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"Sometimes the political desire is so great that the constitution is forgotten. All the decisions I have had to make stem from that, but I do not consider it boasting to say, look, I have postponed so much. Rather, it is a concern. And I have always emphasized that the parliament or the Riigikogu could do its work better, delve deeper," said President Alar Karis. #AlarKaris #EestiVälispoliitika #Poliitika (translated)

A new mocking acronym, "Frogs," referring to France for its degraded public finances, is emerging on the financial markets, recalling the pejorative categorization of "Pigs" during the 2011-2012 crisis, as pressure increases with the anxiety of a deep financial impoverishment in the face of rising interest rates and political uncertainties. #Économie #Dette #CriseFinancière (translated)

The new Riigikogu library will open in May, offering among other things a video game museum, but its new Scandinavian concept raises the question of whether it will remain the same spiritual place or rather become a shopping center where short-term pleasures outweigh long-term values. #НациональнаяБиблиотека #СкандинавскаяКонцепция #Культура (translated)

Estonian farmers have achieved one of the best grain harvests in the last decade this year, but they are facing a difficult decision on how to use the income obtained, as further success depends more on the wise management of cash flow than on record yields. #põllumajandus #investeeringud #riskijuhtimine (translated)

"I do not think that a conventional military attack is the biggest threat right now. Rather, hybrid operations and various influence activities, ranging from cyberattacks to migration pressure, are concerning," said security expert Agnia Grigas. "Europe certainly has significant capabilities, but defense spending is not being directed towards the right means and the development of capabilities. A portion of the most important defense equipment still comes from the United States. However, I believe that over time Europe will get there. And honestly, it has to get there," Agnia Grigas stated. #NATO #Venemaa #julgeolek (translated)

An experimental optogenetic therapy has been shown to be safe in a study and can at least partially restore vision to some blind people with hereditary retinitis pigmentosa, making the research in this area a significant advance. #Optogenetik #Gentherapie #Augenkrankheit (translated)

The Italian parliament approved the electoral law reform initiated by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, aimed at increasing the likelihood of forming a stable government, but the opposition claims that this change could rather strengthen Meloni's position in future elections. #itaaliaparlament #giorgiameloni #valimisreform (translated)

Nadja Natalie Isaksen wrote that she had been in court the day before to see Nkumba Ludovic Tshiembe and hear his explanation. She wanted to assess his body language herself and get a sense of whether he regretted it, as she believed it could not be properly evaluated through the media coverage. She described it as unbearable to see Christian Johan Zedig's family in court and his wife crying. According to Isaksen, the wife said the case had destroyed everything. She wrote that the pain of Christian's family was hard to understand solely through media coverage, and that lawmakers should therefore attend court to see the consequences of the policies adopted by the Parliament. Isaksen called the one-year sentence unfair. She wrote that Tshiembe, in her impression, appeared affected, often looking down at the table or covering his face with his hands, and had difficulty looking at Zedig's wife. She recounted that Tshiembe had said that he felt terrible, but added that it could not bring Christian back. She believed that Tshiembe should be stripped of his Danish citizenship and permanently expelled. She referred to the fact that he had been convicted of aggravated assault and rape in 2014 and attempted murder in 2017, and wrote that the two girls would otherwise have had their father today. #Retten #Uretfærdighed #Justits (translated)

Aurélien Le Coq wrote that a tax scheme allowed journalists to deduct 7,650 euros from their taxable income. He noted that La France insoumise proposed capping this deduction at 850 euros, so that the benefit would help struggling freelance journalists more than Pascal Praud, whom he referred to as a millionaire. https://t.co/IUCpGRF2wx #Fiscalité #Journalisme #LFI (translated)

Nadja Natalie Isaksen wrote that the trial against an African man in the case of lethal violence at Islands Brygge began today. She stated that the victim was Christian Zedig, who was a husband and father of two small girls, and that the accused faced 8-10 months in prison. Isaksen also wrote that the case had received extensive media coverage, including from Swedish media, and that she was the only member of Parliament present. #Retssag #Danmark #Dødsvold (translated)

Jotam Confino wrote that the other day he had photographed a father and daughter in Tel Aviv, as they looked at pictures of the victims of the massacre on October 7 and fallen soldiers. The image made him think about how difficult it must be for a parent to explain to their daughter what had happened that day, and what he described as the subsequent wave of antisemitism. Confino wrote that the massacre had been celebrated by millions around the world, including in Denmark, and that civilians had been executed, kidnapped, tortured, raped, burned, and beheaded. He claimed that the event had triggered the largest wave of hatred against Jews since World War II, and that Hamas was planning attacks against Jews in Europe, while Islamists and the extreme left demonstrated with Hamas flags, including in Copenhagen. He further wrote that Western professors praised the massacre, and that educators at Copenhagen University wished for the destruction of Israel's military. He described Israel as the safest place for a girl of Jewish background to grow up, despite wars and terrorist attacks, and wrote that one day she would have to serve mandatory military service. He also mentioned that Jews were being killed in Sydney, that synagogues were attacked and subjected to demonstrations, and that it had become common to declare oneself anti-Zionist. According to Confino, memorial services for the victims required extensive police protection due to demonstrators. In conclusion, he wrote that he had great respect for parents who could explain to children how cruel the world could be without taking away their hope. He was not sure that he himself would be able to handle that task. #Israel #Antisemitisme #Fremtid (translated)

In the context of the mafia and contracts filing, the debate opened by contradictory testimonies regarding a 1992 meeting with Paolo Borsellino highlights the divergences between the accounts of various magistrates such as De Luca, Patronaggio, Lo Forte, and Pignatone on what was actually discussed regarding an alleged request for filing. #Mafia #Borsellino #Stragi (translated)

"In this disease, patients lose photoreceptors (rods and cones), but retain healthy cells in the retina." Regarding the possibilities of developing new medical therapies through optogenetics, Per Nilsson from the Nobel committee believes that a clear example is blindness due to retinitis pigmentosa. #Optogenética #PremioNobel #Ciencia (translated)