Tintoreros, bromball and Plicopurpura columellaris
OFF The World Magazine #360
Diplomacy in Asia: ASEAN, GCC, and Chinese Naval Exercises
Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang recently engaged in high-level talks with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, focusing on strategies to further enhance trade and investment amid the backdrop of a global trade war with the United States as key players in the Group of 20 (G20) and members of BRICS, Indonesia and China are poised to capitalize on their economic partnership, which saw bilateral trade soar to nearly $148 billion last year—a commendable 6.1% increase.
The inaugural summit that brought together the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), and China in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, vividly showcased Asia’s escalating geo-economic influence. The ongoing economic integration between China and ASEAN is deepening, underscored by the recent successful negotiations to modernise their 15-year free trade agreement, as noted by Yusuf T.C. Chang from the esteemed Yusof Ishak Institute in Singapore.
Beyond economic discourse, the Chinese navy has heightened its presence, conducting “combat readiness patrols” near the contested Scarborough Shoal in the South China Sea. This unique triangular chain of reefs and rocks lies 240 kilometres west of the Philippines’ main island, Luzon, and approximately 900 kilometres from the Chinese island of Hainan, with both nations asserting claims over the region. In a related development, South Korean officials announced the identification of three new Chinese surveillance buoys in waters overlapping their territory, raising the total count of such devices in the Yellow Sea to 13. This growing complexity underscores the intricate dynamics at play in the region.
Education: DRC, the Rohingya, and Free Schools in Namibia
According to UNICEF, the escalating conflict and inter-communal violence in Ituri Province, situated in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, are tragically robbing hundreds of thousands of children of their right to education. From January to April 2025, violence surged in Ituri, displacing over 100,000 people, half of whom are innocent children. In this distressing climate, nearly 300 schools have been damaged or destroyed, leaving a staggering 1.3 million children without access to education.
Meanwhile, the dire financial crisis is jeopardising the education of approximately 230,000 Rohingya refugee children. In recent months, UNICEF has faced a sharp decline in funding to support these vulnerable families, impacting the education of more than 80% of school-age children living in camps. By the end of June, almost 1,200 dedicated volunteer teachers are set to lose their contracts, casting a shadow over the reopening of educational institutions, which now hinges on securing vital funding.
In a beacon of hope, Namibia’s new president, Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, has announced an inspiring initiative: free higher education at state universities and technical colleges starting in 2026. This groundbreaking policy will abolish tuition and registration fees, opening the doors to higher learning for many. While Namibia already provides free education in public primary and secondary schools, parents typically bear the burden of purchasing school uniforms, stationery, and books. With this new initiative, the promise of education becomes more accessible, fostering a brighter future for all.
Sleep Disorders Caused by Technology and AI in Medicine
A groundbreaking study published in JAMA Network Open reveals that 41% of adults use their phones or tablets every night before bed. This habit presents a silent disruptor: the light from these screens can hinder the release of melatonin by suppressing the pineal gland, leading to longer times to fall asleep and disrupting our natural circadian rhythms. Those who engage with their devices just an hour before bedtime sacrifice an average of nearly 8 precious minutes of sleep each night. Alarmingly, this group also experiences a 33% higher rate of poor sleep quality, underscoring the impact of screen time on our well-being.
Could AI therapists emerge as a transformative alternative for those needing support? Patients battling anxiety disorders, low self-esteem, or relationship difficulties have shared that their interactions with AI-powered chatbots provide a lifeline during challenging moments. These chatbots offer practical coping strategies and are accessible around the clock. Yet, experts caution against overlooking potential biases, data privacy concerns, and the limitations of communicating exclusively through text.
Innovative research into AMIE (Articulate Medical Intelligence Explorer) technology is propelling Google's diagnostic AI into new territories, granting it the ability to interpret visual medical information. Rather than simply processing a patient’s verbal accounts of their health concerns, this advanced AI can analyse images of lesions, laboratory test results, and ECG readouts, heralding a new era in medical diagnostics that blends technology with enhanced understanding.
