CPH Post Newspaper - 2- 27 September 2022

CO2-NEUTRALITY BID UP IN SMOKE

Mayor concedes that efforts will be delayed by up to three years following the failure of the ARC incinerator to get state funding for a carbon capture plant

CHRISTIAN WENANDE

BACK IN 2009 when Copenhagen proudly unveiled its 2025 CO2-neutrality goal, the news went around the world. PM Mette Frederiksen then used the ambitious target as a major talking point when the Danish capital hosted the C40 Climate Summit in 2019.

But now the city has been forced to abandon its trailblazing goal. According to city mayor Sophie Hæstorp Andersen, the aim is no longer realistic following the news that the ARC incinerator in Amager has given up applying for state funds for a carbon capture plant for its chimneys.

“It’s super unfortunate that we won’t reach the goal in 2025. I’m very sad about it. But it doesn’t mean we can’t get there in 2026, 2027 or 2028. So we still have a hope that we can succeed,” Andersen told DR.

Andersen said that Copenhagen has reduced its CO2 emissions by 80 percent – above the 70 percent target for this year – but to attain full CO2-neutrality

it would require the ARC incinerator to gain access to the state’s 8 billion kroner CCS slush fund.

Big plans scuppered

ARC HAS been working on capturing CO2 for a while now – it already has a demo plant up and running, which has demonstrated an ability to capture CO2 emissions from its chimneys.

And next year, a bigger plant is scheduled to be established. The plan was then to scale up even bigger in 2025 with a plant that can filter all CO2 out of emissions.

But according to Energywatch.dk, ARC doesn’t have the necessary equity capital to do so.

“They [the state] set some criteria to be able to gain access to the state funds to develop CO2 capture technology that they knew that the ARC waste plant in Copenhagen Municipality couldn’t live up to,” Line Barfoed, the city’s mayor for technical issues, told DR Nyheder.

“We thought we could breach the final stretch by capturing CO2 from the waste we still have to burn. We hadn’t imagined that the government wouldn’t be in on it.”

AN OFFER THEY COULDN’T REFUSE

Deal to permit housing on Christiania should bring an end to 51-year squat

BEN HAMILTON

CHRISTIANIA’S residents on Monday approved government plans to build 15,000 sqm of affordable housing in the free state by 2031 for “nurses, pedagogues, social workers and others”, which will increase its population from 850 to 1,150.

The residents had until August 29 to respond to what the government called a “‘take it or leave it’ offer”, which will enable the residents to become the legal owners of land they have been technically squatting on since 1971.

The approval followed a lengthy meeting that began at 18:00 on Sunday and continued until at least 01:30.

"Arms tied behind backs"

A SPOKESPERSON for Christiania said the

residents accepted with “their arms tied behind their backs” – a result of some strong-arming by the state.

The state offered to guarantee 67 million kroner in loans to assist the free state with the purchase of the land it is situated on: the northern part of the Christianshavns Vold rampart.

The mortgage, which no bank would give without state guarantees, will ultimately save Christiania 6.5 million kroner in rental costs per year.

Hard to turn down HAD THE offer been turned down, Christiania would have been ordered to dismantle nine illegally constructed buildings at its own expense.

Furthermore, state loans and guarantees relating to the renovation of buildings have expired, so Christiania would have faced paying for building upkeep as well.

“It was an offer you couldn't refuse,”

Christiania spokesperson Hulda Mader told TV2. “It was implicit in the offer that if we did not accept it, then Christiania would almost shut down – at least financially.”

Industrial park for culture

A FACTORY area in Tårnby Muncipality close to Copenhagen Airport could be transformed into a cultural industrial park, providing space for sports and cultural facilities as well as art and design businesses. Development company Øens Invest acquired the 80,000 sqm site on Amager Landevej off asphalt manufacturer Peab. The proposed area has been named Flyverbyen.

More vessels, fewer aboard

A RECORD 3,200 vessels have docked in Copenhagen's marinas this year. In July, some vessels were having to share spaces. By & Havn might build a new 1,600-berth marina near the city centre at Prøvestenen Syd. Meanwhile, there have been 300,000 fewer cruise ship visitors than estimated – a 30 percent fall blamed on St Petersburg no longer being a reachable destination.

Winging it Danish-style

A NEW CHICKEN wing restaurant has opened on Valby Langgade. The Danish palate tends to be reserved when it comes to spiciness, but Wing It is confident the public will like some of the 11 sauces it has specially developed.

Ecco targeted in centre

ECCO’S shop on Købmagergade was daubed with red paint in the early hours of August 16. Ecco continues to do business in Russia despite widespread outcry. The Royal House are among those to cut all business ties with the shoe manufacturer.

Capital for roadworks

THERE are now more than 850 locations in Copenhagen where road work is being carried out, largely due to a year-long backlog of construction work made worse by rising global material prices. On Copenhagen Municipality's website, there is a map of the roadworks that shows who is responsible and when the work will be completed.

Accident hotspot action

DSB IS developing movement-detection cameras to address the increase in accidents at Nordhavn and Svanemøllen railway stations. Since 2009, there have been 26 accidents and 73 so-called 'accident precursors', mostly involving youngsters walking on the tracks at night or standing too close to arriving trains. The cameras are placed in risky areas and sound alarms.

Kind-hearted lifestyles

THE INDIAN Vegetarian/Vegan Food Festival at Østerbrohuset on August 13 was a blockbuster. Some 6,000 visitors queued patiently for affordable dishes from the sub-continent. “I'm embracing a healthier way of pursuing a kind-hearted lifestyle," one of the attendees told CPH POST.

#1 for bargain hunters!

COPENHAGEN is the ultimate capital for bargain hunters looking for quality vintage and used goods, according to confused.com. Riga, Amsterdam, Dublin, Budapest, Oslo, Porto, London, Rome and Helsinki completed the top ten.

Christian Wenande

Barbara Mensah

Might be an idea to can the triumphant smoke rings

FOLLOWING the announcement that 130 Danish military instructors will be training Ukrainian soldiers in the UK, the Russian Embassy in Denmark has made it clear that it strongly disagrees with the decision.

Vladimir Barbin, the Russian am bassador, believes that Denmark’s involvement in the training will “put the peace at risk”, telling TV2: “Rather than encouraging Ukraine to end the conflict by negotiation, they are now focusing on Kyiv’s military victory, choosing to escalate the conflict even further.”

Denmark, which intends to set aside 100 million kroner to support the train ing, has also said the Ukrainian personnel would be welcome to train in Denmark.

The British defence minister, Ben Wallace, praised Denmark: “We will be

training up to 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers and it brings me joy that Denmark is willing to be a part of the project.”

Limit on tourist visas

AMBASSADOR Barbin is also not hap py that Denmark might soon reduce the number of tourist visas available to Russian citizens – following the example of Finland, the Czech Republic, Poland and the Baltic countries, among others.

"It is clear that human rights in the West are remembered only when it is advantageous, and when it comes to Russians they are forgotten without remorse," noted Barbin.

Jeppe Kofod, the foreign minister, is hopeful the EU can reach a joint decision on only issuing a limited number of visas: to 10 percent of applicants, for example.

In Denmark, almost three times as many tourist visas were issued to Russian citizens in the first five months of 2022 than in the whole of 2021.

820 million kroner pledge IN OTHER War in Ukraine-related news,

the Danish government intends to launch a new, large-scale donation project worth approximately 820 mil lion kroner to finance arms and training in Ukraine.

The Justice Ministry has urged Ukrain ian refugees who have been victims or witnesses to war-related crimes in Ukraine to go to the police, particularly if they photos or video. Support is offered in Danish, English, Russian and Ukrainian.

The development minister, Flemming Møller Mortensen, is set to visit Ukraine to discuss the rebuilding of the country due to the effects of the war, which will cost an estimated 750 billion dollars.

Citing Russia's aggressiveness in the Baltic Sea, Denmark, Sweden and Norway have moved to expand their co-operation, including sharing radar information.

And finally, 34 patients were recently flown in from Ukraine to be treated at Danish hospitals, which say they can receive up to 200. So far, 1,235 Ukrainian victims of war have been treated outside the country.

Office opening in Rwanda

The Foreign Ministry is opening a government office in Kigali this year to assist with Danish-Rwandan projects such as green collabora tion, immigration and fighting corruption. Following the new law that enables Denmark to send asy lum-seekers outside Europe while they are under review, Rwanda was named as a potential destination.

Eyes on a sustainable future

Copenhagen Capacity, which works to attract international companies to Denmark, recently joined UN Global Compact in a bid to improve its sustainability. Last year, Copenhagen Capacity secured a record 1,601 direct jobs along with 4,439 indirect jobs.

Deployed to Iceland

Danish fighter jets have been deployed to Iceland until mid-Sep tember in order to help maintain Iceland’s sovereignty. The deploy ment, which will counter Iceland's lack of an air force, consists of four F-16s and 60 accompanying per sonnel. Within NATO, the operation is known as Iceland Peacetime Pre paredness Needs (IPPN).

Bridge traffic recovering

Traffic on the Øresund Bridge in creased by 85 percent in the first half of 2022 compared to the same period of time last year. However, the number of vehicles crossing the bridge was 15 percent lower this year than in 2019 – a decline blamed on the reduction of flights at Copenhagen Airport.

Ahead with UN Goals

The Sustainable Development Report, which shows how far countries are with reaching the UN Sustainability Goals, reveals that the Nordic countries lead the way when it comes to sustaina bility. The report ranked Finland first ahead of Denmark, Sweden and Norway.

Killed by a wild boar

A Danish man in his 60s is dead after being attacked by a wild boar while hunting in the Eksö area in Sweden. The man was found in a hunting tower and it is believed he was injured by the boar before finding refuge there.

More Rwandan arrivals

A further 200 Rwandans have been accepted to come to Denmark under the national refugee resettle ment quota scheme. The focus will mainly be on women and children, according to the immigration minis ter, Kaare Dybvad Bek. Denmark had previously accepted 200 Rwandans over the past two years.

India trip for minister

The development minister, Flem ming Møller Mortensen, will shortly visit India for three days as part of the countries’ Green Strategic Partnership.

Withdrawing from mine

Despite having made at least 500 million kroner from a contentious coal mine in Mozambique, FLS midth is ceasing services to the mine after it emerged that it is damaging local drinking water sup plies and the population’s health.

Defence legal action

Danish Defence is taking legal ac tion against Expal in response to the Spanish arms supplier stopping its supply of ammunition in the summer of 2021, contravening the terms of a seven-year deal. It is seeking compen sation to cover the expense of buying extra ammo from other suppliers.

Exxon Valdez repeat feared

Denmark has donated 7 million kro ner to UN-led efforts to empty an oil tanker stranded 8 km off the coast of Yemen. Should the FSO Safer end up sinking with its load onboard, it could be four times worse than the Exxon Valdez spill in 1989 and cost 20 billion dollars to clean up. Just 20 million is needed to avert disaster.

Vladimir Barbin outraged by Danish plans to train Ukrainian soldiers, possibly on home soil, and limit tourist visa applications

BENEDICTE VAGNER

Ambassador warns against Danish troops training Ukrainian forces

THE INTERNATIONAL TRAILBLAZERS WHO STARTED THEIR CAREERS FROM

From CEOs to company owners, the success of these five is nothing short of inspiring

ACCORDING to data published by Danmarks Statistik, the number of foreigners immigrating to Denmark reached 57,922 in 2021 – an increase of al most 10,000 compared to the previous year.

