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DANISH NEWS IN ENGLISH CPHPOST.DK VOL 21 ISSUE 16 30 November - 13 December 2018

NEWS Swedish region of Halland joins Greater Copenhagen

2

NEWS

Not like Robin Hood Media mocking embezzler for stealing from the poor

6

IT’S ELEMENTARY HOMIES! 4-5 DF’s tentacles wreaking havoc Foreigners under siege again

BUSINESS Concerns grow as Google confirms second data centre

10 HISTORY

One-channel nation A plethora today, but up until 1988 it was just DR1

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HE GOVERNMENT and Dansk Folkeparti’s budget proposal changes the criteria for how long a person must reside in Denmark to claim unemployment or maternity benefits if they have lived in countries outside the EU.

Not a problem anyway ACCORDING to A-Kasse figures, immigrant numbers from outside the EU are falling. The number on unemployment benefits has fallen by 33 percent since 2010. In the same period, the number of EU citizens claiming the benefit has more than doubled.

Probably illegal HOWEVER, it may be illegal under EU law, and even the government's lawyers have warned that the law probably breaches an EU convention that prohibits discrimination.

In order to earn the benefits, a person will need to have lived in an EU or EEA country for seven out of the last eight years.

This would hit 1,400 Danish AKasse members over the next five years, reports Politiken.

Foreign students hit too IN RELATED news, universities have been cutting courses popular with international students to cut their SU – one of the terms of a 2013 government bill demanded by DF in return for its backing.

Charged with cutting 1,000 foreign students this summer, the universities knew they could not discriminate, so chose to discontinue the courses. (CPH POST)

T

Better job prospects

5.8 million and counting

UNEMPLOYED non-westerners had higher levels of mental health and fewer criminal convictions compared to ethnic Danes, according to an Aarhus University study. Only 15 percent have had a psychiatric disorder during the past three years (ethnic Danes: 29 percent). Nevertheless, caseworkers tend to think their job prospects are poor, which is detrimental to their chances.

THE DANISH population has surpassed 5.8 million for the first time, confirms Danmarks Statistik. Immigration has played a part, but it’s mostly due to longetivity. Over 250,000 are over the age of 80 – 159,142 women and 102,841 men – a 15.4 percent jump on 2008. Men are coming up, with the number aged 90-99 rising by 39.4 percent over the past decade.

Poor for expats

Greener than the rest

COPENHAGEN offers the best work-life balance to internationals in the world, but only rates as the 54th best expat city, according to the latest InterNations poll. Stockholm was placed 69th – just three positions off last place – with both cities faring poorly in the cost of living and housing categories. Taipei topped the way, followed by Singapore, and Manama in Bahrain.

COPENHAGENERS are more environmentally-conscious than the rest of the country, according to a GreenMatch.dk survey. On average, they purchase five times more organic goods then people in west Jutland. Copenhagen, Lyngby-Taarbæk and Hørsholm were the best performing municipalities, and Frederikshavn and Billund the worst.

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NEWS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK A MAN GUNNED down on Hejrevej in Nordvest on November 19, who died later in hospital, was the former gang member Nedim Yasar, 31, an author and radio personality who had just attended his own book launch. PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen offered his condolences, revealing he was an admirer of Yasar’s conviction to lead a normal life since leaving his gang in 2012.

War on party buses OVER THE weekend of November 17-18, Copenhagen Police took seven party buses off the road citing safety concerns. One of the operators, Vognen.dk, told BT it was a “targeted effort to get us out of town” – by any means possible.

Street sleeping precedent

Massive go-kart centre PLANS to open Europe’s biggest indoor go-kart track in time for Christmas 2019 in the Greater Copenhagen suburb of Høje Taastrup have been confirmed.

Racehall will offer 10,050 sqm of racing track – space for 36 go-karts to compete at once.

Hotel to take over THE RECENTLY-CLOSED WestMarket in Vesterbro, which opened as a street food venue in mid-2018 but failed to attract visitors, has been taken over by a major hotel chain with plans to redevelop the site in 2020.

Editorial offices: International House, Gyldenløvesgade 11, 1600 Copenhagen Denmark

ONLINE THIS WEEK

Addition of Halland to Greater Copenhagen redrawing the map back to 1658 – almost CHRISTIAN WENANDE

I

N 1658 THE DANES lost the Second Northern War to the Swedes and were forced to cede the regions of Scania, Halland and Blekinge according to the terms of the Treaty of Roskilde.

But the Danes have been making inroads in southern Sweden recently – not on the back of military might, but rather through political co-operation.

In 2000, the Øresund Bridge was completed to link Copenhagen to Malmö, and in 2016 the Øresund Region was renamed the ‘Greater Copenhagen’ region.

Just Blekinge left AND NOW it has been confirmed that Halland will become the latest Swedish region to join

Halmstad is home to Roxette: yeah, it's joined the joyride!

the Greater Copenhagen initiative, when its six municipalities and 5,454 sq km are added to the fold from next year.

Halland stretches north of Scania up the western coast of Sweden all the way to just south of Gothenburg. The region has a population of over 320,000 and its principal cities are Halm-

stad, Kungsbacka, Varberg and Falkenberg.

All of this means that if the region of Blekinge signs up, the Danes will be well on their way to restoring their historical claims in southern Sweden.

It proves that if you can’t beat them, let them join you – 360 years later.

Not playing ball head of Euro 2020 Rudersdal and Hørsholm turn down chance to host teams

T

WO OUT of the four Greater Copenhagen municipalities offered the chance to host one of the four national football teams competing in the Danish-based Euro 2020 group have said no.

Rudersdal has followed Hørsholm’s lead in turning down the chance to provide a base camp for up to six weeks during the summer. Lyngby-Taarbæk and Copenhagen are expected to host the other teams.

Insurance issue RUDERSDAL mayor Jens Ive told TV2 it was a shame as "we

Mayor blames state CITY MAYOR Frank Jensen has blamed the government for failing to clear up Erdkehlgraven in Copenhagen Harbour where abandoned vessels have turned it into an eyesore. The boats were deserted when plans to establish a floating settlement in 2013 were deemed illegal by the state.

Helsingør happy

UEFA

THE CASE of a Romanian man fined 500 kroner for sleeping on a Copenhagen street will be heard in the Østre Landsret high court.

The police determined the man constituted a camp that generated insecurity, potentially setting a precedent for future action.

Southern Sweden invasion continues PIXABAY

Victim revered by PM

30 November - 13 December 2018

were looking forward to being able to host one of the teams”, but that UEFA’s demands had been too excessive.

Initially, the municipality agreed, but UEFA wanted the municipality to insure itself against anything happening to the players – and the bill was too hefty to approve.

Four games at Parken IF DENMARK qualifies, it will be in the group and guaranteed two games at Parken. Parken will host three group games (June 13, 18 and 22) and a last-16 clash on June 29. Saint Petersburg in Russia will host the other three group games.

In separate news, a 30-year-

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MANY HELSINGØR residents no longer live in a vulnerable neighbourhood following the Transport and Housing Ministry’s approval of a request from the municipality to split a housing area into two parts. When the government’s new ‘Ghetto List’ is released on December 1, only ‘Nøjsomhed/ Sydvej’ area will be included.

Cracking down on Beat 16s TEN CHILDREN have been sent home from Roskilde Katedralskole for taking part in a ritual to mark a classmate’s 16th birthday on November 9 in which they subjected him to 16 seconds of full-on violence. The episode was filmed and shared on social media.

LTF leader extradited THE SUPREME Court has ruled that Shuaib Khan, the 32-yearold leader of the Loyal to Familia gang, should be extradited for a minimum of six years. The prosecution was able to demonstrate he had close ties with Pakistan despite living in Denmark all his life.

Not everyone's cup of tea

man found drowned in Copenhagen Harbour over the weekend of November 17-18 was an Irish football fan over to see the match in Aarhus on November 19. (BH)

Cuts to services CITY HALL is mulling over service cuts to address a 30 million kroner shortfall. Among the proposed measures could be the closure of 32 public toilets and the redundancies of 97 playground pedagogues.

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THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

30 November - 13 December 2018

Proximity, quiet zones, harbour baths and 24/7 hangover cures Catching up with the internationals who appreciate the elements that many Danes might take for granted MANEESH VENKATESH

S

OME THINGS are obvious – like the rain, grey clouds and the long winter nights.

It doesn’t require much empathy for most Danes to realise there are foreigners living

KIRSTEN

Profession: Teacher Years in CPH: 4.5 Previous home: Calgary, Canada Nationality: Canadian What do you appreciate about Denmark that many Danes might take for granted?

For me, Copenhagen is the per-

GABRIELA

Profession: Editor Years in CPH: 3.5 Previous home: Japan Nationality: American

BENEDICTE

Profession: Property manager/mom Years in CPH: 4 Last home: Mumbai Nationality: French

amongst them who struggle with the climate.

Exquisite elements BUT WHAT about the less obvious elements – which Danes more than likely take for granted, but for internationals are truly life-changing.

Drinking water, for example, and swimming in it – even in the city harbour. And all that clean air – not only in the forests but also in most built-up areas. At the very fect city – it has everything I could need in terms of culture, and yet I can walk across the city centre in just a few hours. I can drive across Denmark in four hours, and in that time I can easily fly to any European city.

It’s hard to explain just how big a country Canada is to people who haven’t been there. If I drive for four hours from my home in Calgary on a day with heavy traffic I’ll have barely made it to the next city.

least, it's a great cure for hangovers!

A home from home MOVING to a new country is never easy, and sometimes the culture shock is immense.

But the things you miss can be outweighed by the conditions you like about your new home.

We caught up with a handful of internationals who have recently made the move to find out more about what they appreciate about living in Denmark. tance of a social safety net for all our citizens. I also recognise the same tendency to value working together over hierarchical structures. Most Canadians would easily understand the Jante Law. And, of course, we are both northern countries and have very much the same experience of making the best of short daylight all winter and neverending daylight in the summer.

but only answer exactly what you ask. There was the time I gestured to the big crowds and asked the cashier at Østerport Station if there was a concert going on (Justin Bieber at Parken, it transpired), and she answered: “No, this is a 7-11.” Or the time I went to a store to ask for help with my phone plan and was told they couldn’t help me, and not that I was in the wrong store.

Or the time someone asked how to get to Roskilde and the Danes answered: “You can’t get there from here”, but they didn’t add that you could get there from the next platform.

How is Denmark similar to Canada?

I think there are a lot of similarities between Canadians and Danes. We share similar notions of equality and of the impor-

What unique Danish experience have you had?

I love collecting stories of interactions with Danes that exemplify how ‘the Danish way’ can be confusing to others. I’ll miss the way Danes are always so happy to answer questions,

What do you appreciate about Denmark that many Danes might take for granted?

The nice thing about Denmark is that it is a fairly small country and it is not overpopulated, so even the ‘touristy’ places are not super crowded. Getting reservations at restaurants, the theatre and the cinema is usually not that difficult, and returning to Copenhagen after a weekend out of town does not mean hours and hours of sitting in a traffic jam like you would encounter in bigger cities.

How is Denmark similar to Japan?

I can see some similarities between the Japanese and Danes in their sense of aesthetics and design. The Japanese like minimalist spaces, clean lines and simple but sophisticated interior décor – and so do Danes.

The Japanese are typically not loud and don't like confrontation, and from what I have seen here, this is also the case with the Danes. People in Denmark who can afford to buy luxury brands do so without feeling guilty, and

I feel there is a similar tendency in Japan. Many Japanese like to go out to drink after work, and so do the Danes!

What do you appreciate about Denmark that many Danes might take for granted?

Biking and walking. I was miserable in Mumbai not being able to walk and bike. Copenhagen is a small city compared to others – it's very human-sized. You do not need a car to travel around the city easily – public transport works wonderfully. In fact, in my opinion having a car hinders me in Copenhagen.

How is Denmark similar to the last country you lived in or your home country?

It is similar in the way you can go out and do stuff. There is always something to do in the evenings and never a lack of activities.

so many parks, museums and restaurants that are familyorientated.

What unique Danish experience have you had?

Everything you have for the kids. In Copenhagen there are

What would you miss most about Denmark?

What unique Danish experience have you had?

I was amazed to see people getting completely naked in public and dipping into the sea any time of the year. It was also very interesting to see that the Danes leave their baby carriages parked outside stores and cafes, with the babies still sleeping in them!

What would you miss most about Denmark?

If I ever move, I will definitely miss the culture of Copenhagen. The concerts, the ballets, the museums – everything is so rich in culture that I know I will miss it in any other city.

It’s the little things that make life so great here. I’ll miss salted liquorice flavour everything.

All the black clothes. Wearing skirts with running shoes.

Public nudity. The crazy things people carry on their bikes (big screen TVs, IKEA furniture, and even other bikes). Seeing window cleaners hanging out of the fourth floor with no safety gear.

