Denmark

A century ago Denmark built an island to defend its capital. Now it is full of tourists and is sold for ten million

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The world has started 2026 slope of an island linked to the Kingdom of Denmark, but Greenland is not the only island dependent on Copenhagen that makes headlines. In it Øresund Strait There is a small Danish island that in recent weeks has also sparked interest due to its history, status and (above all) ownership. His name is Flakfortet and in this case, unlike Greenland, there would be no problem with Donald Trump controlling it. Of course, first you would need to go through the cash register and pay 10 million euros. The reason: Flakfortet is actually an old military fortification built on an artificial island and in private hands that has just gone up for sale. What has happened? that the Danish real estate market has incorporated an unconventional piece: a maritime fort built on an artificial island. That’s what they advertise on their page. Lintrup & Norgarta Danish firm specialized in real estate that for a few weeks advertise the sale of the Flakfortet fortress, located in the Øresund Strait. The property is offered for 74.5 million of Danish crowns, equivalent to about 10 million dollars. “The island has modern facilities and historic structures and is visited by thousands of people each year,” highlights the agency. The announcement has attracted the attention of media outlets such as the German newspaper Bildthe specialized medium Yacht or the Danish public broadcaster TV2which specifies that the complex reaches 30,000 square meters (m2) and there are around 10,000 built. Among its facilities, the island includes a large marina and a heliport. But what is Flakfortet? A vestige of the First World War. And a huge and picturesque reminder of the turbulent start of the 20th century. Flakfortet is a maritime fortress built on Saltholmrevan artificial island built from tons and tons of stone, concrete and sand in the Saltholm Strait. In fact, it is located between saltholm island and Copenhagen. Flakfortet was not the result of a whim or megalomania. It was promoted at the beginning of the 20th century, after the Defense Agreement of 1909 with which an attempt was made to improve the fortifications (land and sea) that protect Copenhagen from enemy attacks. To be more exact, his works were developed between 1910 and 1916. And what was it used for? The idea was to shield neighboring Copenhagen by sea. Hence, Flakfortet was projected as a true fort, capable of hosting around half a thousand soldiers and equipped with powerful cannons. Danmarks Nationalleksikon remember which in its day was equipped with howitzers, half a dozen cannons and anti-aircraft artillery. However, its role during the two great conflagrations of the last century was rather modest. In fact, the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, with the project still uncompleted, frustrated the plans to equip it with modern howitzers. In the 40s it was occupied by the Wehrmacht and in the 50s it returned to Danish hands, although without much success. At the end of that same decade it closed as a naval anti-aircraft fort and during part of the 1960s it hosted the HAWK 541 Squadron of the Danish Air Force. Over time it was rented to the Copenhagen Sailing Union and was converted into a marina in the 1970s. And in recent decades? His military past is behind him. After the Danish army decided to abandon the fort the weapons were dismantled and the casemates abandoned. As the 20th century progressed, the soldiers gave way to sailors who arrived aboard sailboats, tourists and history lovers fascinated by the fortification’s past. The next major chapter of his chronicle was written in 2021, when Denmark sold the island to Malmökranen AB, a Swedish company that acquired it for around 400,000 euros. It may not seem like a lot of money, but the company had to invest significantly more to remodel the facilities and modernize its services, which includes a restaurant, a desalination plant that supplies the island with drinking water, and generators. These improvements, added to a ferry service that connected the island with Copenhagen and the interest aroused by the fort’s military past, explain why Flakfortet attracted up to 50,000 visitors in high season. Good business, right? If we ask Malmökranen right now, the business seems to involve more the sale of the island than its direct management. And it’s not something new. In 2015 the complex already looked for a buyer without much success. More than a decade later, its owners have decided to try again, asking for even more money for facilities that have a port and heliport. The agency in charge of the sale wait that the island will attract the interest of specialized investment firms or millionaires looking for a “secluded and quiet” property. Nor do they rule out that the Danish State itself decides to recover Flakfortet because it considers it “a critical infrastructure” and its location. If it is finally an individual who takes over its reins, they should keep in mind that they cannot do whatever they want with the old fort: since 2002 It is considered a historical monument, so any significant work must have the OK of Heritage. The island must also remain open to the public. Images | Wikipedia and Google Earth In Xataka | China has been dumping tons of sand into the ocean for 12 years. And now we are seeing islands emerging in the middle of nowhere

