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

By
Luda Berdnyk
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If you’ve been following our Facebook page, you’re probably in the loop that there’s some drama brewing over in Sweden. And now it’s gotten even weirder.

To recap: American rapper A$AP Rocky posted footage on Instagram of two men following him and his friends in Stockholm despite telling them repeatedly to go away. Another video clip shows a scuffle, including a man throwing an object at Rocky’s group. A$AP Rocky has been in Swedish jail since July 3rd, with many celebrities coming to his defense.




READ: The Swedish Prime Minister’s Response To Trump Getting Involved In The A$AP Rocky Case.

One of Rocky’s biggest supporters is none other than the president of the United States of America, Donald Trump. Trump has even gone so far as to call the Prime Minister of Sweden, Stefan Löfven, and talked with him personally to negotiate the release of Rocky. However, it appears that the phone exchange has had no result whatsoever.




Frustrated Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to voice his opinions on this situation, stating, ”Very disappointed in Prime Minister Stefan Löfven for being unable to act. Sweden has let our African American Community down in the United States.”

Trump continued to write, “Give A$AP Rocky his FREEDOM. We do so much for Sweden but it doesn’t seem to work the other way around.”




 

 

However, Sweden isn’t playing around either. Shortly after Trump’s tweet, the Swedish government had its own take:

“The rule of the law applies to everyone equally and is exercised by an independent judiciary,” tweeted former prime minister Carl Bildt. “That’s the way it is in the US, and that’s certainly the way it is in Sweden. Political interference in the process is distinctly off-limits. Clear?”




Carl Bildt also went on to publish a letter addressed to President Trump in the Washington Post. With the subject line: I was Sweden’s prime minister and No, Mr. Trump, I could not have freed A$AP Rocky either, one of Sweden’s most popular politicians writes:

“There certainly are countries around the world where the judiciary is little more than an instrument of the arbitrary powers of the ruling strongman, and where the political leadership can send people in and out of prison at their discretion. Sweden is most certainly not one of those countries. 




A Swedish prime minister who tries to order a court to release a suspect or dismiss a case is first going to fail and then, with high probability, will be kicked out of office.”

Ending the letter to the president of the United States by writing:

“The three U.S. suspects will get a fair trial. No one doubts that. The outcome will be decided by the court — without any interference by any higher political authority within or outside of the country.

That’s the way it should be in a free society.“

Read Carl Bildt’s letter to the President in full here. 

 



Mystery Surrounds Dozens of Dead Beached Whales in Iceland

By
Luda Berdnyk
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0







In this week’s strangest news, dozens of beached whales have washed up on the shore of Iceland. 

The whales were first noticed by pilot David Schwarzhans flying his helicopter over a beach at Longufjorur in western Iceland. 

He stated, “We were flying northbound over the beach and then we saw them. We were circling over it not sure if it was whales, seals or dolphins. We landed and counted about 60 but there must have been more because there were fins sticking out of the sand…”




This isn’t the first instance of pilot whales being found beached: In November 2018, about 145 whales were found on a beach in New Zealand.

Local Icelandic marine biologist, Edda Elisabet Magnusdottir, may have the solution – she mentioned that when mammals enter shallow waters, “most of them have a tendency to become disorientated“. She added that pilot whales usually swim in groups, which is why so many of them become stranded at the same time.

Featured image: DAVID SCHWARZHANS



Will Naming Babies After IKEA Products Be The Latest Trend?

By
Luda Berdnyk
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Have you ever wandered down an aisle in IKEA, picked up a product, and thought to yourself, Hmm, that’s not a bad name? Apparently, you’re not alone. 

The hottest trend for naming babies this year was based on IKEA products.

According to BabyCentre, a parenting forum, here are the top baby names that were inspired by real IKEA products:




• Malm
• Tarva
• Stefan
• Ivar
• Tobias
• Stig
• Franklin
• Ingo
• Fredde
• Sommar
• Norna
• Cilla
• Malinda
• Elly
• Henrika
• Johanne
• Mata
• Mydal

Seems odd? Don’t be fooled! “Naming your baby after IKEA furniture might seem ridiculous at first glance, but don’t dismiss the idea! IKEA is known for the charming Scandinavian names it gives its products and many work surprisingly well as baby names,” notes the blog’s author, LucyBC.




