NordiskPost

Noma was a symbol of sustainable cuisine, until its work culture came under fire Noma scandal has placed Copenhagen’s most influential restaurant at the centre of a wider debate about power, labour rights and accountability in elite kitchens. After former employees accused chef and co-founder René Redzepi of harassment, physical aggression and abusive management, Redzepi apologised and announced on 12 March that he would step away from Noma’s daily operations with immediate effect. The case has revived a broader question for high-end gastronomy: environmental ambition cannot be separated from social sustainability and respect for workers’ dignity. Why Noma became a global benchmark for New Nordic cuisine…

Noma’s scandal has exposed the gap between sustainable cuisine and unsafe work culture in one of Copenhagen’s most famous restaurants.

#noma
#denmark

Sweden’s Liberals now accept the far-right Sweden Democrats in government Sweden Democrats government is now openly on the table in Sweden after the Liberals said they would accept the far-right party as part of a future coalition if the right wins the general election on 13 September 2026. The move marks a major reversal for a party that had long insisted the Sweden Democrats could support a government, but not formally join it. It has immediately triggered criticism from the opposition and deep tensions inside the Liberals themselves. The shift was announced on Friday by Liberal leader Simona Mohamsson alongside Sweden Democrats leader Jimmie Åkesson.

Sweden’s Liberals now accept Sweden Democrats in government, deepening a party split and reshaping the election campaign

#sweden

Finland will suspend its tax treaty with Russia Finland’s tax treaty with Russia is set to be suspended from 1 July 2026, after the Finnish government proposed ending the application of the bilateral agreement that has regulated the taxation of cross-border income between the two countries since the 1990s. The move follows Russia’s decision in 2023 to suspend parts of the treaty in response to EU sanctions, while Finland had continued to apply it unilaterally. What the Finland-Russia tax treaty covers The Finland-Russia tax treaty is a bilateral agreement designed to avoid double taxation and prevent tax evasion…

Finland will suspend its tax treaty with Russia from July, ending a one-sided arrangement after Moscow froze parts of the deal.

#russia
#finland

Drinking water has become one of Denmark’s most sensitive campaign issues Danish drinking water has become one of the clearest environmental dividing lines in the campaign ahead of Denmark’s general election on 24 March, after new evidence showed pesticide residues in more than half of the water boreholes examined and renewed pressure to protect the groundwater on which the country depends. The debate now centres on a simple but politically sensitive question: should Denmark introduce a national pesticide ban in vulnerable groundwater-forming areas, or try to solve the problem through broader land-use reforms and negotiated agreements with agriculture? Why drinking water protection has become an election issue…

Denmark’s drinking water has become a campaign issue, with parties split over pesticide bans and groundwater protection.

#denmark

The man behind H&M is still the richest person in Sweden Stefan Persson is still the richest person in Sweden, and the latest billionaire ranking suggests that H&M’s recovery in the stock market has widened his lead rather than narrowed it. According to the 2026 list compiled by Affärsvärlden, the former H&M chief executive has an estimated fortune of SEK 223.6 billion (about €21.0 billion), keeping him ahead of every other Swedish billionaire as the retail group’s share price has strengthened. Persson has dominated this ranking for more than two decades, and the latest update shows how closely his personal wealth remains tied to the company founded by his family.

Stefan Persson remains Sweden’s richest person as H&M rises, while Sweden’s billionaire list still shows a gender gap.

#sweden

Denmark plans to narrow protection for some Ukrainians Denmark’s Ukraine special law could soon apply to fewer displaced Ukrainians, after the government said it wants to exclude people arriving from parts of Ukraine it considers less affected by the war and those covered by Ukraine’s mobilisation rules. The proposal is expected to be tabled in April 2026 and would not affect people who have already received residence permits in Denmark. Which Ukrainians Denmark wants to exclude from the special law The Danish government said the planned change would limit access to residence permits under the special law for displaced people from Ukraine…

Denmark plans to restrict residence permits for some Ukrainians under its special law, citing housing pressure and mobilisation rules.

