Hey, this is Sham, your very own news curator. It's the first Monday of the month again, and here's your sneak peek into the VIP version of this newsletter. If you like it this long (no pun intended, I swear), sign up here to become a VIP member. You support 100% self-funded independent journalism with your subscription, and I'm very grateful for your support.
In Issue #386, I'm thinking about a tweet that said "Being angry all the time is exhausting and corrosive. Not being angry feels morally irresponsible." As a journalist, I often feel torn between "telling it like it is" and sheer panic. Why panic? Well, how about the ongoing war in Gaza that has no end in sight, the disastrous U.S. presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump the other night, and the far-right's clear win in the French elections yesterday?
This issue focuses on two big topics: the presidential elections in Iran (do they actually matter?) and the U.S. military base in Japan’s Okinawa (yikes...). Plus, you’ll get insights on the Tajik opposition’s surprising "love" for Poland, why some of the world’s smartest negotiators couldn’t broker peace in Afghanistan, de-shaming the Arabic/Kurdish term for "dancer," and you'll learn that a Thai rapper is married to the son of the world's richest man, and so much more.
Good reading, and catch you in your inbox next week!
Sham
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🔍 Estimated reading time: 10 min 🔍
You have access to all of my sources by clicking on what's underlined.
Big shout-out to Wikimedia Commons for the helpful maps.
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Iran is electing their next president. Does it matter?
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What happened
After President Ebrahim Raesi's sudden death in a helicopter crash last month, Iran is looking for a new president. The top contenders? Saeed Jalili and Masoud Pezeshkian. They’re heading into a run-off election on July 5, Bloomberg reports.
Why this matters
Iran is in a tough spot right now: political unrest, economic troubles, and tension with the West over its nuclear program. The stakes are really high. Plus, there’s potential conflict between Israel and Lebanon adding to the mix. Amwaj reports crazy high inflation, making life for the average citizen difficult to manage. With sanctions from the US and EU, people aren’t holding their breath for big changes.
Tell me more
The Guardian Council initially picked six male candidates from a pool of 80, including one Reformist and five Conservatives, but some dropped out. No candidate got more than 50% of the vote in the first round last week, so there will be a run-off election this Friday on July 5.
- Details: The Guardian Council is a group of 12 people that oversees the elections and approves who can run for president in Iran. Half of them are picked by the Supreme Leader, and the other half by the parliament. This group decides who is allowed to be a candidate, but their process is not transparent and usually aligns with the Supreme Leader's views. Oh, and btw, women can apply, but none have ever been approved to run.
- Did you know? In the first round of the election, only about 40% of some 60 million eligible voters showed up, which is a record low for an Iranian presidential race. Analysts talking to Al Jazeera think this low turnout is people’s way of protesting against the government, which they blame for economic problems and lack of freedoms.
Who is Massoud Pezeshkian?
Massoud Pezeshkian is an Azeri 69-year-old heart surgeon from Mahabad and a member of the Iranian parliament. He used to be the Minister of Health between 2001 and 2005 under President Khatami.
- What's his experience? He's currently a representative for Tabriz, Osku and Azarshahr (the biggest electoral district in the East Azerbaijan Province) in the Iranian parliament and has been quite active in advocating for reforms.
- What does he stand for? He supports reviving the 2015 nuclear deal, which aimed to limit Iran's nuclear program in exchange for lifting economic sanctions. This deal fell apart when the US pulled out in 2018 under President Trump.
- Interesting fact: He's known for his outspoken criticism of hardline policies, including actions by the "morality police" against women, as per IranWire.
Who is Saeed Jalili?
Saeed Jalili is a former nuclear negotiator and a well-known conservative figure in Iranian politics. Supreme Leader Khamenei really likes him.
- What's his experience? He has been involved in many high-profile negotiations, especially related to Iran's nuclear program.
