Views and News from Norway

04/01/2024

Funeral services for singer-songwriter Ole Paus were held at Oslo’s Kulturkirken Jakob on Thursday, attended by scores of his artist colleagues and friends. Paus, often called a “National poet,” was hailed for his songs of comfort, love and support for the poor, the lonely, and the downtrodden. He also was much feared among the rich and powerful for his merciless, sometimes cruel satire.

Funeral services for singer-songwriter Ole Paus were held at Oslo’s Kulturkirken Jakob on Thursday, attended by scores of his artist colleagues and friends. Paus, often called a “National poet,” was hailed for his songs of comfort, love and support for the poor, the lonely, and the downtrodden...

04/01/2024

Norway isn’t the only place experiencing rough winter weather this week: Denmark is also hit by snow and strongs winds, so strong that a cruise-ferry regularly sailing between Oslo and Copenhagen couldn’t dock in the Danish capital on Wednesday.

Norway isn’t the only place experiencing rough winter weather this week: Denmark is also hit by snow and strongs winds, so strong that a cruise-ferry regularly sailing between Oslo and Copenhagen couldn’t dock in the Danish capital on Wednesday. Ferry line DFDS’ popular vessel Crown Seaways le...

03/01/2024

This chart shows the share of maritime-traded goods between non-neighboring nations passing through the following chokepoints (in percent).

02/01/2024

Thousands of Norwegians started the New Year by being stuck in snowdrifts or trying to shovel their way out of them. The enormous amounts of snow that have buried much of the southern part of the country were branded as “unusual,” and more snow is expected throughout the week. Photo: SVEIN TELLEFSEN
https://www.newsinenglish.no/2024/01/02/new-year-off-to-a-stormy-start/

02/01/2024

Norway’s King Harald V used his annual New Year’s Eve address to the nation to commend youthful impatience with leaders who are not “doing enough to take care of nature and our earth.” The elderly monarch wasn’t commenting, however, on his Danish counterpart’s surprise decision to abdicate, even though she’s younger than he is.

Norway’s King Harald V used his annual New Year’s Eve address to the nation to commend youthful impatience with leaders who are not “doing enough to take care of nature and our earth.” The elderly monarch wasn’t commenting, however, on his Danish counterpart’s surprise decision to abdica...

21/12/2023

This chart shows the UNESCO World Heritage glaciers with the highest net ice loss between 2000 and 2020.

18/12/2023

The Norwegian government is sending naval officers to the Red Sea, to help secure civilian merchant navigation after another Norwegian ship was attacked on Monday. The attack brings Israel’s war on the radical Palestinian organization Hamas in Gaza closer to home, after a string of demonstrations in Oslo against it.

The Norwegian government is sending naval officers to the Red Sea, to help secure civilian merchant navigation after another Norwegian ship was attacked on Monday. The attack brings Israel’s war on the radical Palestinian organization Hamas in Gaza closer to home, after a string of demonstrations ...

14/12/2023

Norway’s central bank doled out a pre-holiday surprise on Thursday, but not the one borrowers wanted: Its key policy rate was raised by another quarter-point, along with a warning that no interest rate cuts can be expected until as late as next autumn.

Norway’s central bank doled out a pre-holiday surprise on Thursday, but not the one borrowers wanted: Its key policy rate was raised by another quarter-point, along with a warning that no interest rate cuts can be expected until as late as next autumn. Norges Bank’s committee in charge of moneta...

13/12/2023

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky has faced some disappointment from once-ardent allies lately, but got a fresh boost of needed support when he landed in Oslo on Wednesday. He won’t be going home empty-handed after a week of risky intercontinental travel.

Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky has faced some disappointment from once-ardent allies lately, but got a fresh boost of needed support when he landed in Oslo on Wednesday. He won’t be going home empty-handed after a week of risky intercontinental travel. Zelensky has traveled from Argentina ...

11/12/2023

Norway’s Socialist Left Party (SV) claims the rich keep getting richer in Norway, often because of inherited assets. That’s prompting SV to propose reinstatement of a “fair” inheritance tax aimed at better spreading the wealth around the social welfare state.

11/12/2023

The leader of Norway’s national security authority NSM has already quit, and now the future of the country’s justice minister is in question after the two have landed in conflict over an illegal loan taken up by NSM that’s now costing NOK 200 million. Some legal experts don’t think Justice Minister Emilie Enger Mehl will survive this latest government scandal.