Greenland doesn’t want Denmark

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“We don’t want to be Danes. We don’t want to be Americans.” The phrase It is from the former Prime Minister of Greenland, Mute B. Egede. And although the leader lost his position during the elections of 2025 captures well the feelings of a large part of the population of the Arctic island, an autonomous region that in practice remains linked to the Kingdom of Denmark. Polls reveal that Greenlanders they don’t like it Donald Trump’s idea of ​​becoming part of the United States, but it is that many (many) They also dream of saying goodbye to Copenhagen. The reason (as usual) must be found in history books. One figure: 85%. Polls are just that, polls, but they help us better understand how societies think. With Trump insisting in his aspirations for Greenland to remain under US control, in recent days he has dusted himself off a poll made a year ago, when the Republican (recently arrived at the White House) hinted at his interest in the Arctic island. The study, published by Berlingske and Sermitsiaqshows that 85% of Greenlanders reject the idea of ​​being part of the US. Another 9% have doubts about it and only 6% are in favor of raising the stars and stripes flag. Even Trump’s interest in Greenland divides opinion: 45% of those surveyed see it “a threat”, 43% “an opportunity”. Better with Denmark? That is one of the conclusions that could be drawn from the survey. Although Greenland is located in North America and its capital, Nuuk, is closer to New York than to Copenhagen, the island is part of the Kingdom of Denmark. If Greenlanders refuse to integrate into the US, does that mean they are comfortable with their current status? Do you like your relationship with Denmark? Another surveysomewhat older, from 2019, reveals that the answer is “no.” The study, carried out by academics from the University of Copenhagen, revealed that 67.7% of adults of Greenland hope that at some point the island will cut its ties with Denmark. A part of those interviewed would in fact support independence within a ten-year horizon and another, larger percentage, see it as feasible in the middle of the next decade. Maybe 2019 is behind us in time, but that feeling seems to be still very much alive on the island. “The shackles of colonialism”. Just a year ago the former prime minister, Mute Egede, made headlines with a speech New Year’s Day in which he floated the idea of ​​Greenland becoming independent. “History and current conditions have shown that our cooperation with the Kingdom has not managed to create full equality,” claimed the leader of the People’s Community party. “The time has come for our country to take the next step. Like other nations around the world, we must work to remove obstacles to cooperation, which we can describe as the shackles of colonialism, and move forward,” he emphasized. Egede did not manage to retain his position, but his successor, Jens-Frederick Nielsen, also represents an independence party, although from the more moderate sector. Its strategy for the moment involves strengthening ties with Copenhagen, although making it clear that as a “closest partner”. And why that feeling? Nationalist issues aside, the desire of a large part of Greenlanders to distance themselves from Denmark is explained by a very simple reason: the relationship between both territories has not always been simple. Quite the opposite. The recent past has been marred by tragic chapters which have forced the Danish authorities to apologize publicly in an attempt to heal wounds and strengthen the bond. Reviewing history. The current relationship between the Kingdom of Denmark and Greenland dates back to the 18th centurywhen the Danes they began to colonize the island, inhabited for centuries by the Inuit. In 1814 the territory officially became a Danish colony, a relationship that was redefined first in 1953 and later in 1979, when the island achieved autonomy. However, it would take several decades for Copenhagen to transfer powers to it. As recognize The Danish Executive itself, that milestone was not achieved until well into the 21st century, although the Kingdom continues to hold some key functions, such as foreign affairs, security and financial policy responsibilities. Since 2009 the island has had a autonomy statute renovated (endorsed by a vast majority of its population) that gives it the possibility of self-determination In practice, much of the island’s economy is based on the so-called “block grant”contributions from the Danish Government. Some actually believe that the Nordic welfare system supported in Denmark and the Danish contribution to island finances are crucial to keeping their link alive. The US knows it and that is probably why it considers paying between 10,000 and 100,000 dollars to every Greenlander to encourage them to ‘divorce’ Denmark, according to Reuters. Two episodes to forget. In the recent relationship between Denmark and Greenland there are two chapters that weigh especially heavily and have even eroded the image of “benign colonizers” that the Danes have had of themselves for generations. One of these episodes involves thousands of indigenous women. A 2022 research revealed that for decades, between the 60s and almost the early 90s, thousands of Inuit women were forced to use contraceptive methods, resorting to intrauterine devices that were sometimes implanted without the patients’ permission or knowledge. Some sources indicate that this Danish birth plan affected around 4,500 women (and girls) Greenlanders between 1966 and 1976. The objective: to control the growth of the Inuit population. The revelations are so alarming that a few months ago the Danish Prime Minister, Mette Frederiksen, participated in an event in Nuuk during which she apologized for “injustice and pain” caused. Closing wounds. It was not the only time that the Danish authorities have had to apologize. Years ago they did it for another turbulent chapter in the relationship between both territories: a social experiment started in the 1950s that consisted of removing Greenlandic children from their homes (sometimes under pressure) to leave them in … Read more

