Cosa Nostra, Art 2025 and the Kings River Snail pyrg
Outriders Magazine #345
The Decline of France in Africa and Unrest in Afghanistan and Pakistan
Ivory Coast has made a significant decision by joining Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, Chad, and Senegal as the sixth African nation to sever military ties with France. This move highlights a growing discontent with foreign military presence amidst a surge in violence driven by armed groups. Despite the deployment of thousands of French troops, countries like Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger have become battlegrounds for groups such as Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wa-al-Muslimin (JNIM). Additionally, the rise in militant attacks on Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Benin underscores a pressing security crisis. In light of these challenges, several African nations are now seeking assistance from Russia to establish new security alliances, signalling a shift in the region's geopolitical landscape.
In another critical development, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has strongly condemned the U.S. military presence and the establishment of American bases in Syria following the fall of former President Bashar al-Assad. Before Assad's removal, the U.S. military footprint in Syria swelled to approximately 2,000 troops. Iran maintains its military personnel in Syria and Iraq to safeguard Shiite holy sites, reflecting its commitment to regional influence.
Meanwhile, the banned militant group Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has threatened further attacks on Pakistani military personnel and commercial interests. This warning comes in the context of escalating tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan. Islamabad accuses the Afghan Taliban of providing refuge to TTP fighters, facilitating their ability to conduct cross-border assaults on Pakistan's security forces. It is a critical moment that calls for urgent attention to enhance regional stability and security.
Social Protests in Serbia, Mozambique, and Bangladesh
In Serbia, a wave of social protests continues to surge in response to the tragic collapse of the railway station roof last November, which claimed 15 lives. The protests, primarily led by students, are paralyzing activities at nearly all state universities in the country. These young activists are staunchly demanding accountability from those responsible for the disaster. After two months of relentless demonstrations, the Serbian public highlighted government corruption and the critical need for better construction oversight.
Meanwhile, in Dhaka, thousands of Bangladeshis are rallying for justice, demanding accountability from ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her associates for the tragic events of last summer. The violent anti-government protests resulted in hundreds of deaths, and demonstrators have come together for the Unity March, organized by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement. They boldly called for the delegalization of the Awami League party that held power during these dark times. Following her flight to India in early August, Bangladesh officially requested her extradition, signifying a turning point in the fight for justice.
In Mozambique, civil unrest and violence have erupted since the October elections, during which security forces were accused of brutally killing dozens of protesters. Citizens are rightfully demanding the recognition of opposition candidate Venâncio Mondlane as the actual president, believing the election results were manipulated. This wave of protests is fueled by growing poverty and frustration, as the violence threatens to derail the nation’s economy and delay crucial natural gas exports essential for Mozambique's future. The voices of the oppressed must be heard and heeded if change is to come.
Environment: Lithium Mining, the Kings River pyrg, and the Kerch Strait Oil Spill
The ongoing construction of a lithium mine in Thacker Pass, Nevada, seriously threatens the Kings River pyrg snail (Pyrgulopsis imperialis). These endangered species exist nowhere else on Earth. This diminutive snail, no larger than a pen tip, is crucial to the biodiversity of its fragile habitat, which relies on 13 isolated springs in the area. Environmental advocates and the People of Red Mountain, a Native American group, are taking a stand by preparing to sue the U.S. government and Lithium Americas, the mine's managing company, for their failure to adequately monitor the project's impact on vital groundwater resources. Protecting the Kings River pyrg snail isn’t just about saving a species; it’s about safeguarding our ecosystem for future generations.
In another critical environmental issue, India has achieved a significant milestone by removing toxic waste from the notorious 1984 methyl isocyanate spill in Bhopal. This catastrophic incident resulted in over 5,000 deaths and affected more than half a million people. The leak from the American Union Carbide Corporation’s pesticide factory had lasting impacts on the community and environment. The incineration of 337 tons of waste in Pithampur is scheduled to take three to nine months and is being conducted in compliance with national emission standards. This effort reflects India's commitment to ensuring the disposal process is safe for the environment and local ecosystems.
