Sunday shopping in Oslo will not expand to Karl Johans gate after the County Governor (Statsforvalteren) rejected the city’s bid , ruling that the main street and its side roads cannot be defined as a “typical tourist area” under Norway’s Holiday Peace Act (helligdagsfredloven). The decision argues that Oslo’s city centre is not a small locality whose retail depends primarily on tourists, and the governor has asked the Ministry of Children and Families (Barne- og familiedepartementet) for guidance on how the rules should apply to central urban areas. Tourist zone exception under the Holiday Peace Act…

Bandidos banned in Denmark after the Helsingør District Court (Retten i Helsingør) ruled on 29 October 2025 that the motorcycle group is an illegal association under Section 78 of the Danish Constitution. The judgment dissolves the organisation nationwide and confirms that a temporary ban from May 2024 was lawful. The club has appealed to the Eastern High Court (Østre Landsret). Why the court found an illegal purpose under Section 78 The court concluded that Bandidos MC in Denmark operates as a single association whose activities have included serious and organised crime…

Norwegians study abroad in smaller numbers: 13,500 completed a full degree overseas in 2024, 22% fewer than in 2016, according to Norway’s Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (Direktoratet for høyere utdanning og kompetanse, HK-dir). New survey data indicate that graduates with a master’s degree from abroad perform as well in the labour market as those educated in Norway six to seven years after graduation. Brexit and higher fees cut interest in the UK The United Kingdom remains the most popular destination for Norwegian degree students, but it has seen the…

Nvidia invests in Nokia with a €0.86 billion equity deal for a 2.9% stake. The move deepens a strategic partnership to accelerate AI‑RAN and 6G development and sent Nokia’s share price up by about 21% to a near ten‑year high. AI‑RAN and 6G: the strategic rationale The partnership centres on AI‑native radio access networks (AI‑RAN) and next‑generation 6G. Nokia will embed Nvidia’s accelerated computing into its mobile network portfolio, while Nvidia plans to integrate Nokia’s data‑centre networking and optical technologies into future AI infrastructure. The goal is to improve performance and energy efficiency across telecom networks and to enable edge…

Nordic preparedness took center stage in Stockholm on 28 October 2025, where European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen praised the region as a guide for Europe during the Nordic Council (Nordiska rådet) session hosted at Sweden’s Riksdag. Meeting alongside Sweden’s Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (Moderaterna), the Nordic leaders framed Russia as a long‑term threat and stressed coordinated societal security, deterrence and resilience across the High North. Stockholm session puts security at the top At a joint appearance with the Nordic prime ministers, von der Leyen said the Nordics show that security is built in peacetime through…

The Norwegian Peace Council (Norges Fredsråd) has cancelled Oslo’s traditional torchlight procession for the Nobel Peace Prize on 10 December 2025, saying this year’s laureate, María Corina Machado, does not align with its values after a consultation with its 17 member organisations. Why the council is breaking with tradition The Council said the decision followed a “thorough hearing process” among its members. According to chair Eline H. Lorentzen, some of Machado’s methods are viewed as inconsistent with principles that emphasise dialogue and non‑violence. As an umbrella body with a long record in Norwegian peace work, the Council argued that its events must reflect those core values.

Nordic Council Literature Prize winner Vónbjørt Vang of the Faroe Islands was announced on 21 October 2025, marking the first Faroese victory in 39 years; the Faroe Islands also won the Nordic Council (Nordisk Råd) Film Prize, underscoring the archipelago’s growing cultural profile ahead of the awards ceremony in Stockholm on 28 October. Faroese breakthrough in literature and film The literature prize goes to Vónbjørt Vang for the poetry collection Svørt orkidé ("Black Orchid"), published in 2023. It is the first time since 1986 that a Faroese author receives the…

Aqua the Musical will premiere in Copenhagen in 2028, with producers setting their sights on Broadway and the West End as part of an export-first strategy for a Danish show. The project draws on the band’s story and back catalogue, including global hits such as “Barbie Girl,” “Doctor Jones” and “My Oh My.” Copenhagen 2028 premiere at the Royal Danish Opera The world premiere is scheduled at The Royal Danish Opera (Operaen) in Copenhagen in 2028. The production is developed by AHA Creations, which frames the musical as a large-scale, internationally oriented project rather than a local nostalgia piece.

