Monday Morning News & Notes

A Danish Ecological Catastrophe. Avian Flu Concerns Grow.

Apr 15, 2024

🍃Environment & Energy⚡️

🌎

The North and South poles play a decisive role in regulating the earth’s climate so scientists and meteorologists keep a very close eye on them. The Danish Meteorological Institute says after a worrisome start a particularly harsh winter helped push the Arctic’s polar ice cap to its 13th lowest area of frozen mass.

While the melting season begins in the Arctic, in the Antarctic winter is just beginning. The institute says the ice cap covering the South Pole is sitting at its fourth lowest level with the three previous lowest years being 2023, 2022, and 2017.

In both cases, DMI says the polar ice caps are under severe pressure. The agency notes that with a warming planet, the ice caps are spreading out and breaking apart and as the ice cracks and drifts apart it actually helps increases the melt, exacerbating the whole problem.

🇩🇰

As temperatures warm up and gardeners begin to plan out their plots for this year’s planting, the Danish Meteorological Institute is warning that frost remains a threat. DMI says somewhere in Denmark one or more frosty nights are all but guaranteed over the next month. Based on 150 years of weather data the institute says in only two years, 1889 and 1895, a frosty night wasn’t recorded somewhere in Denmark in the month of May. On average, the last frosty night usually occurs on May 12. In 1997 frost was even recorded on June 5.

DMI says frost is guaranteed if there is a cool high-pressure system, with no wind, on a cloudless night. The institute says late frost usually occurs in the interior of Jutland, far from the coast where warming sea waters provide some buffer against frost. The Danish island of Bornholm is a little different being farther north and surrounded by colder Baltic waters so frosty nights tend to stick around a lot longer than in the rest of the country.

🇫🇮

Wacky weather in Finland. As the winter snow melt pushes rivers over their banks around the country and even causes some evacuations in an area south of Oulu, there is also more snow in the forecast.

Despite highs of 12 degrees on Sunday temperatures later this week could plunge down to -11 in parts of the country. The Finnish Meteorological Institute says there is a chance of snow tomorrow night even in Southern Finland.

🇩🇰

The ecological disaster unfolding in oxygen-starved Danish inland waterways and in the Baltic appears to be getting worse. Since March 20, Danish environmental authorities have been getting reports of algae blooms from Bornholm, through the Fyn archipelago, and up to Aarhus Bay. The algae blooms feed on nitrogen and add to the oxygen depletion that is wiping out invertebrates and chasing away most other marine life. The algae can also smother sea plants and even when it dies off the decomposition process also adds to the oxygen depletion. .

Algae blooms usually happen in the summer heat and to have them over such a large area so early in the year is setting off alarm bells.

Kaare Ebert with the Sport Fishing Association is watching the latest developments and is worried that this is a sign that an already catastrophic situation is about to get much worse.

“When we get oxygen depletion repeatedly in the same areas, the pressured fish stocks and the eelgrass get another push over the edge. Maybe this will be the year it really collapses.”

He adds that for politicians the time for talk is over.

“Now get the hell going. We know what needs to be done, and it needs to happen now, otherwise, we have really created trouble for future generations.”

Members of a fishing association on the Danish island of Bornholm have overwhelmingly voted to disband. The association has existed on the island for the last 141 years. Just one person voted against it. The move to disband reflected the environmental and ecological catastrophe playing out in the Baltic.

Association Chair Thomas Thomsen spoke to DR:

“That's the way it is now. The fishing opportunities around Bornholm have been basically zero for four and a half years, a great many fishing vessels are no more and so on, so there is no basis for a fishing association as it appears right now.”

Much like Denmark’s inland waterways, oxygen levels in the Baltic are so low that fish stocks are seriously depleted.

The beach at Nordre Strand in the municipality of Odsherred has been closed to all swimming due to high levels of dangerous PFAS chemicals in the water. The beach area that has been closed is near where the summer houses are located. The PFAS contamination has also spread to the soil, groundwater, and a protected wetland area.

Authorities have traced the contamination to a nearby pharmaceutical company called Lundbeck.

Is organic food actually more environmentally friendly and sustainable than food grown in the conventional way? A Danish expert spoke to DR to say that the truth is a little more nuanced than perceived by the public.

