Darknet, Sanctions against Russia and Africa Millimetre Telescope
Outriders Magazine #340
Asian Diplomacy: Relations involving China, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Syria, and Turkey
China has released an updated map of its southernmost city, Sansha, in Hainan. Sansha oversees disputed territories in the South China Sea, also claimed by neighbouring countries such as Vietnam, Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, and Malaysia. The city was established in 2012 to reinforce China's regional territorial claims. The new map features updated designations for the Paracel and Spratly districts, which were formally created in 2020 but had not previously appeared on maps. These designations could potentially change the geopolitical landscape in the South China Sea, as they indicate China's increasing control over these disputed territories.
A cargo ship from Pakistan’s Karachi recently docked at the port of Chittagong on Bangladesh’s southeastern coast, marking the first direct maritime contact between the two countries since the 1971 Bangladeshi War of Independence. This event symbolizes a historic shift and a significant warming of ties between Pakistan and Bangladesh, whose diplomatic relations have traditionally been complex. Bangladesh, formerly known as East Pakistan, was established in 1971 after a war with West Pakistan (now Pakistan).
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has expressed optimism about reconciling with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, which could potentially end over a decade of tensions between the neighbouring countries. Relations between Ankara and Damascus have deteriorated since the start of the Syrian civil war, with Turkey supporting rebel groups aimed at overthrowing Assad and Syria accusing Turkey of exacerbating instability. Turkey continues to maintain forces in the opposition-held northwest of Syria, a move that the Syrian government has strongly condemned.
Oceans and Climate Change: The impact of plankton and corals
Plankton, often overlooked but essential to ocean ecosystems, faces a significant threat due to warming oceans, as highlighted by recent research. The potential consequences are alarming. Daniela Schmidt, a climate scientist at the University of Bristol, warns, “If plankton disappear, food disappears—for small fish, then for bigger fish, for marine mammals, and us.” Projections indicate that if global temperatures rise by 3℃ above pre-industrial levels by the end of this century, plankton biomass could decline by more than 10%. This is a stark reminder of the urgent need to address climate change.
In a remarkable discovery, researchers aboard a National Geographic ship have located a giant coral in the Solomon Islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. This formation comprises tiny creatures forming a single organism rather than a coral reef. This coral can exceed 300 years of age and is more significant than a blue whale, measuring 34 meters wide, 32 meters long, and 5.5 meters high. Corals are also vulnerable to climate change. According to a report by the International Union for Conservation of Nature, 44 per cent of warm-water corals are now threatened with extinction, reflecting an increase of one-third since the last assessment in 2008.
More than two decades after a mysterious, gelatinous, bioluminescent creature was first spotted swimming in the deep sea, scientists at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute have exciting news—a new species of sea slug has been discovered. This unique snail inhabits the so-called twilight zone of the deep ocean and serves as a testament to the wonders of our planet. Despite the harsh conditions characterized by freezing temperatures, inky darkness, and crushing pressure, life continues to thrive and surprise us in this part of the ocean.
Russian Darknet, Mexican Gangs, and Violence in the Caribbean
The dark web operates as a global platform for Russian organized crime groups, utilizing technology to tap into a billion-dollar drug trade. The primary product in this market is mephedrone, referred to as “salt” in Russia, which is manufactured using readily available chemicals sourced from China. The Russian drug underworld, like many others, is notorious for its brutality, with videos of beatings and torture appearing on social media platforms like Telegram, underscoring the global nature of this issue.
In 2024, several Caribbean islands experienced a rise in homicides driven by weapons smuggled from the United States. Caribbean countries neither produce firearms nor ammunition nor import them on a large scale. Despite this, half of the world’s ten highest homicide rates are found in this region. For instance, in the Bahamas, homicides have increased by 23% compared to the previous year. Jamaica, on the other hand, records one of the highest homicide rates globally among countries with reliable statistics, at 53.3 per 100,000 people.
Following the arrest of two major drug lords in early 2024, criminal factions have become embroiled in a violent struggle for control of the Sinaloa cartel. This increase in violence is an unexpected consequence of the Kingpin Strategy, a method developed by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to dismantle drug organizations by targeting their leadership, production, distribution, and assets. However, the effectiveness of this strategy is now being questioned, with many experts sceptical about its ability to curb the drug trade.
Russia’s Leaky Sanctions System and new sanctions imposed on Iran
Although Russian fossil fuel exports to the West have decreased, the presence of loopholes in the sanctions system is a deliberate decision by the G7 countries. They have allowed these loopholes to persist in their efforts to stabilize energy prices. This strategic choice has not eliminated Russian exports. Since the EU banned Russian oil imports in December 2022, Russia has still earned $14 billion from exports to the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, and Bulgaria, which received exemptions. Additionally, Russia exports about 300,000 barrels of oil daily to Europe under Azerbaijani and Kazakh brands. By the end of 2024, Russian gas is projected to account for 18% of EU gas imports, making Russia Europe’s second-largest supplier. The West's inability to phase out Russian oil and gas has inadvertently bolstered the Russian economy, with the country's GDP growing by 3.6% in 2023 and expected to grow by another 3.2% in 2024.
In a separate development, the European Union has sanctioned three Iranian airlines—Iran Air, Mahan Airlines, and Saha Airlines—due to their involvement in a missile transfer program to Russia, which includes building, supplying, and transporting drones and their components. This action is part of the EU's broader efforts to diminish Iran's military activities and prevent the proliferation of advanced weaponry.