Denmark’s Greenland defence plan will invest DKK 27.4 billion (≈ €3.67bn) to strengthen security in Greenland, the Arctic and the North Atlantic, under a second agreement signed by Denmark, the Government of Greenland (Naalakkersuisut) and the Faroese Home Rule Government (Landsstýrið). The package adds new capabilities including a military headquarters in Nuuk, a North Atlantic undersea cable, two additional Arctic vessels, more drones and maritime patrol aircraft capacity to support NATO in the region. Arctic security and the GIUK gap…

The 15‑year age limit for social media won the support of Norway’s media regulator after a public consultation that closed on 7 October. The Norwegian Media Authority (Medietilsynet) said the proposal would reduce risks for children and adolescents online, while urging lawmakers to shape the law around platform functionalities and privacy‑preserving age verification. The measure is being discussed across the Nordics and the European Union. What Norway’s regulator says about the age limit Medietilsynet backs an absolute 15‑year age limit as a risk‑reduction tool, citing evidence that young users encounter harmful and illegal content on major platforms.

Sweden’s 15-year social media age limit moved up the political agenda, as opposition leader Magdalena Andersson (Socialdemokraterna) proposed a strict ID requirement to enforce it, arguing that platforms’ addictive algorithms harm children’s health and wellbeing. How the ID checks would work: BankID and the EU digital wallet Andersson said the age limit should be verified with a mandatory identity check for every account, using BankID or the forthcoming EU Digital Identity Wallet. Users could remain publicly anonymous, but platforms would have to verify legal identity to prevent fake or under‑age accounts.

Flying Tiger Copenhagen will close 18 of its 50 Danish stores during 2026, consolidating around “key locations” in the largest cities while keeping Denmark among its highest-coverage markets. The company says the move will focus resources where demand is strongest and align the network with its updated retail concept. Why the footprint is shrinking in Denmark The chain describes the Danish closures as part of a strategic consolidation on its home market. Management argues that the store network must be adjusted over time to remain relevant as customer behaviour evolves and more purchases shift online.

Mosquitoes in Iceland have been confirmed for the first time after three specimens were identified in Kiðafell, Kjós, in mid‑October 2025, a finding that scientists link to Arctic warming and Iceland’s unusually fast temperature rise. The Natural Science Institute of Iceland (Náttúrufræðistofnun Íslands, NATT) verified the insects as Culiseta annulata. While there is no evidence of an established population, the discovery highlights how a changing climate is reshaping the North. Citizen science in Kjós: first records and verification A local observer reported unusual insects caught on red‑wine ropes used to attract moths between 16 and 18 October.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits Sweden and Norway on 22 October 2025, meeting Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (statsminister) in Linköping and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre (statsminister) in Oslo. The Zelensky visits Sweden and Norway trip focuses on defence cooperation, potential defence export announcements in Sweden, and the broader European response to Russia’s war against Ukraine. What Linköping signals: Gripen, industry and defence export Sweden hosts the meeting at Saab’s facilities in Linköping, where the JAS 39 Gripen is produced. Kristersson has described the agenda as a potential…

The Defence Readiness Roadmap 2030 sets a five‑year plan for the EU to deter Russia and prepare for the “battlefields of tomorrow,” with proposals for joint procurement, flagship defence projects and tighter coordination with NATO. Joint procurement and European supply targets The Roadmap calls on member states to organise at least 40% of defence procurement as joint contracts by end‑2027, addressing fragmentation, cost inflation and interoperability gaps. It also sets supply‑chain targets: by 2028, at least 55% of arms purchases should come from EU and Ukrainian companies…

Mjällby AIF are Allsvenskan champions 2025 after a 2–0 away win over IFK Göteborg on 20 October, securing the club’s first-ever SM-guld and a place in next season’s Champions League qualifiers. The team from Hällevik reached 66 points with three rounds left, extending an unbeaten run that has defined their campaign. How Mjällby AIF sealed the SM-guld in Gothenburg A fast start at Gamla Ullevi set the tone. In the 21st minute, Jacob Bergström converted with an acrobatic finish to make it 1–0. Seven minutes later former Göteborg defender Tom Pettersson…

Aalborg University space research will receive a major upgrade as Aalborg University (Aalborg Universitet) commits DKK 530 million (€71 million) to new facilities, including a purpose‑built Tech Lab, to consolidate teaching and research in space technologies in Aalborg, Denmark. The new building is slated to open in 2028, with wider renovations across 19,000 m² due by 2029, in a move designed to keep Denmark at the forefront of satellite and space systems. Tech Lab scope: new build, renovations and a drone yard The plan combines new construction…

