Hey, this is Sham, your very own news curator.
In issue #343, I'm taking a closer look at Senegal's TikTok ban and the recent protests, Cambodia's stolen artifacts from an ancient kingdom most of us have probably never heard of in school in the West, and the Women's World Cup through the eyes of women's sports in Latin America. Plus an interview with Nigerian writer Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ about her latest novel (which is being considered for the 2023 Booker Prize!), a love letter to Dalit philosopher Bhimrao Ambedkar, a podcast that gives the mic to domestic workers in Latin America, an Iraqi house banger, a dating app for Chinese parents to marry off their adult children, a historic scientific discovery in Peru, and so much more.
If you like this newsletter, yay! These lengthy emails take me hours and hours to write, research and make fun-to-read. You can support my work if you become a paid subscriber or buy me coffee. Or, just forward it to a friend.
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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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Senegal banned TikTok and blocked access to the internet on mobile devices
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What happened
Last Wednesday, Senegal imposed a temporary ban on TikTok on all wireless phone networks. It also blocked access to the entire internet on mobile devices, just days after the main opposition party (Patef) was dissolved and its leader arrested.
Refresher: There's tension between opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and President Macky Sall. Violent protests have happened, especially after Sonko got a 2-year sentence. Many believe the charges against Sonko are to stop him from running in the next election. At least 40 people have been killed in protests across the country since his arrest. The next presidential election is in six months, and things are tense.
Why this matters: Many in Africa only access the internet through phones. Internet shutdowns are a violation of fundamental rights, they disrupt people’s livelihoods and sources of income, negatively impact national economies, and enable those in power to commit human rights abuses against people with impunity. Plus, Senegal is known for being a stable democracy in West Africa.
Tell me more
Senegal’s chief communications minister, Moussa Bocar Thiam, said that the shutdown was intended to prevent the spread of “hateful and subversive messages” by individuals who “threaten to destabilize the country.’’ The shutdown has caused problems: no power in homes, no mobile payments, and people who relied on social media to avoid protests on their streets are now finding themselves in the middle of them. Amnesty International has condemned the restrictions on internet access, calling it an "attack on freedom of information," and called on the authorities to restore access to the internet.
Why TikTok?
TikTok has videos of the protests, including some controversial ones. One video appears to show military police shielding themselves with a child. Others appear to show officers firing on protesters. The government thinks some videos might be misleading. Some tell Bloomberg's Loni Prinsloo and Katarina Hoije, "Senegalese authorities are more concerned about the world seeing people rise up against the government than they are about keeping people safe."
Did you know that last year, internet blackouts in sub-Saharan Africa, including Senegal, caused US$261 million in losses?
In the meantime, The European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) is bringing big changes to the For You Page. Users in the EU can now opt out of personalized recommendations.
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Finally! Australia has returned stolen artifacts to Cambodia
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What happened
Why this matters
Artifacts are often integral to a community's cultural and historical identity. Returning them helps preserve and restore the cultural heritage of a region or a people. Plus, artifacts provide insights into the history, traditions, and lifestyles of ancient civilizations. Keeping them in their original context ensures that they can be studied and understood accurately.
Tell me more
The sculptures are named Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Padmapani, Bodhisattva Vajrapani, and another Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Padmapani. The three artworks originally came from the Champa Kingdom that once inhabited Vietnam and parts of Cambodia. The National Gallery of Australia (NGA) says it purchased the sculptures in 2011 for US$1.5 million from British artefacts smuggler Douglas Latchford (who died in 2020). The works will remain on display at the NGA in Canberra for three years while Cambodia prepares a new home for them in Phnom Penh.
Did you know that an investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists helped track these artifacts? Here's how journalists tracked them to leading museums and private galleries.
How does Cambodia feel about all of this?
At a handover ceremony at the National Gallery on July 28, the undersecretary of state from Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Kong Vireak, said his country had been traumatized by war and the return of the sculptures "heals our nation." The country is happy, saying that this is an "important step towards rectifying past injustices."
Tell me some basic facts about the Champa Kingdom in Vietnam, ChatGPT
Sure thing. "It lasted from around the second to the 17th century. The people of Champa practiced Hinduism, but later some converted to Islam. They built beautiful towers and temples, especially in a place called My Son. Champa was known for trading. They traded spices, ivory, and other goods with neighboring regions. By the late 15th century, continuous wars had significantly weakened Champa, and it was eventually absorbed by Vietnam in the 17th century." I fact-checked this and it checks out.
Has anybody else stolen any Cambodian artifacts?
Yes. In fact, Cambodia has requested over and over again that international governments help retrieve several antiquities they believe were taken from their age-old temples. They suggest that some of these artifacts are currently in places like the Victoria and Albert and British Museums.
