Monday Morning News & Notes

Denmark’s Green Ambitions hit a Roadblock. Mystery Illness Causes Concern.

Cable Sabotage

The President of Lithuania is adding more fuel to the drama ongoing in the Kattegat Strait, where the Chinese freighter Yi Peng 3 remains at anchor for a 20th straight day surrounded by naval vessels from Germany, Sweden, and Denmark.

In a press conference on Friday, Gitanas Nauseda said that the two data cables in the Baltic that were damaged three weeks ago were very likely the victim of deliberate sabotage.

“There is a fairly high probability that it was a malicious act.”

However, he also emphasized that at the moment there is no concrete evidence to show irrefutably that the damage was done deliberately.

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It appears that the United States is extremely interested in the ongoing saga of the Chinese freighter suspected of sabotaging two undersea data cables in the Baltic. Danish national broadcaster, DR, has obtained a flurry of emails from U.S. Embassy staff to several Danish authorities. The emails were sent to Denmark’s Foreign Affairs Ministry, the Ministry of Defense, the Danish Maritime Authority, and the Business Ministry asking for information about the situation with the freighter and what Danish authorities were doing about it.

Danish Institute for International Studies Senior Researcher Andreas Bøje says the inquiries from the U.S. Embassy show that the ship "is part of a big political game with many interested observers on the sidelines.”

“It is clear that the question of the extent of China's possible involvement in an alleged sabotage operation has a lot of attention, because it would be both surprising and above all alarming if it turned out that Chinese actors played any kind of role in the operation. The Americans naturally follow China's actions closely in these kinds of matters of a security policy nature.”

Presumably, talks with China remain ongoing.

🍃Environment & Energy⚡️

🌎

Drought is a growing problem for many countries around the world thanks to climate change. Drought is a major threat to agricultural crops. The World Meteorological Organization has launched a drought atlas in an attempt to quantify the problem paint a clearer picture of the threat it poses globally.

WMO Climate and Energy Head Roberta Boscolo

“Drought is a global threat. Its cascading impacts ripple across economies, ecosystems, and societies, exacerbating vulnerabilities and threatening livelihoods. Without urgent action, the risks grow exponentially.”

Boscolo says drought is also driving geopolitical tensions and affecting vulnerable communities around the world. She says with over 2.3 billion people living under water stress, bold, transformative actions are critical.

🇫🇴

A major storm wreaked havoc on the Faroe Islands last week. On Thursday, the island was buffeted by hurricane-force winds that damaged roofs, buildings, roads, and more. The strongest gusts were measured at 69.6 meters per second in the northern part of the island chain.

🇪🇺

The EU is negotiating a new waste framework directive to tackle the continent’s overwhelming textile waste problem, aiming to curb overconsumption and reduce the environmental impact of discarded clothing. With Europeans throwing away an average of 11 kilos of textiles annually—87% of which ends up incinerated or exported as waste outside the EU—the directive seeks stricter oversight of textile waste management.

However, the proposed new rules are being described as a “death knell” for thrift stores. Under the proposal, donated clothes would be classified as waste, requiring professional sorting and environmental approval. For many nonprofits, which run almost entirely on volunteers, the change would quite literally torpedo the entire thrift store concept, with the added costs and administrative burdens likely proving insurmountable.

The UN estimates that the textile industry accounts for two to eight percent of global CO2 emissions.

🇩🇰

Denmark’s Environment Minister, Magnus Heunicke, is not happy with some of the country’s municipalities after they say they will fail to meet a critical March 1 deadline to ban pesticide use near drinking water boreholes. The deadline, intended to protect 2,671 sensitive drinking water sites, marks the culmination of a years-long effort to safeguard Denmark’s groundwater from contamination. However, municipalities like Stevns, Faaborg Midtfyn, Aalborg, and others admit they cannot comply on time, citing financial, logistical, and bureaucratic challenges. Flemming Petersen, chair of Stevns’ Planning, Environment & Technology Committee, openly acknowledged the delay, stating, “We do it with open eyes,” adding it will take until after next summer to reach a completion date for issuing the necessary injunctions.

