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Wednesday, April 30, 2025

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/danish-students-most-affected-by-bullying-in-the-nordic-countries/

The Nordics

Danish students most affected by bullying in the Nordic countries

Published 9 December 2024
– By Editorial Staff
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Danish fourth graders were the most exposed to bullying among the Nordic countries last year, according to a study. More than half are reported to be regularly bullied.

The Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS) is an international study that primarily examines the knowledge of fourth and eighth graders in mathematics, science and technology. The study is conducted every four years and includes countries such as Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway. In Denmark, only fourth-grade students participate, while both fourth- and eighth-grade students are included in countries like Sweden.

The study also includes questions to students about different forms of bullying, such as being teased, excluded from friendship groups, subjected to violence, coercion or online bullying.

Half of Danish fourth graders bullied

Among fourth graders in Denmark, 52% reported being bullied on a weekly or monthly basis last year, according to the study. In comparison, 37% of pupils in Sweden and Norway said they had experienced the same, while in Finland the figure was 30%.

The figures also show that bullying had a negative impact on students’ learning. Those who were bullied performed significantly worse in math, science and technology compared to those who were not bullied.

– I think this is a serious problem. It is also one of the factors that can help explain why well-being at school is declining, Ane Qvortrup, education researcher and professor at the University of Southern Denmark, told Danish state broadcaster DR.

However, the TIMSS study showed that Swedish fourth and eighth graders have improved their math skills since 2019, when the survey was last conducted. Sweden is now at the EU average for grade 4 and above the average for grade 8, according to the Swedish National Agency for Education.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/triple-murder-in-uppsala-makes-global-headlines-sweden-cast-as-cautionary-tale/

Sweden

Triple murder in Uppsala makes global headlines – Sweden cast as cautionary tale

organized crime

Published today 10:57
– By Editorial Staff
The recurring Swedish gang shootings have become a popular subject for foreign media.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The gang-related shootings in Sweden never seem to end and on Tuesday three people were murdered outside a hairdressing salon near Vaksala torg, Uppsala.

The triple murder quickly became world news and Sweden is once again being portrayed as a horror story in the international media.

The victims are between 15 and 20 years old – and at least one of them can be clearly linked by the police to organized crime in Sweden. A minor suspect has also been arrested for the crime.

The media around the world have long been fascinated by the spread of gang violence across Sweden, which was previously regarded by the outside world as relatively calm, idyllic and spared from this kind of event. And the shooting in Uppsala is no exception.

“Swedish bloodbath” is what the British tabloid, for example, is calling it, claiming that there is “Fear in Sweden after shooting“.

“The Nordic country has suffered from a wave of gang-related violence for more than a decade that has included an epidemic of gun violence”, the Qatari Al-Jazeera states.

The AP news agency also notes that Sweden has struggled with gang violence, recurring shootings and bombings for many years without much success, and similar descriptions appear in most other media that have covered the events.

“Score-settling between rival gangs”

The US left-liberal CNN in turn alerts its readers to the fact that in 2023 Sweden had the highest number of shootings per capita in the EU – and German and French media note that gangs often use children to commit the murders, as they are underage.

“But the Nordic country has struggled for years to rein in shootings and bombings linked to score-settling between rival gangs. Perpetrators are often young teens who are hired as contract killers because they are under 15, the age of criminal responsibility in Sweden”, writes Le Monde.

The moderate-led government claims it is doing what it can to stop the killings and has promised to crack down on organized crime. Last year also saw a drop in the number of murders compared to the previous year – but critics note that there is still much to be done.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedens-increased-repatriation-grant-deemed-insufficient-by-somalis/

Sweden

Sweden’s increased repatriation grant deemed insufficient by Somalis

Population replacement in the West

Published today 7:19
– By Editorial Staff
In order for the grants to attract Somalis to leave the country, they must be able to "lay the foundations for a long-term livelihood", it is argued.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

SEK 600,000 (€55,000) in repatriation aid for voluntarily leaving the country is far too low an amount for many of the country’s Somalis. That is the assessment made by the chairman of the Somaliland National Association after speaking with its members about the matter.

Already last autumn, the Moderate-led government declared its intention to significantly increase the financial support for migrants who voluntarily return to their home countries – from SEK 10,000 (€900) to 350,000 (€32,000).

Further details have now been presented, including that a couple can receive up to half a million SEK to leave Sweden, and that families can be granted even higher tax-funded sums than that – up to SEK 600,000 (€55,000).

– Voluntary repatriation creates opportunities for individuals to make a new start in life and can lead to economic and labor force growth in another country, argues Migration Minister Johan Forssell (M) in a press release.