Aarhus University Department of Ecology Professor Jørgen E. Olesen:

“Organic has become synonymous with the sustainable choice, but in terms of climate impact, it is difficult to say that it is more sustainable than conventional. The picture of what organic contributes is probably more mixed than the widespread perception.”

Olesen says for example, that organic crops produce less and therefore take up more agricultural land for a lower amount of crops. He says free-range or organically-raised animals require more space, so an organically raised cow will have the same if not more of an environmental impact. He argues that with stabled animals feed and fertilizer are more easily controlled and their impacts better managed.

In Denmark, the production amounts of organic food actually decreased for the second year in a row. This is despite the government’s goal of doubling organic agricultural areas over the next six years.

“I think that we will have to make some higher demands on how many nutrients or greenhouse gases agriculture must emit, regardless of whether they are organic or conventional farmers. Because neither of those food systems meets the [environmental] goals we have.”

The Danish government has set a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 70% by 2030, with agricultural emissions as of yet unaddressed.

The Danish Nature Conservation Association has a different view saying that organic farming is the path to more sustainable agriculture, pointing to things like avoiding the use of harmful pesticides.

Senior Agricultural Policy Advisor Rikke Lundsgaard:

“This makes it easier to make biodiversity flourish with more plants, more insects, and thus more birds.”

Lundsgaard also maintains that organic farming results in fewer emissions and a lower climate footprint per hectare.

Volunteers have been helping to make parts of the Danish island of Fanø as fox-proof as they can. The goal is to help bolster bird populations that frequent the island. While signage has been posted to keep humans away during nesting season the decision was made to also add fox-proof fencing.

Wadden Sea Nature Consultant John Frikke says the efforts seem to be working as bird populations appear to be on the rise.

“Many species of shorebirds probably grow and gain experience and return where they know it is safe to lay their eggs.”

A major new building project in Copenhagen is being constructed with the goal of making the new neighbourhood more rain and flood-resilient. The project situated in the city’s northwest will have rain basins and green areas designed to soak up extra water during a major downpour.

A similar project in Vejle saw the creation of a multi-use area in the city designed for sports and recreation that also acts as a water basin to mitigate against flooding during huge rain events.

🇫🇮

The average household in Finland has cut their CO2 emissions nearly in half since the year 2000, dropping from around 14 tonnes of emissions to 7.7 tonnes in 2021. That is according to the Finnish Environment Institute. This significant reduction is attributed to a transition to green energy and more climate-friendly production processes both in Finland and abroad. Particularly, Finland's energy sector has made major strides in moving to renewable energies. Despite increased consumption and a slight shift towards more carbon-intensive products, emissions have not risen but reduced instead, a trend highlighted by Syke's Senior Research Scientist Hannu Savolainen as a positive development.

Individual choices in housing, transport, food, and consumer goods play a crucial role in shaping Finland's overall carbon footprint, accounting for around 60% of the country's emissions linked to consumption. Savolainen emphasized the impact of these individual decisions and mentioned that Syke has adjusted its calculations to better account for the carbon footprints of imported goods. Notably, emissions related to housing and energy saw the most significant reduction at around 60%, followed by transport with a 43% drop, manufactured products and services declining by 32%, and food emissions falling by 17%. The results underscore the importance of sustainable consumer choices in driving environmental progress.

Since the worst of the pandemic, people in Finland seem to have made significant changes to their travel habits. In the aftermath of COVID-related travel restrictions being lifted and international travel resuming, Finnish holidaygoers are staying away from pre-pandemic favourites like Turkey and Thailand and instead going to destinations like Greece and Spain.

Staycations in Southern Finland are also increasingly popular. While overnight stays on cruise ships have nose-dived in popularity.

Travel experts say there may be a number of factors for the switch in destinations including Turkey’s uncertain political climate or the difficulty of flying to Asia from Finland with Russian air space a no-go. For the staycation set it might be environmental reasons making a more sustainable choice of a smaller trip without using an emissions-spewing airplane.

🇸🇪🇱🇻/ 🇷🇺

Greenpeace activists have painted “Oil fuels war” on the side of an oil tanker in the Baltic. The tanker is owned by a Latvian company called Fastbunkering. An investigation by Swedish national broadcaster SVT revealed last week that the company has been refueling tankers in the so-called ‘shadow fleet’ helping Russia ship its oil and gas.