Mobilepay. The satisfying blip the Rejsekort makes when you check in. The warm glow of real open-flame candles through the long winter darkness. Clapping in unison at the theatre. Trying to get the Danes to understand my attempts to speak the language. I will leave a big piece of my heart here when I leave.

What would you miss most about Denmark?

I would miss the sense of hygge that you get in the winter, when even the clothing stores, restaurants and offices light candles, and people try to make the most of spending time indoors, with good food, friends and family, as the weather is so dreary and dark.

I would also miss the excitement that you can feel in the air when spring finally arrives, everything turns green in a matter of days, and everyone takes every opportunity to spend time outdoors.

COVER

30 November - 13 December 2018

RAMA

Profession: Professor Years in CPH: 0.5 Places you last lived: Kolkata, New York, Switzerland Nationality: American

ANNE

Profession: Digital marketer Years in CPH: 0.6 Place you last lived: New York Nationality: American

AMBIKA

Profession: Student Years in CPH: 1.5 Place you last lived: Kolkata Nationality: American

PRABHU

Profession: Data analyst Years in CPH: 1.5 Place you last lived: India Nationality: Indian

What do you appreciate about Denmark that many Danes might take for granted?

The very smooth way that everything works. Most things take a predictable amount of time. I love the fact that I can look at my directions and know how long it will take me to get to a certain place and what time it will be. I feel I can take people at their word when certain rules and regulations are explained to me. There is not much fine print and I like that people do what

they say they will do – the integrity. It’s a very anxiety-free life, for the most part.

What do you appreciate about Denmark that many Danes might take for granted?

The food is super high quality, so I would have to say food. People are very conscious of food and I laugh because my answer was going to be carrots but then I expanded it to food. I think the carrots here are phenomenal, and they serve them at pretty much every meal. Like you get carrots at breakfast and grated carrots at lunch and they are so delicious. I went on holiday to the States for two weeks AND I missed my carrots. And clean water, both drinking and being

able to go a few blocks and jump into the water, cause I’m from New York and you don’t really do that in the Hudson. And I think also because it’s a social democracy there’s just this sort of built-in social network and a feeling that nothing really terrible will happen.

What do you appreciate about Denmark that many Danes might take for granted?

Well I'd say the level of safety in Denmark is something I think Danes would not think about.

After coming from India, suddenly being allowed to stay out all night is very liberating. Also the level of freedom and respect that is given to kids and teenagers – they are all treated like adults. Another thing they don't really see is poverty on an everyday basis, so I don’t think it's big on the Danes’ radar.

How is Denmark similar to India?

The Danes, like the Indians, like to talk a lot. If you start a conversation with them they are very friendly. Otherwise I don’t believe it is similar to india.

What do you appreciate about Denmark that many Danes might take for granted?

I think the Danes are really honest and direct people. They are very confident and they don’t have a need to sugar-coat what they want to say. They express their opinions freely and that is really refreshing because you don’t have to peel through layers and layers. I think they take directness for granted and expect it from everyone. People from other parts of the world often have a hidden agenda, but with

the Danes it’s all out in the open.

How is Denmark similar to New York?

Surprisingly it is a melting pot like New York. It has a large expat community – or at least in Copenhagen as I do not know about the rest of the country. In a way it is also similar to India in that people like to socialise, and they also like to speak in their ethnic tongue like Indians do.

How is Denmark similar to New York?

I think it is similar in the way that both Copenhagen and New York have a big expat community.

What unique Danish experi-

What unique Danish experience have you had?

In terms of school, education here is very different, or maybe it is because I’m at an international school. It is very different in India. It's definitely more pedantic in India, although I was at an all-girls Catholic school. The teachers over here actually ask me

How is Denmark similar to the last country you lived in or your home country?

In a strange way one thing that links a country with a very high population density and a country with a low population is that people get together. On the one hand Indians get together because they have to, while the Danes get together because they seek out people and comfort.

People want to spend time with you: to talk about things with

5

What unique Danish experiences have you had?

That it is so wonderfully quiet – even on a busy street. People respect each other’s quiet zones. I really enjoy waiting for the lights to change before I cross the street because in India the lights barely work.

What would you miss most about Denmark?

I think I would miss the quality of the food the most, the lack of noise and lack of pollution. ence have you had?

Honestly I think it’s the way the cars respect the bike lines. A lot of people cycle in NYC but it’s a lot more dangerous because there is not the same respect for cyclists. And here it’s the other way around. The cyclists here rule the road. I am much more scared of the cyclists than the cars.

What would you miss most about Denmark?

All of it: the art, the bicycles, the beauty of just jumping in the water – it’s just so lovely and pretty. And of course the carrots!

questions and most of the teachers are more enthusiastic about the subject than the students are, which is the reverse in India.

What would you miss most about Denmark?

I would probably miss how easy it is to get everywhere, because I bike everywhere. And I could never do that in India because I'd have to rely on others to get me places. The level of independence is very refreshing – something I did not get in India. The easy way of getting to places here by bike will definitely be one of the things I miss when I leave. you to find out more about you. There is a need for actual human connection, which has absolutely nothing to do with ulterior motives.

What unique Danish experience have you had?

I have never experienced a language like this, in which three quarters of the consonants are swallowed and the remaining part of the consonants become another word. I know a lot of other languages: the Indian languages and I can get by in

German and a little of French.

But I feel there is no language that has such a wide gap between its written and spoken form.

What would you miss most about Denmark?

I will definitely miss the spirit of the people, the climate, in as much as it challenges me, and the general sense of orderliness without there being a perverse extreme that is completely rulebased.

6

NEWS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK

DR presents Robin Hood in reverse

ONLINE THIS WEEK DR

Murdered nurse found

30 November - 13 December 2018

Ships bad for ‘shildren’

POLICE in east Jutland have confirmed that human remains discovered in a wood near Aarhus belong to Lisbet Nielsen, a 46-yearold nurse who went missing in 2009. Her former partner, already a convicted killer, committed suicide before he could stand trial. In other news, a young man died in custody in Copenhagen on November 10 after being pacified by officers and losing consciousness.

DR FACT-CHECKING team Detektor went to Sweden in midNovember to prove the Danes are better at English than the Swedes, despite their neighbours topping the Education First rankings for best non-mother tongue speakers.

A journalist asked various Swedes to pronounce ‘chips’ and ‘children’, and the result was mostly ‘ships’ and ‘shildren’. EF maintains its results are a “good indicator”.

Young homeless rise

Gas cylinder ban

THE NUMBER of young homeless people (aged18-29) has doubled since 2009 to around 2,400, according to the Kraka think-tank.

Meanwhile, the total has increased by a third – in contrast to Norway (-33 percent), Finland (-13) and Sweden (level) – a rise partly blamed on the challenging housing market. In related news, Copenhagen is providing an extra 20 beds this winter for the homeless.

PARLIAMENT is in favour of banning under-18s from buying laughing gas cylinders, which they inhale to enjoy a 30-second high that is dangerous when combined with alcohol. The abuse has been linked to two deaths. Venstre and Liberal Alliance oppose the ban because the cylinders have a purpose: enabling the dispensation of whipped cream or soda water.

Mosque aids police GRIMHØJ Mosque in Aarhus, which is well known for having a strained relationship with the authorities, alerted the police to a man who left its premises armed with a knife on November 19.

In an ensuing confrontation, the man lashed out at officers with his knife and was shot. He also apparently raised a finger in the air – a sign associated with Islamic State.

Security alert at station ON NOVEMBER 19, Brønderslev Station in north Jutland was closed to the public after the police summoned explosives experts to search the scene. It would appear there might have been a genuine threat, as two men aged 27 and 32 have been arrested and charged with violating weapon laws. It is believed the men were seen breaking into a locker.

Inger’s hat in ring INGER Støjberg, the immigration and integration minister, would appear to have thrown her hat into the ring to succeed Lars Løkke Rasmussen as the next leader of Venstre. However, the PM – who backs Kristian Jensen, the finance and former foreign minister, to succeed him – told DR that he couldn’t “figure out if she’s the right age or robust enough”.

What happened to innocent until proven guilty, asked DR posters promptly shot dead by the sheriff's men

Denmark remains incredulous that Britta Nielsen embezzled so much money, but the jury’s out on what her daughters knew BEN HAMILTON

M

OST DANES would tell you Kanal 5 is low-brow – a dustbin for crap reality TV and repeats of 'CSI'.

Steal from the poor SO IT WAS perhaps a little unusual for the channel to scoop the interview all the tabloids wanted: a sit-down with the two daughters of Britta Nielsen, the 64-year-old woman accused of embezzling 111 million kroner from the state, who was along with her son arrested in South Africa in early November.

On November 10, following her return to Denmark, Nielsen was charged with data fraud of a particularly serious nature and told she would be held on remand for 24 days. It is unclear how she intends to plead.

Meanwhile, the country remains incredulous at the sums

involved – DR P3 mocked her in a trailer entitled ‘Robin Hood Omvendt’ (RH in reverse), in which she is seen to steal money from the poor, handicapped and homeless, calling them pigs as she kicks away their crutches – so it was no wonder so many tuned in.

Mostly after Dad’s death BOTH HER daughters, who are in their early 30s, denied any knowledge of her wrong-doing or thought her sudden wealth was suspicious.

Their mother, they claim, inferred the money chiefly came from a life insurance payout following the death of their father in 2005 – and also savings and an inheritance.

A breakdown of the embezzlement reveals that in the four years leading up to her husband’s death, Nielsen only swindled 9.9 million. In the eight years that followed, she took 87.0 million.

the running of the business to her mother and an accountant.

"When my mother says: ‘Dad and I have saved together,’ my first reaction isn’t: 'Are you sure you haven't robbed a bank?',” added the other daughter, Jamilla Hayat.

Since the interview BT has accused Jamilla Hayat and her husband of being involved in the 20-hour abduction of a Polish builder in January, although a court case in June cleared her husband and three other men of all charges.

Did you rob a bank?

THE YOUNGER of the sisters, Samina Hayat, whose thoroughbred horse company was funded by Nielsen, said she left

Second embezzler MEANWHILE, a second person has been arrested for embezzling from the Socialstyrelsen social authority – this time a sum of 4.5 million kroner between 2014 and 2018.

“Despite the timing, the two cases are actually completely unrelated. No connection has been made between the two cases, but it’s still bloody annoying,” the social minister, Mai Mercado, told BT. It is also believed that the male suspect attempted to defraud the state of a further 9.5 million kroner.

New hymen ban likely

Consent vital in rape law

Foster care failings

PARLIAMENT is expected to ban hymen reconstructions – an increasingly common practice among brides who want to demonstrate they are a virgin on their wedding night, which costs 6,000 kroner.

However, only 44 percent of women experience bleeding when their hymen is penetrated. The law will only permit reconstruction if there is a medical purpose. Those who break the law will be fined.

ON SUNDAY, the UN Day for the elimination of violence against women, marches were held in Aalborg, Odense, Aarhus and Copenhagen in support for a consent-based rape law. Amnesty Danmark told Politiken that a system in which “a woman is available until she has put up sufficient resistance” needs to change and follow the lead of the likes of Germany, Sweden and the UK.

ACCORDING to a Children's and Social Ministry report, every third child aged 0-17 placed into foster care in 2008 and 09 ended up changing foster families at some point. The relevant minister, Mai Mercado, has a number of initiatives in the pipeline, including the introduction of a new method to organise foster families. Around 1 percent of all children are in foster care.

Cocaine overdoses soar SOME 254 people died last year as a result of a drug overdose, according to figures from the Sundhedsstyrelsen health authority. While this represents a fall, the number of cocaine overdoses has risen by 38 percent over the last two years due to the increased purity of the drug – at 60 percent, it is the highest rate for 25 years.

Editor faces prison A CITY court case began on November 12 where Christian Jensen, the editor-in-chief of Politiken newspaper, faces four months in prison for publishing ‘Syv år for PET’, a book written by the intelligence agency’s former boss, Jakob Scharf. Politiken published it as a supplement in October 2016 after an injunction prevented JP/Politikens from publishing it in book format.

Bus driver strike BUS DRIVERS held demonstrations in Aalborg, Esbjerg, Roskilde and Glostrup on November 7 to voice their displeasure at the increasing pressure of the job. Some claim that tight schedules make it impossible to take toilet breaks, with others warning that the long hours increase the likelihood of them having an accident.

NEWS

30 November - 13 December 2018

ONLINE THIS WEEK Stall summerhouse sales!

Tunnel vision blurred

DANSK Folkeparti is concerned that the Justice Ministry is handing out too many dispensations to foreigners to buy summerhouses in Denmark. The number has risen from 54 in 2007 to 308 last year, and DF wants to limit the dispensations to 20 a year. The vast majority of the buyers are German and Norwegian.

THE FEHMARN tunnel link has again been delayed by the German authorities, although there is hope it will be fasttracked once an environmental impact survey is given final approval in Germany in December. Its parliament's transport committee objected to the link being added to updated planning laws. The Schleswig-Holstein regional government remains committed to its constuction.

