Q-and-A

 1.  What's this arrest of the VP of the EU Parliament (Eva Kaili, from Greece) all about?

Well.....if you go down the various stories/outlets....there's a corruption investigation going on...oddly involving bribes from Qatar.   The Belgium authorities have gotten into the middle of this....looking at corruption and possible money-laundering.

So far, five folks have been detained and a minimum of a dozen homes searched.  

Chief aim?  It would appear that some Qatar folks were putting cash or gifts up for some influence with the EU folks.  

More to be arrested?  I don't think Kaili is the last person, and the EU mechanism can't really halt this....it's a state-investigation by Belgium.  

2.  Activist 'gimmick' in Koln?

It's a bit amusing....city hall in Koln was allowing public statements to be read (normal thing), and one of the climate activist got 'huffy'....then pulled out the glue at the podium to glue herself to the stand.

Mayor cut the mic in some fashion, then announced that they had a second podium (prior planned), and just kept going....with the activist glued-up.  

3.  The idea of 'innocent-until-proven-guilty' being challenged?

After this coup 'event' here in Germany this week.....the Interior Minister (Nancy Faeser, SPD) announced that a draft law was being pursued....where the intent would be 'guilty-until-proven innocent' in the future.

I'll just say that the wording of this kinda shocked journalists and politicians.  Being able to pass it?  Doubtful (FDP probably won't agree)....and I think the Constitutional Court will say (if challenged) that it's a bit far fetched.  

4.  Is there a fair amount of criticism going on within German soccer enthusiasts?

Sports journalists have over-hyped the chatter....I think.  To be blunt....it's the Christmas season, and half the people who'd make up the World Cup viewers (at pubs and open viewing)....really aren't that enthusiastic.  Some journalists think that the majority of the public 'care'.....while I would suggest the opposite (the bulk of Germans have no real interest).

5.  This oil-cap price situation with the EU having any success?

Well....Putin has said 'sorry'....but if you won't buy Russian oil at x-price....then he won't sell you the oil.  Making up the loss?  Probably can be done.....but the competition now realizes the situation and they might sit on their oil for a while....making a artificial shortage appear (out of thin air).

Now, I will offer this odd prospective....gas is remarkably low at present (compared against 2020/2021 prices).  

6.  All that natural gas chatter from October....where a massive shortage was possible....gone?

Just in general, the attitude now is that there is sufficient natural gas for industry and homes across Germany, unless you have a 2010-like arctic 'blast' of cold weather for several weeks.  

Weather for the next ten days?  Rather cold (freezing temperatures starting today and nothing above that for a minimum of seven days)....with snow in the mix.