DAVID ADAMS provides a round-up of some stories on the odder side of life…
Moldova’s President Maia Sandu and her dog greet Austria’s President Alexander Van der Bellen and Slovenia’s President Natasa Pirc Musar in Chisinau, Moldova, on 16th November, 2023, in this handout picture. PICTURE: Maia Sandu via Facebook/Handout via Reuters
• Moldovan President Maia Sandu’s dog overturned protocol on Thursday by biting visiting Austrian President Alexander Van der Bellen on the hand, although Austria’s leader was forgiving and later gave the excitable pup a toy. The incident, Moldovan media reported, occurred when the two leaders were strolling in the courtyard of the Moldovan presidential residence and Van der Bellen tried to pet the dog, a rescue named Codrut, or small forest. Sandu apologised in English and explained that the dog had become frightened by large numbers of people nearby. Van Der Bellen appeared with his hand bandaged at his next meeting, with the speaker of Moldova’s parliament. In a video posted to Instagram on Friday, Van der Bellen sympathised with the first pup. “Everyone who knows me knows that I’m a big dog lover and can understand his excitement,” he wrote, adding his meeting with Sandu and other top officials had been “very good”. Van der Bellen added that he had gifted the dog a small toy on the last day of his visit. The talks in Chisinau, attended by Van Der Bellen and the President of Slovenia, focused on the bid by Moldova, which lies between Ukraine and Romania, to join the European Union. Sandu, who took in the dog after it was hit by a car, posted pictures on social media with her pet and the two presidents. – ALEXANDER TANAS; additional reporting bY DAN PELESCHUK, Chisinau, Moldova/Reuters.
• A passenger plane capable of carrying more than 300 people has reportedly landed for the first time in Antarctica. A Boeing 787 Dreamliner landed successfully last week in Queen Maud Land at Troll Airfield, a 3,000 metre long airstrip only open between October and March when the region sees relatively warmer temperatures. The plane carried 45 staff and researchers from the Norwegian Polar Institute along with 12 tonnes of research equipment. “Taking down such a large aircraft opens up completely new possibilities for the logistics of Troll, which will also contribute to strengthening Norwegian research in Antarctica,” the institute’s director, Camilla Brekke, was quoted as saying.
A pūteketeke Australasian Crested Grebe in Christ Church, New Zealand. PICTURE Bernard Spragg/Public Domain
• The pūteketeke, known for its weird looks, propensity for “puking” and bizarre mating rituals, won New Zealand’s ‘Bird of the Century’ title. But the competition has sparked considerable controversy due to American-British comedian John Oliver’s involvement in lobbying for the bird, more formally known as the pūteketeke Australasian crested grebe. The ‘Bird of the Year’ competition, an annual event where people vote for their favourite New Zealand bird, was this year billed as the ‘Bird of the Century’ in honour of environmental organisation Forest & Bird’s centenary. Oliver’s involvement came when he asked people to vote for the bird on his weekly show. He also lobbied for the bird on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon and erected signage in cities including Tokyo and Paris promoting the bird. In the end, more than 350,000 votes were received from 195 countries – so many it crashed the verification system and delayed the publishing of results. “Pūteketeke began as an outside contender for Bird of the Century but was catapulted to the top spot thanks to its unique looks, adorable parenting style, and propensity for puking,” said Forest & Bird chief executive Nicola Toki in a statement. “We’re not surprised these charming characteristics caught the eye of an influential bird enthusiast with a massive following.” The Pūteketeke Australasian crested grebe won with 290,374 votes following by the North Island brown kiwi with 12,904 votes and the Kea with 12,060 votes.
