Malaysia's LGBTQ community faces increasing pressure and discrimination despite expectations of progress following the historic election of the Pakatan Harapan government. Raids on LGBTQ venues, public canings for lesbian sex, and the government's rhetoric urging the community to remain hidden highlight the worsening situation. Activists express disappointment and concern, as the government fails to provide protections or recognize LGBTQ rights as human rights, contradicting earlier promises of a 'New Malaysia' that respects human rights.

The article discusses the creation of 'El3osba', an Egyptian comic book series that features a supergroup of diverse heroes representing modern Egyptian culture and challenges. Created by John Maher, Maged Refaat, and artist Ahmed Raafat, the series aims to provide a more authentic representation of Egypt and the Middle East through the lens of superhero mythology. The characters, such as Horus and Microbusgy, embody various aspects of Egyptian society and face villains that reflect real-world issues like corruption and sexual harassment. The article highlights the positive reception of El3osba, the challenges of distribution in Egypt, and the creators' plans to expand the universe with character-specific issues and stories that address everyday Egyptian issues. The article is written by Skot Thayer, who also mentions his personal talents at the end.

The article discusses the plight of the Rohingya, a Muslim minority from Myanmar, who lack official identity due to being denied citizenship. To address this, Muhammad Noor and the Rohingya Project are using blockchain technology to create digital identity cards for the Rohingya in Malaysia, Bangladesh, and Saudi Arabia. These cards could help them access services and reclaim their identities. The article also mentions Tykn, a startup co-founded by Tufic Al Rjula, which aims to provide 'self-sovereign identity to all'. The United Nations World Food Programme is using blockchain and biometrics in Jordan to assist Syrian refugees. However, concerns about privacy and the ethical implications of using such technology on vulnerable populations are raised by Dilek Genc, a PhD candidate. The article is part of a series exploring solutions to global problems and invites reader participation in suggesting topics to cover.