The Evening Report - May 30
Norway looks to be an energy superpower. Sweden spends big on Ukraine.
🍃Environment & Energy⚡️
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While electric vehicle sales have eclipsed that of gas and diesel vehicles in Denmark, that is certainly not the case elsewhere in the world. According to the International Energy Agency half of all the vehicles sold around the world last year were gas guzzling SUVs. The agency says SUVs use more energy and emit 20% more CO2 on average than other fossil fuel vehicles.
In 2023, it says 20 million SUVs were sold, and their combined emissions are slightly higher than those of Japan and slightly lower than those of Russia. In fact, if SUVs were a country, it would be the fifth-most CO2-emitting nation on earth.
The IEA does note that the advent of electric SUVs is a positive development. It says that as of last year, electric SUVs accounted for 5% of all SUVs on the road.
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In a break from the suddenly hot temperatures, the more quintessentially Danish massive downpours made a brief return this week. On Sunday night, Hårslev recorded 67.2 millimeters of rain. The Danish Meteorological Institute says Morud, also on Fyn, saw 27 millimeters of rain in just half an hour. On the west coast of Jutland, in the beach town of Hvide Sande, 20.7 millimeters of rain hit the ground in just 30 minutes.
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Danish homeowners might have to pay more for flood protection in their insurance as an economic council advising the government suggests changes. The proposal would tie the flood protection homeowners receive as part of their fire insurance to the degree of flooding risk for their home. The higher the risk, the higher the premium.
Chair of the Danish Economic Council Carl-Johan Dalgaard:
“It may be a good idea to expand the storm surge scheme so that more people are covered if the premium is also risk-based. Otherwise, an expansion of the scheme will discourage climate adaptation and increase the costs of climate change in the future.”
As for how much premiums might increase, the council wants an expert committee to determine the amount of the increase.
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A new report from the University of Copenhagen has found that Denmark can meet the EU mandate of restoring and protecting 30% of its nature, wetlands, and rivers. The university says reaching the goal is neither impossible nor wildly expensive. Researchers mapped biodiversity across Denmark and pinpointed 239 areas larger than 500 hectares that could be rezoned, restored, and protected.
Researcher Anders Højgård Petersen:
“We estimate, for example, that it will cost between 1.5 and 3 billion annually to establish and manage a nationwide and spatially cost-effective network with 149 large natural areas in Denmark.”
Denmark has a steep hill to climb to reach the EU 30% mandate. Currently, just 7% of the country’s nature, rivers, and wetlands are conserved.
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The Danish Nature Agency has made an exciting but extremely rare discovery in Draved Skov in southern Jutland. A nest with common woodpecker chicks was spotted. The agency says the last time a nesting pair of woodpeckers were spotted with baby birds in Denmark was in 1959. The agency says Draved Skov provides the perfect habitat for woodpeckers with old and overgrown trees. The Skov (forest) is set to become a national park.
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The Danish government’s environmental watchdog, the Climate Council, has warned that the country has a difficult pathway ahead to meeting its emission reduction goals. It has recommended that the government put its foot down and aim even higher than the 70% emissions reduction target for 2030. The council says that right now Denmark will fall just short, as it is on course for a 68% reduction by 2030.
“So more climate policy is needed to reach the goal. And the plans that have been made must be put into practice.”
It says that with future climate change forecasts being uncertain, that a “buffer” is needed for Denmark to achieve its goals. In order to do that, the council recommends the government implement environmental policies designed to overshoot the target, just in case.
“A buffer will also reduce the risk of having to implement expensive reduction measures at the last minute.”
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In a significant move towards sustainable waste management, Denmark has inaugurated a state-of-the-art plastic sorting facility in Esbjerg, which will spur an important evolution in plastic recycling. According to the Ministry of Environment, Denmark has historically exported the majority of its plastic waste to countries like Germany. The new facility, operated by ReSource Denmark, promises to dramatically reduce this dependency by handling up to 160,000 tons of plastic waste annually, including both household and industrial plastic.
Facility Director Lars Kristensen:
“We have built the facility so large that it can take all the plastic that is sorted in households in Denmark. On top of that, we can also take part of the plastic waste that is sorted in the industry.”
The EU has mandated that member countries recycle a minimum of half their plastic waste by 2025; this new facility will be no small help for Denmark to reach that goal.
