Things Just Got Very Nasty Between Donald Trump And Danish PM After Greenland Rejection

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August 21, 2019

After the A$AP Rocky scandal, it seems like Donald Trump is involved in another strange incident with a Scandinavian PM.

READ: Donald Trump Bashes Swedish PM on Twitter as Former PM Steps In To Teach Him A Lesson In Democracy

Earlier this week, US President Donald Trump “expressed interest” that he wanted to buy Greenland, according to the New York Times.

Why? One reason might be the fact that Greenland has some of the largest deposits of rare-earth metals, including neodymium, praseodymium, dysprosium, and terbium, along with uranium and byproducts of zinc.

The idea isn’t new, either: the US offered Denmark $100 million USD to buy Greenland in 1946 after the idea of a land swap with Alaska was rejected.

However, not everyone is on board with the decision. Case in point: the Danish Prime Minister.

Speaking on Sunday during a trip to Greenland, Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called purchasing the island, which is a semi-autonomous part of Danish territory, “an absurd discussion.”

“Denmark is a very special country with incredible people, but based on Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen’s comments, that she would have no interest in discussing the purchase of Greenland, I will be postponing our meeting scheduled in two weeks for another time,” Mr. Trump said.

A few hours later, the meeting was officially called off. “At this time, the visit to Denmark is canceled,” Judd Deere, a White House spokesman, told the New York Times.

The next day, Trump hit back even harder at a press conference.

Speaking to reporters on the White House lawn on Wednesday afternoon, Mr. Trump took offense at Ms. Frederiksen’s remarks.

“I thought that the prime minister’s statement that it was absurd, that it was an absurd idea was nasty. I thought it was an inappropriate statement. All she had to do is say no, we wouldn’t be interested.”

“She’s not talking to me. She’s talking to the United States of America. You don’t talk to the United States that way, at least under me.”

The Greta Effect: How Companies Are Racing To Offset Their Carbon Footprint

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Luda Berdnyk

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August 19, 2019

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Unless you’ve been living on another planet the last couple of months, there’s a good chance you might have heard about Greta Thunberg. This young, Swedish activist is famous for rallying thousands of teens across Europe to protest climate change and become more eco-friendly. Thanks to her advocacy, companies are starting to take notice of their own carbon footprint.

READ: The Quotes By Greta Thunberg That Inspired Thousands To School Strike For The Climate

As the travel sector continues to grow, so does sustainability. In fact, according to a recent study, 87% of global travelers saying they want to travel sustainably. Out of that, two-thirds of travelers said they would pay more to ensure their travel was as environmentally friendly as possible. This shift to traveling sustainably has companies switching their tactics to become more eco-friendly.

In Sweden, for example, flygskam (“flight shaming”) is causing huge drops in airline travelers in the last several months. At the same time, Sweden’s trains are seeing record numbers of passengers. This change is even prompting the Swedish government to take notice.

READ: The New Swedish Trend of Flight Shaming Hits Europe

Across the pond in the Netherlands, Dutch airline KLM is working on its own sustainability marketing, as “[KLM] is a supporter of sustainable alternative models of transport for short distances instead of short-haul flights.” This is part of the airline’s “Fly Responsibly” campaign that encourages tourists to make smart choices in their traveling.

Surprisingly, the tourism industry accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. This shocking number includes everything from airplane pollution, cruise ship fuel, hotel products (such as plastic toiletries and wasting water to wash linens and towels), and more. Airlines alone make up the single largest source of carbon emissions for the last three years, with CO2 emissions by U.S. airlines increasing more than 3% in 2018.

Many hotels have started to pick up on this trend and began to use eco-friendly products, asked guests to reuse linens and install solar panels to limit energy waste.

The travel companies who are actively reducing their carbon footprints are already ahead of the game, as these new initiatives can have a huge impact on the environment and their bottom line and draw in more customers looking to have a positive impact on the world.

Now Anyone Can Experience A Taste of Swedish Summer With Love, STHLM’s Sommartid Collection

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Swedes in the States

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August 15, 2019

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Not many of you could have missed every Swede living in the States’ favorite boutique design company, Love, STHLM. Their minimalistic and stylish pieces of art can be found on posters, cups, stationery, and more. You can feel the homage and love for Sweden in every product, which happens to be the home country of Karin Rosenquist-Schager, the graphic designer and founder of Love, STHLM.

