A 13,000-year hangover! Beer boffins discover prehistoric pints in Israel

Scientists have found the ancestor of the yeast species necessary for the production of beer in Israel, dating back 13,000 years.

By JEWISH NEWS REPORTERDecember 12, 2022, 

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Glass of light beer on a dark pub.

Scientists have discovered the ancestor of the yeast species necessary for the production of lager beer, uncovering evidence of fermented beverages from Israel from up to 13,000 years ago.

Modern brewing developed in Europe, where, until the Middle Ages, most beer brewing was associated with a yeast called Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Today this species of yeast is still used to make ale-style beer, wine and bread.

However, most beer made nowadays is lager, not ale, and there is a lot of interest in understanding the historical shift from one to the other.

Lagers are fermented using a bottom fermenting yeast at cool temperatures, while ales are fermented with a top fermenting yeast at much warmer temperature.

Lager brewing, which first appeared in the 13th century in Bavaria, uses a different species of yeast, Saccharomyces pastorianus.

This is a hybrid of two parents, only one of which is S. cerevisiae.

Until 2011, the identity of the second parent was a mystery, when Saccharomyces eubayanus was discovered in the Patagonian Andes in South America.

Like S. pastorianus, S. eubayanus is cold-tolerant. While records show the first use of S. pastorianus was in breweries in southern Germany, the S. eubayanus parent was never found in Europe.

Instead, researchers have discovered the yeast in South America, North America, China, Tibet, and New Zealand.

This caused some researchers to wonder whether S. eubayanus had, in fact, ever been in Europe, and, if not, where the lager yeast S. pastorianus had come from.

But now researchers at University College Dublin discovered and isolated S. eubayanus in a wooded area of their campus.

The researchers isolated two different S. eubayanus strains from soil samples collected on the Belfield campus of University College Dublin, as part of undergraduate research projects to identify wild yeasts and sequence their genomes.

The samples come from soil on two sites on the university campus, about 17 metres apart, collected in September 2021.

According to the study, the genome sequences of these two isolates showed that they are related to the ancestral S. eubayanus strain that initially mated with S. cerevisiae to form S. pastorianus.

Researchers say the discovery of S. eubayanus in Ireland shows that this yeast is native to Europe and it seems likely that it has lived in other parts of the continent.

This new study supports the view that there were natural populations of the yeast in southern Germany in the Middle Ages and these provided the parents of the first lager yeast.

The paper’s lead author, Geraldine Butler, University College Dublin, said: “This discovery is a fantastic example of research-led teaching.

“Our undergraduates have found more than a hundred yeast species in Irish soil samples over the past five years, and we’re delighted to stumble across S. eubayanus on our own doorstep.

“We’re hoping to find a commercial partner to brew with it so we can find out what it tastes like.”

The research is published in FEMS Yeast Research.

AFTER COP27, WHAT NEXT FOR SUSTAINABLE ENERGY IN AFRICA?
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BY MARK AKROFI
DECEMBER 12, 2022

COP27 built momentum on climate action, especially the agreement to establish a loss and damage fund. But we are behind in climate finance for Africa, which not only must reduce emissions but has the raw materials needed to support the clean energy transition, writes Mark Akrofi.

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As the UN Climate Change Conference (COP) returned to Africa this year, the stakes were higher than ever for the continent, which has been suffering disproportionately in a time of unprecedented global crises including COVID-19, droughts, wildfires, floods, and other climate-induced disasters, as well as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Africa tends to bear the brunt of these crises and the harsh realities of climate change, even though it contributes little to their causes. The continent is faced with a trilemma of needs: to strengthen its capacity to adapt to climate change, to expand energy access for the more than 600 million people still without electricity, and to accelerate economic growth while pursuing carbon neutrality. To this end, concerted action on climate change adaptation and clean energy investments in Africa has often been a focus at previous COPs. The issue of climate finance dominated, with developed countries called on to fulfill their 2015 pledges to provide $100 billion in climate finance per year to developing countries by 2020.

COP27 was about building momentum and accelerating action towards delivering the commitments made at COP26 last year in Glasgow. Beyond fixing broken promises on climate finance, African leaders have emphasized the need for developed countries to mobilize more climate finance for developing nations. They have called for developed nations to pay for climate loss and damage as well as swapping debts for climate interventions. Even though Africa contributes less than 4% of global carbon emissions, it has a critical role to play if the world is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. However, a carbon-neutral approach to economic growth and social development remains a daunting task for the continent, especially since this involves foregoing the polluting path that advanced countries have already taken. Green transitions will provide significant opportunities for the continent. However, particular attention needs to be paid to two key issues.

