Europe's Wave of Migration Brought Too Many Men

There's a lot of interesting data on Europe's wave of refugees in Pew's latest report. But here's a piece of information that is not so much interesting as disturbing: Only 27 percent of those refugees are female. In every age group, from nearly every country of origin, women are greatly outnumbered. And the difference is even more pronounced for immigrants from Africa, the Middle East and the Indian subcontinent. Gambia, Bangladesh and Pakistan, for example, sent virtually no women at all. Over all, refugee men outnumber refugee women nearly two to one.

There are two scenarios that can unfold from this fact. The first is that destination countries simply end up with an imbalance between the number of men and women in their populations. That would be a problem; even slightly out-of-whack gender demographics can have substantial social impacts. The refugees -- already predisposed to experience isolation, disconnection and disaffection from their host society -- will thus also bear the desperation of men who have little hope of forming a long-term relationship with a woman and starting a family. This is a recipe for disaster.

So why not allow additional women to emigrate from these men's countries of origin? This would aggravate another set of problems.

Just last year, several of the more popular destinations for immigration saw their foreign population shares increase by more than 1 percentage point. (The U.S. has long been the world's most popular destination for immigrants. For comparison, it saw a similar increase over 10 years, from 2005 to 2015.) To allow enough additional women to fix the gender imbalance would imply something like another half-percentage-point increase, over a very short period of time.

I am, as I have frequently noted in this column, a big fan of immigration. But cultures, particularly homogenous cultures, do need some time to absorb and assimilate the migrant flows. Last year's refugee wave strained both the political and social systems of many countries. Increasing it by half again, or a third again, in short order, might bring those systems to the breaking point.

Unfortunately, at this point there aren't any good options left. The people are there; Europe cannot go back and demand a more gender-balanced migrant wave. It could deny the bulk of those applications and send most of those men back where they came from.  But that's unlikely; both EU refugee policy and a lot of the political class are publicly committed to sheltering a lot of these people. It would be difficult indeed to suddenly backpedal on those commitments.

It would also be politically difficult to radically increase immigration (by women) as a response to the wave of immigration (by men). But a short-term political challenge is far preferable to a simmering societal meltdown.

This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners.

To contact the author of this story: Megan McArdle at mmcardle3@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Philip Gray at philipgray@bloomberg.net

Source: Europe's Wave of Migration Brought Too Many Men

David Attenborough reveals the ONE destination still on his wildlife travel wishlist

Veteran broadcaster Sir David Attenborough has revealed the one destination still on his wishlist after decades of filming wildlife around the world.

Sir David, who turned 90 in May, said he would love to go to the middle of the Gobi Desert, which spans northern China and southern Mongolia.

He said: "I've not been to the middle of the Gobi Desert. There are no animals there at all which is why I've never been but I'd still quite like to go. There are some good fossils there."

Sir David also warned that Britain will struggle to get its voice heard in conservation debates if the country completely breaks away from the EU in the wake of the Brexit vote.

David still wants to travel to the Gobi Desert

"Animals don't recognise Euro barriers and putting up another frontier means nothing to them," he told the Press Association.

"Our birds and our butterflies come to us from Europe and we have had quite a strong effect on how those things are cared for overseas - in the Mediterranean and Europe."

Sir David Attenborough believes strong ties with Europe are key for conservation

However, Sir David said: "The voice of British conservation won't be so loud, indeed if it's heard at all, if we leave Europe altogether."

The 90-year-old made the comments during a visit to ZSL London Zoo where he was officially renaming the Komodo dragon enclosure.

Sir David toured the enclosure, coming face to face with Ganas - a six-year-old Komodo - in The Attenborough Komodo Dragon House.

The Gobi Desert spans northern China and southern Mongolia

The naturalist introduced the British public to Komodo dragons while filming in Indonesia as part of the Zoo Quest series in the 1950s.

He had hoped to bring a dragon back to London Zoo but was stopped by the authorities.

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Komodo dragons, with their toxic saliva and razor sharp teeth, can reach up to 10ft (three metres) in length and weigh up to 300lbs (136kg).

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Only a few thousand Komodos are left in the wild and the species is rated as vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) Red List because of habitat loss.

Sir David was confident, however, that they would still be in existence in their natural habitat in another 60 years.

He said: "They are very tough and they are very tolerant and they live on very little food.

British naturalist and broadcaster David Attenborough early in his career

"If they had a chicken a week or a chicken a fortnight it would keep them going very well and so they are not a great disaster, and in fact they have become a great asset from a tourist point of view."

