Latest news with #AndrewCunningham
DW
5 days ago
- Health
- DW
Health risks of synthetic drug use in Europe still unknown – DW – 06/05/2025
An EU drug report shows synthetic substances are on an upward trend. Drugs like cathinones are now made in Europe to keep up with demand. The health risks are largely unknown. What you need to know: Synthetic stimulants like cathinones continue to rise in Europe Researchers lack knowledge about the long-term health risks of synthetic drug use Cocaine remains Europe's illicit drug of choice, and it's moving from big cities to small towns Fentanyl and nitazene use are increasing, driven by a ban on opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) monitored 1,000 new psychoactive substances at the end of 2024 and found that local drug users were increasingly consuming new forms of synthetic drugs. This has been the dominant trend in Europe over the past 5-10 years. But what is new is that increasing amounts of these synthetic drugs are now being produced in Europe — previously, they were largely trafficked from India, China or the Middle East. "This is a result of the demand for taking synthetic [drugs]," said Andrew Cunningham, head of policy, crime and markets at the EUDA in Lisbon, Portugal. Cocaine, however, is still Europe's most popular illicit stimulant drug. Imported from Latin American countries like Ecuador and Colombia, about 4.6 million Europeans used cocaine in 2024. The report also shows more Europeans are taking multiple drugs at the same time. As in previous years, so-called polysubstance use is the leading cause of drug deaths in Europe. The findings were published in the European Drug Report 2025 , June 5. Why is synthetic drug use a problem? Synthetic drug use is a major public health concern. Many synthetic substances have very high potency, and because they are relatively new and ever-evolving, scientists have not been able to track the long-term effects. The report shows that Europeans are increasingly using cathinones, either in combination with, or instead of, amphetamines and MDMA. Cathinones, such as 3-MMC (mephedrone), are synthetic stimulants, which have "gained recreational popularity over the past 20 years in Europe," said Jan Ramaekers, a psychopharmacologist at Maastricht University in the Netherlands. Ramaekers said the long-term health effects of cathinones were not well known. Researchers needed to better understand consumption patterns among users: What is a "normal" dose? How does it range? What is lethal? "We need controlled studies with 3-MMC in these 'normal' dose ranges that focus on health risks, but also on potential health benefits," said Ramaekers. Most cathinones were imported from India and China, primarily through the Netherlands. But production has steadily moved to Central Asia and Europe, "influenced by the Ukraine war," said Cunningham. Legal highs: Addictive and dangerous To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Cocaine spreading from cities to smaller towns A significant amount of global cocaine product ends up in Europe. For the seventh year in a row, record quantities of cocaine were seized by EU countries, amounting to 419 tons in 2023, up from 323 tons in 2022. "It's a very significant amount considering global cocaine production is estimated at 2,600 tons per year," he said. But it's not just cocaine: Wastewater analysis in 128 European cities found overall increases in cocaine, but also MDMA and amphetamine use in 2024. The analysis suggests that urban patterns of drug use in big cities may be spreading to smaller towns. Cunningham, whose team tracks the effects of geopolitical situations on Europe's drug market, said most of Europe's cocaine (70%) comes from Colombia. "Global [cocaine] production is up every year since 2016 after the Colombian government made a [peace] deal with FARC," he said. FARC, also known as the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, were a Marxist militant group, suspected of involvement in illicit drug trade. Large seizures in Europe's ports show drug traffickers continue to smuggle the drug in from the sea. In 2024, Spain reported its largest ever seizure of cocaine (13 tons), concealed in bananas originating in Ecuador. How Europe became addicted to cocaine To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Deadly synthetic opioids on the rise The EUDA report estimates there were 7,500 drug-induced deaths in Europe in 2023, the majority of which were due to opioid drugs. Fake medicines containing synthetic opiates called nitazenes increased in at least 12 European countries in 2024. Some nitazene compounds are even stronger than fentanyl, which itself is 50 times stronger than heroin and has an extremely high risk of overdose. Synthetic opioids have been a major issue in the US for years, but the report shows they are a growing problem on the European drug market, too. "We fear an increase in synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl and nitazenes, on the illegal drug market, particularly as a result of the ban on opium poppy cultivation in Afghanistan," said Daniel Deimel, an addiction expert at Nuremberg Technical University, Germany. Fentanyl, America's silent killer To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video In recent months, there has been an increase in overdose clusters