Stockholm’s Skandia cinema is now part of Europe’s film heritage Bio Skandia in Stockholm has been designated a Treasure of European Film Culture, adding one of Sweden’s best-known cinemas to the European Film Academy’s list of sites with a special place in the continent’s film history. Why Bio Skandia joined the European film heritage list The designation was announced for Skandia cinema in Stockholm, a historic venue opened in 1923 and designed by Swedish architect Gunnar Asplund. The award is given by the European Film Academy to places considered important to European film culture and cinema history. Skandia is now one of a small number of Swedish locations to receive the recognition.

Bio Skandia in Stockholm joins the European Film Academy’s list of sites recognised as part of Europe’s film heritage

#cinema
#sweden

At least 16 schools closed in Sweden after a threat of violence At least 16 schools closed in Sweden after a threat of violence on Wednesday after authorities in Borlänge, in central Sweden, shut municipal preschools, schools and adult education facilities as a precaution. Swedish police said they had opened a preliminary investigation into serious unlawful threats against a group after receiving information about a threat directed at school activities in the town. No suspect had been detained by late Wednesday, and officials said it was still too early to determine whether the threat had any substance. Why schools in Borlänge were closed on Wednesday…

Borlänge closed at least 16 schools after a threat of violence, as police opened an investigation and no suspect was detained.

#sweden

Finnair is adding flights even as fuel costs rise Finnair says it still expects to increase flights in 2026, even as airlines across Europe face growing pressure from higher fuel prices linked to the Middle East crisis and the disruption caused by the Strait of Hormuz tensions. Finnair’s first-quarter profit shows why the carrier is holding course Finnair reported a net profit of €3.6 million for January to March, compared with a much weaker result a year earlier. Revenue rose by 12.1 percent to €778.1 million, while the airline carried 2.8 million passengers, up 7.3 percent…

Finnair plans more flights in 2026 even as fuel costs surge, standing apart from airlines cutting capacity over the Hormuz crisis.

#finland

Carlsberg’s Pepsi deal is reshaping the Nordic soft drinks business Carlsberg has secured the rights to produce, sell and distribute PepsiCo beverages in Denmark from 1 January 2029, in a move that reshapes the country’s soft drinks market and deals a major blow to rival Royal Unibrew. The agreement also covers Finland and the Baltic states, while Carlsberg’s current bottling deals with The Coca-Cola Company in Denmark and Finland will expire at the end of 2028. Pepsi rights move from Royal Unibrew to Carlsberg Carlsberg said on 21 April that it is expanding its strategic partnership with PepsiCo and will become the PepsiCo bottler in Denmark, Finland, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania from the start of 2029.

Carlsberg will take over Pepsi in Denmark from 2029, hitting Royal Unibrew and opening a new chapter in the cola market.

#denmark

Norway produced record electricity in 2025, but the surplus may shrink Norway electricity production reached a record 161.9 TWh in 2025, according to new figures from transmission system operator Statnett, as high inflows in northern and central parts of the country pushed output above previous highs. Despite very strong demand, the country also posted a record power surplus of 22.7 TWh, underscoring how weather conditions still shape the Nordic energy system. Record electricity output was driven by high inflows in the north and centre Statnett’s review of the Norwegian power market in 2025 shows that annual electricity production rose by…

Norway produced a record 161.9 TWh of electricity in 2025, but Statnett says the power surplus may shrink in the years ahead.

#norway

In Norway someone wants to scrap May Day holiday May Day in Norway has become the latest flashpoint in a wider debate over work, public spending and political symbolism after the youth wing of the Christian Democratic Party proposed abolishing International Workers' Day as a public holiday. KrFU leader Ingrid Olina Hovland said the move could save 3 billion kroner (about €257 million) a year, arguing the money could instead fund more nurses, teachers and police officers. Why KrFU says May Day should no longer be a day off In a video posted on Facebook and in comments to Norwegian media, Hovland said…

In Norway someone wants to scrap May Day holiday

May Day in Norway has become the latest flashpoint in a wider debate over work, public spending and political symbolism after the youth wing of the Christian Democratic Party proposed abolishing International Workers' Day as a public holiday. KrFU…

Sweden is increasing aid to Lebanon as civilian needs grow Sweden is increasing aid to Lebanon with a new humanitarian package as conditions for civilians continue to worsen. The Swedish government announced on 20 April that it will provide an additional SEK 70 million (€6.5 million) in support, saying the money is needed because of Lebanon’s worsening humanitarian situation linked to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. Sweden adds SEK 70 million for Lebanon through UN relief channels According to the Swedish government, the new package will help address basic needs, protect the civilian population and provide greater security for people hardest hit by the conflict.