Crater under icecap RESEARCHERS led by the University of Copenhagen have discovered a 31 km-wide meteor crater beneath the Hiawatha icecap in Greenland, which they believe was caused by a meteor made of iron hammering into Earth thousands of years ago. The team further suspect the crater was made 12,900 years ago, resulting in a cold period lasting 1,300 years.

Textile industry help THE DEVELOPMENT minister, Ulla Tørnæs, has earmarked 7.5 million kroner in assistance to the Bangladeshi government’s efforts to improve equality and working conditions in the country’s textile industry. Denmark has been aiding the industry, which accounts for over 80 percent of the country’s exports, for three years.

Saudi stance changing THE FOREIGN Ministry has suspended the approval of arms exports and certain dual-use products to Saudi Arabia in the wake of the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi and developments in Yemen. The foreign minister, Anders Samuelsen, is hopeful the decision will induce other EU countries to also toughen their stance.

Quick to hit homophobia DENMARK has frozen millions of kroner of aid to Tanzania after Paul Makonda, the regional commissioner for the capital Dar es Salaam, pledged to hunt down LBGT people via social media. In related news, Denmark has set up an independent expert mission to investigate reports of human rights abuses in the Russian republic of Chechnya.

LBGT people are among those targeted.

PM blessing for Brexit DANISH PM Lars Løkke Rasmussen noted he was “very enthusiastic” following the confirmation that the UK and EU have agreed on a proposed Brexit deal. He added that it was a “major step away from the ugly kind of divorce in which the porcelain goes flying through the air”.

No deportation EMANUELA Consortini, an Italian woman convicted of hiring a hitman to kill her partner in Sicily, will serve her six-year sentence in Denmark after the Østre Landsret high court overturned the city court’s decision to deport her.

Consortini, who has lived in Denmark for 28 years and raised a family in Hellerup, hired the hitman via the dark net and arranged to pay in bitcoin.

Ship was blameless THE ‘SPARTA III’, a Russian ship accused by Information on November 6 of sailing through Danish waters with undisclosed dangerous weaponry, confirmed its cargo via a system the public cannot access, claims Danish Defence. In other maritime news, a Norwegian man died after falling off the Stena Saga ferry on its way from Oslo to Frederikshavn on November 10.

Border agreed at last DENMARK and Poland have settled on the maritime border for the Continental Shelf and Exclusive Economic Zone between the two countries – bringing an end to four decades of discussions. The new border runs south of Bornholm. The foreign minister, Anders Samuelsen, described the agreement as an “historic step”.

China talks progress

Denmark in a brave new world New foreign affairs and security strategy outlines how country can best navigate a planet embroiled in change and strife

I

F DENMARK is to live up to its border obligations under the Schengen Agreement, it will have to toughen up on at least 64 points, claims a report from the Schengen evaluation committee sent to Parliament's Europe Committee.

It is particularly checks at airports and harbours that don't live up to the rules, reports Berlingske.

Amongst the urgent matters are police checks on pleasure boats, more face-to-face checks of employees and passengers on cruise ships and freighters, and ensuring that all border crossings have backup so suspicious individuals can be thoroughly checked.

Fighting for values THE NEWS broke shortly after the government presented its new foreign affairs and security strategy for 2019-2020 in a bid to convey how Denmark can best navigate a world embroiled in change and strife.

Among the key areas encompassed by the scope of the policy include ongoing international co-operation, security, a strong and efficient EU, refugees, migration and development, economic diplomacy, strate-

gic partnerships, the Arctic, and the new digital world order.

The foreign minister, Anders Samuelsen, said that Denmark needed to engage in world issues and fight for Danish values and actively protect the country’s interests.

Only then, he contended, can Denmark remain one of the freest, safest and wealthiest societies on the planet.

Ambassadorial chairs MEANWHILE, the Foreign Ministry has revealed its ambassadorial strategy for 2019, which includes a female ambassador to the US for the first time – Lone Dencker Wisborg replacing Lars Gert Lose – and Japanese and Indian ambassadors, Freddy Svane and Peter Taksøe-Jensen, swapping positions.

Danny Annan, the Danish ambassador to Iran, isn’t leaving his post, although he was withdrawn from Tehran in early November to register Denmark’s displeasure with Iran’s possible involvement in an assassination plot to kill Iranian exiles, which closed down much of the country in late September.

Annan returned last week, but his withdrawal helped raised the matter to the EU, while the Iranian Embassy in Copenhagen came under further pressure following allegations it has a ‘death list’ of individuals it wants killed. (CPH POST)

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THE MINISTER for development co-operation, Ulla Tørnæs, recently returned from an official visit to China where she discussed co-operation and partnerships in areas such as equality for women, sustainable green growth, and aid development projects in Africa.

Good winds ahead DTU’S GLOBAL wind atlas, which reveals the areas in South Korea conducive to wind energy production, has been credited with raising the Asian country’s interest in Danish wind energy solutions. In related news, Denmark has sent two more personnel to assist the UN’s dismantling work in the de-militarised zone by the border with North Korea.

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ONLINE THIS WEEK

Blackbird fly … blackbird fly!

ONLINE THIS WEEK PIXABAY

Seaweed for soya

30 November - 13 December 2018

A TYPE of seaweed known as black carrageen (or crab's bed) that grows around Bornholm could provide a valuable source of food for piglets and cows, ultimately replacing imported soya.

This would enable farmers to use less penicillin and zinc in pigsties.

Additionally, the seaweed is better for the animals' digestion, producing less methane in their stomachs.

More autism with age IN RESEARCH news, an Aarhus University study suggests that the prevalence of autism seems to increase with age, reports Spectrum. org. A six-year study reported by Politiken indicates that a reduced gluten intake is good for you.

And a DTU study has identified a hitherto-unknown hereditary syndrome affecting the rhythm of the heart, which can cause sudden death.

Research centre central A NEW INTERNATIONAL research centre for antibiotic resistance recently awarded to Denmark will create 500 jobs.

In related news, three new DTU labs permit research in the areas of food, technical geology, geotechnics and sustainable building materials. And plans have been announced for a University of Copenhagen centre to look into and treat skin diseases.

Gravel running out THE NATION’S gravel supply is running out, according to a study carried out by engineering consultants Niras on behalf of the Danish regions. With demand expected to increase 50 percent by 2040 as Denmark’s building boom continues, the situation is especially bad in the Capital Region, where the pits are expected to run dry by 2027.

A PHD STUDY conducted

by Julie Bønnelycke at the Saxo Institute at the University of Copenhagen concludes that healthy lifestyle campaigns achieve little.

An individual’s level of education, income, working conditions, living conditions and ethnicity will play a far larger role.

Exposed in showers

Mapping MRSA RESEARCHERS have successfully mapped the spread of the MRSA bacteria, which in ten years has spread from 3.5 percent of Danish pig farms to over 90 percent of them. The researchers blame three different antibioticresistant bacteria, along with the widespread movement of animals. MRSA is not harmful to pigs but can be fatal to humans.

Campaigns fall flat

All your life you were dreading that this moment might arise

Mosquitos stinging in the dead of night

R

ATHER like the human population, animals often have good reasons for leaving Denmark. Some have no choice (eaten by seals/struck down by a virus), some visit on holiday (the odd cheeky dolphin) and others decide they just can’t hack it.

Beware of the birds A DEADLY mosquito-borne virus has been wreaking havoc with the blackbird population in northern Europe. This year in Germany alone 25,000 birds have succumbed to it, and now the usutu virus has reached the Danish border.

The public have been warned to be wary of sluggish birds, as the virus could be passed on to humans.

Experts say a cold summer will save the birds, as mosquitos thrive best between May and September.

by a farmer in a high-profile case, another was hit by a car in Germany, while two others have emigrated to northern Germany.

It would appear they prefer Greenland, where a study has confirmed that the island does indeed have its own wolf species, albeit in a limited supply.

Defeats the porpoise?

THE SAME was true of the grey seal in Denmark, but in 1967 it became a protected species due to over-hunting and it has since made a startling comeback in Danish waters, which is bad news for porpoises.

Grey seals, which can grow to a size of 300 kilos, aren’t fussy eaters – they’re even known to eat harbour seals. And now they’re increasingly killing porpoises, as they tend to yield a much higher amount of food than a bunch of fish.

The government has recently permitted the hunting of some of the seals again – particularly because they rip open fishing nets to eat the trapped fish inside.

– most probably by swimming.

Originating in eastern Asia, the dogs easily out-compete native predators like foxes and badgers. They can also carry rabies and are prolific breeders, and Miljøstyrelsen estimates there are over 3,000 in Jutland.

Beavering (go) away SLIGHTLY more welcome is the return of the beaver. Hunted out of Denmark a thousand years ago, 18 beavers were released into the wilds of Jutland in 1999, and there are now over 200.

However, their habit of gnawing down trees and damming up streams has caused the flooding of forest, pastoral and residential areas, and some are calling for a cull of the protected species.

Doggone it!

ALSO GROWING in number is the raccoon dog, which environmentalists believe have crossed from Jutland to Funen

Dophin’s rare visit FINALLY, just over for a quick visit recently in the Limfjord near Aalborg was a short-beaked common dolphin – the first time one has been spotted that far north.

The species is common around the British Isles and is often seen in the North Sea. Biologists speculate that climate change has altered the dolphins' range and that they may become permanent guests around Denmark. (CPH POST)

Solar power breakthrough

Warship wreck found

TB cases on the rise

A TEAM of researchers from Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden, which is led by Danish academic Professor Kasper Moth-Poulsen, is developing a liquid molecule that could store solar energy for years without significant waste. It doesn’t emit any CO2 and negates the main argument against solar energy: that it only works when the sun is shining.

The tech could be ready by 2023.

DIVERS have discovered the wreck of the Printz Friedrich, the 52-metre Danish warship that sank in the Kattegat in 1780.

Of the 667 sailors onboard, only eight died. The divers used old maritime maps, trawling 104 sq km of seabed and making more than 200 dives before they found it. With 70 cannon on board, the Printz Friedrich represented a fifth of the navy’s warfare capacity.

THE STATE Serum Institute has revealed that five cases of multi-resistant tuberculosis have been found in Denmark during the first 10 months of 2018. The normal average is two a year. In related news, homosexual teenage boys have responded well to the chance to get a free HPV vaccination. The STD can cause cancer of the alimentary canal, tonsils and anus.

Lone wolf syndrome THE WOLF population in Denmark has shrunk over the past year, according to the Danish Centre for Environment and Energy, to the extent there are only five wolves left in Denmark – down from a peak of nine last year.

One of the wolves was shot

SLAGELSE Municipality in southwest Zealand is installing an ultraviolet light at its swimming pool to catch out bathers who do not shower beforehand.

Located in a walkway leading from the showers to the pool, the UV light will reveal bacteria on the offending bathers.

DNA clue in bones RESEARCH carried out by Danish evolutionary biologist Eske Willerslev on 10,000-yearold bones and skulls discovered in Brazil in 1840 has thrown up an intriguing new conundrum: some 1-2 percent of the DNA stems from Australasian people living thousands of miles away.

Martian study a hit A GROUP of Danish students from the University of Copenhagen won a gold medal at the international iGEM competition in Boston in October for devising a medicine case to combat the effects of Martian gravity on bones and muscle tissue.

Pukka pesticide results THE ANNUAL pesticide report for 2017, conducted by the Fødevarestyrelsen food authority and DTU, revealed that 97 percent of the 2,009 food samples tested in Denmark adhered to national pesticide standards. The samples were tested against 326 different variants of pesticide.

Tackling deforestation DENMARK has sent a letter urging the EU Commission to produce an action plan to tackle deforestation in the EU. Denmark – along with the Netherlands, Germany, Norway, France, Italy and the UK – has signed the Amsterdam Declarations Partnership to accelerate action.

NEWS

30 November - 13 December 2018

ONLINE THIS WEEK FOLLOWING Denmark’s promotion in the Nations League at the expense of Wales (two wins) and the Republic of Ireland (two draws), the they are amongst the second seeds for the Euro 2020 draw this Friday. Should they fail to qualify, the Nations League playoffs will provide an alternative route.

Bendtner drops appeal NICKLAS Bendtner has dropped his appeal against a 50-day sentence for assaulting a taxi driver in Copenhagen. It is believed he will serve it at home during the Norwegian league’s winter break. While Bendtner has kept his job, the cabbie has been sacked for breaking “ethical rules”. Talking of ethics, FIFA is investigating FCN’s arrangement with Man City

Ballet #8 for queen THE QUEEN is designing the costumes and set for another Tivoli ballet – her eighth since 2001. ‘The Snow Queen’ will debut in December 2019. Not to be outdone, her former daughterin-law, Countess Alexandra, has released a charity pop single. But despite 'Wash Me Away' jumping to number one on Danish iTunes, it was savaged by critics.