Noma coffee bar has opened as a permanent “flavour shop” in the greenhouse in front of the three‑Michelin‑star restaurant at Refshaleøen in Copenhagen, with first service on 14 October 2025 and a first full weekend on 18–19 October. The space offers Noma Kaffe alongside the pantry line from Noma Projects, extending the restaurant’s research‑driven approach beyond the dining room to a wider public. Why a shop now: Noma Projects and the coffee programme The flavour shop is part of Noma Projects, the venture created to share the restaurant’s test‑kitchen innovations with home cooks.

Alma Madmarked is underperforming against its sales goal in Copenhagen, as Chief Executive (administrerende direktør) Alfred Josefsen acknowledged in a recent interview: the chain will not reach an annual 50 million kroner (€6.7 million) per store target this year, and key customer groups—young adults, families with children and former Irma shoppers—have proved less loyal than expected. Alma Madmarked sales target now out of reach Josefsen said the original target of 50 million kroner (€6.7 million) per store per year was set as a benchmark for the new chain, but he now concedes performance is…

Swedes drink less alcohol in 2024, according to new figures from the Swedish Council for Information on Alcohol and Other Drugs (Centralförbundet för alkohol- och narkotikaupplysning, CAN). Total consumption fell by around 2.2–2.3% compared with 2023, to 8.4 litres of pure alcohol per person aged 15+, roughly 6–6.5% below 2019 levels. CAN’s 2024 headline numbers: 8.4 litres, −2.2% year‑on‑year The latest CAN data indicate a steady decline in Sweden’s alcohol consumption. In 2024, the average was 8.4 litres of pure alcohol per person (15+), a drop of about…

The Swedish Centre Party leader resigns after five months: Anna‑Karin Hatt announced on 15 October 2025 that she is stepping down, citing hatred and threats that left her feeling unsafe even at home. The Centre Party (Centerpartiet) will choose a successor at its November congress in Karlstad. What Hatt said: fear and a hardening climate At a press conference in Stockholm, Hatt said the decision was the most difficult of her political career. She described a climate where politicians “constantly feel the need to look over their shoulders” and admitted she was “much more affected by it than I thought I would be.” …

Finland debt enforcement is rising, according to new figures from the National Enforcement Authority (Ulosottolaitos). The agency reports around 4% more people in proceedings at the end of September than a year earlier and estimates that the number of debtors could exceed 600,000 in 2025. More than 90% are private individuals, while the remainder are companies and organisations. 600,000 debtors in sight: what the 4% rise signals The authority projects that total debtors in enforcement may surpass 600,000 this year. This indicates a broadening of debt proceedings across income groups, as households continue to face tight budgets following several years of elevated living costs and higher borrowing expenses.

Pihasaunalaki—the colloquial “garden sauna act” introduced with Finland’s new Building Act—was expected to trigger appeals and neighbour disputes, but early data from municipalities show the opposite: complaints remain limited and building permits have fallen markedly since the rules took effect at the start of 2025. What the ‘garden sauna law’ changed The Building Act (Rakentamislaki) raised permit thresholds so that outbuildings up to 30 square metres—such as small saunas, sheds or garden offices—and canopies up to 50 square metres no longer need a construction permit when they comply with the local plan, building code and municipal building ordinance.

Venezuela closes its embassy in Norway in Oslo on Monday, 13 October 2025, without an official reason, according to Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Utenriksdepartementet). The move comes days after Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado received the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo. Norway says the prize is independent from the government, and that it intends to keep channels with Caracas open. Norway confirms the closure, reason not stated Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Utenriksdepartementet) said it had been informed that Venezuela’s embassy in Oslo was closing and described the decision as…

Copenhagen City Hall clock has stopped, with no estimate yet for when the landmark timepiece will be back in operation. The halt was noticed during the day as residents and visitors reported the clock standing still on the tower of Copenhagen City Hall (Københavns Rådhus). City Hall told local media that the tower clock appears to have malfunctioned and that technicians will assess the issue. As of publication, there is no announced timetable for repair or restart. Reports of the stoppage came from multiple onlookers in central Copenhagen. A century-old electric timekeeper…