People come here for various rea sons: some already have jobs, while others are seeking asylum.

But one group often overlooked but well represented are the ‘refugees of love’ – they moved here to be with their partner, but very often had to start their career from scratch.

Overcoming challenges

DENMARK is known as one of the most difficult countries for foreigners to build networks and make friends, so many end up giving up and leaving.

But CPH POST spoke to five who did not and have gone on to enjoy immense success in their fields, from founding their own company to be coming chief executive after starting on the bottom rung of the ladder.

They are our trailblazers: may their stories inspire you to also become a success in Denmark.

decided to move here.

What difficulties did you experience?

The biggest was of course the language. Of course you can manage in English, or even German, but your life quality (private and professional) is much better knowing the language. I registered as unemployed when I arrived and worked hard at my Danish. The second major challenge was creating my own network.

language, the job possibilities.

Can you clarify what's entailed in being a business advisor?

I work for a small company that advises cli ents about optimising their investments – primarily their tax situation in investing in real estate, or solar and wind energy.

How easy was it to start your own business as a foreigner?

start it. You should also check with your ‘Danish family’ because working longer hours can impact the work-life balance of 37 hours a week they’re used to. It can certainly lead to some ‘discussions’.

You merged with a partner recent ly to lessen your workload. You're obviously a big fan of the Danish work-life balance?

arrivals to Denmark keen to launch their own business?

Try to learn Danish as fast and best as you can, take all the help you can get from the authorities, make a business plan and think about the consequenc es before starting.

Nationality: Austrian Age: 40s

Profession: Business advisor

Arrived in Denmark: 2006

What brought you to Denmark?

After five years in a long distance re lationship with my Danish girlfriend, I

Social activities helped – particularly join ing an international football club called Copenhagen Celtic, where some of the people I met are still my best friends today. The social component in being/ living abroad is extremely important; if you feel happy and socially involved, you will make it. The final difficulty was un derstanding the system and the cultural differences. You can focus on the nega tives – rainy days, high taxes – but there are so many positives: the unique worklife balance and, once you’ve cracked the

Almost anyone can start their own business. The authorities’ homepages are in English, which makes it possible for foreigners to understand what’s needed to run a business in Denmark: registration, account, taxes etc. The mu nicipality and Danish chamber even run courses for entrepreneurs in English. You could consult advisors (costs money), and they’d probably tell you the most important thing is that you believe in your business idea. Make a business plan and goals (including an exit) before you

At some point I was just working far too much – mostly at home when every body was sleeping. A few years ago, around Christmas time, I was sitting alone at the office one evening and started to think if it was worth it. I have three small kids and I was in danger of not enjoying them growing up. So yes, I am definitely a fan of the Danish work-life balance. You still work hard, but have time for other goals, like doing a triathlon – hypothetically!

What advice would you give to new

Do you think it is harder for foreign ers to be successful in Denmark than in other countries?

No, I don’t think so, but you have to make an effort. In many countries they only use only the local language.

Has being an international helped you in any way on your entrepre neurial journey?

Yes. I think my cultural background, and my different way of thinking and doing things, have worked for me personally. And it has been an advantage overseas too. In such situations, I often find my self in the role of ‘cultural translator’.

Nationality: British

Age: 30s

Profession: Filmmaker

Arrived in Denmark: 2011

Why did you come to Denmark?

My motorbike was stuck in Poland and then I met a Danish girl and fell in love.

We had a daughter, but the romantic beginnings did not lead me to a happy life directly.

How did you start your career?

It was a period of desperation when I first came here as it was hard to get your foot in the door. I started my ca

reer in Denmark by washing cars at airports and ploughing snow at foot ball grounds, which was clearly not what I was expecting. The pressure of parental responsibility forced me to rack my brain to generate more in come, but I was completely unable to find the key to a better career. Being angry, complaining about not having a chance, and thinking of myself as a third-class citizen was the norm for me for a while.

How did you get through this dark period?

After a while, I gradually worked out

a path. I kept meeting new people and thereby kept discovering new job opportunities, which might not be ‘wow’ opportunities but a little better than the former jobs. In the end, it all became like a game for me. I didn't hesitate and took every opportunity I could get. By doing that I could step up on the work ladder with each job I did.

Do you have any advice for other internationals?

The main reason I was able to get out of it was that I was willing to take risks. Many internationals opt for security

and think that if you have a good job you shouldn't jump ship. It’s under standable when you have no family around, as losing your income can mean you have to go back to where you came from. I ended up in film making, which has eventually led to success. I credit my foreigner's sense of crisis as my motivation in this society, driving me to keep working and keep moving forward.

Ackroyd, a filmmaker specialis ing in high-end corporate film for his own company, Cph Film Agency.

DIDONG ZHAO

Remember that every journey to success started with a blank piece of paper

RADOVAN GLAMOCLIJA

"I often find myself in the role of ‘cultural translator’"

JAMES ACKROYD

James

"It was a period of desperation when I first came here"

Nationality: Danish-Israeli Age: 30s

Profession: Entrepreneur Arrived in Denmark: 2018

Why did you choose to return to Denmark after living abroad for most of your life?

Before I moved back to Denmark, I

spent a few years traveling around the Caribbean and gained a lot of inspiration. I’ve always had an entre preneurial spirit and dreamt of starting my own business. I chose Copenhagen because on the one hand there were no companies of the same type on the market here at the time [the art and drinks experience company ARTN SIPS, which transitioned into ARTXP in 2021], so I could get some first-mover advantage, and on the other hand, I had my family here to provide me with a place to live and focus on building my business.

What difficulties did you encoun ter?

When I first came to Denmark, I didn’t have any local networks, my Danish was basic, and I didn’t have any savings to put towards start ing a business. I also found that as Copenhagen is a smaller and a less cosmopolitan city, as compared with London where I lived previously, building a business requires more time and patience.

Do you have any regrets?

No regrets. I really enjoy the process of starting a business where you can turn your ideas into reality immedi ately. I love the freedom of being an owner and being able to make my own decisions about the direction of the company and having everything

under my control. Being able to see my hard work turn into tangible results is the biggest reward for me.

What was key to your success?

First of all, mentally I have a very clear vision of what I want to do as an en trepreneur, and this determines the direction I will take. It helps me stay focused and to not let any difficul ties stand in my way. The next part of the job is implementation, which just really takes time. The thing that supports you through all this work is a strong mindset and a strong sense of self belief.

Has being an international helped you in any way?

I have an international outlook. I have lived in many countries, on four con tinents, which makes me more aware of cultural differences and I don’t give up communicating with customers just because of a language barrier. I also use my international perspec tive when I am thinking about what business to create and find gaps in the local market and take advantage of them.

Naamah and her sister Maayan are the co-founders of ARTXP, a platform for creative experiences in Copen hagen.

XI

Nationality: Chinese

Age: 30s

Profession: HR

Arrived in Denmark: 2021

What brought you to Denmark?

My boyfriend is Danish and after not

being able to see each other for a year and a half due to the pandemic, I de cided to move here.

Did you encounter many challeng es?

Yes, adapting to a new environment is hard. But rather than seeing this as some sort of sacrifice or renunciation, I told myself that this is my choice. This is the third continent I've lived on and I'm enjoying the feeling of discovery.

Nationality: South Korean Age: 30s

Profession: Journalist Arrived in Denmark: 2021

Why did you decide to move to Denmark?

I wanted to shake up my life before it gets too late. After achieving some success in my career in Seoul, I start ed to feel stuck in the same cycle and that my potential was not being fulfilled. I wanted to start afresh and build everything again from scratch. The process would be painful, but I would come out stronger if I could overcome the struggles.

What difficulties have you experi enced, and how have you overcome them?

My life was shaken, but that’s what I expected. The change in surroundings was particularly difficult. Compared to Seoul, with a population of 9 million, Aarhus looks more like a small town to me. And there are also the long and dark winter nights! But gradually I learned to accept it and stop fighting it. This attitude has made my life here much happier.

How does life in Denmark compare to the US?

I previously lived in San Francisco, which is very diverse, inclusive and convenient. Now I’m living in a small town in Jutland where people prefer to go home early after work, work in their gardens and spend time with family and friends. So, it's harder for me to make friends, and it’s expen sive.

Do you think it is harder to find a job here?

As a foreigner, Danish can be a major obstacle, so you need to focus on in ternational companies.

Much is made of hierarchies being flatter, but as a programmer in Silicon Valley in the US, you can be promoted very quickly and your income can go up very quickly, although you sacrifice some work-life balance.

Xi studied and worked in the US for ten years before coming to Denmark.

NAAMAH BIERLICH

"I have always had a dream of being an entrepreneur and Denmark became my choice."

" As a foreigner, Danish can be a major obstacle, so you need to focus on international companies."

HYUNJU OCK

Hyunju Ock, a former senior journalist from South Korea, has just moved to Denmark to further her career.

" My life was shaken, but that’s what I expected"

FIRST STEPS

RENT

Increases in 2022 and 2023 will be limited to 4 percent

DIDONG

ZHAO

ON AUGUST 26, the government formed the necessary majority to enforce a temporary cap on rent increases due to inflation, which was expected to affect 160,000 households in Denmark.

Rent increases are accordingly limited to 4 percent over the course of 2022 and 2023.

"Some people are currently serious ly worried about their rents and this should not be happening in Denmark," PM Mette Frederiksen had reasoned to TV2 ahead of the fast-tracked bill.

"A rent increase of 8-9 percent would be too high for many people: for exam ple, the student population.”

Skyrocketing rents

UNDER the previous system, rent in creases were permitted according to the level of inflation.

Based on the so-called Net Price In dex, landlords were within their rights to increase rents by up to 8.8 percent between July 2021 and July 2022.

The government is now proposing to introduce a different index to replace the Net Price Index, which is only now used to regulate rents.

"We will examine whether it is entirely reasonable to take rising food prices into account when setting rents. Because it has nothing to do with rents," said Frederiksen.

Hit the hardest

AHEAD of Frederiksen’s pledge, renters interest group Lejernes Landsorgani sation estimated that at least 180,000 Danish tenants were at risk of significant rent increases – either now or from the beginning of next year.

“This is going wrong. It has become a serious problem that will affect a lot of people,” Jørgen Dyrholm Jensen, the operations manager at Danske Lejere, had warned TV2.

“Those who live in rented accom modation are usually those who earn less and therefore cannot afford to buy a home. As a result, rent increases are hitting them even harder,” Ida Marie Moesby, the consumer economist at Nordea, told TV2.

“Rent increases should be temporarily halted in exceptional circumstances,” concurred Anders Svendsen from Le jernes Landsorganisation.

Church toxicity assessment

IN RESPONSE to a stampede of inappropriate behaviour claims, the church minister, Ane Halsboe-Jørgensen, has called for an assessment of the working environment at the Folkekirken national church, which employs around 12,000 people. Previous measure, such as counselling, have only been deemed to be tempo rarily effective.