First, dealing with the fossil fuel dilemma. It is well known that the level of development attained by advanced countries was heavily propelled by fossil fuels in the last century and this is largely to blame for the current climate crisis. Africa has huge deposits of crude oil and natural gas, but these resources have been more of a burden than a benefit. Their exploitation by large corporations from developed nations has resulted in many conflicts and environmental disasters on the continent. Today, as many advanced nations oppose the notion of Africa leveraging its oil resources for growth, African countries still depend heavily on imported refined petroleum at high costs. Consequently there are increasing calls for boosting domestic oil refineries on the continent. It is thus of no surprise that COP27 witnessed a 25% rise in participation by fossil fuel lobbyists, including a considerable number from African countries. Indeed, while the continuous exploration of oil is undesirable, if African countries refrain from the fossil fuel path to development while allowing the exploitation of these resources by large corporations from the global North, this will only accelerate domestic fossil fuel investment. Advanced countries must not only fulfill their funding commitments to help Africa leapfrog to renewable energy, but also guard against the exploitation of fossil fuel resources by large corporations on the continent.

Second, a potential white elephant must be avoided. As COP27 provided momentum in the transition from fossil fuels to cleaner forms of energy, Africa needs to be cautious of the demand for critical minerals for renewable energy technologies. The continent possesses some 42 out of 66 critical minerals that are needed for renewable energy and digital technologies. The extraction of these minerals is energy-intensive and poses significant environmental threats. As demand increases, Africa must learn from its experience with the oil curse and prevent a similar problem. As a first step, comprehensive stocktaking of these critical minerals is needed. High-quality data on their quantities and distribution can help governments to develop effective strategies for sustainable exploration and avoid illegal extraction. A localized approach whereby the minerals are processed and used for domestic production of renewable energy and digital technologies on the continent would be ideal. This approach could extend the value chain beyond extraction and export to create more jobs through local mineral processing and manufacturing industries.

In these areas and beyond, it is clear that prioritizing investments in renewable energy remains critical to sustainable growth in Africa. Access to a reliable and affordable energy supply is essential for every aspect of the economy, from agriculture to healthcare, education, and employment. To facilitate renewable energy growth, developed countries must not only fulfill their climate finance pledges but also facilitate technology and knowledge transfer to developing countries. This must be accompanied by stringent transparency and accountability mechanisms to ensure that they meet their intended purpose. In addition, African nations need to bolster their domestic financial mobilization for investments in renewable energy.

COP27 was an important step forward, especially the agreement to establish a loss and damage fund. But translating these commitments into action remains the fundamental challenge that needs to be met for realizing the transformation that is needed in developing regions such as Africa.

About Mark Akrofi
Mark Akrofi is a PhD Student at UN University Institute for the Advanced Study of Sustainability (UNU-IAS).

UAE launches Arab world's first mission to the Moon

The Rashid Rover was built by Emiraiti scientists and will tour regions of the moon unexplored by humans

December 11, 2022

The UAE in collaboration with Japanese startup iSpace and Elon Musk's SpaceX have successfully launched the Arab world's first mission to the Moon using the first ever Arab-built lunar spacecraft, the Rashid Rover earlier today from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

The launch, the first of its kind carried out by a private company was carried out by a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and delivered by the HAKUTO-R lander. The Rashid Rover, named after the former ruler of Dubai, the late Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Al-Maktoum was built by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRC) and the Tokyo-based firm.

"Our first mission will lay the groundwork for unleashing the moon's potential and transforming it into a robust and vibrant economic system," iSpace's CEO, Takeshi Hakamada, said in a statement.

If the mission is successful, the UAE will join Russia, the US and China in being the only countries so far to have achieved so-called "soft landings" on the moon. The US remains the only country to have put astronauts on the lunar surface.

According to the Space website, after deploying from Hakuto-R, "Rashid will take photos with a variety of cameras and characterize the moon's curious, electrically charged surface environment. Its mission is expected to last one lunar day, which is about 14 Earth days."

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Abdulla Al Shehhi, the rover mechanical engineering lead said: "This is the first mission to the moon. The launch today is one of the critical stages. We will get the first signal from the lander and after that we will get the first signal from the rover."

"That will depend on the lander orbital orientation. Currently we are very excited. The team here is ready to receive any signals. We have checked all the systems, we are very excited. It will be the first time the UAE lands on the moon so it is definitely a very big step for us."

The mission launch was postponed for a second time earlier this month due to additional pre-flight checks of the launch vehicle. Last year the UAE made history by becoming the first Arab country to launch a mission to Mars.

READ: UAE to become first Arab country to send astronaut on six-month space mission

SAUDI ARABIA
The Riyadh Handshake and the Race for Progress

Ghassan Charbel is the editor-in-chief of Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper
Monday, 12 December, 2022 -

Over the past six years, my profession has allowed me to bear witness to significant handshakes in Saudi Arabia.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s handshake with US President Donald Trump that was followed by the American-Gulf and American-Arab summits. Mohammed bin Salman’s handshake with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The fist bump between the Crown Prince and US President Joe Biden that was followed by the American-Saudi summit and the American-Gulf summit with the participation of  Jordan and Egypt.

My profession also allowed me to witness Mohammed bin Salman’s handshakes during his trips abroad that were distinguished by their calculated diplomacy.

The foreign visits have bolstered relations with Moscow, Washington, Beijing, New Delhi and Tokyo. They were visits aimed at exploring opportunities for greater cooperation and building partnerships based on mutual interests and respect and non-interference in internal affairs.

