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TODAY IN DENMARK

Today in Denmark: A roundup of the news on Friday

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

Black Friday in Denmark in 2017. This year's edition could see electronic goods in short supply.
Black Friday in Denmark in 2017. This year's edition could see electronic goods in short supply. Photo: Liselotte Sabroe/Ritzau Scanpix

Face mask rules apply from Monday 

If you are out Christmas shopping or getting in groceries in Denmark from Monday, it will have to be with a face mask on after parliament last night rubber stamped the government’s plan to bring back rules requiring the protective garment.

In addition to retail settings, masks will also be required on public transport and in the health and care sector. Coronapas rules are also set to be broadened, and the interval for a valid coronapas with a negative Covid-19 test reduced.

We have more detail on the new rules in this article, which was written before the measures were approved by the parliamentary epidemic committee.

Supply problems could impact Black Friday

Black Friday today means heavy discounts can be found across the retail sector, both online and in stores. Denmark is no different.

But not all products will be easy to get hold of, broadcaster DR reports.

A search of 359 product categories conducted by comparison site Pricerunner found low stocks for one in four.

Electronic products are a particularly affected category due to a global microchip shortage.

Refugee board overturns decision to send home Syrians

The Danish refugee appeals board (Flygningenævnet) has overturned the immigration authority Udlændingestyrelsen’s decision to repatriate Syrian refugees from Damascus in 43 percent of cases, newspaper Jyllands-Posten reports.

Since summer 2020, the immigration board has revoked the residence permits of 186 Syrian refugees, but the appeals board has overturned 80 of these decisions, according to the report.

We’ll have more on this in an article on our website today.

New advertising laws tighten grip on Danish influencers

A new marketing law passed yesterday by parliament will make restrict the way influencers in Denmark promote products.

The law, which takes effect on January 1st, bans influencers from advertising products considered unsuitable for young adults and children under 18 years of age.

However, the law will only apply if the promotion targets the under-18 age group or if the influencer has many influencers in the demographic, DR writes.

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TODAY IN DENMARK

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

Leading Social Democrat interrupts May Day speech to address protesters, King and Queen to take late summer tour on royal yacht, defence minister says no ban on buying Israeli air defence, and other news from Denmark on Thursday.

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

Top Social Democrat breaks off May Day speech to address protesters 

A leading Social Democrat minister, Peter Hummelgaard, was forced to interrupt his May 1st speech at the Fælledparken park in Copenhagen, as he was being drowned out by the booing and shouting from pro-Palestine demonstrators. 

“I don’t know if everyone out there can hear it, but there are some individuals who have come forward to drown out my speech,” he said, before addressing the protesters.

“I understand that you are upset. I understand the frustration. A ceasefire and, in the longer term, a peaceful two-state solution is needed. You have a right to be here with your opinion. But I do too,” he said. 

“I do not believe that this should destroy the democratic debate in Denmark. We all have to agree that Jews in Denmark must be able to live safely and securely,” he said.

It is somewhat unusual for the May 1st Social Democrat speech in Fælledparken to be given by a minister, as the speech is normally given by the party chair, or if the party is in power, by the prime minister.

Danish vocabulary: en våbenhvile – a ceasefire

Danish Royal Couple to visit, Assens, Veijle and Bornholm on summer cruise 

Denmark’s Royal Court has announced in a press release that King Frederik X and Queen Mary will take a late-summer cruise on their royal ship the Dannebrog, visiting the islands of Bornholm and Ærø, and the town of Assens on Funen. The cruise will take place between August 19th and August 22nd. 

In Assens, the mayor, Søren Steen Andersen, said he was looking forward to the visit, which coincides with the city’s 500th anniversary.

“We are looking forward to a visit from the Royal Couple. It will be a fantastic day when we will have the opportunity to show some of the many places, projects and development initiatives we are proud of,” he said. 

Danish vocabulary: Dannebrogstogter – Dannebrog cruises

Defence Minister says new defence deal allows purchase of Israeli air defence 

A new sub agreement under Denmark’s cross-party defense deal does not forbid Denmark from buying a new air defense system from Israel, the country’s defence minister Troels Lund Poulsen, who is calling for a “completely open discussion” over the system, told Ritzau.

“We have not said that we cannot acquire it from Israel. There is nothing about that in the agreement. Nor is it the case that we have said that it must be Israeli,” Lund Poulsen said.

He points out that under the sub agreement the funds allocated for the system had been increased from 19 billion to between 19 billion and 25 billion kroner. 

The leader of the Socialist Left party, Pia Olsen Dyhr, has said that the wording of the agreement makes it “quite difficult” to buy an Israeli system, noting that it stipulates that “Nato interoperability must be taken into account”. 

Danish vocabulary: at udelukke – to exclude  

Denmark’s justice minister seeks to extend police powers to encrypted chats

Denmark’s justice minister has asked the country’s Criminal Justice Committee to investigate whether police powers legally allow them to crack encrypted digital chat such as WhatsApp. 

Peter Hummelgaard wrote in a press release that it was “absolutely crucial that the police get the necessary tools to investigate and solve crime”.

“I am pleased that a number of the country’s most competent forces will now assess whether the law gives the police the necessary powers to search, intercept and seize [chats] when the investigation takes place digitally and on new communication platforms,” he said. 

Danish vocabulary: krypterede – encrypted 

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