EN.NARVA NEWS

Donkey Painted to Look Like a Zebra in Chinese Park Goes Viral on Social Media

focooznik — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:55:08 GMT

A donkey in China’s Shandong Province has become an internet sensation after being painted with black stripes to resemble a zebra. Visitors spotted the animal at Qingyun Mountain Folk Custom Amusement Park in Anqiu, Weifang.

Park Says Donkey Was Painted as a Joke for Visitors

The video appeared on social media on June 14. It shows a donkey standing in an enclosure with black stripes painted across its body. From a distance, the animal does look somewhat like a zebra, but the illusion quickly falls apart on closer inspection: the long ears, head shape and other donkeys nearby make the truth obvious.

Social media users joked that it was a “zebra with a donkey face” and a “long-extinct striped donkey.” The story quickly went viral. Some users laughed at the crude attempt to turn an ordinary donkey into an exotic animal, while others criticized the park over its treatment of animals.

https://mixnews.lv/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/22/half-assed-zoo-visitors-stunned-as-donkey-is-crudely-painted-to-resemble-zebra-1.mp4

Photo of the donkey

After the backlash, park employees said they had not officially tried to pass the donkey off as a zebra. According to them, there was no sign identifying the animal as a zebra, and the paint job was meant as a “joke” and a form of “cosplay” for visitors.

A park representative said the idea was intended to entertain the public. The park reportedly keeps more than 40 species of animals, and similar “costume” makeovers had also been done with several dogs.

But the explanation did not end the debate. On social media, users argued over where harmless entertainment ends and the exploitation of animals for online attention begins. Some commenters called the idea not funny, but cheap and humiliating.

This is not the first case of its kind in China. Earlier, another park in Shandong Province, in the city of Zibo, drew attention after donkeys were also painted to look like zebras. At the time, the administration described it as a marketing stunt and said it had used non-toxic paint.

Similar stories have involved dogs as well. In Chinese parks, animals have been dyed to look like pandas and tigers, prompting visitors to demand explanations and accuse organizers of misleading the public.

In the case of the donkey from Anqiu, the main reason the story went viral was simple: the attempt was too obvious. The stripes were there, but the animal never became a zebra. What it did become was an internet meme that spread far beyond China within days.

PHOTO: Drone Carrying Five Kilograms of Explosives Found in a Field in Estonia

focooznik — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 13:06:52 GMT

A local resident in Rõuge Parish, Võru County, found a drone with an explosive device in a field. According to the Estonian Internal Security Service, known as KaPo, information about the discovery was received on the evening of June 10.

The case was confirmed to ERR by KaPo bureau chief Harris Puusepp.

According to Puusepp, the man had gone to mow grass when he noticed the unmanned aerial vehicle in tall vegetation. Some fragments were found in a tree, which suggests that the drone may have first struck the tree before falling into the field.

Around five kilograms of explosives were attached to the drone

Harris Puusepp confirmed that an explosive device weighing around five kilograms had been attached to the drone.

KaPo considers such a drone dangerous. Anyone who finds a similar object must not approach it, touch it or try to inspect it independently. The discovery should be reported immediately by calling 112.

The drone may be linked to the June 3 warning

According to the preliminary version, the drone found in Rõuge may be one of the unmanned aerial vehicles that prompted the Estonian Defence Forces to issue an early-morning warning on June 3.

At the time, Air Force radars detected possible drones. Ground units of the Defence Forces and allied fighter jets assigned to the Baltic Air Policing mission were deployed to check the threat.

Puusepp said the radar track of the suspected drone disappeared not far from the place where the wreckage was later found.

On June 3, the Defence Forces first reported a possible drone threat in Lääne-Viru County and Ida-Viru County. The warning was later extended to Tartu County, Jõgeva County, Viljandi County, Valga County, Võru County and Põlva County. The air threat was cancelled at 5:52 a.m.

Later that day, the Defence Forces said that no drones had been found on Estonian territory during the search.

Why the discovery was not reported immediately

According to Harris Puusepp, the incident was not made public immediately because large-scale Ilves exercises were taking place at the time and required additional resources.

He said investigators responded to the incident, and the danger zone was secured so that random people could not enter the area.

KaPo also said that no other fallen drones have currently been found in Estonia.

