Monday Morning News & Notes
❄️Snow Warning ❄️
🇩🇰
The first snow of the season might fall in parts of Denmark this week. The Danish Meteorological Institute says snow might fall over central Jutland by tomorrow. However, if it does fall, it likely won’t stick around for long as temperatures won’t stay chilly enough for very long. On Wednesday or Thursday, Southern Jutland, Fyn, and Sjælland could also see some snow. As a cold front pays the rest of the country a quick visit.
🇸🇪
It isn’t just Denmark. Old Man Winter will also pay Sweden a visit, with weather forecasts calling for freezing temperatures, snow, and strong winds across the southern part of the country. The snow is predicted to arrive on Tuesday. Swedish authorities are reminding people to make sure they have winter tires on their vehicles and to drive carefully.
🍃Environment & Energy⚡️
🇪🇺
Greenhouse gas emissions fell by 2.6% in the EU in the 2nd quarter of the year, according to statistics agency EuroStat. The largest reductions came from electricity and gas production (-12.1%) along with households (-4.2%).
At the country level, emissions were down in 19 countries across the EU year over year. The largest reductions in greenhouse gases were in the Netherlands (-9.1%), Bulgaria (-6.3%), Austria, and Hungary (each -5.9%). While Sweden had the highest overall emissions increase.
🌎
There is no need for the COP climate summit to be an annual event. A number of former high-profile names from the United Nations and the environmental sector say it is time for a big change at the annual COP climate change meetings.
In an open letter to UN Climate Chief Simon Stiell, the group says it is time to shift from negotiations to implementation, and big annual meetings with everything on the table are slowing down progress on fighting climate change. Instead, they suggest the climate summit be held every two years. On off years, smaller, more focused meetings should be held in lieu of the big event.
From the letter:
"In their current form, they [the COP summits] simply cannot deliver the change at the exponential speed and magnitude that is essential for us as humanity to ensure a safe climate."
The letter signatories also note that it is more than a little problematic that the event keeps being hosted by countries k own for their large fossil fuel industries.
"The fact that there were far more fossil fuel lobbyists than official representatives from scientific institutions, indigenous communities, and vulnerable nations reflects a systemic imbalance in COP representation.”
COP29 is being held in Azerbaijan this year. Last year, it was hosted by the United Arab Emirates.
🇩🇰🇫🇮🇸🇪🇳🇴🇮🇸
Industry groups across the Nordics demanded a global carbon price be initiated as a crucial step towards limiting global warming. The business groups from Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, and Iceland made the joint appeal on Saturday at the COP29 climate summit.
In the groups’ view, market-based solutions are urgently needed to set a global CO2 price and to kick-start worldwide climate action. In a statement, the business groups noted the European system of emissions trading, established in 2005, is on track to cover more than 80% of EU emissions by 2030.
"The system has proved to be a cost-effective mechanism to decarbonize industries. A simple, transparent, and legitimate market-based system must come in place as quickly as possible to kick-start market dynamics.”
The signatories include Swedish Enterprise, Danish Industry, the Confederation of Finnish Industries, Norway’s NHO, and two Icelandic business associations.
🇸🇪
The Swedish Government has announced a 200 million krona fund to help particularly vulnerable countries fight climate change and deal with environment-related damages. The news was announced at the COP29 climate summit.
Minister for Aid and Foreign Trade Benjamin Dousa:
"Sweden's support contributes to countries being able to better prepare for and manage the consequences of climate change, which can reduce the need for major humanitarian efforts after the crisis has occurred.”
In addition to Sweden, 23 other countries have given promises to contribute to the fund.
🇫🇮
Finland plans to step up and contribute even more funding to help the world’s least-developed countries fight climate change. Finnish President Alexander Stubb made the pledge in his speech last week at COP29, the United Nations Climate Change Conference being hosted by Azerbaijan.
"We want to mobilize funding for countries that need it the most. In this context, I am pleased to announce Finland will be providing additional funding to the Systematic Observations Finance Facility to help strengthen adaptation and build resilience, especially in the least developed countries and small island developing states.”
Stubb also urged other countries to pull out all the stops in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. He said it is critical the G20 nations lead by example by setting the absolutely most ambitious reduction targets in order to keep global temperature increases at the 1.5°C limit.