Swedish authorities are trying to determine if the Greenpeace protesters pulled the stunt in Swedish territorial waters or in international waters to see if they have jurisdiction to investigate. The fleet of shadow tankers has been refueling in international waters off of the Swedish island of Gotland.

The Latvian government is also launching an investigation into the company’s refueling business to see if they are in violation of sanctions on Russian oil and gas. The company says it is following all the rules.

The ‘shadow fleet’ is a ragtag group of aging tankers with dubious registration and suspect insurance helping Russia do an end run around oil and gas sanctions.

🇪🇺

People who pile up their yard waste and then burn it are violating European Union waste regulations that came into force this year. The regulations that came into effect on January 1 specify that garden and lawn waste must be sorted and then either recycled or composted.

The regulations are a bit confusing but they essentially specify that for example, if you cut down a tree for the purpose of chopping it up for firewood then it is fine to burn. But if it is lawn or garden materials you just want to get rid of then you cannot burn it.

It is up to the different municipalities to enforce the new rules. In some cases across Europe, different municipalities have already banned the burning of yard and garden waste long before the EU passed the new rules. If in doubt give the municipality a shout.

🇫🇷🇳🇴🇸🇪

While Europe looks to Norway instead of Russia for its energy needs, while oil and gas flow from the Nordic nation, France is stealing the show when it comes to exporting electricity. France is on track to set a record this year on electricity exports and has already seen a 500% increase in the first quarter of 2024 alone, as it becomes Europe’s largest supplier of electricity.

France relies heavily on its network of nuclear reactors for electricity production and while those are spitting out 11.6% more power than ever before, electricity production from wind, solar, and LNG sources has also increased.

According to Energy Charts, an online agency that tracks electricity generation and energy trade, France is now squeezing out other European suppliers in the region. Last year France led all European countries in exporting electricity with Sweden, Norway, and Spain the next closest albeit still far behind. In the first quarter of this year, all three countries have seen their electricity exports tumble as the French juggernaut gathers steam.

Share Informeret

🦠Outbreaks🦠

🌍

The World Health Organization has issued an increasingly rare global COVID update. It says the JN.1 variant is absolutely dominant around the world accounting for 95.1% of what few positive test results are still being sequenced by the 121 countries reporting data to the WHO. In its latest risk assessment, the global health authority found that the variant posed a “low additional public health risk at the global level”.

Just 98 countries reported any information on coronavirus spread and a mere 39 continue to relay information on COVID fatalities.

“This does not reflect the actual number of countries where cases or deaths occur, as many countries have stopped or changed the frequency of reporting.”

Based on that increasingly narrow window, the number of cases (over 275,000) decreased by 11% over the latest 28-day reporting period. Global COVID deaths (about 4,200) have also dropped by 41%. Again this is an extremely partial snapshot and the ‘real’ numbers are likely much higher.

“Trends in the number of reported new cases and deaths should be interpreted with caution due to decreased testing and sequencing, alongside reporting delays in many countries.”

The WHO says rough calculations based on wastewater surveillance lead them to conclude that the actual number of global coronavirus infections is somewhere between two and 19 times higher than what is being reported.

As for COVID hospitalizations, just 50 countries are still reporting general admissions data and even fewer (39) are informing the WHO about intensive care numbers. Based on that exceedingly small window there were more than 49,000 coronavirus-related hospital admissions over the last 28 days (-44%) and over 1,200 new ICU patients (-46%).

At the individual country level, New Zealand seems to be a COVID hot spot right now with 78,794 new infections (+301%) and 79 more lives lost (+14%). With 3,189 more coronavirus deaths, the United States had by far the most virus-related fatalities of any country on Earth. The States also led all nations by a huge margin in pandemic-related hospitalizations with another 41,437 admissions.

🇺🇸

A study by the U.S. Centre for Disease Control has again debunked any claims that the mRNA COVID vaccine was associated with healthy young people suddenly dying from heart attacks. In a study, the agency examined death certificates in the state of Oregon among people 16 to 30 years old in the first year the COVID vaccines were administered. They found just three cases that fit the criteria but after careful examination determined two of them had underlying health issues and the third had an undetermined cause of death.

