NordenBladet – Øresund Bridge closes in both directions after accident. The accident involved a single lorry that lost control and collided with the central reservation, Copenhagen Police confirmed. No injuries occurred.
The Danish Road Directorate wrote earlier on Wednesday that it did not know when the bridge would reopen, but traffic is now set to begin moving again.
Snow and ice have resulted in hazardous driving conditions across Denmark and southern Sweden on Wednesday.
NordenBladet – Earlier this week it emerged that those volunteering at NorthSide festival would have to pay a deposit this year as the festival wants to curb the number of workers skipping their shifts. Now NorthSide has produced yet another incentive (to go and to skip your shift): this time a positive one.
The festival has unveiled 17 new artists including three additional headliners for this year: US hip-hop group N.E.R.D featuring Pharrell Williams; US indie rockers The War On Drugs; and Body Count, the US metal/rap combo band with Ice T.
“We are perhaps broader than ever before in terms of genres and styles, and the overall result looks very, very exciting and something we are super proud of,” John Fogde, the head of communications for NorthSide, told DR Nyheder.
“We can really see that our guests want to see the new big new international stars. So we’re prioritising new international music ahead of a broad Danish range.”
There are currently 41 bands lined up for NorthSide, and with the likes of Beck, Björk, Queens of the Stone Age, The National, A Perfect Circle and Liam Gallagher also headlining, it is promising to be quite the festival this year.
There are also some big Danish hitters in the mixer, including Dizzy Mizz Lizzy, CV Jørgensen and Nik & Jay.
The festival, which was first held in 2010, will take place at Ådalen in Aarhus from June 7-9.
Source: cphpost.dk
NordenBladet — Last Saturday, on February 24 th , Estonia celebrated 100 years of independence. Sweden was represented by the King’s Company, part of the Royal Guards, in the yearly independence parade.
Several countries participated in the parade to support Estonia’s 100 years of independence. The King´s Company attended with 11 men and was one of the bigger units to take part in the celebrations (not originating from Estonia). The public interest was big and the streets of Tallinn full of people cheering the parade and the Swedish King’s Company when they paraded down the streets. After the parade the Embassy of Sweden served “fika” to thank the King’s Company for their participation.
The King’s Company would like to give a big thank you to the Estonian people who cheered them down the streets in both Swedish and Estonian. The King’s Company felt very welcomed!
Pictured are the President of Estonia, Kersti Kaljulaid, when she greets the Swedish King’s Company at the Freedom Square, just before the parade started.
Source: SwedenAbroad.com
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NordenBladet – The first festive event of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Estonia was hoisting the flag on the Pikk Hermann tower on Tallinn’s Toompea Hill at sunrise. Every day, the Estonian flag is hoisted at sunrise, and taken down at sunset. On Independence Day this is a special event that attracts plenty of people every year. Representatives of student organizations, choirs, and other groups close to Estonian traditions attend it.
Flag hoisting to the sounds of the Estonian anthem
Estonian Male Choir Association male choirs and the Estonian Police and Border Guard Orchestra
Conductor Hanno Põldmäe
Speech by the President of the Riigikogu Eiki Nestor
“Eesti Lipp”
Music by Enn Võrk, lyrics by Martin Lipp
Estonian Male Choir Association male choirs and the Estonian Police and Border Guard Orchestra
Conductor Peeter Perens
Speech by Tallinn Secondary School of Science final year student Mathias Kübar
“Jää vabaks, Eesti meri”
Music and lyrics by Viktor Konstantin Oxford
Estonian Male Choir Association male choirs and the Estonian Police and Border Guard Orchestra
Conductor Indrek Vijard
Words of blessing by EELC Archbishop Urmas Viilma
“Hoia, Jumal, Eestit”
Music by Juhan Aavik, lyrics by Aleksander Leopold Raudkepp
Estonian Male Choir Association male choirs and the Estonian Police and Border Guard Orchestra
Conductor Ants Soots
Estonian Declaration of Independence, read by fourth year student of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre, winner of Voldemar Panso Prize Priit Põldma
“Kodumaa”
March for brass band by Raimund Kull
Estonian Police and Border Guard Orchestra
Conductor Hanno Põldmäe
Approximate end of the ceremony 8.10 a.m.
The ceremony is followed by an informal celebration together with the Estonian Folk Dance and Folk Music Association. You can brush up on your dancing skills with Folk Culture Society Koidupuna, Pelgulinn Community Centre mixed folk dance group Tontar, Folk Dance Society Pääsuke, Tallinn French School dance group Leesikad, Folklore Society Leigarid, and Saku Recreation Centre group Kohevad ja Tugevad.
Fotod: Estonia 100. Flag hoisting ceremony on February 24 (Riigkogu fotoarhiiv/Erik Peinar)
NordenBladet — The situation in Ghouta, Syria has in the last couple of weeks escalated drastically and the Syrian military is conducting a massive bombardment against both rebels and civilians in the city. Today, the UN Security Council will vote on a resolution concerning a ceasefire in Syria, which also encompasses Ghouta.
Minister for Foreign Affairs, Anders Samuelsen says: ”What is happening in Ghouta at the moment is completely inhumane. Apparently, there is no limit to the brutal measures the Assad-regime is willing to employ against its civilian population to enforce its rule. This is completely unacceptable. I call on the UN Security Council to act when they vote on a ceasefire later today. Regrettably, the Security Council has failed many times before when it comes to Syria. The responsibility for this lies in particular with one member: Russia, which has already signaled that it does not want a solution to the problem. Russia should bow its head in shame if it does not change its course. I strongly urge Russia to show decency and vote in favor of the resolution for a ceasefire, which is expected to come to a vote later today. Both for political reasons, but not least to ensure humanitarian access to the distressed civilian population.”