Inger’s magnificent seven INGER Støjberg’s new party Dan marksdemokraterne has released a list of 30 candidates for Parlia ment, including seven former Dansk Folkeparti stalwarts who are already MPs: Peter Skaarup, Søren Espersen, Jens Henrik Thulesen Dahl, Hans Kristian Skibby, Karina Adsbøl, Lise Bech and Dennis Fly dtkjær. With just six, DF now has fewer MPs.

Heating check failures

SOME 411,000 low income house holds powered by gas received 6,000 kroner on August 10 to help with sky-rise bills, but some did not get the check, reports DR. They have been told they’ll have to wait until 2023, while others who erroneously got the money have been unable to return the money. Most households powered solely by gas are located outside the big cities.

Boost for cycling clubs

Student alcohol bans

THE SUNDHEDSSTYRELSEN health authority wants to discourage stu dents from drinking by banning alcohol at school parties, and they have sent a letter out to principals at gymnasiums in Denmark. Several schools are already complying with recommendations that include making trips 100 percent alcohol free and parties free of drinks with a volume of more than 5 percent.

Energy rationing likely

IN RESPONSE to the gas crisis caused by Russia, Energistyrelsen is investigating the possibility of rationing energy in the future. In two pieces of related news, the re sumed extraction of gas from the Tyra field in the Danish sector of the North Sea has been postponed, and SK Energi has reneged on its promise to honour fixed tariffs. From November, its prices will rise.

PM popularity shrinking

SOME 34 percent of voters be lieve that Mette Frederiksen is performing poorly as PM, and just 43 percent think she is doing well, according to an Epinion poll – her lowest rating since she took office. Meanwhile, Konservative leader Søren Pape Poulsen has officially put himself forward as a candidate to become PM. If elected, he’s be come Denmark’s first gay premier.

Record fraud case

Football violence concerns

THE MINISTER of justice, Mattias Tesfaye, has met with football clubs in Denmark, as well as fan clubs, to discuss how to make games safer. There has been a perceived increase in disturbances at recent football matches, most notably between FC Copenhagen and Brøndby where police officers have been injured in confrontations with fans.

Venstre’s job centre plan

SHOULD Venstre form the next gov ernment, it will be keen to close the country's job centres, replacing them with a system where people are the main focus. This will reduce the bu reaucracy and allow those employed to focus on helping those in need of a job, reasons Venstre.

Afghan permit extension

MORE MPS are in favour of legislation that will permit some of the 1,000 peo ple evacuated from Afghanistan in 2021 to stay longer in Denmark should they still need protection. The Afghans, which include those who worked for the Dan ish embassy in Kabul or translated for Danish troops, were given a two-year permit.

Seeking a Spies apology

A HANDFUL of former female employ ees of package holiday pioneer Simon Spies have demanded an apology from the company he founded. Known as ‘morgenbolledamer’, they were typically aged 15-18 and expected to perform sexual favours for Spies, or they would be fired. Sometimes they were even asked to sustain violence, a new DR documentary claims.

Navy upgrade confirmed

THE GOVERNMENT intends to invest 40 billion kroner in upgrading the Navy. The package proposes a new maritime part nership with the industry and maritime sector that should enable Denmark to build its own warships to replace those soon to be phased out.

Royals start new schools

PRINCE Christian and Princess Isabella have started at new schools after being withdrawn from Herlufsholm. Christian has begun his second year (out of a standard three) at Ordrup Gymnasium, and Isabella is sitting the final year of elementary schooling at Ingrid Jespers ens Gymnasieskole. Both schools are free to attend.

Another mass killing?

THE CASE of a 33-year-old man, who it is believed had plans to carry out a terror attack in the middle of Aarhus on July 16 using his car and three knives, has been so hushed up to the extent that the charges have not been con firmed. Had he killed people, it would have followed just 13 days after the Field’s shootings that claimed three lives.

Parking revenue bonanza

THE MUNICIPALITIES raked in a record amount of funds from parking in 2021, according to the Federation of Danish Motorists. They took just under 995 million kroner of which Copenhagen accounted for 629 million followed by Aarhus (100), Frederiksberg (80), Aalborg (40) and Odense (32). The figure is 26 percent higher than in 2014.

Hackers hit 7-Eleven

7-ELEVEN stores were closed for a sustained period in early September following a hacker attack that made it impossible for employees to accept payments or use their cash tills. Out of 175 stores nationwide, only five were able to remain open.

THE KNOCK-ON effect of a great summer of cycling, which includ ed Jonas Vingegaard winning the Tour de France, can be seen at the clubs where record numbers of youngsters are joining up. Holste bro Cykle Club now has 35 youth members, compared to fewer than ten in 2019, reports DR.

Sleep-deprived youths

HALF OF the nation’s 16 to 24-yearolds struggle to get a good night’s sleep, according to a Statens In stitut for Folkesundhed study that questioned 11,000 people. The main cause of the problem is electronic screens, such as mobile phones, tablets, TVs and comput ers, said 70 percent of the young males and 80 percent of the young females with sleep problems.

Gender change rethink

ACCORDING to the government’s new LGBT+ plan, there will be no age limit on when a child can undergo a gender reassignment. However, up until the age of 15, they must have parental consent. The current limit is 18, which many agree is too high; in Norway, since 2016 it has been six with parental consent.

SOME 16 people have received prison sentences and been fined a total of 875 million kroner in re lation to the largest fraud case in Danish history. In total, 155 court hearings were required to reach a conclusion to 'Operation Greed'. Most of the crimes involved fraudu lent invoices issued to the state, tax avoidance and money laundering.

Fighting crypto crime

THE GOVERNMENT wants to allo cate more money to the police to tackle crime rate levels associated with crypto currency. Organised crime is increasingly using crypto currency to launder money, and it is believed it has recruited crypto-spe cialists to help with the process. The funding will help to double the number of analysts tracking crypto currency movements.

Feeling safer

A BIENNIAL Justice Ministry report based on 2021 data reveals that 88 percent of people feel safe in their neighbourhoods in Denmark. The status is an improvement on the pre vious report in 2019, when 86 percent of people felt safe in their neighbor hoods. Those under the age of 30 in certain neighbourhoods feel less safe compared to other age brackets.

CRITICAL EUROPEAN CAMPAIGN IN STORE

CHRISTIAN WENANDE

DENMARK is at risk of losing one of its two Champions League qualification spots next season unless the Danish teams can pull off a few improbable runs in Europe this season.

The country currently sits 19th in the European Club Coefficient Rankings and is far from reaching the top-15 placement required to maintain two CL spots.

Norway, the Czech Republic, Swit zerland and Ukraine are all miles ahead of the Danes, and it looks unlikely that they will be caught for two key reasons.

Tough draws for all FIRSTLY, the four countries mentioned above all have at least two teams qualified for a European group stage – Norway and the Czechs have three and the others have two.

Denmark also has three, but they re ceived little luck during the draws and all landed in tough groups.

FC Copenhagen – Denmark’s flag ship in Europe for years now – most likely won’t scrape many points togeth

er against the likes of Manchester City, Dortmund and Sevilla in the Champions League.

FC Midtjylland won’t get much out of the Europa League either. Lazio and Feyenoord are formidable foes, although there is potential to take a few points from Austrian outfit Sturm Graz.

Finally, Silkeborg probably won’t get much out of their Conference League group, which includes West Ham, Ander lecht and Steaua Bucharest. Some points may come against the Romanians, but it’s slim pickings at best.

Looking for a miracle REALISTICALLY, perhaps only FCM have a chance of European football after Christmas if they can finish third in their group and qualify for the Conference League knockout stage.

If Denmark fails to make up the lost ground in the coefficient rankings, they will lose a CL spot and go from having five teams in Europe to four.

So they will go from having two CL, one EL and two CNL places to having one CL and three CNL places.

In other words, there’s a lot at stake for Danish football in Europe this season.

VIKTOR Axelsen cemented his position as the world’s best men’s singles badminton player by win ning the World Championships in Tokyo on August 28. Axelsen didn’t drop a single set on his way to the final, where he beat Kunlavut Vit idsarn from Thailand 21-5, 21-16. He becomes the first Dane to win the world championships twice in singles, having also won in 2017. He has now won 37 matches in a row.

France sells out quick DENMARK’S Nation’s League game against France in Copenhagen on September 25 sold out in record time. According to the DBU foot ball association, all the tickets were snapped up within three hours. Denmark could win their group by beating France.

Boxing legend dies

LEGENDARY boxing promoter Mo gens Palle passed away on August 27 following a long bout with cancer. Palle, who was 88, managed a long line of Danish boxing greats over the course of this 65-year career, includ ing Mikkel Kessler, Jimmi Bredahl, Gert Bo Jacobsen and Brian Nielsen.

HJALTE Froholdt has another

at playing time in the NFL after he made the final 53-man squad for the Cleveland Browns this week. The 26-year-old was drafted in 2019 by the New England Patri ots and became the first Dane to play in the NFL since Morten Andersen.

Troest sets 1 km record

THE DANISH 1,000m record for women has been broken for the first time in over 30 years. Gitte Karlshøj had held the record since 1990 with a time of two minutes, 43 seconds. But on August 28, Stina Troest, 28, smashed the mark by almost two seconds during a race in Belgium.

Woe for ice hockey ladies

THE DANISH hosts crashed out of the women’s Ice Hockey World Championship following a brutal loss to Germany on August 30. Leading 2-1 and needing just a draw to progress to the knockout stage, the Germans scored two goals in the final five minutes, including a winner with just one second left.

One of Denmark’s Champions League spots hangs in the balance and tough draws did them no favours

Ever the Viktor

Froholdt makes NFL cut

shot

The group stages haven't begun ... but they're already agonising

CHRISTIAN WENANDE

FIRST FEMALE CASE OF MONKEYPOX

ONLINE THIS WEEK

Kidney disease tests

LYSINE, an amino acid that affects the metabolism, could prove to be an effective treatment of kidney disease in humans and animals, according to Aarhus University researchers. Initial tests on rats were encouraging, although the side-effects are still unknown.

New way to treat plastic

Sustainable future UNIVERSITY researchers from 14 worldwide institutions, including Aarhus University, believe that we can completely switch to sustain able energy by 2050 as the tech to do so is already in place. The key is working across borders, to gether. They made the claim in an energy plan article published in IEEE Access.

Good news for Denmark!

WHEN THE US Senate and then Congress passed US President Joe Biden’s 430 billion dollar climate package in August, it was also a big win for Danish green energy companies, claims former minister Kristian Jensen, the current head of Green Power Denmark. “It has huge potential for Denmark,” he told DR.

It only took one chord

A NEW AND cheaper way of break ing down polyurethane (PUR), a plastic material, to its original state has been developed at Aarhus Uni versity. This process can then cause the material to be recycled and used instead of being disposed of.

Quantum computer ambition

THE EUROPEAN Commission has put aside 1 billion euros over the course of the next 10 years to meet the EU’s goal of being a leader in the field of quantum computers by 2030, and Danish researchers are playing a key role in co-ordinating the steps nec essary for this goal to be met.

High res radar in works

DTU SPACE has developed a new high resolution radar that can look in several different directions. It’s good timing as there is currently a large market for detecting drones. At the beginning of 2022 several drones were detected in military areas, air ports and royal castles in Sweden, and this increased the demand.