What is known about the possible origin

According to the version reported by ERR, the drone may have fallen in early June during a Ukrainian attack on targets in Russia.

On the night of June 3, Ukraine carried out strikes on a military plant in Russia’s Tambov region, an oil terminal in St. Petersburg and a naval base in Kronstadt. It was also reported that some drones may have been heading toward Moscow.

The exact model of the drone found in Estonia, the type of explosives, the flight route and the reason for the crash have not been publicly disclosed.

What to do if a drone or wreckage is found

The official instruction for residents is not to approach a suspicious object, not to touch it, to move to a safe distance, warn people nearby and immediately call 112.

Residents are also asked not to publish the location of the discovery on social media and not to share photos of a fallen drone, in order not to attract outsiders to the scene.

Hot Water Shutdown in Narva to Begin on July 13 — Who Will Be Affected

focooznik — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 12:39:57 GMT

Hot water supply in Narva will be temporarily suspended in July due to scheduled repairs to the city’s district heating network. The shutdown will begin on July 13 at 00:00. Reconnection after the repair work is scheduled to start on Friday, July 17, from 08:00.

The information was announced by AS Narva Soojusvõrk, the company responsible for operating Narva’s district heating network.

Why the hot water is being shut off

The shutdown is related to planned maintenance of the heating network. Such works are carried out to prepare the city’s heating system for the next heating season.

According to Narva Soojusvõrk, the gradual decrease in hot water temperature will begin during the night of Monday, July 13, from 00:00. This means that the water may not cool down across the entire city at the same time, but gradually, as the system is stopped and prepared for repair work.

When hot water will return

The planned reconnection of consumers after the repairs is scheduled for July 17 from 08:00. In practice, the shutdown will affect the period from Monday until Friday morning.

Residents should take into account that hot water supply may be restored gradually after such works. It may return at different times in different buildings, depending on the condition of internal building systems and heating substations.

What residents should know

During the shutdown, cold water may come from the hot water tap. However, the hot water meter may still record it as hot water.

For this reason, residents are advised not to open the hot water tap during the shutdown period in order to avoid paying for cold water at the hot water tariff.

What service organizations must do

Narva Soojusvõrk asks its clients to close the inlet valves at heating substations during the repair period, open drainage pipes or air valves, and keep them open for the entire duration of the work.

This must be done by 12:00 on July 13. The same regime should remain in place until the repair work is completed on July 17.

This technical requirement mainly concerns apartment associations, property management companies, building owners and specialists responsible for heating substations.

Who will be affected

The company’s notice refers to consumers in the city of Narva. No separate list of streets, buildings or districts was included in the published announcement.

Narva Soojusvõrk is the city’s main district heating network company. It operates more than 80 kilometers of heating network and supplies heat to up to 60,000 residents of Narva.

Where to contact

Residents and apartment associations can contact Narva Soojusvõrk with questions about the shutdown.

Customer service: +372 554 4020
General information: +372 5884 4585
Emergency line: +372 5635 1031, available 24/7

Medicine vending machines may appear in Estonia: how they would work and who could use them

focooznik — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 12:08:01 GMT

Estonia is preparing a legal framework for self-service pharmacy machines. The Ministry of Social Affairs has submitted amendments to the Medicinal Products Act for approval. The changes would allow medicines to be dispensed through special machines with the involvement of a pharmacist via video link.

This is not about selling medicines without supervision, as in an ordinary vending machine. According to the ministry’s plan, the pharmacy machine would be part of an existing retail pharmacy. The decision to dispense a medicine would have to be made by a pharmacist. The specialist would join the purchase remotely, check the prescription, assess the suitability of the medicine and advise the person on how to use it.

Which medicines could be obtained through the machine

The draft law would allow both over-the-counter medicines and prescription medicines issued via a digital prescription to be dispensed through the machines. For prescription medicines, the buyer would have to identify themselves, for example using an ID card, Mobile-ID or Smart-ID.

After that, the pharmacist would be able to check the prescription, clarify the person’s symptoms, give recommendations and confirm the purchase. Only after confirmation by the specialist would the machine dispense the medicine.

The ministry stresses that people must not be left without consultation. Formally, the machine would not replace pharmacies, but would supplement the existing pharmacy network.