In spite of these handshakes, I sensed that the recent handshake between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Mohammed bin Salman in Riyadh was extraordinary for Saudi, Chinese and international reasons.

As a journalist, I sensed that I was witnessing a handshake that will go down in history. It was a strong handshake that was heavy with meaning and symbolism. The leader of Mao Zedong’s party was shaking the hand of the heir of the founder, King Abdulaziz, and the school of King Salman bin Abdulaziz.

Two men from different cultures, heritages and generations, each representing a turning point in the history of their countries. The first is spearheading the “Chinese dream” and the other the “Saudi dream”. The handshake took place between two renaissances and their guardians.

Going by the numbers, one can say that the situation in China today is much better than the way it was when Xi came to power. Again, going by the numbers, one can also say that the situation in Saudi Arabia is better today than when Mohammed bin Salman lit the spark of the vast transformation that is based on the economy and that goes beyond it.

The handshake set a date on the path towards progress and the future. The date is the starting point where the Belt and Road and Vision 2030 converge.

It is a partnership in a dream that seeks to raise the living conditions of the citizens and achieve prosperity and stability. It is a partnership in reaping the fruits of technology, innovation, competition and investing in health and education, combating pandemics and the climate crisis. It is a partnership in trade and cultural exchange and bridging the gap between two approaches to regional and international affairs.

It is a deep handshake that includes the exchange of expertise and that paves the way for Saudi investments and exports to the “world’s factory” and paves the way for Chinese companies to take part in the massive transformation taking place in Saudi Arabia.

Given Saudi Arabia’s geographic location and ongoing transformation, it can serve as a bridge and gateway for China to the Arab world and Middle East.

The handshake gave off the sense of international responsibility and emphasis on the dialogue between civilizations, peaceful resolution of conflicts, respect for the right to be different, avoiding confrontation, and underscoring countries’ right to sovereignty and respecting their heritage, and their political and development choices. It paves the way for hope that secures the stability of the global economy and supply chains.

The Chinese-Saudi handshake was the product of a deep reading of the changes taking place in the world, most notably in wake of the war in Ukraine and the impending changes in the world’s club of major powers where political weight cannot be separated from economic power.

This reading demanded an expansion of relations and partnerships in a way that ensures that deep relationships can be forged with different parties. In such a world of interconnected interests, boycotts are not a wise approach. Relations between nations, similar to relations between peoples, need constant maintenance that are provided by the fine art of listening to the concerns and taking into consideration the interests of the other.

Mohammed bin Salman is aware of how interconnected peoples from around the world have become due to globalization in what was once called the “global village.” He realizes the connection between lasting prosperity and lasting stability in the region and world. That is why he wanted the Chinese-Saudi handshake to be coupled with Chinese-Gulf and Chinese-Arab handshakes and that is what happened.

The Chinese-Arab summit was indeed unique. The partners found themselves confronted with two different experiences in progress. The first, Chinese, the second, Saudi. The partners started to realize that stalling and delays will only deepen and complicate problems. They started to realize the need to take difficult decisions because the only path that leads to the future is the one of reform.

Reform means building institutions and combating corruption that devours countries. Reform means modernizing laws and education and joining the path of rapid technological progress. Reform means building international relations that are based on supporting development, exchanging expertise and joining a changing world and its achievements and conditions.

The participants sensed that the state can control its fate if it listened well to its people, especially the young generations. Devastated Arab countries can no longer send their youths in droves in “death boats”. It is no longer acceptable to flounder in militia and proxy wars on behalf of parties near and far.

The participants started to realize how easy it was to achieve rapprochement with China. It does not interfere in their internal affairs, nor does it try to impose its own model. It speaks a language of mutual interests and does not offer itself as a charity. Moreover, Xi Jinping broke with his usual terse style, and spoke at length to underscore his country’s support to the two-state solution and the right of Arab countries to security and stability, away from foreign meddling.

Several Arabs leaders positively recalled the Silk Road and praised the Belt and Road initiative. Embarking on these roads starts with reform and overcoming the fear of change. They are not demanded to copy any successful experience because experiences have their own conditions and specific characteristics. But good management can make up for the lack of natural resources, and this has been shown in many successful experiences from around the world.

The Chinese experience urges the need to take the path of reform. So does the Saudi experience. Arab backwardness is not an inescapable fate. The shaping of the future begins by abandoning modest or hesitant steps and racing against time to make up for the time that was lost and joining those who have turned slumber into opportunity.

The “Chinese dream” was not easy, neither was the “Saudi dream”. The Arab dream is possible if the will is there.

Mohammed bin Salman notably concluded the summit by declaring: “We stress to the world that the Arabs will compete for progress and renaissance once again and we will prove it every day.”

Human Rights Organisations Accuse EU of Admitting Croatia to Schengen in Spite of Border Abuses

December 12, 2022

© Eurico Rodrigues | Dreamstime.com


Amnesty International has said that leading human rights and humanitarian organisations have accused the European Union of admitting Croatia to the Schengen Area without taking into consideration abuses at the border.