We send fewer and fewer paper letters. So Denmark Post has said goodbye to the service after 400 years

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“Denmark is the canary in the mine.” The comment is by Marvin Ryder, researcher at the McMaster University (Canada), and what he talks about is not about markets, finances or geopolitics, but about something that has been part of the daily lives of a large part of the world’s population for centuries: the mail. The postal operator PostNord has decided that on Tuesday, December 30 will send his last letter in Denmark. In fact, it has been removing its characteristic red mailboxes from the streets for months and Monday the 29th will be the last day it accepts certified envelopes. From now on he wants to focus on sending packages, something that makes a lot of sense in view of his results. The question, how Ryder slidesis whether the end of postal mail will be limited to Denmark or will reach more countries. Goodbye letters, goodbye mailboxes. End of cycle in Denmark. The once powerful Danish postal service has decided to adapt to the times and say goodbye to postal mail. It’s not exactly new (the announcement did it months ago), but the effects of the measure will begin to be felt now, with the turn of the year: in 2026 the operator PostNord will stop collecting and delivering letters in Denmark. In fact the company takes time preparing the ground for change: in June it began to withdraw its 1,500 mailboxes from the streets, on the 18th it stopped accepting letters and on the 29th it will collect the last certified envelopes with acknowledgment of receipt. One day later, New Year’s Eve, PostNord will deliver its last envelopes. Chart on letter sending (in millions) from PostNord Danmark. A key figure: 90%. PostNord, a Nordic operator founded in 2009 from the merger of Denmark’s Post Danmarck and Sweden’s Posten AB, has been very clear about its motives. Stop sending letters in Denmark because its users have stopped doing so. Only in the last 25 years has its flow been reduced more than 90% without the demand showing signs of having hit rock bottom. If in 2000 they were distributed more than 1.4 billion of letters, in 2024 they did not reach 200 million. This collapse has coincided with the increase in online commercewhich is precisely where the operator has decided to focus its efforts. From now on in Denmark it will focus exclusively on the parcel service. “We are forced to adapt to the new situation and take the next step to build a strong PosNord for the future,” claims. It makes sense considering that the MitID system already allows Danes to receive all their official notifications digitally, the option chosen by the vast majority of the population. Only 5% of adults has renounced that possibility. Will there be no more letters? Yes. And no. PostNord has decided to turn the page 400 years of postal history (the service operates from the 17th centuryin times of Christian IV), but that does not mean that paper envelopes will no longer be sent. Danes will be able to continue sending letters to each other through Daoa courier firm that is already operational and is now preparing for a considerable increase in activity: if its estimates do not fail, it will go from 30 million letters in 2025 to 80 million in 2026. Of course, the service will be somewhat different for citizens: whoever wants to send a letter will have to go to one of their locations to deliver it or pay extra if they want it to be picked up at home. Question of obligations. In the statement in which it advanced its plans PostNord made it clear that its decision comes preceded by a change at a legal level that, in practice, frees its hands. “Our responsibility for the universal postal service in Denmark was extinguished with the Postal Law which came into force on January 1, 2024, except for mail for the visually impaired, small islands and international mail during a transition period,” clarify. Things will be different in Sweden, where PostNord will continue to operate a mail system “self-financed and profitable” and assuming the postal service. “Difficult decision”. Breaking a tradition that dates back to the 17th century is not easy. And this has been recognized by PostNord, which talks about “a difficult decision” and an “important step” designed to be strengthened in the future. For now, his goodbye has served to unleash collecting fever for his mailboxes: the operator put 1,000 units on sale for between 270 and 200 euros (depending on their state of conservation) and sold out of stock. in just a few hours. It is estimated that its network is made up of about 1,500 mailboxes and in January they will be auctioned another 200. Beyond Denmark. Where PostNord’s movements are probably also followed with interest is in the Post Offices. Although there are signs which suggest that Generation Z is reconnecting with the pleasure of sending written letters, the truth is that postal mail is also going through slow times in Spain. The National Markets Commission calculate that in ten years the exchange of letters has plummeted by 64%, which has forced Correos to try new (and multiple) avenues of business. Parcel shipping is increasing, moving at “record levels”, but precisely for this reason it is a sector with fierce competition in which it is not easy to gain a foothold. In Denmark, the readjustment of the postal service will be accompanied by a snip of staff, with the loss of 1,500 jobs. Images | News Ãresund – Johan Wessman (Flickr) and PostNord In Xataka | Correos wants to be a bank in 2025. It is an eye-catching plan in the face of the continuous closure of bank branches

