Stories about Weblog from October, 2021
A McDonald's drive-through in Japan gets a visit from a sacred horse
A popular post on Japanese Twitter provides a glimpse into the long connection between horses and Shinto shrines in Japan.
News site founders, editor resign under pressure from Kazakhstan's authorities
A sophisticated attack on Hola News's website kept it down for 10 days. The core team then abandoned the project, citing pressure from the authorities.
Bangladesh’s upcoming Data Protection Act may suppress, not protect, citizens rights
Analysts fear that a proposed data protection act in Bangladesh contains some loopholes including the indemnification of government agencies, which could be weaponized like the existing controversial Digital Security Act 2018.
The son of dictator Ferdinand Marcos wants to become the Philippines’ next president
The danger that Ferdinand (Bongbong) Marcos Jr., son of the hated Philippine dictator, being elected as president in the May 2022 elections is real and a grim possibility.
Why Salvadoran farmworkers ponder migrating to the United States
"I leave the house for work at around 4 in the morning, and I return around 5 in the afternoon. This is my daily routine six days a week."
We need ‘painless’ glucose monitors, says Mia Chichkarikj, a 16-year-old diabetes patient from North Macedonia
“This should be a plea to the authorities at the Ministry of Health, to take our needs for 'painless' glucose monitors seriously and to provide them as soon as possible.”
Key suspect in Haitian president’s assassination held in Jamaica on immigration charges
Details are still coming to light, but the suspect, Colombian national Mario Antonio Palacios Palacios, was arrested in central Jamaica, and was being held on immigration charges.
‘Self governance is self love': Barbados elects first local head of state on journey to becoming a republic
"We have a good relationship with the British monarchy. Long may it continue, as equals. Congratulations to our incoming President Dame Sandra Mason."
Taiwan: Deepfake pornographic video victims call for new laws against sexual violence in cyberspace
Taiwan's recent arrest of popular YouTuber Xiao Yu, Zhu Yuchen, for allegedly selling deepfake pornographic videos of public figures has drawn public attention to artificial intelligence (AI) crimes.
I was invited to celebrate ‘Columbus Day.’ This is what I answered
"The 'National Day of Spain' is a mockery and offense to our Indigenous and Afro-descendent peoples."
Film festival documents stories of sustainable development in Africa
The festival will facilitate conversation and action among a diverse mix of creatives, innovators, activists and campaigners working on Sustainable Development Goals across Africa.
Basque separatist group ETA lowered its weapons 10 years ago. Has reconciliation truly happened?
A lot has changed for the better in the past 10 years … but Basque society is still working out a public memory about the previous four decades of violence.
On National Heroes Day, Jamaicans at home and abroad pay their respects to ‘son of the soil,’ General Colin Powell
Despite his reputation for decency and integrity, Jamaicans—and the Caribbean in general—had qualms about General Powell’s involvement in the Iraq War.
Malaysian rapper Namewee breaks the hearts of mainland Chinese ‘little pinks’
"Sorry for hurting you. It’s okay to delete Weibo, Oh, I hear a sound, a fragile heart is broken into pieces... It’s Okay I still have IG and FB…"
Chile rejects the migrants it once welcomed
In a study, Chileans considered themselves mostly 'whiter' than other Latin Americans and considered migrants 'dirtier.'
Community care during the pandemic in Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines
From community pantries in the Philippines to the White Flag movement in Malaysia, this pandemic has spurred communities to mobilize and provide aid during this public health emergency.
Malaysian students share lessons using digital tools to promote indigenous languages
"Students have the opportunity to explore, reflect and scrutinize the functions and roles of indigenous languages in society and to the indigenous communities."
Tensions are escalating between Azerbaijan and Iran over border issue and Armenia
For weeks, Iran and Azerbaijan have exchanged accusations, and played war games, in what can be best described as chest-thumping.
Is the shutting down of Chinese LinkedIn the end of foreign big tech’s engagement with China?
What are the reasons behind Microsoft's decision to leave China? Product failure? China' newly enacted data security law? or the proposing algorium law?
The death of a reputed gangster exposes fault lines in Jamaican society
"There should be no rejoicing at his death; there are two truths here—that our society failed a young man of great potential AND he caused untold pain and suffering."
Between two borders: you can’t get through
By offering its territory as a transit zone, Belarus created a problem for the EU and a financial opportunity for itself, charging refugees for Belarusian visas.
