Krekar doesn't want to leave Oslo
Mullah Krekar, the former Islamic guerrilla leader who faces deportation back to Iraq, has turned down offers of a secret identity and address even after being shot at last month. Krekar and his family were put under police protection following the shooting, which police say they're investigating as an attempted murder. They have accepted an offer of a new flat in a city-owned building that police believe is more secure than Krekar's earlier home, but Krekar said he wanted to remain in Oslo and in a neighborhood where he was familiar. "That's his choice," said a police spokesman. Krekar, who has been deemed a threat to national security in Norway, will not be subject to any restrictions on his movements or communication. Norwegian officials continue to negotiate his return to Iraq, but say they can't deport him because of fears he'll be sentenced to death once back in his native country. Police said they had no clear motive for the attack on Krekar January 25. He has been a target of threats on the social media site Facebook. Krekar is highly controversial because of his expressions of support for Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, and because he came to Norway as a refugee in the early 1990s, violated the terms of his asylum status several times, has been branded as a terrorist by several countries and has been mostly living off the Norwegian taxpayers for years.
(Written February 8, 2010)
Mullah Krekar, the former Islamic guerrilla leader who faces deportation back to Iraq, has turned down offers of a secret identity and address even after being shot at last month. Krekar and his family were put under police protection following the shooting, which police say they're investigating as an attempted murder. They have accepted an offer of a new flat in a city-owned building that police believe is more secure than Krekar's earlier home, but Krekar said he wanted to remain in Oslo and in a neighborhood where he was familiar. "That's his choice," said a police spokesman. Krekar, who has been deemed a threat to national security in Norway, will not be subject to any restrictions on his movements or communication. Norwegian officials continue to negotiate his return to Iraq, but say they can't deport him because of fears he'll be sentenced to death once back in his native country. Police said they had no clear motive for the attack on Krekar January 25. He has been a target of threats on the social media site Facebook. Krekar is highly controversial because of his expressions of support for Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, and because he came to Norway as a refugee in the early 1990s, violated the terms of his asylum status several times, has been branded as a terrorist by several countries and has been mostly living off the Norwegian taxpayers for years.
(Written February 8, 2010)
Norwegian Film Institute defends role in Burma film
The Norwegian Film Institute is fending off criticism reported in newspaper Aftenposten last week that it didn't provide enough support for the film Burma VJ, which was nominated for an Oscar last week. While journalists at the Oslo-based Democratic Voice of Burma celebrated the Oscar nomination for the film about "reporting from a closed country," an Aftenposten critic claimed it was "embarrassing" that Norwegian Film hadn't offered more support, which led to Burma VJ becoming a Norwegian-Danish venture with Denmark getting most of the credit. Not true, responded Norwegian Film Institute officials on Monday, claiming the film's producers never applied for Norwegian Film grants, nor were the film's Norwegian minority producers affected by an agreement Norway signed regarding European co-production. Norwegian Film officials wrote in Aftenposten Monday that they were proud of an Oscar nomination for a film with close ties to Norway. Torstein Nybø, one of the film's Norwegian producers, was elated, telling newspaper Dagsavisen that "an Oscar nomination is the most we can contribute towards putting more focus on the situation in Burma." The film is based on authentic video recordings from Burmese journalists who risked their lives to document the violent conflict with Burma's military junta in 2007. The Norwegian foundation promoting freedom of expression, Fritt Ord, contributed NOK 400,000 to the film's production.
(Written February 8, 2010)
The Norwegian Film Institute is fending off criticism reported in newspaper Aftenposten last week that it didn't provide enough support for the film Burma VJ, which was nominated for an Oscar last week. While journalists at the Oslo-based Democratic Voice of Burma celebrated the Oscar nomination for the film about "reporting from a closed country," an Aftenposten critic claimed it was "embarrassing" that Norwegian Film hadn't offered more support, which led to Burma VJ becoming a Norwegian-Danish venture with Denmark getting most of the credit. Not true, responded Norwegian Film Institute officials on Monday, claiming the film's producers never applied for Norwegian Film grants, nor were the film's Norwegian minority producers affected by an agreement Norway signed regarding European co-production. Norwegian Film officials wrote in Aftenposten Monday that they were proud of an Oscar nomination for a film with close ties to Norway. Torstein Nybø, one of the film's Norwegian producers, was elated, telling newspaper Dagsavisen that "an Oscar nomination is the most we can contribute towards putting more focus on the situation in Burma." The film is based on authentic video recordings from Burmese journalists who risked their lives to document the violent conflict with Burma's military junta in 2007. The Norwegian foundation promoting freedom of expression, Fritt Ord, contributed NOK 400,000 to the film's production.
(Written February 8, 2010)
Ice threatens shipping on the Oslo Fjord
Local authorities have had to call in a fleet of ice breakers for the first time in 15 years, in order to keep shipping lanes open along the Norwegian coast. Hardest hit are island communities around Hvaler and as far south as Grimstad, while ferries and local shipping also have been disrupted between Asker and Oslo and in the narrow straits at Drøbak. The ice breakers were pressed into service to keep at least one main lane open in the fjord. Ice has formed along the coast all the way to Copenhagen and even the large cruise ferries for Color Line, which runs between Oslo and Kiel in Germany, and DFDS, which runs between Oslo and Copenhagen, have met ice on the fjord. The commuter ferry from Asker to Oslo has been cancelled several times because it can't get through the ice. Milder temperatures and some wind last week eased some of the trouble, but there were reports of ice as thick as 40 centimeters several places.
(Written February 8, 2010)
Local authorities have had to call in a fleet of ice breakers for the first time in 15 years, in order to keep shipping lanes open along the Norwegian coast. Hardest hit are island communities around Hvaler and as far south as Grimstad, while ferries and local shipping also have been disrupted between Asker and Oslo and in the narrow straits at Drøbak. The ice breakers were pressed into service to keep at least one main lane open in the fjord. Ice has formed along the coast all the way to Copenhagen and even the large cruise ferries for Color Line, which runs between Oslo and Kiel in Germany, and DFDS, which runs between Oslo and Copenhagen, have met ice on the fjord. The commuter ferry from Asker to Oslo has been cancelled several times because it can't get through the ice. Milder temperatures and some wind last week eased some of the trouble, but there were reports of ice as thick as 40 centimeters several places.
(Written February 8, 2010)
City officials in Oslo have been as dissatisfied with snow clearing this winter as local residents, and have issued fines amounting to several hundred thousand kroner to the three firms responsible for plowing streets and sidewalks. "They just haven't done a very good job," Arne Sørlie of the city transport department told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK). Slippery streets last week prompted numerous vehicle collisions, while pedestrians were falling with alarming regularity. The firms involved blame "two demanding snowfalls," claiming they hadn't finished clearing up the first dump before the second one hit. That was weeks ago, though, and many sidewalks still haven't been cleared. Consistently sub-freezing temperatures have meant they didn't get any help from melting. One of the firms, Oslo Vei, admitted that "we can be better, like all others," and promised to "check our routines" and "see what can be done differently."