Context: "This wasn't a colonial crime. In contrast to the Elgin Marbles taken from Greece or the Benin Bronzes removed from what is now Nigeria, much of the looting of Cambodian items took place in living memory – in the 1980s, 90s and early 2000s," writes Celia Hatton for BBC.
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Women's soccer is slowly becoming more popular in Latin America
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What happened
 The 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup is trending globally. More and more people in Latin America are slowly becoming interested in women's soccer.
Why this matters
Tell me more
Central or South American teams have had a hard time making it to the finals at any of the FIFA Women's tournaments so far. Northern Hemisphere countries have won all the eight tournaments so far. According to journalist Lu Castro, this is because women's sports in the region face gender biases, lack of funding, and little recognition. In the U.S., the 2023 squad was announced by President Joe Biden himself, with help from other stars, including Taylor Swift. Women’s soccer “is the biggest growth opportunity for our sport today,” FIFA President Gianni Infantino said in July 2021. This time around, female players are asking for better pay and more investment from FIFA.
Did you know that 2022 FIFA survey showed the average salary for women players was just US$14,000?
'Fun' fact: The Women's World Cup prize money is only 25% of the men's World Cup, despite recent increases.
What's the history of women's soccer in Latin America?
Brazil banned women's soccer until 1979 to "preserve their maternal nature." Argentina didn't recognize female players as professionals until the 1990s. To this day, Colombian women can't play professionally in their country. There are, however, pioneering clubs in these countries pushing for change, writes Matias Pinto in Americas Quarterly. This year, public officials in the region have taken extra steps to promote viewership of this year’s tournament: The Argentine government is showing games on public television, while Brazil is giving public employees time off during matches.
What are some of the highlights in the 2023 Women's World Cup so far?
It has been full of surprises. Germany, the second-highest-ranked team in the world and one of the favorites to win the tournament, didn’t make it out of the group stages. Meanwhile, footballing giants Brazil were knocked out after being held to a draw by relative minnows Jamaica, who crowdfunded to participate. However, Ary Borges scored a rare hat trick in Brazil’s opening match and the Brazilian team traveled in an airplane painted with the image of Jina Amini. Also, France's ad for the World Cup was a personal highlight for me. For actual match highlights, visit FIFA's dedicated website for it.
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Niger: Pressure is high on the coup leaders in Niger. West Africa's regional bloc Ecowas has threatened that it could use force to bring back Niger's elected president. No military action has been launched yet. But Nigeria just recently cut off its power supplies to Niger, and you can expect more forms of pressure in the coming days. Mali and Burkina Faso stand in solidarity with Niger and said that any military intervention in Niger is "tantamount to a declaration of war" against them. We're all waiting to see who will blink first here. (Semafor)
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United States: Africans applying to study in the United States face higher rates of visa refusal than people from other regions, a report based on data from the U.S. government, UN and World Bank said. (Presidents' Alliance)
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Pakistan: MedznMore, Pakistan’s most-funded health tech startup, has shut down due to the country’s poor macroeconomic situation. This has triggered a furor in the young startup ecosystem. (Insights)
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Zambia, DR Congo and Namibia / Japan: Zambia, DR Congo, and Namibia are in advanced negotiations with the Japanese government to expand exploration and develop supply chains for rare minerals, including cobalt, copper, zinc, nickel, and lithium available in the three countries. Japan wants to lessen China's mining power in Africa and strengthen its own economy. (Nikkei Asia)
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Kenya / Haiti: Kenya said it is willing to deploy 1,000 police officers to help train and assist Haitian police to restore order. Haitian civil society groups have widely opposed such a move citing past problems caused by foreign intervention. (Al Jazeera)
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Maldives: The Supreme Court of the Maldives barred former president Abdulla Yameen from running for office while he serves an 11-year prison sentence. (Reuters)
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India / Sri Lanka: During Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s visit to New Delhi, the two countries unveiled plans to cooperate on digital payments, connectivity, power, and green energy. (mint)
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Pakistan: A court in Lahore, Pakistan, sentenced former prime minister Imran Khan to three years in prison on corruption-related charges. (Al Jazeera)
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South Africa: Cape Town finally launched a project to restore the heavily polluted Milnerton Lagoon environment. (Daily Maverick)
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Colombia: Colombia and the National Liberation Army began a six-month ceasefire aimed at creating peace between both sides. (AP)
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Kenya: Meta, YouTube, and Google have been accused of promoting harmful products targeted at Kenyan audiences in a recently released report by Fumbua, an investigative media organization. The report said the big tech firms have, on their networks, amplified content that promises unproven cures for infertility and herbs that can stave off cancers. (The Guardian)