“The data do not support an association of COVID-19 vaccination with sudden cardiac death among previously healthy young persons. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all persons aged 6 months and older to prevent COVID-19 and complications, including death.”

You can find the study in full HERE.

🇪🇺

Things continue to return to ‘normal’ in Europe after the height of the COVID pandemic including in some not-so-pleasant ways. Since COVID restrictions were lifted the number of people who have died in car accidents has increased in each of the last two years. According to the European statistics agency EuroStat, 20,653 died in a car accident in Europe in 2022, a 4% increase from 2021. In 2022, the EU averaged 46 road traffic fatalities per million inhabitants.

The agency attributes a drop in traffic deaths in 2020 to the pandemic.

Sweden, Denmark, and Ireland had the lowest number of traffic fatalities while Romania, Bulgaria, and Croatia had the highest.

A report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control has found significant disruptions in HIV-specific services across Europe and Central Asia due to the COVID pandemic. The report, covering 2021 and 2022, reveals that in-clinic and community-based HIV testing services were most severely impacted. Many countries reported reductions in these services, marking a setback compared to pre-pandemic levels. Additionally, health services for other sexually transmitted infections and harm reduction for people who inject drugs were also significantly reduced.

The impacts on HIV services were attributed to a lack of staff and facility resources as they were diverted to help in the all-hands-on-deck pandemic response. The ECDC says three-quarters of the reporting countries saw significant pandemic-related diversions of clinical staff and facilities. Despite these challenges, the majority of countries managed to maintain surveillance data collection, indicating resilience in this aspect of their HIV response. However, the long-term impact on public health systems remains to be seen as countries continue to deal with the many ripple impacts of the pandemic.

To mitigate the impact on treatment services, many countries reported that they enacted measures like issuing longer prescriptions to ensure uninterrupted access to treatment for people living with HIV. The report also highlighted the disproportionate impact of the pandemic on high-risk populations, such as sex workers, who faced increased vulnerability due to increases in risky behaviour and reduced access to essential services.

The release of this report comes as countries around the world strive to maintain progress towards ending the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2030, despite the ongoing challenges posed by the COVID pandemic.

🇸🇪

Sweden’s pandemic post-mortem included examining the impact it had on young people. The Swedish Public Health Agency says during the first two years of the pandemic kids were less worried about themselves but very concerned about friends and family especially their grandparents getting seriously sick or dying.

The agency found that children generally experienced small changes. Existing challenges and difficulties became exacerbated. Children with disabilities said they became even more lonely. Kids with disabilities and 15-year-old girls both experienced negative impacts on their school work, relationships, and health, compared to other children.

According to the agency, during the first three years of the pandemic about 2,800 children were severely infected and required hospital care, 240 were admitted to an ICU, and “a few” died. The bulk of those were during the Omicron wave. As of February this year, over 600 kids have required specialist care due to long-COVID.

Director General Karin Tegmark Wisell says the lesson learned is that, especially for vulnerable children, pandemic restrictions need to be adapted to different circumstances.

“The report highlights how important it was that primary schools were mainly kept open. The school's health promotion and compensatory work needs to be strengthened and is particularly important during a pandemic. The starting point in a social crisis should be to change rather than cancel activities that are important for the health and development of children and young people.”

The Swedish Public Health Agency has updated guidelines to try and reduce infection spread in preschools

The agency admits that it is not possible to avoid every virus making the rounds and that infections are good for a child’s immune system to help build it up to face future viral attacks. At the same time, it says that reducing infection activity is good for staff and helps keep kids from missing too much school.

Built on the childhood vaccination program the new guidelines suggest good handwashing routines, as well as new rules around cleaning and the handling of food, and when a sick child should stay home.

State Epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén:

“The basic rule is that children, and also staff, who are sick should stay home from preschool until they can take part in the activities again. Mild symptoms, such as a cough or runny nose, do not constitute an obstacle to being at preschool if the general condition is otherwise good.”

The guidelines mandate that school staff have the last word on whether a child who has symptoms can or cannot come to school. A sick child must go at least 24 hours without a fever, and without medication to reduce a fever, in order to return to school. The child must also be “sufficiently energetic to be able to participate” in school activities.