(Written February 5, 2010)
Nurses ordered back to work
Government officials determined that a strike by nurses at several private-sector nursing homes around the country posed a "danger to life and health," and invoked compulsory arbitration between the Norwegian nurses' union, Norsk Sykepleierforbund, and employers' representative NHO Service. Labour Minister Hanne Bjurstrøm said she effectively was ordering the nurses back to work because the strike was spreading to a patient hotel at Haukeland Hospital in Bergen and because of precarious staffing reports from a nursing home at Lambertseter in Oslo. The union had planned to pull nearly 50 more nurses off the job from February 13 if their pay and benefits conflict wasn't resolved resolved, but had insisted that their strike didn't threaten patients' welfare. A nurses representative claimed the employers had succeeded in efforts to "maximize a crisis." The nurses had wanted the same pay and benefits granted other nurses in the public sector.
(Written February 5, 2010)
Government officials determined that a strike by nurses at several private-sector nursing homes around the country posed a "danger to life and health," and invoked compulsory arbitration between the Norwegian nurses' union, Norsk Sykepleierforbund, and employers' representative NHO Service. Labour Minister Hanne Bjurstrøm said she effectively was ordering the nurses back to work because the strike was spreading to a patient hotel at Haukeland Hospital in Bergen and because of precarious staffing reports from a nursing home at Lambertseter in Oslo. The union had planned to pull nearly 50 more nurses off the job from February 13 if their pay and benefits conflict wasn't resolved resolved, but had insisted that their strike didn't threaten patients' welfare. A nurses representative claimed the employers had succeeded in efforts to "maximize a crisis." The nurses had wanted the same pay and benefits granted other nurses in the public sector.
(Written February 5, 2010)
Chinese authorities seemed to once again resort to intimidation tactics this week, when they warned the Norwegian Nobel Committee against awarding this year's Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese human rights activist Liu Xiaobo. He's been nominated for the prize by several persons in a position to do so, including author Salman Rushdie, Czech leader Vaclav Havel and Jan Tore Sanner, a member of Norway's Parliament. Liu was recently sentenced to 11 years in prison for his role in a manifesto demanding democratic reforms in China. Geir Lundestad (shown at right with Nobel Committee chairman Thorbjørn Jagland) told news bureau NTB that there was "nothing new" about China's warning. "They've come with warnings before, but they have no influence on the commitee's work," Lundestad told NTB. "We have earlier given the prize to Dalai Lama and shown that we don't worry so much about China's criticism."
(Written February 4, 2010)
Diplomatic protest from Morocco
Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi-Fihri (far right) called in Norwegian journalists for a meeting in Rabat, to repeat his government's charges that Norwegian officials acted illegally when they got involved in a custody battle over the children of former Moroccan Olympic gold medalist Khalid Skah and his former Norwegian wife, Anne Cecilie Hopstock. She arranged to smuggle the children out of Morocco last summer, but it was only recently revealed that her operation included assistance from two officers in Norwegian special forces. Skah and the foreign minister claim the children were kidnapped, and that Norwegian diplomats aided the illegal act. Fassi-Fihri is upset that the Norwegians "seem to have washed their hands of all responsibility, in violation of normal diplomacy." The Moroccan foreign minister also claimed it didn't matter whether the two Norwegian officers were allegedly on holiday: "They still participated as Norwegian soldiers." Morocco's ambassador to Norway told newspaper VG that an embassy official also violated Moroccan law by using an embassy car to transport the children, if he knew they were going to be spirited out of the country. Fassi-Fihri also worries that his Norwegian counterparts won't follow up on the Moroccan concerns, but Foreign Ministry officials in Oslo say they will continue to investigate the roles played by all Norwegians involved. The Norwegian military is also questioning the soldiers and beefed up rules preventing military personnel from taking part in "freelance" jobs. Skah, meanwhile, has now implied that he will use "Norwegian methods" to get his children back to Morocco. The children, who have dual Moroccan and Norwegian nationality, have denied they were kidnapped and it's earlier been reported that they ran away and sought refuge at the Norwegian embassy. The entire affair has led to calls for an international court to handle such difficult child custody cases, which are becoming more common and more complicated.
(See also item below.)
(Written February 4, 2010)
Israeli embassy ordered to tear down its wall
Ten years of what was supposed to be a temporary security wall around the Israeli embassy are enough for Oslo city planning officials, reports newspaper Aften. They've ordered the embassy to tear down the controversial wall that it built back in 1999. The city determined even then that the wall violated building codes and was illegal, but the embassy won an appeal of the ruling and was allowed to let it stand for 10 years, with a clear message from county officials as well that any extension would be rejected. The embassy was told in 2002 that the wall must come down by February 16, 2010. Instead, the Israelis recently sought a six-year extension for the wall while they look for a new, more secure location than the one they've been occupying on a busy street just behind the Royal Palace. The city has now turned down the request, claiming that the embassy's wall and security fence "destroy" the historic neighbourhood behind the palace and that the embassy has had many years already to find a more suitable location. Aften reported that the embassy, which didn't wish to comment, now has three weeks to file another appeal, after which the city has six weeks to respond, meaning the case may drag on for months.
(Written February 3, 2010)
Ten years of what was supposed to be a temporary security wall around the Israeli embassy are enough for Oslo city planning officials, reports newspaper Aften. They've ordered the embassy to tear down the controversial wall that it built back in 1999. The city determined even then that the wall violated building codes and was illegal, but the embassy won an appeal of the ruling and was allowed to let it stand for 10 years, with a clear message from county officials as well that any extension would be rejected. The embassy was told in 2002 that the wall must come down by February 16, 2010. Instead, the Israelis recently sought a six-year extension for the wall while they look for a new, more secure location than the one they've been occupying on a busy street just behind the Royal Palace. The city has now turned down the request, claiming that the embassy's wall and security fence "destroy" the historic neighbourhood behind the palace and that the embassy has had many years already to find a more suitable location. Aften reported that the embassy, which didn't wish to comment, now has three weeks to file another appeal, after which the city has six weeks to respond, meaning the case may drag on for months.
(Written February 3, 2010)
Morocco wants to see Norwegian diplomats punished
A diplomatic conflict continued Wednesday after Moroccan officials demanded that Norwegian diplomats involved in the flight of two Norwegian-Moroccan children be punished. A statement from the Moroccan foreign ministry claimed that Norwegian diplomats "had committed serious offenses that cannot go unpunished." Norwegian foreign ministry officials have claimed that the children, caught in a bitter custody battle between their Norwegian mother and Moroccan father, were only sheltered in the Norwegian Embassy in Rabat when they arrived there themselves, and then were turned over to a representative of their mother. The Moroccans claim Norwegian diplomats mounted "their own form of justice" and assisted in efforts to get the children out of Morocco and back to Norway, which their father equates to kidnapping. Newspaper Aftenposten reported that Morocco's foreign minister contends punishment of those involved is "the only solution Moroccan authorities can accept." Norwegian foreign ministry officials said they would investigate reports that a Norwegian diplomat aided the children's flight. Norway's diplomats in Morocco, they note, are also entitled to diplomatic immunity and wouldn't be turned over for questioning by Moroccan authorities. The father, former Olympic gold medalist Khalid Skah, has accused Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of "lying" and claims the entire operation "was planned by Støre and his people." Opposition politicians in Norway urged a thorough investigation, with one member of the Conservatives telling Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) on Wednesday that the Moroccan reaction "understandable."
