Tag: Denmark

  • Greta Thunberg arrested at Pro-Palestinian demo in Denmark

    Greta Thunberg arrested at Pro-Palestinian demo in Denmark

    Climate activist Greta Thunberg and several others were arrested Wednesday after occupying a University of Copenhagen building to call for an academic boycott of Israeli universities, Danish media reported.

    Images on the daily Ekstra Bladet website showed the 21-year-old activist, wearing a black-and-white keffiyeh shawl draped over her shoulders, being escorted out of a campus building by police.

    Thunberg herself shared images on Instagram of riot police entering a building where the group “Students against the Occupation” were staging a protest.

    “I can’t confirm the names of those arrested, but six people have been arrested in connection with the demonstration,” a Copenhagen police spokesman told AFP.

    Three of them “are suspected of forcing their way into the building and blocking the entrance”, he said.

    The six were released several hours later, the spokesman told AFP, and video footage published by Ekstra Bladet showed Thunberg walking out of the police station.

    Students against the Occupation said in an Instagram statement that “while the situation in Palestine only gets worse, the University of Copenhagen continues cooperation with academic institutions in Israel”.

    “We are occupying” the university’s “central administration with one demand: academic boycott now.”

    Pro-Palestinian protesters have set up encampments at universities around the United States and Europe since last spring to protest against Israel’s bombardment of Gaza and occupation of Palestinian territories.

  • Which Pakistani city is among the best cities in the world?

    Which Pakistani city is among the best cities in the world?

    The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has released a list of the best cities to live in around the world for 2024.

    Vienna, the capital of Austria in Europe, has been named the best city to live in for the third consecutive year.

    This recognition is attributed to its stable infrastructure, culture, education, medical services, and entertainment.

    Following Vienna, Copenhagen, located in Denmark, holds second place, maintaining its position from last year.

    Zurich, Switzerland, took third place, with Melbourne, Australia, following in fourth.

    Calgary, Canada, and Geneva, Switzerland, shared fifth place, while Sydney, Australia, and Vancouver, Canada, shared seventh.

    Only one Asian city, Osaka in Japan, was ranked 9th, alongside Auckland, New Zealand.

    Karachi, Pakistan, is the only city from the country on the list, maintaining its 169th position from last year out of 173 cities.

    Regarding the least suitable cities to live in, Damascus, Syria, ranks 173rd, followed by Tripoli, Libya (172nd), Algeria (171st), and Lagos, Nigeria (170th), with Dhaka ranking 168th.

    The report stated that the global situation improved somewhat during the last year, but threats to global stability remained.

    According to the report, protests continued throughout the year in different parts of the world due to the increase in interest rates, inflation, and other economic problems.

  • Denmark recalls South Korean noodles for being too spicy

    Denmark recalls South Korean noodles for being too spicy

    Denmark’s food agency has recalled South Korean instant ramen produced by a brand popular in the West, warning noodle lovers that they were so hot they might cause “acute poisoning”.

    Three Samyang Foods noodle products were assessed to have dangerous levels of capsaicin, the active component of chilli peppers, the Danish Veterinary and Food Administration said in a statement on Tuesday.

    The three products from Samyang instant ramen line — Buldak 3x Spicy & Hot Chicken, 2x Spicy & Hot Chicken, and Hot Chicken Stew — were being withdrawn from sale in Denmark.

    The level in a single packet of the noodles was “so high that they pose a risk of the consumer developing acute poisoning”, the Danish body said.

    “If you have the products, you should discard them or return them to the store where they were purchased,” the statement added.

    It issued a special warning against children eating the noodles, urging parents to contact the Poison Line if their little ones appeared to show “acute symptoms”.

    Samyang products are hugely popular overseas, with the company’s operating profit hitting a record high of over $110 million in 2023.

    Samyang Foods said it was the first time the company’s products had been recalled because they were deemed too hot, and added that it would work to better understand local regulations in export markets.

    “Currently, the products are being exported around the world, but this is the first time they have been recalled for this reason,” a spokesperson for the company told AFP.

    Samyang Foods saw its stock price soar 70 percent in recent months after its buldak carbonara ramen went viral on TikTok, with the product becoming so popular in the United States there have been reports of shortages.

    Celebrities such as Cardi B have posted stories online about searching for over 30 minutes to find the flavourful instant noodles.