"We need targets and legislation, we need financing, both public and private, and we need technological innovations. And the bottom line is that we need all three of those things together.“
🇬🇧
At COP29, UK Prime Minister Kier Starmer pledged that his government will be one of the first to present a National Climate Plan, which will guide the country’s fight against climate change until the year 2035. Starmer says the new goal is to reduce emissions in the UK by 81% below 1990 levels. He says this will be achieved by leaning on offshore wind power and new investments in new nuclear power.
The United Nations has mandated that all countries submit an updated Nationally Determined Contribution to the UN by February of next year. It will lay out each country’s plan to reduce CO2 emissions.
🇩🇰
A deal on nitrogen emissions within the green tripartite agreement has been reached. And it sounds like the Danish government has moved off its position of siding with the agricultural sector in seeking the least amount of nitrogen emissions. A news conference has been called for later this morning. The much-celebrated pact between farmers, the government, and environmental groups hit a roadblock a few weeks ago when the government announced its position supporting the lesser of the three emissions reduction targets. Politicians taking part in the negotiations are telling Danish media that the government is now moving in a different direction.
The green tripartite deal was reached as part of a comprehensive effort to limit leakage of agricultural fertilizers into waterways. The issue has been top of mind for months due to the environmental catastrophe playing out in Danish inland waterways where fertilizer and sewage pollutants have effectively wiped out most of the sea life.
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There was an environmental protest on Saturday at Christiansborg Castle in Copenhagen. The protest is unusual because it was organized by the Danish Sports Fishermen's Association, not a group that usually involves themselves in such a demonstration. The group is extremely concerned about the environmental catastrophe playing out in Denmark’s inland waterways. Nitrogen from agricultural fertilizers is leaking into waterways, which has wiped out invertebrates and pushed fish populations to an absolute bare minimum.
Association Chair Torben Kaas told DR that they are very concerned about the green tripartite deal negotiations.
“These are closed negotiations, so we don't know very much about what is going on in there, but the little that leaks out makes us worried about whether a generational agreement is being reached that will be bad for our water environment.”
Politicians are currently negotiating the formula for nitrogen reduction mandates within the deal.
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Green Power Denmark is lobbying for some changes to increase the speed of the energy transition. The group wants the Danish government to cut the tax on electricity, which it says is the highest in all of Europe. It wants the tariff on electricity to be reduced to the EU minimum of 0.8 øre per kilowatt hour.
Green Power Denmark CEO Kristian Jensen:
“It is a myth that we do not need more wind and solar power in Denmark. Only 19% of the energy we use in Denmark is electricity. As much as 81% comes from other sources. If we are to lower energy bills and strengthen competitiveness, far more of production, transport, and heating must be electrified. It is also necessary if we are to reduce our CO2 emissions and fight climate change. Solar and wind energy is cheaper today than all the fossil fuel energy sources. Old habits and ways of thinking unfortunately are holding us back from switching to the cheaper alternatives. We must therefore be able to produce much more green electricity as society transitions from expensive fossil fuels to competitive green electricity.”
The electricity tax was introduced in Denmark back in 1977 as a result of the oil crisis of the day. Back then, electricity was produced using a lot of fossil fuels, making it expensive and polluting. The tax was introduced in an effort to reduce energy use and cut some costs.
The agency says there are a number of reasons it makes the most sense for the Danish government to slash the tax on electricity. First, it says the tax hits those who have the least the most. The company adds it will make pricing far more transparent for consumers, help reduce CO2 emissions, and remove impediments for families looking to replace their gas boiler with a heat pump.
Green Power Denmark also notes that as of next year fossil fuel use will be subject to a Danish carbon tax, which it says should further incentivize the transition to green energy.
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Aalborg is making itself the center of the green energy transition for jet fuel. Four groups have come together to back a Power-to-X project in an area just outside the city. The group includes two airports, Aalborg and Copenhagen, along with Scandinavian airliner SAS, and Copenhagen Infrastructure Partners. The four have agreed to jointly support the Fjord PtX project, which will produce up to 110 million litres of green jet fuel per year. For comparison, all domestic air traffic within Denmark uses about 30 million litres of fuel a year.