More and more countries want to prohibit minors from using social networks. Denmark makes a move

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Should minors have social networks? The debate is raging and more and more voices are advocating a total ban. Australia has a law on the table that will prevent minors under 16 years of age from using social networks and our french neighbors They have also shown their inclination to follow this path. Now it is Denmark that makes its move. what has happened. The Danish government has reached an agreement to ban social media for those under 15 years of age. In statements to the Associated PressDanish Prime Minister Caroline Stage has assured that 94% of Danish children under 13 and more than half of those under 10 have profiles on social networks. “The time they spend connected to the Internet, the amount of violence and self-harm to which they are exposed online, poses too great a risk for our children,” he stated. The measure contemplates that parents who wish may authorize their children to access social networks from the age of 13. Why is it important. Denmark becomes the first European country to agree to such a ban. The ban could take months to take effect because they want to tie everything together. According to Stage, “We must ensure that the regulations are adequate and that there are no loopholes that technology giants can exploit.” The European position. This summer several countries, including Spain, approached the European Commission to request a ban at the European level. The commission’s response was clear: The ban must be carried out by each country, there will be no common prohibition. However, the EU is developing the European Digital Identityan app to identify ourselves when carrying out procedures and that will also work as an age verifier. How will they do it. The plan is to use Denmark’s electronic ID system, although they have not given many details on how it will work. The Prime Minister talks about forcing technology companies to “carry out appropriate age verification, and if they do not do so we will be able to enforce the regulations through the European Commission and ensure that they are fined up to 6% of their global income.” Pajaport. In parallel to the debate about access to social networks there is also that of porn. Spain announced the Beta Digital Wallet, known as ‘pajaporte’ to limit access to porn by minors. At the moment it is not in force, but there are other countries that have similar initiatives that are already underway, such as France, where its implementation caused the closure of Pornhub in the country. The United Kingdom is another of the countries where you have to identify yourself to watch porn. The traffic of Pornhub plummeted 77%, so it seems that the measure had an effect. However, the huge growth of VPN tools It suggests that many users could be masking their location to bypass the ban. Doors to the field. Using a VPN is a way to bypass restrictions, and in the case of access to social networks by minors it could also be an option to bypass the restriction. There are still many doubts about how it will be executed on a technical level, but with easy access to the screens and the ability of some children to avoid limitationsdoes not seem like an easy task. Images | Pexels 1, 2 In Xataka | Neither TikTok nor Instagram until the age of 16: Spain will raise the minimum age to register on social networks in two years

In Denmark more and more people are getting ready as volunteers for civil defense. Just in case