ONLINE THIS WEEK CAMILLA HAMMERICH,/DR

Well placed for Euros

An Emmy, a queenie and a Johnny The last month has yielded some pretty cushy jobs for Danes working in film and television BEN HAMILTON

I

T’S BEEN quite a month for the Danish film industry. Lars Mikkelsen won an Emmy and landed a plum role, Susanne Bier got another big directing gig, and Sofie Gråbøl’s going to play the queen – and that’s barely half of it!

You’re a wizard, Lars MIKKELSEN’S triumph for his lead role in the DR drama ‘Herrens Veje’ ('Ride upon the Storm') was Denmark’s first international Emmy for acting.

Given his international clout – most notably for being the brother of Mads and playing the Russian president in ‘House of Cards’ – it was no surprise he triumphed against a field that included no other household names.

And he has just landed another big part: the wizard Stregobor in the upcoming Netflix adaptation of 'The Witcher', a series of novels written by Polish writer Andrzej Sapkowski that spawned a popular video game series.

Queenie in a cardie?

ALSO AMONGST the roles is Sofie Gråbøl, who will play Queen Marie, the consort of Frederik VI (1808-39), in

DR really is cutting back: the photographer was also the series producer

Busy in 2019 ALSO, behind the camera are 'Borgen' creator Adam Price,

who has been charged with making the next major Nordic Netflix series. 'Ragnarok', a Norwegian-language comingof-age drama rooted in Nordic mythology, will be made over the course of 2019.

Susanne Bier, whose latest film ‘Bird Box’ will debut on Netflix on December 21, has been recruited to make HBO Nordic miniseries 'The Undoing', the tale of a New York therapist (Nicole Kidman) whose life is turned upside down by a murder and the disappearance of her husband (Hugh Grant).

Another acclaimed Danish TV director who will be busy in 2019 is Charlotte Sieling, who has been handed 8 million dollars to make 'Margrete', a film about the 14th century Danish queen. Shooting commences next autumn.

Forest fighting taking off

Hit with customers

'Gentleman Jack', a new HBO miniseries about the British feminist icon Anne Lister, which will come out next year.

While Danish-Japanese actor David Sakurai ('Iron Fist') is enjoying the limelight, as he has a prominent role in the forthcoming Harry Potter universe film 'Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald’, in which he got to work closely with his idol Johnny Depp.

Also at cinemas, but behind the scenes, is Danish archery expert Lars Andersen who has been coaching the leads of ‘Robin Hood’ (see page 23 for more details) in the long-lost art of speed-firing a bow and arrow.

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Top comics on their way TWO OF the UK’s biggest comedians – Michael McIntyre (Royal Arena, Feb 10) and Eddie Izzard (KB Hallen, April 4) – are visiting. Also heading over are Rod Stewart (Herning, May 4), Michael Bublé (Royal Arena, Oct 26), Rammstein (Parken, June 9), David Gray (Store Vega, May 6), Apassionata – The Magic Dream (Royal Arena, Feb 23), The Smashing Pumpkins (Heartland Festival, May) and Robyn (Roskilde, July).

Last of the Olsens MORTEN Grunwald, the last surviving member of the Olsen Gang, has died. He was 83. In other film news, the latest Department Q film ‘Journal 64’ has smashed the all-time record for the most money taken by a Danish film.

All-female year THE FORBRÆNDINGEN concert venue in Albertslund will only be welcoming female artists next year in a bid to address an “unhealthy imbalance” in society.

However, DF questions whether it is a breach of the Equal Opportunities Act, suggesting the arts foundation, which funds the venue with 280,000 kroner every year, should intervene.

Carlsberg’s cultural nous

A master at testing limits

Timber alert

Murder in the mall

They've got some bottle

THE CYNICS might contend that Christmas and Brexit have a lot in common. Isaiah (Nigel Farage) prophesised the birth of Jesus (Brexit) and gospel writers Matthew and Luke (Boris Johnson and Michael Gove) embellished the truth, and initially the shepherds (sheep) were spellbound. But the wise men (other EU nations) noticed a falling star – over Bethlehem/off the EU flag – and it didn’t end well. John the Baptist (David Cameron) scarpered off after laying the groundwork for a fool guy, Jesus (Theresa May), to get crucified. So step forward, Martin Couriers Europe ApS. (BH)

YOU MIGHT remember the end of ‘Mr Holland’s Opus’ – it’s kind of moving if you’re into that sort of thing. Something about how this musician feels he’s wasted his life as a teacher – probably not wrong – and never completed his masterwork. But then this smartass former student tells him: “We are your symphony Mr Holland.

We are the melodies and the notes of your opus. We are the music of your life.” Yeah ... stop weeping in the violin section ... let's not forget that Holland was 103 years old. Jay Sukow, recently recruited to teach at Improv Comedy Copenhagen, is just 48. (BH)

WHEN HOOLIGANS hit the front pages, it’s usually because they’ve been fighting at football games. But there’s another side to hooliganism that few are aware of. Groups of fans of Brøndby, FC Copenhagen, Odense, Esbjerg and a number of other football teams in Denmark regularly meet up in forests to fight one another in organised battles. The fights can be set up as a 20 versus 20, 10 v 10, 7 v 7, or however many both sides can muster, and there are even various age groups, such as under23s or under-19s. Often they go abroad to fight – particularly to Germany and Sweden. (CW)

THE FIRST Christmas beer has been poured, so that can only mean one thing: the festive shopping season is in full swing! Every shop is jockeying for position and bringing out the big guns to attract customers already suffering from information-overload. GameStop, the well-known bricks and mortar gamer’s paradise seen in shopping centres throughout the country, recently hosted a press event at Copenhagen’s Fisketorvet to reveal what they have in place to lure in customers for the holiday bacchanalia. The undisputed stars of the event were the developers of ‘Hitman 2’. (Justin Weaver)

EVERY beer has a pack of cultural insights to share, and Carlsberg is no exception. Its advertisements enable the brewer to share various elements of Danish cultural identity with its customers. Following on from the success of its long-running 'Probably' campaign (1973-2011), Carlsberg has increasingly looked inwards for inspiration. Its '#Danish Way' ads explore the cultural roots of Denmark, employing Mads Mikkelsen to promote the brand. While its ‘If Carlsberg did …’ series highlights different kinds of scenarios and imagines how Carlsberg would deal with them. (Jinu Jayapalan)

ULTRAS DANMARK – FIGHTS

READ THE REST OF THESE STORIES AT CPHPOST.DK

UNSPLASH

Long distance, personal touch

YELLOW MACHINE

Top improv recruitment JAY SUKOW

Brexit just like Xmas

10 BUSINESS

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ONLINE THIS WEEK WITH 0.7 percent, Denmark has the lowest inflation rate in Europe, according to Eurostat.

The EU average is 2.1 percent.

Although oil prices have risen over the last year, Danes are less dependent on it for heating and running their cars, even though the cost of air travel did jump 7.8 percent. Food prices fell by 0.8 percent as pork, poultry, clothes, toys, electronics and confectionery all got cheaper.

Fewer risky mortgages ONLY 6 percent of mortgages were considered risky by the Business Ministry in the first half of 2018, compared to 12 percent last year – confirmation that a tightening of the rules at the start of the year is working, concludes the relevant minister, Rasmus Jarlov. Meanwhile, Nykredit has warned that apartment prices in the Danish capital could be poised to fall next year.

Infrastructure threat THE FINANCE minister, Kristian Jensen, feels Denmark needs a legal instrument to prevent capital funds owned by the likes of China buying up critical infrastructure, such as airports, harbours, mobile networks or utility companies. In related news, Danish Crown has agreed to sell all of the products manufactured at its Chinese plant to Win-Chain, a company associated with Alibaba.

Babs the builder OVER THE first eight months of 2018, some 467 women signed apprentice deals with a construction firm – up 27 percent on 2017. The number of apprentice carpenters and cabinet-makers rose by 40 and 73.7 percent respectively. In other employment news, Danfoss is building a new manufacturing plant in Scotland that will generate 30 local jobs – and as many as 200 in the years to come.

Nation’s best workplaces ABSALON Hotels, IT firm Elbek & Vejrup, DHL Express and Aviation, COOP Trading, Scandic Hotels and Gentofte Municipality were the winners at the 2018 edition of Denmark’s Best Places to Work awards.

Data centres eating into resources

ONLINE THIS WEEK PIXABAY

Lowest inflation in EU

30 November - 13 December 2018

Google promises its next location, which is again based in southeast Jutland, will be 100 percent sustainable

T

HE US IT giant Google is investing 4.5 billion kroner into building a second data centre – this time in Aabenraa in southeast Jutland, near the location of its first centre in Fredericia, which is due to open in 2019.

The construction of the centre is expected to generate upwards of 1,500 jobs, with another 700 jobs connected, directly or indirectly, to the centre from 2021.

The announcement takes the number of data centres recently announced by IT giants to five.

Apple has centres planned for Viborg and Aabenraa, while Facebook is building a centre in Odense. Additionally, IBM opened an innovation centre in Brøndy in 2017, while Amazon Web Services said in September it was “for sure” it will open a data centre in Denmark.

Concerns over heat GOOGLE’S new centre will be 100 percent sustainable and Google has announced it is prepared for further green investments in Denmark. However, this has done little to assuage environmental concerns.

Despite repeated promises from ministers, the only IT giant with concrete plans to utilise surplus heat is Facebook's data centre in Odense, where 100,000 MWh of energy will be reclaimed – enough for 6,900 homes.

The problem is that the positioning of the centres has mostly been decided on with regards to issues such as stable and cheap electricity, according to Ingeniøren's research into the co-operation between Invest in Denmark and Apple.

“The really big data centres are

Rosy results at Ørsted ØRSTED announced an operating profit of 10.8 billion kroner for the first nine months of 2018 – a 14 percent rise on the same period last year. In other finance news, Pandora has downgraded its expectations after more disappointing quarterly results. The news led to another drop in its share price, which has fallen by 43 percent since May.

Another win for Lego

Facebook, Google, Apple, IBM and Amazon on the way

being situated where there is excellent access to electricity,” claimed chief analyst Nina Detlefsen from the Danish district heating thinktank Grøn Energi.

District heating has just not been a priority, and there is too little or no focus on what the potential is for getting something out of the surplus heat Increased consumption THE CENTRES are going to increase Denmark's power consumption substantially.

The estimated consumption for the centres built by Apple, Facebook and Google in 2030 would be 7.5 Terawatt-hours – the equivalent of the power used by 1.9 million households.

According to Dansk Energi, it will be necessary to build 700 new turbines on land or 200 at sea to provide enough green energy, reports Jyllands-Posten.

The fall was attributed to a combination of lower wind turbine production, a slight fall in the use of biomass, and increased production of electricity from solar panels.

Looking towards the future, energy will be needed to power the government's new drive towards 1 million electric or hybrid cars on the road by 2030.

Gas, oil and renewable energy consumption fell by 4.2, 0.8 and 0.4 percent during the first three quarters of 2018, but coal was up by 2.0 percent. Wind power supplied 39 percent of domestic electricity, while solar energy was up 47.2 percent on the average of the last five years.

Are we on track?

AND IT’S not as if the country’s energy consumption is in freefall. Over the first nine months of 2018, it fell by just 0.6 percent according to the Energistyrelsen energy agency.

Worth the hassle?

THERE is also some doubt about how many jobs will actually be created by these mega-consumers of power. According to Computerworld these centres rarely create more than a few hundred jobs.

In Viborg, not including temporary jobs created during the construction phase, it is estimated that the Apple centre will create around 300 jobs. (CPH POST)

Suing Danske Bank

Tailor-made for spouses

Cheating the taxman

A GROUP of foreign Danske Bank shareholders plan to sue to recoup the losses they sustained on the stock market. The bank’s share price has fallen by 50 percent since 2017 – a loss of around 100 billion kroner. Meanwhile, British whistleblower Howard Wilkinson, the former head of the bank's Estonian branch, has told Parliament his warnings regarding the money laundering went unheeded.

STUDIESKOLEN in collaboration with Welcome Group Consulting has launched Spouse Connect, a course tailor-made for partners of highly skilled workers who want to learn Danish, network and find a job. Alse benefitting from Danish classes are foreign farm workers on Funen via Centrovice, a local service.

Early results suggest it is helping them to better integrate.

AROUND one-third of all cafes, bars and takeaways are deliberately avoiding paying VAT, according to a Skatteforvaltningen survey of 37,000 businesses.

Parliament would like to see businesses required to use digital cash registers, but such a move isn’t scheduled until 2025. In related news, the government has allocated an additional 435 million kroner to fighting tax fraud.

LEGO HAS won another case against copycat producers in China – this time against four companies making products under the ‘Lepin’ label. In other retail news, Rema 1000 has topped Loyalty Group’s Danish supermarket rankings for the third consecutive year. The top five was completed by Lidl, Meny, SuperBrugsen and Kvickly.

Cheaper water bills THE SUPREME Court has ruled that water companies have been paying too much in tax.

The result should, therefore, be reduced prices for the public – around 200-300 kroner per household per year. The judgement brought to an end a ten-year battle with the SKAT tax agency.