The project will cost “many billions of kroner.” Construction of the Fjord PtX project is expected to be completed in 2029.
🇸🇪
A green power plant operator in Stockholm says its arduous search for a storage site for its carbon capture and storage operation. Värtaverket says the area they have identified is under bedrock in the North Sea. The company wants to capture about 90% of their plant’s emissions annually, about 800,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide, convert it into a liquid, and then store it underground. It says a deal to make this all official will be signed within the next few months. Once signed, the company is targeting 2028 to begin carbon capture and storage operations.
The Swedish government has allocated 36 billion Swedish krona for carbon capture and storage projects over the next 20 years.
🇫🇮
The Finnish government wants to ban the practice of dumping snow, ploughed from city streets during the winter months, into the ocean. The practice isn’t very widespread in Finland outside of the country’s capital, Helsinki. The problem is that when snow is dumped in the harbour, all the garbage, cigarette butts, and even microplastics from car tires all go into the water with it. Last Thursday, the Finnish government submitted a proposal to amend the Environmental Protection Act in order to ban the practice. If approved, the ban would be enacted in three years time.
🦠Outbreaks🦠
🌎
Measles cases are surging around the globe, and the World Health Organization is now sounding the alarm. Last year, there were 10.3 million measles cases, a 20% year over year increase. But in 36 countries where vaccination coverage is lacking the most, infections have skyrocketed by 60%.
WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warns that the rise in measles infections endangers lives, especially those of children. And protection is as simple as getting a two-dose vaccination.
“The measles vaccine has saved more lives than any other vaccine in the past 50 years. To save even more lives and stop this deadly virus from harming the most vulnerable, we must invest in immunization for every person, no matter where they live.”
Last year, measles claimed 107,500 lives, mostly children younger than five. More than 22 million children around the world missed their first measles vaccination dose in 2023.
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Inadequate vaccination coverage is also responsible for a steady increase in measles cases in the European Union and greater European Economic Area. The European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control notes there has been an increase in local transmission across Europe, indicating an increased infection risk. Due to this, the health agency says “the number of cases is expected to rise in the near future.”
The agency is urging health authorities across Europe to do everything they can to improve vaccination coverage.
🇪🇺
COVID activity, while low, is increasing across Europe, according to the European Centre of Disease Prevention and Control. However, hospital numbers at the EU level remain at what it calls “baseline rates,” sitting about where they were at this time last year.
At the individual country level, the hospital picture is a bit more mixed according to the ECDC. Most countries are seeing decreasing infection admissions. However, the agency notes that seniors continue to be in harms way as the group that continues to be at the highest risk of a severe infection resulting in hospitalization or death.
So far, influenza rates across the EU are at low levels and remain stable.
“Notably, one country has reported increased seasonal influenza activity in primary and secondary care, which may be an indication of increased activity in the coming weeks across the region.”
RS virus activity has also increased in the last few weeks, especially among children under the age of four.
“Countries should be prepared to see a potential increase in RSV activity in the coming weeks.”
The ECDC is urging all national health authorities to be prepared and to stay on top of testing and genome sequencing.
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The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control is reporting another 146 mpox cases across Europe since its last update. The agency reports that other than household transmission in one case in the United Kingdom, all infection cases in Europe continue to be travel-related, with no cases of local infection spread.
Spain had the most new cases (41) followed by Germany (34). Elsewhere in Northern Europe, Norway has four cases and Sweden three.
So far, 1,256 mpox cases have been reported in 29 countries across Europe this year.
🌍
This week, the World Health Organization will meet to decide whether to extend if the ongoing mpox outbreak should still be designated a ‘global health emergency’ or not. The WHO emergency response committee will meet on November 22. The mpox outbreak, driven by a new, more infectious variant, was declared a global health emergency in August.
So far this year, there have been close to 50,000 confirmed mpox cases and 1,081 suspected deaths, according to the WHO. African countries like the Congo, Burundi, and Uganda have been hit the hardest. But cases have also spilled over to the UK, Sweden, and Germany.
🇩🇰
So far, so good as we enter respiratory virus season in Denmark. The Statens Serum Institute rates the number of new coronavirus cases and infection-related hospital admissions as being at a “medium level.” Overall, numbers have been trending downward in recent weeks.
