Random News from the Rest of the World

Done!

Whale with harness could be Russian weapon, say Norwegian experts
Fisherman in Norway raised alarm after white beluga whale sporting unusual strapping began harassing their boats
By Hannah Ellis-Petersen for the Guardian
Mon 29 Apr 2019 06.55 BST

Marine experts in Norway believe they have stumbled upon a white whale that was trained by the Russian navy as part of a programme to use underwater mammals as a special ops force.

Fishermen in waters near the small Norwegian fishing village of Inga reported last week that a white beluga whale wearing a strange harness had begun to harass their fishing boats.

“We were going to put out nets when we saw a whale swimming between the boats,” fisherman Joar Hesten told Norwegian broadcaster NRK. “It came over to us, and as it approached, we saw that it had some sort of harness on it.”

The strange behaviour of the whale, which was actively seeking out the vessels and trying to pull straps and ropes from the sides of the boats, as well as the fact it was wearing a tight harness which seemed to be for a camera or weapon, raised suspicions among marine experts that the animal had been given military-grade training by neighbouring Russia. Inside the harness, which has now been removed from the whale, were the words “Equipment of St. Petersburg”.

The fisherman said the whale was very tame and seemed used to human beings.

“If this whale comes from Russia – and there is great reason to believe it – then it is not Russian scientists, but rather the navy that has done this,” said Martin Biuw of the Institute of Marine Research in Norway.

Audun Rikardsen, professor at the department of arctic and marine biology at the Arctic University of Norway (UiT), told NRK: “We know that in Russia they have had domestic whales in captivity and also that some of these have apparently been released. Then they often seek out boats.” He said he had contacted Russian researchers who said the harnessed whale had nothing to do with them. “They tell me that most likely is the Russian navy in Murmansk,” said Rikardsen.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/apr/29/whale-with-harness-could-be-russian-weapon-say-norwegian-experts

"L'œil de Willem" in Libération on Spanish parliamentary elections:

Fiat lux!


https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-europe-48249477

Speed walking straight into scandal!
Mexico's Star Race Walker Lupita González Hit With 4-Year Ban For Doping

Brilliant! Thanks.

An alleged corruption scandal in Austria is the big news here since yesterday ... and even more in Austria. (Thousands are demonstrating in the moment in Vienna.)
Austrian Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache resigns
ed following alleged corruption scandal as well as the chairman of the far-right FPÖ in the Austrian parliament.
The FPÖ (and especially Strache) have close connections to the German AfP and other European far right parties.

DW: Austrian Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache resigns following alleged corruption scandal

The Local: Austrian far-right leader resigns over 'Ibiza affair'

A statement by the Austrian Federal Chancellor, initially announced for lunch, has been postponed several times. Now (17 h local time) the target is apparently 19:45 h.

According to an employee of the Chancellor's Office, Chancellor Kurz is "in a phase of reflection". For Kurz, the question now is whether he will fill the post of Vice-Chancellor Strache or whether there will be new elections.

Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen, who has the power to appoint ministers and dissolve the government, will issue a statement at 20:35 h. (18:35 GMT)

One can assume that there will be new elections.
According to the Austrian constitution, these are only possible if the parliament, the Nationalrat, dissolves itself or if the Federal President dissolves the parliament at the suggestion of the Federal Government.
I can imagine that Kurz asked Van der Bellen to do so.

The anger and impatience of the people in front of the Chancellery in Vienna is growing.

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-australia-48305001

Polls significantly wrong again. Hmmm.

Australian elections go as no one expected.

"Enough is enough": Austria's Chancellor Kurz has proposed early elections after the revelations about the resigned head of the FPÖ Strache.

Austria's Federal President Van der Bellen said in his statement: "The video pictures show a disturbing moral picture."
"We are not like that. Austria is simply not like that," Van der Bellen said. That is a "bold disrespect for the citizens. I will not tolerate this disrespect".
"In this sense, I have arranged early elections with Chancellor Kurz," Van der Bellen continued. He wanted to restore confidence.
The Austrians have a right to it, said the Federal President.

Switzerland: a clear sign from the population for protection from armed violence.
Swiss voters agreed today (nearly 70%) to adopt tighter gun controls in line with changes to European Union rules.

The restrictions, which apply to non-EU member Switzerland because it is part of Europe’s Schengen open-border system, had raised hackles among shooting enthusiasts ahead of the vote under the Swiss system of direct democracy.

- The EU directive bans certain semi-automatic firearms, although Switzerland secured some exemptions.
- Swiss gun owners will need to secure a special permit to buy semi-automatic weapons in the future.
- They will also have to prove that they are either a member of a gun club or that they regularly practice sport shooting.
- Military service firearms, which some choose to keep at home, are exempt from the EU rules.

In short the Swiss gave up very little to satisfy the increasingly authoritarian bureaucrats of Brussels.

The complexity of the overlapping treaty and other agreements that have been used by the EU to codify the ongoing loss of national sovereignty by member states is a bit confusing to me. Where are the constitutional guarantees for individual freedom, limited government, and local control of local matters? To me these are the essence of a free society, though contemporary political forces both in Europe and, to a lesser degree the United States, are clearly opposed to them.

Perhaps George Orwell's novels will become popular again.

Actually they wanted this protection from armed violence- they easily could have voted differently.

For you, but you aren't a Swiss nor do you live there. (The Swiss voted to join the Schengen-area in 2005.)

Do you also that principle to yourself ? I think not.

I'm an EU-citizen and live in a Schengen-country - used these privileges quite often (here: when travelling between France/Germany to Switzerland.)