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The Nordic Times

Polaris of Enlightenment

The Nordic Times

The Nordic Times

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This article was published 2 years ago

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/nordic-countries-halt-southeast-asian-adoptions-amid-legal-scrutiny/

The Nordics

Nordic countries halt Southeast Asian adoptions amid legal scrutiny

Published January 20, 2024 – By Editorial staff
In a number of cases, it is unclear whether the birth parents actually consented to the adoption.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Norway suspends all adoptions from several Southeast Asian countries after reports of illegal adoptions. Denmark goes further and temporarily suspends all international adoptions.

Danish International Adoption (DIA) has for some time been the only organization facilitating international adoptions in Denmark. In the past, Danish social authorities have stopped DIA from facilitating adoptions from South Africa and other countries because of suspicions of illegal adoptions.

Now the organization has decided to stop all adoptions from abroad, according to Danish state broadcaster DR. The Philippines, India, Taiwan, Thailand and the Czech Republic were the last five countries from which DIA facilitated adoptions, which will no longer be possible. The announcement comes after the country's social welfare agency saw signs of "violation of rules in this area" and it is unclear how long the suspension will last.

Norway suspends adoptions from Southeast Asia

Norway's Schibsted newspaper VG investigated adoptions from the Philippines, Thailand and Taiwan, where babies were found to have been sold and identified with false birth certificates. Following the report, the Norwegian Directorate for Children, Youth and Family Affairs (Bufdir) has now decided to stop all adoptions from these countries.

In the case of Thailand, one of the reasons given is that there is "uncertainty as to whether biological parents give voluntary consent to children being put up for adoption". In the Philippines, the risk of falsification is high, and in Taiwan there is a lack of transparency regarding payment and "the involvement of the biological parents in the process".

All pending adoptions from these countries will be stopped. In addition, no new adoptions will be allowed from South Korea, but those already approved will be allowed to complete the adoption. The reason is that "the country has not shown a need for international adoptions to Norway".

Philippines under review in Sweden

In Sweden, adoptions from these countries are allowed, but the Philippines is under review by the Swedish Agency for Family Law and Parental Support (MFOF) after VG's revelation.

– We are in contact with Norway and waiting for more information, Tommy Marksén, head of department at MFOF, told the Bonnier newspaper Expressen.

Adoptions from Madagascar and Panama were stopped last year because the activity may violate international laws and conventions, according to Bonnier's DN. Adoptionscentrum, which arranges adoptions to these countries in Sweden, questioned the authority's decision. However, the organization recently decided to stop adoptions from South Korea.

Other countries or adoption cases may come under scrutiny in Sweden after the Norwegian revelation.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/sweden/swedish-government-proposes-real-time-ai-facial-recognition/

Sweden

Swedish government proposes real-time AI facial recognition

Mass surveillance

Published today 7:29 pm – By Editorial staff
The Swedish government's press conference where new tools for crime prevention were presented.
1 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Swedish government is presenting a legislative proposal that would give the police the ability to identify individuals using artificial intelligence. The technology is intended to be used to more quickly locate suspects, wanted persons, and crime victims.

Swedish Justice Minister Gunnar Strömmer (Moderate Party) announced at a press conference that the government has decided on a legislative proposal that would allow police to use AI-based facial recognition in real time.

— We are presenting a powerful new tool, said Strömmer, who also emphasized the importance of camera surveillance in stopping violence and investigating crimes.

Swedish Minister for Civil Defence Erik Slottner (Christian Democrats) stressed that the technology could dramatically transform police work. What previously took several weeks can now be done "in a matter of seconds," according to the minister.

— Through real-time facial recognition, we can find criminals, abducted children or wanted terrorists, Slottner explained.

Currently, AI-based facial recognition in public spaces is essentially prohibited in Sweden. The government's proposal would give police broader exemptions from the ban in order to combat serious crime.

The Liberal Party's Martin Melin specified that the technology would be used to locate victims, prevent serious violent crimes, investigate offenses such as murder and rape, and enforce sentences.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/iceland/icelands-public-broadcaster-wants-to-ban-israel-from-eurovision/

Iceland

Iceland’s public broadcaster wants to ban Israel from Eurovision

The genocide in Gaza

Published today 4:01 pm – By Editorial staff
Israeli singer Eden Golan represented the Jewish state of Israel at Eurovision 2024. Here she participates in the Celebrate Israel Parade 2024.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Icelandic public broadcaster RÚV wants Israel excluded from the Eurovision Song Contest next year. Board chairman Stefán Jón Hafstein confirms that a majority of the board today voted to urge the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to exclude Israel from the competition in spring 2026.

