Stories about Weblog from July, 2022
Antigua & Barbuda is the latest Caribbean country where ‘anti-buggery’ laws have been deemed ‘unconstitutional’
On July 5, the country's High Court ruled that clauses in the Sexual Offences Act criminalising homosexual sex were against citizens’ constitutional rights to both privacy and freedom of expression.
The forgotten story of the women who changed the history of computing in Latin America
Only a few years after women were allowed to vote in Argentina, a group of recently graduated women students built the country's first programming language.
Transposing satire: Two literary translators of Slovak share how they find inspiration
Two literary translators take on a book of Slovak satire, Daniel Majling's collection of short stories "Roosyan Klassiks," and reinterpret their work in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine
A new era of politics begins in Sri Lanka
A peaceful mass uprising on July 9 brought about the end of a political era that started with the promulgation of the 1978 constitution of Sri Lanka, which undermined democracy.
Hong Kong set to implement a China-style health code and contact-tracing app
Hong Kong may adopt a health code system similar to the mainland Chinese three-colour version to curb the latest outbreak of COVID infections, according to the city's new health chief.
‘Ever festive’ Jamaica sees its index monkeypox patient flee state quarantine
The patient says he told health officials he was leaving to quarantine at home, since his infant daughter was under great distress without him.
Sri Lankan president agrees to resign after protesters storm his official residence
Sri Lanka witnessed a successful people's uprising on July 9, 2022, as they demanded the resignation of the President due to rising prices and acute shortage of fuel, food and medicines.
Fact-checking the inaugural speech of Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
"The inaugural speech raises concerns over how facts shall be regarded in the next six years."
Brazilians debate questions on sexuality and gender identity before 2022 census
After a court ruling required the inclusion of these questions in the census - to begin in August - another court ruling suspended it, arguing that it would be practically difficult.
In Turkey death of a doctor renews old grievances about violence against healthcare workers
Despite attempts to save Karakaya's life, he died, leaving behind devastated family but also becoming the most recent and brazen example of the on-going violence against healthcare workers in Turkey.
Jamaica announces its first case of monkeypox
The country has learned a lot from the COVID-19 pandemic — but could people be getting more complacent about the risks of infectious disease?
Colombians react to the elections in memes
These seven famous memes and caricatures give insight into some of Colombia's public opinion on the historic triumph of the political left.
Myanmar's military propaganda about schools rampant on social media
With schools reopening amidst targeted attacks, military supporters attempt to position Myanmar as a functional country post-coup.
Central Asia rushes into armed drone race as regional arms transfers brew
Central Asia’s search for military drones started long before the Russian-Ukrainian war, and was shaped by the imminent rise of military drones and Russia’s gradual lag in advanced military technologies.
How Nigeria confronts the persistent practice of Female Genital Mutilation: An interview with Dr. Chris Ugwu
FGM causes excruciating pains, infections, excessive bleeding, urinary incontinence, complications in childbirth, trauma, and even death. The highest FGM prevalence rates are found in southwest and southeast Nigeria.
Disinformation 2.0: Should we bring the notion of propaganda back into public discourse?
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the unintentional spread of disinformation added a burden on health services when the rise of conspiracies was evident beyond the anti-vaccination movement.
Indonesia's Covid tracker app PeduliLindungi: To care for and protect?
As PeduliLindungi and the government continue to fumble in its operations, one needs to ask: Is PeduliLindungi really caring for and protecting the Indonesian public?
China: Possible police database breach exposes at least 1 billion citizens’ personal data
"...the data breach is a fresh new case of a dictator’s dilemma: the more you concentrate, the more you lose control."
The Gambia launches digital immunization registry
This novel intervention employed a novel hybrid paper-digital solution that collects, shares, stores and distributes data for the Expanded Programme for Immunisation (EPI) using Smart Paper Technology.
Russian and Serbian officials continue to deny the Račak/Reçak Massacre
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, in an interview with Russian state-owned news agency Sputnik that was broadcast by Serbian media outlets, has denied the 1999 Račak/Reçak massacre in Kosovo.
Iran’s latest surge in executions heavily targets Baloch minority
'Data gathered by Iran Human Rights shows that Baluch prisoners accounted for 21 percent of all executions in 2021, while only representing 2–6 percent of Iran's population'