(Written February 3, 2010)
A diplomatic conflict continued Wednesday after Moroccan officials demanded that Norwegian diplomats involved in the flight of two Norwegian-Moroccan children be punished. A statement from the Moroccan foreign ministry claimed that Norwegian diplomats "had committed serious offenses that cannot go unpunished." Norwegian foreign ministry officials have claimed that the children, caught in a bitter custody battle between their Norwegian mother and Moroccan father, were only sheltered in the Norwegian Embassy in Rabat when they arrived there themselves, and then were turned over to a representative of their mother. The Moroccans claim Norwegian diplomats mounted "their own form of justice" and assisted in efforts to get the children out of Morocco and back to Norway, which their father equates to kidnapping. Newspaper Aftenposten reported that Morocco's foreign minister contends punishment of those involved is "the only solution Moroccan authorities can accept." Norwegian foreign ministry officials said they would investigate reports that a Norwegian diplomat aided the children's flight. Norway's diplomats in Morocco, they note, are also entitled to diplomatic immunity and wouldn't be turned over for questioning by Moroccan authorities. The father, former Olympic gold medalist Khalid Skah, has accused Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre of "lying" and claims the entire operation "was planned by Støre and his people." Opposition politicians in Norway urged a thorough investigation, with one member of the Conservatives telling Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) on Wednesday that the Moroccan reaction "understandable."
(Written February 3, 2010)
More nurses may go out on strike
The Norwegian nurses' union, Norsk Sykepleierforbund, says it will pull nearly 50 more nurses off the job from February 13 if a pay and benefits conflict with private sector nursing home employers isn't resolved. The union and employers' representative NHO Service are locked in a conflict that already has caused 93 nurses to strike as of this week. They want the same pay and benefits granted other nurses in the public sector. If the strike accelerates it will affect staffing at nursing homes in Oslo, Akershus, Hordaland and Rogaland.
(Written February 2, 2010)
The Norwegian nurses' union, Norsk Sykepleierforbund, says it will pull nearly 50 more nurses off the job from February 13 if a pay and benefits conflict with private sector nursing home employers isn't resolved. The union and employers' representative NHO Service are locked in a conflict that already has caused 93 nurses to strike as of this week. They want the same pay and benefits granted other nurses in the public sector. If the strike accelerates it will affect staffing at nursing homes in Oslo, Akershus, Hordaland and Rogaland.
(Written February 2, 2010)
Maternity ward closed after another fatality
Police have been called in to help investigate circumstances that led up to the death of another baby during delivery at Kongsberg Hospital last week. The fatality was the latest in a series of what are being called "serious occurrences" at the hospital maternity ward, which was closed by health officials last week. The doctor in charge of the maternity ward was suspended this week. The earlier incidents, which also involved the death of at least one other baby, have occurred over the past few years and also are under investigation by county health officials, following complaints filed by patients of the ward. TV2 reported that the same doctor has been involved earlier and may face charges. It was unclear how long the maternity ward would remain closed and patients were being sent to the hospital in Drammen.
(Written February 2, 2010)
Police have been called in to help investigate circumstances that led up to the death of another baby during delivery at Kongsberg Hospital last week. The fatality was the latest in a series of what are being called "serious occurrences" at the hospital maternity ward, which was closed by health officials last week. The doctor in charge of the maternity ward was suspended this week. The earlier incidents, which also involved the death of at least one other baby, have occurred over the past few years and also are under investigation by county health officials, following complaints filed by patients of the ward. TV2 reported that the same doctor has been involved earlier and may face charges. It was unclear how long the maternity ward would remain closed and patients were being sent to the hospital in Drammen.
(Written February 2, 2010)
Norwegians set new records for mobile phone use
Norwegians were quick to embrace mobile telephones when they first started becoming readily available in the early 1990s. Now Norwegians' use of mobile phones continues to rise, with a new report indicating that 615,000 Norwegians used at least one supplier of new content every week. The Norwegian media houses are collecting new users of media content provided through mobile phones, with newspaper VG topping the list with the addition of 152,000 new daily users, followed by Dagbladet with 74,000 and Aftenposten with 49,000. Customers are using their phones to get news and a variety of other services. As late as the 1980s, it could take up to three months to get a telephone line installed in private homes in Norway. Now many Norwegians have cut off their traditional phone lines and use only mobiles.
(Written February 2, 2010)
Norwegians were quick to embrace mobile telephones when they first started becoming readily available in the early 1990s. Now Norwegians' use of mobile phones continues to rise, with a new report indicating that 615,000 Norwegians used at least one supplier of new content every week. The Norwegian media houses are collecting new users of media content provided through mobile phones, with newspaper VG topping the list with the addition of 152,000 new daily users, followed by Dagbladet with 74,000 and Aftenposten with 49,000. Customers are using their phones to get news and a variety of other services. As late as the 1980s, it could take up to three months to get a telephone line installed in private homes in Norway. Now many Norwegians have cut off their traditional phone lines and use only mobiles.
(Written February 2, 2010)
Norwegian entertainers popular in Germany
A new generation of Norwegian pop artists is gaining thousands of new fans in Germany, following in the footsteps of singers Wenche Myhre and Anita Hegerland. The rock band a-ha has long had a strong following in Germany and recently was asked to perform at the Berlin Wall. Now singers Marit Larsen, Maria Mena and Solveig Slettahjell are following the veterans, reports newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN). Larsen went on a successful tour in November, selling 15,000 tickets every evening for 25 concerts and performing on around a dozen TV shows that drew as many as 9 million viewers. "The Germans are extremely open for Norwegian music, especially jazz," Yngve Næss of Universal in Norway told DN. Jazz and classical pianist Ketil Bjørnstad calls Germany "my main country now," saying that Wenche Myhre's groundbreaking success in the 1960s "started this all for us." Norwegian artists signed with record company ECM, including Bjørnstad, Jan Gabarak and Arild Andersen, have logged sales in the seven digits in Germany.
(Written February 2, 2010)
A new generation of Norwegian pop artists is gaining thousands of new fans in Germany, following in the footsteps of singers Wenche Myhre and Anita Hegerland. The rock band a-ha has long had a strong following in Germany and recently was asked to perform at the Berlin Wall. Now singers Marit Larsen, Maria Mena and Solveig Slettahjell are following the veterans, reports newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN). Larsen went on a successful tour in November, selling 15,000 tickets every evening for 25 concerts and performing on around a dozen TV shows that drew as many as 9 million viewers. "The Germans are extremely open for Norwegian music, especially jazz," Yngve Næss of Universal in Norway told DN. Jazz and classical pianist Ketil Bjørnstad calls Germany "my main country now," saying that Wenche Myhre's groundbreaking success in the 1960s "started this all for us." Norwegian artists signed with record company ECM, including Bjørnstad, Jan Gabarak and Arild Andersen, have logged sales in the seven digits in Germany.
(Written February 2, 2010)
King Harald opened new postal terminal
Norway's postal service Posten called on royal help to open what it calls "the world's most advanced" postal terminal. King Harald V obliged, formally opening the new center at Robsrud in Lørenskog, northeast of Oslo. His father, King Olav, had opened the postal service's letter center in downtown Oslo in 1976.
(Written February 1, 2010)
Norway's postal service Posten called on royal help to open what it calls "the world's most advanced" postal terminal. King Harald V obliged, formally opening the new center at Robsrud in Lørenskog, northeast of Oslo. His father, King Olav, had opened the postal service's letter center in downtown Oslo in 1976.