Karin recently released a collection for Love, STHLM, inspired by Swedish summers but perfect for all-year-round usage.

The new collection, aptly titled Sommartid (Summertime), features trays with the well-known Swedish word “fika” written across (comes in black and pink), as well as two sets of “skål” coasters (in black and multicolored). But perhaps what sets this specific collection apart from other previous collections, is the fact that it is entirely eco-friendly and made from pressed birch tree from the deepest woods of Småland in central Sweden.

Karin notes that her new collection was directly inspired by the warm and vibrant colors of “beautiful summer days and nights in Sweden.” She goes on to reminisce, “Everything that blooms around you; the trees and the flowers, the surrounding water and the beautiful long summer evenings. The light that is so special.”

About the two popular Swedish words — fika and skål — that are a common theme in Love, STHLM’s collections, Karin says:

“They are words we tend to use more often than not; they come as naturally as actually having that cup of coffee with a friend. But the words have also turned into something more trendy here in the States, where fika is now becoming more of a concept…”

For her, these two words were inspired by her time with friends and family during those long summer evenings: “My thoughts went to the time right after dinner, when you enjoy a cup of coffee or a cocktail outside in the garden. Maybe watching the sunset or fighting off mosquitoes, but you are there, with your family and friends, enjoying a fika or saying skål with a drink in your hand.”

What about the design aspect of Love, STHLM’s products?

Karin notes that she drew a lot of inspiration from her memories of Sweden. She grew up there, and even after moving to the States 20 years ago, she still visits almost every summer.

“I tend to design what I would want in my own home as a Swedish expat, but also as someone who can see herself living in Stockholm again one day. I really stand behind my designs, since the person I have in mind when I design is basically myself.”

Taking one glance at Love, STHLM’s website, you can see plenty of minimalistic, cool, and modern designs, whether it’s a heartwarming greeting card with gold-pressed “Älskar Dig” (I love You) lettering or a humorous poster with “Fika: My Favorite F-Word” written across.

“As I am a calligrapher, using my handwriting for the words fika and skål in my designs were essential for me and the look and feel of Love, STHLM.”

We couldn’t agree more: the charming and playful calligraphy really sets these posters apart and make them a perfect centerpiece in any room.

Check out some of the products from Love, STHLM’s Sommartid collection below:

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Sommartid, Tray – black/gray

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Sommartid, Tray – pink/orange

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Sommartid – Coasters, assorted colors, 4-pack

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Fika – My Favourite F-Word Poster

A$AP Rocky Found Guilty Of Assault By Swedish Court

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Luda Berdnyk

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August 14, 2019

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The A$AP Rocky in Sweden saga has finally come to an end. In a shocking turn of events, the American rapper A$AP Rocky was found guilty for assaulting a teenager after his concert in Stockholm.

After spending nearly a month after the assault in custody, Rocky was freed just recently and was able to return back to the United States.

The news of the verdict came shortly after A$AP Rocky performed at the Real Street Festival in Anaheim, California this past Sunday, where he said “I’m so happy to be here right now. That was a scary, humbling experience, but I’m here right now.”

Rocky was given a two-year suspended sentence, which means that as long as Rocky commits no further crimes during a two-year probation period, he will avoid prison. Two members of his group, Bladimir Corniel and David Rispers, were found guilty of the same charge.

“The assault has not been of such a serious nature that a prison sentence must be chosen,” the court said in a statement. “The defendants are therefore sentenced to conditional sentences.“

Rocky and his co-defendants stated they were acting in self-defense against two men who had been following their group. However, the court said the three were “not in a situation where they were entitled to self-defense” and wrote in the verdict that they “assaulted the victim by hitting and kicking him as he lay on the ground.

“The artist has also thrown the victim to the ground and stepped on his arm.”

The court awarded damages of 12,500 Swedish Krona ($1,300 USD) to the 19-year old victim “for violation of his integrity and pain and suffering.”

Rocky seems to have predicted his verdict days before it happened, when he said, “Hopefully with God’s will, I’m not guilty and shit. I get the verdict on Wednesday… Hopefully, we ain’t gotta go back to jail or nothing like that, nothing crazy. I don’t got nothing against Swedish people.“

Norway Mosque Attack: Gunman Shows Up To Court In Rough Shape – Thanks To This Hero

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Luda Berdnyk

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August 13, 2019

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Last Sunday, a lone gunman burst into a mosque in Norway and attempted to kill worshippers by firing his gun into the building.