In one of its most recent press releases, Amnesty International has said that the EU’s authorities have shown disregard for fundamental rights by deciding to admit Croatia into the Schengen in spite of confirmed reports of repeated breaches of EU’s international human right law by Croatian authorities and border guards.

According to Amnesty the Council’s decision does not come as a surprise, and the same has said that the institutions of the EU have repeatedly turned a blind eye to human rights violations at the EU’s external border, including Croatia, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

“The Council’s decision to welcome Croatia to the Schengen club, despite known documented abuses, is a symptom of a higher EU policy imperative that repeatedly sacrifices fundamental rights for what is portrayed as border security,” the statement of Amnesty International reads.

Amnesty International has further said that the decision of the Council to welcome Croatia to the Schengen Area sets a bad example for the intention of the EU to enforce conformity with human rights standards and for future Schengen enlargements.

Moreover, the same has claimed that what is unfolding at the borders of Croatia and other external borders of the EU is a rule of law crisis.

In addition to the above-mentioned, Amnesty International highlights that the Schengen Borders Code requires the Member States to comply with EU as well as International law, including the Refugee Convention, the Charter of Fundamental Rights, and the obligation to follow the principle of non-refoulment.

Yet, according to Amnesty International, humanitarian and human rights organisations have documented that the authorities of Croatia have failed to comply with such rules as they have consistently denied entry to asylum seekers, refugees, and migrants.

Furthermore, humanitarian and human rights organisations have also said that Croatia has also been involved in collective expulsions, such as violent pushbacks.

“Nongovernmental groups have documented on numerous occasions that Croatian police are using violence against helpless people – amounting to torture and ill-treatment – in violation of Article 3 of the European Convention on Human Rights, to which Croatia is a party,” Amnesty International added.

The Croatian authorities have also been accused of failing to conduct independent and thorough investigations of police misconduct. They have been accused of failing to hold those responsible to account too.

Previously, SchengenVisaInfo.com reported that Croatia will officially become a member of the borderless Schengen area on January 1, 2023.

The decision was announced by the Council of the EU following a vote by the EU Member States on December 8.

Austria December 12, 2022
Austria Insists Against Schengen Expansion With Bulgaria & Romania

Earliest modern human fossils dating back 65,000 years discovered in Spain 

IN 1887!!!

The earliest evidence of modern humans in Europe dating back around 65,000 years has been revealed after a jaw bone was discovered in Spain. Although found in 1887, the bone was thought to belong to a neanderthal, who were known to inhabit the area before homo sapiens. But a re-examination of the lower mandible has revealed it could belong to a modern human and dates from 45,000 to 65,000 years ago. Rolf Quam, professor of anthropology at Binghamton University, State University of New York said: “We were confronted with results that were telling us Banyoles is not a Neanderthal, but the fact that it does not have a chin made us think twice about assigning it to Homo sapiens. “The presence of a chin has long been considered a hallmark of our own species.” The oldest confirmed modern human remains, identified using DNA, are from 44,000 years ago from a cave in Bulgaria.

Undertones in Pakistan: Military, Women, Blasphemy

What was talked about in Pakistan in 2022?

Written byCivic Media Observatory

Posted 12 December 2022 

Illustration showing a map of Pakistan's 2022 floods, by Global Voices

This story is part of Undertones, Global Voices’ Civic Media Observatory‘s newsletter. Researchers are reflecting on their country’s media ecosystems, strongest narratives of the year, and what we can expect in 2023. We are kicking off this series with Pakistan. Whenever you click on a narrative, you will be able to see more analysis and related media posts upholding it. Subscribe to Undertones.

In 2022, Pakistan lived through historic floods, the ousting of its Prime Minister (who was then also nearly killed), and an uptick in religious violence.

Anti-military narratives on the rise

One of the most interesting twists this year was the growing anti-military sentiment in the country, a trend that is expected to persist in 2023. Pakistan’s top military brass is considered the most powerful actor in the country, as generals have governed Pakistan for half of its existence and have molded its politics behind the curtain during the other half.

In April 2022, Prime Minister Imran Khan was ousted from power in a parliamentary vote of no confidence a few weeks after he fell out of line with the army’s leadership. Khan, the leader of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party (PTI) and an extremely popular and polarizing figure, has openly blamed the military for his deposition, taking his immense following with him on his anti-military crusade. Apolitical commentators and journalists have also openly criticized the military’s omnipresence in Pakistani politics. We have covered this unprecedented trend in Pakistan in this newsletter: “Anti-army hashtags gain rare visibility in Pakistan.”

This narrative may get stronger in 2023 as the country faces general elections between July and September, says Ali Osman, one of our researchers on Pakistan. Another hypothesis is that Khan might soften his stance towards the military to win back their support. It would not be that surprising, as Khan has already backtracked on his tough stance against the United States.

The most vigorous narrative here is “Pakistan's military must stop meddling in the country's politics.” Similarly, Pakistanis have also been pointing out the military’s economic stronghold on the country by stating that “Pakistan’s military is an unaccountable business enterprise.”