OAPs filling state coffers PENSIONERS are paying more tax because more are working past the state retirement age of 65, according to Cepos. The situation is a win-win for the state as it accordingly pays them a reduced pension, while contributions from private pensions are also topping up the coffers. Dansk Folkeparti would like to see working pensioners pay less tax.

Second for talent FOR THE fifth year in a row, Denmark has ranked second in the IMD World Talent Ranking, finishing only behind Switzerland. All the Nordic countries bar Iceland finished in the top 10.

Teaming up with Fox TELECOMS giant TDC has confirmed that its YouSee brand is launching a new TV channel in partnership with Fox Networks Group, which will be called ‘Xee’.

BUSINESS OPINION

30 November - 13 December 2018

KAREY-ANNE DUEVANG WE’RE WELCOME – HONEST! As a British mum of three who has lived in Denmark for 15 years, Karey-Anne started Welcome Group Consulting to address the challenges expats experience in settling into a new country dominated by unspoken rules. A law graduate, former diplomat and now CEO of WGC Relocation Company, she has also experienced first-hand the trials and tribulations of relocating.

Honeymoon’s over WE EXPERIENCE a multitude of feelings when relocating, and although your relocation experience may not have been as extreme as moving into an IKEA packing box-sized flat, there will be a period of adjustment. Coupled with the different phases of settling in, it can leave you questioning why you spent so much time reading about ‘hygge’ and instead wondering if it exists.

Settling in to your new home requires making changes, learning

PETER KENWORTHY BREXIT BORDER-DASH Peter is a British/Danish journalist and Master of Social Science.

He has worked for two Danish newspapers, an NGO and a municipal press department, is a contributing author to ‘African Awakening: The emerging revolutions’, and has written articles for an array of Danish and English-speaking newspapers and magazines.

new skills, resilience and patience.

After the honeymoon phase is over – during which everything is wonderful and the thought of being able to buy authentic Danish pastries for breakfast every day starts to lose its appeal – the hard work really begins.

Daytime tele hobbits WITHOUT the right support and guidance, network and knowledge of where to turn for help, many fellow internationals give up and return home, dissatisfied with the effort they put in for little reward.

Questioning your motivation to relocate, the doubts – coupled with trying to find employment or permanent accommodation – reduce even the strongest of us to daytime tele hobbits preferring to stay at home. But that’s better than going out and either getting lost or being ignored by fellow city-goers, right? explained that my application had been rejected.

“You have not documented your knowledge and understanding of Danish society, culture and history,” I was told in a letter from the Danish Ministry of Immigration and Integration.

The law student who had penned the letter told me that I needed to take a citizenship test. I (and the lawyers I consulted on the matter) had believed that the socalled ‘Princess Rule’ meant that I was exempt from doing so, as I was the son of a Danish mother and a foreign father who were married between1961 and 1978.

Everyone is welcome ... even ugly ducklings

Asking for help IT ISN’T easy, but it does get better – promise! Here’s what I wish I’d have known back then: Danes can be perceived as being closed, cold even, but they are super friendly when approached, so don’t be afraid to ask for help or start conversations.

Language school is for learning the language, so not just a social event. Take notes and try to learn the basics.

Connect with others using shared interests like sports, clubs or organisations until you find the one that fits.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Everyone who has relocated at one time or another has gone through what you are going through now. Leave Netflix for another time and go out and experience everything your new country has to offer.

Rød grød med fløde really is a dish – who’d have known?

HASSE FERROLD

I

TOOK THE Danish citizenship test on Wednesday, so I can apply to become a Danish citizen. In the meantime, however, a new law has been passed regarding self-sufficiency that means I won’t be able to acquire Danish citizenship for several years.

Never mind that I was born at Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen to a Danish mother, and that I automatically became a British citizen because my father was British, as was the case in the 1970s.

Or that I am married to a Dane and have two Danish children, attended school in Denmark, have a Danish teaching degree and a master’s, and have worked as a teacher, journalist and academic in Denmark.

ALBERTSLUND HOVEDBIBLIOTEK

Y

OU MAY have read the guide books, checked out ‘things to do’, joined online expat groups and think you know what to expect. You arrive in the city, checklist in hand and furniture still packed, with a stunning realisation that this cramped IKEA showroom is now your new home, and what’s this nonsense about counting rooms, not bedrooms?

11

The end of a long and arduous road

The first rejection I HAVE already applied for Danish citizenship once: the day after the Brexit vote. Nearly two years later I received a letter that

Olsen Gang mentality IN THE 147 pages of learning material for the citizenship test, you can read about how Denmark is supposedly one of the richest and most well-functioning countries in the world, and that the Danish Constitution does not distinguish between the

rights of its inhabitants according to creed or origin.

It also informs the reader about lots of trivial things, such as how the Olsen Gang comedy film series are the most popular Danish films ever made.

I must admit that I do feel a certain affinity for the main character of the series, criminal

gang leader and societal outcast Egon Olsen, at the moment.

Especially when he goes on one of his infamous rants against the dog-heads, wimps, lousy amateurs, botchers, untalented scumbags, impotent peasants, nursery nurses and Social Democrats that he believes have messed up his ingenious plans.

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Danish Capital in 2016

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12 OPINION

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

30 November - 13 December 2018

Dexit? Be careful what you wish for!

J

Lies, damned lies …

WHAT A difference a couple of years makes! Since then, it seems as if almost nothing has been plain sailing. The UK is due to leave the EU on 29 March 2019 at 11 pm UK time and only the wildest optimists would imagine that the transition is going to be smooth.

It was already clear the day after the vote that the 'leave' side had been pretty economical with the truth. During the campaign, Boris Johnson was touring the country in a bus emblazoned with the slogan “We send the EU 350 million pounds a week: let’s fund our NHS instead.” This myth was effectively demolished before the referendum, but to no avail.

Investigations are currently ongoing as to whether the financial contributions towards the 'leave' campaign from some of the most ardent Brexiteers were legal. Millionaires, strawmen, conspiracies involving US altright forces and Steve Bannon, interference from the Russians,

Mishra’s Mishmash

and election tampering have all been mooted.

Hedging their bets A NUMBER of the key proponents of Brexit have been exposed as safeguarding their own personal interests.

A city capital management company that Jacob Rees-Mogg co-founded has upped sticks to Dublin – afraid of the possibility of being cut off from EU investment opportunities when the plug is pulled. Nigel Lawson, Tory grandee and ex-chair of the 'Vote Leave' campaign, has applied for French citizenship.

And two of UKIP politician Nigel Farage's children have dual nationality: UK and German.

Gross hypocrisy or what?

This is presumably what Boris Johnson meant by “having our cake and eating it”.

A number of groups, meanwhile, have mounted legal challenges either to have the result overturned or to secure a new Brexit vote.

Broken Britain THE UK looks less 'united' by the day. Scotland doesn't want to leave the EU and has been exploring legal avenues for a challenge, and the Irish border question seems an almost intractable problem to solve.

One thing is certain. Brexit has divided the country like no other event since the English Civil War. It has led to family members breaking off contact with one another and even divorcing. David Cameron has certainly secured himself immortality for making one of the most inept political decisions in British history when he decided to call the referendum.

So any Danes tempted to follow this path – be warned. Like Pandora's Box in ancient Greek myth, once it was opened, horrible things flew out including greed, envy, hatred, pain, disease, hunger, poverty, war and death. An exaggeration? Time will show. (SG)

As a regular contributor to the Times of India, the country’s largest newspaper, Mishra is often soughtafter by Danish media and academia to provide expertise on Asian-related matters, human rights issues and democratisation. He has spent half his life in India and the other half in Denmark and Sweden.

US EMBASSY - FACEBOOK

UST PRIOR to the UK's Brexit vote in June 2016, Dansk Folkeparti was already sizing up the chances of a similar vote for Denmark, should the UK do the unthinkable and opt out.

On June 20, party leader Kristian Thulesen Dahl told Jyllands-Posten that “an important hybrid could come out of this, so I want a referendum to decide whether Denmark wants a similar solution.”

After the vote, Dahl was full of praise for the “brave British”, adding that “we've seen an election campaign where the British people have been told that everything can go wrong. They will be poorer, taxes will rise and they won't have a national health service.” He concluded by saying that “they [the government] did everything they could to scare them off voting for Brexit, but then the people went and did it anyway.”

MRUTYUANJAI MISHRA

The flag's at half-mast as American democracy continues to struggle admist the rise of the precariat

C

OPENHAGEN is either praised or reprimanded in America for its unique welfare model depending on which school of political thought you adhere to.

It is not just the cycle paths and enviable architecture that fascinates Americans – so does its rock solid social security system, which prevents people from oscillating between a good and bad personal economic situation.

CPH joins the club IN NOVEMBER, the Department of Political Science at the University of Copenhagen awarded Kathleen Thelen, a professor of political science at MIT and president of the American Political Science Association, an honorary doctorate.

She has already been awarded honorary degrees by the Vrije Universiteit of Amsterdam, the London School of Economics, and the European University Institute in Florence.

Copenhagen has not done anything special by adding one more credential to a scholar whose books and expertise are on the origins and evolution of political-economic institutions

in rich democracies like USA and EU. So why is her academic work getting so much attention these days?

While summing up her work in her reception speech, she complemented the Danes on their welfare system, but warned that it must be preserved to ensure that workers on the bottom rung of the salary ladder don’t spiral into poverty.

The working dead WESTERN economies have become ever richer, but the created wealth is increasingly getting unevenly divided. So while the top 10 percent of the population tends to do well in most western countries, at the other end of the spectrum we are seeing a growing number of ‘working poor’ with reduced job security and shorter job contracts, who are getting paid only for the services they provide.

Thelen uses the term ‘gigeconomy’ to explain this new phenomenon that has engulfed the job market everywhere. People are hired on a short-term basis, which means they are frequently looking for new jobs.

These workers often have periods of unemployment – sometimes

in between having three jobs in a single year – and this makes their personal economy precarious.

Not the Chicago way THESE members of the ‘precariat’ do not get simple welfare benefits like paid sick leave, or paid leave if their children get sick. They do not get pension benefits and a list of other benefits, such as a paid holiday every year. Simply put, the precariat live a precarious life in which nothing is assured or stable, and at times they are hired for jobs for which the schedule is only given a few days, and sometimes a few hours, in advance.

There are many reasons why US democracy is going through one of its worst crises, and the rise of the precariat class offers one explanation. Copenhagen may not offer you swift career advancement, as do some other capitals in the world, but your chance of ending up as a member of the working poor is fairly low.

So if you have to choose between living in Copenhagen or Chicago, remember it’s not just the skyline that matters. Job security matters too.

OPINION

30 November - 13 December 2018

13

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JESSICA ALEXANDER

The Road Less Taken Jessica is a bestselling US author, Danish parenting expert, columnist, speaker, and cultural researcher. Her work has been featured in TIME, Huffington Post, The Atlantic and The NY Times, among others. She graduated with a BS in psychology and speaks four languages. She currently lives in Italy with her Danish husband and two children.

Crazier than Christmas VIVIENNE MCKEE

Early Rejser ADAM WELLS

IN 2 ISSUES

NASJONALBIBLIOTEKET

Straight Up ZACH KHADUDU

A Dane Abroad KIRSTEN LOUISE PEDERSEN IN 3 ISSUES

Mackindergarten ADRIAN MACKINDER

Straight, No Chaser

"Who told Stig of the Dump he could hide in the tree?"

A

S AN AMERICAN married to a Dane, I have spent more than 15 Christmases in Denmark. It’s truly a magical time of year that I have studied for many years trying to understand what makes it unique. Here are six signs you might be Danish at Christmas.

Not just wishful thinking THE SAYING “be careful what you wish for” is taken to a new level in Denmark, as every year I am asked to provide my ønske (wish) list from my Danish family. In my family growing up, gift-giving was improvisational. Thus, you were either joyfully surprised or artful at hiding your disappointment as a hideous sweater emerged out of the wrapping paper. Danes are more practical in terms of keeping it simple and not overdoing spontaneous gift-giving. While I used to balk at this for lacking imagination, I now really appreciate it.

Chopped down yourself DON’T HAVE a real tree? Don’t admit it. The majority of Danes have real trees and the idea of a fake one leaves many looking confused.

Danes typically put their tree up only a few days before Christmas and meet up as a family to chop it down. Coming from Florida and the land of plastic fantastic, this was quite an experience.

Designer ornaments IN DENMARK, most families have at least one, if not a whole tree of designer Georg Jensen ornaments, and the cost is not for the faint of heart or light of wallet. While my tree growing up was twinkling with tinsel, glittering plastic ornaments, blinking lights and tacky memorabilia, including pink fuzzy flamingos, Danish trees tend to have an elegance and simplicity I really admire. Many years on, we have quite a few of our own golden Georg Jensen ornaments.

They do, admittedly, hang next to fuzzy flamingos.