in Europe, which, Deimel said, may be a result of people mixing synthetic opioids with heroin. "Tests in drug consumption rooms in Germany have shown evidence of fentanyl or nitazene in heroin. If these substances become more common, the number of overdoses and fatal overdoses is likely to increase," said Deimel. Drug seizures in Europe have found nitazenes in fake prescription drugs, mimicking oxycodone or benzodiazepines bought on the illegal drug market. These fake pills have much higher potency and carry a significant risk of drug poisoning and overdose, especially as people do not know the drugs they are taking contain nitazenes. The EUDA report shows authorities seized 10 kilograms of nitazenes powder in 2023 — potentially sufficient to make millions of pills containing enough nitazenes to cause an overdose. Many experts are calling for more drug checking services to detect which substances are circulating on the drug scene. This allows public warnings to be issued when dangerous compounds are found in substances. Edited by: Zulfikar Abbany Source: The EU Drug Report 2025, EUDA, June 5 2025
Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Times
GeoPura: how its green hydrogen generators are taking on diesel
Andrew Cunningham has it in for diesel generators. 'No one really knows for sure, but it is estimated that there is a $300 billion installed estate of diesel generators [globally],' says the serial entrepreneur. Developed economies are just as hooked on them as developing ones are, he adds, before anyone says they provide affordable power in poor countries. 'It is pretty horrible,' he says. Fortunately, Cunningham, 61, has spent the last 17 years or so developing an alternative generators that are quiet, reliable, spew out water from their exhausts rather than toxic fumes and are made at the famous Parsons Works in Newcastle, the birthplace of the steam turbine. Fans already include the BBC's Natural History unit, as well as Netflix and Disney. One of
Daily Record
15-05-2025
- Daily Record
Survivor gets justice as Barlinnie TV documentary brute is jailed for campaign of 'violent' domestic abuse
Andrew Cunningham was told by a sheriff that for two years he'd made the woman's life a misery including threatening her with a knife. A Scots domestic abuse survivor who was forced to sell her home to escape her "controlling and violent" ex says she has finally got justice as he was jailed yesterday. Cocaine addict Andrew Cunningham was locked up for 17 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court for a two-year campaign of terror against his former partner. The 36-year-old joiner was told by a sheriff that for two years he'd made the woman's life a misery including threatening her with a knife. Cunningham admitted a course of abusive behaviour towards the female at an address in Glen Bervie, East Kilbride, and elsewhere between 2022 and last year. He also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice by warning the woman not to give evidence against him. He was sentenced at Hamilton Sheriff Court where he was also handed a 15-year non-harassment order. Last month Cunningham infuriated Sheriff John Hamilton KC when background reports weren't ready as he'd missed an interview with a social worker at HMP Barlinnie where he was being held. Cunningham failed to attend the meeting because he was involved in the filming of a BBC documentary about the prison which left his victim feeling "completely disgusted". Commenting on the sentence today, she told Lanarkshire Live she was "pleased" he got a custodial sentence for the "seriousness" of the abuse she endured. After bravely facing her abuser in court she said: "It was a very stressful day but I was pleased with the outcome. I wasn't sure going in if he would be given a custodial but I am happy that Sheriff Hamilton recognised the seriousness of the abuse he put me through. "I was also extremely pleased with the 15-year non-harassment order which is an usually lengthy time period, again due to the seriousness of the abuse I endured." At this week's hearing defence lawyer Ruth Wallace said Cunningham would be "eternally ashamed" of his conduct towards his ex-partner. She told the court he had been a successful businessman but "lost everything" due to cocaine addiction and his offending behaviour. He had been "struggling significantly with his mental health" during the period when the domestic abuse happened. Ms Wallace said: "It was a couple of years when everything was drastically out of control. "He accepts responsibility and seems to be a changed man. There is true remorse." Blasting the excuses for his vile behaviour, Cunningham's victim said: "I do not believe there is genuine remorse at all. The fact that the social worker made reference to him paying 'lip service' and saying what he thought he should be saying as well as saying that he lacked insight into the effect his abuse had on me demonstrates he was putting on an act - something he is very good at doing. "Like many domestic abusers he can be very charming and I think he has tried to charm his way out of what he has done. Even when he was being taken down to the dock he stared at my family again. "I found it galling to have to sit and listen to his defence agent list all the ways Andrew's life has been affected by his behaviour and try to