COVID activity as measured by wastewater surveillance also dipped a little week to week.
Influenza and RS virus activity while beginning to make their presence felt both remain “at a low level, and there are few infected and hospitalized.”
The SSI says the mycoplasma pneumonia epidemic continues with the number of cases treading water week to week.
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About two out of every three people over the age of 65 have had both their COVID booster dose and influenza vaccination. That translates to over 65% of all seniors in the country.
Danish Health Authority Unit Head Kirstine Moll Harboe says the vaccination uptake is encouraging news as health authorities brace for a winter COVID wave and for flu season to begin in earnest.
“There are already a lot of people who have taken up the autumn vaccination offer. This is really positive, because we know that vaccination is the best protection against getting really sick with COVID and the flu. If you are over 65 or at particular risk of suffering a severe infection, for example due to COPD or another chronic illness, we recommend that you get vaccinated.”
The fall vaccination will continue to operate across the country until December 20. The Danish Health Authority says while vaccination centers continue to be busy, there are still appointment times that can be booked.
“We are sending a reminder to those who have not been vaccinated yet but who may have forgotten to book an appointment but still want to be vaccinated before the fall vaccinations campaign ends.”
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The Statens Serum Institute says that last Wednesday, reminders to get vaccinated were accidentally sent out to 152,000 people who have already received a COVID booster dose and a flu shot. The agency is reaching out directly to everyone impacted to make sure they know their vaccinations are up to date.
🇸🇪
In Sweden, COVID hospitalizations (299) continue to ease (-50) while the number of severely infected people in intensive care (9) has crept upward (+1).
🇫🇮
The farming of animals for their fur poses a “constant pandemic risk of a pandemic even more serious than the COVID pandemic,” according to the Finnish Institute for Health. The health agency says if the practice is going to continue, there needs to be strict hygiene measures to prevent biosafety and infection risks.
Department Head Otto Helve:
"At the moment, due to the threat of a pandemic, fur farming poses too great a risk to people's lives and health. Continuing fur farming in a health-safe way requires drastic measures.”
The institute says that if strict hygiene measures prove impossible to put into place, then “fur farming operations should not continue” in Finland and across the EU.
To date, the agency says efforts have fallen well short of delivering the kind of prevention systems needed to reduce the pandemic risk. The highly infectious H5N1 avian flu strain ripped through farmed bird populations across Finland last year. The institute says the infection spread exposed hundreds of people to the virus. Although there were no cases of human infection in Finland, “the outbreak showed that fur farming poses a significant health threat in our society.”
Many European countries have banned fur farming. In Sweden, measures have been taken to drastically reduce the practice. In Denmark, virtually all of the countries farmed mink, many millions of animals, were slaughtered during the COVID pandemic over fears of a more infectious strain of the virus incubating within farmed mink populations.
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Walking and cycling to work helps significantly reduce harmful greenhouse gas emissions and improves public health. That is according to the Finnish Institute for Health air pollution project.
The agency says that more than half of working adults in Finland live less than 10 kilometres from their workplace. However, 70% of them still make the trip back and forth to work in their car. The proportion is higher among men than women.
Lead Researcher Timo Lanki:
"Commuter exercise would also help Finns to move more, which would prevent, for example, obesity, type 2 diabetes, and other diseases. The study found that commuting exercise may prevent low-grade inflammation in the body, which can partly explain its protective effect on, for example, cardiovascular diseases.”
The study also found that people who walk or bike to work also use less sick time than those who take the car.
The health agency is urging people to use more active modes of transportation. It would also like to employers to take a more active role in encouraging their workers to leave the car at home. It suggests companies offer more flexible working hours, offer secure bike parking, and even offer a cycling financial benefit to encourage workers to make the shift.
🇺🇦Ukraine/Russia War🇷🇺
🇺🇸🇺🇦
The Biden administration has reportedly given Ukraine its approval to carry out limited strikes against targets deep inside Russia using American supplied long-range missiles. U.S. President Joe Biden has not yet officially confirmed the news, but the decision is believed to be a response to North Korean troops arriving in Russia, a dangerous escalation.