Heunicke has described these delays as "deeply disappointing" and "gambling with our drinking water." He has vowed to initiate legal action against municipalities that disregard the law, warning that breaches of the statutory deadline will not be tolerated. “There are no excuses that can be accepted here,” Heunicke stated, emphasizing the urgency of protecting Denmark’s groundwater. Legal proceedings could include referrals to the Danish Appeals Board, potentially culminating in fines for municipal councils. Critics, including Jan Andersen of Danske Vandværker, have warned of the environmental risks posed by extended delays, arguing that any missed deadline could lead to further groundwater contamination as pesticide use remains unchecked.

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Every year students at Tønder Gymnasium usually head to New York City on a study trip, but not anymore. Citing the impacts to the climate, the school has dropped international airlines and the Big Apple for a train to Florence, Italy.

Vice-Principal Espen Reedtz says the decision came down to the climate footprint.

“Sending 32 students to New York emits as much CO2 as heating the school for a whole year. So we had to do something.”

Tønder Gymnasium is not alone in thinking about the climate when planning school trips. Most other schools in Denmark are having similar discussions, according to the High School Climate Alliance.

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Environmental protesters flew drones over Copenhagen airport last week causing all incoming and outgoing flights to be cancelled for a short period of time. Police have arrested 12 people in connection with the stunt while also seizing several drones.

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Denmark has ordered a stop to all fishing for lumpfish due to concerns over rapidly declining fish populations. The lumpfish ban comes into force as of January 1. Fisheries Minister Jacob Jensen is on the hot seat after making the announcement, as commercial fishermen are upset the government didn’t include any compensation when they announced the ban.

🇪🇺

The winter months are the worst for air pollution compared to any other season of the year. That is the warning from the EU Climate Change Service, Copernicus. The agency says that is largely due to an increase in fossil fuel energy use for heating, which pumps harmful particulate matter and other pollutants into the air. The problem is then exacerbated by cold air, which is denser and remains closer to the ground along with all the harmful pollutants it contains.

“In 2020 the “primary source of particulate matter, both PM10 and PM2.5, was energy consumption in the residential, commercial, and institutional sector,” according to the European Environment Agency's Air Quality in Europe 2022 report, meaning a significant increase of particulate matter pollution during the cold season. According to the same report, 96% of the urban population of Europe was exposed to levels of fine particulate matter above the latest health-based guideline set by the World Health Organization.”

🇪🇺🇩🇰

Natural gas storage levels in the European Union are being depleted at the fastest rates in eight years. Colder than normal weather, particularly in Northern Europe, and lower wind speeds in the North Sea are creating an imbalance as people use more energy for heating while wind energy production has faltered.

EU gas reserves have fallen to 84.2%, down almost 5 full points in the last two weeks alone, which is sharply lower than the 97% storage levels at this time last winter and the 94% seen in 2022.

It looks like Brussels is getting a little nervous, as last week, the EU increased its gas storage target for February 1 from 45% to 50%.

🇩🇰

Denmark’s ambitious plans to boost green energy through three new offshore wind farms in the North Sea have hit a major roadblock. The government tabled its largest offshore wind power tender yet, but not a single bid was received. The wind farms were expected to generate enough electricity to power six million households across Denmark and Europe. Denmark's Climate, Energy, and Supply Minister Lars Aagaard says the result is "deeply frustrating." The minister has now tasked the Danish Energy Agency with consulting industry players to understand the lack of interest.

Experts and industry representatives point to a number of reasons, including rising interest rates, inflation, and slow progress in electrification, as key challenges. Building offshore wind farms has become much more expensive, while a lack of demand for green electricity is adding to the uncertainty. Other North Sea countries have managed to attract bids, but their use of state subsidies contrasts with Denmark’s hands-off approach. Without adjustments, Denmark’s ability to scale its offshore wind capacity—currently at 2.7 gigawatts—may fall short of its green energy ambitions.

Green Power Denmark calls the result a huge setback for Denmark’s green energy transition.

Managing Director Kristian Jensen says this will delay Denmark’s goal of becoming a green energy powerhouse and being a nation that is not dependent on hostile countries for energy.

