Outsourcing Crisis
NEED TO KNOW
Outsourcing Crisis
EUROPEAN UNION
Around 36 percent fewer migrants attempted to cross into the European Union in the first seven months of the year – a total of around 113,000 people. Despite the drop, however, as EUobserver explained, migrants continue to “preoccupy” European leaders.
Specifically, many of those leaders are considering removing migrants to third countries where the migrants can apply for asylum and wait, rather than face the political problem of allowing the migrants to live in their countries temporarily.
Defenders of this approach view it as fostering domestic peace while critics label it as abandoning international commitments to help people legitimately in need.
Prime Minister Dick Schoof of the recently installed hard-right Dutch government announced measures last month to crack down on migration, including reintroducing border checks rather than letting anyone in if they come in from other EU members like Belgium or Germany, the Associated Press reported.
A centerpiece of the changes is Schoof’s proposal to send rejected African asylum seekers to Uganda, added Reuters. “It is a serious plan, but a lot still needs to be worked out,” the prime minister said.
Schoof’s plans are no longer so far-fetched anymore. The EU, for example, paid Tunisia more than $160 million to block and house migrants seeking to journey to Europe. Now the bloc can’t claw back the cash after allegations have surfaced that Tunisian officials have been abusing migrants and violating their human rights, explained the Guardian.
Italy has already sent migrants to Albania for processing, the New York Times wrote. Only men were on the first ship out. Under the plan, Italian authorities allow children, pregnant women and others deemed as vulnerable to remain in Italy as they apply for asylum. Albanian leaders have rejected other European countries’ requests to take their migrants, too.
Still, the plan faced early failure when Italian judges ordered the first 16 males sent over to be returned to Italy, ruling that two were vulnerable, two were underage and the rest could not be safely returned to their home countries of Egypt and Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, a British plan to send migrants to Rwanda faltered, even though the tabloid Daily Mail thought the idea would have worked if officials of the then-governing Conservative Party had handled it more astutely. Indeed, the Labour Party government now in power in the United Kingdom is paying $8.4 million to Saint Helena, a British overseas territory, to house migrants from another British colony, the Chagos Islands, that the UK is now planning to give back to Mauritius, reported the Independent.
The measures are a far cry from a decade ago when about 1.2 million refugees, many of them from Syria, began entering the EU to claim asylum, often welcomed by European countries such as Germany. Instead, these new policies show how Europe has taken a sharp turn against migration that reflects deep unease in the public’s mind about outsiders, the Brookings Institution found. For many European leaders, that means tightening policies, especially in the wake of far-right party successes.
“Over the years, asylum seekers have become convenient scapegoats for disillusioned and frustrated Europeans who have seen their societies change and economies tumble because of successive external shocks, from climate change and a global health crisis to rapid technological change and a disruption of Europe’s decades-old security order,” the think tank wrote. “In this time of great uncertainty, a rights-based vision of migration and asylum has become a perceived political vulnerability, replaced with a security approach stressing law and order.”
THE WORLD, BRIEFLY
Praise and Worry
WORLD
World leaders reacted with a mix of congratulations and caution Wednesday to former US President Donald Trump’s election victory, as allies and rivals alike contemplated potential changes in US foreign policy in his second term, CBS News reported.
Trump’s win inspired hope from some allies for a “peace through strength” approach in global affairs, while others voiced concern over potential shifts in US priorities that would impact NATO, Ukraine and trade.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was among the first to congratulate Trump, who called the win “history’s greatest comeback,” adding that his victory “offers a new beginning for America and a powerful recommitment to the great alliance between Israel and America,” according to Fox News.
His praise comes as Israel fights a multi-front war with Iran-backed militant groups Hamas in the Gaza Strip and Hezbollah in Lebanon. Israel is looking to Washington for steadfast support, despite some tension between the allies over military tactics.
In Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described Trump’s win as “impressive” and expressed hope that the president-elect’s “peace through strength” stance would help achieve “just peace” with Russia.
