A recap of international news stories by Newsendip: a mysterious space station, spies in Austria, a business of fake MBAs, and another of signed jerseys.
- A mysterious deep space station in Argentina
- Vienna, the “European capital of spies”
- Brazil’s underground cell phone trade
- Fewer pennies in Lithuania
- Fake Polish diplomas for high-level positions
- Gender discrimination in UK music industry
- Scoring big and profiting from signed jerseys
- Life on Venus without water?
Plans to inspect a mysterious Chinese space station in Patagonia
A Chinese space station is operating in Argentina away from prying eyes in a remote area of the Neuquén province. It is guarded by a two-meter-high fence, denies access to locals, and is not inspected by Argentine authorities. After General Richardson of the U.S. Command insisted before the American Congress last month that China could be using the station for military purposes, Argentina’s president Javier Milei announced a potential inspection of the concession granted in 2012 for 50 years. A decision indicating the new Argentine executive’s propensity to strengthen his diplomatic ties with the United States.
Austria to tighten laws on espionage
A scandal in Austria has led the government to announce plans for all espionage activity conducted on the country’s territory to be punished, regardless of whether it directly targets the Austrian state. It would address long-standing legal loopholes that have permitted agents to conduct espionage activities in the country without fear of being caught. Austria’s capital, Vienna, has built a reputation of being the “European capital of spies.” The decision was made after a former officer at the domestic intelligence agency was arrested for disclosing sensitive information to Russian authorities, having merely paid 3 euros to get a Russian dissident’s address.
A quarter of cell phones in Brazil are sold illegally
In 2023, 6.2 million mobile phones were sold unlawfully in Brazil, resulting in 4 billion reals (just under 800 million dollars) escaping Brazilian taxation annually. A lack of surveillance on the sale of cell phones has enabled the underground market to boom to such an extent that its sophistication is considered comparable to drug trafficking.
Lithuania to remove 1 and 2‑cent coins
The Lithuanian Parliament passed a bill to phase out 1 and 2‑cent coins in 2025, following the lead of Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Ireland, and Belgium, which already made such moves in the Euro area. Prices would be rounded to the nearest multiple of 5 cents. Although Lithuanians prefer to pay by card or other digital means, cash remains the main payment instrument for small everyday purchases. While European citizens seem generally in favor of removing coins whose production costs can exceed their value, assessing the impact on inflation has proven challenging. Its Latvian neighbor estimates that its citizens lose 47 metric tons of 1 and 2 cents annually, amounting to 260,000 euros (280,000 dollars) disappearing from its economy.
Fake Polish diplomas embroil politicians in a scandal
An MBA issued by a private university in Poland enabled future officials and politicians to easily bypass state examinations and apply for positions on the supervisory boards of Polish public companies. The scandal raises doubts about the administration’s integrity regarding appointments to strategic positions and poses a significant test for the newly formed government’s commitment to improving the country’s democratic standards.
Half of British women musicians faced gender discrimination
Research in the British music industry shows that 51% of women musicians have experienced gender discrimination. A third of the 2,526 female respondents even reported having been sexually harassed in the workplace. Women in music earn 10% less than men despite having higher diplomas. A cross-party parliamentary report has described the issues of misogyny and harassment as “endemic” to the British music industry.
The unscrupulous business of signed football jerseys
Some teenagers in Spain are making thousands of dollars by selling signed football shirts. They harass players every day to solicit signatures, even resorting to using children or feigning disability. After a controversial video on social media, FC Barcelona player Joao Cancelo publicly denounced those who pretend to be fans.
Could Venus harbor life without water?
A study unexpectedly showed that amino acids can survive in highly concentrated sulfuric acid, indicating that a form of life different from carbon-based life forms on Earth could exist in Venus’ clouds.