Stories from July, 2022
The war in Ukraine has increased tensions between Kosovo and Serbia
German Chanceller Olaf Scholz said that progress in the Kosovo-Serbia dialogue is of great importance for peace and stability in southeast Europe, as well as for the European integration of both countries.
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.
“Roosyan Klassiks”: An interview with Slovak writer Daniel Majling on Russia's cult authors and the current cancel culture
Slovakian writer Daniel Majling unpacks the notion of cancel culture in regard to Russian literature, and shares his views on the danger of ethnocentrism in this debate in this interview.
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'
Sidhu Moosewala: A prodigious life cut short but it’s not the end
The news of the untimely death of the Indian Punjabi rapper, songwriter, and actor Sidhu Moosewala (Shubhdeep Singh Sidhu) was a shock to the global Punjabi community.
Will Ukraine walk through EU's doorstep as “slow as a tortoise” like Albania and North Macedonia?
Ukraine at war with Russia, is now an official candidate country to join the EU. But will it have to wait for a long time, like Albania and North Macedonia?
The tide is rising against deep sea mining
"If allowed to go ahead, mining will irreversibly destroy ancient deep sea habits and impact those who rely on the ocean for their livelihood."
In Turkey, a song about love between two men draws backlash
The song has also triggered a harsh response from the country's conservative population, who claim the video has no place in a country like Turkey.
Trinidad's capital blocked by protests over police killings
It is not the first time that the Trinidad and Tobago Police Service (TTPS) been accused of abuse of power; these protests seem very much like déjà-vu.
A woman chess champion challenges ageism, sexism, and political intrigues in Kazakhstan
The confrontation was quickly drawn into the whirlpool of intrigues and accusations, causing public outrage, and revealing the behind-the-scenes activities of turbid relations between professional sports and governmental politics.
Indian police use old tweets as cause to arrest Muslim journalist known for debunking fake news
There has been widespread condemnation of the arrest of Indian journalist and co-founder of fact-checking website AltNews, Mohammed Zubair, over a 2018 tweet.