Ukraine has been pleading for permission to use donated weapons to hit targets within Russia, but up until now those please had fallen on deaf ears. The U.S. has donated long-range ATACMS missiles to Ukraine.
The United Kingdom and France have also given permission to Ukraine to hit targets within Russia. Both countries have donated long-range Storm Shadow missiles.
🇰🇵🇷🇺
Citing sources, Bloomberg is reporting that up to 100,000 more North Korean troops could eventually be dispatched to Russia to help in the war in Ukraine. The news agency says this will likely involve a constant, long-term rotation of North Korean troops in and out of the battlefield.
An estimated 12,000 North Korean troops are currently in Russia, with some of them reportedly already engaging in the fighting on the front lines. North Korea has also been supplying Russia with the bulk of its artillery ammunition and around 70 artillery platforms.
🇯🇵🇺🇦/ 🇷🇺🇰🇵
Japan is reaffirming its support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia. Japan’s Foreign Affairs Minister Takeshi Iwaya paid a visit to Ukraine over the weekend. He met with his Ukrainian counterpart, Foreign Affairs Minister Andrii Sybiha. Iwaya said the most pressing issue on the table is the “deep concern” Japan has over the growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea. Especially with over 10,000 North Korean troops dispatched to reinforce Russian front lines.
🇩🇪/ 🇷🇺
For the first time since 2022, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The two spoke on the phone for an hour on Friday morning, according to a spokesperson for the Chancellor’s office. In the call, Scholz asked Putin to enter into peace negotiations to end the war in Ukraine. He also reaffirmed Germany’s support for Ukraine and raised the issue of North Korean soldiers in Russia, calling it a major escalation. Scholz also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy both before and after the call.
Russian state media report that Putin held his ground on what he called “the realities” of territorial concessions and that Russia must have its so-called security concerns addressed.
While we aren’t privy to all the details in the phone discussions, the reaction from Zelenskyy on social media after the call was pretty emphatic.
“Chancellor Scholz told me that he planned to call Putin. His call, in my opinion, opens Pandora's Box. There may now be other conversations and phone calls. Just a lot of words. And this is exactly what Putin has long sought. It is critical for him to weaken his isolation, as well as Russia's isolation, and to hold mere talks that will lead nowhere. He has been doing this for decades. This has allowed Russia to avoid making any changes to its policies, effectively doing nothing, which has ultimately led to this war. We understand all the current challenges and we know what to do. And we want to make it clear: there will be no “Minsk-3”; we need real peace.”
The reaction from Lithuania’s Foreign Affairs Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis was a lot more blunt.
“Let the German Chancellor’s phonecall be the last breath of the failed strategy of trading land for "peace" with a genocidal dictator. History keeps telling us that true peace can only be achieved through strength.”
The Minsk agreements were two international agreements signed to stop the violence in the Donbas and Luhansk regions and establish a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia. In both cases, Ukraine made considerable concessions only to have Russia break the accords and resume fighting. Shortly after invading Ukraine in 2022, Putin declared the Minsk agreements null and void.
🇬🇧/ 🇷🇺
The war in Ukraine over the last few months has been an absolute bloodbath for Russian forces. According to research by BBC and Mediazona, Putin’s meat grinder strategy of throwing tens of thousands of lives in war of attrition in order to make minute gains on the battlefield is coming at a huge cost. The BBC says the number of Russian casualties in September, October, and November of this year is 150% higher than the same period last year and has doubled since 2022.
One metric the British national broadcaster used to try and put some context to the number of Russian war dead was the average age of those killed. In the first few months of the war, the average age of Russian soldiers killed in Ukraine was 21. Last year, it rose to 34. Over the fall months this year, it is now 38 years old.
The BBC and Mediazona have confirmed 78,329 Russian war dead since Putin launched his invasion. But the fog of war and Russia’s lid of secrecy over its war casualties make it very hard to determine a definitive number of Russian casualties. The BBC notes that the real death toll is likely much higher, possibly almost 200,000. Ukraine pegs the number of Russian dead at over 700,000.
🇩🇰
Denmark increased defense spending to historically high levels just last year, but it sounds like that amount could more than double in the near future. Danish Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said over the weekend that the Armed Forces need at least another 300 billion kroner in funding.