excuse his behaviour on his cocaine use and mental health. I believe that his cocaine use merely escalated his controlling, jealous and abusive tendencies as opposed to causing them." Passing sentence, Sheriff Hamilton told Cunningham, of Harrington Road, East Kilbride: "Your conduct was truly appalling. "It was an extremely serious, prolonged, two-year period of controlling, coercive, aggressive and violent behaviour towards your partner. "It involved violence, threatening her with a weapon, spitting and threats to her family. Clearly you made her life a misery and there are long-term consequences. "Despite your position that you were using cocaine, you must have known at the time the effect of your conduct on her." Cunningham's victim has met with East Kilbride MSP Collette Stevenson and wrote to Justice Minister Angela Constance to highlight the negative experiences she had through the justice system. She believes "huge changes" are needed for victims of violence against women and girls and called on victims or families of victims to apply for Clare's Law disclosures to keep women safe from men like Andrew Cunningham. "Now I am aware of the dangers of domestic abuse and the red flags, I can see how many of his behaviours were alarming from the start", she went on. "Many of my friends and family also noticed red flags early on and considered applying for Clare's Law. I would encourage anyone who is in a similar situation, either themselves or a friend of theirs, to ask for a Clare's Law disclosure as I believe it's a really useful tool in keeping women safe from men like Andrew. "The effect that his abuse has had on me has been significant. I have had to sell my home as I no longer felt safe and during the period of abuse I weighed only 39kg [six stone] at my lowest. "Although I am pleased with the fact that he pled guilty to what he did and has received a custodial sentence and I feel I have got justice, I do feel that there are many who are being failed. "He is a danger to women and will continue to be in the future."
Scottish Sun
14-05-2025
- Scottish Sun
Violent thug set to star in BBC documentary jailed over horror domestic abuse campaign
It was claimed that the trial was delayed as he missed a meeting with social workers due to taking part in the show 'COMPLETELY DISGUSTED' Violent thug set to star in BBC documentary jailed over horror domestic abuse campaign Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A THUG who is set to feature in a BBC documentary about life in Barlinnie prison has been jailed for 17 months. Andrew Cunningham, 36, subjected his ex-girlfriend to a vicious campaign of abuse at a property in East Kilbride, Lanarkshire. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 HMP Barlinnie is the subject of a BBC Documentary with inmates being filmed Credit: PA 3 Cunningham was sentenced to 17 months at Hamilton Sheriff Court Credit: Les Gallagher His offending stretched between March 2022 and February last year and also saw him threaten his victim about testifying against him. She had blasted him for taking part in the documentary that is understood to depict the reality of life behind the bars of Scotland's infamous prison which is dubbed 'The Big Hoose'. The woman had earlier hit out after it was claimed he had caused delays in previous court dates after he missed a meeting with social workers due to taking part in the show. She said: "When I heard about the documentary I was completely disgusted. "I think it's shocking a convicted domestic abuser who is on remand is being given a platform." Cunningham was today jailed at Hamilton Sheriff Court by Sheriff John Hamilton KC who also banned him from contacting his victim for 15 years. 3 The second series of the documentary at Barlinnie is currently being filmed Credit: Getty Ruth Wallace, defending, said Cunningham had taken part in the document but had not prioritised it over court commitments. She said: "While it was the case there was this documentary, he was working as a prison mentor and they requested that remanded prisoners be filmed rather than those serving a sentence. "He did not take part in the documentary rather than do the social work report, he made himself available and knows the importance of the social work report. "He accepts full responsibility for his behaviour and is truly appalled and the words he used to me were that it was truly disgusting behaviour and that there is not a day passes when he is not sorry." First convicts leave Barlinnie after Scottish Government release 360 prisoners early due to overcrowding Sheriff Hamilton said: "The conduct in this indictment is truly appalling. "It was a prolonged two year period of controlling, coercive and violent behaviour and involved threatening her with weapons, controlling someone with weapons, spitting, threats to her family and it's clear from her victim impact statement that you made her life a misery. "You must have known the effect of your conduct." The BBC previously said that they take their duty of care seriously, make a point to contact victims ahead of any broadcast and said filmed interviews do not always make the final edit. A spokesperson added: "The timing of the sentencing is a matter for the court. "The filming for this documentary had no impact on this and it is categorically untrue to suggest otherwise."