A few of the names, like Elly, Johanne, and Franklin don’t seem too far-fetched — just think twice before naming your future baby after a swivel chair (Bleckberget)!

Which name did you like the most? Let us know in the comments below.




Featured Image: Unsplash

This article was originally published on January 8, 2019.



Zlatan Faces Possible MLS Ban After Fracturing Opponent’s Skull

By
Luda Berdnyk
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CARSON, CA - AUGUST 24: Zlatan Ibrahimovic #9 of Los Angeles Galaxy during the Los Angeles Galaxy's MLS match against Los Angeles FC at the StubHub Center on August 24, 2018 in Carson, California. The match ended in a 1-1 tie. (Photo by Shaun Clark/Getty Images)







Swedish soccer legend, Zlatan Ibrahimovic could be in a bit of pickle with the MLS’ disciplinary committee. The superstar is currently risking a ban after elbowing Mohamed El-Monir, from the opposing team Los Angeles FC, ultimately forcing him into surgery for a skull fracture. 

Zlatan was the “man of the match” — both in a good and not so good way — during last Friday’s game against LAFC. On one hand, he scored all three goals that propelled LA Galaxy to win the match (the final score was 3-2), while on the other hand, he sent an opposing team’s player to the emergency room with a dent in his skull.  

 

 




 

During a particularly heated exchange in the second half, video footage shows Zlatan looking over at El-Monir twice, before jumping up and elbowing the LAFC player in the face.

Ibrahimovic was met with anger and fury from the players of LAFC bench at full-time. LAFC goalkeeper coach, Zak Abdel, even went so far as to confront Ibrahimovic on the field.




Zlatan retaliated and yelled back, “Go home, you little b**** – Go home!”

Shortly after the match, Major League Soccer bigwigs started looking into the incident. While it is set that El-Monir will be getting surgery today, it is unclear for now what the consequences will be for Zlatan. 

Featured image: Getty Images 



The Swedish Prime Minister’s Response To Trump Getting Involved In The A$AP Rocky Case

By
Luda Berdnyk
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0







What started as a simple fistfight turned into an international human rights incident, and might be causing a strain on the U.S. – Swedish relations.   

American rapper A$AP Rocky, also known as Rakim Mayers, is in hot water with the Swedish judicial system, and now the world is taking sides. 

In an incident on July 2 in Stockholm, Rocky posted footage on Instagram of two men following him and his friends around the city despite being told repeatedly to go away. Another video clip shows a scuffle, including a man throwing an object at Rocky’s group. The rapper tells the men, “We don’t want to fight y’all.”




Separate footage from TMZ shows Rocky throwing a man to the ground and beating him with the help of three of his associates. 

Shortly after the incident, Rocky and two of his associates were apprehended and put in jail. Stockholm District Court now has until 25 July to decide whether to charge him. Many claim that the prosecutor might be looking at the incident as an attack by A$AP Rocky while others claim it should be viewed as self-defense. 

In a turn of events, Donald Trump, the President of the United States of America, is personally seeking the release of A$AP Rocky. Trump called the Swedish Prime Minister, Stefan Löfven, early Saturday morning in order to discuss the rapper’s release. 




Trump told reporters that he plans to continue reaching out to “friends of his” in Sweden to lobby for the release of Rocky. Other famous singers, such as Kanye West and Justin Beiber, have also sought to raise awareness about justice for Rocky. 

Mr. Trump said he would “personally vouch” for Rocky’s bail if he were released. He said Mr. Löfven had told him Rocky would be “treated fairly.” Hopefully, the Swedish Prime Minister informed the president that there is, in fact, no bail system in Sweden. 

“Our teams will be talking further, and we agreed to speak again in the next 48 hours,” Mr. Trump said.




Mr. Löfven, however, emphasized that, “In Sweden, everyone is equal before the law and that the government cannot and will not attempt to influence the legal proceedings.” 

 

 



 

 

Olson’s Scandinavian Deli Seeks Help From Local Community To Stay Alive

By
Swedes in the States
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Los Angeles, California

Most Scandinavians living in Southern California are familiar with the iconic Olsons Scandinavian Deli located on Pico Boulevard in the Mid-City area of central Los Angeles.

When cravings have kicked in, most of us have at one point thrown ourselves in the car and rushed to Olsons for a Swedish bulle, semla, Kalle’s Kaviar or perhaps a Skagen toast.