Women’s activism is challenged

Life for women journalists in Pakistan is hard. This year, they have faced unprecedented online attacks and harassment by Khan supporters and government officials. One accusation leveled against them is that these women journalists are being paid by opposition politicians to smear Khan’s reputation. The narrative here is that “female journalists are out to get the PTI.” 

“Women also saw sexism being normalized in the broader political discourse,” says Ramsha Jahangir, another researcher. Misogynistic remarks by political leaders made the headlines for Pakistan’s Women’s Day march on March 8 2022, called the Aurat March. One of the main narratives circulating at the time was: “Feminists are trying to foist western values on Pakistan.”

 “Misinformation and a battle of narratives are central to the struggle for gender rights in Pakistan,” Osman says.

Women activists, on their part, say that “women journalists in Pakistan are unfairly targeted and subjected to criticism and abuse.” These narratives are expected to continue in 2023, as the military establishment continues to crack down on journalists and civil society members.

Outrage over anachronistic blasphemy laws

Ever since its inception in 1947, Pakistan was meant to be a secular country, but today, the country is perceived by most of its citizenry as an Islamic state, with secularists being in the minority. Secularist principles eroded due to Islamist influence exerted throughout time. In particular, Islamist military dictator Gen. Zia-ul-Haq inserted into Pakistan’s Penal Code the harshest and most controversial blasphemy laws among Muslim-majority countries in the 1980s.

“As these laws do not care for evidence, they have become the worst oppressive tools. They have taken many lives and have also become a boon to the rise of religious extremism in Pakistani society,” Osman says. Many Pakistanis have spoken out against these laws by stating that “blasphemy laws in Pakistan are arbitrary, unjust and lethal” and“violent religious mobs are treated with impunity in Pakistan.”

In 2022, there have been additional lynchings and extrajudicial killings in Pakistan, where punishment is enacted by mobs who take the law into their own hands before arrest or trial. Those supporting extrajudicial violence state that  “mob justice against criminals is an act of bravery and righteousness.”

Other noteworthy narratives that are circulating in Pakistan:

• “The government is incapable of governing Pakistan“

• “Western democracy is not suitable for Pakistan“

• “Pakistani politics are rooted in sexism“

 

View Pakistan's entire 2022 dataset

LGBT Community Fearful as Russia Toughens Law on "Promotion" of Sexuality

by Jay Beecher | 12 Dec, 2022


Members of Russia’s LGBT community have told American news outlet CNN of their growing fears amid Russia’s recent ramping-up of legislation, which the community considers to be harsh and bigoted.

Russia’s Upper House, giving its final approval to a new legislative package cracking down on what it called “LGBT propaganda” in November, it handed the legislation over to President Putin, who signed it into law without hesitation.

The legislation, expanding on Russian law adopted in 2013, added restrictions on the promotion of what it calls "non-traditional sexual relations and/or preferences," giving Russian officials the power to hand out heavy penalties, including prison sentences to members of the LGBT community.

"We are citizens, the same as everyone else," Yaroslava, a young mother in a lesbian relationship told CNN on Sunday, Dec. 11.

"We pay taxes, support charities. But the government is doing everything to force us to leave the country. Honestly, it is scary to stay."

"We are the most vulnerable category within LGBT," she added. "We have a child, and they (the Russian authorities) can put pressure on us."

"Our mere existence is illegal for our state and even for our child. According to the law, we are people of non-traditional sexual orientation and children should not see us or that we exist at all. Our son sees us. By that logic, our very existence is 'propaganda of non-traditional sexual relations' within our family. That means we are illegal."

Yaroslava and her partner Yana, both from St. Petersburg, said they are having to take extra measures to protect themselves and their family. This includes using anonymous or private accounts on social media and sending their son to a private playschool more tolerant of the LGBT community, and using a private hospital where there is less risk of a doctor reporting them to child protection authorities.

The legislation has led to persecution and a rise in the display of discriminatory views by some Russians.



OpenDemocracy reported on Nov. 16 that LGBT human rights organisation Nash Svit (Our World) had documented an increase in attacks on members of the gay community by Russian soldiers in Ukraine.

After interviewing numerous victims, Nash Svit claimed that, during the ongoing invasion, Russian troops had subjected members of Ukraine’s LGBT community in Kherson and Mariupol to a string of homophobic abuse, including sexual violence and imprisonment.

Oleksandr, one of the men the organisation interviewed, said he was detained at a Russian filtration checkpoint in March whilst attempting to leave Mariupol.

Russian soldiers looked through his mobile phone and, discovering that he was gay, he was jailed on "trumped-up terrorism charges".

Upon prison administrators being told of his sexual orientation, he was subjected to repeated sexual violence by other inmates, with no help being offered by prison staff.

"The prisoners began to harass me," he said.

"For a while I resisted, but after a few days I was forced to do what they said. Almost every evening, 10 to 15 men raped me, until I was released by representatives of the administration."

Friends Ilya and Mykola told Nash Svit they were detained at a Russian checkpoint near Kherson in March whilst trying to deliver medicine and food to local people suffering from Russia’s ongoing invasion.

