Denmark

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Frederik X is proclaimed the new king of Denmark after his mother Queen Margrethe II abdicates

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark’s prime minister proclaimed Frederik X as king on Sunday after his mother Queen Margrethe II formally signed her abdication, with massive crowds turning out to rejoice in the throne passing from a beloved monarch to her popular son.

https://apnews.com/article/denmark-queen-king-margrethe-frederik-abdication-22d9356ab4bad4b058b2305fa8730a27?

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Fire destroys Copenhagen’s Old Stock Exchange dating to 1600s, collapsing its dragon-tail spire

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A fire raged through one of Copenhagen’s oldest buildings Tuesday, destroying about half of the 17th-century Old Stock Exchange and collapsing its iconic dragon-tail spire, as passersby rushed to help emergency services save priceless paintings and other valuables.

https://apnews.com/article/copenhagen-fire-spire-stock-exchange-045be0d926a7dd590d4f32e5cea07360?

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Gassy cows and pigs will face a carbon tax in Denmark, a world first

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Denmark will tax livestock farmers for the greenhouse gases emitted by their cows, sheep and pigs from 2030, the first country to do so as it targets a major source of methane emissions, one of the most potent gases contributing to global warming.

https://apnews.com/article/denmark-cow-tax-greenhouse-gases-9a570518639e0a1990806fd1a05ac11a?

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Sacred ground

Archaeologists in Denmark unearthed more than 50 “exceptionally well preserved” skeletons in a large burial site thought to date back to the ninth and 10th centuries. The bones were found alongside artifacts suggesting the Vikings traveled extensively for trade.

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Greenland's art of the deal

Denmark sent private messages in recent days to President-elect Trump's team expressing willingness to discuss boosting security in Greenland or increasing the U.S. military presence on the island, Axios' Barak Ravid and David Lawler report.

• Why it matters: Trump's refusal to rule out military force to take control of Greenland was effectively a threat to invade a longstanding NATO ally. Those comments caught Copenhagen and many other European capitals off guard.

? The big picture: Greenland (pop. 56,000) is largely autonomous, but Denmark maintains responsibility for defense.

• Trump has repeatedly declared that controlling Greenland — the world's largest island — is necessary for U.S. national security vis-a-vis Russia and China. His son Don Jr. visited Greenland this week bearing MAGA hats.

? Behind the scenes: In the messages passed to the Trump team, the Danish government made clear Greenland isn't for sale, but expressed readiness to discuss any other U.S. request regarding the island, the sources said.

• The U.S. already has a military base on Greenland and an agreement with Denmark dating to 1951 on defending the island, under which an increase of U.S. forces could easily be discussed.
• The main question is whether Trump would be content to cut a deal with Denmark and declare victory, or whether his true mission is to become the first president in 80 years to gain new territory for the U.S.

?? What else we're watching: Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff arrived in Israel today to push for a Gaza hostage and ceasefire deal, Axios' Barak Ravid reports.

• It's a last-minute effort by Trump to get a deal before his inauguration on Jan. 20.

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Piglets left to starve as part of a controversial art exhibition in Denmark have been stolen

Three piglets which were being allowed to starve as part of a controversial art exhibition in Denmark that had drawn international attention have been stolen, the artist said on Wednesday. Read More.

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Women can be drafted into the Danish military as Russian aggression and military investment grow

HOVELTE, Denmark (AP) — Peering across a dense stretch of woodland outside of Denmark’s capital with camouflage paint smeared across her face, 20-year-old Katrine scans the horizon for approaching threats.

https://apnews.com/article/denmark-female-conscription-military-e5070c4f1dd1c9d648a28e45d52a18f7?

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Denmark zoo asks people to donate their small pets as food for captive predators

A zoo in Denmark is asking for donations of small pets as food for its predators. The Aalborg zoo said it is trying to mimic the natural food chain of the animals housed there “for the sake of both animal welfare and professional integrity." Read More.

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Danish officials believe drone flyovers at 4 airports are meant to sow fear and division

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Drones flew over four Danish airports overnight Wednesday into Thursday, the latest instance of unexplained drone activity that has raised concerns about security in northern Europe amid growing Russian aggression.

https://apnews.com/article/denmark-drones-police-security-aalborg-airport-4fa3431f7db92a5fc62263ce0e78518f?