast of the country's most popular comedians and celebrities by director Kagiso Lediga (he also created the crime drama series Queen Sono). The show made its debut last Wednesday (I was on vacation, so I haven't watched it yet, but this sneak peek on Twitter, uhm X, sealed the deal for me). Moghelingz (a famous TikToker from South Africa) is in it, too.
Listen to... the podcast episode "The Political Prisoners Dilemma: The pardoning of Patrick Zaki and Egypt's National Dialogue" (29 min) by The New Arab Voice. Egypt served some good human rights news last week, as Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has pardoned detained human rights researcher Patrick Zaki and lawyer Mohamed el-Baqer (who is the lawyer for Alaa Abd el-Fattah, the country's best-known political prisoner). The pardon came on Wednesday, a day after Zaki had been sentenced to three years in prison after being found guilty of spreading "false news" (in an opinion article, he had written that the Coptic Christian community in Egypt faces discrimination). I first heard about Zaki's case when I was traveling through Bologna, Italy two months ago (Zaki studies there, and there was a lot of public and visual support organized for his release). Currently, Egypt is starting up a 'National Diaologue', a sort of public forum to discuss political, economic, and social issues in Egypt. There's a lot of hope for this forum to bring about more good news for the human rights situation in the country. There's also skeptics. In this episode, Hugo Goodridge talks to Dr. Aida Seif el-Dawla, one of the founders of the El Nadim Center for the Psychological Rehabilitation of Victims of Violence and Torture (an Egyptian independent NGO), and Mirette Mabrouk, Director of the Egypt and Horn of Africa program at the Middle East Institute, about the current state of human rights in Egypt.
Read... Article: "Laser mapping reveals a forgotten Maya city in the jungle" by Katie Hunt for CNN. I love reading about how new tool help us (humankind) make sense of our world. This time, it's a story about a new technology that archaeologists have been using since the turn of the century, LiDAR. "We can now practically see through vegetation," they say. From an airplane or in some cases a drone, a LiDAR sensor tracks the amount of time each laser pulse takes to return and uses that information to create a three-dimensional map of the environment below. They keep finding amazing sites with it, even in densely forested areas that are difficult to explore on foot, like Ocomtum (the name of the site that was discovered last week). Katie Hunt writes about Juan Carlos Fernandez-Diaz' discovery of a lost city that was likely abandoned more than 1,000 years ago.
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"All Japan's STUPID Work Rules In 5 Minutes" by YouTuber Sora The Troll, aka the "Japanese who likes to troll". Japan's work culture is notorious for being harsh, and today is sloooowly progressing towards a healthier version. Nevertheless, Japan's younger generations are looking for a new of living/working. Watch the video, and you'll understand why.
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The BBC apologized for asking Morocco captain Ghizlane Chebbak how many of the team are lesbians. (The Independent)
Elon Musk’s radical rebranding of Twitter as "X" led to the site being blocked in Indonesia on Tuesday under the country’s strict laws restricting pornography and gambling. (The Daily Beast)
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That's it from me. From now on, I'm taking myself out on croissants-with-pistachio-cream dates. Genoa, you did this to me.
This issue was written with this earworm stuck in my mind. It's also in this newsletter's Spotify playlist, 'Go Global Weekly'.
For the maps, say thanks to Wikimedia Commons.
Map 1: John Doe / CC-BY-SA-3.0
Map 2: John Doe / CC-BY-SA-3.0
Map 3: John Doe / CC-BY-SA-4.0
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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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In the past two months, Taiwan has seen a 