After finding a pornographic video on Ilya’s phone, Russian soldiers punched both men several times before stealing some of the medicine, food, and the small amount of cash the men carried in their wallets.

Ilya and Mykola were released after a two-hour ordeal, with soldiers shouting homophobic insults and firing bullets at their car.

Nash Svit has a network of staff operating as monitors across Ukraine, documenting anti-LGBT attacks committed by Russian soldiers.

"The monitors have been working in the network for quite a long time and LGBTIQ representatives know that there is a network of monitors, so if there is a case, they immediately contact a representative of the network," Oleksandra Semenova, a long-time member of the organisation told OpenDemocracy.

"Psychologically and morally, it is hard for everyone and as all monitors of the network are open LGBTIQ people and, of course, can be attacked," she added.


Jay Beecher is a British journalist now living in Kyiv. Having written for top British newspapers such as the Daily Mail and Daily Mirror, his favorite topics to cover are crime and politics. Beecher came to Ukraine in May and spent time on the front lines in the east reporting on Russian war crimes.

'TRADITIONAL'FEMICIDE AND MISOGYNY

‘Traditional’ narratives continue to roll back women’s rights in Eastern Europe and Central Asia

Emerging Europe Staff

December 14, 2022

Governments across Eastern Europe and Central Asia are increasingly promoting ‘traditional values’ and equating the protection of gender equality and women’s rights with a loss of cultural and traditional identity, as part of efforts to secure broader support for their anti-human rights agenda.

The Covid-19 pandemic, Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and a pervasive focus on “traditional values” have contributed to a deterioration in human rights and rising levels of domestic violence and other forms of gender-based violence in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, according to a new report from Amnesty International.

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The report, Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Protect Women from Violence in Crises and Beyond, exposes the institutional, social and cultural challenges faced by survivors of domestic violence in the region and demonstrates how disinterested and ill-adapted state institutions are in regard to their needs.

Institutional, legal and other safeguards against such violence are largely inadequate and are being eroded even further due to a surge in traditional, patriarchal and openly misogynistic political rhetoric.

“Amnesty has documented the damaging effects of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown measures on safeguards against domestic violence in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Crucially, these cannot be divorced from ineffective legal and institutional frameworks in the region, and deeply harmful political and social dynamics,” says Natalia Nozadze, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia researcher.

“The pandemic, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the unspeakable horrors of conflicts, and their ramifications across the region have made it more difficult for those experiencing domestic violence to report it. It’s also now more difficult to flee unsafe situations, access shelters and other critical support services, obtain protection orders (if at all available) or rely on effective legal remedies.”
Promotion of ‘traditional values’ undermines protections for survivors

According to recent data from the World Health Organisation, around 20 per cent of women in Eastern Europe and 18 per cent of women in Central Asia have experienced physical or sexual violence in their lifetime.

At the same time, most countries in the region have failed to take a stance against such violence or take effective steps to protect women’s rights.

Recent years have seen protections of the rights of women and girls, including those who are survivors of domestic violence, eroded across the globe, as exemplified by the US Supreme Court’s decision to roll back abortion rights and Turkey’s withdrawal from the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention).

Many governments in Eastern Europe and Central Asia have followed this general trend.

“Governments across Eastern Europe and Central Asia are increasingly promoting ‘traditional values’ and equating the protection of gender equality and women’s rights with a loss of cultural and traditional identity, as part of efforts to secure broader support for their anti-human rights agenda. As a result, patriarchal attitudes, misogyny and homophobia have not only become more entrenched, but have flourished,” adds Nozadze.

The Russian authorities offer a prominent example, having introduced state-sponsored homophobia and an unrelenting crackdown on human rights and women’s rights. In 2017, the Russian parliament even decriminalised some forms of domestic violence. The constitutional amendments adopted in 2020 promoted “protection of the family” and “protection of marriage as a union between a man and a woman”.

Similarly, in 2017 Kazakhstan decriminalised “intentional infliction of minor injury” and “battery”, while also weakening protections for survivors of domestic violence. In both Russia and Kazakhstan, activists reported a spike in cases of domestic violence following decriminalisation.

Belarus considered a draft law on domestic violence yet rejected it in October 2018 after President Alexander Lukashenko said it was against “Belarusian, Slavic traditions” and added that a “good belting could sometimes be useful” in domestic settings.

Belarusian women are discouraged from reporting domestic violence because doing so may trigger a process that would see their family entered into a “social risk” register, which could result in the loss of parental rights and the institutionalisation of their children.

Other leaders, including President Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan, in 2019, openly supported “a state based on traditional values” as opposed to a society that “does not distinguish between men and women”. Azerbaijan continues to force the survivors of domestic violence to go through mandatory mediation with their abusers for the “resumption of family affairs”.

Istanbul Convention

Only three non-EU countries in the region, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, are state parties to the Istanbul Convention, while these same three and Kyrgyzstan have directly criminalised domestic violence.