Majority of infections still occur among men who have sex with men

CHRISTIAN WENANDE

EARLIER this month, the Sund hedsstyrelsen health authority made the Monkeypox vaccine available for men who have sex with men and for those who have a high number of sexual partners.

Now, Sundhedsstyrelsen can confirm that Denmark has registered its first case of a woman becoming infected with the

disease – one of five new cases reported on Friday.

“This is the first Monkeypox case outside the known risk group in Den mark,” said the health minister, Magnus Heunicke.

“Statens Serum Institut [SSI] assesses that with the current number of inci dents, isolated cases outside the risk group can be expected.”

Obvious risk groups

WHO REVEALED last week that there have been 176 cases involving women

across Europe so far in 2022 – about 1.1 percent of all cases.

Up until recently, all cases registered in Denmark involved men who have sex with men.

SSI evaluates that the risk of a serious bout of Monkeypox is low for all groups, except for pregnant women, children and individuals with a compromised immune system.

On August 12, Parliament sanctioned the purchase of a further 10,000 doses of Imvanex from vaccine producer Ba varian Nordic.

THERE are no other animals on Earth that can speak as clearly as mankind, and this is thanks to a crit ical moment in human evolution, contends Ole Næsbye Larsen from the Biological Institute at the Uni versity of Southern Denmark. The removal of a vocal cord commonly found among apes simplified the larynx, enabling the clear, stable speech we take for granted.

Excess soil brainwave

THE CAPITAL Region and DTU are researching how excess soil from building projects could be used to block out the noise of motorways. If proved to be successful, the soil could be used instead of the screens currently favoured – a handy con venience as every year Denmark is left with millions of tonnes of soil from construction projects.

Post-heart attack risks

More women choosing IT

COMPARED to 2019 (for reasons relating to the pandemic), the number of women admitted to university IT programs in Denmark increased from 19 to 32 per cent this year. One of them told DR that she overcame her prejudice that “you had to be a genius” to apply. Instead, she realised, “interest and patience” are the true keys to being a success.

Big fall in corona cases

THE NUMBER of new COVID-19 cases fell by 19 percent in the week ending July 31. The incidence rate was 183 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, while wastewater tests also confirmed there has been a large fall. In related news, the govern ment has recommended that working in the care home industry should get a PCR test once every 14 days.

Funds for climate action

KLIMABEVÆGELSEN, a climate action group in Denmark, has confirmed recent corporate donations of 5.5 million kroner will allow it to hold more climate-relat ed activities across Denmark over the next three years. Most of the funds were derived from partnerships with three companies: KR Foundation, Tuborgfon det and VELUX FONDEN.

HEART attack survivors need to receive regular check-ups after leaving hospital, according to new research carried out by Aarhus University. Survivors have a higher risk of suffering neurological and psychiatric damage, including blood clots in the brain, epilepsy, dementia, depression and anxiety. However, the risk diminishes after a year.

Dog expectations too high

WE EXPECT too much from our dogs, concludes a University of Copenhagen study that urges working owners to stick rigorously to a routine. Not only do the highly social animals sit at home all day alone, but they are expected to socialise with random dogs and strangers who they might not like. Street dogs, in contrast, get to choose who they socialise with.

Giant turbine park tender

THE LOCATION of a new 2,800-hec tare test centre, featuring eight 450 metre-high turbines the size of the Empire State Building (antenna and all), will be confirmed at the end of the year. There are three North Jutland sites in contention: Tønder, Esbjerg, and one straddling the municipalities of Brønderslev and Jammerbugt.

Cancer death rate halved

COLON cancer screenings have in creased in recent years to the extent that 800,000 invitations are sent out annually, reducing the fatality rate by 29 percent. Among men over the age of 60, the risk has been reduced by 51 percent. The Sundhedsstyrels en health authority rejects criticism that people under the age of 60 should not be tested at all.

"Bad news: you're going to have cancel your appointment with the manicurist"

FLICKR/THE

MELANCHOLIA AT ZENTROPA

LARS VON Trier has been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease at the age of 66.

Zentropa, the producer of all his films, wanted to explain why Von Trier will give very few interviews in connection with the release of the third season of 'Riget'.

The first episode was scheduled to premiere at the Venice Film Festival on August 31.

Around 12,000 people in Denmark suffer from Parkinson's. On a global level, between seven and ten million have it.

In good spirits

“LARS IS in good spirits and is being treated for his symptoms – and given treatment so he can complete ‘Riget Exodus’,” the statement read.

“The illness means that Lars will only take part in interviews to a limited extent until the premiere

later in the year.”

The first two seasons of Riget were released last century – in 1994 and 1997.

Following their success, Von Trier established himself as one of the great auteurs of his generation thanks to films such as ‘Idioterne’, ‘Dogville’, ‘Antichrist’, ‘Melancholia’ and ‘Nyphomaniac’.

ARCHAEOLOGISTS in Helsingør are now looking for a large treasure trove following the discovery of a huge key dating back to around the 1400s. Measuring 9 by 17 cm, it was found under Rådhustorvet in front of Helsingør Town Hall, an area that has always been at the forefront of the town’s activity.

Best Actress win for Viv VIVIENNE McKee has won a Best Actress award for her performance in ‘Shirley Valentine’. One of ten nominees for the CPH Culture 2021/22 award, she saw off some of the country’s biggest names, including Ellen Hillingsø and Özlem Saglanmak from ‘Borgen’.

Queen’s new exhibition

IN HONOUR of her golden jubilee, an exhibition dedicated to the works of Queen Margrethe has opened at Musée Henri-Martin in the French city of Cahors. ‘Margrethe II de Danemark, artiste-Reine’ includes an image painted by the queen in 1947 when she was just seven years old. The exhibition will continue until March.

Rushdie’s old bestseller

SALMAN Rushdie’s novel ‘The Satanic Verses’ quickly became Denmark’s bestselling book following the failed attempt to kill him on August 12, according to Saxo.com. Don’t worry if you’ve never read it – neither had Ayatollah Khomeini who issued a fatwa in 1989 a year after its release. ‘Midnight’s Children’, his most acclaimed novel, is also in demand.

Revenge thriller duo

PATRICK Halford, a businessman with over two decades’ worth of experience in the Nordics, is the latest Anglophone to release books set in the region. ‘Tilda & Lærke’ is a revenge thriller mostly set in Jutland, Funen and Zealand, while ‘North to Akureyri’ is an action/revenge story set in Iceland in 2028 in a world in which tech is threatening to take over.

IVAN EVIGVÅRS, a troll made out of recycled materials by Thomas Dambo, has been moved from Sydhavn in Copenhagen to Mariager in north Jutland after 18,000 people voted online for the town to become its new owner.

Top rooftop bar

SALLING ROOFTOP in Aarhus has been voted the best bar of its kind in a new ranking compiled by travel media outlet Big 7 Travel. Two Copenhagen venues also squeezed their way onto 'The 50 Best Rooftop Bars In Europe' list: Restaurant Silo in 19th and Illum Rooftop in 44th.

Denmark’s Atlantis

JUST OFF the shore of Odense Å, plummeting water levels have revealed this country’s answer to Atlantis. Stones laid 800 years ago to aid crossings of the lake, some two metres in diameter, can now be sighted. They explain why there are so many significant farms on the other side of the lake, as otherwise the 'walk to civilization' would be a long one.

Records fall at Pride

A RECORD 50,000 participants took part in the Copenhagen Pride Parade on August 20 – up from 30,000 in 2019 – along streets lined by an estimated 300,000 onlookers. Meanwhile, the world's largest hand-knitted LGBTQ+ flag returned to Nordatlantens Brygge two metres longer (now 7.2) following the addition of black and brown stripes to represent people of colour.

YouTube most popular

THE AVERAGE TV viewer in Denmark streams over an hour of content every day. YouTube (20.0 minutes) is the most popular platform, followed by Netflix (11.7), TV2 Play (10.4), DRTV (9.5), Viaplay (6.3), Disney+ (4.5), HBO Max (2.5), Discovery+ (1.7), Amazon Prime Video (0.5) and Apple TV+ (0.5), according to the Nielsen Viewer Survey.

Sadness at film producer following confirmation that Lars von Trier has Parkinson’s disease

BEN HAMILTON

Might the return of 'Riget' be a final farvel

Huge key = Big treasure

New home for troll

SAS LIVES TO FIGHT ANOTHER DAY

Despite filing for bankruptcy protection in the US in early July, the airline still has reasons to feel optimistic

CHRISTIAN WENANDE

IT’S NOT been quite the summer that SAS was hoping for. Far from it.

Instead of emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic and earning on increased traffic, a staff shortage, pilot strike, the War in Ukraine, and high oil and gas prices sent the airline into a steep nosedive.

Following the start of a 15-day pilot strike on July 5, SAS filed for bankruptcy protection in the US. It ended up having to cancel 7,000 flights.

9,000 flights scrapped

NOW THERE is more bad news for SAS following revelations by aviation media check-in.dk that the airline has been forced to cancel another 1,700 flights in September and October.

The reason continues to be staff shortages and, of the 1,700 scrapped flights, 300 were due to depart from Copenhagen Airport.

“We don’t see a reduction in demand – on the contrary. But the strike will im pact our staffing in the coming months as there is a holiday backlog,” SAS head of communications, Alexandra Lindgren Kaoukji, told check-in.dk.

Still investing though FORTUNATELY, investors continue to believe in SAS – not least the Danish gov ernment, which will continue to support it.

Subject to courtroom approval in the US, it will be joined onboard by US investment company Apollo Global Man agement, which has confirmed plans to loan the airline 700 million US dollars.

The loan should help SAS pay its em ployees’ salaries over the next 9-12 months, whilst solidifying its financial position

ahead of a restructuring, after which it will become known as SAS Forward.

It is part of a plan first announced in February in the hope of saving up to 7.5 billion Swedish krona a year, which will only work if pilots, cabin crew and other employees help support the reduction of costs it requires.

ONLINE THIS WEEK

Green fashion pledge

AHEAD of Copenhagen Fashion Week, ten Danish clothing com panies, including Bestseller and Ganni, reached an agreement to commit themselves to being part of a greener textile industry by 2030. The agreement was drawn up by Miljøstyrelsen, three industry associ ations and the signatory companies.

Pension worries

DANSK Erhverv has called for a working group to be set up after the general election to make recommen dations within six months on how to control the number of people partic ipating in retirement schemes. There are currently 311,000 enrolled in no less than five retirement schemes in addition to the state pension – an increase of 56,000 since 2018.

Multiple job nation

SOME 7.1 percent of people in Denmark have two or more jobs, according to Danmarks Statistik –almost twice that of the EU average of 3.9 percent, ranking it the sixth highest in the union. The Nether lands (10.1 percent), Iceland (10.0), Switzerland (7.5), Finland (7.5) and Serbia (7.4) lead the way.

Fall in property prices

HOUSING prices fell in June, ac cording to Boligsiden: villas and townhouses fell by 1 percent, and flats fell by 1.5 percent. Economists expect further falls in the autumn and winter, and even further afield. Taking seasonal factors into account, this is the biggest fall in more than a decade.