- What does he stand for? Jalili is an ultraconservative. He argues that Iran's economy can survive and even thrive without engaging with Western countries, focusing instead on alliances with Russia and China.
What is the role of Iran’s president?
The president of Iran is like the second-in-command, writes the New York Times. He follows the orders of the Supreme Leader and gives him advice. Officially, he is in charge of running the government, which includes managing ministers and various departments. He has to report to the parliament and can choose his team of ministers, but parliament needs to approve his choices. If you're asking whether being president in Iran can get you court-side tickets to actual political leadership, yes and no. The president can influence government policies, but his power is limited. The Supreme Leader makes the most important decisions, especially about things like nuclear talks and foreign relations. So... to be continued.
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People in Japan are really angry with the U.S. military after two more sexual assault cases
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What happened
Recently, Japan protested to the U.S. Embassy over two sexual assault cases involving U.S. service members on Okinawa, writes Asia Times.
Why this matters
Even after almost 80 years since World War II, Okinawa hosts most of the U.S. military facilities in Japan. There are about 54,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan, with around 30,000 of them on Okinawa, making it one of the region's largest U.S. military bases. People in Okinawa are often upset about crimes committed by U.S. service members. These incidents have caused a lot of frustration and anger among the locals.
Tell me more
These cases were only made public recently.
Here’s what's known so far:
- Case 1: An Air Force member is accused of assaulting a girl under the age of 16 in December. The man has since been indicted, reports Kyodo News.
- Case 2: A Marine is accused of assaulting a 21-year-old woman in May. Japanese prosecutors on June 17 indicted the man on charge of trying to sexually assault and injuring the young woman, writes South China Morning Post.
Local authorities have been handling the cases quietly, respecting the privacy of the victims.
What's the reactions been like?
The Japanese government expressed serious concern and demanded disciplinary and preventive measures from the U.S.
People in Okinawa, along with Governor Denny Tamaki, have been upset for a long time about accidents and crimes involving U.S. military personnel. Governor Tamaki said he was "speechless and outraged" about the recent assault cases. Vice Governor Ikeda called the alleged assaults serious human rights violations and said they were "absolutely unforgivable." He was also upset about the delay in informing the public about these cases, saying it caused a lot of anxiety for people living near the bases. The authorities only told the prefecture about the December case this week, even though the indictment happened in March, reports The Japan Times.
And what did the U.S. military say?
Thoughts and prayers, basically. The commander at Kadena Air Base, Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans, visited local officials and expressed concern about the allegations and the worry they caused, promised full cooperation with the investigations but failed to apologize.
How do the people in Okinawa feel about the U.S. military base there?
According to a poll conducted last year, seven out of ten Okinawans believe that the U.S. base being on their island is "unfair". There are protests now and then. However, the same poll showed that young people have also gotten used to the U.S. military presence. Still, accidents and crimes where the victims are Japanese cause quite the stir.
- In 1995, three U.S. service members raped a 12-year-old girl, sparking massive protests against the U.S. military presence.
- In 2012, a US Navy officer killed two Japanese citizens in a car accident during a trip to Mount Fuji.
- In 2013, two US Navy sailors were jailed for the rape of an Okinawan woman in her 20s. The case led to curfews for US troops all over Japan.
- After the case in 1995, the next big protests happened in 2017 when a US army base worker was convicted for the rape and murder of a 20-year-old local woman.
There have been attempts to move the U.S. military bases to places in Okinawa where fewer people live, but locals want them gone altogether.
Is that realistic?
According to some experts, no, writes BBC News. Japan's military alliance with the U.S. is too strong for that to happen. Plus, Japan needs them given the challenges it faces, be it China's growing claims over disputed waters and islands, or North Korea's missile tests.