Children with stomach bugs must go 48 hours without vomiting, having diarrhea, or a fever before being able to return to school.

🇺🇸 🌍 🦠

The avian flu continues to spread among dairy herds in the United States fueling concern from epidemiologists that it could soon make the jump to humans. At least 17 U.S. states have now restricted imports of dairy cattle from other states where cows have tested positive.

University of Pittsburgh’s Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology Professor Suresh Kuchipudi spoke to the Los Angeles Times.

“The concerning trend of multiple states reporting cattle [H5N1] infections raises the likelihood of continued human exposure. This could amplify the risk of further virus adaptation, potentially facilitating human-to-human transmission.”

Epidemiologists are particularly concerned about the jump to dairy cattle because until now the bird flu has never evolved the ability to pass between cows and other grazing animals. In addition to cows, the virus has also passed to a cat and a human, both of which were in contact with infected herds.

Kuchipudi says there is another huge concern.

“There is no single federal or state agency responsible for following this disease, one that affects wildlife, agriculture, and public health. Some experts say it’s a flawed silo-like approach for a virus that concerns multiple government agencies here and in other nations."

This year’s avian flu spread has raced around the world not only infecting animals that have never been susceptible before but also reaching remote parts of the globe for the first time ever, like sweeping through penguin colonies in the remote Antarctic.

🇪🇺

In a joint report, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control and the European Food Safety Authority are recommending increasing avian flu surveillance efforts as the virus evolves and spreads. The two agencies note that there are a number of things that could influence the bird flu virus to adapt to humans, which could ignite another global pandemic. Among them are the potential evolutions the virus could undergo by infecting animal populations along with other climate, environmental, and even farming factors.

ECDC Respiratory Virus Expert Angeliki Melidou:

“Transmission from infected birds to humans remains a rare event, with no confirmed human infection identified in the EU/EEA. Nonetheless, the potential for avian influenza viruses to adapt to humans and cause a pandemic remains a concern. Ongoing vigilance, preparedness efforts, and an increased understanding of underlying drivers is therefore crucial.”

The two agencies recommend increasing surveillance of both human and animal populations, ensuring rapid access to diagnostics, and implementing preventive measures like vaccinating farmed bird populations. They would also like to see increased biosecurity measures at farms and reduced contacts between people and domesticated animal herds.

🇺🇦Ukraine/ Russia🇷🇺 War

More worrying signs in Ukraine as ammunition supplies slow to a crawl and Russia increases its assaults on beleaguered Ukrainian troops. Ukraine's army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi told the AFP news agency that the situation on the eastern front has “deteriorated significantly in recent days.”

Among other things, Ukraine reports that there is a "difficult and tense" situation with constant shelling in the town of Tjasiv Jar, which is about 20 kilometers from Bakhmut

Russian forces who have a major ammunition advantage also have a training edge according to Syrskyj who is urging Western allies to expand training programs for Ukrainian troops.

Developments in Ukraine are fueling a growing concern in the European Union about a potential Russian breakthrough. The impacts of a serious Russian advance would likely trigger millions of Ukrainian refugees fleeing into Europe while also putting European allies under enormous pressure to send in their own armies potentially causing a major escalation in the conflict.

🇩🇰

If you are in Kalundborg today you might notice a lot of police and Danish soldiers especially if you are in the harbour. That is because as of 6:00 a.m. a temporary military area has been set up in an area of the port. The Danish Armed Forces made the announcement on Sunday but they are not saying exactly why the area is now under military guard. What we know is that it is NATO-related and involves the “transport of material through Denmark and on to Eastern Europe.”

In the past, similar restricted areas have been set up in Danish ports in order to receive and transport NATO military contributions from Denmark to bases in the Baltic states.

The ‘special military area’ and access restrictions will remain in place in Kalundborg until at least May 3.

🇸🇪🇺🇦

Sweden’s Social Democrats are pushing for the Nordic nation to donate JAS Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine and to do it “as soon as possible.” The party also wants surplus funds in the EU budget spent on weapons for Ukraine instead of being dispersed back to member countries.

Party Member Heléne Fritzon at a press conference in Brussels:

“The forces that want to make Europe weaker must never, ever win.”

