Oslo, Copenhagen - Norway's central bank said Wednesday it will hold a meeting on interest rates earlier than planned, citing the ongoing financial turmoil.

Meanwhile, Denmark's central bank on Wednesday said it would keep its key rates unchanged "for the time being." This comes a day after the lending rate and the rate of interest for certificates were raised from 4.6 per cent to 5.0 per cent.

Copenhagen - Danish politicians were willing to consider deploying F-16 jet fighters in Afghanistan, if there was need for the planes, according to reports quoting them Wednesday.

The comments came in response to an article in the Berlingske Tidende newspaper where Danish Air Force personnel appeared frustrated over not being considered as an option in the Danish contribution to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF).

"We want to be sure that the politicians are aware of our capability," Colonel Niels Svaerdborg was quoted as saying in Wednesday's edition of the daily.

Copenhagen  - European countries were Monday urged to step up cooperation and information exchange over threats linked to climate change such as floods, droughts and loss of biodiversity.

Vulnerable areas in Europe include coastal zones, mountainous regions, the Mediterranean and the Arctic, a new report said.

"This report makes strikingly clear that many regions and sectors across Europe are vulnerable to climate change impacts," Jacqueline McGlade, executive director of the Copenhagen-based European Environment Agency (EEA), one of the contributing agencies, said.

Copenhagen - A well-known Danish newspaper cartoonist has conceded he made a mistake when he accepted an invitation to address delegates at a populist Danish party known for its criticism of immigrants, reports said Monday.

Danish People's Party leader Pia Kjaersgaard hailed Kurt Westergaard as "a hero" after his remarks at a party conference over the weekend where he also received a standing ovation.