Sir David also said that zoos today are key for conservation but that those that fail to obey regulations should be closed down.

Sir David Attenborough with Elephant Seal bull

He said: "Zoos have got an important part to play. They have an important part to play in conservation, which London Zoo is taking very seriously, and they have a very important part in education and allowing young people to realise how rich the Earth is, how rich the natural world is, and how vulnerable it is."

But he said that while "most zoos" abide by strict regulations, those where animals are not treated properly "should be taken out of business because of the inhumanity of it".

Source: David Attenborough reveals the ONE destination still on his wildlife travel wishlist

Furious Turkish president warns he could let 3 MILLION migrants head straight for Europe

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Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has threatened to rip up the EU migrant deal

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan claimed the agreement "will not be possible" unless the EU delivers on a promise that Turkish citizens will get visa-free access to mainland Europe.

And he hinted that the three million refugees currently in Turkey could even be allowed to head north into the EU unless his demands were met.

"The European Union is not behaving in a sincere manner with Turkey," he said.

"If our demands our not satisfied then the readmissions will no longer be possible."

If our demands are not satisfied then the readmissions will no longer be possible.

Tayyip Erdogan

Mr Erdogan said: "There are currently three million refugees in Turkey, and the only concern of EU member states is that those refugees do not reach their territories.

"The EU suggested that we accept the readmissions [of migrants coming from Turkey] in exchange for visa liberalization for Turkish citizens.

"The readmission agreement and the visa liberalization were to come into force simultaneously on June 1."It is now August and the visa liberalization is still pending. If our claims are not met, we will have to stop readmissions."

GETTY

'If our demands are not satisfied then the readmissions will no longer be possible.'

His warning will trigger fresh concerns that the surge of migrants from Syria and other parts of the Middle East over the Mediterranean Sea will continue unabated.

Under the deal, Turkey agreed to accept the return of migrants arriving on Greek Islands and other destinations in Europe.

In return, Turkish citizens were to be given visa-free access to the Schengen Zone, the passport check-free area in mainland Europe but not including the UK.

But the EU has so far held back on dropping the visa requirement because Turkey has yet to meet every clause of the agreement.

GETTY

Erdogan said the Turkish people had been abandoned by the West

It comes as a poll found two-thirds of Germans want the EU to break off membership talks with Turkey.

In a major rejection of EU policy, the poll also revealed more than half were in favour of binning Brussels' controversial migrant deal with Ankara.

GETTY

Erdogan claims that Turkish people wanted the death penalty bringing back

Yesterday Austria's foreign minister threatened to block the expansion of negotiations with Turkey on its accession to the EU.

Sebastian Kurz's comments risk exacerbating a row between Austria and Turkey that flared last week when Austrian Chancellor Christian Kern suggested ending Turkey's EU membership talks altogether because of the country's democratic and economic deficits.

In an interview an Austrian newspaper, Mr Kurz said: "I have a seat and a vote in the (EU) foreign ministers' council. 

"There the question is whether new negotiation chapters will be opened with Turkey, and I am against it."

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Source: Furious Turkish president warns he could let 3 MILLION migrants head straight for Europe

Gang Selling AK-47s 'Bound For Western Europe'

As Britain's security services warn of potential Paris-style terror attacks in the UK, Sky News has been told by eastern European mafia gangs that demand for their military grade weapons across Europe has rocketed in two years - and they will supply to anyone.

Security analysts say Islamist terror cells and "lone wolf" killers now consider automatic weapons the best way to bring mass murder to our streets.

Europe's open borders mean that weapons like the AK-47 can be moved easily to the buyers in western Europe.

The AK is the most requested weapon according to the gangs - a weapon rarely used by ordinary criminals.

The gang took the Sky team to a deserted forest in Romania

From the mountains of the Balkans across huge, remote forest lands in eastern Europe, networks of gangs have access to millions of weapons that have been cached after years of conflict or are in general supply in areas bordering conflict zones such as Ukraine.

After months of negotiation with a Romanian gang Sky News was directed to a remote part of the country for a meeting with gang members prepared to show us what they could supply.

There is no subterfuge here. They knew we were a news organisation wanting to illustrate how getting a weapon is relatively easy and they believed we were going to buy them.

We did not, which made matters a little tricky.

The point is they didn't care who we were if we were prepared to pay. Throughout our meeting they made it clear they would sell to absolutely anyone; bank robber, mass murderer or terrorist, they made no distinction.