🇩🇪🇺🇦

Germany is sending Ukraine another Patriot air defense missile battery.

Defense Minister Boris Pistorius:

“Russian terror against Ukrainian cities and the country's infrastructure is causing suffering. It puts people's energy supply at risk and destroys the operational readiness of the Ukrainian armed forces.”

That is the third Patriot air defense system Germany has sent to Ukraine.

🇪🇪🇫🇮/ 🇷🇺

According to an annual report from Estonia's Internal Security Service, Russia is continuing its efforts to sow division and conflict in neighbouring countries. The report highlights Russia's strategy of directing citizens from third countries to seek asylum in Finland, Estonia, and other nations as part of a hybrid influencing approach. The ISS accuses Russia of openly sending migrants to the Estonian and Finnish borders, with Russian border guards often guiding and escorting these groups. This tactic aims to strain the border guard services and state institutions while sowing immigrant-related anxiety and division within society.

Additionally, the report alleges that Russia has engaged Russians living in Finland to post videos on social media expressing concerns about Finland closing its eastern border. One such video from a popular Russian travel blogger went viral. The agency predicts that Russia will continue its efforts to incite tensions in neighbouring countries while also trying to avoid triggering Article 5, NATO's collective defense clause. The report also touches upon the suspicious severing of communications cables in the Baltic Sea last autumn.

🇫🇮/ 🇷🇺

Russia does not pose an immediate military threat to Finland. That is according to General Janne Jaakkola, Commander of the Finnish Defence Forces, in an interview with Finnish National Broadcaster Yle. While many Western countries are trying to gauge Russia's intentions towards NATO members, Jaakkola refrained from speculating on potential attacks. Instead, he emphasized that the West has the opportunity to influence the situation by enhancing its own defense capabilities. Jaakkola highlighted the need for Europe to be prepared not only for direct military threats but also for broader influences that Russia may exert, citing Russia's tactic of weaponized immigration on Finland's eastern border as an example. He expressed trust in the Finnish Border Guard's situational awareness and stated that the Defence Forces would offer support if needed and requested.

🇪🇺/ 🇷🇺

Ahead of European Parliamentary elections, the Belgian Prosecutor’s Office has begun an official investigation into claims that Russia is actively working to interfere to ensure pro-Russian candidates get elected.

In the last few weeks, some politicians in Europe have been accused of taking Russian money to push its agenda and spread Russian propaganda. The Prime Minister of Belgium Alexander De Croo has even said a pro-Russian network is operating in his country, and others, to try and influence the elections.

“According to our intelligence services, Moscow's goals are very clear. They want to help get more pro-Russian candidates elected to the European Parliament and to strengthen a certain Russian-friendly narrative in that institution. A weakened European support for Ukraine will benefit Russia on the battlefield, and that is the real goal, which has been uncovered in recent weeks. We cannot allow this Russian menace to be allowed to live among us. We will have to do something.”

Authorities in Belgium and the Czech Republic have, in a joint investigation, accused a media organization called the Voice of Europe, which pushes extreme right-wing narratives, of working to spread Russian propaganda.

Recently, A Latvian MEP was fined more than €1,700 by the European Parliament for breaking the parliamentary code of conduct. Investigations by several media outlets revealed that Tatjana Ždanok allegedly worked as a secret agent for Russian intelligence. Ždanok denied the accusations but has according to Politico, accepted the fine without argument.

🇩🇪🇪🇺/ 🇷🇺

In Germany, the controversy has led to all the political parties in the Bundestag (German Parliament) uniting to accuse the extreme right-wing national party Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) of being Russian puppets and trying to undermine Germany’s security. The parties cite possible ties between the AfD and people behind Russian disinformation efforts as well as interviews party members have done on the discredited media organization Voices of Europe. They also note that AfD politicians routinely visit the Russian Embassy and how its members have traveled to Russia and Belarus as ‘election observers’.

NATO 🇩🇰

NATO has signed a 12-year contract to integrate Danish software for use in its headquarters. Danish software company Systematic is now contracted to deliver what it calls a “comprehensive software solution” that will become NATO’s digital foundation for its military operations.

Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen is thrilled:

“The battlefield of the future will be more technological. We have some skilled companies that can help in next-generation wars, which will be waged on a more technological battlefield. Whether it be drones, electronic warfare, and not in the least the ability to deliver secure communication, which means that the soldiers are not compromised.”

Odds & Ends

🇩🇰 🎸 🍔

A Danish burger chain is locked in a court battle with the lead singer of The Rolling Stones. Jagger, the burger chain, is fighting to trademark its name but has run afoul of the rock icon Mick Jagger. Only one or the other can moves like Jagger and the singer’s name is an EU-registered trademark. Mick Jagger’s lawyers are giving Jagger, the burger chain, no satisfaction claiming the legal beast of burden on the name similarities is just too much.

Ultimately, you can’t always get what you want and Jagger, the singer, is highly unlikely to say start me up with a new name. If Jagger, the burger chain, can’t trademark its own name then as angry as it might be the best brown sugar may simply be to rebrand.

🇩🇰🇩🇪

Denmark has extended its border controls at land crossings along the German border. The border checkpoints have been in operation since 2016 and are currently being investigated by the European Union. Under EU rules people within the trading bloc must be allowed free movement.

However, Think Tank Europe Analyst and Communications Head Iben Schacke-Barfoed doesn’t see the EU ordering the checkpoints dismantled.

“Because the large, leading countries in the EU, such as Germany and France, also have border controls. And then it is difficult for the EU Commission to make an example of someone.”

In a press release, Danish Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard cites the increased terror threat as the reason for the latest six-month extension of border controls.

🇫🇮

If you are planning to train around Finland during your summer holidays you might want to prepare for some delays. Last week, the Finnish Transport Infrastructure Agency announced an ambitious summer schedule of upgrades and repairs across its entire national rail network. The work has the potential to impact both long-distance train routes as well as more local lines in the country’s populace south.

Monday, April 15:

The Danish Business Summit takes place today. Guests include former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence and Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen. Topics include geopolitics, macroeconomics, and technology.

The event co-hosted by the company McKinsey and the newspaper Børsen takes place at the Danske Musikkonservatorium in Frederiksberg. It begins at 1:00 p.m.

You can find more information HERE.

Copenhagen is also hosting the UIF 2.0 or Ukraine Investment Forum today. Hosted by Danske Industri the focus is on strengthening cooperation between Danish and Ukrainian companies. Ukraine’s Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, Danish Foreign Affairs Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen, and others will attend.

It takes place at Industriens Hus on H.C. Andersen Blvd 18. It begins at 10:30 a.m.

Learn more HERE.

It is a busy day in Copenhagen. The city will also host a conference on the enlargement of the European Union. Think Tank Europa’s Lykke Friis will attend along with members of the European Parliament.

The event begins at 2:00 p.m. at Ny Kongensgade 9C.

You can learn more about the event HERE.

Tuesday, April 16:

If yarn is your thing then head to Paarup Kirke in the suburbs of Odense for the ‘Yarn Cafe’ event. Want to learn to knit? Or maybe you need some advice on a project? This is the place to be.

It is free and begins at 7:00 p.m. at the church on Paarupvej 64.

More information HERE.

Wednesday, April 17:

Author Karen Blixen will be recognized in Copenhagen today. The Danish author of books turned Oscar-winning movies ‘Out of Africa’ and ‘Babette’s Feast’ has been immortalized in a bronze statue created by sculptor Rikke Raben.

The statue will be unveiled at Karen Blixens Plæn at 10:00 a.m.

Friday, April 19:

At the iconic Tivoli in Copenhagen and at Tivoli Friheden in Aarhus the free Friday night concert series has begun. In Copenhagen at Fridagsrock it is Jacob Dinesen performing. While in Aarhus you can catch Ude Af Kontrol on stage.

Saturday, April 20:

The Copenhagen Sakura Festival takes place today. The festival celebrating Japanese culture is set amid some 200 cherry blossom trees on the Langelinje in Copenhagen.

The event unfolds over two days.

For a full itinerary and more information click HERE.

Sunday, April 21:

In the mood to peruse a flea market? Then head to Aarhus for the Trunk Flea Market. Find fun second-hand or classic items for your collection.

It begins at 9:30 a.m. and runs until 4:00 p.m. at Ingerslev Boulevard in Aarhus.