PRESS EUROPEAN

Denmark

Norse god

spread the cost of premiums.

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DID

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SCIENTISTS identified the oldest-known inscription naming the Norse god Odin on part of a gold disc found in western Denmark in 2020. Lisbeth Imer, an expert in runes at Copenhagen’s National Museum in Copenhagen, said this was clear evidence that Odin was worshipped as early as the fifth century.

The Netherlands

Chips chopped

THE Netherlands confirmed new controls on exporting equipment for manufacturing microchips, following the US in preventing China from accessing specialised machinery. The government also wants to ensure that Dutch technology was not used in military systems or weapons of mass destruction, the Foreign Trade Minister said.

Belgium

Clergy lurgy

CATHOLICS criticised a 60-page booklet published in Belgium which argued that to abolish clericalism, “we must abolish the clergy.” It was written by nine people associated with the diocese of Liege, two of whom were priests, who declared it was time to “return the initiative to the communities.”

Germany

Fair dos

BERLIN’S outdoor and covered pools now allow women to swim topless following a complaint to the ombudsman. The Justice and Antidiscrimination department announced that establishments would apply regulations fairly, creating equal rights for all Berliners “whether male, female or non-binary.”

France

Bird flu

AFTER three foxes were found dead in a nature reserve in Meaux near Paris where gulls had died from highly contagious bird flu, one of the animals which was collected and tested was later found to have the disease. The virus also infected a cat in France in late December.

Norway

Don’t drive

BERGEN in Norway will inaugurate a 2.9kilometre pedestrian and bicycle tunnel under the Lovstakken mountains on April 19. Linking the Fyllingsdalen and Mindemyren residential areas, the world’s longest purposebuilt tunnel of its kinds aims to encourage the public to walk or cycle instead of driving.

Finland

New life

FINLAND’S Immigration Service updated regulations regarding asylum applications submitted by Afghans and will grant refugee status to all women and girls. After the Taliban came to power the position of women in Afghanistan had deteriorated significantly along with their rights and freedoms, the government said.

Ireland

Flower power

MORE than half of Ireland's native plants have declined in range and abundance, the Botanical Society of Britain and Ireland (BSBI) found. In contrast, 80 per cent of species that were introduced since 1500 have increased and in some cases, like Himalayan Balsam and rhododendron, overwhelmed native plants.

Italy

Spy snared

AN Italian military court recommended a life sentence for Walter Biot, 56, a naval captain accused of passing documents to Russia for cash. After a police swoop in Rome, Biot was arrested and charged with accepting €5,000 for classified NATO documents while two Russian diplomats were expelled.

PORTUGAL Big profits

PORTUGAL’S Food Safety Authority (ASAE) detected huge profit margins on basic food products on sale in the country’s supermarkets. These ranged from between 20 and 30 per cent for sugar, up to 50 per cent on eggs, oranges and carrots, and more than 50 per cent for onions.

Ukraine

Donated cars

UKRAINE is receiving vehicles that the Latvian authorities confiscated from drunk drivers under a scheme introduced to assist the war effort. The cars were delivered to the Agendum group which delivered 900 donated vehicles to Ukraine’s devastated cities and frontlines in the first three months of the war.

Sweden

Pandemic riddle

THE number of overweight children in Sweden increased during the pandemic, a statistic that baffled Professor of Food Studies, Paulina Nowicka at Uppsala University. “Given that Sweden was one of the countries that did not have a lockdown during the pandemic, this increase is startling,” she said.