Video: Gun traders show Sky's Stuart Ramsay the weapons they have for sale

We had been told that at a certain point on the route to the meeting point a 4x4 vehicle would be parked on the opposite side of the road and would flash its lights, signalling us to stop.

We were instructed to remain in our car and to make no attempt to film or approach the passengers in the vehicle before reaching the final destination.

As the driver and his passenger turned their car - a battered vehicle without plates - we could see they were unmasked but wore hats and covered their faces with their hands before speeding off in a cloud of wheel-spinning dust.

We followed them along rutted farm tracks, main roads and country lanes deep into a forest with no phone signal before stopping in a clearing.

Two men, now in balaclavas, gestured for us to join them. We were searched, our equipment checked and phones removed and locked inside our car. They had taken our car key.

At the boot of their car they revealed the weapons available to buy, or r ather the types of weapons. They assured us they could supply thousands of guns and crucially the ammunition to go with them.

"We bring them from Ukraine with the ammunition, as much as you want," one of the men said.

The men claimed their weapons are smuggled from Ukraine into Romania before being shipped by another gang to western Europe and the middle east.

Also available for sale was this sniper's rifle for 3,000 Euros

But western Europe was the primary destination.

The men said they only dealt with firearms but they had close links to another gang that specialised in heavy weapons, grenades, rocket-propelled grenades and mines.

Among the weapons on display were high quality, apparently brand new, sniper rifles. One, going for 3,000 Euros (£2,540) was an Austrian military Steyr rifle complete with a top-end sight.

Other weapons included semi-automatic rifles, shot guns, hunting rifles and pistols.

In pride of place was a mint condition AK-47. This weapon they said was their biggest seller at 1,700 Euros (£1,440) and demand from Europe over the past two years had soared. The AK-47 is the terrorists' weapon of choice.

The increase in murderous terror attacks in Europe has highlighted the damage that can be done by military grade weapons in the hands of individuals and gangs. Europe is awash with illegal guns and the Shengen border treaty makes it virtually impos sible to track or stop their movement.

Traditionally, terrorist attacks were characterised by the use of bombs. Not any more. Automatic weapons kill more people, are easier to transport and far easier to use.

Across Europe and the UK security services now find themselves on constant alert. In London we showed film of our meeting to officers of the National Crime Agency (NCA).

Video: Deadly Terror Attacks In Paris

They confirmed that the types of weapons, the location of the meeting and prices discussed were in line with their intelligence.

"The weapons are often sourced near conflict zones like Ukraine, which is where your meeting took place," said Ian Cruxton, Director of Organised Crime at the NCA.

"I have to stress that the UK is by far the safest place in Europe when it comes to attacks with weapons like this. But we have to be vigilant, we always have to do more," he said, pointing out that the Europe border is only 21 miles away.

Back in Romania the gang members made it clear that if we were not going to buy they were not going to hang around.

Before driving away they told us to wait for 20 minutes to allow them to disappear. "If you come again, you must buy or don't come," one of them said as they left.

Source: Gang Selling AK-47s 'Bound For Western Europe'

Rick Steves: Europe's coziest pubs and cafés

Rick Steves 8:03 a.m. EDT August 6, 2016

Café-sitting, coffee-sipping and people-watching are some of the best ways to slow down and enjoy life like Europeans do.(Photo: Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli)

After a busy day in Vienna, I like to retreat to a striped velvet couch at the renowned Café Hawelka. The decor here is circa-1900, with smoke- and coffee-stained furniture, walls adorned in paintings by struggling artists (who couldn't pay for coffee), and a phone that rings for regulars. This creaky Viennese institution, where intellectuals like Leon Trotsky once stewed, has become my local living room in Austria.

All over Europe, I seek out cozy establishments like this to relax, nurse a drink and strike up a conversation. Delving into the café culture and historic pubs of the world's most elegant cities is an enriching way to get some distance from the sightseeing crowds, lighten up a museum-heavy itinerary, reflect on my travels and alleviate homesickness.

Vienna's Café Hawelka is the creative epicenter for artists, poets and revolutionaries. Old man Hawelka himself may have served a Melange (as they would have called their cappuccino) to Trotsky, Stalin, Klimt or Freud — all of whom were rattling around Vienna in the early 1900s. I ponder how, in the last days of Europe's family-run empires (essentially all of which died with the end of World War I), Vienna was a place of intellectual tumult — and coffeehouses like this were the social backdrop.