Gnomes everywhere CHEERFUL, chubby, ruddy gnomes in pointy red hats are standard guests in Danish homes. They mainly come in pairs and can be found in an array of activities from cooking, to throwing snowballs, eating chocolate, riding motorcycles or carrying your candle. Luckily, they are cute because inevitably they are everywhere.

Hygge before hazard AT MY FIRST Danish Christmas, I was horrified as the family lit real candles attached to a real tree in a predominantly wooden house. I couldn’t stop scanning the room for a fire extinguish-

er and wondering if no-one had heard of Ranger Rick, the American racoon character who famously warned kids of fire hazards. Lighting candles was the last thing Rick would ever condone.

But now I’ve accepted that noone seemed to be burning their house down, I’ve begun to enjoy it. Even so, I still wouldn’t recommend trying this at home, kids.

Dancing around the tree WHEN MY husband first handed me ‘the song book’ on Christmas Eve and told me we were going to hold hands, sing and dance around the tree together, I looked for the hidden camera.

When the ‘just kidding’ moment didn’t come, I braced myself for the worst. But once I stopped worrying about how I looked or that my sweater might catch fire from the tree, I discovered one of the most heartwarming experiences I have ever tried. It has also become one of my children’s absolute favorite pastimes.

Of course, there are many more signs that you are Danish at Christmastime, but these are just a few that stood out for me. For beginners, try the festive Danish Christmas beer. With a higher alcohol percentage than normal, it’s guaranteed to get you in the holiday mood and make the group singing a little easier.

STEPHEN GADD

IN 4 ISSUES

An Actor’s Life IAN BURNS

Living Faith REVD SMITHA PRASADAM

14 COMMUNITY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

ABOUT TOWN

30 November - 13 December 2018

PHOTOS BY HASSE FERROLD

Copenhagen’s lord mayor, Frank Jensen, was the host of a network meeting for the diplomatic corps at City Hall on November 7, at which he took the opportunity to underline the Danish capital’s green credentials. Among those present (left-right) were Japanese ambassador Toshiro Suzuki, Portuguese ambassador Rita Laranjinha, Estonian ambassador Mart Volmer, Canadian ambassador Emi Furuya, Jensen and Polish ambassador Henryka Moscicka-Dendys

Australian ambassador Mary Ellen Miller and Norwegian ambassador Aud Kolberg came together in Copenhagen Harbour for a good cause last month (in slightly sunnier climes) to draw attention to the endeavours of Kayak Republic, a non-profit initiative that offers free canoeing in return for waste collection. Its customers are encouraged to paddle around the harbour whilst fishing rubbish out of the water.

Find out more at kayakrepublic.dk

Irish ambassador Cliona Manahan (right) was at the screening of ‘Bloody Sunday’, the opening film of the ‘Troubles Cinema’ festival at Cinemateket on November 6. The festival, which marks the 50th anniversary of the start of the Troubles, and the 20th anniversary of their end, runs until December 22

The new French ambassador Caroline Ferrari was among the great many dignitaries present at the Remembrance Sunday commemoration at Bispebjerg Kirkegaard by the Commonwealth War Graves on November 11 – the centenary of the original Armistice, which marked the end of World War I

Mexican ambassador Carlos Pujalte oversaw Day of the Dead celebrations at various venues in the city from November 2-3

Lithuanian ambassador Ginte Bernadeta Damusis hosted a gourmet food event at her embassy on November 21

30 November - 13 December 2018

COMMUNITY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

15

The Italian Embassy and Rossopomodoro Restaurant at Illum in central Copenhagen invited distinguished guests to a pizza masterclass in which participants were taught how to make a classic Neapolitan.

First Chef Pizzaioli shared the secrets of a perfect dough. Among those present were (left-right) Italian ambassador Luigi Ferrari, Japanese ambassador Toshiro Suzuki and his wife, a restaurant employee, and Turkish ambassador Uğur Kenan İpek

Many diplomats gathered to mark the birthday of Emperor Akihito of Japan – the final state celebration ahead of his planned abdication on 30 April 2019 at the age of 85 – at a reception at the residence of Japanese ambassador Toshiro Suzuki on November 8. Among those present were (left-right) Argentine ambassador Conrado Solari, Cuban ambassador Yiliam Sardinas Gomez, Suzuki and his wife, and South Korean ambassador Choi Jai-Chul

The cast of ‘Fogg’s Off ’, the latest edition of the Crazy Christmas Cabaret, enjoyed well-deserved post-premiere drinks at the Glassalen theatre at Tivoli on November 11 with creator Vivienne McKee (third left) and Søren Hall (second right), her husband and co-founder of London Toast. The show continues until January 5

The International Club Copenhagen held its November forum at the offices of CXOPeople, where its members – including ICC president Per LethNissen (centre right) and founder Hasse Ferrold (left) – were treated to presentations on the future of leadership by Jason Jones (second right), the COO of CXOPeople, and the author Tina Moe (second left)

The Indians in Denmark celebrated Diwali in Valby on November 11

The new ambassador of Portugal is Rita Laranjinha. Bem vinda!

16 COMMUNITY

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

academic scholarships, it is introducing two more for its 2019-20 school year – the CIS Arts Scholarship and the CIS Sustainability Scholarship – which will give the recipients an 85 percent reduction on fees over two years of studies.

The former is for students with exceptional talents in the

creative arts, while the latter is for students with an outstanding commitment to the environment and sustainability.

“Our focus on creativity and sustainability is based on the vision and mission of CIS – developing the potential of each individual in order to create a just and sustainable world,” ex-

ALL PHOTOS:CIS

T

HIS YEAR marks the 50th anniversary of the International Baccalaureate, the standardised syllabus taught to 16 to 19-year-olds at international schools across the world, and Copenhagen International School couldn’t let the landmark go un-noticed.

In addition to its range of

30 November - 13 December 2018

OUT AND ABOUT

plains the school.

CIS funds its scholarships through its ‘Giving Tree’ Community Scholarship Fund, which was launched in 2014 with the help of donors, and already there have been a large number of beneficiaries.

“CIS is one of the leading IB schools in the world, and an IB

Laugh your hearts out with British comics David Ward, Justin Panks and Adrian Mackinder at the Copenhagen English Comedy Night (New Dubliner, Ny Østergade 14; Nov 15, 20:00; 110kr, billetto.dk)

THE-GLOBE.DK

ICC

LOCALFITNESS.COM

Attend the ‘Murder of Crows’ film noir improvised show! (ICC Theatre, Frederiksholm Kanal 2 Cph K; Nov 30 & Dec 7; 19.30; 100-125kr; improvcomedy.eu)

BART EVERSON/FLICKR

ROAST.COM

BOOKSANDCOMPANY.DK

Join a book club for internationals interested in reading and discussing Danish works translated into English (Dec 5, 19:00; Østerbro Bibliotek, Dag Hammarskjölds Allé 19, Cph Ø)

Sample different roasts of coffee in this class where you can learn more about the drink that keeps half the world running! (ROAST Coffee, Vestmannagade 4, Cph S; Dec 7, 17:30-19:00; 150kr)

Celebrate the second book release from author Mai Knauer, ‘Kitchen Tales’. Learn about foods that will delight your palate (Books & Company, Sofievej 1, Hellerup; Dec 5, 17.00-19.00; free adm)

PRESS PHOTO

IHCPH.KK.DK

PRESS PHOTO

Celebrate the Xmas spirit at the International House CPH event ‘Christmas Coziness’ with other likeminded people. Learn to make Danish decorations and embrace hygge (Gyldenløvesgade 11, Cph K; Dec 2, 14:00-16:00; free adm, registration required)

Attend the launch party for ‘Middle Distance’, the latest novel from Heather Gartside, a British artist based in Denmark. The party includes an exhibition of spooky images used in the novel (Dec 3, 16:00; Trommen, Bibliotekstorvet 1, Hørsholm)

CTC

Audition for a role in the JB Priestly play ‘An Inspector Calls’, the Copenhagen Theatre Circle’s spring production (April 3-13). Prepare a monologue lasting no longer than three minutes in an American accent (Dec 3-9; register via ctcircle.dk)

Copenhagen Photographers (info@copenhagenphotographers.com) is reaching out to Brits in Copenhagen who want to share their Brexit stories.

Meanwhile, Leftfield theatre group (leftfieldtheatrecph@gmail.com) is seeking directors, actors and a backstage crew for its spring 2019 production

Food is a medium through which to get closer to culture. Learn how to make Danish smørrebrød, the Danish open sandwich that is perfect for lunches, dinners and midnight snacks (Herluf Trolles Gade 9, Cph K; Dec 5; 09:00-13:00; 895kr, cphcookingclass.com)

Relax and rejuvenate with other English-speaking people at this Strala Yoga session (Sønder Blvd. 73, Cph V; Dec 5, 14, 21 & 28; 09:15-10:30; 50kr)

PXHERE

CPHCOOKINGCLASS.COM

COMING UP SOON

Diploma opens so many doors to universities in both Denmark and abroad,” enthused scholarship student Phillip Mondrup.

“When I joined CIS in August this year, I quickly made friends from all over the world and it’s so exciting to be a student in such an international environment.” (DS)

Test your versatility as an actor at this CTC play reading (The Globe, Nørregade 45 ,Cph K; Dec 17; MANEESH VENKATESH 18:30-21:00; free adm)

30 November - 13 December 2018

New Year New You

| Spouse Connect

Be a part of something special Be part of something Studieskolen Borgergade 12 1300 København K

+45 33 18 79 34 business@studieskolen.dk studieskolen.dk/spouse-connect

Career, Language & Culture Course Follow us /studieskolen

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30 November - 13 December 2018

National parks the focus at annual KUKS gathering at City Hall PHOTOS: HASSE FERROLD / WORDS: BEN HAMILTON

City Hall was once again the host of another KUKS exhibition on October 24 to coincide with UN Day. This year’s focus was national parks, and many ambassadors were in attendance to promote what their countries have to offer, including Russian ambassador Mikhail Vanin, the dean of the diplomatic corps, and Serbian ambassador Jasmina Mitrovic Maric

As is customary on such occasions, all the KUKS dignitaries were there to greet the participating diplomats and oversee a program that included several speeches. In attendance were (left to right) honorary president Eleanor Bomholt, KUKS vice-president Count Ulrik of Rosenborg, KUKS president Kaj Larssen and Nepalese ambassador Yuba Nath Lamsal

Among the ambassadors in attendance were (left: left-right) Nepalese ambassador Yuba Nath Lamsal, Pakistani ambassador Zulfiqar Gardezi, Lithuanian ambassador Ginte Bernadeta Damusis, Niger’s ambassador Amadou Tcheko, Moroccan ambassador Khadija Rouissi, Burkina Faso’s ambassador Maria-Goretti Blandine Agaleoue, Serbian ambassador Jasmina Mitrovic Maric and Benin’s ambassador Eusebe Agbangha; and (left-right) Mexican ambassador Carlos Pujalte, Cuban ambassador Yiliam Sardinas Gomez and Argentine ambassador Conrado Solari

While some attended on their own, others chose to bring their spouse (left-right) to help them, including Romanian ambassador Mihai-Alexandru Gradinar and British ambassador Dominic Schroeder, while Icelandic ambassador Benedikt Bjarki Jonsson enlisted the help of KUKS president Kaj Larssen

HISTORY

30 November - 13 December 2018

19

Top telly nation: from blooming early to drowning in jazz to making a killing DANMARKS TEKNISKE MUSEUM

In 1932 Denmark may have been one of the first countries to carry out a transmission, but it only had one channel until 1988

HEN THE Duchess of Cornwall added binge-watching ‘Forbrydelsen’ (‘The Killing’) with Prince Charles to her royal schedule, you knew that Danish crime series were climbing the ranks.

‘Forbrydelsen’ with its signature twisted plots and dark noir realism, which debuted on national broadcaster Danmarks Radio (DR) in 2007 and then to great acclaim in the UK in 2011, was the first, but not the only Danish drama to gain worldwide traction.

Similar shows such as crime series ‘Broen’ (‘The Bridge’) and political drama ‘Borgen’ followed, underlining Denmark as a heavyweight producer of quality television series.

a program called ‘London salutes Copenhagen’ from Politikens Hus – albeit with a few technical glitches.

Although just behind Germany, Denmark’s first transmission came seven years ahead of the US, and it was seemingly well-placed to capitalise on the new medium.

DR was already well established (since 1925) – at that time under the name of Statsradiofonien (it eventually became DR in 1959) – and from 1928 all Danish households with a radio were required to pay a media licence. DR’s monopoly over the Danish broadcasting world would continue until the 1980s.

But in the early days, it was tough going, and by the time World War II kicked off, Denmark had made little progress on the television front compared to countries like Britain.

The German occupation of Denmark brought with it extensive media censorship as a result of which the progress of Danish television came to a standstill.

One of the forerunners IT HASN’T always been that way – in fact, there was a period during the 1970s when the main focus was jazz, to the extent Denmark pulled out of the Eurovision Song Contest because it didn’t fit DR’s remit – but nobody can dispute Denmark’s longevity, as it was one of the very first countries to carry out a live television transmission.