Just last year, the Danish government allocated 200 billion kroner over 10 years on defense spending, a historic investment.
“I cannot give the exact amount today because we do not know the new strength targets in detail. But it is my expectation that the new bill will be up to an extra 300 billion kroner over a number of years. It is such a large amount that it will completely change the conditions for the public economy and thus also the political debate.”
Next summer, it is expected that NATO will table new stricter requirements on defense spending.
“I do not have an overview of this at the moment, but further investments will be needed in the Danish defense.”
Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen hinted at the news in a speech in parliament last week.
“We now spend more than two percent of GDP on defense and security. Let me be honest and say it directly: We will need more. To be able to defend ourselves and our own country. And contribute to the protection of our alliance in NATO.”
As the security situation continues to deteriorate in Europe, Denmark has been busy trying to beef up its military by procuring new weapons and equipment, expanding conscription, and establishing a new rapid response heavy brigade consisting of 4,000 soldiers, infantry fighting vehicles, air defense, and other weapon systems.
🇸🇪
Sweden is continuing to beef up its defenses. The country has allocated five billion Swedish kroner (about $641 million Cdn) for more Patriot air defense missiles. The purchase, a joint effort among several NATO member nations, will see 1,000 air defense missiles produced in Europe and delivered to the stockpiles of the various nations, including Sweden.
Defense Minister Pål Jonson:
“The war in Ukraine has shown us Russia uses both cruise missiles and ballistic missiles to attack civilian and military targets. Therefore, it is important that we build up a stronger air defense.”
Jonson says the purchase is also a boon for Europe’s defense industry.
🇫🇮🇺🇦🇺🇸
One of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposals to end the war between Russia and Ukraine is a nonstarter with the Finnish government. Trump could push for a 20-year moratorium on Ukraine joining NATO as part of a peace agreement with Russia. Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen says that the idea is one her country will not support.
"I'm against it, yes. Let's face it, Ukraine was neutral before they were attacked by Russia.”
Valtonen also questioned whether Russia "could be trusted even if it agreed to a deal.” She added that forcing Ukraine's hand to accept terms against its will would undermine the international system.
🇵🇱🇺🇦
Poland is discussing the transfer of its last squadron of MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine, but the donation might still take a while. Polish President Andrzej Duda met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte last week to discuss the fighter jet donation.
"We discussed the issues of our MiG-29s that we have in service; some of them have been handed over to Ukraine some time ago. We have one squadron left, and there are issues concerning them.”
One of the biggest is that Poland needs the jets to keep its airspace secure. Until it can either find a work around or get new fighter jets in to replace the old MiGs, then it will be reluctant to part with the planes.
🇷🇺/ 🇦🇹
Russia is again weaponizing its energy exports. State-owned Russian oil and gas company Gazprom terminated all gas shipments to Austria as of Saturday. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer said his country’s gas reserves are 93% full, and in his words “is well prepared to handle the situation.”
“This is something we have long expected to happen since the beginning of the war against Ukraine, and we have prepared for it.”
Putin is looking to create further divisions within Austria and within the EU. An extreme right-wing, and pro-Russia, party called The Freedom Party of Austria recently made considerable gains in the country’s last election.
🇪🇺🇺🇦
With Old Man Winter stirring and no end in sight to the war in Ukraine, Europe should brace for another possible wave of Ukrainian war refugees. The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator Matthias Schmale warned on Friday that Russia’s relentless attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure could trigger another wave of Ukrainians fleeing the war when temperatures plunge.
"The real concern is that if they were to target the energy sector again, this could be a tipping point for further mass movements, both inside and outside the country.”
With winter just around the corner, Schmale says 65% of Ukraine’s energy production ability has been taken offline due to Russian attacks.
🇩🇪/ 🇷🇺
Around 1,800 people, most of them Russians, protested against the Putin regime and the Russian invasion of Ukraine on the streets of Berlin on Sunday. The protest was led by Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of the late Alexei Navalny.
Odds & Ends
🇪🇺🇩🇰
Wolves are making a comeback in Europe, and Denmark is playing a big role. According to a report from the International Union for Conservation of Nature, Europe’s wolf population has grown by 35% in the last seven years. Last year, 23,000 wolves were counted across Europe. Wolves have been a protected species in Europe since 1992. Since then, the number of wolves has grown in all 34 countries where populations are monitored.