Currently, Denmark's recycling rate lingers at around 25%. The Esbjerg facility, the first fully automated plant of its kind in Denmark, significantly enhances the nation's recycling infrastructure. 31 of Denmark’s 98 municipalities have already committed to sending their plastic waste to ReSource.
In Denmark, plastic waste from businesses and households is collected, compressed into bales, and then either exported abroad or sent to a domestic recycling facility. Once there, it is sorted into six different types of plastic and recycled. With more plastic now capable of being recycled in Denmark, the country has more oversight over the entire plastic recycling chain. This means it can better monitor and optimize the lifecycle of its recycled materials, contributing to a more sustainable future.
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Environmental concerns have brought a halt to plans for a major expansion of Denmark’s largest container port in Aarhus. 65% of all the containers bound for Denmark arrive in Aarhus. The port had applied to expand by 84 hectares in two phases of construction. However, a number of complaints by people nearby and environmental organizations like the Danish Nature Conservation Association, among others, have resulted in the 11 member independent Planning Appeal Board deciding to cancel the municipalities zoning changes that were required in order to expand the port.
It is not certain what this means for the future of the port expansion, as all the parties have to read the decision and decide what course of action, if any, remains open to them. At the very least, it could mean the project will have to start from scratch and go through the whole process from the beginning.
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The wind energy company Siemens Gamesa has received 375 million Danish kroner from a government funding pool for green energy projects set up by the Danish government. The funding will be spent on a large wind turbine facility in Esbjerg. The project would create about 350 jobs, according to the company.
Four other projects will also get funding, according to the Danish Ministry of Trade and Industry. The companies getting money are Niebuhr Gears, Advanced Surface Plating, and Njord Assembly Lines.
Last December, the government allocated a billion Danish kroner for a funding pool to dole out grants to companies looking to invest in green energy transition projects in the wind, solar, and power to x industries (the conversion of electricity to hydrogen and its storage).
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Danish wind energy giant Ørsted has agreed to pay the American state of New Jersey $125 million in U.S. dollars in a settlement over two abandoned offshore wind projects. Last year, Ørsted walked away from a number of wind farm projects in a massive cost cutting effort. The move caused outrage in New Jersey, as the two wind farms were supposed to create jobs and provide green electricity for the state.
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The Finnish Meteorological Institute issued a heat warning earlier this week calling for temperatures possibly exceeding 30 degrees. Thursday was the 15th day this month that temperatures have exceeded 25 degrees. The weather agency says the heat warning will remain in place until at least Saturday. Due to the heat wave a number of wildfires are keeping emergency services busy in eastern Finland.
The institute says May is also on track to break monthly average temperature records. It has also been an unusual month for how little rain has fallen, with less than a millimeter coming down in Helsinki so far this month.
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The marine environment in Norway’s Oslo-fjord is in such bad shape that the cod population is feared to be on the brink of collapse. A number of environmental groups and researchers have all been calling for a fishing ban, but to no avail, as it turns out. On Thursday, the Norwegian parliament voted down efforts to ban fishing despite all the concerns.
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Norway is expanding its offshore oil and gas exploration efforts, targeting new investment areas in the Norwegian Continental Shelf, Norwegian Sea, and Barents Sea within the Arctic Circle. The Norwegian Ministry of Energy recently announced a new offshore licensing round, offering 37 blocks, with 34 in the Barents Sea and 3 in the Norwegian Sea. This move comes as Norway aims to capitalize on its substantial natural resources and strengthen its position as a key energy supplier to Europe, especially in the aftermath of the 2022 energy crisis.
The new licensing round is expected to attract significant interest from both international and Norwegian oil companies, with winning bids anticipated by the first quarter of 2025.
Norway's Minister of Petroleum and Energy, Terje Aasland, emphasized the importance of this expansion for job creation, revenue, and bolstering Europe’s energy security.
“We need further exploration to make new discoveries that, in turn, pave the way for investments to maintain production."
Despite its green credentials and leadership in renewable energy sectors such as carbon capture, hydrogen, and offshore wind, Norway remains committed to leveraging its oil and gas industry. This sector is pivotal to the national economy, underscoring Norway’s ambition to be an energy superpower.
🦠Outbreaks🦠
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There is no sign yet of any impending summer COVID wave. The latest wastewater surveillance results show declining coronavirus activity.
This chart from the Statens Serum Institute shows the current respiratory infection picture by virus type.
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In Sweden, COVID hospitalizations (50) have crept upward (+6) while ICU cases (1) also increased ever so slightly (+1).