Melting Glaciers: Economic, Environmental, and Social Impacts
The accelerating melting of glaciers is impacting economies, ecosystems, and communities in mountainous regions worldwide. Over the past six years, glaciers have retreated at the fastest rate in history. This threatens water supplies for hundreds of millions of people, increases the risk of natural hazards such as floods and mudslides, and contributes to rising sea levels. In 2024, glaciers in Scandinavia, Svalbard, and Northern Asia are expected to experience their most considerable annual mass loss on record.
An international study indicates that glaciers will continue to shrink over the next few hundred years, regardless of efforts to mitigate climate change. Even if global temperatures remained at their current levels for the next thousand years—a virtually impossible scenario—glaciers, excluding the ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland, would still lose about a third of their mass. Using eight different glacier models, scientists analysed how over 200,000 glaciers have lost mass over the past 1,000 years and how they would respond to 80 different climate scenarios over thousands of years.
Anthropologists from Rice University have examined the social consequences of the global loss of glaciers. Their research has highlighted the disruption of ecosystems, the threat to cultural heritage, and the funeral rites performed for the disappearing ice. "For people living near glaciers, their cultural significance is profound, representing a fundamental relationship between the social and natural worlds," the researchers emphasise.
Life and Traditions of Indigenous Communities
The climate crisis poses a significant threat to the traditions of Indigenous communities in northern Ontario, Canada. Shorter winters and thinner ice are making it increasingly difficult to engage in activities like broomball, hunting, and travelling on ice roads. In communities such as Cat Lake and Eabametoong, residents are losing access to winter activities vital for strengthening social and cultural bonds. Additionally, changes in animal migration routes are making hunting more challenging. Climate change is not only jeopardising the environment but also undermining the identity and way of life of Indigenous peoples.
Meanwhile, the Marubo tribe in the Brazilian Amazon has filed a lawsuit against the New York Times, TMZ, and Yahoo for defamation. The lawsuit claims that a June 2024 article unfairly depicted the community as addicted to pornography and technology following the introduction of Starlink internet. The tribe asserts that the article exceeded fair journalistic reporting and damaged their reputation and cultural integrity. Despite a retraction from the New York Times, the tribe is seeking at least $180 million in damages from each defendant for the negative impact on their community life and cultural projects.
In Mexico, the Mistec community has been extracting purple dye from the rare sea snail Plicopurpura columellaris for over 1,500 years to dye yarn. However, this tradition is in danger of fading, as these snail populations have been nearly wiped out due to tourism and poaching. Habacuc and his son Rafael are two of the remaining dyers on the coast of Oaxaca, adhering to strict guidelines to protect this endangered species. The dye, which remains indelible over time, symbolises their culture and identity, yet only 14 dyers currently practice the craft.
The Refugee Path to Saudi Arabia, Bangladesh and Jordan
Thousands of young Ethiopians embark on perilous journeys searching for work and a brighter future in Saudi Arabia. Driven by the harsh realities of poverty, conflict, and limited prospects, they venture across the treacherous Red Sea, navigate through Yemen, and traverse unforgiving deserts. Along this harrowing path, many fall prey to ruthless smugglers, violence, hunger, and exploitation. Those who make it often endure imprisonment, beatings, torture, and abuse. In a grim reality, Saudi Arabia deports hundreds of thousands of migrants each year, with chilling reports from human rights organisations indicating that border guards shoot some. Yet, the longing for a better life compels many to risk it all for this journey.
In the Rohingya refugee camps of Bangladesh, women face a different kind of desperation, coerced into using long-term contraception, such as intrauterine devices, or they risk the bleak fate of not having their newborns registered. This registration is crucial for accessing food rations and humanitarian aid. Such coercive practices violate both human rights and official Bangladeshi policies. While the government denies these allegations, the UN and various aid agencies have documented at least 20 instances across 12 facilities. Alarmingly, women are often denied vital information and the right to give informed consent, raising deep concerns about potential abuse.