In Denmark, wolves made a comeback in 2012, and the population has grown steadily ever since. In September of this year, between 31 and 42 adult wolves and at least 37 pups were counted. Despite some attacks on livestock, most recently lambs near Viborg, there are no plans to regulate the wolf population in Denmark.
🇩🇰
Kolding’s dreams of having the tallest Christmas tree in Denmark came crashing down on Friday night. The 26-meter-high-tree was installed at a parking lot in the city on Wednesday. On Friday night, the tree somehow broke and a big portion of it came tumbling down. Thankfully, no one was injured, and there were no other damages. The tree will not be replaced.
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People can hand in weapons to their local police station with no questions asked and no risk of facing any charges. However, on Thursday last week, the police station in Hillerød had to be evacuated not once, not twice, but three times, after someone first turned in a hand grenade, then another an anti-tank shell, and then a person dropped off some artillery ammunition. Nordsjælland's police warn that handing in potentially explosive devices is not a good idea, as it is not only dangerous, but in every case the army’s bomb squad has to be called out and every precaution taken. People who suspect they might have an explosive device or live shell should leave it where it is and call 114.
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Sønderborg Kommune is offering couples looking to tie the knot the opportunity to get married at the Town Hall on Christmas Eve this year. The municipality says six couples have already signed up.
If you want an easy date to remember your wedding day, Sønderborg Municipality has a great Christmas offer: Get married on 24 December this year at Sønderborg Town Hall.
Citizen Services Team Leader Lene Sloth:
“There aren't that many dates left that are really special to get married on, and that's why we are happy to be able to offer this special opportunity for those couples who want a different experience by getting married on Christmas Eve.”
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Danish customs made quite a find last month. Customs officials at Copenhagen Airport found 1.7 million Danish kroner (about $338,000 Cdn) in vacuum-packed cash in two suitcases belonging to two different travellers who were not travelling together. The two were arriving in Denmark from Nuuk, Greenland.
Customs Agency Director of Control Jeppe Kjærgaard:
“The large sums may be a sign that criminal networks are trying to transport and launder cash outside the spotlight of the authorities, which is why we keep a close eye on travellers to and from Denmark.”
🇺🇸🇩🇰
The fallout of the U.S. election continues to impact Denmark. With incoming President Trump appointing Robert F. Kennedy Jr, an anti-vaxxer and conspiracy theorist, as his health secretary, shares in Danish vaccine manufacturer Bavarian Nordic plummeted by 17.43% on Friday. Shares on other Danish pharmaceutical companies, Novo Nordisk and Sjælland Pharma, also took a hit.
🇩🇰🇩🇪
Record numbers of tourists spent at least one overnight stay in northern Sjælland during the first nine months of the year. Visit Nordsjælland says overnight stays have increased by 6% compared to the first nine months of 2023. They are also up 7% from 2019, the benchmark pre-pandemic tourism year. In all, some 911,317 people have spent at least one overnight in the region’s hotels, campsites, holiday homes, holiday centres, and hostels. The tourism board says the bulk of the tourists are coming from Germany and the Netherlands. In particular, the region has seen a 24% increase in German tourists. Conversely, the weak exchange rate has kept both Swedish and Norwegian numbers down.
Visit Nordsjælland Director Annette Sorensen:
“At the end of September, we were already approaching the number of overnight stays for the whole of 2023. It is absolutely fantastic.”
She says with the Fehmarn tunnel under the Baltic, connecting Germany with Denmark’s Lolland region, nearing completion, the tourism agency is expecting even more German tourists to arrive in Sjælland.
🇳🇱🇪🇺
More and more borders are popping up across the “borderless” European Union. The Netherlands will reintroduce border controls at all of its land border crossings as of December 9. The Dutch Ministry of Migration says the border controls will remain in place for at least the next six months. The ministry says there are some question marks about how extensive the border controls will be depending on how much resources the police can spare. The move was driven by the country’s anti-immigrant Freedom Party.
The Netherlands now joins Denmark, Germany, and France in reintroducing border controls for reasons ranging from concerns about crime to potential security threats.