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The Swedish Public Health Agency is reporting what might be the beginning of a whooping cough infection wave.
The agency says since COVID arrived, whooping cough has “been at a low level,” but that is no longer the case. The health authority says so far this spring it has confirmed 241 cases, of which 28 were children who are most at risk. It anticipates that this is probably just the beginning, with “a further increase in the number of cases is expected in the coming months.”
State Epidemiologist Magnus Gisslén:
“It is likely that the number of cases of whooping cough will continue to increase. Vaccination during pregnancy provides good protection to babies right from birth. The protection is then topped up when the child is vaccinated at three months of age. You should also avoid babies meeting people who have a cough or runny nose outside the family.”
In Sweden, pertussis (whooping cough) vaccination is recommended for all children three months old and older and for pregnant women who are at least four months along.
Denmark endured a months long whooping cough epidemic beginning last fall. Norway is currently seeing a rising number of cases, and has been for weeks.
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In a winter infection summary, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health says it recorded 20,785 total coronavirus infections from 227,530 total tests administered, slightly fewer than it saw in the previous winter.
This winter also saw fewer hospitalizations, with 9,003 admissions, which is lower than each of the last two winter seasons. It characterizes current admissions as “stable” over the last three weeks, even though they have increased slightly each week. Last week, there were 28 coronavirus patients, two more than the week before.
This last winter also saw by far the fewest number of COVID-related ICU admissions (273) since the pandemic arrived in 2020.
Oddly, other than saying COVID deaths peaked in late December with 95 fatalities in the third week of the month, the institute is not providing the total number of lives lost.
On the variant front, the institute says that while JN.1 is likely still the dominant strain, Norway is seeing “somewhat more frequent” detections of the new so-called FLiRT variants.
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A recent study published in Nature Communications has revealed that COVID patients in South Korea and Japan face significantly higher risks of respiratory complications both during and after their infections compared to the general population. The research, led by Kyung Hee University College of Medicine in Seoul, examined over 2.3 million South Koreans and more than 3.1 million Japanese, finding that the likelihood of acute respiratory issues during COVID infection was eightfold higher in South Korea and fourfold higher in Japan. Post-infection, the risks remained nearly twofold greater in both countries. This comprehensive study highlights the severe impact coronavirus takes on the respiratory system and the need for healthcare systems to be able to deal with it.
The study detailed striking differences in respiratory outcomes for COVID patients compared to those with influenza. COVID patients exhibited significantly higher risks of acute and post-acute respiratory complications, such as chronic respiratory failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The initial three months after a coronavirus infection were particularly critical, with patients experiencing the highest risk of developing respiratory complications. The hazard ratios indicated a persistent elevation in risk even six months after infection, underscoring the long-term health impacts of having a COVID infection.
Vaccination played a crucial role in mitigating these risks. Patients who received one or more doses of the COVID vaccine showed a marked reduction in the likelihood of developing respiratory complications, with those receiving mixed vaccine types faring the best. Despite these protective effects, the study emphasized the need for ongoing monitoring and tailored healthcare efforts to manage the long-term respiratory health of COVID survivors. The authors advocate for government strategies that include personalized vaccine protocols and continuous patient follow-up to effectively address post-acute COVID conditions.
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The USDA's Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has confirmed the first cases of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza in alpacas, detected at a farm in Idaho where the virus had already affected a poultry flock. The virus, which was found in four of the farm's 18 alpacas, shares the same genotype as the strain circulating in dairy cows and the poultry on the farm. The presence of the virus in alpacas is not unexpected given the high environmental viral load and the intermingling of livestock species, according to APHIS. This marks a significant new finding in the ongoing spread of H5N1, echoing a previous detection in baby goats at a Minnesota poultry farm.
In related news, H5N1 has been detected in two feral cats found dead in Curry County, New Mexico. This follows reports of the virus in cats at dairy farms in multiple states. Meanwhile, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has confirmed H5N1 in another dairy herd in Clinton County, marking the third outbreak in the county and the state's 22nd. Nationally, H5N1 has now been identified in 67 dairy herds across nine states, with new cases recently confirmed in Idaho, Texas, and Michigan.
On Thursday, federal officials in the U.S. confirmed a third person has been infected with the avian flu and for the first time exhibited respiratory symptoms, possibly increasing the chances of transmission to other people. This person, like the previous two, was a farm worker with direct exposure to infected cows. The other two people confirmed to be infected reported only severe eye infections.