Under the Brussels sanctions imposed on Tehran, the situation for approximately 60,000 Iranian truck drivers who transport goods on European roads highlights the human cost of international sanctions. Many have lost their jobs, and others face high fees to enter the European Union. Iranian citizens struggle to obtain visas and secure third-party liability insurance, commonly called the Green Card. Meanwhile, drivers from Turkey, Georgia, and Greece benefit from these difficulties Iranian drivers face, underscoring the personal impact of these geopolitical decisions.
Chinese Hackers in the U.S. and Tibet: Including South Korea’s largest cryptocurrency scam
According to the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, an investigation into the Chinese government’s attempts to hack U.S. telecommunications networks revealed a "significant and widespread" cyber espionage campaign. This campaign, aimed at stealing information from Americans in government and politics, is substantial and warrants serious attention. This announcement comes from several hacking incidents U.S. authorities have linked to China, including efforts to steal technological and governmental information and attacks on critical infrastructure like the power grid.
Additionally, the U.S. Insikt Group has reported that hackers from the TAG-112 group, likely sponsored by the Chinese state, targeted the websites of the Tibet Post and Gyudmed Tantric University, both associated with the Tibetan community. This state-sponsored attack aimed to install malware on users' computers accessing these sites and track their activities. It emphasizes the necessity for international cooperation in combating such cyber threats.
In South Korea, police have arrested 215 individuals in connection with a suspected $228 million cryptocurrency fraud, reportedly the most prominent cryptocurrency investment scam in history. Among those arrested is an individual believed to be the mastermind behind an organized crime group, accused of selling 28 virtual tokens to 15,000 people under the pretence of high profits. The group established investment advisory firms and sales teams to promote virtual assets to individuals who subscribed to their YouTube channel. The victims, predominantly middle-aged and older adults, have been left devastated by the loss of their hard-earned money.
Swedish Healthcare and the British Pharmacy Crisis
An investigation by the Swedish journal Association of Senior Hospital Physicians has uncovered a concerning situation in the country's hospitals. Last year, a staggering 100 deaths were potentially linked to a lack of hospital beds, limited resources, or high workloads. Additionally, the health of 341 patients was compromised, with some facing "lifelong consequences" due to these same issues. Sweden, which has one of the lowest numbers of hospital beds per capita in the European Union, urgently needs an estimated 2,230 staffed hospital beds and 50 new intensive care beds, according to the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare.
In the UK, pharmacists and pharmacy owners face difficult decisions due to insufficient budget funding. They are being compelled to change pharmacy opening hours and withdraw essential services. As a result, fewer pharmacies will be open during evenings and weekends starting in 2025. Some may even have to stop selling emergency contraception and offering smoking cessation services. Over 3,300 independent community pharmacies in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland participated in a vote on this matter. The National Pharmacists' Association (NPA) reports that more than 1,250 pharmacies have closed in England over the past decade, with around 700 closing in the last two years.
Amid healthcare systems' challenges worldwide, Bulgaria’s pharmaceutical market has demonstrated remarkable resilience and growth. In 2023, sales surged by 14.7%, reaching €2.7 billion, with oncology therapies leading hospital drug sales. Experts attribute this growth to several factors, including the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, an increased focus on health among Bulgarians, technological advancements, and improved diagnostics. This positive trend in the pharmaceutical market showcases the sector's adaptability and potential for further development.
Famine in South Africa, Sudan, and South Sudan
According to the World Food Programme (WFP), southern Africa is currently grappling with its most severe drought in at least a century, with a staggering 27 million people, including 21 million children, suffering from malnutrition. The unprecedented drought, triggered by the El Niño weather phenomenon, persisted for nearly two months during the rainy season, destroying over half of the crops in several countries. Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe have all declared states of emergency, while areas in Angola and Mozambique have also been severely affected.
In South Sudan, the threat of famine adds complexity to the efforts to eliminate poaching. Despite the challenges, conservationists are steadfast in their call for wildlife protection. However, in food shortages, residents are forced to hunt to survive. They hunt antelope, among other animals – as do organized and armed gangs that organize hunts for profit – during mass migrations of animals crucial to the region’s ecosystem. According to the World Bank, more than 82 per cent of South Sudanese people live on less than $1.90 daily.
Sudan’s military-led government said the key Adre border crossing with Chad would remain open to keep humanitarian aid flowing into Darfur, the epicentre of the country’s ongoing war. Famine has been confirmed in the Zamzam IDP camp near Al-Fashir, the capital of North Darfur province. Sudan’s war has displaced 14 million people.
Phones and Ionospheric Monitoring: The first film depicting black holes
An extensive network of private smartphones could be utilized as a scientific instrument to monitor the ionosphere, a vital layer of weakly ionized plasma situated within and above Earth's geomagnetic field, extending approximately 50 to 1,500 kilometres above the surface. The ionosphere plays a significant role in space science, as its total electron content varies in response to Earth's space environment. These fluctuations can interfere with Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) signals, leading to positioning, navigation, and timing service errors. By establishing a distributed network of sensors using millions of Android phones, we can enhance the measurement range, providing a more accurate representation of the ionosphere in regions that lack traditional infrastructure.
Additionally, it is a common misconception that black holes in space are merely voids or the "end of everything." However, a global team of scientists, driven by curiosity and a passion for discovery—including researchers funded by the European Union—has managed to photograph these enigmatic entities. This was achieved through the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), a worldwide network of telescopes that captured the first image of a black hole in 2019. Now, researchers from around the globe are collaborating to create the first movies of black holes. With nearly €14 billion in EU funding, combined EHT efforts in North and South America, Europe, and the South Pole, supercomputers, and a new radio telescope in Namibia called the Africa Millimetre Telescope (AMT), this initiative showcases the remarkable power of global collaboration in scientific research. The goal is to produce hours of footage showcasing the plasma and gas swirling around the event horizons of the black holes in M87 and Sagittarius A*.