The leader of Norway’s national security authority NSM has already quit, and now the future of the country’s justice minister is in question after the two have landed in conflict over an illegal loan taken up by NSM that’s now costing NOK 200 million. Some legal experts don’t think Justice M...

11/12/2023

National jubilation after Norwegian author Jon Fosse won the Nobel Prize in Literature for 2023 hit fever pitch this week. It took many forms, and peaked when the modest and admittedly shy Fosse appeared even more dressed up than other winners at Sunday’s lavish prize ceremony in Stockholm, to receive his Nobel gold medal, certificate and congratulations from King Carl Gustaf.

National jubilation after Norwegian author Jon Fosse won the Nobel Prize in Literature for 2023 hit fever pitch this week. It took many forms, and peaked when the modest and admittedly shy Fosse appeared even more dressed up than other winners at Sunday’s lavish prize ceremony in Stockholm, to rec...

10/12/2023

This year’s Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo featured yet another empty chair, since Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi remains jailed in Iran. Mohammadi’s relentless struggle for human rights and freedom in Iran won her the Peace Prize, but left her children in exile to accept it on her behalf.

This year’s Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo featured yet another empty chair, since Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi remains jailed in Iran. Mohammadi’s relentless struggle for human rights and freedom in Iran won her the Peace Prize, but left her children in exile to accept it on her beha...

08/12/2023

This chart shows a gender breakdown of Nobel Prize winners from 1901 to 2020 (as of October 8, 2020).

08/12/2023

The Norwegian government is moving forward with cuts in social welfare benefits for Ukrainian refugees. The goal is to make Norway less attractive as a refugee destination, after the country recently has taken in more displaced Ukrainians than Sweden, Denmark and Finland combined.

The Norwegian government is moving forward with cuts in social welfare benefits for Ukrainian refugees. The goal is to make Norway less attractive as a refugee destination, after the country recently has taken in more displaced Ukrainians than Sweden, Denmark and Finland combined. “It’s importan...

06/12/2023

The Norwegian government is defying its own environmental directorate and activists once again, by rolling out plans to move forward with highly controversial deep sea mining in the sensitive Arctic. The paradoxical goal is to search for minerals from the floor of the Barents Sea that are needed for the “green shift” away from fossil fuels, but opponents claim the plans “shatter” Norway’s international credibility and bring shame upon the land.

The Norwegian government is defying its own environmental directorate and activists once again, by rolling out plans to move forward with highly controversial deep sea mining in the sensitive Arctic. The paradoxical goal is to search for minerals from the floor of the Barents Sea that are needed for...

05/12/2023

Norwegian Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum is being accused of locking the country into an “irresponsible” boost in public spending, after his minority Labour-Center government went along with various state budget demands from the Socialist Left Party (SV) during the weekend. SV secured more state aid for students, families with young children and climate measures, but failed once again at getting the government to change its “aggressive” oil and gas policy.

Norwegian Finance Minister Trygve Slagsvold Vedum is being accused of locking the country into an “irresponsible” boost in public spending, after his minority Labour-Center government went along with various state budget demands from the Socialist Left Party (SV) during the weekend. SV secured m...

29/11/2023

Norway earned record profits on gas sales last year, after the price of both gas and oil were pumped up by Russia’s war on Ukraine. Now debate is flying over whether Norway has a moral obligation to donate more of the extraordinary profits to either Ukraine, climate measures or both.

Norway earned record profits on gas sales last year, after the price of both gas and oil were pumped up by Russia’s war on Ukraine. Now debate is flying over whether Norway has a moral obligation to donate more of the extraordinary profits to either Ukraine, climate measures or both. The gas profi...

24/11/2023

Sharing on behalf of friends.

Velkommen til Helledamsveien 20 - En sjelden mulighet på Spikkestad. Svært innholdsrik familiebolig med særegne kvaliteter, 2 bad, to stuer, nok sover

22/11/2023

Ever-emerging variants of the Covid virus have infected thousands of Norwegians in recent weeks, filling up vaccination centers that were markedly quiet earlier this autum. Pharmacies also report brisk sales of Corona self-testing kits, although some health officials claim testing is now unnecessary.

Ever-emerging variants of the Covid virus have infected thousands of Norwegians in recent weeks, filling up vaccination centers that were markedly quiet earlier this autum. Pharmacies also report brisk sales of Corona self-testing kits, although some health officials claim testing is now unnecessary...