In the Zaatari refugee camp in Jordan, the closure of 30% of health services due to severe funding shortages poses an alarming threat to the well-being of mothers and newborns. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) operates one of the rare clinics providing care for over 23,000 Syrian refugees. Within this community, 25% of residents are of childbearing age, and a staggering 35% of deliveries require cesarean sections, all of which must occur outside the camp. Furthermore, with 43% of women marrying before the age of 18, the risk of complications increases significantly. The IRC urgently calls for financial support to ensure that essential healthcare services are not further diminished.
The Largest Wind Turbine and Coal Exports from Indonesia
The U.S. administration has controversially decided to cancel 24 promising clean energy projects, totalling over $3.7 billion, that were awarded during President Joe Biden's tenure. This includes a pivotal initiative at Exxon's Baytown refinery in Texas. This move comes amidst mounting scrutiny of funding initiated by the Trump administration, which has been advocating for a resurgence in oil and gas production while dismantling critical climate policies. Among the casualties of this cancellation are significant investments of $500 million for Heidelberg Materials and $375 million for Eastman Chemical. Critics are raising alarms, warning that this retreat could stifle innovation, jeopardise 25,000 jobs, and lead to a staggering $4.6 billion reduction in GDP.
In a striking display of innovation, Japan has unveiled its largest wind turbine, majestically positioned 3 kilometres off the coast of Chōshi in Chiba Prefecture. Towering at 80 meters, this engineering marvel features 46-meter-long blades and boasts an impressive capacity of 2,400 kW. The project, costing approximately 3.5 billion yen (around $46.5 million), received generous backing—two-thirds funded by the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organisation (NEDO) and one-third by Tokyo Electric Power Company (TEPCO). Set to begin producing energy in January, this turbine highlights the shifting tides of energy generation. Given Japan's mountainous terrain and densely populated landscapes, offshore wind farms are emerging as a more viable and cost-effective alternative than their onshore counterparts. Over 1,870 turbines harness wind power nationwide, collectively generating a remarkable capacity of 2.5 million kW.
Meanwhile, natural gas exporters are facing increasing challenges due to a notable decline in coal exports from Indonesia, the world’s leading exporter of thermal coal. In the first five months of 2025, coal exports plummeted by 12%, with significant drops to China (down 23%) and India (down 14%). In response to this downturn, coal prices have reached a four-year low, effectively reducing the cost of coal-fired power generation across Asia and stifling the progress of gas initiatives. Even as new gas-fired power plants are being constructed throughout Asia, factors such as plummeting solar costs, delays in gas project rollouts, and a lack of funding in countries like Indonesia and the Philippines pose serious threats to the future growth of gas as a key energy source.
Brazilian Coffee in China and a Record Robusta Harvest
Experts are heralding an exciting development in Brazil’s robusta coffee harvest, specifically the conilon variety, which is advancing at a remarkable pace and has the potential to surpass initial forecasts for 2025. With the harvest in full swing and yields looking exceptionally promising, particularly in the vibrant state of Espirito Santo, the largest cooperative, Cooabriel, has already joyfully reported that 25% of its crop has been collected. Current projections suggest a remarkable output of over 17 million 60-kilogram bags, eclipsing the previous record of 16 million bags set in 2022.
This burgeoning supply is also reflected in the declining robusta prices, which have fallen to $4,550 per tonne—the lowest level in the past 5.5 months. The abundance of coffee could influence market prices in the months ahead. Brazil is strategically deepening its trade relationships with China, aiming to liberate itself from the uncertainties accompanying U.S. policies while fortifying its economic standing. In May, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva penned a series of landmark agreements in Beijing, spanning infrastructure, energy, and agriculture, clearly focusing on enhancing coffee exports.
Brazilian producers are eagerly eyeing China’s surging coffee consumption as a golden opportunity for growth and a vital shield against global instability. Furthermore, Luckin Coffee has made a bold commitment to purchase 120,000 tons of Brazilian coffee by 2026, cementing Brazil’s status as a pivotal supplier on the global stage. This partnership elegantly intertwines economic ambition, cultural connection, and political collaboration, with coffee as a compelling emblem of this new and promising alliance.