(Written February 1, 2010)
plus a debut on YouTube
Norway's so-called "crown couple," Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit, have been back in the news this week and once again seeking to communicate on their own terms. Crown Prince Haakon made his video debut from the World Economic Forum in Davos on what even the Royal Palace is calling the young royals' "own TV channel." They're already on Facebook and Twitter, and now they're bypassing the established media by releasing video of their own choosing on YouTube. One royal watcher, former palace official Carl-Erik Grimstad, said the move could be likened to "propaganda" at a time when the general media aren't as likely to cover staged events from the palace. Others say the royals are simply making use of new social media to communicate directly with the public. The crown couple also has hired the former head of industrial concern Norsk Hydro Eivind Reiten to help build up their humanitarian fund, reports newspaper Dagens Næringsliv. Reiten has agreed to take over as chairman of the fund and turn it into a bigger player, with plans to actively solicit donations from Norwegian business and individuals. Return on the fund's investments, now worth about NOK 12 million, are earmarked for humanitarian projects. The fund was set up when Haakon and Mette-Marit married in 2001.
(PHOTO: Det Kongelige Hoff)
(Written January 29, 2010)
The body of a 22-year-old Norwegian soldier, killed when his tank drove over a road bomb in northern Afghanistan, was brought home to Norway on Friday. The Defense Ministry identified the dead soldier as Claes Joachim Olsson of Gressvik, near Fredrikstad in southeastern Norway (photo from Forsvaret). Olsson, assigned to Norway's Telemark Battalion, and two other soldiers injured in the attack were part of Norway's stabilization forces attached to NATO and stationed in Meymaneh. Defense Ministry officials said all three were on their way to meet soldiers from the Afghan army, to conduct shared patrols in the area, when the blast occurred around 6am near Ghowrmach. Olsson's death is the fifth fatality among Norwegians serving in Afghanistan, and the fourth to involve hidden bombs on roads. The Taliban took responsibility for placing the bomb, which one Telemark Battalion officer told newspaper Aftenposten was "a cowardly attack by wretched creeps."
(Written January 26, updated January 29, 2010)
Norway's most popular names
Norwegian statistics bureau SSB has studied the names given children born in Norway last year, and once again compiled a list of the most popular. Coming out on top: Emma for girls and Lukas for boys. Fully 597 female babies were named Emma in 2009, while 556 boys were named Lukas, sometimes spelled "Lucas," but Norwegians tend to favour "k" over "c." Other girls' names making up the Top 10 in Norway were, in order, Linnea, Nora, Sofie (pronounced "so-FEE-ah"), Sara, Thea ("tay-ah"), Emilie ("eh-MEE-lee-ah"), Ida ("EE-da"), Julie ("YOO-lee-ah") and Ingrid (ing-gree). The Top 10 for boys: Lukas, Emil, Alexander, Oliver, Mathias ("ma-TEE-ahs"), Jonas, Markus, William, Sander and Magnus. Those are the nationwide rankings -- in Oslo, the most popular name for boys was Mohammad, followed by Jakob and Emil. Girls' names in Oslo were more in line with national trends, with Nora most popular, followed by Sofie and Emma.
(For more details, to see how names rank county by county, and see how common YOUR name is in Norway, visit SSB's English-language site.)
(Written January 28, 2010)
Norwegian statistics bureau SSB has studied the names given children born in Norway last year, and once again compiled a list of the most popular. Coming out on top: Emma for girls and Lukas for boys. Fully 597 female babies were named Emma in 2009, while 556 boys were named Lukas, sometimes spelled "Lucas," but Norwegians tend to favour "k" over "c." Other girls' names making up the Top 10 in Norway were, in order, Linnea, Nora, Sofie (pronounced "so-FEE-ah"), Sara, Thea ("tay-ah"), Emilie ("eh-MEE-lee-ah"), Ida ("EE-da"), Julie ("YOO-lee-ah") and Ingrid (ing-gree). The Top 10 for boys: Lukas, Emil, Alexander, Oliver, Mathias ("ma-TEE-ahs"), Jonas, Markus, William, Sander and Magnus. Those are the nationwide rankings -- in Oslo, the most popular name for boys was Mohammad, followed by Jakob and Emil. Girls' names in Oslo were more in line with national trends, with Nora most popular, followed by Sofie and Emma.
(For more details, to see how names rank county by county, and see how common YOUR name is in Norway, visit SSB's English-language site.)
(Written January 28, 2010)
Helicopter crash under investigation
A helicopter carrying four persons crashed into the fjord at Horten south of Oslo Wednesday afternoon, killing all on board. The helicopter had been chartered by events management company Trond & Trond and was flying from Stokke in Vestfold back to Oslo when witnesses said it suddenly lost altitude, went through the ice on the fjord and disappeared from view. Two mini-submarines and divers fought strong currents and darkness to find the helicopter, a Robinson R-44 Astro, at a depth of about 15 meters Wednesday night. The bodies of its pilot and three passengers, all associated with Trond & Trond, were inside the sunken helicopter. Its wreckage was raised on Thursday and an investigation into the cause of the crash was underway. A memorial service for those killed was planned for Tuesday evening at Frogner Church in Oslo.
(Written January 27, updated January 28, 2010)
A helicopter carrying four persons crashed into the fjord at Horten south of Oslo Wednesday afternoon, killing all on board. The helicopter had been chartered by events management company Trond & Trond and was flying from Stokke in Vestfold back to Oslo when witnesses said it suddenly lost altitude, went through the ice on the fjord and disappeared from view. Two mini-submarines and divers fought strong currents and darkness to find the helicopter, a Robinson R-44 Astro, at a depth of about 15 meters Wednesday night. The bodies of its pilot and three passengers, all associated with Trond & Trond, were inside the sunken helicopter. Its wreckage was raised on Thursday and an investigation into the cause of the crash was underway. A memorial service for those killed was planned for Tuesday evening at Frogner Church in Oslo.
(Written January 27, updated January 28, 2010)
Stoltenberg carries on climate campaign in Spain
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg visited his Spanish counterpart, José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, in Madrid on Tuesday and seized the opportunity to push deforestation and other climate issues higher up on the European Union's agenda. Zapatero has emerged as a new leader of the EU, since Spain has taken over its chairmanship role, so thus plays an important role in international climate negotiations. Stoltenberg and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are wrapping up work on a measure to fight deforestation in countries around the world. Zapatero told newspaper Aftenposten that the French-Norwegian initiative was "very positive" and will help Spain introduce an anti-deforestation measure at the EU. Norway isn't a member of the EU, but is lobbying hard to get the union to boost its goal for emissions cuts from 20 to 30 percent by 2020. Zapatero said he couldn't promise that. Stoltenberg said he remains worried about the chances for a new global climate pact at the next UN climate conference in Mexico in December. "There's a danger all our work will slide into endless negotiations," he said.
(Written January 27, 2010)
Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg visited his Spanish counterpart, José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, in Madrid on Tuesday and seized the opportunity to push deforestation and other climate issues higher up on the European Union's agenda. Zapatero has emerged as a new leader of the EU, since Spain has taken over its chairmanship role, so thus plays an important role in international climate negotiations. Stoltenberg and French President Nicolas Sarkozy are wrapping up work on a measure to fight deforestation in countries around the world. Zapatero told newspaper Aftenposten that the French-Norwegian initiative was "very positive" and will help Spain introduce an anti-deforestation measure at the EU. Norway isn't a member of the EU, but is lobbying hard to get the union to boost its goal for emissions cuts from 20 to 30 percent by 2020. Zapatero said he couldn't promise that. Stoltenberg said he remains worried about the chances for a new global climate pact at the next UN climate conference in Mexico in December. "There's a danger all our work will slide into endless negotiations," he said.
