Latin America's futboleras are (still) fighting for recognition

In this issue, I'm taking a closer look at Senegal's TikTok ban and the recent protests, Cambodia's stolen artifacts from an ancient kingdom most of us have probably never heard of in school in the West, and the Women's World Cup through the eyes of women's sports in Latin America. Plus an interview with Nigerian writer Ayọ̀bámi Adébáyọ̀ about her latest novel (which is being considered for the 2023 Booker Prize!), a love letter to Dalit philosopher Bhimrao Ambedkar, a podcast that gives the mic to domestic workers in Latin America, an Iraqi house banger, a dating app for Chinese parents to marry off their adult children, a historic scientific discovery in Peru, and so much more.

Senegal banned TikTok and blocked access to the internet on mobile devices

What happened:
Last Wednesday, Senegal imposed a temporary ban on TikTok on all wireless phone networks. It also blocked access to the entire internet on mobile devices, just days after the main opposition party (Patef) was dissolved and its leader arrested.

Refresher:
There's tension between opposition leader Ousmane Sonko and President Macky Sall. Violent protests have happened, especially after Sonko got a 2-year sentence. Many believe the charges against Sonko are to stop him from running in the next election. At least 40 people have been killed in protests across the country since his arrest. The next presidential election is in six months, and things are tense.

Why this matters:
Many in Africa only access the internet through phones. Internet shutdowns are a violation of fundamental rights, they disrupt people's livelihoods and sources of income, negatively impact national economies, and enable those in power to commit human rights abuses against people with impunity. Plus, Senegal is known for being a stable democracy in West Africa.

Tell me more:
Senegal's chief communications minister, Moussa Bocar Thiam, said that the shutdown was intended to prevent the spread of "hateful and subversive messages" by individuals who "threaten to destabilize the country.'' The shutdown has caused problems: no power in homes, no mobile payments, and people who relied on social media to avoid protests on their streets are now finding themselves in the middle of them. Amnesty International has condemned the restrictions on internet access, calling it an "attack on freedom of information," and called on the authorities to restore access to the internet.

Why TikTok?
TikTok has videos of the protests, including some controversial ones. One video appears to show military police shielding themselves with a child. Others appear to show officers firing on protesters. The government thinks some videos might be misleading. Some tell Bloomberg's Loni Prinsloo and Katarina Hoije, "Senegalese authorities are more concerned about the world seeing people rise up against the government than they are about keeping people safe."

Did you know that last year, internet blackouts in sub-Saharan Africa, including Senegal, caused US$261 million in losses?

In the meantime, The European Union's Digital Services Act (DSA) is bringing big changes to the For You Page. Users in the EU can now opt out of personalized recommendations.

Finally! Australia has returned stolen artifacts to Cambodia

What happened:
Australia's national gallery will return three 9th and 10th Century bronze sculptures to Cambodia, after they were found to be stolen and bought by the gallery in 2011.

Why this matters:
Artifacts are often integral to a community's cultural and historical identity. Returning them helps preserve and restore the cultural heritage of a region or a people. Plus, artifacts provide insights into the history, traditions, and lifestyles of ancient civilizations. Keeping them in their original context ensures that they can be studied and understood accurately.

Tell me more:
The sculptures are named Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Padmapani, Bodhisattva Vajrapani, and another Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara Padmapani. The three artworks originally came from the Champa Kingdom that once inhabited Vietnam and parts of Cambodia. The National Gallery of Australia (NGA) says it purchased the sculptures in 2011 for US$1.5 million from British artefacts smuggler Douglas Latchford (who died in 2020). The works will remain on display at the NGA in Canberra for three years while Cambodia prepares a new home for them in Phnom Penh.

Did you know that an investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists helped track these artifacts? Here's how journalists tracked them to leading museums and private galleries.

How does Cambodia feel about all of this?
At a handover ceremony at the National Gallery on July 28, the undersecretary of state from Cambodia's Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts, Kong Vireak, said his country had been traumatized by war and the return of the sculptures "heals our nation." The country is happy, saying that this is an "important step towards rectifying past injustices."

Tell me some basic facts about the Champa Kingdom in Vietnam, ChatGPT
Sure thing. "It lasted from around the second to the 17th century. The people of Champa practiced Hinduism, but later some converted to Islam. They built beautiful towers and temples, especially in a place called My Son. Champa was known for trading. They traded spices, ivory, and other goods with neighboring regions. By the late 15th century, continuous wars had significantly weakened Champa, and it was eventually absorbed by Vietnam in the 17th century." I fact-checked this and it checks out.

Has anybody else stolen any Cambodian artifacts?
Yes. In fact, Cambodia has requested over and over again that international governments help retrieve several antiquities they believe were taken from their age-old temples. They suggest that some of these artifacts are currently in places like the Victoria and Albert and British Museums.

Context:
"This wasn't a colonial crime. In contrast to the Elgin Marbles taken from Greece or the Benin Bronzes removed from what is now Nigeria, much...