Olson’s Scandinavian Deli. Image credit: Swedes in the States

But it seems that the deli, which has been around for 71 years since 1948, is having troubles staying afloat, despite being the only Scandinavian deli in the center of Los Angeles.

Yesterday, Olson’s started a gofundme campaign, reaching out to old and new clients, in an effort to raise $90k in order to stay alive. On the page they write;




“Help Olsons Deli to stay in business!

My name is Camila and I am the manager for Olsons Deli. On behalf of Olsons, I am reaching out to our beloved customers, new and old, and our wonderful community to ask you for help. We do not want to move or be forced to close this historic little deli and cafe in the heart of Los Angeles. Olson’s Deli opened it’s doors in 1948 and have served the Scandinavian community for 71 years. Since then a small coffee shop has added to the charm with homemade food, baked goods, and delicious coffee. We are reaching out now to all of you to help us stay in business, grow our menu, import more Scandinavian goods and stay open longer hours. Any help is greatly appreciated and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your support.

Kindly, Camila and all of us at Olson’s”




Olson’s Scandinavian Deli. Image credit: Swedes in the States

If you want to support and help Olson’s Deli to raise the money necessary to stay alive, check out their GoFundMe page here. 

Swedes in the States are crossing our fingers and hoping that we will see the doors open at Olson’s Deli again!

Featured image: Olson’s Scandinavian Deli



The Internet’s Best Reactions To The Midsommar Movie

By
Swedes in the States
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It’s been over a week since the highly anticipated movie, especially by many Swedes, ‘Midsommar’ premiered in cinemas around the world. The film, directed by Ari Aster, centers around one of Sweden’s most important, if not the most important, holiday: Midsummer. The holiday which celebrates summer solstice takes a twisted turn in the movie, as American teenagers travel to Sweden to partake in the celebrations.




Curious as to what people’s opinions were of the film, our editors scoured the internet in search of opinionated film watchers, and we were not disappointed. If you haven’t already seen the movie – perhaps these tweets below can persuade you to grab a ticket today.




 

 

 

 




 

 

 

 

 




 

 

 




 

 

 

 



 

Swedish Real Estate Superstar Fredrik Eklund Leaves New York

By
Luda Berdnyk
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1







Fredrik Eklund has left the building… at least in NYC.

The real estate broker and celebrity has relocated from New York City to Los Angeles with his family, which includes husband Derek Kaplan and two children, Milla Eklund and Fredrik Eklund Jr.

Posting on his Instagram, Eklund wrote with excitement, “You can imagine the butterflies I have right now: this weekend we’ll take the kids to the beach for the first time, I went hiking this morning. I’m so grateful for the warm welcome here…”




View this post on Instagram

Yesterday we moved to Los Angeles. I was a bit emotional seeing the kids so excited to get on the flight. We got to the new house in Beverly Hills and ordered sushi by the pool watching the incredible sunset over the city below. Moving a family with toddlers isn’t easy, but spending more time in California while expanding the business here’s something we’ve talked about for years. You’ll be able to follow our journey on MDLNY this season. The kids and Derek will be here full time and I’ll be going back and forth between LA, NY and even Miami overseeing the teams. I guess I do love airplanes and travel lol. We’ve grown the team to 64 people between the 3 cities. We’ve had some really big, exciting hires lately and have no plans to stop growing. Today I land running with pitches and the first VIP Top Broker event for an epic new development I’m heading up sales at in West Hollywood – I’m honored to be part of it (more on that very soon). LA has some of the world’s most exciting new development projects coming – vertical living is finally happening here. I’m already back in NY next week. But you can imagine the butterflies I have right now: this weekend we’ll take the kids to the beach for the first time, I went hiking this morning. I’m so grateful for the warm welcome here – at the same time I want to make crystal clear that my business in NY is going to expand with me very present. NY is the city that welcomed me first and gave me the platform to grow the business that allowed me to fulfill a lifelong dream of also be in LA. John and Julia my partners and extended family have their feet firmly planted in NY with the incredible team there. As you probably can tell, I’m so excited to share all of this with you. Love /Freddy

A post shared by Fredrik Eklund (@fredrikeklundny) on

 




However, Eklund makes a point that he will still be heavily involved with activities in the NYC office, as he continues: “...at the same time I want to make crystal clear that my business in NY is going to expand with me very present.”

