The Michelin Guide Nordic Countries 2026 awarded new stars in Copenhagen, with Denmark receiving one new three-star restaurant. Sweden received no new stars but two special awards. Noma lost its stars due to closure, not recent controversies.
Nordic countries lead the latest World Happiness Report, with Finland, Iceland, Denmark, and Sweden in top positions. Germany ranks seventeenth. The article speculates if car brands like Volvo and Ikea, selling a lifestyle of well-being with natural materials and wood decor, contribute to this happiness.
Reporters Without Borders released its 2026 World Press Freedom Index, with Norway continuing its decade-long run at the top. Finland, Sweden, Denmark, and Estonia join Norway in the top 10, making the Nordic region the only green (freest) area on the global map. However, for the first time in the index's history, over half of world's countries fall into 'difficult' or 'very serious' categories, with average scores at their lowest in 25 years. The US fell seven spots to 64th place, behind Ukraine, Namibia, and Costa Rica, with RSF citing President Trump's 'systematic weaponisation of state institutions' against journalists.
