Hey, this is Sham, your very own news curator. As I'm writing this issue, Argentinians are on their way to a nearby polling station. If you don't know any of Argentina's leading presidential candidates and how they might govern, listen to this Americas Quarterly episode with María Esperanza Casullo.
In issue #344, DRC's traditional healers take center stage (they make dental care affordable for a lot of people), a controversial memorial in Taiwan brings up an uncomfortable and almost hidden truth about World War II, and Ecuador's in a very messy situation right now politics-wise. Also, a Bangladeshi fintech firm reached the valuation of US$1 billion, a Nigerian startup and its quest to digitize every edition of all newspapers published in the country since January 1, 1960, an interview with the DJ behind one of my most favorite Boiler Room sets (she plays alongside her dad on an oud!), a Tunisian rap classic to listen to while reading abolitionist literature, Rohingya language preservation and Franz Kafka if he was Barbie, 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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Traditional dentistry is making a successful comeback in DRC
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What happened
Modern dental care is expensive. In the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), traditional healers are stepping up to close the gap between those who can afford it and those who cannot.
Why this matters: Medical costs are no joke. As a result, there are very few available and affordable dental services in the city of Kisangani and the wider Tshopo province. Tshopo is a large province in the country (there are 21), but only has five dentists. Two of those dentists are in Kisangani, the capital of the province, where some 1.4 million people live. Some 100 million people live in the entire country.
Tell me more
Traditional healers are using a surprising ingredient to treat cavities in people's teeth, writes reporter Françoise Mbuyi Mutombo for Global Press Journal. She talked to a healer named Jean Claude Lipaso, who is using a mixture of ground snail shells and traditional salts to treat cavities. Lipaso mostly collects his shells on the banks of the Congo River. "He learned this skill from his grandfather and has been practicing it for many years. The treatment is much cheaper than going to a modern dentist, making it a more accessible option for many people in the community." The numbers? A single tooth extraction for a child costs the equivalent of US$20 or more if you go to a dentist. Traditional healers like Lipaso charge at about 8,000 Congolese francs (US$3 dollars).
Context: Snail is back. In DRC, and most importantly in Tshopo province, more and more people have added snail to their everyday diet. It's cheaper and has a lot of proteins.
Did you know that in the Lingala language, snail is known as mbembe? Why am I telling you this? Some 60-65 million people speak Lingala, this is how it sounds. Also, this is where the ndombolo music genre comes from, I've added some favorites, like Fally Ipupa's 'Allô téléphone' (I just wanna dance to this music video) to this newsletter's Spotify playlist, 'Go Global Weekly' (GGW) while writing this issue. Plus, one of my new favorite artist is from DRC, Jey Brownie; you'll find my favorite track on GGW, too. His dad was a very popular ndombolo artist.
Does snail-shell dental treatment work? And, is it safe?
Yes, studies show that using ground snail shells can be effective in dental treatments. However, there's a debate between traditional healers and modern dentists about the safety and effectiveness of these traditional treatments. 'It's too dangerous because you don’t know the amount or the dose to give to the patients,' they say. 'I've been doing this for generations,' say healers like Lipaso. If untrained, that's where the danger lies. I'm guessing both sides can agree on that.
Fun fact: Even Nostradamus believed in using snail-shell dental treatment. He's written recipes for toothpaste using ground cuttlefish bone and sea-snail shells or blue clay. Yes, Nostradamus published a cookbook, 'Treatise on Cosmetics and Conserves.'
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A new memorial in Taiwan is bringing up controversial, nearly forgotten history
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What happened
 A controversial memorial in Taiwan has been unveiled to remember over 8,000 Taiwanese teenagers who "volunteered" to help Japan during so-called World War II, who fought against the Allies.
The Japanese military was responsible for numerous atrocities across Asia during World War II, and that legacy continues to cloud relations between Japan and China or South Korea. Many (not all) in Taiwan, however, are not so anti-Japanese.
Tell me more
The memorial stands in the city of Kaohsiung, and there's some controversy around it. For example, someone on Twitter (hopefully formerly X) said, 'y’all gonna build one for the german youth that helped the nazi war effort too??'.
I don't get it. Please explain.
During World War II, many Taiwanese were drafted to fight on behalf of the Japanese Empire, as Taiwan was a former colony of Japan at the time. Those being remembered at the memorial last week were not soldiers, but kids; many were no older than 13 at the time. Enticed by high salaries and promises of qualification after the war, they were recruited to help repair aircraft for the Japanese Navy. Ultimately, some 207,183 Taiwanese served in the Japanese Army between 1937 and 1945, with a total of 30,304 casualties, mostly in support roles like the Taiwanese youth, but some 80,000 did see acts of combat. For decades, they received neither recognition nor compensation, and their stories were largely forgotten as Taiwan is claimed by the Republic of China (who fought with the Allies). The issue remains largely unresolved. If you want to read more details, Han Cheung for Taipei Times profiles one Taiwanese man named Teng Sheng who had lost an eye, an arm, and his hearing in the war, and he wanted compensation.