“The green transition in Denmark has just now come to a standstill. Too few wind turbines are being erected on both sea and land, and if that situation does not change, we will continue to depend on electricity from black energy sources. The politicians have to deal with the fact that wind turbines are not massive money makers. They are tools that will make us independent of fossil fuel energy and hostile powers.”

Jensen says the government needs to get off the sidelines and get into the game to work with industry and table incentives and financial help.

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Europe’s offshore wind energy sector, once heralded as a cornerstone of the EU’s green ambitions, is increasingly beleaguered by a combination of economic and political challenges. Major energy companies, including the UK’s Shell and Denmark’s Ørsted, are struggling to stay on course amid rising costs, fragmented supply chains, and the heightened politicization surrounding the energy transition. Over the past three years, the escalating price of raw materials, soaring borrowing costs, and geopolitical disruptions have eroded confidence in the fiscal viability of renewable energy investments, raising concerns that Europe's clean energy goals may be slipping out of reach.

The turbulence in the market is particularly stark for Ørsted, whose stock has plummeted by more than 66% since 2021. Compounding the Danish wind energy giant’s woes, the election of Donald Trump as the next President of the United States has brought renewed hostility toward renewable energy projects. Ørsted’s substantial pipeline of U.S. projects has faced additional hurdles, as offshore wind appears to have become a favourite target in Trump’s campaign against green energy.

Shell, once considered a leader in the transition to clean energy, has also signalled a retreat from its offshore wind ambitions. In March, the company abandoned its 2035 emissions reduction targets and scaled back its environmental commitments. This week, Shell announced it would refrain from initiating new offshore wind projects. The unwinding of its wind energy goals reflects a strategic pivot, leaving observers questioning the long-term feasibility of Europe’s offshore wind ambitions and highlighting the growing pressures on companies to navigate an increasingly fraught energy landscape. As major players like Shell and Ørsted face setbacks, the offshore wind industry’s future remains uncertain, with ripple effects likely to influence global efforts to combat climate change.

🇩🇪

Another blow for Germany’s beleaguered economy. Energy-intensive industrial production (the red line) plummeted in October as natural gas prices began to rise. Production levels are now flirting with lows not seen since the peak of the 2022 energy crisis. Overall, energy-intensive industrial production in Germany has dropped by 20% since 2015.

🦠Outbreaks🦠

🌍

A mystery disease has killed at least 71 people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and no one knows what it is or how it is being spread. Health officials from the World Health Organization and the United Nations are either on scene already or are on their way, reflecting how seriously global health agencies are taking the outbreak.

According to health officials in the Congo, the disease, which was first detected in late October, is “still of unknown origin.” There have been 380 confirmed infections so far. Most of the deaths have been among children over the age of 15. The country’s health ministry says the disease presents flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, cough, and anemia.

At the moment health officials are conducting mass testing and analyzing those results in an effort to get a handle on the outbreak and what is driving it. People in the Congo have been advised to avoid large gatherings, maintain good hygiene habits, and report any suspected cases to health officials right away.

🇩🇰

The number of confirmed COVID cases and infection-related hospitalizations treaded water week to week.

However, coronavirus activity, as measured by wastewater surveillance, has increased across the country. The Statens Serum Institute categorizes the current COVID activity as being at a medium level.

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The mycoplasma pneumonia epidemic in Denmark continues, albeit with a slightly lower number of infections from one week to the next. The SSI says pneumonia-related hospital admissions are “at a low level.”

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The RS virus season has officially begun. Both the number of infections and hospitalizations have increased. Children under the age of two are being hit the hardest.

Influenza activity is also on the rise, with both infection numbers and flu-related hospital admissions increasing.

“The overall burden of COVID, influenza, and the RS virus on the healthcare system remains at a low level.”

On the vaccination front, the inoculation rate for both a COVID booster and a flu shot is at 84% among vulnerable seniors in care. For all seniors over 65, 73% have had an influenza vaccination, and 72% have had a COVID booster dose.