WIRED
14-04-2025
- WIRED
Microsoft's Recall AI Tool Is Making an Unwelcome Return
Andrew Cunningham, Ars Technica Apr 14, 2025 4:35 PM Microsoft held off on releasing the privacy-unfriendly feature after a swell of pushback last year. Now it's trying again, with a few improvements that skeptics say still aren't enough. Photograph:Security and privacy advocates are girding themselves for another uphill battle against Recall, the AI tool rolling out in Windows 11 that will screenshot, index, and store everything a user does every three seconds. This story originally appeared on Ars Technica, a trusted source for technology news, tech policy analysis, reviews, and more. Ars is owned by WIRED's parent company, Condé Nast. When Recall was introduced in May 2024, security practitioners roundly castigated it for creating a gold mine for malicious insiders, criminals, or nation-state spies if they managed to gain even brief administrative access to a Windows device. Privacy advocates warned that Recall was ripe for abuse in intimate partner violence settings. They also noted that there was nothing stopping Recall from preserving sensitive disappearing content sent through privacy-protecting messengers such as Signal. Total Recall Following months of backlash, Microsoft later suspended Recall. On Thursday, the company said it was reintroducing Recall. It currently is available only to insiders with access to the Windows 11 Build 26100.3902 preview version. Over time, the feature will be rolled out more broadly. Microsoft officials wrote: Recall (preview)* saves you time by offering an entirely new way to search for things you've seen or done on your PC securely. With the AI capabilities of Copilot+ PCs, it's now possible to quickly find and get back to any app, website, image, or document just by describing its content. To use Recall, you will need to opt-in to saving snapshots, which are images of your activity, and enroll in Windows Hello to confirm your presence so only you can access your snapshots. You are always in control of what snapshots are saved and can pause saving snapshots at any time. As you use your Copilot+ PC throughout the day working on documents or presentations, taking video calls, and context switching across activities, Recall will take regular snapshots and help you find things faster and easier. When you need to find or get back to something you've done previously, open Recall and authenticate with Windows Hello. When you've found what you were looking for, you can reopen the application, website, or document, or use Click to Do to act on any image or text in the snapshot you found. Microsoft is hoping that the concessions requiring opt-in and the ability to pause Recall will help quell the collective revolt that broke out last year. It likely won't for various reasons. First, even if User A never opts in to Recall, they have no control over the setting on the machines of Users B through Z. That means anything User A sends them will be screenshotted, processed with optical character recognition and Copilot AI, and then stored in an indexed database on the other users' devices. That would indiscriminately hoover up all kinds of User A's sensitive material, including photos, passwords, medical conditions, and encrypted videos and messages. As Privacy Guides writer Em wrote on Mastodon: This feature will unfortunately extract your information from whatever secure software you might have used and store it on this person's computer in a possibly less secure way. Of course this person could manually take a screenshot of all of this anyway, but this feature makes it that even a well-intentioned person might either not be aware it is on, or might wrongly assume it is secure enough. This feature isn't fully released yet, but it might be soon. The presence of an easily searchable database capturing a machine's every waking moment would also be a bonanza for others who don't have users' best interests at heart. That level of detailed archival material will undoubtedly be subject to subpoena by lawyers and governments. Threat actors who manage to get their spyware installed on a device will no longer have to scour it for the most sensitive data stored there. Instead they will mine Recall just as they do browser databases storing passwords now. Microsoft didn't immediately respond to a message asking why it's reintroducing Recall less than a year after the feature got such a chilly reception. For critics, Recall is likely to remain one of the most pernicious examples of enshittification, the recently minted term for the shoehorning of unwanted AI and other features into existing products when there is negligible benefit to users. This story originally appeared on Ars Technica.