The resolution was adopted with five votes out of nine at RÚV's board meeting late in the afternoon.

— What happens next is that the EBU holds its annual meeting on December 4-5. My understanding is that this issue of Israel's participation and the rules around the competition will be discussed on December 4, and our resolution will have been presented before the meeting. It will therefore be completely open on the table, says Hafstein.

There is uncertainty about several countries' participation in next year's competition. Spain, Ireland and Slovenia have all declared themselves opposed to Israeli participation due to the country's military actions in Gaza.

When asked how many countries he believes will take the same position, he says he doesn't know.

— I don't know what the situation looks like right now. This discussion has been going on for quite a long time, so we'll simply have to see at the meeting since everyone has been waiting for it, he says.

Iceland's participation not decided

Whether Iceland itself will participate if Israel is not excluded has not yet been decided. That question will be addressed at a special board meeting after the EBU's meeting.

— That will be handled at a special board meeting after the EBU meeting. No decision on that was made at today's meeting, he says.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/finland/finlands-border-fence-with-russia-nearing-completion/

Finland

Finland’s border fence with Russia nearing completion

The new cold war

Published today 12:34 pm – By Editorial staff
1 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

After nearly three years of construction, Finland's border fence with Russia is almost complete. The 200-kilometer barrier has been erected at strategically important locations to prevent hybrid warfare in the form of so-called instrumentalized migration.

Finland has chosen to expand its border security at locations where the risk is assessed to be greatest, despite the border with Russia stretching over 1,300 kilometers. The new fence covers only 200 kilometers of the total border length.

The 3.5-meter-high structure is designed to be impossible to climb and is equipped with barbed wire at the top. The area is also fitted with surveillance cameras and lighting, according to Swedish public broadcaster SVT.

The purpose is to stop what is called instrumentalized migration, where Russia sends asylum seekers to Finland as part of alleged "hybrid warfare".

The prioritization of where to build the fence has been based on where infrastructure and roads exist on both sides of the border. The old border crossings in Finnish Lapland have also been equipped with fencing as they constitute natural entry routes.

Mikko Kauppila, commander at the Lapland Border Guard, notes that the local population is supportive.

— It's patriotism, he says.

However, he worries that people are leaving villages in the area, which means fewer eyes to notice irregularities. The risk that someone could get around the fence has also sparked discussions about extension, but financing is uncertain.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/the-nordics/denmark/denmark-takes-the-leap-into-space-will-map-the-moon/

Denmark

Denmark takes the leap into space – will map the Moon

Published today 10:07 am – By Editorial staff
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

The Danish government has allocated 125–130 million Danish kroner (approximately 17–18 million euros) to the Máni space mission – a satellite that will map the lunar surface to identify safe landing sites for future astronauts. The launch is planned for 2029.

The mission is led by researchers at the University of Copenhagen in collaboration with several Danish universities, satellite manufacturer Space Inventor, and international partners from Poland, Slovenia, and the Netherlands, among others. The total budget amounts to approximately 50 million euros.

— It's a dream come true. That we're now reaching the starting line, where we'll begin building and developing the mission, is a fantastic feeling, says Jens Frydenvang, associate professor at the University of Copenhagen and project leader, to Danish public broadcaster DR.

Máni was selected this spring by the European Space Agency (ESA) to advance alongside nine other European projects. In mid-December, ESA is expected to make the final decision on which missions will be prioritized.

The satellite will be equipped with a specially built telescope to photograph the Moon's south pole in high detail. The area is particularly interesting because scientists believe there are large quantities of water there, which could be used both as drinking water and to produce rocket fuel.

Danish Minister for Higher Education and Science Christina Egelund believes the investment marks Denmark as a space nation and strengthens the country's independence from large commercial players like SpaceX.

— That we in Denmark and Europe are strengthening ourselves in this area is very important for our independence, for our security, and for our competitiveness, she says.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com