20/11/2023

The former leader of the Reds Party (Rødt), Bjørnar Moxnes, is out on sick leave after he was caught stealing several small items from a grocery store in Oslo during the past two months. He now admits to what he calls “self-destructive behaviour” and said he’s receiving mental health care.

The former leader of the Reds Party (Rødt), Bjørnar Moxnes, is out on sick leave after he was caught stealing several small items from a grocery store in Oslo during the past two months. He now admits to what he calls “self-destructive behaviour” and said he’s receiving mental health care. ....

20/11/2023

Guri Melby has long been an outspoken critic of China regarding human rights and respect for its neighbours. Now the leader of Norway’s Liberal Party (Venstre) has become the first high-level Norwegian politician to make an official visit to Taiwan in 14 years, and claims she isn’t worried about how or whether China will react.

Guri Melby has long been an outspoken critic of China regarding human rights and respect for its neighbours. Now the leader of Norway’s Liberal Party (Venstre) has become the first high-level Norwegian politician to make an official visit to Taiwan in 14 years, and claims she isn’t worried about...

20/11/2023

Ståle Solbakken was viewed as a prime catch when Norway lured him back from Copenhagen and then extended his contract as head coach for the national men’s football team. He has failed, however, to qualify Norway for either the World Cup or the European Championships, and now says he’ll quit if he doesn’t get Norway into the next World Cup in 2026.

Ståle Solbakken was viewed as a prime catch when Norway lured him back from Copenhagen and then extended his contract as head coach for the national men’s football team. He has failed, however, to qualify Norway for either the World Cup or the European Championships, and now says he’ll quit if ...

16/11/2023

A broad majority in the Norwegian Parliament settled on Thursday for a declaration that paves the way for full recognition of Palestine as its own state, but not right now. Eight out of the 10 parties represented in Parliament voted in favour of a compromise that disappointed many but also raised hopes because it’s more concrete than earlier measures.

A broad majority in the Norwegian Parliament settled on Thursday for a declaration that paves the way for full recognition of Palestine as its own state, but not right now. Eight out of the 10 parties represented in Parliament voted in favour of a compromise that disappointed many but also raised ho...

13/11/2023

Former Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg isn’t going to let scandal and her own conflicts of interest ruin her political career without a fight. She started the week by declaring she’s more motivated than ever to continue as leader of Norway’s Conservative Party (Høyre) and be its candidate for prime minister in 2025.

Former Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg isn’t going to let scandal and her own conflicts of interest ruin her political career without a fight. She started the week by declaring she’s more motivated than ever to continue as leader of Norway’s Conservative Party (Høyre) and be its candida...

12/11/2023

After more than 11 years of political quarreling and opposition from sheep ranchers who fear wolves, state officials have finally set up a new national park in the southern portion of the hills and forests on Oslo’s eastern side. The park will be smaller than initially proposed, but still aims to ...

12/11/2023

After more than 11 years of political quarreling and opposition from sheep ranchers who fear wolves, state officials have finally set up a new national park in the southern portion of the hills and forests on Oslo’s eastern side. The park will be smaller than initially proposed, but still aims to protect wildlife and nature in important lowlands of southeastern Norway.

After more than 11 years of political quarreling and opposition from sheep ranchers who fear wolves, state officials have finally set up a new national park in the southern portion of the hills and forests on Oslo’s eastern side. The park will be smaller than initially proposed, but still aims to ...

12/11/2023

Israel’s ongoing attacks on hospitals and other targets in Gaza continue to backfire on local Jewish communities, including those in Norway. They’ve become targets of harsh criticism and even anti-Semitism, prompting Norwegian police to raise terror threats and boost security around local synagogues.

Israel’s ongoing attacks on hospitals and other targets in Gaza continue to backfire on local Jewish communities, including those in Norway. They’ve become targets of harsh criticism and even anti-Semitism, prompting Norwegian police to raise terror threats and boost security around local synago...

08/11/2023

He’s back: Dr Espen Rostrup Nakstad, Norway’s assistant director of health, was a familiar face during the Corona crisis, as he explained effects of the virus and helped guide the country through the pandemic. Now he’s concerned that new Corona-related infection is rising again, and that not enough Norwegians have taken booster shots of the new Covid vaccines.

He’s back: Dr Espen Rostrup Nakstad, Norway’s assistant director of health, was a familiar face during the Corona crisis, as he explained effects of the virus and helped guide the country through the pandemic. Now he’s concerned that new Corona-related infection is rising again, and that not e...