While most countries in the region have made some progress by adopting or reforming their laws to address domestic violence, the region lacks effective protection and support mechanisms for survivors of domestic violence as existing laws and policies remain inadequate.

Even in countries where domestic violence is criminalised, burdensome legal hurdles often leave survivors without effective protection or access to justice.

In Ukraine, domestic violence meets the threshold of a criminal offence only if it has been officially documented as “systematic,” which means the perpetrator must have faced administrative proceedings for domestic abuse on at least three separate occasions.

“It is absolutely crucial that protection and empowerment of women play a central role in public health policies, yet for many countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, this ideal remains an entirely unachieved goal,” says Nozadze. “But there is a tool for establishing an effective and comprehensive legal framework on domestic violence — the ground-breaking Istanbul Convention. It is open to Belarus, Russia and countries in Central Asia, along with those within the Council of Europe.”

“Nonetheless any institutional changes will be feeble unless governments address the surge in ‘traditional’ narratives, which continue to roll back women’s rights. Instead of exploiting these attitudes for political gain, governments in the region should place women’s rights at the centre of their policies.”

Corruption is no longer a tenable dividing line between East and West

Saahil Menon
Investment Analyst

December 16, 2022

The arrest of MEP Eva Kaili over Qatar-linked bribery charges goes to show that kickbacks and shakedowns are just as brazenly entertained in Brussels as elsewhere in Europe.

Ever since the EU enlargement in mid-2004, a palpable ‘them and us’ culture has reigned supreme between the bloc’s founders and its newcomers to the East.

Needless to say, the latter are othered to this very day as a result of historical injustices beyond their control. Transitioning from Leninism to free market economies in such a short span of time has given rise to unimaginable wealth disparity across emerging Europe.

Their societies are characterised by a coterie of overprivileged magnates in cahoots with the government while the rest of the population contends with mediocre living standards and stifled earning potential.

EU stands up to Hungary, and wins

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For the Western Balkans, the EU’s mixed messaging continues

The inability to land well-paid jobs and work one’s way up on merit is precisely why there has been such an acute brain drain from ex-Soviet republics and satellites alike. The main downside of this phenomenon is the extent to which Western legacy nations have been psychologically empowered by the influx of emerging Europe’s best and brightest.

Not only do these migratory trends lay claim to the superiority complex France, Germany and the Benelux boast over their worse off Eastern neighbours, but they lend credence to how pervasive graft and nepotism remains throughout the ex-Warsaw Pact space. This stigma continues to plague the union’s most recent members and be used as a pretext to move the goalpost for candidate countries.

In a timely twist of fate, we now learn that the EU’s buttoned-up bureaucrats are not as squeaky clean as they make themselves out to be. Greek MEP Eva Kaili, also a European Parliament vice-president, was caught red-handed by Belgian authorities with bags of cash stashed away in her house, as were four other ex-officials, also allegedly on the take.

The 44-year-old Greek Social Democrat was arrested in Belgium last Friday over allegations she was part of a group accepting bribes from Qatar in exchange for promoting policies friendly to the Gulf state. Both Qatar and the lawmaker have denied any wrongdoing.

The return on investment Qatar was allegedly seeking was for high-profile parliamentarians to sing its praises and polish its tarnished image over human rights violations. More importantly, however, Doha is hellbent on securing visa-free access for its citizens to the Schengen Zone. Passing such legislation would catapult its passport to the GCC’s most powerful travel document, on par with their near-peer Emirati rivals.
Keeping the Gulf at arm’s length

It is no coincidence that Europe finds itself cozying up to the Gulf monarchies as energy insecurity reaches a tipping point. Qatar, in particular, is known for punching above its weight whenever the opportunity to do so arises.

The tiny peninsula often resorts to soft power tools as a means of making its presence felt both regionally and globally. The biggest takeaway from this scandal is that corruption knows no boundaries. The East draws heavy flak for organised crime and misappropriating funds even though Mediterranean policymakers are just as receptive to side hustles which ultimately line their pockets. It is high time the same degree of scrutiny were applied across the board rather than being skewed towards a certain geography.

Besides Qatar, a visa waiver agreement was also in the offing with neighbouring Kuwait, where the death penalty is still in effect and religious pluralism is not recognised. Should a deal of this kind materialise, the European Union will have a lot to answer for.

Preaching respect for humanity to the rest of the world while aligning itself with both theocracies is frankly the height of double standards. The Gulf’s notoriety for denying its inhabitants the most fundamental civil liberties is well known by now, not to mention anything of how abysmally women and minorities are treated.

Forging closer alliances with malign actors whose values are totally incongruous with those of the West warrants far greater introspection, especially as they attempt to shore up worldwide support for Ukraine in the name of defending democracy.

Europe’s outreach to the Gulf is a self-serving endeavour that will admittedly reap fruit in the form of affordable LNG. This short-lived succour, however, is more than offset by the loss of face wrought upon the establishment as further findings of Qatargate unravel.