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The Staten Serum Institute has been giving a new virus surveillance method a trial run. The Virus Measurement in Denmark project has recruited random volunteers across the country, along with employees in some of the country’s biggest workplaces, to do voluntary testing. The idea is to find a method to track virus spread and mutations during a future pandemic.

“The project has been able to find new SARS-CoV-2 subvariants shortly after they first appeared in Denmark. This means, for example, that in a future pandemic, a system of self-testing can reduce both the costs and the challenges of having national testing centres.”

🇸🇪

In Sweden, COVID hospitalizations (286) have increased slightly (+22) while the number of severely infected people needing intensive care (5) has declined (-5).

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The Swedish Public Health Agency is warning that COVID vaccination rates for the fall and winter booster dose campaign are far too low. The agency says that vaccination uptake needs to increase significantly, especially among seniors in care and those under the age of 65 who are in high-risk groups.

Unit Head Tina Crafoord:

“Many older people have already been vaccinated, but vaccination coverage is still too low. It is important that vaccinations are easily accessible in all regions.”

The agency says since the fall vaccination campaign began in mid-October, just 56% of vulnerable seniors in care have been inoculated. Among those 18 to 64 who are in high-risk groups, the vaccination rate is an atrocious 11%.

The public health agency says while coronavirus infection numbers are much lower so far this winter than in previous years, another infection wave isn’t a question of if but when.

“The winter flu season is in the early stages and is expected to start in the coming weeks, although the exact timing is difficult to predict. COVID is already causing serious illness for people in high-risk groups. It is therefore high time to get vaccinated while the vaccines are available and before the Christmas holidays begin.”

The seasonal influenza and COVID vaccination campaign in Sweden continues until the end of December.

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The annual norovirus season has arrived in Sweden. The winter sickness, or winter vomiting disease, is spreading in Region Östergötland. The norovirus is usually at its most active in January and February, according to the Swedish Public Health Agency.

The winter sickness spreads easily through food or contact with another infected person. The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fever.

Region Östergötland Infectious Disease Doctor Karin Festin:

“The point of sending out warnings now is to prevent the spread of infection, especially in view of the upcoming Christmas parties.”

The best way to try and protect yourself is by good handwashing hygiene. People who do get sick should drink plenty of fluids and get lots of rest. Usually, the virus runs its course in two or three days.

🇬🇧

A groundbreaking study from the UK has shed light on the long-term effects of long-COVID among young kids. Published in Communications Medicine, the research followed 12,632 participants aged 11 to 17, tracking their health over two years. While the majority of teenagers who experienced long-COVID, defined as persistent symptoms lasting at least three months post-infection, showed significant recovery, 29% continued to report lingering symptoms. Among the 943 participants who initially tested positive for COVID, 233 met the criteria for long-COVID at the three-month mark. This number gradually declined to 135 after six months, 94 at 12 months, and 68 after two years. Study lead author Sir Terence Stephenson from University College London emphasized the positive findings while acknowledging the need for further research to understand the persistent symptoms in the remaining 29%.

The study also revealed intriguing patterns about long-COVID and its symptoms. Adolescents with recurrent infections were more likely to report symptoms such as fatigue, sleep disturbances, shortness of breath, and headaches, compared to those who were not reinfected. Surprisingly, vaccination status did not significantly impact symptom prevalence or recovery rates. Even among those who never tested positive for COVID, a significant number, 14.2%, reported five or more symptoms, underscoring the complexity of diagnosing long-COVID. Researchers noted that older teens and females were more likely to meet the formal definitions for long-COVID.

🇺🇦Ukraine/ Russia War🇷🇺

🇷🇴/ 🇷🇺

Romania will hold a do-over of its national elections from scratch after a Russian hybrid warfare effort turned the campaign on its head. The Romanian Security Council has published documents showing that the national election has been the target of "aggressive Russian hybrid attacks.” The second round of national elections was supposed to be held on Sunday; however, on Friday, the country’s Supreme Court annulled the results of the first round and ordered the entire election to start over. The court based its decision on previously classified documents unveiling Russia’s efforts to subvert the election campaign.

