Five Stories from Europe You May Have Missed

[rpannier]

5. Turmoil hits Estonian Prime Minister Kallas over husband's Russia ties

Opposition figures in Estonia have called on Prime Minister Kaja Kallas to resign after it was revealed her husband's company was continuing to operate in Russia.

The Center Party announced on Friday it was starting to discuss a no-confidence motion against her, while another opposition group Isamaa said the scandal has caused "considerable damage to the interests and reputation of Estonia".

Estonian public broadcaster ERR reported on Wednesday the haulage firm Stark Logistics, part-owned by Kallas's husband, Arvo Hallik, continued doing business with Russia after it invaded Ukraine.

https://www.euronews.com/2023/08/25/turmoil-hits-estonian-prime-minister-kallas-over-husbands-russia-ties


4. Supermarket in Finland welcomes dogs, with special carts for canine customers

A 'su-paw-market' in Finland is welcoming canine customers, with specially-adapted carts which allow dog owners to bring their pooches grocery shopping.

The Kesko grocery chain in the city of Tampere has introduced the "Koirakärry" - dog cart - concept as a way to welcome in more dog-owning customers at one of its stores, where usually only service animals would be permitted inside the aisles.

"The idea is already used in some countries, but not in Finland, and we have a lot of dog owners nearby," explains Matilda Tistelgren, who has been operating the supermarket with her partner Joona Pesonen since the spring.

"We have a golden retriever ourselves, and if we go out jogging with the dog and forget something from the store, we don't want to go home, leave the dog, then have to return to the store ourselves, we want to be able to take the dog with us," Matilda tells Euronews.

https://www.euronews.com/2023/08/26/supermarket-in-finland-welcomes-dogs-with-special-carts-for-canine-customers


3. Pro-Russian Bosnian Musician Plans Concerts In Romania After Moldova Ban

Bosnian musician Goran Bregovic, who has been banned from performing in Moldova because of his outspoken pro-Moscow views, is due to perform at least twice in the coming months in NATO and EU member Romania, RFE/RL has learned.

Bregovic and his band over the weekend were refused entry to Moldova, where they were scheduled to perform at a folk festival.

On August 21, Chisinau cited a ban on Bregovic imposed last year because of his pro-Russian views as the reason for not allowing his band, The Wedding and Funeral Orchestra, into Moldova.

Bregovic was to arrive in Chisinau on August 20 but canceled his trip after being told that his band had been stopped from entering Moldova.

https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-musician-goran-bregovic-concerts-romania-moldova-rejection/32558965.html


2. Health alarm as tide of rotting seaweed chokes UK holiday beaches

When Owen Francomb from Margate set out on a walk with his dog Gertie along Kent’s picturesque Thanet coast early this month, he didn’t imagine he’d need to be rescued from a tide of toxic sludge. But on the beach at Newgate Gap, French bulldog Gertie started sinking into a thick carpet of rotting seaweed and began to panic.

“She couldn’t move,” Francomb. says. “So I scrambled down the slipway and jumped down on to the beach, expecting the seaweed to be a foot deep, but it came up to my belt. I really struggled to wade through it.” Another dog walker had to help him and Gertie out of the stinking slime.

Over 1,000 tonnes of seaweed have been removed from beaches between Minnis Bay and Broadstairs by Thanet district council – at a cost of £65,000 – in just five weeks from the beginning of July this year, compared with a reported average of between 400-800 tonnes in an entire season.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/26/health-alarm-as-tide-of-rotting-seaweed-chokes-uk-holiday-beaches


1. Yerevan Says Airport Fired On From Azerbaijan Hours After Prime Minister's Visit

Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) has said that an airport near the southeastern border with Azerbaijan was fired upon from Azerbaijani territory hours after Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian visited the facility.

The NSS said the incident took place in the early morning of August 18 at the Syunik airport in the town of Kapan. Pashinian had flown to the airport on August 17 from Yerevan.

According to the NSS, an unidentified individual fired three shots at the airport from across the border, striking windows and the roof of a building at the airport.

“We call on the authorities of Azerbaijan to conduct a proper investigation of the incident and to take measures to exclude the repetition of such incidents,” the NSS said in a statement.

https://www.rferl.org/a/armenia-azerbaijan-airport-shots-fired-pashinian/32553605.html

[2naSalit]

1. Thank you!

Would have missed those.

[Goodheart]

2. I like the doggie cart idea.

There have been many times when I've been on the road with my wonderful four legged daughter and it's been too hot to keep her in the car.

I already do that at Home Depot and Lowe's.

[70sEraVet]

3. I am disappointed to hear of Goran Bregovic's pro-Russian views.

I have enjoyed his music over the years.

[rpannier]

4. It is disappointing when some you like or appreciate turns out to have issues

Eric Clapton is one who often springs to mind
Alice Cooper and Roger Daltry are two I'm always disappointed in
Roger Waters never disappoints me, because he's been a crank for years

[sinkingfeeling]

5. Thanks.