(Written January 27, 2010)
Church fire raises new security concerns
The wooden Hønefoss Church burned to the ground in Hønefoss, Buskerud County, late Tuesday and reports emerged Wednesday that it had no fire alarm. "Completely incredible," complained one Hønefoss resident to Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) as she surveyed the charred remains of the 148-year-old church. The first reports came in to firefighters around 5pm "but there was nothing we could do when we arrived," Arne Dølve of the Ringerike Fire and Rescue Service told newspaper Aftenposten, because the building already was engulfed in flames. Cause of the fire remained unclear. Officials said its electrical system had been inspected as late as November, but a fire alarm system was only being installed this week, too late. The government minister in charge of churches, Rigmor Aasrud, said she would order a status report on fire alarms for other churches in an effort to boost their security.
(Written January 27, 2010)
The wooden Hønefoss Church burned to the ground in Hønefoss, Buskerud County, late Tuesday and reports emerged Wednesday that it had no fire alarm. "Completely incredible," complained one Hønefoss resident to Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) as she surveyed the charred remains of the 148-year-old church. The first reports came in to firefighters around 5pm "but there was nothing we could do when we arrived," Arne Dølve of the Ringerike Fire and Rescue Service told newspaper Aftenposten, because the building already was engulfed in flames. Cause of the fire remained unclear. Officials said its electrical system had been inspected as late as November, but a fire alarm system was only being installed this week, too late. The government minister in charge of churches, Rigmor Aasrud, said she would order a status report on fire alarms for other churches in an effort to boost their security.
(Written January 27, 2010)
Young royals allowed to take part of a public island private
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit have won approval from city officials in Kristiansand, Mette-Marit's hometown, to lease a publicly owned house on the island of Dvergsøya for use as a summer residence, reports the web site for Kristiansand newspaper Fædrelandsvennen. The couple already has a summer house on another island further up the coast near Risør, but negotiated to take over the Dvergsøya house (called Vogts Villa) as well. They'll pay NOK 170,000 (nearly USD 30,000) a year to lease the house and about five acres of land around it. The arrangement is controversial, because the island is a popular destination for summer outings and it will restrict public access. Mayor Per Sigurd Sørensen pushed the measure through, however, and has said he's proud the royals want to spend summer holidays in the area. While the royals will be allowed to fence off their leased property and install surveillance cameras, Sørensen said public access to other parts of the island would be improved.
(Written January 27, 2010)
Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit have won approval from city officials in Kristiansand, Mette-Marit's hometown, to lease a publicly owned house on the island of Dvergsøya for use as a summer residence, reports the web site for Kristiansand newspaper Fædrelandsvennen. The couple already has a summer house on another island further up the coast near Risør, but negotiated to take over the Dvergsøya house (called Vogts Villa) as well. They'll pay NOK 170,000 (nearly USD 30,000) a year to lease the house and about five acres of land around it. The arrangement is controversial, because the island is a popular destination for summer outings and it will restrict public access. Mayor Per Sigurd Sørensen pushed the measure through, however, and has said he's proud the royals want to spend summer holidays in the area. While the royals will be allowed to fence off their leased property and install surveillance cameras, Sørensen said public access to other parts of the island would be improved.
(Written January 27, 2010)
Cabaret star dies at home
One of Norway's legendary entertainers, Dag Frøland, died at his home in Oslo on Tuesday. He was 64. Frøland was called an "icon" in the generation after an earlier cabaret legend, Leif Juster. He was born in Volda, made his radio debut at the age of seven and appeared on stage for the first time at the age of 17. He started writing cabaret sketches and was a driving force on the cabaret scene from 1976 to 1989. He also appeared often on Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK). He refused to accept one of Norway's highest royal decorations in 2005, claiming that he was politically opposed to any ranking of people. As is common in Norwegian press reports, the cause of death was not revealed.
(Written January 27, 2010)
One of Norway's legendary entertainers, Dag Frøland, died at his home in Oslo on Tuesday. He was 64. Frøland was called an "icon" in the generation after an earlier cabaret legend, Leif Juster. He was born in Volda, made his radio debut at the age of seven and appeared on stage for the first time at the age of 17. He started writing cabaret sketches and was a driving force on the cabaret scene from 1976 to 1989. He also appeared often on Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK). He refused to accept one of Norway's highest royal decorations in 2005, claiming that he was politically opposed to any ranking of people. As is common in Norwegian press reports, the cause of death was not revealed.
(Written January 27, 2010)
Nurses launch strike in private sector
The union representing nurses in Norway took 50 members out on strike on Tuesday and vowed to pull more off the job, after negotiations broke down with employers' group NHO Service. The union (Norsk Sykepleierforbund) is demanding the same pay and benefits for 300 nurses working at private nursing homes as those granted to its 21,000 members in the public sector and at private hospitals. Those now on strike currently earn less than other nurses and don't have the same sick leave benefits, according to the union. NHO claims it has a labour agreement with another union that covers the nurses, and was likely to seek a state ruling that could order the nurses back to work.
(Written January 26, 2010)
The union representing nurses in Norway took 50 members out on strike on Tuesday and vowed to pull more off the job, after negotiations broke down with employers' group NHO Service. The union (Norsk Sykepleierforbund) is demanding the same pay and benefits for 300 nurses working at private nursing homes as those granted to its 21,000 members in the public sector and at private hospitals. Those now on strike currently earn less than other nurses and don't have the same sick leave benefits, according to the union. NHO claims it has a labour agreement with another union that covers the nurses, and was likely to seek a state ruling that could order the nurses back to work.
(Written January 26, 2010)
Number of street prostitutes cut by half
A new law against street prostitution in Norway seems to be having the desired effect of reducing aggressive solicitation in Oslo. Lawmakers prohibited street solicitation from January 1, 2009, and in the year since, the number of prostitutes on the streets has dropped to an estimated 500 in Oslo compared to more than 900 in 2008. The numbers come from Pro Sentret, an organization that looks after the human rights of prostitutes in Norway. Women from Nigeria still make up the largest group of street prostitutes in Oslo, with around 300 still believed to be working in the capital. Liv Jessen of Pro Sentret told newspaper Dagsavisen their numbers are down from around 600 in 2008. Her group remains critical of the law, however, saying it doesn't mean the women's lives are any better. Rather, it's believed prostitution has "simply moved inside," while many of the former street prostitutes are believed to have moved to other countries in Europe. "Our colleagues in Denmark, Germany and Luxembourg say they've registered Nigerian prostitutes who have been in Norway earlier," Jessen told Dagsavisen.
(Written January 26, 2010)
A new law against street prostitution in Norway seems to be having the desired effect of reducing aggressive solicitation in Oslo. Lawmakers prohibited street solicitation from January 1, 2009, and in the year since, the number of prostitutes on the streets has dropped to an estimated 500 in Oslo compared to more than 900 in 2008. The numbers come from Pro Sentret, an organization that looks after the human rights of prostitutes in Norway. Women from Nigeria still make up the largest group of street prostitutes in Oslo, with around 300 still believed to be working in the capital. Liv Jessen of Pro Sentret told newspaper Dagsavisen their numbers are down from around 600 in 2008. Her group remains critical of the law, however, saying it doesn't mean the women's lives are any better. Rather, it's believed prostitution has "simply moved inside," while many of the former street prostitutes are believed to have moved to other countries in Europe. "Our colleagues in Denmark, Germany and Luxembourg say they've registered Nigerian prostitutes who have been in Norway earlier," Jessen told Dagsavisen.