#ukraine
#denmark

A Danish candidate used Tinder for an election poster, then had to apologise For a moment, it looked like a clever campaign joke. A Tinder election poster in Denmark turned a Liberal Alliance candidate into something close to a dating profile, borrowing the app’s instantly recognisable visual language to catch voters’ attention during the parliamentary campaign. But the idea quickly ran into a more prosaic obstacle: Tinder’s own rules. The episode centres on Mads Strange, a parliamentary candidate for Liberal Alliance, who used posters inspired by Tinder’s layout and logo during the Danish election campaign ahead of the 24 March 2026…

A Danish Liberal Alliance candidate used Tinder’s branding on campaign posters, then apologised and took them down..

#denmark

Denmark’s public schools are losing pupils, and the divide is growing Danish public schools are losing ground as more than one child in four now receives education outside the mainstream folkeskole, according to a new analysis based on the latest 2024 data. The figures have reignited a debate over inequality, inclusion and school quality in Denmark, where education has also become one of the key battlegrounds ahead of the parliamentary election on 24 March. The analysis, published by the labour movement think tank Arbejderbevægelsens Erhvervsråd (AE), shows that 26 percent of children from grades 0 to 9 were taught outside the mainstream public school track in 2024.

One in four Danish children is now outside mainstream public school, as private enrolment and special provision keep rising.

#denmark
#school

Norway arrests three brothers over the USA embassy bombing The Oslo embassy explosion investigation has entered a new phase after Norwegian police arrested three brothers in their 20s and charged them with terror bombing over the blast outside the USA embassy in Oslo, a case that authorities still say may have political or international dimensions. Why the arrests change the Oslo embassy explosion case The arrests, carried out in Oslo on Wednesday afternoon, mark the first major breakthrough since the explosion hit the entrance to the embassy’s consular section in the early hours of Sunday 8 March…

Norway arrests three brothers over the USA embassy bombing

The Oslo embassy explosion investigation has entered a new phase after Norwegian police arrested three brothers in their 20s and charged them with terror bombing over the blast outside the USA embassy in Oslo, a case that authorities still…

European Central Bank fines Nordea Finance Finland €2.3m over reporting failures Nordea ECB fine is the focus of a new regulatory case after the European Central Bank imposed a €2.26 million penalty on Nordea Finance Finland over incorrect reporting of credit risks, according to Finnish and European authorities. The case concerns how the lender reported large exposures over multiple quarters between 2021 and 2024, and comes amid broader scrutiny of Nordea’s compliance controls. What the ECB said about Nordea’s reporting breaches The European Central Bank said Nordea Finance Finland incorrectly assigned guaranteed receivables to debtors rather than guarantors when calculating large exposures.

Nordea’s Finnish subsidiary was fined €2.26m by the ECB over severe breaches of EU large-exposure reporting rules.

#finland

Sweden may copy Denmark’s student job model Sweden’s Centre Party wants Denmark-style student jobs to help students gain work experience before graduation, arguing that a structured link between higher education and the labour market could make it easier for young graduates to find qualified employment. The proposal was presented on March 11 by Centre Party leader Elisabeth Thand Ringqvist, who said Sweden should make it as natural to work in a relevant sector during university studies as it is to prepare for exams. The party says the reform is aimed at students in higher education who struggle to get a foothold in the labour market despite academic qualifications.

Sweden’s Centre Party wants Denmark-style student jobs to help students gain experience and enter the labour market faster.

#sweden
#denmark

Denmark relies on foreign workers, but keeps them out of parliament elections Foreign workers in Denmark are again at the centre of a debate on democratic representation after an Italian resident in Billund wrote an open letter to political parties ahead of the 24 March 2026 Folketing election, arguing that people who live, work and pay taxes in the country should also have a say in who governs it. DR reported the case of Simone Giuseppe Usseri, an Italian citizen who lives and works in Billund and says Denmark cannot describe itself as a full democracy while a large and economically important part of society remains excluded from parliamentary voting.

Denmark’s foreign workers can vote locally, but not in parliamentary elections, reopening a debate on taxes, citizenship and democracy.

#denmark

Five Nordic cinemas named among the world’s greatest The Nordic region has secured a significant presence in the global cinematic landscape, with five venues from across Northern European countries featured in the 2026 Time Out list of the 100 greatest cinemas in the world. Leading the group is Grand Teatret in Copenhagen (København), ranked 43rd, recognized for its historical preservation and its role as a talent spotter for Scandinavian filmmakers. The ranking highlights venues that prioritize architectural heritage and community engagement, including iconic theaters in Helsinki, Oslo, Stockholm, and Reykjavík.