Across town in Vienna, the iconic Café Sperl dates from 1880 and is still furnished identically to the day it opened — from the coat tree to the gold chandeliers to the ornately upholstered chairs. An afternoon in this cultural treasure feels like an afternoon among the city's 19th-century creative minds and military elite. With a wide selection of newspapers, and take-all-the-time-you-want charm (despite the famously grumpy waiters), every Viennese coffeehouse offers its own individual character and a welcoming space oozing with history.

In Venice, the venerable Caffè Florian — one of the first places in Europe to serve coffee — is perfect for a sightseeing break. Sitting elegantly on St. Mark's Square, Caffè Florian has been a popular spot for a discreet rendezvous since 1720, and everyone from Lord Byron to Woody Allen has paid too much for a drink here. Tourists stake out tables on the square to people-watch and enjoy the Caffè Florian orchestra, which performs each hour with a repertoire including classical, jazz, operetta and Venetian. But for elegance and ambience, romantics sit inside to appreciate richly decorated rooms, each with a historic or artistic theme, such as the "Room of the Illustrious Men," which features portraits of great Venetians from Marco Polo to Titian.

You'll find more cozy comfort in Amsterdam's bruin (brown) cafés. These after-hours hangouts get their name from their dark hardwood interiors and nicotine-stained walls, embracing the gezellig (cozy) quality that the Dutch hold dear. Don't confuse these with "coffeeshops," where the Dutch gather to buy and smoke marijuana (coffeeshop windows display plants and Rastafarian colors). Brown cafés project a more elegant atmosphere and usually specialize in beer, while others focus on Dutch gin (jenever); most also serve wine and coffee. Drop in, linger over a drink, and see if you can pick out the regulars. Whether in a brown café jammed with noisy patrons or one that's sleepy and mellow, you'll find a convivial living room.

Head to a historic British pub to make friends with a bartender and get a glimpse — and a taste — of traditional English culture. (Photo: Dominic Arizona Bonuccelli)

In London, the pub is the heart of the people's England, where all manner of folks have, for generations, found a home away from home. In class-conscious Victorian times, traditional pubs were divided into sections by elaborate screens (now mostly gone), allowing the wealthy to drink in a more refined setting, while commoners congregated on the pub's rougher side. These "public houses" became comfortable places for groups and clubs to meet, friends and lovers to rendezvous, and families to get out of the house at night. In London, my favorite pub scene is at South Kensington's Anglesea Arms. Set in a beautiful Georgian building lined with flower boxes spilling color around communal picnic tables, the place is filled with musty paintings and old-timers, dogs wearing Union Jack vests, and a long line of tempting tap handles. Today, timeworn taverns such as the Anglesea Arms are national treasures that still make a cheery refuge from the daily grind or a brief escape for a tired trav eler.

After taking in the sights of Europe's magnificent cities, look for an inviting café or pub where you can soak in the locals' enthusiasm for their national heritage and traditions. Slow down and experience a good cup of coffee or local beer — and make yourself at home. You'll return with a broader perspective, some interesting stories, and maybe even a new friend or two.

Rick Steves writes European travel guidebooks and hosts travel shows on public television and public radio. Email him at rick@ricksteves.com and follow his blog on Facebook.

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Source: Rick Steves: Europe's coziest pubs and cafés

Norwegian launches new Paris route from Fort Lauderdale with much fanfare

Norwegian Air Shuttle has a new route from Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport: Paris, France.

The new destination, which launched late Thursday, brings the Scandinavian low-cost carrier's total European routes from Fort Lauderdale to five, joining London, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Oslo, Norway.

Its sixth route from Fort Lauderdale to the French Caribbean island of Guadeloupe is set to launch Dec. 17, with service on Wednesdays and Saturdays.

"Location-wise, Fort Lauderdale is a really good airport for us. We're doing so well [here]," said Anders Lindstrom, Norwegian's U.S. director of communications. "If the price is right and the service is right, people will drive up from Miami and from Palm Beach County, and we've noticed that."

The new Paris flight will operate with Norwegian's signature Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, which is used on its other Fort Lauderdale routes.

In late July, Norwegian also launched nonstop Paris routes from New York City's John F. Kennedy International and Los Angeles International Airport.

"We are excited to continuously grow our U.S. operations," Norwegian's CEO and Founder Bjørn Kjos said in a statement. "Our new nonstop flights will provide American travelers with greater choice when they go to one of Europe's most magical cities."