Real wage decrease

ACCORDING to Dansk Arbejds giverforening (DA), wages rose by 3.4 percent in the second quarter, compared to Q2 2021, while prices shot up by 7.4 percent. According to Dansk Metal chief economist Erik Bjørsted, it is the biggest fall in ‘real wages’ in recent decades.

GDP bounces back

AFTER a slight dip in GDP growth in the first three months of the year, Danmarks Statistik confirmed a 0.7 percent increase in the second quarter of the year. The employ ment rate also rose by 0.7 percent during the same period, including a gain of 7,000 in June – the 17th month in a row in which the num ber has risen. Economists predict a dip in the autumn, though.

Rivers running companies dry

THE DRY weather has caused wa ter levels in rivers across Europe to fall to extremely low levels, thus impacting the cost of imports. For example, the Rhine is experiencing low levels, thus raising the cost of goods leaving Germany. High en ergy costs are exacerbating the problem.

Bad times for Vestas

VESTAS has confirmed a second quarter loss of 139 million euros as revenue fell by 7 percent to €3.3 billion, blaming increases in the cost of necessary components, energy and raw materials, along with geo political uncertainty and disruptions in the supply chain. Its rival, Siemens Gamesa, also had a dismal result.

More records for Maersk

MAERSK has declared a record interim profit of 113 billion kroner for the first six months of this year, which is almost as much as the shipping company made in the whole of 2021. It has ac cordingly raised its 2022 profit forecast by more than 50 billion. The treasury wants Maersk to contribute more to the treasury, but Maersk has dismissed the proposal.

SUVs are king

SUVS ARE dominating car sales in Den mark, accounting for 57.5 percent of the total. With 5,660 units sold in July, the Toyota Aygo X model is currently the bestselling SUV, taking over from last year’s favourite, the Ford Kuga SUV. From 2009-2019 the country’s most popular car model was the Volkswagen Up mi crocar, but microcars only accounted for 2.4 percent of the July total.

Airport back in the black

COPENHAGEN Airport declared a profit before tax of 159 million kroner for the three months ended June 30 – its first positive quarterly result since 2019. It followed a loss of 171 million in the first quarter. Over the first half of 2022, 9.4 million passengers passed through, including almost 2.3 million in June, and 507 jobs were created.

Panduro sold

THE HOBBY and crafts chain Pan duro has been acquired by Lekolar, a Nordic supplier of playground equipment, furniture, and hobby and learning products to schools and daycare facilities. Founded in the mid-1950s, Panduro has 95 shops in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, the Netherlands and Belgium. The deal will take effect in the autumn.

Novo’s hearty profits

NOVO NORDISK has raised its 2022 expectations for sales growth up to 12-16 percent and operating profit growth up to 11-15 percent following a healthy 14.3 billion kro ner profit for the first half of the year. However, Finans reports that both increases were slightly below analysts' expectations.

Surely it's time that SAS changed its motto to "Who dares wins"

FOR THE GIRLS AT CIS, BUILDING THEIR OWN BOAT IS PLAIN SAILING!

DIDONG ZHAO

A

Careful

Using

Ahead of the SailGP event in the waters of Copenhagen on August 19 and 20, its organisers ran an INSPIRE learning lab for the young people of the capital, which they first tested at Copenhagen International School on August 15, before rolling it out to other schools over the following week. Six CIS students experienced the workshops under the watchful eyes of Danish

But

"In

…

So

precision was need to connect the fragile solar panels. One of the participants compared the experience to handling potato crisps

sails taken from the Danish team’s boat, Tim Krat from the SailGP INSPIRE program then explained the principles of ‘wind power drives’ to the students

The day started leisurely. Two Year 8 students, Emma Gregersen and Africa Zapata Pozo, read the SailGP brochure to learn about its eco-friendly philosophy as an ‘F1 on water’

week before the SailGP event in Copenhagen on August 19 and 20, children from Copenhagen International School were challenged to compete in their own race using the solar-powered vessel they had just constructed

SailGP team Christian Peter Lübeck and Hans-Christian Rosendahl. Their mission was simple: build a solar-powered vessel that is quicker than your opposing team’s!

soon it was time for the hard work of building the solar power panels. "It’s time to get hands-on," Christian Peter Lübeck told the all-boys team (left-right: Aaron Kainu, Rishabh Swamy and Dagim Tefera)

And in the end, the all-girl team (left-right: Africa Zapata Pozo, Emma Gregersen and Cecilia Sønderby) emerged triumphant in the race to build the quickest solar panel

The final step! Danish sailor Hans-Christian Rosendahll helps the children to attach the sails

a sense, our boat is travelling more steadily and further," Cecilia Sønderby from CIS proudly proclaimed after victory.

the girls won

but was it ever really in doubt

WINNIE TANGO

IN WINNIE'S WORLD

There are business opportunities everywhere for expats in a new country, as we all have different backgrounds and skills to stand out: all you need is a crazy gut instinct to discover the gap in the market. Winnie’s real estate business is testament to how one can succeed. Follow her on LinkedIn at ‘Winnie Tang Tango’.

WHEN I CAME to Denmark

my mind was very clear that I wanted to create my own business in my way only.

I know I am impatient, and that I wanted to maximise profits and minimise costs in a short period. By costs, I don’t only mean money, but also time and mental energy.

I had many interests in the beginning: food, exports, real estate etc.

And that’s why I found myself writing down a list (see factbox): to put down on paper what I really wanted to do and what I wanted to achieve.

After all, there are no fixed rules and or formulas for success. It depends on many factors and also your own personal characteristics.

Putting it into practice

ONCE I had written down my list, I found it easier to pinpoint my objectives (see in bold) and launch my holiday home rental business.

A fast start: Despite various opportunities to work with partners, going alone enabled me to start quicker, and without the cost of paying lawyers etc. And fewer employees equals fewer problems. It’s not rocket science!

Clear horizons: I chose a line of business in which I could more easily forecast the future, and also one that meant I could skip the development process.

Conserving energy: There are always ups and downs no matter what kind of business you choose. I did not want to get distracted by too many opinions, or expend valuable energy in frustration with employees or partners.

Build a strong platform

BASED on the above reasons, I chose to start alone at the beginning and I am very happy I did this. It has meant I can keep things under control and go at the speed I want to.

Once you have built up a platform like you want, you will have more resources and confidence to chase bigger dreams and goals.

Nothing is ever right and wrong in business, but we all have different formulas to make it work.

KEY QUESTIONS:

- What kind of businesses interest you?

- How much manpower do you have at your disposal?

- Does your business rely on any skilled employees? What standard do they need to be?

- How much investment will be involved?

- How long can you wait for a return?

- Do you want to be the sole decision-maker or do you work with a partner?

TALK OF a Danish general election is in the air. Everyone is waiting for PM Mette Frederiksen to declare a date so the ‘real campaigning’ can begin and voters can start making decisions about what they want from the country’s future.

But instead, like everywhere else when elections are almost due, we’re caught up in a state of pre-election indirect campaigning limbo: and just like foreplay, with a climax guaranteed at the end, this will go on for as long as the woman in charge says it will.

In need of fixing … again

THE HOT potato of this election’s indirect campaigning is the state of affairs at the country’s schools and educational institutions.

Young Danish children spend a huge amount of time at school. Once conventional classes stop in the early afternoon, most head to an institution connected to the school, where they often stay until five in the evening, up to their elbows in paper mache or playing indoor sport.

After all, Denmark has one of the highest frequencies of working women, so the schools are required to care for the children until the age of ten at their SFO after-school facilities. For tweens and young teens, the responsibility switches to the clubs, where pupils

Mishra’s Mishmash

As a regular contributor to the Times of India, the country’s largest newspaper, Mishra is often sought-after 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.

can stay long after school hours until they either go home or are picked up by their parents.

But SF, the socialist people’s party, has already made it their slogan that it wants to repair the damaged school system, where the working conditions for children are not optimal and they are unable to thrive socially.

Slipping through the net

THE DANISH schools require monetary assistance, and that has been a subject of political debate lately. MPs on both sides of the spectrum ask why the schools aren’t thriving in light of the political will to invest a huge share of the public purse – 7.8 percent of the GDP, compared to just between 4.2 and 5.4 percent in the likes of Italy, France, Spain and Germany – and willingness to constantly reform … even though the changes often end up disrupting progress.

Large numbers of pupils, for example, continue to slip through the net, leaving school at the end of the ninth grade, just 16 and with no qualifications. Predominantly, they are boys who struggled with sitting quietly and learning to read and write to a high standard.

Meanwhile, thousands of new jobs that require academic skills are going to people from abroad. Many Danes simply

don’t have the know-how to undertake research-oriented, often lucrative jobs, which require several years of academic discipline – especially in the field of life sciences.

Understandable exodus

IMPROVING discipline could be the answer. There is simply too much noise in the classrooms, making it almost impossible for most pupils to concentrate.

State education is witnessing a steady exodus of children from the public schools to private/international alternatives where the class sizes are far smaller and facilities much better. They get the same subsidies, after all, but then just add more funding to offer an improved service. At the majority of the international schools, the fees are among the cheapest in the whole of Europe, which is borderline bizarre when you consider Denmark’s overall cost of living.

The left-wing parties want to change this and are therefore fighting the election on making the nation’s public schools viable, reliable establishments where discipline has been restored and investment better placed.

The opposition parties, meanwhile, want to privatise wherever they can, and this could mean more schools charging fees.

"We're signing a petition to tell the politicians to stop poking their noses in"

PIXABAY

MRUTYUANJAI MISHRA

Crazier than Christmas

You say hello, I say farvel

I WORKED my way around the small group, introducing myself to them one by one and receiving a name in response. Very soon I found myself back with my friend and we chatted until, deciding it was time to leave, I made my way around the small group once again, saying “Farvel” and receiving “Farvel” in response. This is a common ritual at Danish get-togethers. The only people you ‘get together’ with, are those you come with.

Danes are known for being difficult to get to know. Even though, when you meet them abroad on holiday they are extremely friendly: “If ever you come to little Denmark, you must call me, okay?”

Be warned, when you do, don't be surprised if the response is: ”I will just check my calendar,” and then: “This week is a little busy. What about next month…?”

The long and winding road IT IS NOT easy to be accepted by the

Danes. You may, after a year or two, be invited to a birthday party or even a wedding. But do not expect to be invited to dinner at a private home. Danes spend their leisure time with close family and friends whom they have known since childhood. The idea of inviting a stranger into this tight circle is unnerving for them.

That is the bad news. The good news is that it does finally happen. That ray of sunshine, call it ‘acceptance’ or ‘recognition’, bursts through the clouds, and you are suddenly standing in the light or, in my case as I am in the theatre profession, the spotlight.

Here comes the Sun

I CREATED my English-speaking theatre company in Denmark 40 years ago, and my Crazy Christmas Shows (in Tivoli every year since 1998) have, I’m happy to say, been popular with both Danish and foreign audiences.

However, most of my Danish theatre colleagues have never seen the show!

As a theatre practitioner, if I heard that –shall we say – a French- speaking show in London had played every year to large

audiences, I would want to find out what all the fuss was about. But it has always amazed me that my Danish colleagues have shown little or no interest. So I had accepted the fact that, in my own profession, I would remain an outsider.

But then the ray of light appeared!