Why this is needed

The main reason is access to medicines in smaller settlements and outside regular pharmacy opening hours. Over the past decades, pharmacy services in Estonia have become increasingly concentrated in larger centres. In smaller places, there is often no pharmacy at all, or it operates with limited opening hours.

According to the Ministry of Social Affairs, patients at 60 family doctor centres do not have a pharmacy in their own settlement. This means that a doctor can issue a prescription, but the patient has to travel elsewhere to collect the medicine.

Another problem is the lack of 24-hour pharmacy services across almost the entire country. At present, on-duty pharmacies operate in only three locations: two in Tallinn and one in Tartu.

Where the machines could appear

The exact locations have not yet been named. The draft says the machines should improve access to medicines, rather than simply appear in places where pharmacies are already sufficient. Restrictions are therefore being discussed to prevent such services from being concentrated only in large cities or pushing out regular pharmacies.

The machines would not become an independent business for wholesalers. They would have to be linked to a retail pharmacy, which would be responsible for the service, storage of medicines, consultation and dispensing.

At the same time, pharmacies would not be required to install such machines. Each pharmacy chain or pharmacy owner would be able to decide for itself whether launching the service makes sense.

A similar project has already been tested in Rapla

Estonia has already had a pilot project for a self-service pharmacy. The first machine operated at Rapla Prisma BENU Apteek. It allowed customers to buy common over-the-counter medicines, food supplements, care products and other pharmacy goods. When buying an over-the-counter medicine, the customer had to contact an online pharmacist.

Prescription medicines were not sold through the machine during the pilot. Customers were advised to buy them at a regular pharmacy or an online pharmacy.

The main limitation of the pilot was legal. Under the current law, the machine could operate only inside a regular pharmacy and only during its opening hours. A separate legal framework is needed for a full 24-hour service.

What supporters say

The Ministry of Social Affairs believes pharmacy machines could help people obtain basic medicines faster and closer to home. Minister of Social Affairs Karmen Joller said the machine should not replace a pharmacy, but could help in situations where the nearest pharmacy is far away or already closed.

According to her, it is important not only to dispense the medicine, but also to preserve professional consultation. That is why the proposed model includes a video link with a pharmacist, who would make the decision on whether the medicine can be dispensed.

Minister of Economic Affairs and Industry Erkki Keldo linked the project to the development of innovative solutions in regulated sectors. According to him, Estonia should create conditions that allow new technologies to reach everyday life rather than remain merely ideas.

What critics say

The idea also has opponents. Some pharmacists doubt that such machines would pay for themselves, especially in small settlements where there are few people and the installation and maintenance of the system could be expensive.

Pharmacist Karin Alamaa-Aas previously told ERR that a machine could be a logical solution for places without a pharmacy, such as islands or sparsely populated areas. In her view, however, there is no point spending money on such solutions in cities where pharmacy services are already available.

There are also practical questions: who will pay for installation, how 24-hour video consultations will be organised, which medicines can be stored in the machine, how temperature requirements will be ensured, and how data security and protection against misuse will be guaranteed.

What else is changing in the pharmacy system

The bill is not limited to pharmacy machines. It also proposes changes to the way medicines are prepared in pharmacies.

At present, some pharmacies are required to have premises, equipment and staff for preparing medicines, even though in practice only a small number of such medicines are made. According to preparatory materials, about 70% of pharmacies in 2024 did not prepare or dispense a single such medicine.

The new model would allow one pharmacy to order the preparation of a medicine from another pharmacy that has the necessary equipment and experience. For the patient, the process should remain the same: they would go to their own pharmacy and receive the medicine there. Only the internal organisation of work between pharmacies would change.

The draft also expands the role of hospital pharmacies. In the future, a retail pharmacy would be able to order the preparation of a medicine from a hospital pharmacy if it cannot prepare it itself. Hospital pharmacies, however, would not receive the right to sell medicines directly to the public.

What happens next

The bill is currently at the consultation stage. After feedback is received, it will become clear in what form the amendments will move forward and when pharmacy machines could actually appear in Estonia.

For now, this does not mean that medicine machines will appear immediately. In practice, their launch would require not only changes in the law, but also pharmacies’ willingness to invest in equipment, video consultations, technical support and safety controls.