🇺🇦Ukraine/ Russia War🇷🇺
🇫🇮🇸🇪🇩🇰🇩🇪🇫🇷/ 🇷🇺
Finland has joined Sweden in underscoring that Ukraine is free to use weapons it donates on the Russian targets of its choice be they in occupied territory or in Russia proper. While on a state visit to Estonia, Finnish President Alexander Stubb told reporters that "it is not our job to tie Ukrainians’ hands" on how they use the weapons Finland donates.
“In a situation where one party is certainly not following the rules of war, it is not our job to restrict Ukraine's behaviour in any way. Let's take a hypothetical example. If on the other side of the border there are Russian forces deployed or arms depots, I see no reason why the weapons and ammunition we donated should be restricted in that area.”
Stubb’s comments echo what NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said this week when he urged member countries to drop any restrictions they might have on how Ukraine uses donated weapons.
“We have to remember that it is a war of aggression where Russia has invaded another country. According to international law, Ukraine has the right to self-defense. The right to self-defense also includes the right to hit targets outside Ukraine. These can be legitimate military targets inside Russia.”
Denmark has also confirmed that Ukraine can use weapons they donate to strike military targets inside Russia.
Denmark’s Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen spoke to TV 2 News on Tuesday.
“They are welcome to use what we have donated on targets outside of Ukraine, that is, on Russian targets, if it is within international law. If we are to give Ukraine a chance to win this war, we have to take this step, because otherwise Ukraine will be fighting with one hand tied behind its back.”
The same applies to French and German weapons. This was announced by the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, and the Chancellor of Germany, Olaf Scholz, at a joint press conference on Tuesday.
Britain has also given Ukraine the green-light to strike targets in Russia with weapons it donates. However, the United States continues to hold back.
As you can imagine, Russian President Vladimir Putin is not too happy about all this. Putin, whose army has been attacking apartment buildings, hospitals, and home improvement stores, resorted to blustering again, warning of “dire consequences” should western weapons be used to strike targets inside Russia.
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Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s giving Ukraine the green-light to use the weapons it donates to strike at targets in Russia has drawn the ire of Russia’s Ambassador tot Denmark.
In a written comment to Ritzau, Russian Ambassador Vladimir Barbin issued a warning.
“[It can] lead to an uncontrolled development of the conflict. You know that in Copenhagen. But Denmark is apparently ready to give Kiev carte blanche to provoke the possibility of a direct clash between NATO and Russia.”
His comments seemingly forget that within Russia, the Putin propaganda machine continues to falsely churn out the idea that Russia, is already engaged in a fight with NATO in Ukraine.
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At a meeting of the countries involved in the Czech Republic-led ammunition coalition in Prague, Czech Prime Minister Petr Fiala announced that “tens of thousands” of artillery shells will arrive in Ukraine “in the coming days.”
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen added more details:
“I am pleased to talk military support for Ukraine with good colleagues. We expect 500.000 rounds of ammunition to Ukraine before the end of 2024. Will make a real difference on the battlefield. We cannot risk Ukraine losing the war.”
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Sweden is sending its 16th weapons package to Ukraine. Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson says valued at €1.16 billion (about $1.7 billion Cdn) it is the largest military donation Sweden has sent Ukraine yet. Jonson says the package includes ASC 890 Airborne Surveillance and Control Aircraft and a number of armour vehicles.
“ASC 890 will provide Ukraine with a new capability against both airborne and maritime targets. Ukraine’s capability to identify targets at long range will be strengthened. They will act as a force multiplier with the introduction of F-16. AMRAAMs, which will also be donated. Sweden will also donate its entire stock of armoured tracked personnel carriers (PBV 302) to support the reconstruction of new Ukrainian brigades. Sweden will also donate artillery ammunition and resources for the maintenance of previously donated materiel.”
Not done there, Sweden is also sending Ukraine surplus tanks and the donation of satellite terminals, which include subscriptions for satellite communications. The donation also includes money to fund “large-scale procurement of material for Ukraine.”
The Swedish Defense Research Agency will also be tasked with supporting Ukraine in establishing its own defense research institute.
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A person working in communications for Sweden’s far-right EU-skeptic Sweden Democrats (SverigeDemokraterna) has resigned after Swedish media found social media posts spreading Russian propaganda.
The unnamed party employee has social media posts dating back to 2014, including this one.
"Can't we let Russia occupy Sweden? The Social Democrats seem to be giving us shit, other EU countries, much more important.”