(Written January 26, 2010)
Horoscope for Norway: 'Surprises' due in June and September
A Norwegian astrologer has read a horoscope for Norway in 2010 and says it will be more important than ever for the country "to build good relations to other countries and strengthen alliances." Kirsti Nordvik Krohn told weekly magazine A-Magasinet that Norwegian officials are likely to work "more consciously with our role in the world," and that "around June 8 and September 19 it will storm around Norway because of surprising events." Krohn said Norway will also likely attract world attention around November 7. She advised against making investments from November 6-18. The astrologist said Norwegians should expect changes in the country's bureaucracy during 2010, that the country's fortunes will rise but so will unemployment and sick leave, and that housing prices will likely "stand still, or go down."
(Written January 26, 2010)
A Norwegian astrologer has read a horoscope for Norway in 2010 and says it will be more important than ever for the country "to build good relations to other countries and strengthen alliances." Kirsti Nordvik Krohn told weekly magazine A-Magasinet that Norwegian officials are likely to work "more consciously with our role in the world," and that "around June 8 and September 19 it will storm around Norway because of surprising events." Krohn said Norway will also likely attract world attention around November 7. She advised against making investments from November 6-18. The astrologist said Norwegians should expect changes in the country's bureaucracy during 2010, that the country's fortunes will rise but so will unemployment and sick leave, and that housing prices will likely "stand still, or go down."
(Written January 26, 2010)
Terrible service in the townships
Many local government officials don't take the telephone, don't answer e-mail from ordinary citizens and impose user fees on various government services that may be illegal. Those were among the conclusions of a survey conducted by consumer advocacy council Forbrukerrådet and reported in newspaper Aftenposten. "Norwegian townships let down their residents when they don't give them information on community services," said Terje Kili of the consumer council, which examined service levels in 150 Norwegian townships. The survey also pointed up huge differences in service levels and, not least, fees charged. In the township of Oppegård, just south of Oslo, for example, authorities charge NOK 25,350 (around USD 5,000) for an application to build a new home, while the mountain township of Vinje in Telemark County charges nothing. Nor does Sigdal in Buskerud or Hå in Rogaland. The townships argue that they charge for their costs, but Kili remains skeptical and questions how the townships are calculating their fees. Only 35 of the 150 townships surveyed offered to help citizens with their queries, only two of three responded to e-mail and only 19 answered questions over the phone. Fully 13 townships didn't respond to any queries posed by the council in its survey.
(Written January 26, 2010)
Many local government officials don't take the telephone, don't answer e-mail from ordinary citizens and impose user fees on various government services that may be illegal. Those were among the conclusions of a survey conducted by consumer advocacy council Forbrukerrådet and reported in newspaper Aftenposten. "Norwegian townships let down their residents when they don't give them information on community services," said Terje Kili of the consumer council, which examined service levels in 150 Norwegian townships. The survey also pointed up huge differences in service levels and, not least, fees charged. In the township of Oppegård, just south of Oslo, for example, authorities charge NOK 25,350 (around USD 5,000) for an application to build a new home, while the mountain township of Vinje in Telemark County charges nothing. Nor does Sigdal in Buskerud or Hå in Rogaland. The townships argue that they charge for their costs, but Kili remains skeptical and questions how the townships are calculating their fees. Only 35 of the 150 townships surveyed offered to help citizens with their queries, only two of three responded to e-mail and only 19 answered questions over the phone. Fully 13 townships didn't respond to any queries posed by the council in its survey.
(Written January 26, 2010)
Norway doubles its financial aid to Haiti relief efforts
The Norwegian government announced on Sunday that it was doubling its financial donation to earthquake-ravaged Haiti. The government initially contributed NOK 40 million, then raised that to NOK 100 million and now to NOK 200 million. The money is being channeled through various UN agencies and aid organizations, all of which continue to appeal for donations to fund rebuilding efforts (see box at right). A Member of Parliament from the Conservative Party, meanwhile, was challenging all other MPs to personally donate NOK 1,000, while a star-studded list of Norwegian entertainers held a charity concert at Oslo's Opera House Sunday evening, raising an estimated NOK 20 million. The government's contribution was earmarked for aid to women and children.
(Written January 25, 2010)
Donor lines in Norway
Persons in Norway can donate funds for Haiti through the following channels:
Red Cross: Send NOK 200 automatically by calling 820 44001. Donations can also be sent to account # 8200 06 08331.
CARE Norge: Send money to account # 5005 01 00000, or donate NOK 200 by calling 820 44011.
Norwegian Church Aid: Donate NOK 200 by calling 820 44004, or send money to account # 1602 40 26535.
Redd Barna (Save the Children): Send money to account # 8200 01 05453 or donate NOK 200 by calling 820 44 789
Red Cross: Send NOK 200 automatically by calling 820 44001. Donations can also be sent to account # 8200 06 08331.
CARE Norge: Send money to account # 5005 01 00000, or donate NOK 200 by calling 820 44011.
Norwegian Church Aid: Donate NOK 200 by calling 820 44004, or send money to account # 1602 40 26535.
Redd Barna (Save the Children): Send money to account # 8200 01 05453 or donate NOK 200 by calling 820 44 789
(Written January 25, 2010)
Police probe shooting at Krekar's home
Shots were fired late Sunday night at the Oslo flat occupied by former guerrilla leader Mullah Krekar, wounding Krekar's son-in-law. Neighbours in Oslo's Tøyen district called police after hearing shots around 2:30am. Police said they believe the shots were fired through an open window. Krekar and four others inside the flat were evacuated, police were searching for two men after finding a burned-out car nearby, and Krekar was questioned by police Monday morning. Krekar, who initially came to Norway as a refugee from Iraq, later took command of guerrilla group Ansar al-Islam and has been suspected of terrorist activities. He is living under an expulsion order for threatening Norway's national security, but hasn't been extradited for fear he'd be sentenced to death back in Iraq. The conservative Progress Party renewed its calls for Krekar to be held in prison until his return can be arranged, to boost security around him.
(Written January 25, updated January 26, 2010)
Shots were fired late Sunday night at the Oslo flat occupied by former guerrilla leader Mullah Krekar, wounding Krekar's son-in-law. Neighbours in Oslo's Tøyen district called police after hearing shots around 2:30am. Police said they believe the shots were fired through an open window. Krekar and four others inside the flat were evacuated, police were searching for two men after finding a burned-out car nearby, and Krekar was questioned by police Monday morning. Krekar, who initially came to Norway as a refugee from Iraq, later took command of guerrilla group Ansar al-Islam and has been suspected of terrorist activities. He is living under an expulsion order for threatening Norway's national security, but hasn't been extradited for fear he'd be sentenced to death back in Iraq. The conservative Progress Party renewed its calls for Krekar to be held in prison until his return can be arranged, to boost security around him.