However, the Ukrainian government is concerned over Trump’s pledges to end the conflict quickly, as they fear this could mean a reduction in or even halt to US military aid. Officials in the capital Kyiv worry that the prospect of diminished US support could weaken Ukraine’s resistance to Russian advances. They have warned that declining Western resolve over supporting Ukraine could lead to wider conflict in Europe, with direct implications for NATO and its member states, including the US.
Other allies offered positive – but measured – responses. French President Emmanuel Macron congratulated Trump, pledging cooperation “with respect and ambition” while signaling a push for European unity on defense. British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said that the “special relationship” between the US and the United Kingdom would remain strong, calling the nations “the closest of allies.”
Russia, while refraining from direct congratulations, voiced cautious optimism. Leonid Slutsky, head of the Duma’s Committee on International Affairs, saw Trump’s win as “a chance for a more constructive approach” in Ukraine, suggesting it could end the “proxy war.” However, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov noted that Moscow would “draw conclusions based on concrete steps” and reiterated that the US remains “an unfriendly country.”
In the Asia-Pacific region, Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te congratulated Trump, citing hopes that the relationship between the two countries “will continue to serve as a cornerstone for regional stability and lead to greater prosperity for us all.”
Even so, Taiwan voiced concerns ahead of the US election, with officials emphasizing the importance of strong, bipartisan support for Taipei, the Hill reported.
Trump has stirred unease with remarks suggesting Taiwan should pay the US for defense and accusing it of undermining American semiconductor manufacturing.
China has continued to assert its claim over Taiwan, and analysts said that Trump’s reelection could either stabilize the region through deterrence or embolden China, depending on how he manages the US-Taiwan relationship.
Elsewhere, Iran downplayed the significance of Trump’s win, asserting that US-Iran policies are “fixed and do not change with the change of individuals.” However, the country’s currency dipped, with some citizens expressing fear that sanctions under Trump will intensify, Reuters wrote.
‘Crisis of Trust’
ISRAEL
Thousands of people took to the streets across Israel this week to protest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision to dismiss Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, a move that sparked public outrage and accusations that the decision was politically motivated and could endanger national security, the BBC reported.
On Tuesday night, demonstrators in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem blocked roads, set fires and called for Netanyahu to step down.
The Hostages and Missing Families Forum, representing families of captives held by Hamas, also condemned Gallant’s firing, demanding that his replacement prioritizes a deal to bring home the hostages.
In his announcement, Netanyahu said the decision was based on a “crisis of trust,” adding that “full trust is required between the prime minister and defense minister” in the midst of war.
He cited “significant gaps” and recent statements by Gallant that allegedly contradicted government decisions.
Gallant responded by affirming his commitment to Israel’s security, saying it “will always remain the mission of my life.”
He attributed his removal to disagreements on three main issues: The need for an official inquiry into Israel’s response to Hamas’s Oct. 7, 2023 attack, the military exemption for ultra-Orthodox citizens, and his stance on a potential hostage deal with Hamas, which he argued could be achieved through “painful concessions” that Israel could bear.
Gallant, a former general, had publicly clashed with Netanyahu over military and political strategies in recent months, leading to a rift between the two leaders. Gallant advocated for a pragmatic approach to Israel’s war in Gaza, noting that military force had created the necessary conditions for a temporary cease-fire that could secure the hostages’ release.
His calls for an official investigation into the Oct. 7 attack added to tensions, with Netanyahu insisting such an inquiry should only occur after the war ends, the Associated Press noted.
Last year’s surprise attack saw Hamas and its allies launch a brutal assault in southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and saw more than 250 others taken hostage.
Netanyahu has appointed Foreign Minister Israel Katz to take over as defense minister, with Gideon Sa’ar assuming Katz’s foreign affairs role. Katz, a Netanyahu loyalist and known for his hawkish stance, pledged to lead Israel’s military campaign against its adversaries.
Observers suggested that Katz’s appointment signals Netanyahu’s preference for hardline policies over Gallant’s more pragmatic approach.