Did you know that Taiwan's President Lee Teng-hui’s brother Lee Teng-chin died during World War II? Teng-chin is listed in the Yasukuni Shrine, a controversial religious (Shinto) shrine in central Tokyo that commemorates Japan's war dead. It is controversial because, since 1978, 14 "Class A" war criminals have been among the 2.5 million enshrined at Yasukuni.
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Ecuador is in a political mess right now
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What happened
 Fernando Villavicencio, who was running for president in Ecuador, was killed during one of his rallies in Quito last week. His killing came 10 days before the first round of the presidential elections, scheduled to take place on August 20.
Why this matters
Tell me more
Villavicencio was speaking against these gangs at a school when he was shot. On Wednesday evening, Villavicencio stood on a stage at a school in Quito in front of a packed crowd and spoke out "against the mafias that have subjugated this homeland." Then, as he exited the school, the shots were fired. He was buried two days later.
How did the country react?
The country is in shock. The national prosecutor’s office said that one suspect had been killed and six others (all Colombian nationals) arrested. This is, as some experts have pointed out, unusually quick for Ecuador. The current president thinks organized crime is behind this and has asked for help from the U.S. F.B.I. Some people are questioning why Villavicencio didn't have better security. Hours after the candidate’s killing, President Guillermo Lasso declared a state of emergency, suspending some civil liberties, and moving influential gang leader José Adolfo Macías, also known as "Fito," to a high-security prison. Some compare his killing to that of Luis Carlos Galán, a Colombian presidential candidate gunned down on the campaign trail in 1989. Like Villavicencio, Galán was a harsh critic of the drug industry.
Tell me more about Fernando Villavicencio
He was 59, became popular because he was outspoken against correísmo, the leftist movement of former President Rafael Correa, who served from 2007 to 2017 and still holds political power in Ecuador. Villavicencio worked as a journalist, anti-corruption activist and lawmaker, was among the most outspoken about the link between organized crime and government officials. His campaign had promised a crackdown on crime and corruption that gripped the country in recent years.
What now?
The upcoming election could go many ways. Christian Zurita has stepped in as the new candidate for Villavicencio’s party. He's a friend and a close associate of Villavicencio. Some voters are looking at Jan Topic, who wants to be tough on crime, similar to El Salvador’s president.
Good to know: The next president will only serve for 18 months, finishing the term of the current president. It's doubtful they'll be able to make big changes in that short time.
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Cambodia: A high school in north-eastern Cambodia has been forced to close temporarily after thousands of unexploded munitions were discovered. (BBC News)
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United States/Hawaii: Maui County officials announced that over 93 people have died in the wildfires in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, making it the deadliest American wildfire since 1918, surpassing the death toll of the Camp Fire. (Washington Examiner)
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Myanmar: At least 23 Rohingya refugees were killed after a boat capsized in the Bay of Bengal. (BBC News)
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Belarus: A mass grave is discovered near the city of Dzyarzhynsk, Belarus, believed to contain either the remains of a church cemetery, the inhabitants of the city's Jewish ghetto, or Calvinists. (Nasha Niva)
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Tunisia: 41 people were killed when a boat carrying 45 migrants from Sfax, Tunisia, capsized and sank in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Lampedusa, Italy. (BBC News) In the same week, at least 27 other people were found dead in the western desert of Libya near the border with Tunisia. (AP)
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Malaysia: Malaysia banned the use of Swatch products containing LGBTQ elements, with users of these products facing up to three years in prison. (AP via NBC News)
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Indonesia: The Miss Universe Organization has cut its ties with its Indonesian franchisee and will cancel an upcoming pageant in Malaysia after contestants complained to police, accusing local organizers of sexual harassment. (The Guardian)
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Jordan: The King of Jordan approved a bill Saturday to punish online speech deemed harmful to national unity. Human rights groups call it draconian. (AP)
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China: Whilst autonomous vehicles have struggled to really take off in the West, it’s looking like a different story in the East. In China, Toyota has grand plans to mass produce their robotaxis using autonomous vehicle tech developed with Pony.ai. With a total US$140m investment, the already-mature tech will get taken to the next level and deployed across the country. (Reuters) In the same week, an ancient skull dating back 300,000 years is unlike any other premodern human fossil ever found, potentially pointing to a new branch in the human family tree, according to new research. (CNN)
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Pakistan: Senator Anwar ul Haq Kakar is appointed as the new caretaker prime minister of Pakistan. (ANI News)
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India: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's ministry survived a motion of no confidence in parliament over their response to the Manipur violence. (AFP via France 24)
