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TODAY IN DENMARK

Today in Denmark: A roundup of the news on Tuesday

Find out what's going on in Denmark today with The Local's short roundup of the news in less than five minutes.

Copenhagen Zoo's lion enclosure in September 2021. Four lions are to leave the zoo on November 23rd and will be transported to new homes in Barcelona and New Zealand.
Copenhagen Zoo's lion enclosure in September 2021. Four lions are to leave the zoo on November 23rd and will be transported to new homes in Barcelona and New Zealand.Photo: Ida Marie Odgaard/Ritzau Scanpix

Americans urged not to travel to Germany and Denmark over Covid

The US State Department on Monday advised Americans not to travel to either Denmark or Germany, as coronavirus cases soar in both countries.

The department issued Level 4 travel advisories — the highest level — for both countries, “indicating a very high level of COVID-19 in the country.”

More on that in this article.

Citizenship case goes to court

A 32-year-old woman whose Danish citizenship was revoked by the government, and who is now detained at a prison camp for Isis sympathisers in Syria, will today see her case reviewed by the Østre Landsret high court, broadcaster DR reports.

The court is to assess whether the withdrawal of the woman’s citizenship is acceptable given it was done without trial, requiring only the signature of a minister.

READ ALSO: Denmark passes law enabling withdrawal of jihadists’ citizenship

Municipal daycare staffing bill reaches parliament

Parliament is scheduled today to begin process over a new law setting the ratio of staff to children at municipal childcare facilities, termed minimumsnormeringer in Danish.

Parents have previously campaigned for a standard ratio of 1:3 between adults and children, with the left wing Socialist People’s Party backing this and making it a key campaign pledge. Debate over the issue has included the question of whether municipalities themselves should find a way to ensure the ratio is met, or whether the central government should demand – and fund – more daycare staff.

The proposed law has been criticised for not correctly assessing the number of adult carers, DR writes. For example, a kindergarten manager is considered by the proposed law to provided 85 percent of the childcare of a full time carer – even though the manager does not spend 85 percent of their time with children.

READ ALSO: Why are so many parents in Denmark demonstrating over childcare?

Sick pay rules to be discussed as businesses deal with Covid-19 absences

Acting employment minister Mattias Tesfaye will today discuss sick pay rules with labour market representatives. The labour market has urged the government to provide ne support to firms who are paying staff while off sick or isolated due to Covid-19.

Companies are hoping for money to help cover costs from the first sick day of a staff member affected by the coronavirus.

READ ALSO: What you need to know about sick leave in Denmark

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TODAY IN DENMARK

Today in Denmark: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday

Teachers report worsening violence, Danish electric car firm faces bankruptcy, hotdog stall flat out after winning 'best frikadelle' award, and more news from Denmark on Thursday.

Today in Denmark: A roundup of the latest news on Thursday

Teachers report worsening violence at Danish schools

Near half of the teachers who responded to a survey by the Danish Union of Teachers said that they witnessed violent behaviour between students on a daily or weekly basis, with slightly more than half saying that violent episodes were getting more common. 

The survey was carried out after a string of severe bullying cases at Danish primary schools have been reported in the media. 

Fully 359 of the 2,426 teachers who responded to the survey said they witnessed students hitting, kicking, pushing, throwing objects, biting or spitting at eachother on a daily basis, with 817 saying this happened weekly. 

Some 624 said there were significantly more episodes than five years ago and 619 that there were slightly more episodes. Around 540 said that the number of episodes was about the same. 

The survey, which was carried out along with the broadcaster TV2, followed reports of violence and abuse at Borup Skole in Køge Municipality.

Danish vocabulary: skub – pushing

Danish electric car firm faces bankruptcy

Fisker Inc, the electric car firm founded by the Danish automative designer Henrik Fisker, is sharply cut the prices of most of its models as it faces a bankruptcy, the Business Insider wesbite has reported. 

On Tuesday, the company announced that its Ocean SUV would become $6,700 cheaper, making it only slightly more that half of the price of Tesla’s Model X. 

The announcement came after a potential deal between Fisker and a “major car manufacturer” collapsed, sending shares plummeting. 

Danish vocabulary: konkurs – bankrupcty

More Danes seek help with confirmation costs

Charities in Denmark such as Dansk Folkehjælp, Børnesagens Fællesråd, and Foreningen til Støtte af Mødre og Børn, have reported that growing numbers of people in Denmark are requesting help for the cost of holding small parties for the confirmation of their children in the Church of Denmark. 

According to Dansk Folkehjælp, 850 people asked for help this year, an increase of 30 percent on 2023, while Børnesagen’s Fællesråd saw the number rise to 343 this year from 306 last year and Foreningen til Støtte af Mødre og Børn saw the number of requests rise to 436 from 423. 

Danes traditionally hold their confirmation ceremonies on Shrove Monday, which fell on Feb 12th this year, and typically hold a party for the young person who is formally admitted to the church. 

Maria Blankensteiner, from Foreningen til Støtte af Mødre og Børn, said that those seeking assistance were typically give a voucher for 2,500 kroner. 

“This means that you can buy some cheap confirmation clothes and hold a small party where you invite the closest family and perhaps the confirmand’s best friend,” she said. 

Danish vocabulary: stigende efterspørgsel – rising demand

Silkeborg hotdog stall wins “Denmark’s best frikadelle” 

Brian Flink Pedersen, the owner of Pølsemageriet in Silkeborg on Jutland has been working flat out since he was crowned last week as the producer of “Denmark’s best frikadelle”, with his version of Denmark’s much-loved meatball rated the best. 

“This week we have sold approximately 20 times as much as we usually do. It has been sold out every day,” Pedersen told TV2 of how last week’s award had affected business. 

In a normal week, he sells between 300-400 portions of frikadeller, last week he sold more than 5,000. 

His winning frikadelle was pan-fried with tart apple, bacon and a little thyme, and that was the variety in demand last week. 

Danish vocabulary: udsolgt – sold out 

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