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Bad
Democratic Republic of the Congo: M23 rebels have taken over Luofu and Kanyabayonga after some serious fighting with the army. Almost everyone in Kanyabayonga, including refugees from Rutshuru, had to leave the town. (Radio Okapi)
Pakistan: In southern Pakistan, at least 568 people have died because of the extreme heat and humidity. (The Independent) (BBC News)
Niger: After an ambush near the village of Tassia in Tillabéri Region, which killed at least 20 soldiers and a civilian, the Ministry of Defence has announced three days of mourning. (Al Jazeera)
Nepal: Heavy rains over two days have led to the deaths of twenty people. (Reuters)
Interesting...
Mauritania: Yesterday, people in Mauritania voted for their President, choosing between the current President Mohamed Ould Ghazouani and six other candidates. At the time of writing this issue, no result had been announced yet. (Reuters)
Philippines: Philippine troops said they killed at least 10 suspected communist rebels, including three leaders, near a village in Pantabangan, Nueva Ecija. (ABC News)
Argentina: Argentina's Chamber of Deputies has approved new economic reforms from President Javier Milei, which include investment incentives, privatizing many state-owned companies, and changing the tax system. (Reuters)
Indonesia: Officials in Indonesia have arrested and plan to deport 103 Taiwanese nationals who are suspected of running a cybercrime operation in Bali. (Al Jazeera)
Mongolia: Mongolians voted for members of their parliament in the first election since it was expanded to 126 seats. The ruling party lost its supermajority, but still holds a slim majority. (AP)
Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed a law making English an official language for international communication in Ukraine. (The Kyiv Independent)
Bolivia: President Luis Arce accused military general Juan José Zúñiga of trying to stage a coup. The coup failed, and Zúñiga was arrested. (Reuters)
Haiti: Kenyan police have arrived in Haiti to help restore order as part of a UN-backed mission. (The Washington Post)
United States: The U.S. Treasury Department has announced sanctions on 50 people and companies in Hong Kong, the UAE, and the Marshall Islands for allegedly helping Iran’s military access the international financial system. (Al Jazeera)
Russia: Russia has banned 81 media outlets, including Agence France-Presse and Politico, in response to a European Union ban on Russian media. (Reuters) In the same week, the International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Russia’s Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov and former defense minister Sergei Shoigu. (The Guardian)
Kenya: Kenyan activists are calling for new protests, strikes, and sit-ins demanding President William Ruto's resignation. This follows nationwide demonstrations that forced him to backtrack on proposed tax hikes. On Wednesday, Ruto withdrew the contested finance bill and promised to listen to young people. This came a day after parliament was briefly stormed and set ablaze, with at least 23 people killed in clashes with police. (Reuters)
Good
Mali: The International Criminal Court found Malian Islamist Al Hassan Ag Abdoul Aziz of Ansar Dine guilty of war crimes and crimes against humanity. (Reuters)
Honduras: Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández was sentenced to 45 years in prison and fined $8 million for drug trafficking and firearms offenses in the U.S. (Reuters)
United States: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange was freed after a plea deal with the U.S., where he pleaded guilty to espionage-related charges. (Reuters)
Peru: The Ministry of Health in Peru will stop labeling transgender individuals as having mental disorders and will use the term "gender discordance" instead. (Reuters)
Space: China's Chang'e 6 lunar mission has successfully returned to Earth with rock and soil samples from the far side of the moon. (AP)
Animal welfare: The Royal Zoological Society of Scotland announced that Scottish wildcat kittens have been born in the Cairngorms National Park, which is a big step for saving this critically endangered species. (The Guardian)
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Read… "Poland's Allure for Tajikistan's Exiles", an article by Michal Kranz for New Lines (link). There's a growing community of Tajiks living in Poland. In this longread, Kranz follows Asliddin Sherzamonov and other Pamiri exiles from Tajikistan who have found a new home in Poland. After facing severe oppression and violence in Tajikistan, many Pamiris, a marginalized ethnic group, had to flee. Poland has become an unexpected haven for these exiles, and the Polish language's similarity to Russian (which many Tajiks speak) also helped them settle in better. Sherzamonov joined his father in Warsaw, and now, the Pamiri community there is actively opposing Tajikistan's regime while building a new life. They work, study, and slowly integrate into Polish society while still dreaming of a free Tajikistan, hosting cultural gatherings, cook traditional meals, and find ways to keep their unique heritage alive. "Since 2015, when the Tajik government cracked down on several political parties in the country, Poland has quietly grown into a focal point of Tajik opposition activity in Europe, hosting political leaders, independent journalists and activists working against Rahmon’s regime," writes Kranz. This article is a prime example of Things Sham reads that expand her world view so much she will continue writing whlw for the next gazillion years.