In the first round, a far-right pro-Russia candidate, Calin Georgescu, received 22% of the vote despite polls saying he would have been essentially a non-entity in the election result. Security services say that he benefitted from a ton of exposure on TikTok despite the fact he never spent a cent on election advertising on the platform. Romanian authorities suspect the algorithm was rigged to benefit Georgescu.

The documents also show what appear to be leaked logins and passwords for a Romanian election websites published on various Russia’s websites. Authorities have documented some 85,000 attempts by hackers to exploit weaknesses in the system since the election campaign began.

The EU has also announced that it will tighten its monitoring of TikTok.

🇺🇦/ 🇷🇺

As Russia continues to bombard Ukraine with missile and drone attacks, the country has formally asked NATO for more air defense systems. Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Andrij Sybiha said in a press conference last week that Ukraine has asked allies to donate at least 20 more air defense platforms.

As winter begins to make its presence felt, Russia has relentlessly targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure, pushing the country’s electricity grid to its limits. The strain on the systems has resulted in more blackouts and growing concern about the impact on the Ukrainian population during the cold winter months.

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NATO membership is key to peace in Ukraine. Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Andrij Sybiha took to his social media to say that the best possible security guarantee for Ukraine is to become a NATO member nation. The demand is a reflection of Ukraine’s deep distrust of Russia keeping its word in any future peace agreement, a valid enough viewpoint considering Russia has broken every previous peace pact.

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Ukraine and its western allies have come together on a project to finance the purchase of more than 30,000 long-range drones for the Ukrainian war effort. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry says the drones will be delivered by next year.

"These drones represent the next generation of technology, capable of operating autonomously over long distances and hitting enemy targets with high precision.”

NATO 🇺🇦

NATO’s Secretary General says alliance member nations “need to do more” to support Ukraine. Mark Rutte said at a press conference that alliance member nations must increase military support for Ukraine in order to put it in the strongest possible position in the event the conflict ends up in peace negotiations with Russia.

“We will all have to do more. The stronger our military support for Ukraine is now, the stronger their position will be at the negotiating table.”

That said, while everyone waits to see how incoming U.S. President Donald Trump will handle the Ukraine war, Rutte said there is no sign that Vladimir Putin wants peace.

“Putin is not interested in peace. He presses on and tries to take more territory. He thinks he can break Ukraine's resolve and ours, but he is wrong.”

🇬🇧/ 🇷🇺

At the summit, British Foreign Minister David Lammy issued a stark warning about the deteriorating security situation around the world and how Russia is at the root of it.

“These are dangerous times. As we look out over the world, from the war here on our continent to the Middle East with Iran's tangible involvement to the growing conflict in Sudan and finally what is happening in Syria. There is one country that is involved in everything, and that is Russia.”

🇳🇴🇺🇦

Norway’s foreign affairs minister says the priority should be on finding ways to ensure Russia never attacks Ukraine again. At last week’s meeting of NATO foreign affairs ministers, Espen Barth Eide said that the EU and NATO must organize a security structure within Europe that prevents new wars like the one ongoing in Ukraine.

Over the short term, Eide says the most important thing is to give Ukraine the best possible opportunity to win the war. However, he says the EU needs to keep their minds on the long game as well.

“When a ceasefire is in place, and it will happen sooner or later, we must ensure that Ukraine is not subjected to new attacks. It takes more than a formal NATO invitation, but exactly what that means is a discussion we have to have.”

🇪🇺🇺🇦

Only Ukraine can decide what a just peace is. That is the message from the new European Council President, António Costa, after meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi in Kyiv. He reiterated the EU’s position that it stands behind Ukraine economically, politically, diplomatically, and with military assistance.

As for a possible future peace…

“Only Ukraine has the capacity to define what a just peace is to ensure that it lasts.”

Recently, Zelenskyi said in an interview with Sky News that he is open to a possible ceasefire if Ukraine receives NATO protection, even without control over the parts of the country currently occupied by Russia.

🇩🇰🇺🇦

And then there were eight. Four new Danish F-35 fighter jets landed on Danish soil for the first time on Friday. The state of the art fighter jets landed at Skrydstrup Air Force base in Jutland. They joined the four other F-35s based in Skrydstrup that are already serving in the Danish Air Force.