Additionally, reports from Russian news services highlight another urgent situation: a fuel oil leak from two damaged tankers in the Kerch Strait, near Crimea, which has inflicted severe environmental damage. In an inspiring display of community action, over 10,000 volunteers have removed over 71,000 tons of contaminated sand and soil from 56 kilometres of the affected coastline. However, the overall contamination could impact up to 200,000 tons of land. This collective effort underscores the importance of community involvement in combating environmental crises and emphasizes our shared responsibility to protect our planet.
Gangs in Trinidad and Tobago, the Sicilian Mafia, and Drug Smuggling Drones
A state of emergency has been declared in Trinidad and Tobago amid rising gun violence. The country is also a transhipment point for cocaine and other drugs from Colombia and other South American countries to markets in the United States and Europe. Young women are also victims of human trafficking. Trinidad and Tobago has struggled for decades with economic and social problems, gang violence, assaults, murders and corruption.
Families of victims of the Sicilian mafia fear the return of more than 20 senior gangsters who were released in the past three months on furlough or for good behaviour. Most returning bosses, some of whom held executive positions in significant mafia families in Palermo, have never renounced Cosa Nostra and have refused to cooperate with the courts. Following recent changes to Italian law, prosecutors and lawyers are also worried that unrepentant gangsters will quickly return to their mafia activities.
Prison authorities in England and Wales are seeing a sharp increase in incidents involving drug-delivering drones. In the 10 months to the end of October 2024, there were almost 1,300 incidents involving the aircraft, a tenfold increase since 2020. Many deliveries are made at night, under darkness so that the actual figure could be much higher. The drug trade in prisons is so lucrative that gangs are looking for highly skilled drone pilots from outside the criminal world to fly their cargo to prison cell windows.
Art: Top Exhibitions of 2025 and the Biggest Scandals of 2024
If you're looking to immerse yourself in groundbreaking art exhibitions in 2025, you won't miss what The New York Times has to say about the must-visit events! One standout is “Leigh Bowery!” at Tate Modern from February 27 to August 31. This exhibition marks the first large-scale display of the innovative work by the Australian artist who took the London club scene by storm in the 1980s. Meanwhile, the Centre Pompidou is set to unveil a retrospective of the remarkable painter Suzanne Valadon from January 15 to May 26, showcasing her extraordinary life and contributions. Additionally, don’t miss the French Musée Granet’s exhibition “Cézanne au Jas de Bouffan” from June 28 to October 12, featuring an impressive collection of 100 pieces, including paintings, drawings, and watercolours by the legendary Paul Cézanne.
At the Smithsonian American Art Museum, you’ll find the compelling exhibition “The Shape of Power: Stories of Race and American Sculpture.” This installation delves deep into the intersection of power and race through thought-provoking sculptures, including works by minority artists and pieces crafted from diverse materials like fibreglass, charred wood, fabric, glass, and ceramics. With the most extensive collection of American sculpture, this museum is a treasure trove waiting for you to explore.
Reflecting on the art world’s controversies in 2024, CNN Style highlights significant events such as the destruction of cultural heritage by climate activist groups like Just Stop Oil. These protests targeted iconic pieces, including the “Mona Lisa,” “Girl with a Pearl Earring,” and “Sunflowers,” along with the Magna Carta of Freedoms and even Stonehenge itself. In a separate but equally intriguing controversy, Rie Kudan’s award-winning book “The Tokyo Tower of Sympathy” stirred debate by revealing that around 5% of its content was generated using AI. This revelation prompts a deeper conversation about the role of technology in modern literature.
Health Concerns: Herpes, Alzheimer’s, Norovirus, and Parasitic Infections in the U.S.
Recent research from the University of Pittsburgh has uncovered a compelling link between Alzheimer’s disease and the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). This groundbreaking discovery suggests that viral infections may not only contribute to the onset of Alzheimer’s but could also serve as an unexpected defence mechanism. The study additionally reveals that the protein tau, often seen as a harmful player in Alzheimer’s, might initially protect the brain from the virus, only to facilitate its damaging effects later. This could be a pivotal moment in Alzheimer’s research, opening doors to innovative treatments that target both infections and the brain's immune response.