Sweden is providing SEK 70 million in new humanitarian aid to Lebanon as civilian needs worsen amid the conflict.

#sweden

Sweden’s king visited Ukraine, in a rare wartime royal trip Sweden’s king visited Ukraine on 17 April, travelling to Lviv with Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard in a visit meant to signal Stockholm’s continued backing for Kyiv as Russia’s full-scale war enters its fifth year. Hosted by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the trip was presented by Swedish authorities as the first visit by a monarch to Ukraine since the invasion began in 2022. Why the visit to Lviv matters for Sweden and Ukraine King Carl XVI Gustaf’s visit was not a state visit in the traditional sense. It was a political and symbolic mission to underline Sweden’s support for Ukraine at a time when Kyiv is still seeking military assistance, humanitarian support and long-term diplomatic guarantees from European partners.

Sweden’s king visited Ukraine in a rare wartime trip to Lviv, underlining Stockholm’s support for Kyiv and European security.

#sweden
#ukraine

Netto 4.0 is arriving in Denmark, and Salling Group wants more growth from it Netto 4.0 will open its first store in Roskilde next week, marking the next step in Salling Group’s effort to refresh Denmark’s largest discount supermarket chain. The new format is designed to make stores easier to navigate, give more space in the aisles and strengthen Netto’s own-brand offer, as the retailer targets sales growth of between 5 and 10 percent. The launch follows Netto 3.0, the broader multi-year modernisation programme that gave the chain a new visual identity across Denmark. This time, the company is presenting a more targeted upgrade rather than a full reset.

Netto 4.0 launches in Denmark as Salling Group bets on store upgrades, private labels and higher customer satisfaction.

#denmark

A European defence union is now openly on the EU agenda European defence union has moved from long-running Brussels debate to an explicit political proposal after EU Defence and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius called for a new framework that would allow Europe to act more coherently on defence, including with non-EU partners such as Norway, the United Kingdom and Ukraine. Speaking in Brussels on Friday at the annual conference of the European Commission’s Legal Service, Kubilius argued that the European Union should be ready to defend itself “as Europe”, not only as a group of 27 member states. He said the current EU treaties are not sufficient to build the level of defence integration now required by the war in Ukraine, the Russian threat and growing doubts about the long-term reliability of USA security guarantees.

Kubilius says Europe needs a defence union with Norway, the UK and Ukraine as Russia’s threat reshapes EU security.

#europe

The hardest part of learning Finnish may be the people correcting you Finnish language learners in Finland often face a bigger obstacle than grammar itself: the expectation that they should speak near-perfect Finnish before they are fully accepted in classrooms, workplaces and daily life. A recent Yle report challenges the familiar idea that Finnish is one of the world’s hardest languages, arguing instead that the real barrier can be social attitudes toward imperfect language use. Why the myth of an impossibly difficult Finnish language persists For many Finns, the idea that Finnish is exceptionally difficult has become part of a national self-image. But researchers and teachers interviewed by Yle argue that the claim has weak linguistic foundations.

Why Finnish may be hard to learn not because of grammar, but because of the pressure to speak it perfectly.

#finland

Copenhagen residents are leaving the city, but mostly staying nearby Copenhagen residents are increasingly leaving the Danish capital for nearby municipalities, as high housing costs, limited ownership options and family needs reshape migration patterns around the city. Since 2020, more people have moved out of Copenhagen Municipality than into it, according to figures cited by Danish broadcaster TV 2 from Statistics Denmark. In 2025, 41,723 people moved into the municipality, while 48,157 moved out. The pattern does not mean the capital is shrinking. Copenhagen’s population still reached 667,124 in 2025 and is expected to continue growing over the long term, even as domestic outflows remain elevated.