Source: um.dk
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NordenBladet — Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen today participated in a summit on the West African G5 Joint Force that seeks to fight terrorism, organised crime, and irregular migration in the Sahel region.
At the summit, Denmark announced a contribution of DKK 99 million over a three-year period for regional peace and stabilisation efforts. The efforts will, among other things, focus on fighting organised crime and terrorism as well as strengthening the justice system and other initiatives aimed at providing support for the G5 Joint Force. In addition, Denmark announced a contribution of DKK 7.5 million directly aimed at making the G5 Joint Force operational. Both contributions are financed under the Danish Peace and Stabilisation Fund that contains commitments from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence.
Foreign Minister Anders Samuelsen “Today, Denmark sends a clear signal that we will actively contribute to the stabilisation and development of the Sahel region. With the collapse of Libya and instability in North Africa, terrorism, radicalisation and irregular migration have become challenges that affect us directly in Europe and in Denmark. If we do not tackle the great challenges to stability in the Sahel, direct consequences will be felt, also for Denmark, in the form of increased migration flows and the risk of extremism and terrorism spreading. We have a shared interest with the Sahel countries in addressing these challenges. This is why we are now taking steps to strengthen our efforts even further.”
Source: um.dk
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NordenBladet — Together with EU, the Netherlands and Sweden, Denmark is co-hosting a high-level conference in Brussels today.
The main focus of the conference will be on human rights and trust building between local communities and security forces in the G5 countries within the West African Sahel region.
Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs says “I am proud of the long and active role that Denmark has played in the Sahel region in order to promote respect for human rights. The G5 Sahel Joint Force will only be able to fight terrorism, organised crime and human trafficking effectively if respect for human rights is promoted and a fundamental trust between the local community and the security forces is secured. Denmark will be focusing on military elements as well as efforts that aim to establish a relationship of trust, promote human rights and strengthen the co-operation between the G5 Sahel Joint Force and the justice system”.
The High Level Conference will take place the day before a summit on the Sahel of the European Heads of State and Government in Brussels. The summit will mainly focus on signalling full support to the G5 Sahel Joint Force that was announced by the G5 countries in early 2017. Among other things, the force is intended to fight organised crime and terrorism in the Sahel region. Prime Minister Lars Løkke Rasmussen will be representing Denmark at the summit on 23 February.
Source: um.dk
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NordenBladet — Once again, Denmark is ranked in the top as one of the least corrupt countries in the world on Transparency Internationals Corruption Perceptions Index that indicates perceived corruption in the public sector, which is published today. “I am glad to see that Denmark still being perceived as one of the least corrupt countries in the world. This is a good point of departure when Denmark in October gather around 25 countries and a number of international organizations with the aim of strengthening international cooperation on fighting corruption”, says Minister for Development Cooperation Ulla Tørnæs.
On 22-24 October this year, Denmark will host the 18th International Anti-Corruption Conference (IACC) in Copenhagen in cooperation with Transparency International and the IACC Council. “We will engage in discussions at political level on how to strengthen the fight against corruption. We will focus on how to strengthen the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and the ambition to substantially reduce corruption”, explains Ulla Tørnæs. For several years, Denmark has been ranked as the least corrupt country in the world measured on Transparency Internationals Corruption Perceptions Index indicating perceived corruption in the public sector. The Index is published annually and is based on a number of expert sources such as the World Bank, World Economic Forum and Economist Intelligence Unit. Since 2012, Denmark has been ranked as number one, either alone or together with other countries. In 2017, Denmark is ranked at second place after New Zealand.
Source: um.dk
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NordenBladet — Anders Sammuelsen: “We support Ukraine in its reform efforts – also by stressing that still more needs to be done”
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Denmark, Anders Samuelsen, will be hosting – together with his Ukrainian colleague – a big international Ukraine Reform Conference in Copenhagen on 27 June 2018. Today in Kiev, the foreign ministers signed the formal invitations to the Conference in Copenhagen. Foreign Ministers from EU-, NATO- and G7-countries as well as high-level representatives from international organisations will be invited.
“I have high expectations to the Ukraine Reform Conference in Copenhagen and I look forward to once again hos a big and important event in Copenhagen. A more modern and European-oriented Ukraine is emerging these years. Together with our international partners, we have to support this development and at the same time continuously stress the need for further progress in the reform process, especially in the fight against corruption. I have encouraged the Ukrainian Government to take advantage of the Conference as a ‘driver for change’ to speed up the reform processes in the coming months,” Anders Samuelsen says.
The Conference in Copenhagen will bring together 250 people and build on the success of the first international Ukraine Reform Conference last year in London.
Source: um.dk
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NordenBladet — Finland will fund the development of joint security troops in the Sahel region with EUR 900 000. The support will be channelled via the EU’s African Peace Facility fund, to be used to provide the troops with material support and services. Finland’s contribution cannot be directed to buy weapons or other lethal material.
The five countries located in the Sahel region (Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger) decided, at the beginning of 2017, to set up joint security forces. The aim of this initiative was to counter security threats in the region, such as terrorism, drug trafficking and human smuggling. The security troops will consist of 5000 soldiers.
The G5 troops will require, however, external support to become fully operational. The European Commission has decided to support the initiative and has created a support mechanism for this purpose.
“It is a positive sign that the countries in the region assume responsibility for their own security. As a result, the region’s problems are less likely to have spill-over effects on Europe”, says Minister for Foreign Affairs Timo Soini.
A high-level conference will take place, on 23 February in Brussels, on the political situation, security and development in the Sahel region. Prime Minister Juha Sipilä will represent Finland at the conference.
Source: Finland.ee
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