This week's biggest stories from the Global South: Minimum age for social media in Indonesia, Sudan takeover, Brazil announces new BRICS member
We bring you a compilation of this week's biggest stories across all topics within the Global South.
Asia
Why are thousands of Indians dipping themselves in freezing river water?
Thousands of Indians participated in the Maha Kumbh Mela, a major Hindu festival that involves taking a holy dip in the confluence of sacred rivers. This event, held every 12 years, is believed to absolve participants of their sins and grant them salvation from the cycle of life and death. Read more here.
Malaysia PM denies hiding document on ex-premier Najib's home detention
Malaysia Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said the government did not conceal any document relating to jailed former premier Najib Razak's home detention. Read more here.
Indonesia plans minimum age for social media use
Indonesia plans to issue a regulation to set a minimum age for users of social media, a move aimed at protecting children. The plans follows Australia's decision to ban children under 16 from accessing social media, with fines for tech giants from Instagram and Facebook owner Meta to TikTok if they failed to prevent children from accessing their platforms. Read more here.
Africa
South Africa pulls 36 corpses from illegal mine, arrests 82 survivors
South African rescuers pulled out 36 dead bodies and 82 survivors from a gold mine deep underground in two days of operations, police said on January 14, adding that the survivors would all face illegal mining and immigration charges. Read more here.
Celebrations in Sudan's Wad Madani as army takes over strategic city
Civilians and soldiers celebrated in Wad Madani, the capital of Sudan's El Gezira state, after it was recaptured by the Sudanese army from the paramilitary Rapid Support Services, marking a possible turning point in a devastating near two-year civil war. Read more here.
Benin festival seeks to dispel voodoo stereotypes
The festival Vodun Days was held to draw tourists and worshippers to the small Atlantic coast town of Ouidah, offering a varied programme of ceremonies, concerts and exhibitions. This year, visitors could marvel at the spectacle of the so-called guardians of the night - performers dressed head-to-toe in dyed straw, who whirl and dance in an elaborate ritual. Read more here.
Latin America
Brazil announces Nigeria's acceptance as BRICS partner country
Brazil's government announced on January 18, Nigeria's acceptance as a partner country in the multinational bloc of nations known as BRICS. Brazil, which holds the bloc's presidency in 2025, said in a statement that the African country has been actively "strengthening cooperation in the Global South and reforming global governance", which has been a priority to Brazil. Read more here.
Mexican firefighters prepare to do battle with LA fires
A contingent of 72 Mexican firefighters received a briefing from U.S. fire officials on January 13, alongside their American counterparts before heading out to help fight the wildfires plaguing Southern California. The group was made up of military specialists, including doctors, engineers and search and r rescue personnel, as well as a group of firefighters from Mexico's equivalent of the U.S. Forest Service. Read more here.
Cuba calls US removal from Terror List 'positive' but 'limited'
Cuba's Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has called the United States' decision to remove Cuba from its list of state sponsors of terrorism a "step in the right direction." However, he emphasised that the move is "limited." "One of the consequences of President Biden’s decision... is that the list of countries that sponsor terrorism has been dismantled. It no longer exists," he stated in a press conference. Read more here.