Five Nordic cinemas rank among the world's best. Discover the region's top independent film venues in Copenhagen, Helsinki, and Oslo.

#cinema

Fisheries could be the main dispute in Iceland’s EU talks Fisheries would likely be the biggest point of contention if Iceland resumes EU accession talks, according to enlargement expert Heather Grabbe, because the issue goes to the core of sovereignty, natural resources and national economic interests. After weeks in which the Icelandic debate has focused on the legal status of Reykjavik’s EU application and the possibility of new negotiations, this is the clearest indication yet of where the hardest political clash would probably emerge. Why fisheries could become the hardest chapter again Speaking to RÚV, Grabbe said…

Fisheries could become the main obstacle if Iceland resumes EU accession talks after the August 29 referendum.

#iceland

Alcohol sales in Norway drop as consumers buy fewer spirits Alcohol sales in Norway declined in the past year. Recent data fromStatistics Norway (Statistisk sentralbyrå) confirms a 1.2% drop in overall volume. Consumers bought significantly fewer spirits, wine, and beer. Meanwhile, ready-to-drink beverages remain the only growing category in the market. A decline in traditional beverage sales The latest figures reveal a clear shift in consumer preferences. Norwegians purchased fewer traditional alcoholic drinks compared to the previous year. Specifically, retailers sold 11 million liters of spirits (brennevin). Wine sales reached 85 million liters. Beer remained the most popular choice, recording 257 million liters sold.

Alcohol sales in Norway dropped by 1.2 percent last year. Statistics Norway reports lower consumer volumes for spirits, wine, and beer.

#norway

Iceland’s hardest EU chapters were never opened Iceland’s EU accession talks had already advanced well before they were frozen, but the most politically sensitive chapters were still unresolved when the process stopped. That is why the current debate is not just about whether Reykjavik should reopen negotiations with Brussels, but about whether Iceland is ready to confront the parts of the EU accession process that were left untouched more than a decade ago. Most of the missing work was in fisheries and agriculture When Iceland paused its EU membership talks, the chapters that remained the most difficult were the ones linked to…

Iceland’s EU file was advanced, but the most sensitive chapters on fisheries and agriculture remained unopened.

#iceland
#europe

Body anxiety stops Danish students from using communal showers More than half of the older students at the Gammelgaard School (Gammelgaardsskolen) in Aarhus, Denmark, refuse to use the sports showers after physical education classes. The students cite a fear of rumors and body shaming as the primary reason for their decision. The local school administration acknowledges the problem but states they cannot force the pupils to wash. The cultural legacy of communal bathing Historically, communal showering held significant social value in Nordic countries. It served as both a practical hygiene measure and a tool for social cohesion.

Rising body anxiety leads Aarhus students to skip sports showers. Danish municipalities are now rethinking traditional locker room designs

#denmark

Denmark’s election drops 49 bills, including coffee and chocolate cuts The Danish election wipes 49 bills from the Parliament (Folketinget) agenda after Prime Minister (Statsministeren) Mette Frederiksen called a general election for 24 March 2026, triggering a constitutional “discontinuity” rule that automatically drops any proposal not finally adopted. The list of lapsed bills includes a government-backed package meant to make everyday goods cheaper by removing excise duties on coffee and chocolate and sugar products, alongside other tax and VAT changes. The measures are now on hold until a new Folketing is elected and decides which proposals to reintroduce.

Danish election wipes 49 bills, delaying cheaper coffee and chocolate plans, zero VAT on books, and other tax changes.

#denmark

Iceland examines Catholic Church remarks on homosexuality Iceland is examining Catholic Church remarks on homosexuality after comments by the chancellor of the Catholic Church in Iceland triggered political backlash, a police review and a new government request for an assessment of conversion practices. The case has renewed scrutiny of how religious guidance intersects with Iceland’s 2023 ban on coercive conversion therapy. What the Catholic Church’s chancellor said about homosexuality The controversy followed remarks by Father Jakob Rolland, Chancellor of the Catholic Church in Iceland, in an interview with the RÚV podcast Meining. Rolland said people with same-sex attraction were welcome in the Church, but only if they did not pursue a same-sex relationship.