When Scottish inventor John Logie Baird experimented with the first transmission in London in 1925, the Danes weren’t very far behind, and in 1932 they duly followed suit, broadcasting

Initially two hours a week AFTER the war, Danish TV returned in 1947 – and with vigour. The popularity of ‘Sommer i Tyrol’, a TV program that included actors Hans Kurt and Else Marie Hansen singing together, was a watershed moment, prompting famous radio personality Jens Frederik Lawaetz to remark that television in Denmark was here to stay.

Two years later, an inspired Peter Hansen, DR’s chief engineer, returned from a trip to the Netherlands eager to pass on his expertise, and he helped a legion of TV production companies

MATHILDE ZAAVI & SANKRITI MALIK

W

to spring up. As they became more experimental, their output became ever varied.

In the winter of 1951, the first scheduled television broadcast aired on about 200 Danish people’s television sets. Programs were televised for two hours every week, from 20:00 to 21:00 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a subscription cost 50 kroner a month (770 kroner in today’s money). Genre categories in those early days included art, film, information and entertainment.

Following the introduction of a transmitter in Gladsaxe, Copenhagen in 1954, most of Zealand could watch television. And six years later, the entire country had a TV signal when the transmitter on Bornholm was switched on.

By 1963 half the Danish population had a television set in their living room, and in 1965 the number of DR media licences reached 1 million.

The aim of DR1 was to educate and inform the Danish people.

As DR was about to prove by boycotting the Eurovision Song Contest (1967-77), entertainment was never its first priority.

Quickly, the novelty factor that the advent of television brought in the 1950s and 60s began to wear off, and by the time the nation entered the 1980s, many began to question whether one channel was enough – particularly when Liverpool kicked off for the umpteenth time in a row for another two hours of live football.

One channel until 1988 FINALLY, in 1986, Danish politicians decided the time had come to end the one-channel monopoly, reasoning that commercial tele-

-vision would boost business in the country and that DR needed some long overdue competition.

A new public service channel called TV2, financed by both the media licence and TV commercials, was introduced in 1988, and it quickly earned a reputation for broadcasting popular entertainment shows, whist acting as an antidote to the predominantly left-wing perspectives aired by DR. As a result, DR began to soften up on the seriousness of its content and began producing more entertainment programs to retain viewers.

That’s not to say DR1 didn’t produce some immensely popular TV. In 1967, the crime series ‘Ka' de li' østers?’ (do you enjoy oysters?) was so popular that the city streets were empty when it aired. Another Danish favourite was ‘Huset på Christianshavn’ (the house in Christianshavn), a comedy show that ran from 1970-77. And DR’s most popular ever drama series, ‘Matador’, made its debut in 1978. It was so well-received that the entire four seasons were repeated for the seventh time in 2017.

Floodgates open DR WAS so energised by the appearance of TV2 that it became the first broadcaster to introduce a second channel: DR2 in 1996, whose remit included smaller programs dedicated to satire and social debate.

By the time TV2 launched its sister channel ZULU in 2000, the floodgates were well and truly opening, with TV2 alone introducing six more channels between 2000 and 2007 ahead of the analogue being switched off

for good in 2009, thus making all television in Denmark digital.

Other players to enter the market included Viasat (which is owned by Swedish company Modern Times Group), which launched the Scandinavian channel TV3 in 1987, followed by TV3 Danmark in 1990 and TV3+ in 1996.

The Viasat channels have an advantage over TV2 as they are able to interrupt their programs or films with commercials, because the main office is in London and is thereby governed by British television laws (sex and violence before 22:00 is therefore not permitted).

For Danish-based channels, such interruptions are forbidden.

Meanwhile, the ownership of another group of channels – namely 4, 5 and 6 – has switched several times, eventually coming full circle – kind of. Original owner Scandinavian Broadcasting System sold them to CANAL+ in 2005, and since 2012 American Discovery Communications (today SBS Discovery) has been the owner. In the same year, CANAL+, which has been providing cable television to the Danish market since 1997, became C More.

DR today has six TV channels, although in the face of impending cuts, it will soon be downsizing (by merging two channels and moving another two online) as it cuts back on production and personnel.

The downsizing comes at a time when DR’s output is booming, and it has no plans to reduce its drama output. It’s no exaggeration to say that some of its shows have made a ‘killing’ over the last decade, and there’s no reason to believe its success with stop anytime soon.

20 TRAVEL

THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

30 November - 13 December 2018

Mauritius: An eloquent alternative destination to visit this winter ALL PHOTOS: KORTBAEK_TRAVELS

The southern Indian Ocean island nation has a mixed heritage, offering a unique blend of two continents' cultures ALLAN KORTBAEK

W

HILE destinations such as Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia continue to top the charts when it comes to popularity, so too do some of the impacts of excess tourism in these countries, whose visitor numbers put immense pressure on local resources.

Unique combination LUCKILY, the world still remains vast, with a plethora of destinations to explore. Mauritius may not be the first country on your mind, when one conjures up dreamy visions of your next trip, but perhaps it should and could be a great alternative to some of the overly-visited and documented chart-topping destinations du jour.

Mauritius is a mere 14-hour or so plane ride away from Denmark (including a brief stopover in Dubai, for instance) and offers all the comforts, sun, sea, sand and amusement that the likes of Thailand and Vietnam do, albeit with far fewer crowds and a lot more charm and uniqueness.

After visiting the Seychelles earlier this year, I had high hopes for my recent trip to Mauritius and thought much of it would be a comparable experience.

In truth, the two island paradises are very different to one another. While it is true that the Seychelles is the more raw, unspoiled and quiet of the two, Mauritius brings a rich Indian heritage and well-developed infrastructure to the table, giving it the unique feel of a veritable African nation with a strong

Just 14 hours away: The magical sunsets we long for in the winter time are not always as far off as one might think

multicultural foundation.

Here is my quick guide to what to see and do in Mauritius.

Mauritius: need to know MAURITIUS is a safe and stable African country in the Indian Ocean, located close to the smaller Reunion Island (which is actually one of France´s départements.)

Over 50 percent of the population are of Indian descent and you will find a compelling mix of cultures and religions here.

Mauritian Creole, French and English are widely spoken by almost everyone, everywhere.

Living standards, by comparison to most other African countries, are generally high, and inequality is not as widespread as it is elsewhere on the continent.

You´ll probably fly to Sir

Mauritius is the perfect cure for those Monday blues

Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport in the former capital of Mahébourg.

While the main island of Mauritius is small enough for you to live anywhere on it and be able to comfortably drive from one place to another, I recommend staggering your trip into phases, allowing you to experience different areas in depth.

Renting a car and hitting the road is probably easiest, though you can also travel by taxi and, if you’re feeling adventurous, by bus.

course).

Contrary to popular belief, it is practically impossible to walk from one end of the island to another, so check out the south side by boat if this option is available to you.

While you’re around Mahébourg, don your snorkel mask and flippers and swim in the pristine waters of Blue Bay Marine Park – one of the best snorkeling spots I have ever come across.

RECOMMENDED HOTEL Laguna Beach Hotel & Spa – a decent hotel that’s not too big and whose staff are extremely helpful and professional. Their buffet is scrumptious and rich in Creole delights – where possible, select the half-board option, as this gives you the benefit of breakfast and dinner included in your stay.

The East THE EAST of Mauritius is a great place to start your trip after you land. The area around Grand River South East is one you’ll want to visit a fair bit if you find yourself in this quadrant. Rent a boat tour via Kersley & Azur (kersleyboattours@gmail.com; +230 5756 1954) just outside Mahébourg and you´ll get to see some of the small, uninhabited coral islands of the east and 'The Dalblair', a 1902 shipwreck.

You’ll also have the option of sailing up the Grand River delta to the small but sweet Grand River South East waterfall. Your boat ride will also probably take you to Isle Aux Cerfs, a small island off the east coast, which is unremarkably touristy on its main beach, but much quieter further down (past the golf

A dive to the bottom of the sea floor has never been easier

TRAVEL

30 November - 13 December 2018

The North THE NORTH of Mauritius is more populated than the quiet east and home to some of the island’s revered beaches.

A good base would be the area around the beaches of Trou Aux Biches and Mont Choisy: two long, expansive stretches of sand on the northwest shoreline. The former has a great mix of locals and a few tourists on it and is a great sundowner spot, while the latter is also a public beach but is located at the foot of the Trou Aux Biches Beachcomber Resort and Spa,

which takes some shine off it, despite the beautiful palmfringed edge.

Further north check out the town of Grand Baie (the bazaar is a nifty spot to buy artefacts) and Perybere Beach – a favourite among the locals.

While in the north, one bucket list activity you definitely want to try is the Blue Safari sub scooter, which you will find at the northern fringe of the Trou Aux Biches beach. This threemetre dive to the ocean floor in an electric-powered underwater scooter is definitely one of the

most amazing things you´ll do in your lifetime.

Blue Safari also offers a submarine service that takes you down to a depth of 35 metres in a larger craft, and this too is a memorable experience.

RECOMMENDED HOTEL Mystik Lifestyle Hotel – a boutique hotel with immaculately designed rooms and the famous #33 restaurant, which serves up some of the best seafood in these parts.

The West and the South

Drop by Mauritius’ highest waterfalls, Chamarel Falls

Rent a Sea Kart for a few adrenaline-filled hours out in the open ocean

The spectacular ‘7 Coloured Earths’ at Chamarel

21

THE VAST majority of activities on your trip, depending on what you go for, will probably be in the west of Mauritius – for instance in or near the town of Flic En Flac, a great base from which to cruise the shoreline and wander south and inland.

Flic En Flac is home to numerous restaurants and a comfortable stretch of beach.

From here, explore the rugged interior of Mauritius with a day trip to the Black River Gorges National Park, where sights such as the iconic ‘7 Coloured Earths’, Alexandra Falls and the Chamarel Waterfall await.

Hire a taxi or up your hilldriving game as the roads here are sinuous, narrow and not for the fainthearted.

Varangue Sur Morne is a fantastic restaurant to have lunch at on your way back down from the national park. Here, you´ll find a scrumptious selection of local treats and some of the best service on the island.

For something slightly less flashy, head to Restaurant Chamarel, which is further down the slopes and offers a stunning panoramic view of the west coast from above.

If you’re into your watersports, you’ll find no shortage of them in the west and down south.

For stand-up paddle and kitesurfing, head to Yoaneye Kite Centre by Le Morne. The swell on the northerly section of Le Morne is regular and easy to paddle-surf on, but be careful not to drift too far downstream with the current, as getting back takes a while.

Kitesurfing takes place further south of Le Morne, where consistent wind makes it one of the most popular spots to fly at.

As you wander further south, the coastline becomes rugged

The quiet easterly shores of Mauritius

and more poignant.

Surfers looking for a good break will want to stick to the area around Le Morne, but as an alternative consider driving down the scenic beach road to the small settlement of Bel Ombre, where KiteGlobing is located – it is worth it! This is both a surf and kitesurfing hotspot.

For thrill-seekers looking for a taste of adventure on the waves, Sea Kart Mauritius offers an epic opportunity for you to pilot your own 110 bhp speedboat (no boat licence required). This powerful craft skims the surface at speeds of up to 80 km/h and is the closest thing you will find to a jet ski (since these are banned in Mauritius).

snooze).

You’ll find numerous boat operators to cruise out to see the dolphins with, but for the sake of these creatures and their wellbeing, I recommend going out to see them on a stand-up paddle board, surf board or the like.

RECOMMENDED HOTEL The 4.5-star Villasun is located some distance away from the beach in Flic en Flac, but a free shuttle service ad libitum is available to ferry you back and forth. Some meals are available on the premises, although shopping and cooking for yourself in the state-of-the-art ensuite kitchen is the way to go.

Swim in the company of dolphins on the west coast of Mauritius

Last, but not least in the west, get yourself out of bed early and head out to spot dolphins as they surface in the morning.

Whilst among these great creatures of the deep, try not to disturb them with loud noises and splashes as they are actually sleeping (using half their brain to stay awake and the other to

About the Author: Allan Kortbaek is a Copenhagen-based writer and photographer. He usually travels with his fiancée, Mette. The two of them have travelled to over 50 countries combined. Follow their travels via Kortbaek_travels, their YouTube channel or mutuks.com.

22 INOUT: EVENTS THE COPENHAGEN POST | CPHPOST.DK

BALLET

MIKLOS SZABO

THEMEPARK

SIGNEVILSTRUP

BALLET

STUDIO SARAH LOU

TIVOLI.DK

THOMAS PETRI

CABARET

30 November - 13 December 2018 MUSICAL

Crazy Christmas Cabaret Nov 13-Jan 5; Tivoli Glassalen; tickets: 170-385kr, londontoast.dk A half-naked Russian president riding horseback, North Korean atomic bombs on stand-by and two years of the orange-faced American leader ... get in the mood for Christmas at Vivienne McKee’s Crazy Christmas Cabaret, which this year is called ‘Fogg’s Off’.