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The Danish National Guard, better known as Hjemmeværnet or for its HJV initials, it already has Eight decades of history behind him, but he had rarely lived a April more moved than that of 2025. Throughout the last month almost 800 Danish They showed interest in joining the ranks of this body of volunteers created to “Respond to emergencies” and support the country’s defense. You have to go back to the 80sin full cold war and tensions with the USSR, to find a spring start with better recruitment data. The increase in interest in the HJV comes at a very special moment at the geopolitical level: after three years of War in Ukrainea Emboldened Russia and with Trump sowing doubts on the future of the US in NATO and showing their interest in Annex Greenlandnow under Danish sovereignty. A fact: 1,732 inscriptions. In a convulsive geopolitical scenario and with Copenhagen pending what happens in kyiv, Moscow and Washington, more and more Danes They show interest in The HJVa body formed by trained volunteers to act in emergency cases and support the country’s army. The data are revealing. During the first quarter of the year 1,732 Danes They filled and confirmed the form to register in the National Guard. During the same 2024 period they did 1,041 And in 2023 there were 663. In just two years the growth, at least during those months, was 161%. And interest does not seem to be referring, like They recognize From HJV itself: last month 764 people confirmed their desire to enlist. You have to go back to the 80s to find an April in which the Hjemmeværnet aroused so much interest. “Have you valued to join?” With this backdrop data, Voxmeter recently conducted a survey for the Danish news agency Ritzau that throws another striking figure. Its technicians interviewed 1,018 people to those who asked the same question: “Have you considered joining the National Guard?” The majority (85.8%) replied that no, but 9.5% gave an affirmative response and 4.5% acknowledged that “he does not know,” which means that he does not rule it out either. The figure is relevant due to its reach (the tenth values ​​to swell the ranks of the organization), but also for what it tells us about the image of the HJV. Bent Åge Andersen, a National Guard veteran, Recognize to the newspaper BERLINGSKE that the Danes no longer look with the same eyes to the volunteers. “Before it was usual for people to smile when we exercised and we arrived uniformed and with weapons. We called the weekend soldiers. It was a joke for years. But today there is a totally different attitude.” What exactly do they do? In Your official page HJV is presented as “a voluntary emergency response military organization that supports the Danish defense.” With that purpose its members, who include civilians who work in companies that have nothing to do with weapons, carry out military training. eldiario.es I spoke recently With one of the new volunteers, Anne Kaae, a 38 -year -old woman without prior military experience. If you have decided to take the step, he explains, it is for “the concern” that generates “what happens in the world.” “A wide range of tasks”. In an article published this weekend, the newspaper Describe A training on the outskirts of Copenhagen with 40 men and women who when the HJV uniforms are taken are normal civilians. There is some war veteran, but most study or work in trades that have nothing to do with weapons. Thanks to the military training they receive, the National Guard has participated in Surveillance worksearches for missing or preparation against extreme weathering phenomena. Especially on Danish soil. “We solve a wide range of tasks for the armed forces, the global emergency response and civil society,” The HJV emphasizeswhich recalls that, to a lesser extent, its volunteers also offer support in international missions outside Denmark. In March the Ministry of Defense claimed that the number of active volunteers exceeds 14,000. The registration flow has been so high that Recognize that the new ones can find “an extra waiting time.” Matters how much … and does when. The increase in HJV enlistments is important, but so is the geopolitical context in which it comes, mainly marked by three major scenarios: Ukraine, Russia and the US. To the three years of war in Ukraine, from January 20, Trump’s return to the White House, his approach to Moscow, the distancing with the EU and its Declarations about NATOthat have sown doubts about what degree of involvement Washington will have from now on in the Atlantic Alliance. If the scenario were not complex enough in itself, in the case of Denmark another extra factor is added that has further tensioned the relationship with Washington: Greenland. Trump ha OpenamentAnd his desire for the US to control the Arctic Island, now administratively linked to Copenhagen, and has even suggested that it could resort to force to achieve its goal. “I do not say that I will do it, but I do not rule out anything. We need Greenland with urgency. We need it for international security,” argued The American leader a few days ago during an interview at the NBC News. “A dangerous situation”. Beyond the HJV, Denmark has decided to redouble his commitment to the defensal. In February the government headed by Mette Frederiksen announced its plans to mobilize 6,700 million euros in two years for a Urgent reinforcement of his defense. The objective: achieve 3.2% of GDP. “We are in the most dangerous situation in many, many years. Therefore, because of the Russian threat, to defend Denmark and avoid war, we promote a new reinforcement,” summed up the Danish Prime Minister, who made at the beginning of the month A visit to the National Guard. Copenhagen’s redoubled military effort also contemplates dedicating 53.6 million euros to HJV equipment. Denmark is not the only one that is increasing its commitment to military spending. The EU … Read more