Iceland reviews Catholic Church remarks on homosexuality as police assess possible conversion therapy concerns.

#iceland

Danish hotel chain acquires a third of Orø island The Copenhagen-based Arp-Hansen Hotel Group purchased approximately one-third of Orø. This small island is located in the Isefjord, Denmark. Local residents and officials in the Holbæk Municipality (Holbæk Kommune) welcomed the investment earlier this week. The hospitality company plans to develop local tourism through new nature-integrated accommodations. Furthermore, the project aims to strengthen the regional economy while preserving the area's natural profile. Boosting local tourism and the economy The Arp-Hansen Hotel Group represents the largest hotel operator in the Danish capital. The company recently decided to expand its portfolio beyond urban centers.

The Arp-Hansen Hotel Group acquires a third of the Danish island Orø. The investment aims to boost local tourism and is welcomed by the local mayor.

#denmark

Copenhagen’s Glyptotek gets DKK 1.5bn for restoration, but will close for years The Glyptotek restoration project in Copenhagen is moving ahead after the museum secured DKK 1.5 billion (€201 million) in grants from the New Carlsberg Foundation (Ny Carlsbergfondet) and the Carlsberg Foundation (Carlsbergfondet), setting the stage for what it describes as one of the largest restoration efforts in Danish museum history. A DKK 1.5 billion boost from Denmark’s major art foundations The museum says the combined grants will support a long-term programme to safeguard its landmark buildings, improve conditions for artworks, and strengthen accessibility for future visitors. The initiative is branded…

Glyptotek restoration plans in Copenhagen include a 4–6 year closure from 2028 after DKK 1.5bn in grants, with total costs near DKK 2bn.

#copenhagen
#denmark
#art

Public saunas in Finland are becoming the new happy hour Public saunas in Finland are increasingly being treated as a new kind of happy hour, as urban “sauna worlds” mix heat, cold plunges and restaurant services to create social meeting points—especially for younger visitors. The trend, highlighted by Finland’s public broadcaster Yle in early March 2026, reflects a broader post-pandemic wellness boom that is reshaping how Finns—and an expanding international audience—use sauna spaces. From Hickarö to Helsinki, sauna worlds are filling up On a February Tuesday morning in Kokkola, the Hickarö sauna world is already busy. A morning sauna paired with breakfast draws in customers—particularly women—and the women’s side is often sold out on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, according to Yle’s reporting.

Public saunas in Finland are becoming a youth-friendly “happy hour”, blending sauna, cold plunges and restaurant services.

#finland

Explosion hits USA embassy in Oslo, but Norway has no suspect yet An explosion at the USA embassy in Oslo damaged the entrance area of the diplomatic mission early on Sunday, 8 March, prompting a major police investigation, tighter security around diplomatic and Jewish sites, and renewed attention to the vulnerability of high-profile foreign missions in Norway’s capital. What happened at the USA embassy in Oslo The blast was reported at around 1.03am outside the public entrance to the embassy’s consular section in the Huseby area of western Oslo. Norwegian police said the damage was limited and that no one was injured…

Explosion hits the USA embassy in Oslo, as Norway investigates a targeted attack and tightens security around diplomatic sites.

#norway

The EU says Iceland’s application is still valid before the August 29 vote Iceland’s EU application is still legally valid, according to the European Commission, which says the country never formally withdrew its request to join the bloc. The clarification adds a new legal and political element to Iceland’s renewed debate on Europe, ahead of the 29 August referendum on whether the country should resume EU accession talks, because it suggests that the application itself remains on the table even after years of suspended talks. Why Brussels still considers the application valid Speaking to Icelandic public broadcaster RÚV, Guillaume Mercier, spokesperson for the EU Commissioner responsible for enlargement, said Iceland’s membership application from 2009 remains valid in legal terms because it was…

The European Commission says Iceland’s EU application is still legally valid because it was never formally withdrawn

#iceland
#eu

Norway may become a weak link in the EU drone wall The EU drone wall could have a northern gap unless Norway accelerates its preparedness along the border with Russia, according to researchers and local voices in Finnmark. In interviews reported by NRK and summarised by Finland’s public broadcaster Yle, a senior engineer at the Norwegian research institute NORCE warned that Norway is not organised to repel a potential drone attack in the far north, despite rising concerns about Russian drone activity and the growing role of drones in the war in Ukraine. Why Finnmark matters for Europe’s drone defence plans…

Norway could be a gap in the EU drone wall as Finnmark warns of weak counter-drone readiness, skills shortages and Arctic constraints.