Listen to… the trailer for a new podcast on Afghanistan ( link to Spotify). A new season of "The Negotiators" is out, and in this fourth season, they're "going back to the beginning, to try to understand why some of the world's smartest and most experienced negotiators failed for 20 years to mediate a peace deal in Afghanistan." I've only listened to the trailer and the first episode (those are free), but I'm actively contemplating whether I should sign up for Wondery+ (my umpteenth subscription) to finish the podcast. I'm really hooked, and I like the approach (slow narrative podcasts that focus on the details and getting the 'right' people behind a mic). "The Negotiators", for those who don't know, is a podcast co-produced by Foreign Policy with Doha Debates, and it's recently won a Shorty Award in the "News & Politics Podcast" category. Hosted by Foreign Policy's Jenn Williams, the series puts listeners in the rooms where negotiations are made and global conflicts are attempted to be resolved. As Miley Cyrus would say, like a " Fly on the Wall". Plus, I've just finished "Killing Eve" ( trailer), the spy thriller series with Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer, and I'm really in the mood for any inside scoop into how the rich and powerful play the house of cards (oh god, I can't stand myself using all these typical marketing-y lines, but "they" got me.)
Watch... this beautifully made video essay by Kuwait-based artist and writer Zouz Al-Mahdi ( link to Instagram Reel). My friend Hawraa shared it, and I was instantly hooked because Zouz touches on something I've noticed in the Kurdish community too: calling someone a dancer often has a negative connotation. It can sound a bit condescending to describe someone who dances professionally, and I've always wondered why that is. In the video, Zouz explores dance from a philosophical perspective and makes a compelling case for embracing movement as a form of expression. She encourages us to move more, use our bodies to express ourselves, and get rid of the stigma around dancing. It's a powerful reminder to appreciate dance as a beautiful and legitimate form of art and expression, and even resistance.
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"Lisa, can you teach me Japanese?" | Lisa is breaking all records on YouTube right now, garnering over 50 million views for her latest music video "Rockstar" in just two days. The Thai rapper is a member of the South Korean girl group Blackpink, and after wrapping up the "Born Pink" tour with her crew at the end of 2023 (the first tour by an all-female music group to gross over US$200 million), the 27-year-old has been killing it as an influencer and even started her own management company, LLOUD Co. This is her highly anticipated new solo project under her new company. With 103 million followers on Instagram, Lisa is the most-followed K-Pop solo artist in the world, and she is also set to make her acting debut in 2025 in the HBO television series The White Lotus. The influence of this young artist didn't go unnoticed by the Thai Ministry of Culture, either. In 2023, they awarded Lisa the Wattanakunathorn Honorary Award. According to the Bangkok Post, Lisa has proven to be a "leading force in promoting Thailand to the world" and has helped boost the local economy. Oh, and since 2022, Lisa has reportedly been in a relationship with Frédéric Arnault, the CEO of luxury watch brand Tag Heuer and the son of the world's richest man, Bernard Arnault.
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So, in the Maldives, there's been some pretty wild news.
The environment minister, Fathima Shamnaz Ali Saleem, got arrested along with three others for allegedly performing 'black magic' on President Mohamed Muizzu. The whole thing came to light on June 23, and since then, Shamnaz has been suspended from her position.
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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 the Americas. 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.
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