Copenhagen residents are moving to nearby suburbs as housing costs push families out of the Danish capital.

#copenhagen

How Finland turned disc golf into an unlikely national obsession Disc golf in Finland still sounds like the kind of story that should not exist. It is one of those details that feels almost too specific, too odd, too Nordic to be true: while much of Europe still treats disc golf as a niche pastime, Finland has turned it into a genuine national phenomenon. The latest reminder came when Silva Saarinen and Niklas Anttila won the season’s first major tournament in the USA. Their victories did more than confirm Finland’s strength in the sport. They revived a question that keeps surprising international audiences: how did a country better known for saunas, ice hockey and rally driving become one of the world’s great disc golf powers?

How Finland turned disc golf from a niche hobby into an unlikely national phenomenon.

#finland

An original Hans Christian Andersen poem sold for DKK 55,000 Hans Christian Andersen poem collectors pushed the final price to DKK 55,000 (€7,360) on Monday after a previously announced estimate of DKK 30,000 (€4,015) for a 19th-century autograph album containing an original poem by the Danish author, according to Danish broadcaster DR and auction house Bruun Rasmussen. Why the Andersen manuscript drew attention The handwritten poem was preserved in a stambog, a type of friendship or guest book that was especially popular in the 19th century. The album had belonged to Franziska Wiborg, later known as Majorinde von Rosen, and also includes an original contribution by poet Adam Oehlenschläger as well as other entries from artists who visited her childhood home in Copenhagen.

An original Hans Christian Andersen poem sold for DKK 55,000 at auction in Denmark, well above its initial estimate.

#denmark

Denmark’s Lego family and the Walmart heirs are investing in education together The Lego Foundation and the Walton family, the heirs to Walmart, are each investing $100 million (about €88 million) in a new impact fund focused on tools and platforms for children’s learning, marking a significant shift in strategy for one of Denmark’s most influential philanthropic institutions. The partnership, announced through investment firm A-Street, brings together the family behind Lego and the wealthiest family in the USA around a shared effort to back education-focused companies. More precisely, A-Street said it had secured $675 million in new capital, with the…

Lego Foundation and the Walton family are backing A-Street to expand investments in education companies for children and schools.

#lego

Sweden’s Legal Council is being ignored more often Sweden’s Legal Council is facing a paradox at the heart of the country’s lawmaking process. A new democracy report from the SNS research institute says the current government’s bills have received serious criticism from Lagrådet, the Legal Council, twice as often as under previous governments, while parliament still rarely blocks the proposals. Serious Lagrådet criticism has doubled under the current government The findings, reported by Swedish public broadcaster SVT and based on the 2026 Democracy Council report by SNS, cover legislation adopted between 2006 and 2024. According to the report, the share of government bills receiving…

Sweden’s Legal Council is being ignored more often, a new SNS report says, raising concerns over legislative quality and scrutiny.

#sweden

Europe wants stronger air surveillance, and Finland’s airships fit that gap European air defense could gain a new surveillance tool from eastern Finland, where Joensuu-based company Kelluu says its hydrogen-powered airships can help close a gap in Europe’s aerial monitoring and intelligence capabilities. The company has raised €15 million in a Series A round led by the NATO Innovation Fund, with the money set to support international expansion, fleet growth and artificial intelligence development after the technology was tested in NATO exercises in 2026. Why Kelluu says Europe needs a new surveillance layer Kelluu designs, manufactures and operates hydrogen-powered airships…

Joensuu-based Kelluu raised €15 million to scale airships designed to strengthen Europe’s surveillance and air defence capacity.

#finland

Sweden wants to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13, despite legal criticism Sweden’s age of criminal responsibility could be lowered from 15 to 13 for the most serious offences under a government bill presented on 16 April, despite sharp criticism from the Council on Legislation (Lagrådet) and other legal bodies. If approved by parliament, the change would take effect on 2 August 2026 and would apply for five years. Which crimes would fall under the new Swedish rule The proposal would apply to offences carrying a minimum sentence of at least four years in prison. According to the government, that includes crimes such as…

Sweden wants to lower the age of criminal responsibility to 13 for serious crimes despite sharp legal and child-rights criticism.