P.S I love you

I WAS NOMINATED for Best Actress by CPH Culture, along with nine famous Danish actresses, for my performance in ‘Shirley Valentine’. I knew many of these actresses (although I've never been invited to their homes of course), and I was ready to send them my congratulations on winning the coveted title.

To my astonishment – I won it ! On top of that, by popular vote, I was also awarded a ‘Teaterflise’ (theatre paving-stone) and honoured to become (so far) the only nonDane on the prestigious ‘Walk Of Fame’.

So I say to those of you who may feel that it's difficult to be accepted in Denmark that learning the language helps, but most important is patience.

It only took me 40 years – so don’t lose heart. It’s worth the wait.

Vivienne has been a huge hit with audiences in Copenhagen for 40 years and counting

HEJ! MIT navn er Vivienne.”

Vivienne McKee, Denmark’s best-known English entertainer, is this country’s most beloved foreign import. For the last four decades, hundreds of thousands of Copenhageners have enjoyed her annual Crazy Christmas Cabaret show at Tivoli, marvelling at her unique, wry Anglo wit and charm.

VIVIENNE MCKEE

SHERYL YIP STYLE STIL

Sheryl is the fashion and bespoke wedding dress designer at her own Copenhagen-based atelier, @sheryly ipbridal. Her designs have been worn by hundreds of brides around the globe. Passionate about couture and customi sation, she believes dressing well-fitted to personality and body-figure is the strongest fashion statement. Following her relocation from Hong Kong in 2019, Sheryl lives in Copenhagen.

BESPOKE’ is a word you may have heard of in connection with wedding dresses and men’s tailoring, presuming it is merely a synonym for ‘tailor-made’.

But in reality, it is so much more. Opting for bespoke garments opens a magical world full of exciting concepts and beauty beyond most shoppers’ wildest imaginations. Join me, a bespoke wedding gown designer, and let’s open the wardrobe door and embark on a bespoke journey together. It will be worth the while, I promise.

Five-step bridal journey

BESPOKE is not only about the final end product, but also the unique journey and experience with the designer: how you enjoy the beauty and excitement of a creation from ‘zero’ to ‘one-and-only’. At my atelier, I called these months of process the ‘Bespoke Bridal Journey’.

1/ Holistic consultation – this is arranged to discuss and understand the bride’s preferences and personality. Gown functionality as well as the wedding venue will also be taken into account to create a holistic design that fits the bride. The bride will then try on different silhouettes to explore what shape and material match her the best. This real-life experience will enable a better visualisation of what style of dresses look flattering. Depending on the design, I usually take 30 measurements. Different fabrics will also be showcased so the bride can assess their texture. In my experience, brides tend to choose the fabric they like at the first meeting.

2/ Visualisation – my secret for winning approval for my gown designs without too much uncertainty is (ssssshh!) not solely relying on sketches or 3D images, as most designers do, but actually draping the selected fabric on a mannequin. Hence, brides can better visualise the gown before it is made.

3/ Fitting and mock-up – a gown sample is sewn up according to the bride’s measurements using a substitute fabric with similar properties to the intended fabric. The purpose of this is to ensure the fit and seam line look good on the client. This fitting session is exclusive to bespoke. For men’s tailoring, a basted suit will be fitted with the same purpose.

Custom-made, broken down ALL GARMENTS bought from stores tend to be off-the-rack/ready-to-wear. Normally in standard sizes, such as EU 34, 36, and 38, you simply pick it out and put it on. If it fits, more or less, you pur chase it, take it home. It’s easy and fast.

But for special clothing for special occasions, the wait is worth it. That’s why we opt for customised clothing, and there are several sub-categories to consider:

Made-to-order – when the design is on the rack and ready to be ordered to the closest standard size against yours. You will highly likely need an alteration as the fit is not customised to your body measurements – especially skirt hemming. The design is restricted and standardised regarding colour, style and fabrication. This is common with many bridal designer brands.

Made-to-measure – when the dress is made according to the client’s measurements using a pre-existing design and pattern. When purchasing a ’made-to-measure’ gown, the pattern is modified according to the bride’s body shape. The same dress pattern will be altered to fit many different clients who like the same design. Hence, the design of the gown is not exclusively for one specific bride.

Bespoke – when the gown or garment has been drafted according to the client’s measurements and is unique to that particular client. Instead of an existing design and dress pattern, there is no template for the dress. In other words, a bespoke gown is made from scratch – everything is made especially for you.

4/ Details and handcraft – some of the designed gowns require appliques of laces and draping. These are the unique details that ensure the gown is not a replication. All the draping details and lace artworks will be hand-stitched on the real gown for the bride’s final fitting.

5/ Final fitting – the production of the real gown and veil pairing can proceed ahead of the final fitting. Any minor size alterations will be made, especially in the waist area. If it is a strapless gown, a nice fit around the waist is critical to avoid any wardrobe malfunction.

So why choose bespoke?

CHOOSING bespoke ensures a one-of-a-kind wedding gown with boundless design, exclusive comfort, and a perfect fit for your body. Every single design and pattern is made exclusively and customised to you.

I love designing bespoke gowns for brides because no woman is the same. I believe customisa tion is a way to empower and highlight a woman’s femininity and confidence. It’s also perfect for brides who don’t want to be a ‘princess’ and instead embrace their individuality.

Ultimately, it is all about the ‘fit’: the originality of the design to fit your style and taste, along with the customised cutting and silhouetting of a one-of-a-kind dress for your special day.

It is time to unlock your wishes and explore your own bespoke journey. Let’s dream big and realise together a memorable design and experience.

ILIKE MY mussels like my men: clean and ready for my use.

First off, remove the beard. Then scrub off the barnacles (unwanted baggage) and all other emotional, I mean oceanic, attachments. It’s true they are usually pretty clean when you buy them (the analogy ended btw), but some times they do need a bit of work (or maybe not).

Appetisingly affordable BUYING mussels is worth it. Not only are they pretty affordable (usually 40 kroner a kilo) compared to what you’ll spend in a restaurant for Moules-frites (160-180kr), but they’ll be far tastier.

Too often (80 percent of the time) they sound appetising in the dating app I mean menu, but are disappointing in person (the analogy again): a portion too small with too much cream and uninspiring herbs.

In short, they didn’t hit the spot and leave you wishing you’d opted for another dish altogether.

BAKED MUSSELS

A tray of Cherry tomatoes, Sliced garlic, Pinch of salt, Basil, Olive oil, Capers, Parmesan,

HEAT YOUR oven to 200 degrees (180 with fan) and mix with the tomatoes, oil, salt, garlic and basil. Bake until they look caramelised and saucy. Place the mussels prominently (remember to always discard mussels that don’t open during initial cooking) and top with the capers, parme san and Basil and continue cooking for another 3-5 minutes.

Pair it with a Cabernet Franc (15-16 degrees).

CLAIRE TSANG TASTE-BUD

Claire Tsang (clairesmile.com) was born and raised in Hong Kong, moved to the UK in her late teenage years, and then moved to Copenhagen to finish her ed ucation in visual communication, where her spontaneity has earned her the title ‘Slasher’. Not only is she a graphic design er (@clairesmile_dk), but she also works as a party planner, Zumba instructor (FB: Zumba Fun Claire) and podcaster (@omg_itsstillwednesday).

Advisedly adventurous

THAT’S a shame because mussels are the per fect dish for when you’re not really that hungry, but feel like it’s the right time to eat. And in the comfort of your home, mussels are FAST FOOD at its best, as they only take a few minutes to cook.

There’s no need to play it safe with the standard shallot, white wine, cream and parsley approach. Spice them up a bit with whatever’s sitting in your fridge or cupboards.

Those spices sitting idly by, and that garlic dy ing in the bottom of your fridge … use them! That thing in the vegetable drawer that you bought by mistake, try it! Make them Caribbean style, Vietnamese style, etc!

They make a great dish to share with friends and a bottle or two of perfectly chilled white wine (the wine pairings included below are courtesy of my good friend, the sommelier Kit Tong).

For videos of the recipes go to Instagram or the OMG! It’s still Wednesday! Facebook page.

Happy late summer!

Up the Alternative Alley

Mental Kinda Health

Building Green Habits SRUTHI SURENDRAN

CLASSIC MUSSELS

Olive oil, Butter, Shallots (or onions), Garlic Fennel, Smoked paprika, Cream

SET YOUR stove to a medium/ high heat, add olive oil and butter to a pan (best to not use a non-stick as the mussels might scratch!) and fry the shallots.

Add the garlic and fennel (preferred here to celery for its more earthy taste), along with a pinch of paprika, followed by your prepared mussels, and stir.

Add a glass of the white wine that you are drinking followed by a dash of cream and close the lid. Leave for five minutes while the juices of the mussels do the work for you!

Don’t add salt because the juices from the mus sels are salty enough.

If overcooked they’ll become tiny and stiff … I surely don’t wish on anything!

Serve with a baguette or fries to soak up all the delicious sauce. If you’re too lazy to make your own, go frozen with ‘Princip, Pommes gigant’ from Bilka.

Pair it with a Pinot Grigio.

COCONUT MUSSELS

Cooking oil (not olive), 1-2 tsp of Thai red chili paste, 1-2 lemongrass, smashed and cut', About 500ml water, Coconut cream, powder or milk, Dash of fish sauce, Tsp sugar, Lime juice Thai basil, Chopped chilli

SET YOUR stove to a low/medium heat, add oil and ingredients for the sauce. If using coconut milk, only use half a can, unless you want soup!

Let the sauce simmer and thicken before adding the prepared mussels.

Turn the heat off and close the lid and let the steaming commence.

After 5 minutes, they should be done. Add lime juice, chopped chilli and thai basil.

Serve with rice vermicelli or glass noodles.

Pair it with a Chablis.

Dating the Danes

Copen' with the Kids KATE MONTEATH

SHIKHA GUPTA

ASTRID HEISE-FJELDGREN

Ed Talk

JENNIFER & JONATHAN BAUER

MAROUA SAJEB

Parsley

ArtWise

MARIA DUBIN

ABOUT TOWNABOUT TOWN

PHOTOS BY HASSE FERROLD

Among the guests of Egyptian ambassador Karim Sherif at his country’s independence day celebration at the Egyptian Embassy in Østerbro on August 18 was Hans Hermansen, the CEO of CPH POST. All eyes are on Egypt at present ahead of its hosting of COP27 in the Sinai resort of Sharm El Sheikh from November 6-18, which proved to be a major talking point on the day

CPH POST columnist Vivienne McKee, award winner (see page 9) and columnist (page 13), and her husband Søren Hall were among those at the premiere of Bellevue Strandsalon on August 18

Lille Langebro provided the catwalk for the ‘Escape to Paradise’ show put on by WOOD WOOD at Copenhagen Fashion Week on August 10

The winner of the women’s IRONMAN Copenhagen event on August 21 was Janette Dommer, just 48 years young. Just like the men, she swam 3.9 km, cycled 180.2 km and ran a full marathon

Thai ambassador Sirilak Niyom (centre right) was a key speaker at a recent event at Asia House concerning the Eastern Economic Corridor in her homeland. Also present (left-right) were Asia House chair Ove Ullerup (the outgoing chief of protocol at the Foreign Ministry), former Thai minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow, and the ambassador’s husband

Among the dignitaries out in force at the Copenhagen Pride Parade on August 20 were the US ambassador Alan Leventhal and his wife

Fly me to the Moon

Sep 28-Oct 20, performances Mon-Fri 21:30, Tue 13:00, Sat 17:00; Krudttønden, Serridslevvej 2, Cph Ø; 205kr

The English language premiere of Marie Jones' play 'Fly me to the Moon’, a comedy play depicting the lives of two nurses presented with an oppor tunity to get ahead financially, which ultimately spirals out of control. Starring Dawn Wall and Alexandra Jespersen, the play is directed by That Theatre Company's artistic director Ian Burns (BV) Opera Tours in English

Sep 3 at 11:00, Sep 11 & 25 at 12:00; Ekvipagemes tervej 10, Cph K; 135kr, under-12s 60kr, kglteater.dk

Discover the Opera's beautiful foyer with its clean lines, Olafur Eliasson's light sculptures, and views over Copenhagen Harbour that embrace the shiny maple shell around the Main Stage. There are also weekly tours of Gamle Scene on Sundays at 11:00 Science and Cocktails

Sep 10 & 27; Koncertsalen, DR Koncerthuset, Ørestads Boulevard 13, Cph S; 145-195kr, drkon certhuset.dk

Check the website to see what they’ve got in store for you in September.