Denmark has ordered 27 of the cutting edge warplanes but the new jets have been very slow to arrive. The country’s aging fleet of F-16s was supposed to be retired in 2022 until Russia’s invasion of Ukraine upended the European security situation.

Commander of Flight Wing Skrydstrup Colonel Kim Jensen:

“Next year, the F-35s will begin to replace the F-16s on operational tasks, such as in rejection readiness.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy took to social media on Saturday to say that a second batch of donated Danish F-16s had arrived in Ukraine. He didn’t specify exactly how many jets have been handed over.

Denmark has pledged to donate a total of nineteen F-16s to Ukraine with the first batch of donated fighter jets being handed over earlier this year.

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Denmark is allocating more money and urging defense contractors to move faster in order to get military donations to Ukraine at a much faster rate.

Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen:

"We are doing this to both ensure Ukraine's ability to continue the fight and also to set a good example. From the beginning of the war, on the Danish side, we have focused on the fact that the donations must meet the most urgent Ukrainian needs. That is why the government will now increase the industry funding pool so that contracts can come to fruition much earlier.”

The push is already seeing results with CAESAR artillery platforms due to arrive in Ukraine next year, a full year faster than initially promised.

“The artillery systems are in great demand by Ukraine, so I am happy that Denmark can now contribute to Ukraine receiving more artillery pieces already next year.”

The exact number of donated artillery platforms is not mentioned, but last March, France and Denmark jointly agreed to finance the donation of 60 CAESAR artillery units for Ukraine.

🇫🇮/ 🇷🇺

Another sign that Europe is preparing for the possibility of war. Finnish Prime Minister Alexander Stubb urged Finnish lawmakers to reevaluate the country’s opposition to landmines. He noted how effective landmines have been for Ukrainian forces in countering Russian infantry and drew parallels to Finland’s long land border with Russia. His stance has received support from former Finnish President Sauli Niinistö, who told broadcaster MTV that landmines could be a benefit to Finland in defending itself against Russia. While Finland is a signatory nation to the Ottawa Convention, or Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, Niinistö said that other nations that signed the agreement would be very understanding if Finland withdrew.

Finland shares a 1,340-kilometre-long border with Russia, the longest land border with Russia of any European nation.

🇩🇪🇺🇦

Germany is sending another weapons package to Ukraine. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz made the announcement while in Kyiv last week. This latest donation includes anti-aircraft systems, Leopard 1 tanks, and armed drones.

🇺🇸🇺🇦

The Biden administration is sending a new weapons package to Ukraine. This one is worth $988 million and includes drones and missiles. This new donation marks a departure for the United States, as instead of donating from its own stockpiles, it will use the money to procure what weapons Ukraine needs directly from defense contractors.

It is also another sign that the Biden White House is rushing to get as many weapons to Ukraine as it can before Donald Trump retakes the presidency. With this latest donation, almost half of the $2.21 billion the U.S. has set aside in its Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative fund has now been used.

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President-elect Donald Trump hasn’t officially begun his new term in the White House, but he is already making new demands of NATO member nations. Trump is demanding that alliance members increase their defense spending to 3% of their GDP, up from the previous 2% mandate.

Trump also met with French President Emmanuel Macron and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris over the weekend. After the meeting Trump posted on social media demanding an immediate cease fire in Ukraine.

🇳🇴/ 🇷🇺

Norway’s massive sovereign wealth fund has been given permission to sell its shares in Russian companies as long as it complies with international sanctions. The Norwegian Finance Ministry had ordered a halt to all dealings in the fund’s Russian assets shortly after Russia invaded Ukraine. Last week, it conditionally lifted that freeze.

The Norwegian sovereign wealth fund is the largest of its kind in the world, as the worth of all the assets it holds crossed the one trillion dollar valuation mark earlier this year.

🇷🇺/🇪🇺

Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov attended a meeting for the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) in Malta last Thursday. It was the first time Lavrov had attended such a meeting in an EU country since Russia invaded Ukraine. It did not go well. When he was given the floor to speak delegates from a number of countries, led by Ukraine, Poland, and the Baltic states, turned their backs on him and walked out of the room. Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Andriy Sybiga also blasted Lavrov as being a war criminal.