(Written January 25, updated January 26, 2010)
The British-Norwegian band A1 (photo) was among the top two entries winning the last of three semi-finals in the Norwegian run-up to the Eurovision Song Contest, known as Melodi Grand Prix (MGP). Newspaper Aftenposten reported that the band's rendition of its new song Don't wanna lose you again clearly appealed to viewers of the third semi-final, broadcast live from Skien Saturday night. Also winning a place in the finals was singer Didrik Solli-Tangen, who scored high with his ballad My heart is yours. The latest round of semi-final results means the two winners will sound off against earlier winners Maria Haukaas Storeng, Keep of Kalessin, Alexander Stenerud and Maria Arredondo at the final to be held in Oslo on February 6. Also competing will be the winners of a "Last Chance" play-off to be held next weekend. The winner of the February 6 final will represent Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest in May, which also will be held in Oslo since last year's event was won by Norwegian musician Alexander Rybak.
(Written January 24, 2010)
Northern Norway battens down the hatches
State meteorologists were warning of a major storm bearing down on Northern Norway early this week. It's even been given a name, Ask, and it was expected to hit the counties of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark on Tuesday. "Secure any loose items and stay indoors," the meteorologists cautioned via news bureau NTB. The storm was due to bring strong winds of at least 30 meters per second, worse in the western parts of Finnmark. The storm was due to rage through Tuesday night and into Wednesday.
(Written January 24, 2010)
State meteorologists were warning of a major storm bearing down on Northern Norway early this week. It's even been given a name, Ask, and it was expected to hit the counties of Nordland, Troms and Finnmark on Tuesday. "Secure any loose items and stay indoors," the meteorologists cautioned via news bureau NTB. The storm was due to bring strong winds of at least 30 meters per second, worse in the western parts of Finnmark. The storm was due to rage through Tuesday night and into Wednesday.
(Written January 24, 2010)
'Experiences Card' opens new world to underprivileged youth
Affluent Norway also has its share of children and youth whose families can't afford to send them to football matches, amusement parks, concerts or even to the movies. A civic activist in the west coast city of Ålesund came up with a novel program to help broaden their horizons and the idea is being applauded for its sheer simplicity: A card that allows the holder free admission to a long list of local events, sponsored by those hosting them. Newspaper Aftenposten reports that the children and youth granted the cards don't feel any sense of social stigma, rather quite the opposite. "It's hard to be shut out of things," said the mother of one 15-year-old who was given an Opplevelseskort (Experiences Card) by the township. Now he's not. A pilot project has granted cards to 50 youth from low-income families in Ålesund, allowing them and a companion to experience cultural and sports events. The program's success means it's likely to spread to other townships as well.
(Written January 24, 2010)
Affluent Norway also has its share of children and youth whose families can't afford to send them to football matches, amusement parks, concerts or even to the movies. A civic activist in the west coast city of Ålesund came up with a novel program to help broaden their horizons and the idea is being applauded for its sheer simplicity: A card that allows the holder free admission to a long list of local events, sponsored by those hosting them. Newspaper Aftenposten reports that the children and youth granted the cards don't feel any sense of social stigma, rather quite the opposite. "It's hard to be shut out of things," said the mother of one 15-year-old who was given an Opplevelseskort (Experiences Card) by the township. Now he's not. A pilot project has granted cards to 50 youth from low-income families in Ålesund, allowing them and a companion to experience cultural and sports events. The program's success means it's likely to spread to other townships as well.
(Written January 24, 2010)
Editor who quit may be hard to replace
Journalists and headhunters in Norway were wondering on Friday who would be taking over as editor-in-chief of long-troubled newspaper Dagbladet after Anne Aasheim quit on Thursday. Aasheim, who took over the helm at Dagbladet just three-and-a-half years ago, said she simply had run out of ideas for reversing the newspaper's steep decline in circulation. Once one of Norway's biggest dailies, Dagbladet has been losing tens of thousands of readers a year and fell to around 100,000 in 2009. Some media observers claimed Aasheim, a former editor at Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK), had run into a serious conflict with the board. The paper is in the midst of yet another round of staff cuts, and its board has been criticized for agreeing to buy a run-down commercial property at an allegedly inflated price from one of its own directors at a time of financial crisis. Recruiters speculated it would be hard to replace Aasheim, because few qualified editors would want the job. Dagbladet's culture editor, Peter Raaum, quit as well.
(Written January 22, 2010)
Journalists and headhunters in Norway were wondering on Friday who would be taking over as editor-in-chief of long-troubled newspaper Dagbladet after Anne Aasheim quit on Thursday. Aasheim, who took over the helm at Dagbladet just three-and-a-half years ago, said she simply had run out of ideas for reversing the newspaper's steep decline in circulation. Once one of Norway's biggest dailies, Dagbladet has been losing tens of thousands of readers a year and fell to around 100,000 in 2009. Some media observers claimed Aasheim, a former editor at Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK), had run into a serious conflict with the board. The paper is in the midst of yet another round of staff cuts, and its board has been criticized for agreeing to buy a run-down commercial property at an allegedly inflated price from one of its own directors at a time of financial crisis. Recruiters speculated it would be hard to replace Aasheim, because few qualified editors would want the job. Dagbladet's culture editor, Peter Raaum, quit as well.
(Written January 22, 2010)
Norwegian ships line up to help Haiti
Haiti's main harbor at Port-au-Prince was becoming operable again following this month's catastrophic earthquake, and Norwegian shipowners are sending vessels to help bring emergency aid supplies and contribute to rebuilding efforts. Newspaper Aftenposten reported that Wilh Wilhelmen and Leif Høegh are among the ship owners taking vessels out of commercial operation and redeploying them for work in Haiti, without profit expectation. Tankers are needed to provide water for Haiti, other vessels for equipment transport and emergency accommodation. The Norwegian Shipowners' Association (NSA) said it was working with US authorities who have taken charge of emergency operations in Haiti. Aid organizations, meanwhile, continued to appeal for donations to fund rebuilding efforts.
(Written January 22, 2010)
Haiti's main harbor at Port-au-Prince was becoming operable again following this month's catastrophic earthquake, and Norwegian shipowners are sending vessels to help bring emergency aid supplies and contribute to rebuilding efforts. Newspaper Aftenposten reported that Wilh Wilhelmen and Leif Høegh are among the ship owners taking vessels out of commercial operation and redeploying them for work in Haiti, without profit expectation. Tankers are needed to provide water for Haiti, other vessels for equipment transport and emergency accommodation. The Norwegian Shipowners' Association (NSA) said it was working with US authorities who have taken charge of emergency operations in Haiti. Aid organizations, meanwhile, continued to appeal for donations to fund rebuilding efforts.
(Written January 22, 2010)
Iranian consul seeks asylum in Norway
A former consul at the Iranian Embassy in Oslo told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) on Wednesday that he had applied for political asylum in Norway. Mohammad Reza Heydari quit his job as a diplomat in the local embassy earlier this month, claiming he no longer wanted to represent a government that treated its opponents so violently, referring to recent protests on the streets of Teheran. Iranian authorities at first denied he had quit but now Heydari's diplomatic passport has been revoked. He has asked for travel documents from Norway but has been denied them so far and officials at immigration agency UDI say his case will be handled like all others. Mohammad Reza Heydari lives in Oslo with his wife and two children. He said he now wants to support what he calls the "freedom campaign" in Iran. (See earlier story below.)
(Written January 20, 2010)
A former consul at the Iranian Embassy in Oslo told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) on Wednesday that he had applied for political asylum in Norway. Mohammad Reza Heydari quit his job as a diplomat in the local embassy earlier this month, claiming he no longer wanted to represent a government that treated its opponents so violently, referring to recent protests on the streets of Teheran. Iranian authorities at first denied he had quit but now Heydari's diplomatic passport has been revoked. He has asked for travel documents from Norway but has been denied them so far and officials at immigration agency UDI say his case will be handled like all others. Mohammad Reza Heydari lives in Oslo with his wife and two children. He said he now wants to support what he calls the "freedom campaign" in Iran. (See earlier story below.)