Fishing networks of a town in Denmark

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Of the large number of images that reflected the chaos and disorganization that originated the Brexit, few like the one that occurred A 2020 morning. Most televisions opened with an aerial plane that was approaching, revealing what was actually a monstrous row of arrested trucks for days. The divorce between the EU and the United Kingdom was consummated and the fishing was going to be one of the great victims. Over time the industry has been transformed, and in a town in Denmark they have completely turned it over. The gardener and an unexpected network. Carl Futtrup, a 53 -year -old gardener from Denmark without links to the military world, has become A key piece In the Ukraine defense effort in responding to an unusual request from the front: industrial fishing networks capable of stopping Russian explosive drones. After knowing the need, he contacted fishermen of the town of Thyborønwho They donated 450 tons of networks drag manufactured with thick nylon, originally designed to support tons of open sea fish. These networks, discarded after Brexit for being useless due to the Loss of access to British waterthey became a vital resource for Ukrainian troops. As? In the front they are placed on fortified positions, armored vehicles and logistics routes to intercept drones and avoid direct attacks, even stopping drones with active propellers or reducing the impact of their explosions. Ordinary solution to a technological threat. As drones dominate the battlefieldthese low -cost networks have become An essential defense against increasingly sophisticated threats, such as guided by fiber optic that escape traditional electronic interference systems. Let us think that heavy networks not only offer physical protection, but are also reusable even after explosions, and their effectiveness has promoted a growing demand by the Ukrainian units. Some brigades have come to line trees, tunnels and vehicles with these meshes, and it is estimated that each unit may require between 50 and 80 tons of network per month. Russia, meanwhile, has also begun to use them with variable results. The need is so great that the current supply barely reaches to meet the demand, and many battalions are still waiting for deliveries. From the Danish port to the Ukrainian front. They counted in Insider that Futtrup has achieved another 600 tons of additional networks contacting more Danish ports, although the cost of transport is high: about 90,000 euros for the second shipment, with each truck carrying up to 20 tons at a cost of some some 3,000 euros per trip. Although the networks have been donated for free, maintaining logistics depends on voluntary financing and government support, so Futtrup has initiated efforts to obtain funds in Denmark and Sweden. The problem is that this source of networks is not sustainable in the long term. According to the Danish politician Carsten Bach, the strict environmental laws of the country They demand to discard or recycle This type of equipment, which means that there will be no continuous reservation. Most of them were stored by fishermen in the hope of re -slaining in British waters, but over time they were forced to detach them. Redefine in war. The Swedish organization CHANGE OPERATIONwhich collaborates with brigades in Ukraine, has confirmed that Danish networks are already in use by at least 13 units, although it warns that the supply is insufficient. With the access to the Black Sea and the Azov Sea largely blocked by Russian forces, importation is the only way to get more networks. In this regard, a commander in the Donetsk region pointed out that his battalion needs three truck charges (Around 60 tons) every month, and that the installation of a single load can take three to four days. Faced with this demand, Operation Change already seeks alternatives in organizations that clean the Swedish coasts. Impact from simplicity. Jennifer Kavanagh, expert of the Think Tank Defense Prioritiesthis phenomenon highlighted as an example of how war in Ukraine has democratized combat modern. Faced with the traditional approach to military powers to invest in advanced technologies, the case of fishing networks shows that simple, cheap and available solutions can have a decisive impact on the battlefield. It seems clear that networks are not a viable option for all armies, but they do represent A strategic lesson about the need to evaluate less complex and expensive options in future wars. Meanwhile, Futtrup continues its personal effort to maintain the supply. Its immediate objective is ensure 50,000 euros To hold the transport chain, and ensure that it will continue to send networks while available in Denmark. For him, the distance between Copenhagen and Ukraine is not an excuse. “Ukraine is part of Europe, and is only 1,250 kilometers from here”, holds. His initiative has not only contributed a concrete solution in the front, but has also symbolized how civil solidarity can become a vital shield in the midst of the most technological war in our era. Image | Carl Futtrup, Commander, us, Grid-Aendal In Xataka | The Ukrainian invention that has allowed to repel the waves of Russian attacks: a 41 km fiber optic cable In Xataka | The war in Ukraine has entered its deranged phase: there are drones throwing drones to attack other drones

Trump wants to annex Greenland for the US. So in Denmark they have had an idea: stay with California