  • Did you know Pakistan offers the cheapest Netflix subscription in the world?

    Did you know Pakistan offers the cheapest Netflix subscription in the world?

    Did you know Pakistan offers the cheapest Netflix subscription in the world?

    In a recent report highlighting global Netflix subscription costs, Pakistan stands out as the country with the cheapest monthly fee at just $2.82 (approximately 794 rupees). Netflix subscription fees vary significantly worldwide, ranging from $16.46 to $15.49 in countries like Denmark, Greenland, Ireland, and the US, with Switzerland having the highest monthly rate at $21.48.”
    Netflix subscription prices vary across different countries due to factors like the economy, market competition, content licensing fees, and currency value changes.

  • One dead after falling into jet engine at Schiphol

    A person died Wednesday after falling into the spinning turbine blades of a departing passenger jet at Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport, officials said.

    The death occurred on the apron outside the busy hub’s terminal as a KLM flight was ready to depart for Billund in Denmark.

    “An… incident took place at Schiphol today during which a person ended up in a running aircraft engine,” Dutch flagship carrier KLM said in a statement.

    “Sadly the person has died,” KLM said, without disclosing the victim’s identity.

    Dutch border police, who are responsible for security at the Netherlands’ largest airport, said passengers were removed from the plane and an investigation was opened.

    The plane involved is a short-haul Embraer jet, used by KLM’s Cityhopper service which operates flights to other nearby destinations like London, Dutch news reports said.

    A picture posted on the NOS public broadcaster showed the plane surrounded by fire trucks and ambulances next to the departure terminals.

    Safety and security measures are strict at Schiphol and accidents are rare at the busy airport, which handled around 5.5 million passengers last month alone, according to airport figures.

  • Pakistani passport once again least powerful

    Pakistani passport once again least powerful

    Henley & Partners‘ Passport Index has published a list portraying the world’s travel access hierarchy.

    Top on the list of countries that encourage travelling are France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain, whose citizens can visit an astounding 194 destinations without requiring arduous visa procedures. This group of countries offer passport-to-plane experience, setting the bar high for unmatched worldwide mobility.

    With access to 193 locations, Finland, South Korea, and Sweden share second place. Many visa-free or visa-on-arrival options are available to their well-travelled inhabitants, providing access to a variety of cultures and environments.

    Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands take third place with access to 192 destinations. These nations serve as entry points to a wide range of travel opportunities.

    The long list goes on, honouring countries that place a high priority on global connection. Among the notable entries are the United States, Canada, Greece, Switzerland, and New Zealand, all of which provide their inhabitants with an abundance of travel options.

    On the other hand, the Passport Index identifies states with more limited travel options. Afghanistan, Syria, Iraq, and Pakistan are among the least accessible, offering their passport holders entry to just 34 countries that require no visa or one upon arrival.

    The London-based company, which offers residency and citizenship consultancy services, teamed together with the International Air Transport Association to create a unique ranking that takes into account passport holders’ access to countries without a visa or with one upon arrival.

  • Denmark’s parliament passes law banning Quran burning

    Denmark’s parliament passes law banning Quran burning

    Denmark’s Parliament on Thursday passed a law widely known as the Quran Law, banning the “inappropriate treatment” of religious texts. Offenders now face a fine or up to two years in jail after a vote followed a five-hour debate in parliament and 94 members voted in favour, 77 against.

    During Thursday’s heated debate in Denmark’s 179-strong parliament, The Folketing, many opposition MPs argued against the bill but the country’s center-right coalition government of Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen argued that criticising religion would remain legal, as the bill would only have a marginal impact.

    It follows a series of burnings of Islam’s holy book that led to uproar in Muslim countries.

    Denmark and neighbouring Sweden have recently seen several street protests over such incidents, raising security concerns in Scandinavia.

    Sweden is also considering a similar bill.

  • ‘Take the money and run’; Danish artist submits blank canvasses to museum

    ‘Take the money and run’; Danish artist submits blank canvasses to museum

    A Danish artist owes around 500,000 kroner (Rs14,408,870) to Kunsten museum in Aalborg after submitting two blank canvasses as part of a project called “Take the Money and Run”.

    Conceptual artist Jens Haaning presses upon the issues of power and inequality through his work and one of his projects was commissioned by by the Kunsten Museum of Modern Art in Aalborg, Denmark, in 2021 in which he had to recreate banknotes in two pieces.