#sweden

Finland’s cancer survival gap with the Nordics is getting harder to ignore Finland cancer survival rates are lagging behind the other Nordic countries across a striking number of cancer types, according to a new investigation by Yle’s MOT unit based on Nordic registry data. The gap does not apply to every tumour, and Finland still performs well in areas such as breast and prostate cancer. But in many other cancers, including lung cancer, the country now trails Sweden, Norway, Denmark and, in some cases, Iceland. What is drawing growing concern is not only the outcome gap itself, but how little broad public debate it has triggered.

Finland’s cancer survival rates lag behind the other Nordic countries in several major cancers, and the debate is only starting.

#health

The USA are looking at new military sites in Greenland USA military sites in Greenland are at the centre of new talks between Washington, Copenhagen and Nuuk, after a USA officer visited the settlement of Narsarsuaq in southern Greenland and asked about the condition of the airstrip, the harbour and available buildings. The visit, first reported by Danish public broadcaster DR, offers the clearest sign yet that discussions over a broader American military footprint on the island have moved beyond general strategy and into practical assessments on the ground. The development comes as the United States seeks better access to airfields and deep-water ports in Greenland under the framework of the 1951 defence agreement with Denmark, later updated in 2004 with Greenland as a co-signatory.

USA assess new military sites in Greenland as Narsarsuaq emerges in talks over Arctic airfields, ports and defence access.

#greenland

EU age verification app is ready The EU age verification app is technically ready and will soon be available across Europe, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who presented it in Brussels on Wednesday as part of the bloc’s broader push to protect minors online without forcing users to disclose their identity. The app is not, by itself, a new EU-wide ban on children using social media. Instead, it is a common technical tool that the EU wants platforms and member states to use as pressure grows for stricter rules on minors’ access to online services.

EU age verification app is ready: Brussels pushes platforms to protect children online with a privacy-preserving age check.

#europe

Mette Frederiksen is in TIME 100, and why it matters for Denmark Mette Frederiksen has been included in TIME 100, the magazine’s 2026 list of the world’s most influential people, a recognition that highlights both her personal political profile and Denmark’s growing visibility on security, Greenland and European defence. The Danish prime minister was listed in the Leaders category and singled out for her response to pressure from USA President Donald Trump over Greenland, as well as for her strong backing of Ukraine. Why TIME singled out Frederiksen in 2026 In its profile of Mette Frederiksen, TIME describes the Danish leader as “unyieldingly composed” during the renewed pressure campaign linked to…

Mette Frederiksen enters TIME100 2026 as Denmark gains visibility on Greenland, Ukraine and European defence.

#denmark

The EU is weighing telework and cheaper transport to cut energy use The EU energy crisis is pushing Brussels to consider a new set of emergency measures, including one mandatory day of teleworking per week where possible and cheaper, or even free, public transport for some groups. According to a draft package reported by El País and cited by other European media, the European Commission is preparing temporary steps to limit the economic and social impact of the latest energy shock triggered by the conflict in the Middle East and the disruption of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Why Brussels is revisiting demand cuts…

EU energy crisis: Brussels considers one mandatory teleworking day a week and cheaper public transport to cut energy use.

#europe

Norway’s oil exports hit a record as the Hormuz crisis lifts prices Norway’s oil exports reached their highest monthly value on record in March 2026, as the closure of the Strait of Hormuz pushed up global energy prices and lifted the value of both crude and gas sales. According to new figures from Statistics Norway, the country’s total goods exports rose to NOK 199.9 billion (€16.9 billion) in March, up 28.5% from the same month in 2025. Imports reached NOK 102.5 billion (€8.7 billion), leaving a large trade surplus. The strongest contribution came from crude oil, but mainland exports and gas revenues also remained unusually high.