Meanwhile, a new study highlights a startling reality: parasitic infections are far more common in the southern United States than previously thought, with strong ties to poverty and inadequate infrastructure, such as sewage system failures. These issues drive a widespread prevalence of intestinal infections and parasites like roundworms and tapeworms, affecting about 12 million Americans. Alarmingly, sanitation challenges are particularly severe in Black communities, underscoring the need for immediate action to address these disparities.
In a related public health concern, the latest data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) indicates that the U.S. is grappling with an epidemic of norovirus, or stomach flu, which has surged to its highest levels in over a decade. This highly contagious virus results in an average of 900 deaths each year, primarily among older adults, along with more than 100,000 hospitalizations and an estimated 19 to 21 million cases annually. In response, Moderna, Inc. has begun testing a promising vaccine for norovirus, offering hope in the fight against this severe public health threat.
Space Exploration in 2025: Giant Rockets, Telescopes, Quantum Entanglement, and the Cosmological Principle
The year 2025 promises to be a groundbreaking era in space exploration, marked by the launch of impressive rockets and advanced telescopes. Anticipation surrounds Blue Origin's reusable New Glenn rocket, set to take off soon. With its ability to carry satellites, NASA spacecraft, Mars orbiters, and lunar landers into orbit, New Glenn represents a significant leap forward for our capabilities in space travel. Concurrently, astronomers are finishing the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in the stunning mountains of central Chile. This facility, equipped with the world's largest digital camera, will revolutionize our understanding of the southern sky, enabling scientists to create a time-lapse movie of celestial phenomena while probing into the mysteries of dark matter and energy.
In an exciting breakthrough, scientists at Brookhaven National Laboratory have explored quantum entanglement at an astonishingly small scale—within individual protons composed of quarks and gluons or even across a distance of a quadrillionth of a meter. This pivotal research, conducted using the Large Hadron Collider (LHC), can potentially unravel the fundamental connections that bind these particles to the fabric of atomic nuclei, paving the way for significant advancements in nuclear physics.
Traditionally, the cosmological principle has led us to believe that humanity's place in the universe is ordinary and that the cosmos is uniform. Yet, recent discoveries are challenging this notion, revealing a universe that is not only stranger but also infinitely more diverse than we ever imagined. Scientists are searching for colossal structures that might disrupt this established principle, estimating that anything more significant than approximately 1.2 billion light-years could alter our understanding of cosmic uniformity. Among these discoveries is the Great Arc, a stunning curve of galaxies that spans around 3.3 billion light-years, inviting us to rethink our place in the vastness of the universe.
Appetite Suppressants, Food Expenditures, and California’s New Law
A recent study by experts at Cornell University reveals compelling insights about the impact of the weight-loss drug GLP-1, including Ozempic. Remarkably, individuals using this medication cut their grocery spending by an impressive 5.5% within the first six months, translating to savings of around $416. While the financial benefits experienced by users decreased somewhat after six months, they remained notable. Interestingly, the biggest reductions in spending were seen in categories such as crisps, savoury snacks, and sweet baked goods, while there was a slight increase in spending on healthier options like yoghurts, fresh produce, and meat.
In a related trend, the British Retail Consortium (BRC) reported a 2.2% decline in foot traffic across UK shopping centres and high streets in December compared to the same month in 2023—an example of what some call “drab December.” This reduction highlights a concerning pattern of declining footfall, reinforcing the need for innovative shopping experiences. On a positive note, online sales continue to flourish. Visa data indicates a 2.3% year-over-year increase in spending during the seven weeks leading up to December 20, driven by a remarkable 6.1% rise in online purchases.
To tackle the escalating problem of shoplifting and theft, California is poised to enact new legislation in early 2025. This law introduces harsher penalties and empowers law enforcement with enhanced authority to combat crime effectively. Officers can now make arrests based on reasonable suspicion or “probable cause,” even without witnessing the crime firsthand. Significantly, this legislation will also address car break-ins, showcasing California's commitment to creating safer communities.