Christiania, Copenhagen’s hippie oasis, wants to rebuild without its illegal hashish market
The now-aging hippies who took over a derelict naval base in Copenhagen more than 50 years ago and turned it into a freewheeling community known as Christiania want to boot out criminals who control the community’s lucrative market for hashish by ripping up the cobblestoned street where it openly changes hands.
Toymaker Lego will stick to its quest to find sustainable materials despite failed recycle attempt
Denmark’s Lego says it remains committed to its quest to find sustainable materials to reduce carbon emissions, even after an experiment by the world’s largest toymaker to use recycled bottles did not work.
Danish Supreme Court says newspaper did not violate copyright of Little Mermaid statue
Denmark’s Supreme Court has overruled two lower courts, saying a cartoon depicting Copenhagen’s The Little Mermaid statue as a zombie and a photo of it with a face mask did not violate the copyright of the famous bronze.
Denmark PM to try to form new government after election win
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen is in a strong position to remain in power after her Social Democrats won the most votes in Denmark’s election and a center-left bloc in Parliament that backs her appears set to retain a majority by just one seat.
Norway ends contract for NH90 helicopters, wants full refund
NATO-member Norway terminated its two-decade-old contract with a France-based manufacturer for 14 maritime helicopters, citing delays, errors and time-consuming maintenance, The Norwegian defense minister said Friday that the government will return the NH90 helicopters it received so far and expects a refund of $525 million.
Kate meets Danish queen, plays with kids on Copenhagen trip
The Duchess of Cambridge has met with Denmark’s popular monarch, Queen Margrethe, and her daughter-in-law, Crown Princess Mary, in Copenhagen as part of a two-day visit to learn more about how Denmark has led efforts in early childhood development.
The Latest: New Zealand opens 1st big vaccination clinic
New Zealand has opened its first large vaccination clinic as it scales up efforts to protect people from the coronavirus. (New Zealand Ministry of Health via AP)WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand has opened its first large vaccination clinic as it scales up efforts to protect people from the coronavirus. Gordon cites Wyoming’s declining number of COVID-19 cases and its success in distributing vaccines as reasons to lift the restrictions. AdThe nation of 1.3 million has seen a rapidly increasing number of COVID-19 cases n the past few weeks. Italy’s total virus cases surpassed 3 million last week, with a new surge powered by the highly contagious variant that was first identified in Britain.
Norway adjusts advice after 13 vaccine deaths
The Norwegian Medicines Agency on Thursday reported a total of 29 people had suffered side effects, 13 of them fatal. All the deaths occurred among patients in nursing homes and all were over the age of 80. Overall, Norway has seen 57,279 cases and reported 511 deaths. But determining whether or not the vaccine caused deaths can be very challenging and requires that all other potential causes be ruled out first. The European Medicines Agency said Friday that it will receive and consider monthly safety reports from companies authorized to sell vaccines, starting in January with the Pfizer jab.
Denmark to end oil, gas extraction in North Sea
COPENHAGEN – Denmark has decided to end all oil and gas activities in the North Sea by 2050 and has cancelled its latest licensing round, saying the country is "now putting an end to the fossil fuel era.”The Danish Parliament voted late Thursday to end offshore gas and oil extraction, which had started in 1972 and made the country the largest producer in the European Union. Non EU-members Norway and Britain are larger producers, with a bigger presence in the North Sea. Denmark is this year estimated to pump a bit over 100,000 barrels of crude oil and oil equivalents a day, according to the government. The agreement to end oil and gas extraction means that a planned eighth licensing round and any future tenders have been cancelled and makes 2050 the last year in which to extract fossil fuels in the North Sea. According to official figures, the move would mean an estimated total loss for Denmark of 13 billion kroner ($2.1 billion).
2020 Nobel Peace ceremony won't be held in person in Oslo
COPENHAGEN – The winner of the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize — the World Food Program — and the Norwegian Nobel Committee said Wednesday they have jointly agreed to postpone the in-person award ceremony in Oslo next month because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Nobel Peace Prize ceremony usually is held at Oslo City Hall. Now, the Norwegian Nobel Committee is planning "a digital award ceremony where the WFP will be presented with the medal and diploma.” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is also expected to attend the virtual forum. Earlier this month, the Norwegian government had granted an exemption from its two-week quarantine requirement for arriving visitors so representatives from the winner of the 2020 Nobel Peace Prize could attend the award ceremony in Oslo. He called the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize “an important event of great national and international interest.”“We want to make it easy for the prize winner to be physically present this year as well.
