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Geopolitics

Strange Foam Blankets Australia's Shoreline - Frothy Fun Or Toxic Risk?

ABC AUSTRALIA, THE BRISBANE TIMES, SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (Australia)

Worldcrunch

SUNSHINE COAST- While some spots in the northern hemisphere are covered in snow, the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia has been covered in something that looks a little bit like it - sea foam.

Revellers on the Sunshine Coast lap up yesterday's foam-tacularbit.ly/WtlLHp#bigwet Pic: brandonrooney.comtwitter.com/newscomauHQ/st…

— news.com.au (@newscomauHQ) January 28, 2013

This phenomenon occurs every few years and is caused by the agitation of seawater (Tropical Cyclone Oswald in this case) especially when it contains higher concentrations of dissolved organic matter. As the seawater is churned by the waves, bubbles are formed and they stick to each other through the surface tension. As the foam has a low density and persistence, the onshore winds can blow it inland from the beaches, according to Wikipedia.

The Brisbane Times reports that Toxicologist, Professor Barry Noller has warned against playing in the foam for fear that it may contain pollutants, toxins and sewage. ABC Australia also writes that Professor Rodger Tomlinson is also warning against it because of "what lies beneath" the foam.

"You don't know whether there are rocks under there, broken glass... so I think there's a real concern about safety.” Among the various videos circulating on YouTube expand=1] (scroll down), there's one of two police officers almost being hit by a car that had suddenly burst out from the foam.

Drinking supplies risk running out in Brisbane, and authorities have asked people to cut back on water usage according to ABC.

These floods, which come just a week after some of the hottest temperatures on record in Australia, which have left four Queenslanders dead and two missing. The Sydney Morning Herald reports that 1,200 homes have been damaged.

As the rain continues, flood warnings are in place for 14 rivers in the neighboring state New South Wales, leaving 41,000 people cut off. This morning Sydney received 10 centimeters of water in just 24 hours.

Just found this pic on the SEQ flood update facebook page... nice work cows! #bigwettwitter.com/James_L_Bennet…

— James Bennett (@James_L_Bennett) January 29, 2013

Video via YouTube expand=1]

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Economy

Lex Tusk? How Poland’s Controversial "Russian Influence" Law Will Subvert Democracy

The new “lex Tusk” includes language about companies and their management. But is this likely to be a fair investigation into breaking sanctions on Russia, or a political witch-hunt in the business sphere?

Photo of President of the Republic of Poland Andrzej Duda

Polish President Andrzej Duda

Piotr Miaczynski, Leszek Kostrzewski

-Analysis-

WARSAW — Poland’s new Commission for investigating Russian influence, which President Andrzej Duda signed into law on Monday, will be able to summon representatives of any company for inquiry. It has sparked a major controversy in Polish politics, as political opponents of the government warn that the Commission has been given near absolute power to investigate and punish any citizen, business or organization.

And opposition politicians are expected to be high on the list of would-be suspects, starting with Donald Tusk, who is challenging the ruling PiS government to return to the presidency next fall. For that reason, it has been sardonically dubbed: Lex Tusk.

University of Warsaw law professor Michal Romanowski notes that the interests of any firm can be considered favorable to Russia. “These are instruments which the likes of Putin and Orban would not be ashamed of," Romanowski said.

The law on the Commission for examining Russian influences has "atomic" prerogatives sewn into it. Nine members of the Commission with the rank of secretary of state will be able to summon virtually anyone, with the powers of severe punishment.

Under the new law, these Commissioners will become arbiters of nearly absolute power, and will be able to use the resources of nearly any organ of the state, including the secret services, in order to demand access to every available document. They will be able to prosecute people for acts which were not prohibited at the time they were committed.

Their prerogatives are broader than that of the President or the Prime Minister, wider than those of any court. And there is virtually no oversight over their actions.

Nobody can feel safe. This includes companies, their management, lawyers, journalists, and trade unionists.

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