For his part, Lavrov also made a show of walking out of the room when U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken addressed delegates.

Odds & Ends

🇩🇰

The town of Dragør is hoping to cash in on this year’s julekalender show on DR. For those not in Denmark, the julekalender is a TV tradition with a show beginning December 1 and airing every night with the plot wrapping up on Christmas Eve. This year’s show, Tidsrejsen 2, is set in Dragør.

Tourism Board Deputy Chair Malin Lindeblad Kadijevic:

“The idea of ​​organizing a number of different activities in Dragør began immediately when we heard that DR was going to record a new Tidsrejsen julekalender in the town.”

Throughout the month, there are special city walks taking you to different places that appear in the show, along with Christmas markets, and there is also a free city map featuring scenes from the show.

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A Christmas tradition in the skies above Sweden has been expanded to include Denmark. Today, 12 Swedish Gripen fighter jets will be joined by three Danish fighters to fly in a Christmas tree formation along the Swedish and Danish coasts. This is the first year that Danish fighter jets have been invited to join the annual Christmas flyby and the first time the juletræsflyvning will happen in Danish skies.

The fighter jets should pass over Køge Bay at around 2 p.m. before heading to the Kastellet in Copenhagen a few minutes later. On the Danish portion of the flyover will be Helsingør, with the jets soaring over the city at around 2:10 p.m.

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A special fund has been created to help young people in Denmark travel around Europe. Travel enthusiasts will have to apply to get the money. 15 million Danish kroner (about $3 million Cdn) has been put into the fund, which is called the Europa Pool. It will help about 3,000 young Danes travel within Europe.

Europe Minister Marie Bjerre:

“We have to do it together if we are to solve the many challenges we face. Many of these young people will probably have a great impact on democracy in the future, and then it is of no use if we do not have understanding and knowledge of each other and our cultures.”

75% of the funding is set aside for travel grants, while the remainder is earmarked for advertising and information campaigns.

🇸🇪

Sweden is sounding the alarm over an invasive flatworm that has been found in Skåne, Sweden’s southernmost region. The flatworm preys on native earthworms, and Swedish authorities are extremely concerned about the potential impact on agricultural production.

Swedish Environmental Protection Agency Invasive Species Specialist Henrik Lange told Radio Sweden that they have formally requested the government to take emergency measures.

“We at all costs want to avoid putting this organism in nature because if we look at what has happened in France, 85% of the country has this species, and as they multiply, they will also predate on earthworms, which will lower agricultural production. So it means it will affect agricultural production; that is the worst-case scenario.”

Lange says the hope is that this time they can avoid the mistakes made when an invasive slug from Spain found its way to Sweden.

“We do not want to repeat that exercise. One of the big problems there was that our agency and the agriculture board both pointed fingers at each other, and nobody actually did anything, so we're not doing that this time.”

The invasive slug is now a common resident of gardens across the country.

As for the flatworm, Lange says it is still early days, and the first step is to get a handle on the scope of the potential problem.

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Sweden is testing the use of facial recognition systems in airports where travellers arrive from outside the Schengen zone. The system scans a passenger’s face when they arrive at border control. In the future their fingerprints will also be taken. Swedish border police say this will help them tackle illegal immigration into Sweden.

Mattias Eklöf speaks for Swedish Border Police West:

“In Sweden, there are up to 100,000 people who are here illegally. We will get a handle on them now.”

Police say all the data being collected by the system will be deleted after three years.

Almost all EU countries, plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland, and Liechtenstein, are in the Schengen zone. Only Ireland and Cyprus are not.

🇫🇮

If you are booked on a flight with Finnair this week or over the next several weeks, you might want to make other travel arrangements. Beginning today, Finnair pilots begin strike action. The Finnish airline company says some 300 flights have been cancelled, impacting 33,000 passengers. It claims to have successfully rerouted almost all of them. Strike action is scheduled to continue until at least December 13.