www.theotherpress.ca World Recap: July Weekly geopolitical events By Dylan Hackett, News Editor Africa: (South Africa) United States president Barack Obama spent time with members of Nelson Mandela’s family last week. Mandela, 94, has spent much time recently shuffling in and out of hospitals, where he is now in critical condition. Obama met with South African president Jacob Zuma on his African tour where he gave a speech, addressing the dismantling apartheid as having a role in his own political development. North America: (United States) The Unites States Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in favour of a strike-down against a discriminatory section of the Defense of Marriage Act, a 1996 federal bill law that disallowed certain legal provisions to homosexual couples. The main judicial principle against the act was the acknowledgement that LGBT persons are safeguarded from denial of life, liberty, or property under the Due Process Clause. Proposition 8, a gay marriage ban referendum ratified in the 2008 election was also struck down in the court's decision. The repeal came timely for gay pride weekend celebrations held worldwide. Latin & South America: (Ecuador) United States Vice President Joe Biden has requested Ecuador refuse whistleblower Edward Snowden’s request for asylum. Last month, Snowden leaked details of the NSA’s “Prism” program, a massive spy network monitoring the world through social media, and the US is now charging Snowden with counts of espionage. Snowden is being assisted by WikiLeaks in attaining asylum from Ecuador, who have been housing renowned WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in their London embassy. Snowden initially fled to Hong Kong and is believed to be in Moscow. Oceana: (Australia) An Australian Labour Party leadership ballot ousted Prime Minister Julia Gillard, the nation’s first female prime minister. Kevin Rudd assumed position last Thursday and is set to lead the party in the coming fall election. Gillard won the 2010 election by a narrow margin but has since remained popular in polls. Gillard plans to retire from politics. Europe: (England) The two men who slayed military drummer and machine gunner Lee Rigby in broad daylight on May 22 have a trial date set for November. The brutal video of the killing made its way online moments after happening. Rigby had been a well-liked military recruiter stationed in London since 2011, and he now leaves behind a two-year-old son. The killers stated religious motivation was the reason behind the killing. Batman to the rescue Turkish city wins emergency condom delivery system contest By Aidan Mouellic, Staff Writer he town of Batman in Turkey was awarded as the pilot city for condom manufacturer Durex’s emergency condom delivery system after voters ina Facebook contest jokingly voted for the city that shares a name with the iconic DC Comics hero. In an effort to familiarize people with the SOS system, Durex launched a contest via its Facebook page, which allowed users to vote for a city that deserves emergency condom services. The contest was quickly hijacked by online pranksters who proceeded to vote the socially conservative city of Batman, Turkey into first place. News. President Obama in Nelson Mandela prison cell on Robben Island. | Photo courtesy of Pete Souza/Businessinsidercom Representatives from Durex acknowledged that the contest was “won” by Batman, but said that they do not intend to enter the heavily-Muslim Turkish city with their condom delivery team anytime soon. The SOS system allows individuals to place condom orders online or from their phone and the condoms will be delivered to their door in a speedy manner. The logic behind the system is that individuals who are too timid to purchase condoms in public or who find themselves in a situation where they are without access to one can order up a dozen condoms for $15 and they will arrive briefly by discreet courier. The system has had success elsewhere in the Muslim world. Dubai hosted a Durex SOS trial where users were able to download the Durex app to their phone or computer and when the need arose they were able to get a dozen condoms discreetly delivered to their location in less than an hour- so long as it was between 4 p-m. and 4 a.m. In a socially- conservative city like Dubai, many found the service to be helpful in avoiding awkward or tense store checkout purchases. The service is no longer in operation in Dubai but Durex is still aiming to launch elsewhere, though they are re-evaluating their methods of city selection. While online marketing remains a dominant force in the business world, hackers present a problem for companies to avoid. Even with the contest problems, shares for Reckitt- Benckiser, the British company which owns Durex, have risen by 36 per cent in the past year— the Batman fiasco is unlikely to cause any damage to the corporation’s bottom line.