PHOTO: Ships Seemed to Hover in the Air as Rare Mirage Was Captured over the Baltic Sea

focooznik — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 06:21:13 GMT

A Fata Morgana was spotted over the Baltic Sea on June 20: ships near the horizon appeared as if they were hanging above the water. The phenomenon was recorded near Baltiysk in Russia’s Kaliningrad region, but the effect is typical of the Baltic Sea as a whole — under similar weather conditions, it can also be seen from the coast of Estonia.

Fata Morgana over the Baltic Sea on June 20, 2026

A Fata Morgana forms when a layer of warmer air appears above cold seawater. Light from distant objects bends as it passes through layers of air with different temperatures, visually shifting the image upward. As a result, a ship may appear to be “floating” in the air, even though it remains on the water.

Such Mirages Have Already Been Seen in Estonia

In December 2021, ERR / Novaator reported on a ship that, when viewed from the coast of Tallinn, looked as if it was “sailing through the sky.” Physicist Jaan Kalda from Tallinn University of Technology explained it as the same effect: air layers with different temperatures change the path of light, causing the image of the vessel to appear above its actual position.

Similar observations have been published before. Ilm.ee has records of mirages near Haapsalu, in Harju County, at Stroomi Beach in Tallinn, near Kolga Bay and on Hiiumaa. The Estonian Weather Service also notes that mirages in Estonia have been observed around the islands, over the Gulf of Finland, on Lake Peipus and sometimes above wide, straight roads.

The easiest places to spot such a mirage are open coastal areas with a clear view of the sea and distant ships: Narva-Jõesuu, the Tallinn coastline, Paldiski, Pärnu, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa.

A Fata Morgana is not an anomaly or a sign of sudden weather change. It is an atmospheric optical phenomenon. It may last only briefly: once the wind, temperature or humidity changes, the ship again looks like an ordinary spot on the horizon.

Estonia May Raise Speeding Fine Threshold to 6 km/h

focooznik — Mon, 22 Jun 2026 06:11:56 GMT

Estonian police are considering raising the speeding fine threshold from the current 3 km/h to 6 km/h. If the change is approved, speed cameras would no longer automatically issue fines for the smallest speed violations.

This would not change the legal speed limit. Speeding would still remain an offence. The possible change concerns only the threshold at which a camera-recorded violation leads to a fine.

According to the Police and Border Guard Board, around half of speeding offenders exceed the permitted limit by only 2–3 km/h. PPA Deputy Director General Kristi Mäe said that under the new approach, such drivers would no longer receive fines.

Police say the proposal is intended to shift attention to more serious speeding violations. According to the agency, a significant share of resources is currently spent processing minimal excess-speed cases.

“For us, this means we would be able to focus on drivers who exceed the speed limit more significantly. Our goal is to ensure road safety, and fines should be issued to those who exceed the limit more noticeably,” Kristi Mäe said on ERR.

The initiative is still under analysis. According to the police, it would not require a change in law: an internal decision by the agency would be enough.

The issue emerged amid a wider debate over mobile speed cameras. On June 17, the Riigikogu adopted amendments to the Traffic Act requiring drivers to be warned about automatic speed measurement.

Under the adopted amendments, outside built-up areas, a warning sign must be placed 300–500 metres before the measurement point. In built-up areas, the sign must be placed 150–300 metres before the camera.

PPA opposed mandatory warning signs before mobile speed cameras. Police argue that such signs cause some drivers to slow down only before the camera and then accelerate again.

Taavi Kirss, head of the PPA traffic supervision department, had earlier proposed raising the fine threshold from 3 to 6 km/h instead of introducing mandatory signs. According to him, this would show more trust in drivers and reduce the number of fines for accidental minor speeding.

MP Valdo Randpere, one of the initiators of the law on warning signs, called the police proposal reasonable. He said that if the 3–6 km/h range really accounts for about half of all fines, the current practice needs to be reviewed.

Road safety experts warn that such a decision must be clearly explained to drivers. TalTech professor of transport planning Dago Antov noted that speeding remains one of Estonia’s main road safety problems, especially outside cities.

At present, a warning fine for speeding recorded by a camera is calculated using the formula of 7 euros for every kilometre per hour above the limit. The maximum warning fine is 300 euros.