Oslo police stated that they’re looking into the shooting at the Al-Noor Islamic Center in Baerum, a town west of the capital Oslo, as “an attempted act of terrorism.”

“The man carried two shotgun-like weapons and a pistol. He broke through a glass door and fired shots,” noted mosque director Irfan Mushtaq.

The suspect is 21-year-old Philip Manshaus, who was charged with attempted murder at the mosque as well as the murder of his stepsister. Shortly after the attack, the body of his 17-year-old stepsister was found at a house in Baerum.

“He, for the moment being, is using his right not to give a statement to the police or to the court,” his defense attorney, Unni Fries. She also confirmed that he denies guilt for the crime.

Luckily there were no deaths. This was mainly due to the fact that there were only three people inside the mosque at the time of the attack and the gunman was overpowered before police arrived. 65-year-old retired Pakistani air force officer, Mohammad Rafiq, is being hailed as a hero for stopping the gunman by tackling him to the ground and seizing the weapon.

“There is no doubt that the swift and firm response from the persons inside the mosque stopped the aggressor and prevented further consequences,” Oslo Assistant Police Chief Rune Skjold told reporters. Manshaus appeared in court battered and bruised but did not say anything to reporters.

The head of Norway’s PST police security service told reporters that it had been given a tip-off about the suspect a year ago but that there was nothing to suggest a plan for an attack was underway. Police also said the suspect appeared to have far-right and anti-immigrant views.

“This is not supposed to happen in Norway,” Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg said in a Sunday statement. “Norway should be safe. All places of worship shall be safe.”

The Oslo District Court ruled on Monday that he is to remain in detention for the next four weeks while the case is being investigated.

Featured image: Reuters

The Norwegian Krone Hits A Record Low

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Luda Berdnyk

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August 9, 2019

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China and the United States aren’t the only countries who are facing problems thanks to the ongoing trade war between the countries. Perhaps a bit unexpected to some, Norway is caught in the middle.

The krone was down about 2% last week, sliding as much as 0.7% to 9.91 per euro on Friday. In the grand scheme of things, the krone hit its lowest level since the 2008 financial crisis as global trade tensions drive down the price of oil and threatened large parts of the Norwegian economy.

“The obvious culprit today is the renewed slide in oil prices,” said Andreas Steno Larsen, a currency strategist at Nordea Bank. “There’s basically thin air above technically, which leaves NOK at risk ahead of the important CPI number on Friday.”

Norway’s central bank has signaled that they are prepared to raise interest rates again as soon as September. Even worse, concerns over the trade disputes’ impact on the economy will likely weigh heavily on the Norwegian central bank’s deliberations and its final decision regarding the interest rate hike.

Looking ahead, banking group ING predicts that the US-China trade relations are likely to get worse before they get any better. This may spell out trouble for Norway in the current moment, but things are likely to look up once the US-China clash is dealt with.

If You Get Sick While Traveling, Make Sure It’s in These Countries!

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Luda Berdnyk

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August 4, 2019

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Getting sick while traveling is on nobody’s bucket list.

A study by Get Going Insurance, a UK-based insurance agency, combed through hundreds of insurance claims and recently published a report of the best countries to get sick. Yes, you read that right: these countries have the best healthcare for tourists, and with no surprise, three Nordic countries made the list!

Finland, coming in at number three, had the lowest insurance expense of the top ten destinations. Two spots below is Iceland, which is one of the countries that have the most skilled healthcare professionals per capita. Finally, Sweden comes in seventh place and is constantly reported to have one of the best healthcare systems in the world.

Now you’re probably wondering, which countries were at the bottom? We’re glad you asked – there’s an infographic for that too!

Not surprisingly, the United States came in 4th place because of exorbitant healthcare fees for even the smallest procedures – in this study, the average claim was $2,100.

Japan took us by surprise because even though they have extremely good health care, the insurance claim was the most expensive out of all the countries surveyed (about $2,500) – just a few hundred above the United States!