#norway
#europe

A 17-year-old was assaulted while putting up election posters in Copenhagen A 17-year-old Social Democrat was taken to hospital after being assaulted in Copenhagen while putting up election posters ahead of Denmark’s parliamentary election on 24 March 2026, according to Justice Minister Peter Hummelgaard. The episode took place on Dronning Louises Bro, where the teenager was working alongside a 15-year-old volunteer when, according to Hummelgaard, they were attacked by participants in a black-clad demonstration directed against the Social Democrats. In a campaign often dominated by polling, strategy and coalition arithmetic, the most arresting fact here is much more human: two teenagers volunteering in the street became the target of violence.

Teenage Social Democrat taken to hospital after assault during a black-clad protest in Copenhagen before Denmark’s 24 March election.

#denmark

Felicia won Melodifestivalen 2026 and is heading to Eurovision Melodifestivalen 2026 ended with Felicia winning the Swedish final and securing the country’s place at the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna in May. After a six-week tour across Sweden and an intense final at Strawberry Arena near Stockholm on March 7, Felicia’s song "My System" came out on top, confirming her status as one of the season’s strongest favourites. Felicia takes Sweden’s Eurovision ticket after a six-week tour Felicia’s victory closes this year’s edition of Melodifestivalen, Sweden’s long-running national selection for Eurovision, after five heats and a final that brought together 12 acts.

Felicia wins Melodifestivalen 2026 with “My System” and will represent Sweden at Eurovision in Vienna after a final marked by illness.

#eurovision
#sweden

Sweden is telling its citizens to prepare for a three-year war Sweden’s civil defence is preparing for the possibility of a long war, after Mikael Frisell, director-general of the Swedish Civil Defence and Resilience Agency (Myndigheten för civilt försvar, MCF), said the public must be ready for a conflict that could last up to three years. The warning, given in an interview with Swedish Radio on Saturday, reflects Stockholm’s broader effort to rebuild civil preparedness after decades of post-Cold War downsizing. Why Sweden is talking about a long war now Frisell said current wars last around three years on average, and that Sweden therefore has to prepare for a prolonged conflict rather than a short emergency.

Sweden says citizens must prepare for a three-year war as civil defence is rebuilt around long-term resilience and NATO-era threats.

#sweden

Danish party leaders sequestered in “Højskolen” TV experiment In a significant experiment for Danish politics, the leaders of all 12 political parties represented in the Danish Parliament (Folketinget) have participated in a unique 24-hour retreat. The program, titled Højskolen (The Folk High School), is a new TV2 production based on the successful Belgian format "The Conclave" (Het Conclaaf). Recorded just one week before the general election was officially called, the show now assumes a critical role in national discourse, offering voters a rare, unvarnished look at the country's leadership during a pivotal moment for the…

Recorded a week before the election, TV2's "Højskolen" sequesters 12 Danish party leaders at Ryslinge for a 24-hour retreat without advisors.

#denmark

EU plant-based meat labels look like a symbolic win for livestock producers Plant-based meat labels are set to face tighter restrictions after EU member states and Parliament negotiators reached a provisional agreement on Thursday to ban a wide range of meat-related terms for plant-based foods. The deal is still awaiting formal endorsement, but it already looks like a political victory for livestock interests more than a convincing answer to any real consumer problem. The agreement would reserve 31 meat-related terms for products that actually contain meat. According to the Council, the restricted terms include beef, veal, pork, poultry, chicken, turkey, duck, goose, lamb, steak, ribs, breast, thigh, liver…

The EU plans to ban some meat-related names for plant-based foods, in a move critics call symbolic and unnecessary

#europe