The inaugural flight from Fort Lauderdale to Paris' Charles De Gaulle Airport was scheduled to depart 11 p.m. Thursday for arrival in the French city by 1:40 p.m. Friday. Returning, the Thursday-only flight will leave Paris at 5:15 p.m. for arrival in Fort Lauderdale at 9 p.m.

Norwegian commemorated the inaugural flight with a French cooking class at Chef Jean-Pierre's Cooking School in Fort Lauderdale and other events earlier this week.

The school's owner, French-born chef Jean-Pierre Brehier, told attendees on Wednesday that he was thrilled to play a role in promoting Norwegian's new Paris route.

"I'm so excited. There is a big French community here and whatever I can do to help promote it, I will, because I want it to be successful," said Brehier, who in the past drove to Miami for nonstop flights to France. "I have a big following, and I'll make sure to spread the word."

At Wednesday's dinner event, Marie Colin, a travel agent with Total Travel Marine in Coral Gables, said she welcomed Norwegian's Paris route as it gives her more options when booking flights to and from Europe for marine crew and cruise passengers.

"It's especially good to have this new option in Fort Lauderdale as it will lower the [travel] cost," as before we would have to fly cruise ship crew to Miami and then transfer them to Fort Lauderdale to board their ships, she said.

All three of its inaugural U.S.-to-Paris flights were fully booked, according to Norwegian. Introductory airfares for the Fort Lauderdale-to-Paris route started at $175 one-way when the route was first announced in February.

Norwegian launched service between Fort Lauderdale and Scandinavia in late 2013, and added London's Gatwick Airport to its South Florida route map in July 2014.

In the nearly three years since it began operations at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood, Norwegian has carried more than 330,000 passengers to and from the airport, according to records from the Broward County Aviation Department, the airport's operator.

"We are very excited to offer Broward County residents the chance to travel nonstop to the City of Light," said Mark Gale, the department's aviation director of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood's first scheduled commercial Paris service. "Paris is a global center for art, fashion, food and culture."

The celebrations continue on Friday, when Norwegian is hosting an event at the Aventura Mall from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. to promote the Paris route. A few lucky shoppers will win free round-trip airfare to one of its five European destinations from Fort Lauderdale.

For information, visit norwegianaura.com.

asatchell@sunsentinel.com, Twitter@TheSatchreport

Source: Norwegian launches new Paris route from Fort Lauderdale with much fanfare

Cargill to sell two European oilseed processing facilities to Bunge

The assets are highly complementary to Bunge's existing soy processing operations in Europe, and will allow Bunge to further expand its global oilseed processing footprint into key Northern European destinations, grow its presence in Europe's protein market, and further optimize global flows and logistics to serve customers. Industrial operations and business activities will be integrated within Bunge's Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) regional operations and global soy crush platform, and Bunge is looking forward to welcoming the experienced and skilled employees of the two sites.

Cargill will retain its two other soybean processing facilities in Western Europe, in the ports of Barcelona in Spain and Liverpool in the United Kingdom, as these plants are firmly integrated with a number of Cargill's other businesses serving local customers in the food and feed sectors in Spain and the UK. Cargill has an extensive network of plants processing and refining other oilseeds and tropical oils across Europe and it continues to focus on serving its customers and growing its longer term business in this region.

Employees associated with the business (120 in the Netherlands and 51 in France) will transfer to Bunge.

Cargill is now informing and consulting its employee representative bodies in the Netherlands and France.

The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions including competition clearance and employee consultation.

About CargillCargill provides food, agriculture, financial and industrial products and services to the world. Together with farmers, customers, governments and communities, we help people thrive by applying our insights and 150 years of experience. We have 149,000 employees in 70 countries who are committed to feeding the world in a responsible way, reducing environmental impact and improving the communities where we live and work. For more information, visit Cargill.com and our News Center.

About Bunge LimitedBunge Limited (www.bunge.com, NYSE: BG) is a leading global agribusiness and food company operating in over 40 countries with approximately 35,000 employees.  Bunge buys, sells, stores and transports oilseeds and grains to serve customers worldwide; processes oilseeds to make protein meal for animal feed and edible oil products for commercial customers and consumers; produces sugar and ethanol from sugarcane; mills wheat, corn and rice to make ingredients used by food companies; and sells fertilizer in South America.  Founded in 1818, the company is headquartered in White Plains, New York.

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Source: Cargill to sell two European oilseed processing facilities to Bunge