The real estate broker, who rose to fame on the hit show Million Dollar Listing New York, is still working for the Douglas Elliman firm. His new residence means an expansion in the team he leads with John Gomes, especially on the West Coast. There are currently 64 people on the team, with plans to add more in California. 




Josh Altman, a colleague at Elliman, stated, “We’ve referred many deals together over the past years back and forth and not surprised he realized the west coast is the best coast,” he said. 

Ending on a positive note, Eklund finished his post with, “I’ll be going back and forth between LA, NY, and even Miami overseeing the teams. I guess I do love airplanes and travel [laughs]”.




 

Featured image: Borrowed from Fredrik Eklund’s Instagram @fredrikeklundny



Happy or Not? This Finnish Duo Turned Horrible Customer Service Into A Multi-Million Dollar Idea

By
Luda Berdnyk
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0







Have you ever had such a terrible customer service experience that it made your blood boil?

For Heikki Vaananen, that was one of the best things that ever happened. 

As a teenager growing up in a small Finnish town, Heikki would go to his local computer shop to buy floppy disks. Unfortunately, the sales associate behind the counter was always horrible to him.




“He was always rude and dismissive,” says Heikki, “It was bullying really, he’d deliberately ignore me, not serve me. Of course, it made me very angry, but when you are young you don’t know how to deal with it. I never forgot about it though.”

Fifteen years later, it gave Heikki a million-dollar business idea.

Heikki recently sold his video games business, Universomo, and was looking for a new business idea.

So remembering his teenage experience at that computer store, he decided that he wanted to create a start-up that helps companies monitor and improve the level of customer service. 




Together with co-founder Ville Levaniemi, they created HappyOrNot. 

The company model is simple: there are physical feedback terminals, where customers are encouraged to answer questions about their experience. There could be questions about whether the staff was friendly enough, if an airport bathroom was clean enough, if a cafe’s food was good enough, and so on. 

The questions would appear on a screen. The customer would then simply have to press one of four smiley faces, from very happy, to happy, a little unhappy, or very unhappy. HappyOrNot would then collate and email the data to the company.

“I thought it was a great idea,” says Ville Levaniemi “But I was sure that someone must be already been doing something similar. But I had a good search online, and amazingly they weren’t. So we started planning the concept in 2008, and in 2009 we launched the business.“




Today, HappyOrNot has 65 employees and is used by more than 4,000 organizations across 120+ countries, in locations such as airports, shops, and hospitals. Some of their biggest clients include Amsterdam AMS Airport, the San Francisco 49ers American football team, and French supermarket giant Carrefour.

Featured image: Ossi Ahola 



The Last Fifteen Summers Have Been The Worst On Record In Europe – And People Are Dying As A Result

By
Luda Berdnyk
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0







After a whirlwind summer, it finally seems to be cooling down in Europe.

Or is it really?




According to a new report from National Geographic, Europe’s five hottest summers in the past 500 years have all occurred in the last 15 years. These heatwaves have been responsible for thousands of deaths across the continent, including 700 deaths in Sweden (2018), 56,000 in Russia (2010), and 70,000 people all over Europe (2003). 

READ: It’s Heating up! Southern Sweden Has Hottest Day on Record




Why is such a technologically-advanced continent responsible for so many deaths?

There are a few factors.

The first is a severe lack of air conditioning. Thanks to older buildings and stereotypes, air conditioning is found in less than five percent of homes in France and less than two percent of German homes. Second, climate change and global warming are to blame. The loss of sea ice in the Arctic is amplifying warming in the northern areas of Europe, as well as contributing to the droughts, heat waves, and wildfires.




Over the years, European countries have slowly been working to reduce fatalities from heatwaves. In fact, as an example, schools are shut down when the temperatures reach a certain degree. Cooling areas and temporary water fountains have been set up in busy areas; parks and swimming pools are being kept open later, and older cars are kept out of the city to reduce pollution that becomes aggregated with more heat. 

Now, more than ever, it is important to fight the effects of climate change so that there are fewer fatalities.



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Swedes in the States is a community created by Swedes living in the States for Swedes living in the States, and everyone else who is interested in Scandinavian culture, businesses and projects. All our editors and contributors are strongly connected to Scandinavia while living their dream in the United States. The parallels between our countries are astonishing and exciting, and you are invited to read all about it is politics, fashion, design or food. Välkommen!
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