“Long-term livelihood”

To prevent abuse, the idea is that those who accept the aid but then remain hidden in Sweden or later return could be required to repay the money.

Despite the significant increase in the aid amount, it is still expected to have limited impact. The Somaliland National Association has asked its members about the issue and concluded that the willingness to voluntarily leave Sweden remains very low – and that this is due to purely economic reasons.

– I don’t think 600,000 for an entire family is enough of an incentive. Most of those we interviewed mentioned significantly higher amounts in order to be able to lay the foundations for a long-term livelihood, says chairman Mustafa Ismail.

Want to see focus on education

The Somali interest group also does not think it is a good idea to pay out the money as a lump sum as long as the migrants who leave the country are not also given help to start their own businesses in their home countries.

– Instead of giving money to individuals, we should look at investing in entrepreneurship, Ismail continues, calling on the Swedish government to focus on developing training programs in professions and industries that are considered necessary in Somaliland.

Ismail also emphasizes that comprehensive voluntary repatriation can only take place if the process is carefully coordinated with the country that will receive the migrants.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Somaliland is a self-proclaimed republic in north-western Somalia with its own government, currency and security force that has operated as a de facto independent state since 1991, but lacks international recognition.

The majority of the population of Somaliland belongs to the Isaaq, Gadabuursi and Dhulbahante Somali clans and the different clans are often in complex and protracted conflicts with each other or other clans in Somalia.

The conflicts are usually about power, natural resources and influence, and about different clans claiming historical rights to specific areas that are currently controlled by other family networks - in principle, however, all are ethnic Somalis and share the same language, religion, culture and historical origins.

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-researchers-to-breed-cows-that-burp-less/

Sweden

Swedish researchers to breed cows that burp less

The exaggerated climate crisis

Published yesterday 11:56
– By Editorial Staff
The aim is to reduce methane emissions from cows by 25% in as many years.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

In a new project, researchers want to find a way to breed cows that emit less methane gas. The ultimate goal is to reduce total emissions by 25% in 25 years.

In the ongoing project, carried out by geneticists and researchers at Växa Sverige with support from SLU, the plan is to measure emissions from 100,000 cows and sheep in Sweden. The project, called the Global Metagenetics Initiative, is led internationally by Wageningen University.

It will also involve DNA testing of different cows to find out which type of cow burps the least.

– This knowledge will allow us to carry out a so-called genomic breeding evaluation. This means that we select and breed the cows that have many predispositions for low methane gas emissions, says Tomas Klingström at SLU, to the tax-funded SVT.

According to researchers, there can be a big difference in belching between different ruminants, with some cows emitting 30 percent less methane gas than others.

– The goal is to reduce methane emissions from cows by 25% in 25 years.

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-grandmother-jailed-for-selling-home-baked-goods-on-facebook/

Sweden

Swedish grandmother jailed for selling home-baked goods on Facebook

Deteriorating safety

Published yesterday 8:24
– By Editorial Staff
The buns in the photo have no connection to the serious crime in question.
Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

A bun-baking grandmother in Norrbotten has been sentenced to prison by the Court of Appeal for selling homemade buns without a permit. While the court takes her unauthorized baked goods seriously, many are questioning whether Swedish courts have time to knead such trivial matters.

A 65-year-old woman in Norrbotten has been sentenced to six weeks in prison for selling buns, bread, and sandwich cakes via Facebook without a registered food business, according to a ruling from the Court of Appeal for Northern Norrland, reports Bonnier-owned Expressen.

The municipality had prohibited the sales and issued fines totaling SEK 130,000 (€12,000), which the woman, living on a pensioner’s income, could not pay. The fine was therefore converted into a prison sentence – a penalty her lawyer calls “unreasonable”.

For several years, the woman has been running the business and engaging many customers on social media by posting pictures of her baked goods and her grandchildren.

Translation of above tweet: “Yes, it’s okay to use heavy-handed tactics when the other side isn’t violent. It sends a good signal to citizens that no one should think that crimes that threaten the system will go unpunished“.

Appealed to the Supreme Court

Attorney Frida Larsson stresses that the woman considered baking a hobby, often giving away buns to her grandchildren and charging only a minimal amount to cover ingredient costs.

Nonetheless, the Court of Appeal chose to swiftly impose a prison sentence, despite her health issues and financial hardship.

– She is deeply distressed and does not understand how she will endure a prison term given her deteriorating health and age. This has taken a heavy toll on her, Larsson says.

The ruling has sparked public outrage and is being appealed to the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the question remains: Is prison truly the right recipe for justice in this case?

Editorial Staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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