Edition 47: why cows have eyes on their backs
(This newsletter was sent to email subscribers on August 28, 2020.)
Happy Friday, muggles. Have you ever noticed eyes painted on the behinds of cattle? We personally haven’t (we’re in Los Angeles), but it’s been going on for four years and it’s no prank. The “eye-cow technique” is used to ward off predators and has proved to be both effective and humane. As your own second set of eyes, here are some stories that might be sneaking by you.
AFRICA
Ivory Coast president seeks a third term amid protests
Fri Aug 14
It seems extending presidential term limits is a trend beyond the U.S. these days. Unfortunately in Côte d’Ivoire, President Allssane Ouattara’s announcement has led to deadly protests. And similar to the U.S., such a term challenges the country’s constitution.
Was Ouattara always planning on running for a third term?
Nope. Initially, he planned to step down and promote his Prime Minister Amadou Gon Coulibaly, but then, Coulibaly died of a heart attack. To serve for a third term, Ouattara must argue a constitutional change he and his supporters claim ‘reset the clock’ on his term count.
What else is happening in the Ivory Coast?
There has been a low-level civil war since 2011, when the former President refused to hand over the title to Ouattara after losing the election. The civil unrest has killed at least 3,000 people and split the country between North and South.
SOURCES: Al Jazeera, U.S. News & World Report, Reuters
TECHNOLOGY
Malware found pre-installed on Chinese phones
Wed Aug 25
Malware was found on 53,000 phones that were sold in Ethiopia, Cameroon, Egypt, Ghana, and South Africa. The anti-fraud firm Upstream, which made the discovery, said the malware was taking advantage of the most vulnerable, typically low-income households.
How was the malware used?
- The Triada malware installed code known as xHelper
- It subscribes to services invisibly
- It cannot confidently be removed, even with the latest patches
- Subscription services then consume prepaid airtime as payment (a way to pay for any digital service in developing countries)
Who is behind this?
The manufacturer Transsion says it was installed on its devices through the supply chain without its knowledge. Transsion Holdings is a leading phone manufacturer in China and sells the most phones in Africa.
Has this happened before?
Yes. At the beginning of the year, a security firm found a similar malware on another Chinese Android phone that was offered to low-income families in the U.S. In 2016, researchers found more than 700 million Android smartphones had malware on them.
SOURCES: BBC, BuzzFeed News, Android Authority
HEALTH
Black newborn babies more likely to survive with Black doctors
Thu Aug 20
Black newborns in the U.S. are three times more likely to die than white newborns when cared for by a white doctor. In contrast, the doctors’ race didn’t impact white newborns’ survival rates.
According to the CDC, infant mortality rates are declining in the U.S., but…
- Black newborns are still more than twice as likely to die than white newborns
- Black women are also three to four times more likely to die than white women during pregnancy or childbirth
What are some factors causing this disparity?
- Implicit, racial bias
- Institutional racism
- Socioeconomic inequalities
- Access to prenatal treatment
Previously on Below The Fold: We dedicated an entire edition to racism and injustice in the U.S.
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That’s all for this week. Have a magical weekend.✨