And in January of 2016.
"Russia should be allowed to attack us.”
The party said they were informed about the person’s social media posts on Tuesday night and immediately “removed the person from duty.”
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Belgium will donate 30 more F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, with the first few jets set to be handed over to the Ukrainian Air Force by the end of the year. The first delivery will be a maximum of four F-16s, with the rest to be handed over by 2028. This increases Belgium’s total donation of F-16s to Ukraine to 80.
The announcement came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy paid an official visit to the country this week.
“Today in Brussels, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo and I signed a bilateral security and long-term support agreement between Ukraine and Belgium. The document includes at least €977 million in Belgian military aid to Ukraine this year, as well as Belgium's commitment to providing our country with support over the course of the agreement's ten-year term.”
Zelenskyy says the security agreement ensures “timely security assistance” from Belgium as well as more modern armoured vehicles, artillery ammunition, military training, and other military materials for Ukraine’s Air Force and air defense needs. It also commits Belgium to supporting Ukraine’s defense industry, strengthening sanctions against Russia, and the country’s support for using frozen Russian funds to rebuild Ukraine and help with its economic recovery.
Belgium will also support Ukraine’s future NATO and EU membership applications. As well as working more closely together on things like intelligence sharing, cyber security, and countering disinformation.
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On the eve of the European Parliament elections, Belgian and French police executed raids at the European Parliament offices in Brussels and Strasbourg, and at the home of a parliamentary employee in Schaerbeek, Belgium. The raid happened on Wednesday morning, just eight days before the first votes will be cast, heightening concerns about potential election interference.
Dutch right-wing politician Marcel de Graaf confirmed on social media that his assistant is under suspicion.
“I am in no way involved in the so-called Russian disinformation operation. I have my own political beliefs, and I proclaim them. That is my job as an EU Member of Parliament.”
The incident marks the second espionage accusation involving aides to European right-wing politicians within a month, following an April case involving alleged Chinese espionage. Belgian Prime Minister Alexandre De Croo previously warned of a pro-Russian network operating in Belgium, aimed at influencing the European Parliament 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.”
It isn’t just Belgium or the Netherlands; Germany has faced similar espionage controversies, with revelations of suspected espionage by aides to right-wing politicians, including Petr Bystron of the Alternative für Deutschland (AfD). A leaked audio recording suggested Bystron's ties to the Russian-backed outlet Voice of Europe, which he denied as a smear campaign. Additionally, AfD politician Maximilian Krah's assistant was arrested in April for allegedly spying for China.
The EU parliamentary elections will take place from June 6 to 9, with mounting concerns about concerted state level efforts at election interference.
🇵🇱/ 🇷🇺
Poland will restrict the movements of Russian diplomats in response to Russia’s various efforts at hybrid warfare tactics.
Polish Foreign Affairs Minister Radoslaw Sikorski:
“I just announced a Polish decision in connection to Russia's participation in hybrid warfare against the European Union, including Poland: a restriction of movement for Russian diplomats in our country.”
According to Sikorski, the movement of Russian diplomats will be restricted within the province in which they work. The restrictions on movement apply to all staff and consulate personnel, with the exception of the Russian ambassador.
"These are national decisions, but we have evidence that the Russian state is involved in authorizing sabotage in our country as well. We hope that the Russian Federation will treat this as a very serious warning.”
In the last few months alone, 12 people have been arrested in Poland for spying or planning to carry out acts of sabotage. Earlier this month, nine people were arrested in what Poland called a Russian spy ring, which it says was connected to planned sabotage efforts.
Russia is, again, warning of “retaliatory measures” in response to the move.
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Polish Foreign Affairs Minister Radoslaw Sikorski told a local newspaper that his government should not rule out sending troops to Ukraine. His comments echoed a similar sentiment to French President Emmanuel Macron in that Western countries need to keep Vladimir Putin guessing.
"We should not rule out any option. Let [Russian President Vladimir] Putin guess what we will do.”
According to the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskyi, France is already planning to send military instructors to Ukraine.
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Finnish President Alexander Stubb is again ruling out the option of sending troops into Ukraine. With France and the three Baltic states indicating they are ready to deploy soldiers to Ukraine for training purposes, Stubb said Finnish soldiers will be staying put.
"At this stage, talk of sending troops to Ukraine is pure speculation. Finland's position has not changed in any way. We are not about to send troops.”