Still, analysts warned that the dismissal of Gallant could deepen Israel’s internal divisions and complicate its already fraught relationship with the United States, where the former minister was seen as a trusted partner.
Political analysts added that Netanyahu’s decision could also reflect his reliance on far-right allies and ultra-Orthodox factions. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called the move “an act of madness” and accused Netanyahu of “selling Israel’s security … for a disgraceful political survival.”
Meanwhile, the timing of the dismissal – on the day of the US presidential election – drew additional criticism, with local media suggesting Netanyahu sought to avoid international scrutiny, according to the Associated Press.
The ‘Flagrant Violations’
EQUATORIAL GUINEA
Equatorial Guinea is grappling with a major scandal after more than 400 explicit videos leaked on social media appeared to show a senior finance ministry official engaging in sex acts with multiple women, including in his office, sparking outrage in the Central African coast nation, Africanews reported this week.
The scandal blew up shortly after police recently launched a raid on the home and office of Baltasar Engonga, director general of the National Financial Investigation Agency, in a separate fraud investigation.
During the search, authorities found videos allegedly featuring sexual encounters between Engonga and the wives of high-ranking government figures, including the director general of police, family members of ministers, and even the sister of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
While the recordings were reportedly consensual, they were leaked online which ignited public outrage, with local media describing the revelations as “unprecedented” and accusing Engonga of “flagrant violations” of public ethics.
Attorney General Nzang Nguema noted raised concerns over public health risks, particularly the potential spread of sexually transmitted diseases. He encouraged victims to come forward if they experienced any non-consensual or abusive encounters.
Meanwhile, Vice President Teodoro Nguema Obiang Mangue condemned the acts, affirming that “ethics and respect are fundamental in our administration” and emphasizing a “zero tolerance” policy for any further breaches of public trust.
This week, he ordered a crackdown on improper conduct in government offices, implementing measures such as security cameras in all judiciary and ministry offices to prevent further incidents, Reuters added.
The government’s state information agency described the measures as an essential step to “protect the country’s image” in light of the viral videos.
Equatorial Guinea, a small nation of around 1.7 million people, has been under the leadership of President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo for 45 years.
DISCOVERIES
Starchy Love
For those who find it hard to resist bread or pasta, ancient genes might be to blame.
Two new studies found that genetic adaptations, which emerged around 800,000 years ago, primed humans to thrive on starchy foods long before the advent of farming.
Led by geneticists Omer Gokcumen at the University at Buffalo and Peter Sudmant at the University of California, Berkeley, the papers suggested that duplications of the AMY1 gene – responsible for producing the enzyme amylase that helps break down starch in the mouth – enabled early humans to efficiently process carbohydrates, giving them a crucial survival advantage.
In their paper, Gokcumen’s team found that early hunter-gatherers already had a range of AMY1 copies, averaging four to eight.
Analysis of ancient genomes – including a 45,000-year-old Siberian sample and even Neanderthal and Denisovan DNA – showed that early duplications of the gene helped our ancestors digest starch-rich plants before domesticated crops became widespread.
“The initial duplications in our genomes laid the groundwork for significant variation in the amylase region, allowing humans to adapt to shifting diets as starch consumption rose dramatically with the advent of new technologies and lifestyles,” Gokcumen explained in a statement.
Meanwhile, Sudmant’s team documented similar findings and found that the extra AMY1 copies likely arose in two main waves.
The first wave came several hundred thousand years ago, possibly when early humans began cooking, which helped release nutrients from starchy foods. The second wave followed the agricultural revolution, as societies began cultivating crops like wheat and potatoes.
With more AMY1 genes, ancient humans digested starch more efficiently, possibly giving them a survival edge. Sudmant told the New York Times that the amylase gene region is “both plastic and powerful,” offering unique insights into human evolution.
The authors believe that the findings could help better understand the role of the gene in health.
Gokcumen speculated that people with fewer genes might be more vulnerable to metabolic issues in modern, carb-rich diets, hinting that AMY1 could help guide new approaches to nutrition and metabolic health, including unlocking new treatments for diet-related diseases.
