In the news

Some good political news at last--not about the office, which is largely ceremonial, but that Austrians increased van der Bellen's lead compared to the May election:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/04/far-right-party-concedes-defeat-in-austrian-presidential-election

Anton Mahdalik, a Freedom party member of the Vienna city council, criticised the former Ukip leader, Nigel Farage, for contributing to the party’s defeat after claiming on Fox News that Hofer would hold a referendum on Austria leaving the European Union. “That didn’t help us, it hindered us,” he said, saying that an overwhelming majority of Austrians support EU membership.

Hofer himself described Farage’s comments as a “crass misjudgment”, adding that “it doesn’t fill me with joy when someone meddles from outside”.

Farage misjudging something? Whatever next?