Proper British Afternoon Tea

Sep 25; Kogebogeriet, Guldbergsgade 10, Cph N

If you’re looking for an authentic British afternoon tea, then Kogebogeriet is the place to go. Enjoy a menu that includes roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, freshly-baked scones and clotted cream, along with unlimited tea.

Gentofte Market

every Sun 07:00-14:00; Bregnegårdsvej, Gentofte Happening every Sunday, Gentofte Market is a great place to go to for a weekend shopping trip for antique or vintage goods.

Nørrebro Flea Market

every Sat 09:00-17:00; Nørrebrogade, Cph N Norrebro Flea Market is a local flea market with several different vendors and is especially a great spot for buying second-hand clothing.

The Queen’s New Border

Sep 14-18; Biblioteket Rentemestervej, Cph NV; 160kr

The Copenhagen Theatre Circle presents its orig inal play ’The Queen’s New Border’ by longtime member Alun Thomas – a satire set in Ireland as the reality of post-Brexit begins to set in. (BV)

SMK evenings

ongoing, every Wed; Statens Museum for Kunst, Sølvgade 48-50, Cph K

On Wednesdays SMK stays open until 20:00 before which you can receive a guided tour and enjoy various art experiences. (BV)

Summer Concert at Glyptoteket

ends Sep 25; Sundays at 12:00; Dantes Plads 7, Cph K; 180kr

Enjoy a concert within the museum surrounded by beautiful artwork and artefacts. The price for a ticket to the concert also permits you entry to the museum for a full day, allowing you to explore the rest of the museum before or after the concert. (BV)

Zanele Muholi

ongoing, ends Sep 4; Kunstforeningen GL Strand, Gammel Strand 48, Cph K; 90kr

South African photographer Zanele Muholi presents the stories of black lesbians, gay, intersex, and trans lives in South Africa through photos. Enjoy a collec tion of more than 100 photographs that celebrates the career and work of Muholi as a visual activist. (BV)

Golden Days

Sep 2-18; various venues; goldendays.dk

The theme of this year’s festival is ‘50 QUEENS’ –a chance to celebrate the lives of a half century of female monarchs who have left an indelible impression on the world we live in. Swept up in the mood of female empowerment, organisers expect their events to take over the city to the extent that Kongens Nytorv will be temporarily renamed 'Dronningens Nytorv’. (BV)

Harlem Globetrotters

Sep 24; Ballerup Super Arena, Ballerup Idrætsby 4; from 295kr, ticketmaster.dk

The American exhibition basketball team will be in Copenhagen as part of their 2022 world tour.

Founded almost 90 years ago, they are famous for their one-of-a-kind entertainment show, mixing outrageous skills with LOL moments as they run rings around their opponents. (BV)

Nordic Race – Refshaløen

Sep 3; Refshalevej 163A, Cph K; 575kr; nordicrace. dk

Nordic Race is an athletics obstacle course some 5km long with 30 different obstacles. You can either participate as an individual or in a team. Anyone can join in with the fun, but under-15s must be accompanied by an adult. (BV)

Fredensborg Palace Market

Sep 10; Fredensborg Palace, Jernbanegade, Fre densborg; free adm

This market near Fredensborg Palace is full of local food producers selling ingredients such as cheese, wine, vegetables, jams and more. There are also opportunities to buy Danish design items such as jewellery and other forms of artwork. (BV)

Saving the hedgehogs

Sep 10; Botanisk Have, Gothersgade 128, Cph K; free adm

For Nature Day, the Botanical Gardens in Copen hagen is hosting an event that calls for action to save the country’s hedgehogs from a miserable premature death. There will be activities for the whole family to participate in: a perfect way to spread awareness on how we can help the en vironment. (BV)

Buster Film Festival

Sep 16-Oct 9; various cinemas; tickets from 20kr; buster.dk

Buster is Scandinavia’s largest film festival for young people, targeting the 3-16 age bracket with more than 100 movies, TV series, and games. Participating cinemas can be found in Copenha gen city centre, Frederiksberg, Vesterbro, Valby and Vanløse. (BV)

Copenhagen Half Marathon

Sep 18, 11:15; starts and finishes on Øster Allé, Cph Ø; 575kr, cphhalf.dk

It’s not too late to sign up for the annual Co penhagen Half Marathon, although the price has risen from what it was at the beginning of 2022. Founded in 2015, thousands are expected to compete. (BV)

Dinner theatre concert series

Sep 8, 20:00; Stalden at Krudttønden, Serridslevvej 2, Cph Ø; 170kr for show & dinner, cphmusicals. com

This is the first of a dinner theatre concert series: a collaboration between CPH Musical Theatre and Lamfuz Madklub. Enjoy a vegan dinner (75kr) that everyone can enjoy followed by songs from some of the biggest Broadway and West End shows (95kr). (BV)

Quality Cattle

Sep 10, 16:00 & 20:30, Sep 11, 16:00 & 18:30; Kraus esvej 3, Cph Ø; 100-140kr, åben.com Back by popular demand, Assemble Theatre Col lective is staging four performances of ’Quality Cattle’, an immersive theatre production set in a dystopian future, at Åben Festival. (BV)

HAYDN Festival

Sep 2-4; Konservatoriets Koncertsal, Julius Thom sens Gade 1, Frederiksberg; from 150kr

The festival offers three days of experiences and surprises with a focus on the music composed by Joseph Haydn. Much of Haydn’s work was overshadowed by Beethoven and Mozart, but this festival intends to change this by putting his work at the forefront. (BV)

Dorothy Iannone exhibition

ends Sep 11; Louisiana, Gl Strandvej 13, Hum lebæk; 145kr

This is your last chance to see the Louisiana exhi bition featuring the work of Dorothy Iannone, a homage to freedom and the right to express their sexuality. Most of her images are autobiographical and known for their colourful imagery. (BV)

Closing day at Tivoli

Sep 25; Vesterbrogade 3, Cph V; from 145kr Tivoli’s summer season is coming to an end: the perfect excuse to get together with friends or family before the weather gets colder.

CTC Play Reading

Sep 8; Bootleggers Frederiksberg, Falkoner Alle 17; free adm

Copenhagen Theatre Circle hosts its monthly play reading where anyone with an interest in theatre, regardless of experience, can come and participate or listen to the reading. (BV)

Giselle

Sep 3-22, times vary; Gamle Scene, Kongens Ny torv 9, Cph K; from 110-670kr, kglteater.dk Giselle is a romantic ballet that can be enjoyed at the Royal Theatre’s home of ballet, Gamle Scene.First performed in Paris in 184, it’s the perfect introduction to classical ballet, taking the audience into a world of mystery, eroticism, beauty and death. (BV)

Chamber Concert #1

Sep 4, 15:00; Gamle Scene, Kongens Nytorv 9, Cph K; 285kr, kglteater.dk

The Royal Danish Orchestra Chamber holds con certs at the Old Stage where you can also meet the musicians after the show at Takkelloftet Foyer, which has a view over Copenhagen Harbour. (BV)

Viva Sep 21; Wallmans Circus Building, Jernbanegade 8, Cph K

Wallmans is premiering their new dinnerparty in central Copenhagen. The show is a celebra tion of life and togetherness. It is hosted by Megan Moore as well as a live band that will be playing music from the 1920’s up until now with covers. (BV)

Lights on Vesterbro

Sep 2-4; various venues in Cph V; free adm The festival offers a mix of cultural activities in Vesterbro, mostly aimed at introducing the district to visitors. (BV)

Conrad Molden – Hyggelicious

Sep 11, 19:00; Bremen, Nyropsgade 39-41, Cph K; 185kr, billet.dk

British standup comic Conrad Molden takes a look at Danish culture with his inventive use of Danglish. It’s the perfect occasion for a night out. (BV)

Connections

starts Sep 17; Sølvgade 48-50, Cph K; 95kr

The year 2022 marks exactly 30 years since Den mark received 20,000 refugees from the former Yugoslavia. Many of these refugees chose to stay in Denmark and became artists, and sev en of them present personal artwork inspired by the Yugoslav Wars, migration and asylum policies. (BV)

Syrian Doc Days

Sep 7-11; Cinemateket, Gothersgade 55, Cph K A festival for documentaries from or about Syria is held every year in Copenhagen, helping to shine a light on the Syrian stories that go un-noticed. It is supported by Nordisk Kulturfond. (BV)

Comedy

Stop Copenhagen

Sep 1-3; Bremen Teater, Aveny-T and DR Koncer thuset, 150kr

A line-up of comedians including Katherine Ryan, Nigel Ng, Jenny Bede, and Sean McLoughlin. The event is held to showcase the biggest comedy stars of the future. (BV)

Madland Food Festival

ongoing, ends Oct 9; various venues in Copen hagen; madland.dk

This sustainability-focused food festival is perfect for foodies and will allow you to taste different types of food from sustainable origins. The festival also includes film experiences and a harvesting fest. (BV)

Globe Quiz

Sep 8 & 22; Globe Irish Pub, Nørregade 43-45, Cph K; 50 kroner per person to enter

Game night’s on at this pub on Nørregade! The winners will be awarded 1,200 kroner, and there are plenty of spot prizes too. (MB)

Gravens Rand Quiz

Sep 13 & 27; Søndre Fasanvej 24, Frederiksberg; entry 30kr

Maximum of four per team, it’s 1,000 kroner for the winners and a crate of beer for second. Two beer rounds, and shots for last place!

Kennedy’s Quiz

Sep 5, 19:30; Kennedy’s Irish Bar,Gammel Kon gevej 23, Cph V

Quiz night at Kennedy’s Irish Bar includes raffles, cash prizes, and drinks rounds.

WHY REBOOT IS ONE OF THE UGLIEST WORDS IN CINEMA

HAMILTON

LET’S REBOOT” … in the 1820s, it sounded like mission impossible from a doctor to a gout sufferer; in the 1960s, like something Nancy Sinatra might say during a flip-flop break; and since the 1980s, our most commonplace office announcement. Normally it’s followed by groans.