If you’re traveling, it’s always a good idea to get travel insurance beforehand – not just for accidents and injuries, but because some insurance policies include lost personal items, flight delays, and even missing baggage.

Happy (and safe) travels!

This article was originally published on August 20, 2018.

Chilling Message To The Future Left Behind As Thousands Mourn Dying Glacier In Iceland

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Luda Berdnyk

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August 1, 2019

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Rest in Peace, Okjökull.

On August 1, thousands of “mourners” will gather as a plaque memorializing the first of Iceland’s glaciers to disappear, due to climate change, will be unveiled.

About 100 years ago, the glacier, titled “Ok Glacier” in English, covered almost 6 square miles of a mountainside in western Iceland.

“This will be the first monument to a glacier lost to climate change anywhere in the world,” said anthropologist Cymene Howe of Rice University in Houston, “By marking Ok’s passing, we hope to draw attention to what is being lost as Earth’s glaciers expire.“

Howe and other anthropologists from the university produced the documentary “Not Ok” about the glacier in 2018.

The plaque on the glacier reads: “In the next 200 years, all our glaciers are expected to follow the same path. This monument is to acknowledge that we know what is happening and what needs to be done. Only you know if we did it.”

For Ok glacier, it is already too late; it is now what scientists call ‘dead ice.’

Greta Thunberg will be Crossing the Atlantic to Attend UN Summit on a Zero-Emissions Yacht

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Luda Berdnyk

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July 30, 2019

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Greta Thunberg is having an exciting year, and it’s about to get even better.

The 16-year-old, whose global campaign inspired thousands of students to skip classes to protest for action against climate change, refuses to travel by airplane because of the high gas emissions it produces. So what’s an activist to do when there seems to be no other option?

She finds one!

Swedish climate activist, Greta Thunberg, has accepted a ride across the Atlantic by boat to attend two key climate conferences. The Swedish teenager will make the journey on the Malizia II, a high-speed 18-meter (60ft) yacht that was originally built to race around the globe.

“We’ll be sailing across the Atlantic Ocean from the UK to New York in mid-August,” she tweeted.

The high-speed yacht was built to compete in the 2016-2017 Vendée Globe race. The yacht generates electricity through solar panels and underwater turbines.

Thunberg and her father will make the crossing with captain Boris Herrmann, Monaco royal family member Pierre Casiraghi, and a Swedish documentary maker, Nathan Grossman. The journey is expected to take about two weeks, depending on the weather and water conditions.

However, this is not a roundtrip journey, as it is still unknown how the activist will return back home in Europe. The good news is that Greta is staying the Americas for 9 months, which gives her plenty of time to think of a return route.

Norwegian Air Cancels Hundreds of Flights to the United States

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Luda Berdnyk

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July 29, 2019

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If you’re planning a budget-friendly getaway between the United States and Scandinavia, we recommend booking something other than Norwegian Airlines.

The Oslo-based budget airline is cutting hundreds of regular winter flights from its schedule thanks to a new business model. Norwegian is moving from growth to profitability now that it has become Scandinavia’s largest airline and Europe’s eighth-largest (in terms of numbers). This means that Norwegian is cutting up to 25% of its flights, including 3 from Los Angeles LAX, 2 from New York JFK, and 3 from Copenhagen CPH. It isn’t yet known whether some or any of these suspended routes will return for the 2020/21 season, or if they will be canceled entirely.

Likewise, the Stockholm to Orlando route will be canceled permanently. Earlier this year, Norwegian also canceled its U.S. flights to the French Caribbean islands of Martinique and Guadeloupe in a cost-cutting move.

The airline is also shifting operations from Oakland Airport OAK to nearby San Francisco SFO, which is busier and has more flights.

Given Norwegian’s shift in strategy, this could mean that Norwegian is looking away from the U.S. on a more permanent basis.

Matthew Robert Wood, Norwegian’s senior vice president of commercial long-haul and new markets, called the winter suspension a “natural move” following a thorough review. He said the airline is focusing on more profitable seasonal routes such as Asia, and looking into growing the route network into South America.

Despite record passenger numbers in 2018, the airline’s expansion of its long-haul network hit its profits hard. Last year, multiple sources claimed Norwegian had an unsustainable level of debt. The company is also looking for a permanent CEO, which puts a damper on any groundbreaking strategic moves.