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Donald Trump’s order for control Greenland has already had an effect, one with which he probably did not count the new tenant of the White House: he has shown the world what is the sense of humor that is stipulated in Denmark. With The scathing point that characterizes the Danish comedy, the country has starred A satirical campaign For Denmark Buy California. After all, if Truemp wants to take away Greenland, why would Denmark not take a state from Trump? The initiative already accumulates more than 200,000 signatures and has achieved remarkable visibility that transcends Danish borders. Your motto, of course: “MAKE CALIFØRNIA GRAAT ÆGAIN”. A word: denarkification. Since Trump left the idea that Greenland cut out ties with the kingdom of Denmark and passes to the US protection, the proposal has generated all kinds of reactions. In Washington, In Nuuk And of course in Copenhagen, who has ruled out that possibility bluntlyhas committed a few billions of crowns to reinforce the Danish military presence in the Arctic region and even He has redesigned His real arms shield to claim his historical bond with the island. The scenario throughout the last month has been a strap, complex, anything less comical. Or at least it was until someone decided to add some humor to the controversy and create the web Denarkification.comin which it basically campaigns for Denmark to buy California to the United States. Sounds comic. And the web does not hide that this is its purpose, satire, so its argument is full of phrases loaded with irony. Capture of the Denmarkification.com website. A figure: 207,000. The web does not reveal who is behind the initiative, but that has not prevented it from having achieved more than remarkable visibility. The initiative has echoed, in addition to the Danish press, the Briton The GuardianAmerican chains CBS News and Foxthe Indian The Economic Times or the Canadian NDT World. Its impact has not been only media. Denmarkification has a section in which visitors can support the petition for Denmark to Enter California and, according to collects the website itselfhas already managed to exceed 207,000 signatures. It is not the only figure that the platform quotes, which has even calculated (of course without justifying it) how much money would need to carry out its purpose and see how the red and white flag of Denmark Hondea in Sacramento. Their drivers speak of a Crowdfunding of one billion dollars, which is equivalent to “more or less a few billions”, They clarify. “That is just 200,000 crowns for every Danish. Save a few coffees with milk and it would be.” One question: Why California? For several reasons. At least following the argumentary of Demarkification, written in an indisimulantly ironic tone. Its creators start talking about the weather on the west and take the opportunity to launch Trump some other polish Your friction With the governor of California, the Democrat Gavin Newson, who recently even He came to compromise 50 million dollars to protect immigrants and defend the state of the policies of the Republican administration. A key: irony. “Have you ever looked at a map and thought: ‘Do you know what Denmark needs? More sun, palm trees and scooters? Heard well. California could be ours and we need your help to make this happen “, The campaign starts ‘Prodanesa’, on the way to 208,000 signatures. From there its authors highlight the food, the technology industry and (again) the Californian weather. “Let’s be honest: Trump is not exactly the greatest admirer in California. He has said that it is ‘the most ruined state of the union’ and has been enemized with their leaders. We are quite sure that he would be willing to detach himself from him for the fair price “, Ironize the web. “And we also give you a supply of Danish cakes for life to sweeten the deal. What about the will of citizens? Well, let’s be realistic: when has that stopped that?” A promise: renduct Disneyland. It is not the only sarcastic wink of The campaignwhich ends with a “discharge of responsibility” in which its authors warn: “This campaign is 100% real … in our dreams.” The denarkification initiative undertakes to rename the Disneyland park to call it Hans Christian Andersenland, add a Viking helmet to Mickey Mouse, take he Hygge To Hollywood and connect Beverly Hills with bike lanes. Does it sound complicated? To those who contribute to Danish crowns to the cause, the platform promises rewards as a letter of personal thanks of the Danish royal family, life supply of Californian avocado or even a private beach in Malibu, all depending on the money they contribute. As for the purchase itself, Denmarkification assures that will sign Lego managers for negotiation and who have the support of Viggo Mortensen as Aragorn, Sven el Viking or the Battery of the Metallica Group. THE IDEA: Before the convulsive diplomacy … sense of humor. Images | Hannah Thiel (UNSPLASH), Tanya Nevidoma (UNSPLASH) and Denarkification.com In Xataka | In 1940 USA offered 100 million dollars to Denmark for Greenland. NASA has found the reason: a secret city

Japan had found in ramen a way to raise its economy. They did not have two problems: Denmark and Germany