Its ruling elite will have an especially hard time convincing the public why Russia and China pose a threat to their way of life while these inherently repressive Middle Eastern regimes get a free pass. Palm-greasing controversies implicating a Muslim-majority third country serve as cannot fodder for the bloc’s right-wing conservatives. The Visegràd Group is renowned for taking an overtly anti-Islamic stance when it comes to inbound migration. Accusations of its most prominent members, Hungary and Poland, failing to enforce rule of law domestically have all but turned on their head in the past few days.

To truly come clean and absolve itself of any wrongdoings, the European Union needs to conduct a full-fledged investigation into the abolition of entry requirements for the UAE back in 2014. It is somewhat unjust that the Western Balkans and the Eastern Partnership (EaP) nations are appraised annually on how closely their governance models and policies dovetail with the EU whereas other Annex II states are not subject to similar checks and balances.

Their latest Visa Suspension Report warns the countries included against offering so-called “Golden Passports” and liberalising visa regulations. Meanwhile, the UAE is still harbouring countless high-profile Russians thanks to its Golden Visa residency scheme. Two Dubai-based companies have also been involved in facilitating the supply of Iranian-made UAVs to Russia, as per the US State Department.
Romania and Bulgaria shortchanged

Consigning Bucharest and Sofia to half-baked membership was an ill-thought-out move on the part of Brussels. At a time when it is of the utmost importance that the European Union demonstrate solidarity and expand its geopolitical influence, the exact opposite has transpired courtesy of a few internal spoilers.

On the one hand, keeping both Romania and Bulgaria out of Schengen could be down to their proximity to Turkey. The marked surge in irregular arrivals via Southeastern Europe and Asia Minor undoubtedly had something to do with these peripheral states receiving the cold-shoulder.

That said, Croatia is now officially part of the free movement area in spite of sharing a 932 kilometre-long border with Bosnia and Herzegovina – a chokepoint for thousands of Afghan and Syrian economic migrants masquerading as asylum seekers.

The agenda behind this regrettable decision centres on preserving the current status quo over and above any apprehensions of another refugee crisis in the making. It is no secret that emerging Europe has fared much better than Western counterparts when it comes to safety, social harmony, the ease of doing business and fiscal attractiveness. In light of these shifting sands, the French and Germans will stop at nothing to cut the up-and-coming Eastern bloc nations back down to size.

The Schengen vote is a classic case of divide-and-rule intended to stir up animosity between three nations on an equal footing with one another. Corruption only goes so far in credibly justifying why the Romanians and Bulgarians must now hold out a decade longer for admission, even though they had begun cleaning up their act prior to Zagreb.

EU corruption scandal puts democracy under attack - European Parliament head

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IMAGE SOURCE,REUTERS

Image caption,

Eva Kaili was arrested on Saturday and has reportedly had her assets frozen

By James Gregory

BBC News

The president of the European Parliament has warned that "European democracy is under attack", following allegations that Qatar bribed EU officials to win influence.

Roberta Metsola said that "open, free, democratic societies are under attack".

Belgian police have arrested four people, among them European Parliament Vice-President Eva Kaili.

The four have been charged with corruption and money-laundering. Qatar has denied wrongdoing.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the accusations were "very serious" and called for the creation of a new ethics body to oversee the bloc.

The BBC's Brussels correspondent, Jessica Parker, says details released by Belgian authorities in the last few days left many people's jaws on the floor.

MEPs who spoke to our correspondent say they are shocked by both the scale and blatancy of the accusations.

Belgian police seized cash worth about €600,000 ($632,000; £515,000) in 16 searches in Brussels on Friday. Computers and mobile phones were also taken.

No suspects have been publicly named, but Ms Kaili is understood to be among those who have been indicted.

Ms Kaili - an MEP for eight years - was suspended from her duties as one of 14 vice-presidents by Metsola.

She has also been suspended from the parliament's Socialists and Democrats Group and expelled from the Greek centre-left Pasok party.

Prosecutors in Greece have reportedly frozen all of Ms Kaili's assets.

Since Friday, IT-resources of 10 parliamentary employees have been "frozen" to prevent the disappearance of data necessary for the investigation.

Watchdogs and opposition MEPs said the bribery investigation could represent one of the biggest corruption scandals in the parliament's history.

Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose country is a member state but who has frequently clashed with the bloc, mocked the EU after the allegations surfaced.

Tweeting a photo of former US presidents Ronald Reagan and George HW Bush that is often used as a meme, he referred to the European Commission's recommendation to freeze billions of euros in funds earmarked for Hungary.

The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites.View original tweet on Twitter

Prosecutors said they suspected a Gulf state had been influencing economic and political decisions of the parliament for several months, especially by targeting aides.

Local media has named the state as Qatar, although the Qatari government said any claims of misconduct were "gravely misinformed".

Ms Kaili's responsibilities as vice-president include the Middle East. She has been a defender of Qatar in the past.

The European Parliament is the EU's only directly elected institution. Some 705 members of parliament, elected by voters in the 27 nations which make up the EU, meet to scrutinise proposed legislation and vote through European law.

More on this story

• Four charged in EU Parliament corruption case

  11 December

  

• Top MEP arrested over alleged bribery by Gulf state

  10 December