🇫🇮/ 🇷🇺
Finland is not biting as Russian President Vladimir Putin floats the idea of a ceasefire in Ukraine, but only if the conflict is frozen with the frontlines where they are. Finnish President Alexander Stubb said that while a stop to the fighting would be welcome, Russia cannot be allowed to dictate terms.
"A ceasefire would mean that Russia stops its attack and withdraws. Then we can start discussing the issue.”
🇪🇸🇺🇦
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi's also paid his first visit to Spain this week. His visit netted Ukraine even more military support. The Spanish government announced its latest weapons donation to Ukraine worth one-billion euros. Details of what exactly Spain is donating to Ukraine has not been revealed other than to say it will help supply Ukraine with modern arms and equipment for its ground, air, and naval defenses.
🇵🇱/ 🇷🇺
Poland continues to buff up its military might. In a deal reached with the United States this week, Poland will buy long-range JASSM-ER missiles for its fleet of F-16 fighter jets. The deal is worth $735 million USD, with the missiles beginning to arrive in 2026. The Polish Ministry of Defense has been intently watching the war in neighbouring Ukraine and has taken some of the lessons learned to heart.
“The war in Ukraine has shown how important it is to be able to hit targets located even very far from the front line, and the range of the missiles we have purchased is approximately 1,000 kilometers.”
Polish fighter jets have scrambled multiple times in recent months as Russian missiles heading for Ukraine pass close to, and in some cases across, the Polish border. The Polish government has said it is considering the possibility of actively shooting down Russian missiles that come near its eastern border.
Poland is one of the few European countries that hasn’t downgraded its armed forces or down prioritized defense spending over the years. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, Poland has been on a crazy shopping spree, buying up new weapons, tanks, and missiles, further adding to its already powerful military.
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Fears about the state of the world and the growing threat of war in Europe have become so widespread that they are now being reflected in grocery store flyers in Denmark. The grocery store chain Netto’s latest advertising offers deals on solar cells to charge mobile phones, battery powered radios, canned food that doesn’t require heating up, and candles, all under the banner ‘prepping for every situation’.
For its part, Netto says it is not about creating a scare campaign but about recognizing that consumers are interested in these products and the chain is “about being where the customers are.”
Netto is not alone. Other companies, including Spejdersport and others, have also offered products, aimed at people who are interested in preparing in the event of a national emergency.
The fear of war and of Russian hybrid attacks aimed at critical infrastructure has increased concern among the population. Unlike Sweden, the Danish government has not issued any advice about what people in Denmark should do in the event of a crisis or what food and other items they should have on hand just in case.
The fears are not unfounded. In May, 22 Danish companies in the heating and energy sector were hit by a cyber-attack. As recently as this week, Norway’s NRK reported Russian trawlers were tracked repeatedly, going back and forth over a major undersea data line connecting the mainland with Svalbard as if practicing to sabotage it. Last year, a joint investigation by all the Nordic state broadcasters found Russian fishing trawlers were being used to map critical undersea infrastructure in the Baltic and Northern Atlantic.
Odds & Ends
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The Danish Economic Council has some good news for homeowners and real estate speculators. The council is forecasting that house prices in Denmark will head steadily upward over the next six or so years.
The council released a new housing report on Tuesday.
“In the coming years, higher prices are expected for both owner-occupied flats and houses.”
The council bases its forecasts on good economic indicators, including wage growth and interest rates that will remain low over the short term. It anticipates this will result in more capital for homebuyers to go shopping with.
“These factors are to a large extent also governing the level of housing investment, which over the coming months is expected to rise in line with housing prices.”
🇩🇰🇫🇷
The Seine in Paris is so polluted that two Danish athletes who will compete in the triathlon event in this summer’s Olympic Games have been advised to get vaccinated against hepatitis A and typhoid before they jump in the river. While French officials have been working feverishly to clean the Seine before the games, barely a month ago the river was still found to have worryingly high levels of E.coli. Team Denmark says the vaccinations are entirely voluntary, with the two athletes, Emil Holm and Alberte Kjær Pedersen, free to make their own choices.
🇯🇵
The pushback against mass tourism continues. A small town near Japan’s Mount Fuji erected a black screen in an effort to stop people from flooding into the town in order to snap pictures of the iconic peak. However, people simply made holes in it so they could slip a smartphone through and continue to snap away. The screen is now being repaired using stronger materials.
The city made the move due to growing frustrations with tourists pouring into the town, walking across a busy road, and then on to private land so they could have their Instagram snapshot.