Norway’s oil exports hit a record in March 2026 as the Hormuz crisis lifted crude and gas prices across Europe

#hormuz
#norway

Faroe Islands have a new prime minister, succeeding his uncle Faroe Islands have a new prime minister after coalition talks following the March election, with 29-year-old Beinir Johannesen set to become the youngest løgmaður in the archipelago’s history and to succeed his uncle, outgoing leader Aksel V. Johannesen. A generational shift after the March election The new government follows the 26 March parliamentary election in the Faroe Islands, where Beinir Johannesen’s People’s Party (Fólkaflokkurin) gained ground while the Social Democratic Javnaðarflokkurin, led by Aksel V. Johannesen, lost seats. Johannesen was then formally elected on 13 April. The result opened the way for a broad coalition bringing together the…

Faroe Islands appoint 29-year-old Beinir Johannesen as prime minister, succeeding his uncle and leading a broad new coalition.

#faroe

Norway is cancelling student debt to attract workers to rural areas Norway’s student debt relief schemes have wiped out more than NOK 870 million (about €74 million) in student loans so far this year, as the government expands financial incentives aimed at attracting and retaining workers in rural municipalities and in the intervention zone covering Finnmark and North Troms. The figures, published by the Norwegian State Educational Loan Fund (Lånekassen), show that around 50,000 people have applied for debt cancellation since the schemes came into force. Of those, about 34,000 have already had debt written off. The largest share of recipients so far is made up of working-age adults under 40, pointing to the policy’s role in regional recruitment and settlement.

Norway has cancelled over NOK 870 million in student debt to attract workers to rural municipalities and the far north.

#norway

Copenhagen Pride sponsors are returning, but some big brands are still staying away Copenhagen Pride sponsors are starting to come back ahead of the festival’s 2026 edition, with Dansk Industri returning after a two-year break. But Novo Nordisk, Netto and Volkswagen have said they do not plan to resume their partnerships, suggesting that the fallout from the 2024 Gaza-related sponsorship dispute has not fully passed. The partial corporate return points to a more complex landscape than a simple reconciliation. Some companies now appear ready to support Pride again after what they describe as a rebuilding of trust. Others remain cautious, in a climate where diversity and inclusion policies are under pressure not only in Denmark but also internationally.

Copenhagen Pride regains some sponsors in 2026, but Novo Nordisk, Netto and Volkswagen still stay away after the 2024 backlash.

#denmark

A “European NATO” is being discussed in case the USA steps back European NATO is emerging as a contingency idea in informal talks among several European allies, according to reports published on 15 April, as governments prepare for the possibility that the USA could reduce its role in the Atlantic alliance or withdraw from it altogether. The discussions are not about replacing NATO overnight, but about keeping its military and political structures functioning with a stronger European backbone if Washington steps back. The reporting, first detailed by The Wall Street Journal and picked up by Swedish broadcaster TV4, suggests that the talks involve a group of like-minded allies including France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland and Sweden.

European allies are discussing a “European NATO” contingency plan if the USA steps back from the alliance.

#europe

Novo Nordisk is betting on OpenAI to move faster in drug development The partnership between Novo Nordisk and OpenAI marks a new step in the Danish drugmaker’s push to speed up drug development, as the company says artificial intelligence will be used to support work from early research to manufacturing and commercial operations. The agreement was announced on 14 April in Bagsværd, Denmark, as Novo Nordisk tries to strengthen its position in a more competitive global pharmaceutical market. How the Novo Nordisk OpenAI partnership is supposed to work According to Novo Nordisk, the partnership will bring OpenAI’s tools into multiple parts of the company’s business.

Novo Nordisk partners with OpenAI to use AI in drug development, manufacturing and operations as pharma competition intensifies.

#denmark

Europe has a plan for Hormuz, but not with the USA A Hormuz plan is taking shape in Europe as governments assess how to secure future shipping through the Strait of Hormuz without direct USA involvement. According to reporting by The Wall Street Journal, European capitals are preparing a post-war maritime mission meant to restore confidence in one of the world’s most important energy chokepoints. France and the UK are shaping a post-war Hormuz mission European countries are reportedly working on a plan to help restore confidence in commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz after the current conflict. According to…

Europe is drafting a post-war Hormuz plan without the USA, as shipping security and energy risks push a stronger European role.

#europe