Maybe that’s why the TV and movie industry has adopted the expression to mean flogging a dead horse … sorry, breathing new life into an old story, whether it’s setting it in a different era or continent (Pride and Prejudice could teach Phileas Fogg a thing or two about circumnavigation), or yet another origins story – Sherlock, Superman and Spiderman have had more reboots than the Commodore Vic 20.

This September is clearly reboot month, and this is where it peaks! Remember that you, the viewer, are in control: just switch it off and don’t reboot!

Just break their hearts!

PERHAPS the most unwelcome reboot in September, and possibly of all time, is Hocus Pocus 2 (Disney+; Sep 30). Granted, it’s a sequel to an awful 1993 film, but in terms of unwanted resurrections, this is right up there with exhuming the woman in The Staircase 18 years after her death. Suffice it to say, this is a collective reboot in the teeth for us all.

The protagonists, who at the start of the original were hanged in 17th century Salem – in that respect Bette Midler and Sarah Jessica Parker are well cast – are joined by British actress Hannah Waddington, who on September 12 will pick up her second consecutive Emmy for the deeply unfunny Ted Lasso. Let’s hope this swiftly delivers a coup de grace to her stateside jaunt.

But really, who on earth is this aimed at: the same tweens who gargled Um Bongo at BFF birthday parties in the early 1990s? Today they’re in their early 40s and addicted to #MeToo. And the

same could be asked of Pinocchio (Disney+; Sep 8), a live-action yarn with Tom Hanks as Giuseppe, which features the same animation as the 1940 original. Everyone who saw that and wanted more is either dead or very nearly there. Couldn’t they just burn him and save us all the bother (when you wish upon a fire etc)?

And why oh why are we revisiting the 1990s series Heartbreak High (Netflix on Sep 15), whose fanbase must have been the same gobby Australian teenagers, mostly of Greek descent in Melbourne, which it portrayed. This time, most of them are LGBT, but just as gobby.

Finally, American Gigolo (Sep 9), now a reboot series starring Jon Bernthal (not to be confused with Christopher Messina) in the Richard Gere role, has potential because we all like sex, right? There’s no definite release date in Denmark, but call me when you have one.

Put Howard’s end away!

IS RUBEN Östlund a reboot of Lars von Trier, who has sadly been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (see page 9)? Well, the Swede’s first two films, Force Majeure (2014) and The Square (2017), confirm he is treading a path as unique as Von Trier’s, and with Triangle of Sadness (Sep 22: 68 on Metacritic), he’s already managed to do what the Dane failed to do: win the Palme D’Or for a second time. Nevertheless, this work of epic schadenfreude (the havenots at the expense of the have-lots) is not without its detractors. While most concur it is overlong for a satire at 147 minutes, the Guardian laments that it lacks the subtlety of his earlier work.

All reboots are off regarding David Bowie, but such is his legacy that we’ll never run out of material for documentaries, of which Moonage Daydream (Sep 15; 85) is top drawer.

George Clooney is this generation’s Cary Grant, but would Mr Leach have stooped to the level of Ticket to Paradise (Sep 15; Not Released Worldwide), an awful looking romcom with Oceans co-star Julia Roberts.

The last time Emma Thompson had this much sex was in The Tall Guy, which must make Daryl McCormack (Bad Sisters), her Irish co-star in Good luck to you, Leo Grande (Sep 22; 78), the 2020s equivalent of Jeff Goldblum. In fact, McCormack was two months old when Emma picked up her Best Actress Oscar for Howards End (not a porn film, however much it might sound like one).

The sexual content of Blonde (Sep 24 on Netflix), a Marilyn Monroe biopic, has also been grabbing headlines ahead of its anticipated release. Ana de Armas is an early shout for the Oscars for a portrayal that doesn’t bely her Cuban heritage – before you suggest she isn’t large enough to play the plus-size actress, a little mythbusting will reveal the size 16 claim originated from UK vs US confusion.

No awards for Daisy Edgar-Jones (Normal People) in Where the Crawdads Sing (Sep 22; 43), the

long-awaited filmisation of the hugely popular novel, which ultimately rings hollow, let down by hair too perfectly tousled and shabbiness too chic, or Zak Efron in The Greatest Beer Run Ever (Oct 1 on Apple), the true story of a man who went all the way to the Vietnam War to hand over a few warm ones. Some stories are best left untold.

Director’s got wild perks

THAT LEAVES us with lists to complete the September line-up, starting with returning TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale (S5; Sep 15) and Los Espookys (S2; Sep 15) on HBO Max; Cobra Kai (S5; Sep 10) on Netflix; and Atlanta (S4; Sep 16) on Disney+; and The Capture (S2; Sep 27) on CMore.

Halloween hopefuls abound with The Invitation (Sep 1; NRW), Bodies Bodies Bodies (Sep 8; 70), Beast (Sep 22; NRW), Devil in Ohio (Sep 3; series on Netflix) and Smile (Sep 29; NRW).

Back with a vengeance in this age of TV being the natural home for drama, the short, sharp format that cinema provides is the perfect fit for horror. With Putin, Trump, the terror threat and climate change hiding behind our sofas, we all need a bit of escapism, right.

Well, if cheap shocks is your ticket, opt for Florence Pugh and Harry Styles in Don’t Worry Darling (Sep 22; NRW), which should be the bomb if its ‘making of’ story is anything to go by. Director Olivia Wilde apparently fired Shia LaBeouf for being the douche he is well reported to be and then replaced him with Harry Styles, who she started dating mid-shoot. But if this film is anywhere as good as Booksmart, we’ve got no need to worry, darling.

The jury’s out on what Reboot (Sep 20), a comedy about a show being revived following a two-decade hiatus, will be like. More a semblance to the thing it’s satiricising, perhaps. As Nancy

BEN

No, not just like that ... it was three decades later

ENGLISH JOB DENMARK

Recruitment Announcements

PRICING COORDINATOR, LUXPLUS APS

This role is a great opportunity for someone who is organized and analytical to join an ever-evolving company with plenty opportunity to influence the ways of working and taking responsibility for delivering competitive prices, market research and strong margins.

Location: Copenhagen Deadline: 1 October 2022

Contact: Simone Langhoff, simone.langhoff@luxplus.dk

JUNIOR MARKET RESEARCH ANALYST ASSISTANT)(STUDENT – IMPACTING

OUR BLUE PLANET THROUGH INNOVATION, DHI

Are you curious about the intersection between business and software and want to help impact our blue planet through innovation? we can offer you a challenging yet excitin with the opportunity to shape new businesses and work in a truly international company – engaged in solving the world’s challenges in water environments.

Location: Hørsholm

Deadline: 15 September 2022

Contact: Rasmus Eskerod Borgstrøm, VP, Innovation Lab, +45 45 16 94 86

SERVICE SPECIALIST, KLAR

If you are solution-orientated, windows & doors are something you love to work with, and giving amazing service to our Klar fans is in your DNAyou can be our new SERVICE SPECIALIST.

Location: Copenhagen

Deadline: ASAP

Contact: Mai-Liis Mägi, Head of HR – People & Culture, mailiis.magi@klarvinduer.com

To advertise your vacancy here and reach 60,000+ readers weekly, contact: info@englishjobdenmark.dk or call 60 70 22 98.

For more information about what we can offer: https://englishjobdenmark.dk/

ENGLISH JOB

DENMARK

CATEGORY MANAGER, DIRECTSPEND (1702); FERROSAN MEDICAL DEVICES

The overall purpose of the position is to ensure robust cooperation and management of our Direct Spend suppliers, this to reduce total costs through close cooperation, taking quality, reliability and risk management into account.

Location: Søborg

Deadline: 15 September 2022

Contact: Maria Suhr, Director, SCM, +45 25 44 83 65

DOCUMENTATION AND QUALITY CONTROL MANAGER, BANEDANMARK

As a cutting-edge technology project, the Signalling Programme has recruited some of the best talents, in the railway industry. You will play a key role in a large program.

Location: Copenhagen

Deadline: 16 September 2022

Contact: Lea Beglerovic, Projektingeniør, +45 23 31 85 03

COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST (51164), COWI

Do you enjoy storytelling and translating complex technical information into inspiring content? Are you curious about being a part of a company where sustainability is at the heart of its strategy and projects?

Location: Lyngby

Deadline: 15 September 2022

Contact: Emma Wahlberg-Melv, Head of Communication, emwa@cowi.com

CONSUMER DIRECTOR FOR SANTANDER

BANK IN THE NORDICS, SANTANDER BANK

Do you want to play an active role in an exciting transformation journey, where you will be leading teams across 4 Nordic countries, focused on increasing value to our customers and partners?

Location: Hvidovre

Deadline: 9 September 2022

Contact: Steve Franklin, Chief Commercial Officer, +47 92 01 64 57

ASSISTANT PROJECT MANAGER FOR THE OFFSHORE WIND INDUSTRY, CADELER A/S

You will initially assist the Project Manager in safely and efficiently planning and executing projects successfully and eventually develop into a fully capable and independent Project Manager.

Location: Copenhagen

Deadline: 15 September 2022

Contact: Charlotte Bindseil, charlotte.bindseil@cadeler.com

COMMUNITY MANAGER, BRANDWATCH

You will be responsible for engaging and collaborating with Brandwatch’s strong and diverse customer base to identify and develop advocates, help retain and build customer relationships and support our customers in getting real value from Brandwatch.

Location: Copenhagen Deadline: ASAP Contact: jobs.lever.co/brandwatch

SALES ASSOCIATE, TREK

You’ll be on the frontlines helping people have fun by riding bikes. You’ll get to learn about some of the smartest products in the cycling industry, make thoughtful recommendations to your customers, and carry on meaningful relationships with riders in your community.

Location: Hellerup

Deadline: ASAP

Contact: www.trekbikes.com/

English Job Denmark started in 2019, in response to how challenging and unforgiving the employment market can be for foreigners. The team had firsthand experience and wanted to share their knowledge in successfully finding a job in some of the top organizations in Denmark.

INVITATION

23-24 SEPTEMBER 2022

Welcome to Greater Copenhagen – and welcome to International Citizen Days 2022. Taking place in the heart of Copenhagen on 23 & 24 September, International Citizen Days bring together public authorities, private organisations and local communities for two days of endless inspiration on housing, job and social life relevant to all newcomers.

FRIDAY

23 SEPTEMBER, 17.00-20.00

BØRSEN, SLOTSHOLMSGADE 1, 1217 KØBENHAVN K

This evening is devoted to exploring the field of job and career, giving you the chance to meet a wide range of companies looking to hire international talent together with organisations working with recruitment and professional job guidance. You will be guided through traditional models of collective bargaining and the inescapable codes of Danish workplace culture with plenty of opportunities to mingle and widen your professional network.

SATURDAY 24 SEPTEMBER, 10.00-15.00

DGI-BYEN, TIETGENSGADE 65, 1704 KØBENHAVN V

This day is devoted to exploring the field of housing, job and social life, inviting the entire family to join including children. With a lively fair representing unique organisations from the housing market, banking sector and cultural scene, we invite you to engage in talks, debates and fun activities. You will be guided through the jungle of housing options, banking services, tax laws, language classes and bombarded with great inspiration on kick-starting your social life.