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Brazil: Last week, Supreme Court Alexandre de Moraes asked the Federal Police to put far-right blogger Oswaldo Eustáquio on Interpol's wanted list. Eustáquio is a Brazilian influencer who is accused of inciting and organizing putschist acts, like the January 8 riots – when angry mobs stormed and ransacked government buildings in Brasília – and is blocked from using bank accounts in the country. (The Brazilian Report)
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Nigeria: On Thursday, Zamfara State government received four girls abducted by terrorists in January after they were released by their abductors. (Premium Times Nigeria) In the same week, Nigeria's labour unions initiated a nationwide strike on Wednesday to oppose the scrapping of a petrol subsidy and push for a new minimum wage. However, the impact was felt moderately as many businesses remained open, with only some experiencing a decline in traffic. (Reuters)
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Peru: Research shows that fossil bones of the Perucetus colossus whale discovered in Peru could indicate that it was the heaviest animal to have ever existed. (BBC News)
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Myanmar: Myanmar's former leader Aung San Suu Kyi was pardoned on five of her convictions, thereby reducing her prison sentence from 33 to 27 years. (AFP via France 24)
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Costa Rica: The Public Prosecutor of Costa Rica launched an influence peddling investigation into President Rodrigo Chaves Robles and several other government officials. (AFP via New Vision)
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Watch... this interview with Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ about her novel "A Spell of Good Things", a book that explores class, love, and family ties with interwoven narratives of struggle, heartbreak and hope in Nigeria. She joins Barnes & Noble on YouTube to talk about her cast of characters, how misogyny permeates life and literature, what surprised her while writing this novel, her literary influences and more with Poured Over host, Miwa Messer. The book is among the 13 books long-listed for the 2023 Booker Prize, making her the fifth Nigerian-born author to be nominated for the United Kingdom’s most prestigious literary award. The judges said a six-book shortlist will be released next month, and the winner will be announced at a ceremony in London on Nov. 26. Adébáyọ̀ would be the second Nigerian-born winner after Ben Okri and would take home a US$64,000 prize.
Listen to... the podcast "Invisible Commutes", sharing stories of domestic workers' commutes across Latin America. The woman behind it? Valentina Montoya Robledo. Robledo is based in Bogotá and wants to make public transit work better for household workers across the continent. "In the first season we heard their testimonies; in the second season, they offered suggestions for solutions, which is very important because authorities never ask them what they need. In the third season they comment on specific infrastructure projects that might affect them," she says in this interview with Americas Quarterly. I have always loved the approach of highly-focused citizen-oriented journalism. This is what I mean when I say to journalists/colleagues, 'listen to the people affected. Just give them the mic. They already have a voice.'
Read... the article: "The Indian pragmatist" by Scott R Stroud for Aeon. Many of you don't know this about me, but I was once a philosophy student. The name of Bhimrao Ambedkar only became known to me after my studies, however. What a shame. If you don't know anything about him or his work, fret not, the Stroud article I linked to above is a great introduction into why I find him so very interesting. "Some might recognise Ambedkar (1891-1956) as a chief architect of the Indian constitution in the 1940s. Others might recognise him as the indefatigable leader of India’s ‘untouchables’ (now denoted by the self-chosen label ‘Dalit’), given his constant advocacy for the rights of those oppressed by the complex and long-rooted caste system." Stroud also gives details worthy of mentioning at your next date. For example, because of him, one man, 500,000 Dalits converted to Buddhism (Ambedkar was born into a Hindu family but became very frustrated with it cause of its "anti-democratic tendencies") or that he possessed a personal library of some 50,000 books at the time of his death.
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"Iraq Forever" by NARCY and Sandhill, an upbeat house cover of an 80s Iraqi classic "Abart Al-Shat" by Kathem Al-Saher. Iraqi-Canadian hip-hop artist and poety NARCY (born Yassin Al Salman) recently made his return to Iraq for the first time in 30 years and his homecoming graced the cover of the GQ Middle East June 2023 issue. His long-awaited return to his homeland was captured through the iPhone lens of Iraqi photographer Cheb Moha, and throughout his journey, led him to film his latest music video to his single, "Iraq Forever". Of course, the song is featured on this newsletter's very own Spotify playlist, "Go Global Weekly" with over 3,000 followers.
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Parents in China are joining dating apps to marry off their adult children.
"On apps such as Perfect In-Laws, Family-building Matchmaking, and Parents Matchmaking, parents create profiles to advertise their offspring to prospective suitors — sometimes without their children’s consent. Once a match is made, the parents will get to know each other first," writes Viola Zhou for rest of world.
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That's it from me. Thank you for the pistachio croissants tips in Berlin! I'm trying them all out.
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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Australia's national gallery 