Denmark extends temporary border checks with Germany for another six months
Denmark's temporary border checks with Germany will be extended for another six months, according to Justice Minister Nicolai Wammen, who informed the EU Commission of the decision on Wednesday.
The border checks were set to expire on November 11th, after being extended for an extra four months as recently as June.
It will now last until May 17th next year, unless extended again.
Rules for the Schengen area dictate that borders within the EU should be free from checks, although a new rule which came into force in 2024 has made it possible to extend border checks which are already in place, if the issue which made the checks necessary is still ongoing.
According to Wammen, the new rule applies in the current case.
"The security situation here is serious and we're still seeing a threat of terror and sabotage directed towards Denmark," he said.
"The recent situation in Ceuta has reminded us how quickly a new stream of people can start moving. The full picture shows us how important it is for Danes' safety and security that we have control of our borders."
The border control means that anyone entering Denmark can be stopped in order to check that they have the right to be in the country.
Danish vocabulary: grænsekontrol – border control
Trump says 'massive' oil, gas and mineral exploration to begin in Greenland
US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that oil, gas and mineral exploration was preparing to begin in Greenland, and hailed the Arctic island's position for US and European security.
The US signed a security deal with the leaders of Greenland and Denmark a few weeks ago after Trump threatened to take the strategically important Arctic Circle territory by force.
Greenland, which lies on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the United States, represents a highly strategic location for Trump's desired "Golden Dome" defense shield.
It also has untapped rare earth deposits and could be a critical player as melting polar ice opens up new shipping routes.
"Massive Oil, Gas, and Mineral Exploration is getting ready to begin in our new and beautiful Greenland!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Citing experts, Trump said "the amount of easily available Oil is far greater than that of almost... anywhere in the World."
He did not give details of prospective American involvement.
In August, media reports of a US oil company's preparatory operations in a remote region of eastern Greenland left locals and authorities on the island uneasy.
In the same message on Truth Social, Trump hailed Greenland's position as "second to none" for US and European security.
"Any future attack on the United States will have to come across Greenland, where our Defense will routinely knock down drones, missiles, or any other form of weapon not yet even conceived," Trump said.
"It gives us time, location, and sightline, like nowhere else in the World!" he added. (AFP)
Danish vocabulary: Grønland – Greenland
More parties now in favour of calling Danish citizenship applicant to interview due to Facebook post
Right wing party Liberal Alliance called on Wednesday for a female citizenship applicant to be invited to an interview in the Danish parliament after the party discovered posts the woman had posted on Facebook back in 2024 praising Hamas and its former leaders.
The party wants her to explain why she shared the posts before her citizenship can be granted.
More parties have now joined Liberal Alliance in requesting for the woman to be called to an interview.
"Ultimately I think that the information which has been presented should be enough for her name to be taken off the bill," Mikkel Bjørn, citizenship spokesperson for the far-right Danish People's Party, and chair of the citizenship committee where the woman would be called to interview, told Danish public broadcaster DR.
"But if someone thinks that this information is not extensive enough then I would happily push for an interview."
The Denmark Democrats and the Conservatives, both right-wing parties, also support the woman being called in for an interview.
"Of course we should investigate this and I fully support calling her to an interview," Denmark Democrats citizenship spokesperson Ulrik Knudsen said. "I think it is extremely strange that parties are having to sit and dig out this information. We should not issue more citizenships before the screening model for antidemocratic views is ready."
The woman in question told the Politiken newspaper that she does not support Hamas and that she is happy to come to an interview and defend herself.
Danish vocabulary: indkalde til samtale – invited/called in to an interview
Crown Prince Christian awarded order for birthday
Crown Prince Christian turns 21 on Thursday and in honour of the occasion he been awarded Storkommandørkorset, Grand Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog, by his father, King Frederik.
The Grand Commander of the Order of the Dannebrog is the highest-ranking order issued by the Danish monarchy, and there are only eight in existence. It is only awarded to royals who already old the Order of the Elephant, a Danish order of chivalry.
Each one is awarded for life and must be returned once the bearer dies.
There are currently seven living Grand Commanders of the Order of the Dannebrog – Denmark's King Frederik and Queen Mary, Queen Margrethe, Prins Joachim, Princess Benedikte and Sweden's King Carl XVI Gustaf. King Harald V of Norway held the order before his death in August.
New portraits of Crown Prince Christian have also been released to mark his birthday.
Danish vocabulary: Kronprins – Crown Prince
With reporting from Ritzau
Comments