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In July of last year many regions of Japan They adopted the same formula to lift their economies. The idea did not seem bad: if you get tourists as it is happening to the Japanese nation (monthly absolute record with three million last March), opportunities ariseand the ramen was a “must” for every tourist toile. The problem: that if everyone did the same and in each corner there was a ramen place, the opportunity became a battle. Thus, perhaps what has happened at the beginning of the year: Bankruptcies throughout the country map. To this we must add a problem that nobody saw thousands of kilometers. A cultural symbol. None of this would be news if we did not speak “of the dish” in capital letters of the nation, or one of them. Ramen is one of the most emblematic Japanese gastronomy and occupies a special place in the country’s culinary culture. Traditionally considered a basic and affordable food for students, workers and families with a tight budget, it represents more than a simple dish of noodles: it is a reflection of the accessible spirit of Japanese cuisine. However, this symbol of modesty and practicality faces a growing challenge with the increase in operational costs and psychological barriers in prices, Like that “wall of 1,000 yen”, a symbolic limit that rarely crossed until recently. The perfect storm. Since 2020, the costs of basic ingredients such as algae, noodles and onions have increased significantly, With a 10% rise in just three years. This adds to the increase in energy, The weakness of the Yen against the dollar and supply problems caused by war in Ukraine. All pressures that have led restaurants such as Tetsuya Kaneko and Taisei Hikage to make difficult decisions: increase the prices of their menus or face the possibility of closing. In many cases, price increases, although modest, They are accompanied by public apologiesreflecting the delicate balance between business sustainability and respect for customers. And the other problem: meat. Yes, in addition to the rise of basic ingredients, the other fundamental problem It’s pork. Ramen restaurants in Japan are dealing with growing pressure due to the rise in animal prices, a key ingredient for His iconic chashu. Denmark. The import prices of the European pig, particularly from Denmark, they have risen 6% in the last yearreaching between 810 and 830 yen per kilogram. The reason? The increase here is also due to a combination of factors: as in the basics, the feeding costs raised by the Russian invasion to Ukraine, but also because of the closure of processing plants in Europe, the weakening of the Chinese economy that has reduced The demand and the depreciation of the Yen that we comment, a whole that further imports imports. The effects have been translated, again, in Wholesale prices and finally in the menus Of the restaurants, with many businesses breaking that psychological barrier of the 1,000 yen for a bowl bowl, which could scare away customers. And Germany. It is the second big problem derived from meat. The recent detection of Afitosa fever in Germany has generated a new challenge, because although Japan no matter pork there, Countries like South Korea and the United Kingdom did, and now they are resorting to alternatives In other European suppliers, which increases pressure on global pig prices. Using Brazil. Yes, this cultivation broth has made Japan is resorting to Brazil as a new suppliertripling its imported pork imports from the country to 10,131 tons in November 2024. However, the change does not seem to have mitigated the costs at all, since the price of the pig, along with the rest of the essential ingredients we were talking about at the beginning, such as pork fat, Nori, fresh noodles and green onions, follows up. Onions, for example, have experienced a 29% increase in the last year. Impact and bankruptcy. The crisis not only affects ingredients. Nikkei said this week That labor costs and rentals have also increased, leading many small and medium businesses to the limit. In 2024, 72 Ramen restaurants operators with debts greater than 10 million yen declared bankruptcymarking a record and exceeding the levels reached during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. Not only that. About 30% of respondents by the firm Teikoku Databank reported losses, reflecting the difficult situation of the industry. Answer and impact on consumers. In front of this panorama, Chains like Yamaokaya They have opted for increasing prices, but only from some menusincluding Ramen with Chashu, while looking to keep prices under control in collaboration with their suppliers. However, the measures do not seem to have been enough to relieve the financial pressure of many establishments, which struggle to balance quality, affordability and sustainability in a highly competitive market. Ramen, until recently An opportunity to raise economies From the nation, it is taking many businesses to bankruptcy, threatening the road to a whole symbol of Japanese gastronomy. Image | Sodai Gomi In Xataka | Japan is suffering a bankruptcy record from Ramen. And in part it is the result of the “1,000 yen barrier” In Xataka | The cities of Japan have begun a fierce struggle to lift their economy. THE KEY RECIPE: Ramen

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