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South Korea: South Koreans gathered in central Seoul to protest against Japan's plan to release treated radioactive water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean. (Reuters)
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Niger: The West African bloc ECOWAS announced an emergency summit after Niger's government rejected an ultimatum to restore the previous president. (AFP via The Manila Times)
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Uganda: The World Bank is stopping new loans to Uganda, citing the country's anti-LGBTQ law as contrary to the bank's values. Uganda has criticized the decision as unjust and hypocritical amid international condemnation of its policies. (Reuters)
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Guinea-Bissua: Geraldo Martins is appointed as the prime minister of Guinea-Bissau. (AFP via New Vision)
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The Philippines: Philippine President Bongbong Marcos suspended 22 land fill projects in Manila Bay due to environmental concerns and the involvement of Chinese state-owned enterprises. (AP)
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United States: Tou Thao, a former Minneapolis police officer, was sentenced to four years and nine months in prison for his role in the murder of George Floyd. He is the fourth person in the case to be convicted in a state court. (AP)
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South Africa: South African President Cyril Ramaphosa pardoned his predecessor Jacob Zuma, who was convicted last year for refusing to testify in his corruption trial, alongside other non-violent offenders as part of an attempt to reduce overcrowding in the country's prisons. (Al Jazeera)
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Nigeria: In Nigeria, a nonprofit startup is on an ambitious quest to digitize every edition of every newspaper published in the country since Jan. 1, 1960, the year of independence from Britain. Archivi.ng is expected to launch in September thanks to the efforts of dozens of volunteers. (The Guardian)
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Bangladesh: State-owned fintech firm Nagad has touched a valuation of $1 billion, becoming the fastest unicorn in Bangladesh. Founded in 2017 as Third Wave Technologies, and renamed Nagad in 2019, the service now has 80 million customers. (MENAFN)
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Brazil: Brazil’s Federal Police last week arrested a man accused of vast deforestation in the Amazon rainforest. Police say businessman Bruno Heller controls an illegal logging operation that destroys forests near Indigenous lands in order to raise cattle. (Brazil Reports)
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Watch... the YouTube/podcast interview "DJing in the Middle of Nowhere" with DJ Nooriyah on afikra. If you're into Boiler room sets, you've probably seen her iconic set with her dad (baba) on the oud in the beginning of it. If not, watch it here. DJ Nooriyah grew up between Saudi Arabia, Japan and the UK, and her beloved CDJ 2000s Pioneer decks. afirka sat down with Nooriyah Qais to talk about everything DJing, her guide to safeguarding yourself in the club industry, and how she transforms a sample into an infectious dance track.
Listen to... the Tunisian rap classic, "Boulicia Kleb" by Weld El 15 (YouTube, Spotify). If you're critical of the police force in general, rapper Weld El 15 would probably follow you back. He has faded a bit from the face of Tunisian rap in recent years, but was once at the center of a raging debate on freedom of speech after releasing the song "Boulicia Kleb", which translates to "The Police Are Dogs" in English. In it, he raps: "I’d rather slaughter a cop than a sheep on Eid." The song earned him a two-year prison sentence. To avoid the sentence, he went into exile for several years in France.
Read... the article: "Rohingya refugees find hope in language preservation" by Asma Hafiz for Fair Planet. The article talks about Rohingya refugees in India who escaped persecution in Myanmar. India currently shelters an estimated population of 40,000 Rohingya refugees. They're trying to preserve their language and culture while facing challenges. And if I'm being brutally honest with myself/you, I had never heard the Rohingya language, so I YouTube'd it, and it sounds like this. Hafiz writes about a teacher named Mohammad Ismail who's helping Rohingya children learn their native language in a refugee camp. Ismail himself fled Myanmar and teaches Arabic, Urdu, and Rohingya to the kids. The Rohingya language was historically spoken orally and lacked a written form until recently. The inclusion of their language in digital platforms like Unicode has helped preserve it. The article also mentions the difficulties Rohingya refugees face in India due to a lack of official recognition and support. "I am not able to enroll the students in government schools because we lack the documents. I strongly believe that a community cannot move forward without their language, so I started teaching them on my own," Ismail told FairPlanet.
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"She Was 300 Yards From the Atomic Bomb Center — and Survived" by The New York Times, a 14-min documentary telling the story of survivor Akiko Takakura in the 1945 Hiroshima atomic bombing. On August 6, 1945, the United States dropped the world’s first atomic bomb on a Japanese city, Hiroshima, during World War II. Takakura's story serves as a powerful reminder of the devastating consequences of nuclear warfare and the plea that it should never happen again.
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Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates have not banned Barbie. Kuwait has, and Lebanon is planning to. If you're a little familiar with this part of Western Asia, you'd think it's opposite day.
Also, this would be Franz Kafka if he slayed, and Zoom ordered its workers back to the office.
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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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