#65: MARK RUTTE'S GOVERNMENT HAS COLLAPSED
Climate radicals block world record runner from winning + Ireland postpones hate speech law + Greta Thunberg charged with disobeying law enforcement + MORE!
DUTCH GOVERNMENT COLLAPSES OVER MIGRATION PUSH
The Dutch government led by Prime Minister Mark Rutte has fallen apart over a dispute on how to deal with the influx of migrants.
Rutte, who has been in power since 2010, announced his resignation on Friday night after failing to bridge the gap between his coalition partners.
He said he would submit his formal resignation soon, on behalf of the entire cabinet.
The main point of contention was Rutte's migration plan. Two smaller parties in the coalition, the Christen Unie and D66, opposed the policy which eventually caused a rift within the government.
The coalition, which consisted of four parties from across the political spectrum, had been in office since January 2022. It had a slim majority of 76 seats in the 150-seat parliament.
The collapse of the government means that new elections are likely to be held soon, although no date has been set yet.
Opposition parties, including the right-wing PVV led by Geert Wilders, have demanded a quick vote. Wilders tweeted on Friday: "Parliamentary debate requested on Monday by Tuesday at the latest. Quick elections now. Goodbye Rutte, Kaag and the rest!”
CLIMATE RADICALS SABOTAGE ANTICIPATED 400M RACE IN STOCKHOLM
A group of climate activists from "Restore Wetlands" disrupted the 400 meter hurdles race at the Bauhaus Gala in Stockholm this week, where world record holder Karsten Warholm was competing.
The protesters ran onto the track with a banner, forcing the race to stop. They were quickly removed by the security staff and met with boos from the audience and the athletes.
Warholm, who was leading the race before the interruption, was visibly angry and disappointed. He told NRK that he respected the right to protest, but not in this way.
"It is disrespectful to those who are here to do a good job. I'm honestly pissed off," he said.
He also called the activists' action "completely idiotic" and "sickeningly bad".
The 400 meter hurdles was one of the most awaited events of the night, as Warholm had set a new world record of 46.70 seconds in Oslo last month. The race was restarted after the incident, and Warholm won with a time of 47.12 seconds.
IRISH HATE SPEECH BILL POSTPONED AFTER SURGE OF PUBLIC OPPOSITION
An Irish hate speech bill has been postponed until after summer recess following a wave of concern from the public.
This is because there is resistance to the legislation behind closed doors, according to the Irish outlet Gript.
According to Gript, there is worries among backbenchers that the government isn’t aware of the level of negative feedback from constituents.
If passed, some worry that the law could criminalize any opposition to gender ideology and other controversial issues.
Additionally it bans the mere possession of material that the government deems “likely to incite violence or hatred against a person or a group of persons.”
GRETA THUNBERG CHARGED WITH DISOBEYING LAW ENFORCEMENT
Greta Thunberg, the well-known Swedish activist for climate change, is facing legal trouble after participating in a protest in the oil port of Malmö, Sweden.
She and other activists blocked the passage of tankers carrying oil, claiming that they were contributing to the global warming that threatens the planet.
"We choose to not be bystanders, and instead physically stop the fossil fuel infrastructure. We are reclaiming the future,” wrote Thunberg on Instagram during the protest.
The police ordered the protesters to disperse, but Thunberg refused to obey.
She has now been charged with disobeying a lawful order, and will have to appear in court at the end of July, according to reports.
The prosecution has not yet announced what penalty they will seek for Thunberg, who has become a global icon for climate activists.
She is expected to appear before the Malmo District Court at the end of the month.
TWO YEARS IN PRISON FOR DOCTOR WHO GAVE OUT FAKE VACCINE CERTIFICATES
A doctor from Germany has been sentenced to two years and ten months in prison for issuing fake vaccination certificates to hundreds of patients who did not want to participate in the mRNA vaccine trial.
Dr. Heinrich Habig, 67, did not charge any fees for the certificates, which he gave to people who needed them for work or social reasons.
He said he was trying to help them avoid the choice between getting an injection that he considered ineffective and harmful, or being excluded from public life.
The verdict is only a part of his trial, as he faces another 400 charges of fraud in a second proceeding.
Many of his patients regard him as a hero who saved them from the experimental vaccine by giving them the certificates without administering the substance.