World's biggest shipper remains wary of pandemic
COPENHAGEN – The world’s biggest shipping company, Denmark’s A.P. Moller-Maersk, said Wednesday that global container volumes increased by around 1% in the third quarter, a faster rebound than expected earlier in the year. However, global demand for containers is expected to contract by 4-5% this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. "However we remain well aware of the high level of uncertainty the pandemic and associated lock downs continue to pose in the coming quarters,” the company said. Moller-Maersk is based in Copenhagen, operates in 130 countries and employs roughly 80,000 people.
Sweden’s PM self-isolates as nation sees rising coronavirus cases
Stefan Lofven broke the news on Facebook on Thursday, when the Scandinavian country passed the threshold of 6,000 overall coronavirus deaths. At first, the Nordic country of 10 million people had some of the lowest numbers of new coronavirus cases. Overall, Sweden reported another 4,034 infections Thursday, and 141,764 in total, and five more deaths that brought the overall toll to 6,002. As to the two-week cumulative number of COVID-19 cases per 100,000, Sweden has 293, Denmark 233 and Norway 97.3. Experts say all reported numbers understate the true toll of the pandemic, due to missed cases, limited testing and other factors.
Norway's aging king discharged after heart surgery
COPENHAGEN – King Harald V of Norway was discharged from the main hospital in Oslo on Monday after a successful operation to replace a heart valve. “The king is in good shape,” the monarch's doctor, Bjoern Bendz, said after the surgery at the Rikshospitalet’s Cardiovascular and Lung Clinic. The palace earlier had said that the intervention was necessary to improve the 83-year-old king’s breathing. Last month, the king was hospitalized with breathing difficulties. In 2005, the king’s aortic valve was replaced by an artificial heart valve.
Man United's Solskjaer faces old teammate in Europa League
Manchester United's manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer gestures during the Europa League round of 16 second leg soccer match between Manchester United and LASK at Old Trafford in Manchester, England, Wednesday, Aug. 5, 2020. (AP Photo/Dave Thompson)DSSELDORF DThe Europa League will set up a reunion for Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as he takes on an old friend in the quarterfinals. When Solskjaer's team faces Copenhagen in Cologne on Monday, the opposing coach will be his old Norway teammate Stale Solbakken. Wolves take on five-time Europa League winner Sevilla on Tuesday in their biggest European game since losing the 1972 UEFA Cup final to Tottenham. It's been a long road for Wolves, who started the Europa League in the second qualifying round in July 2019 against Northern Irish club Crusaders.
Outcry in Sweden after drive-by shooting kills 12-year-old girl
COPENHAGEN – The Swedish government vowed Tuesday to find the perpetrators of a drive-by shooting that killed a 12-year-old girl in what authorities said appears to be the latest violence from suburban feuds between criminal gangs fighting over territory. “If we don't stop the new recruitment of young people into the criminal circles, harsh measures will not mean anything,” Home Affairs Minister Mikael Damberg told Swedish broadcaster SVT. “You feel a great anger toward the criminal gangs who show no empathy because their shootings affect others, " Damberg said. The girl was shot late Sunday at a parking lot in the municipality of Botkyrka that is a popular hangout for teenagers. Swedish media say investigators think the gunfire that killed her was intended for two men with ties to a criminal gang.
Volvo Cars recalls nearly 2.1 million cars worldwide
COPENHAGEN – Volvo Cars said Wednesday that it is recalling nearly 2.1 million vehicles worldwide as a preventive measure after the company discovered that a steel wire connected to the front seat belts can be weakened. The front seat belts are anchored to the car via this steel cable, press spokesman Stefan Elfstrom told Swedish public radio. No current models are included in the recall. There have been no reports of injuries or accidents linked to the fault. Volvo Cars has been owned by China’s Zhejiang Geely Holding Group since 2010.