Roar in the Skies and Silent Phones: What Happened Near the Estonian Border During the Night Drone Attack on the Leningrad Region

focooznik — Sun, 03 May 2026 13:00:23 GMT

On the night of May 3, residents of Narva and the Ida-Viru border regions reported disturbing sounds in the sky, resembling the buzzing of drones. In local Telegram channels, including Narva News, people described a low hum near the Narva Reservoir, the Pähklimägi (Orekhovaya Gorka) area, and other parts of the city. Witnesses claimed the sounds came not only from the direction of the border but also seemingly from deep within Narva itself.

Against this backdrop, the Estonian Defense Forces (EDF) confirmed that one drone did briefly enter the country’s airspace near Lake Peipus before exiting and returning toward Russia. However, according to ERR, there is currently no official confirmation of drones flying specifically over Narva.

For many residents, the main concern was not just what they heard, but why the emergency SMS alerts, according to some locals, did not reach everyone.

Timeline of a Restless Night: The Hum Over Narva

The first reports emerged overnight as authorities in Russia’s Leningrad region reported a massive drone attack. According to the regional governor, initial reports stated 43 UAVs were downed, with the figure rising to over 60 neutralized drones by morning.

Simultaneously, Narva residents began posting in local chats about sounds resembling "moped-style" drone engines. Witnesses reported a prolonged hum starting around 3:00 AM near the Narva Reservoir and Pähklimägi; some also complained of weak mobile internet signals.

On Narva News and other platforms, residents described looking out windows, checking with neighbors, and sharing videos of the sounds. Some users estimated that over 10 UAVs might have passed near Narva, though these figures remain personal observations and lack official confirmation.

"The sound was low and distinct. It was continuous, occasionally shifting in pitch, and lasted about an hour," participants in local discussions noted.

There were also rumors of a potential downed object near Pähklimägi, but no official confirmation has been provided.

What Has Been Officially Confirmed

The Estonian Defense Forces confirmed a brief violation of the country’s airspace.

Uku Arold, head of the Strategic Communications Department of the EDF General Staff, stated that a large-scale Ukrainian drone attack targeted Russian military and war-related infrastructure overnight. He noted that while the drones moved parallel to the Estonian border, they mostly remained outside Estonian territory.

However, due to the nature of their flight paths, there was a risk of individual drones entering Estonian airspace. The EDF confirmed one such instance occurred near Lake Peipus, where a drone briefly entered, then exited back toward Russia. According to official data:

• No damage was caused.

• No debris has been found on Estonian soil so far.

• The EDF canceled the alert once the wave of attacks subsided, sending a "clear" message at 5:30 AM.

Addressing the reports from Ida-Viru County, Uku Arold stated he could not unequivocally confirm these observations. He suggested residents might have heard sounds carrying from across the border or mistaken other noises for drones.

Why the SMS Alerts Failed to Reach Everyone

A major point of contention is the emergency notification system. While residents in Võru and Ida-Viru counties received warnings early in the morning, many in Narva reported they never got an SMS. Some only learned of the situation through Telegram or neighbors.

As of now, there is no official explanation for this discrepancy. Possible reasons include:

• Specific geolocation settings.

• Mobile network congestion or delays.

• The specific boundaries of the alert zone defined by authorities.

For border city residents, this is a critical issue: when a roar is heard in the night sky, people need to know if there is immediate danger and where to find verified information.

Events Across the Border

Russian authorities reported that the Leningrad region repelled a massive drone strike, with the Primorsk Sea Commercial Port cited as a key target. The Russian side claimed a fire broke out in Primorsk following the attack but was later extinguished, with no oil spills reported. It was during this period that Narva residents observed the sounds, which may have been drones, air defense activity, or the impact of events on the Russian side.

Safety Protocol: What to Do if You Hear a Drone

• Move away from windows.

• Do not go onto balconies or stand in open areas.

• Seek shelter in a hallway, basement, or a sturdy building.

• Do not film air defense activity or publish coordinates.

• Stay away from debris or suspicious objects.

• Report sightings to emergency services immediately.

Is There a Threat Now?

According to the EDF, the threat has passed and there is currently no elevated aerial danger in Estonia. However, the night's events highlighted how quickly border towns like Narva can be plunged into anxiety, emphasizing the need for clear, real-time communication from authorities.

Did you receive an SMS alert last night? Did you hear the hum in the sky over Narva or Ida-Viru County? Share your observations in the comments.