    Haaning, instead, gave two blank canvasses.

    He said, “The work is that I have taken their money.”

    While the museum did put his work on display, Haaning refused to return the money which he owes. Resultsntly, the museum has taken legal action against the artist.

    A court has now ordered him to return the cash – but keep some for expenses.

    The court has deducted artist fee and mounting fee from the total sum and order Haaning to refund 492,549 kroner.

    BBC spoke with Museum director Lasse Andersson who said that he had laughed out loud when he first saw the two blank canvasses in 2021, and decided to show the works anyway.

    “He stirred up my curatorial staff and he also stirred me up a bit, but I also had a laugh because it was really humoristic,” the museum’s director, Lasse Andersson, told BBC’s Newsday programme in 2021.

    Haaning, on the contrary, said that he did not intend to pursue the case any further, “It has been good for my work, but it also puts me in an unmanageable situation where I don’t really know what to do.”

    While talking to TV2 Nord on Monday, Hanning said that the museum had made “much, much more” money than what was invested because of publicity.

  • Bilawal appeals to media to ignore ‘tamasha in Islamabad’ and focus on floods

    Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari appealed to the media that the number one priority at the moment should be the flood-affected people across the country.

    “Whatever tamasha that is going on in Islamabad should be kept aside during this national calamity that has hit us. Those who have been affected by floods don’t have food or roofs over their heads anymore. Floods have taken everything from them. So I appeal to media owners, politicians, federal government and the provincial governments that all attention must be given to the people suffering right now,” said Bilawal Bhutto.

    Bilawal visited different areas of Sindh affected by heavy rains and floods.

    PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari said that all attention must be given to the flood-affected people across the country.

    “We should all focus on the flood-affected people,” said Zardari.

    ‘I will live among the people in this difficult situation,’ Bilawal postpones official visit to Europe

    Bilawal postponed his official visit to four European countries due to the calamities across Pakistan caused by the ongoing heavy monsoon rains and flooding.

    “My countrymen are suffering and I cannot go abroad in these circumstances,” said Bhutto in a statement. “I will live among the people in this difficult situation.”

    Bilawal Bhutto also instructed elected representatives of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to stay among the people in their constituencies.

    According to a statement by the foreign ministry, Bilawal delayed his European visit due to the heavy damages to lives and property caused by the torrential rains in the country.

    The FM was set to depart on a four country-trip including Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway in a bid to strengthen Pakistan’s engagement with Europe and share its perspective on regional and global issues from August 22-26.

    Bilawal’s visits to these capitals will be rescheduled at mutually agreed later dates in consultation with the host governments, said the ministry.

    At least 400 people have died in floods caused by heavy rains in Sindh and Balochistan provinces. According to the data issued by the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), 216 people have lost their lives to rain and flood-related incidents in Balochistan and 216 people have lost their lives in Sindh.

    Read More: Floods in Balochistan and Sindh kill at least 400 people

    A total of 777 people have died in the country from June 14 to August 21

     

  • Can only travel visa free to 31 countries, Pakistani passport ranks 4th worst in 2022

    Can only travel visa free to 31 countries, Pakistani passport ranks 4th worst in 2022

    The Pakistani passport has been placed at 4th position in the category of the world’s worst passport for international travel in a list released by the Henley Passport Index 2022.

    Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria ranked the top 3 worst passports in the world respectively.

    Overall, the Pakistani passport ranks at 108th position in the world for the third consecutive year with visa-free or visa-on-arrival access to 31 destinations around the world.

    India climbed up seven positions and ranked at 83rd on the list this year. India had previously ranked at 90th place after slipping from 85 in the year 2021.

    East Asian and European countries as usual dominated on the passport global ranking this year as well.

    Japan and Singapore have been placed at the top of the list of powerful passports in the global ranking which allows travel visa-free to 192 destinations.

    South Korea and Germany are placed in second place with total of 190 points whereas Finland, Italy, Luxembourg, and Spain gained 189 scores which made them into third place.

    France, Netherlands, and Sweden moved up at one spot and joined Austria and Denmark in fourth place with a score of 188.

    Ireland and Portugal received total scores of 187 and placed them in fifth place, and the United States and the United Kingdom rank in at number 6.

    Since 2006, the international firm, Henley & Partners has been regularly monitoring the world’s most travel-friendly passports under the “Henley Passport Index”.