The Nutcracker Nov 23-Dec 23; Tivoli Koncertsal; tickets: 275-635kr, tivoli.dk Little Marie’s magical journey into the Land of Sweets accompanied, of course, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky’s iconic music, has become synonymous with the festive season.

Tivoli’s version places the action firmly in the themepark, including cameos from a few famous faces of yesteryear.

Christmas at Tivoli Nov 17-Dec 31, open Sun-Thu 11:00-23:00, Fri-Sat 11:0024:00; Tivoli, Vesterbrogade 3, Cph V; tivoligardens.com Tivoli is rarely shut for long – particularly when it’s got the rest of its 175th year to celebrate. Just 13 days after closing the doors on Halloween, it opened for Christmas. Don’t miss the firework festival at the end of the year.

Alice in Wonderland Dec 2-22; Gamle Scene, Kongens Nytorv 9, Cph K; 100-760kr; kglteater.dk This has a distinctly Anglo feel thanks to its British choreographer (Christopher Wheeldon), music (Joby Talbot) and set (Bob Crowley). Expect bright colours, crazy effects and pure magic in this co-production with the Royal Swedish Ballet.

Phantom of the Opera ongoing, ends March 31; Det Ny Teater, Gammel Kongevej 29, Cph V; tickets: 209-748kr, detnyteater. dk; in Danish The sets in this historically huge production are of a big, bold, garish themepark aesthetic and they ably show a considerable budget exploited to its bloated potential.

The overall effect is an eye-popping gothic sweetshop. (MW)

Designers Market Nov 30-Dec 2 & Dec 7-9, open Fri 12:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 10:0017:00; Bredgade 68, Cph K The Danske Kunsthåndværkere & Designere will be holding their annual Christmas crafts market in large heated tents at Designmuseum Danmark, where more than 70 independent artists will exhibit their products. Attendees can also buy tickets to the museum at a 50 percent discount.

Design Xmas Market Dec 2-4, Fri 12:00-19:00, Sat & Sun 12:00-17:00; Victoria Ceramic Studio, Vesterbrogade 24B, Cph V; free adm Viktoria Ceramic Studio will for the sixth year in a row transform into a shopping wonderland where you can purchase ceramics, jewellery, leather, knitwear and more unique items. Source sample products that you will not be able to find anywhere else.

Carlsberg Xmas Market Dec 2-4, 10:00-17:00; Visit Carlsberg, Gamle Carlsberg Vej 11, Cph V Hop aboard for what is probably the best Christmas market ever arranged for Dad. Sample special beer, stock up on your festive brew and tick off the chore of buying a tree while you’re nicely sozzled. And if your kids behave, treat them to a horse-drawn carriage and æbelskiver.

Kronborg Castle Xmas Market Dec 3-4 & 10-11, open 10:0017:00; Kronborg Castle, Helsingør; 50kr; under-4s: free adm; kongeligeslotte.dk Treat yourself like royalty and enjoy horse-drawn carriage rides and watching the Fairy Tale Theatre in the great ballroom. Find special, handmade Christmas products from the 100 stalls at the market and participate in the excellent gift-making workshops.

Rufus Gifford: The Next Chapter Dec 12; Bremen Teater, Nyropsgade 39-41, Cph V; 249-299kr; brementeater.dk The former US ambassador to Denmark, Rufus Gifford, is returning to reflect on his life and future prospects following his failure to win the Massachusetts’ 3rd Congressional District Election on September 4.

Danh Vo ongoing, ends Dec 2; National Gallery of Modern Art, Sølvgade 48-50, Cph K; 110kr, under 18s free adm Straight from the Guggenheim in New York comes ‘Take My Breath Away’, an exhibition by the Danish-Vietnamese artist that explores themes such as migration, cultural history and identity. (MV)

Eske Kaths ongoing, ends Dec 8; Galerie Mikael Andersen, Bredgade 63, Cph K Sit and stare in horror and fascination at the ‘The Fundamental Uncertainty from Where I Sit’, an exhibition that presents abstract landscapes dealing with climate change, mass extinction and ecological crises. (MV)

Marina Abramović ongoing, ends 2020; Royal Library Søren Kierkegaards Plads 1, Cph K; pre-booking necessary at kb.dk/en ‘Method for Treasure’, the Serbian artist’s new installation at the Black Diamond, allows visitors to become actors in her world of treasures. Experience an immersive installation where you become part of the art. (MV)

Women of Surrealism ongoing, ends Jan 13; Kunstforeningen, Gammel Strand 48, Cph K The early 20th century Nordic painters Franciska Clausen, Rita Kernn-Larsen and Elsa Thoresen were among Denmark’s most important surrealistic artists, but their work had been largely forgotten until this exhibition at Kunstforeningen. (MV)

Horisont ongoing, ends March 3; Danish Architecture Centre, Bryghusgade 10, Cph K; 110kr Visit the Danish Architecture Centre and see an exhibition honouring the Danish architect Jørn Utzon. ‘Horisont’ celebrates the 100th birthday of the architect who created the Sydney Opera House. (MV)

Van Gogh ongoing, ends Jan 20; Arken, Skovvej 100, Ishøj; 150kr, under-18s free adm Explore Van Gogh in a large scale exhibition about life, humanity, faith and nature. (MV)

Creme de la creme ongoing, ends Jan 27; Design Museum Denmark, Bredgade 68, Cph K; 115kr, under-25s free adm The exhibition showcases artworks that have never or seldom been shown to the public. (MV)

MONO ongoing, ends Dec 9; Thorvaldsen Museum, Bertel Thorvaldsens Plads 2, Cph K; 70kr Engage with interpretations of the simple, the monochrome and the self-evident. (MV)

Superflex ongoing, ends Dec 30; Copenhagen Contemporary, Refshalevej 173A, Cph K; 100kr Interactive installations deal with collaboration and power of play in ‘One Two Three Swing!’ (MV)

Cecily Brown ongoing, ends March 10; Louisiana, Gl Strandvej 13, Humlebæk; 125kr ‘Where, When, How Often and with Whom’ is Brown’s first European exhibition for years. (MV)

23 Remembering Robin – why nobody gives a Friar Tuck ON SCREENS

30 November - 13 December 2018

BEN HAMILTON

P

OOR OLD Robin Hood – nobody’s ever got his back.

When he turned up in Sherwood Forest, he found a motley crew with low self-esteem. Bland, Much, Little … it didn’t bode well. By the time he’d finished, they were the Merry Men riding through the glen. That’s impressive given they were living in their own shit and giving all their plunder to the poor because Robin said it would make them look good in posterity. Kamikaze pilots were made weaker promises.

But maybe they’ve been best off in Robin’s shadow given the procession of confused films and TV adaptations that have come out over the last 40 years.

The problem most film-makers face is how historically accurate the fictional tale should be, and how much it can be treated as fantasy. The result tends to be more reminiscent of the decade it was made in than the late 12th century, with promo shots of the merry men looking more like pop bands from the era. Quickly they all look dated – a fate that should never befall a costume drama.

Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991) is a doppelganger for Italian footballer Roberto Baggio. The two Robins in the British 1980s TV series Robin of Sherwood have haircuts that wouldn’t have looked out of place in Spandau Ballet. And the cast of the BBC 2006 series look like they’re extras on that awful series set in a Manchester salon.

Historically accurate (Robin Hood, 1991; Robin Hood, 2010) tends to miss the target too, leaving the 1938 Errol Flynn vehicle The Adventures of Robin Hood as probably the only version in

which our belief is suitably suspended – not bad for a film with an Aussie in the lead that was shot entirely in California.

No moor? We said no more!

THERE’S no doubt the new version of Robin Hood (33 on Metacritic; released on Nov 29) is going to have a short shelf-life, but its eyes are on the Christmas box office takings, not the BFI films of the century list coming out in time for Xmas 2099. To be fair to director Otto Bathurst, he seems aware of the pitfalls of previous Hoods trying too hard, so he doesn’t try at all. Like with the recent Guy Ritchie film King Arthur: Legend of the Sword, the inclusion of anachronistic weaponry, clothing and language tell you that authenticity isn’t an issue, even though Danish archer Lars Andersen coached the leads in the lost art of fast-firing for the action scenes.

Taron Egerton (Kingsman) has been miraculously transported from modern day Clacton-onSea to play Robin, while Jamie Foxx is straight outta Compton to play his Moorish compadre – a regular in the gang that the writer of the Costner film did not realise was originally created for Robin of Sherwood, forcing him to change the name of Morgan Freeman’s character to avoid copyright issues.

The reviews haven’t been kind.

“This version will make you side with the Sheriff of Nottingham,” observed Time Out. “Arriving just in time to win a place among the year’s worst films, Robin Hood – bursting with an entitled sense of its own non-existent coolness – falls flat on its fat one,” chimed Rolling Stone. You have been warned!

All that glitters is hot Gaga ROBIN Hood isn’t the only story that keeps on spawning. The original 1937 version of A Star is Born (88; Dec 6) was remade in 1954 with Judy Garland and James Mason, and then in 1976 with Barbra Streisand and Kris Kristofferson, while the Mariah Carey vehicle Glitter (2001) borrowed most of the plot.

Bradley Cooper directs and stars alongside Lady Gaga, who is a hot favourite to win an Oscar for her portrayal of a singer who finds fame and belief under the guidance of a famous, wiser, old enough to be her father household name. She ends up in his arms, but will she ultimately want to keep him at arm’s length? The previous versions suggest she will.

Audiences were divided as to whether Robin Hood is unintentionally hilarious, but who will be able to resist a guffaw when they see Mortal Engines (Not Released Worldwide; Dec 6), the futuristic tale of a woman’s quest to stop London – yes, the UK’s capital, only now it’s a giant predator city on wheels – from devouring everything in its path.

And it’s not even a satire about its football teams paying next to nothing for the best players in the regions and never playing them.

Too often Lars von Trier is best enjoyed with a wry smile, although there’s always a danger that deep-vein thrombosis will set in. At 152 minutes long, The House That Jack Built (41; Nov 29) must be the longest serial killer film of all time, and although the graphic content is disturbing at time, the critics’ biggest complaint is its dullness. Von Trier has again demonstrated he should leave the English-language scripts to someone else.

Marian blew in his hair, but what was Roberto’s excuse?

Rendered in Norwegian, but worth mentioning here is Reconstructing Utøya (NRW; Nov 29), the third film to come out this year about the 2011 Oslo attacks.

In this documentary, four of the survivors direct actors to retrace their steps in a studio, charting the fateful hour in which they evaded being one of the 69 people killed by Anders Breivik. One of the featured survivors is Torje, the younger brother of Viljar Hanssen, the principal character in 22 July, the English-language film directed by Paul Greengrass and currently on Netflix.

Mowgli’s motioning to you JUST IN case you never go to the cinema in the belief that the likes of Netflix will eventually oblige, it looks like two years is the going rate for Oscar contenders, as two films released in the US in late 2016 are making their Netflix bow next week: La La Land (Dec 1) and Manchester by the Sea (Dec 3), along with 2017 opeful The Disaster Artist (Dec 4).

One film coming directly to the streaming service is Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle (Netflix; Dec 7), a live action version of the Kipling classic filled with motion capture performances under the direction of the master himself, Andy Serkis (Gollum, King Kong), who stars as Baloo the bear. A terrific cast includes Benedict Cumberbatch as Shere

Khan the tiger and Cate Blanchett as Kaa the python.

Staying with Netflix, in what is a lean fortnight for new TV series, Pine Gap (Australian – Dec 7) and The Hook up Plan (French – Dec 7) look terrible, Dogs of Berlin (German – Dec 7) and Baby (Italy – Nov 30) average – from the same country My Brilliant Friend (86; HBO Nordic since Nov 17) comes highly recommended) – and 1983 (Polish – Nov 30) promising.

Also recommended is John le Carré espionage thriller The Little Drummer Girl (75 on Metacritic; C More from Dec 13), a three-part miniseries set in the 1970s starring Florence Pugh, Alexander Skarsgård and Michael Shannon – three actors who keep on going from strength to strength.

Over on HBO Nordic, there’s not much to get excited about.

The BBC miniseries Deaths and Nightingales (Dec 13) so badly wants to be Lady Macbeth (starring the excellent Pugh), but Jamie Dornan looks out of place, while Berlin Station (S3, Dec 3) and T@gged (S3, Dec 7) are back for new seasons.

Maybe it’s time Robin Hood never came back. According to legend he fired an arrow from his deathbed with instructions to be buried there. With all the pain that’s followed, it makes you wonder if he was buried alive.

Christmas in Hollywood This December get into the Christmas spirit with four classic films from your grandparents’ childhood – from ‘White Christmas’ to ‘Miracle on 34th Street’ – and one from that of your parents (‘Home Alone’).

We present some 50 films with English dialogue or subtitles every month.

See what’s on at cinemateket.dk or visit us in Gothersgade 55

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