(Written January 20, 2010)
'World Heritage' status
Conservation authorities in Norway have prepared a draft application they hope will result in Lofoten, a scenic archipelago in northern Norway, being named a UNESCO World Heritage site. Debate is underway on the move, though, since the effort is aimed at trying to protect Lofoten from oil and gas development, and industry pressure is strong. Conservationists want to protect Lofoten's 1,000-year history of fishing and cultural development. The village of Henningsvær (PHOTO: Morten Andersen) and several others would be included in the World Heritage area along with the islands of Røst, Værøy and more. Norway already has several World Heritage sites including the Geiranger and Nærøy fjords, Bryggen in Bergen, Urnes Stave Church, the town of Røros, Vegaøyan and Bergkunsten in Alta.
(Written January 20, 2010)
Vast majority of doctoral candidates in the sciences are foreigners
Of 96 applicants for doctoral degrees in the area of petroleum technology at the University of Stavanger, only one is Norwegian. Newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) reports that the oil industry is worried Norway won't be able to maintain its high level of technical quality if scientific studies fail to attract more Norwegians. Most of the graduate students at the university's Institute for Petroleum Technology are from Iran. At the geophysics institute at the University of Oslo, 16 of 17 students studying for a master's degree in petroleum geology are also foreigners. Professor Knut Bjørlykke, writing in a column in DN this week, says he's worried as well by the lack of Norwegians in the program and because he says the foreign students often have come to Norway after being turned down by more prestigious universities in other countries. Simen Lieungh, chief executive at offshore firm Aker Solutions, warns that Norway can't take it for granted that it will stay technologically ahead of other low-cost countries.
(Written January 20, 2010)
Of 96 applicants for doctoral degrees in the area of petroleum technology at the University of Stavanger, only one is Norwegian. Newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) reports that the oil industry is worried Norway won't be able to maintain its high level of technical quality if scientific studies fail to attract more Norwegians. Most of the graduate students at the university's Institute for Petroleum Technology are from Iran. At the geophysics institute at the University of Oslo, 16 of 17 students studying for a master's degree in petroleum geology are also foreigners. Professor Knut Bjørlykke, writing in a column in DN this week, says he's worried as well by the lack of Norwegians in the program and because he says the foreign students often have come to Norway after being turned down by more prestigious universities in other countries. Simen Lieungh, chief executive at offshore firm Aker Solutions, warns that Norway can't take it for granted that it will stay technologically ahead of other low-cost countries.
(Written January 20, 2010)
Norway mobilizes 'ship aid' for Haiti
Norway is responding to calls for vessels from its merchant shipping fleet to help solve acute transport, supply and housing crises in earthquake-devastated Haiti. Foreign Aid Minister Erik Solheim said he was working with the Norwegian Shipowners' Association (NSA) to determine which vessels could be chartered and sent to Haiti. Tankers, for example, can be used to store fuel and water, passenger ships for accommodation and vehicle carriers for transport of heavy equipment. NSA officials said some vessels are so large that they also can help provide energy supplies for hospitals. As the humanitarian catastrophe grew in Haiti, Solheim urged Norwegians to continue donating money to aid organizations on the scene. Norway has raised and sent more than NOK 120 million in the past few days.
(Written January 20, 2010)
Norway is responding to calls for vessels from its merchant shipping fleet to help solve acute transport, supply and housing crises in earthquake-devastated Haiti. Foreign Aid Minister Erik Solheim said he was working with the Norwegian Shipowners' Association (NSA) to determine which vessels could be chartered and sent to Haiti. Tankers, for example, can be used to store fuel and water, passenger ships for accommodation and vehicle carriers for transport of heavy equipment. NSA officials said some vessels are so large that they also can help provide energy supplies for hospitals. As the humanitarian catastrophe grew in Haiti, Solheim urged Norwegians to continue donating money to aid organizations on the scene. Norway has raised and sent more than NOK 120 million in the past few days.
(Written January 20, 2010)
Drawings were released this week of a new US Embassy complex to be built on one of the last undeveloped lots in Oslo. City officials say they've agreed to the new design, after rejecting an earlier proposal that, reports newspaper Aften, "should have been of much higher quality." Embassy officials still face a long regulatory process before construction can begin. The project on about 10 acres of land at Huseby remains highly controversial, with local residents firmly opposed to "a terrorist target" in their midst that, according to one activist, "looks like an overgrown transformer station." Embassy officials told NRK they would do their best "to be good neighbours."
ILLUSTRATION: Einhorn Yaffee Prescott Architecture
(Written January 20, 2010)
Cover girls were strictly white
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) recently examined how well the local press mirrors an increasingly multicultural society in Norway. Journalists counted the number of non-white women depicted on the front pages of popular Norwegian women’s weeklies and the result was zero. From July to November 2009, not a single non-white face appeared on the cover of any of the 81 issues of three popular women’s magazines. "There would be an uproar if we put a black woman on our cover," Elisabeth Lund-Andersen, editor of Allers Magazine, told NRK. Commentator Abid Raja, writing in newspaper Aftenposten, disagreed. He sees the lack of non-white women on the covers as a sign of a separatist society lacking tolerance and multi-culturalism. Would magazine buyers really object to someone like Lucy Liu, Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry or Naomi Campbell gracing the front cover, he wondered. Norway’s glossy magazine editors seem to think so.
(Written January 19, 2010)
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) recently examined how well the local press mirrors an increasingly multicultural society in Norway. Journalists counted the number of non-white women depicted on the front pages of popular Norwegian women’s weeklies and the result was zero. From July to November 2009, not a single non-white face appeared on the cover of any of the 81 issues of three popular women’s magazines. "There would be an uproar if we put a black woman on our cover," Elisabeth Lund-Andersen, editor of Allers Magazine, told NRK. Commentator Abid Raja, writing in newspaper Aftenposten, disagreed. He sees the lack of non-white women on the covers as a sign of a separatist society lacking tolerance and multi-culturalism. Would magazine buyers really object to someone like Lucy Liu, Jennifer Lopez, Halle Berry or Naomi Campbell gracing the front cover, he wondered. Norway’s glossy magazine editors seem to think so.
(Written January 19, 2010)
Memorial, and protest, held after ambulance controversy
The family of a 63-year-old immigrant from Turkey who died of heart failure earlier this month held a memorial for her outside their home in Oslo's Tøyen district, and complained once again about what they claim was a lack of speedy and sympathetic response from the city's ambulance service. Controversy has raged over the case, since it took more than 20 minutes for the ambulance to arrive and then its personnel called police because they felt threatened by angry family members. Tapes of the family's calls for help have been aired by TV2, and many listeners feel the ambulance switchboard personnel didn't take them seriously and also exhibited hostile behaviour to the family on the phone. By the time police arrived at the scene, relatives had to be physically restrained from assaulting both health care personnel and police. The family has filed a formal complaint about the treatment they received. It's not the first time ambulance staff has been accused of prejudice in situations involving immigrants. The case is under investigation.
(Written January 18, 2010)
The family of a 63-year-old immigrant from Turkey who died of heart failure earlier this month held a memorial for her outside their home in Oslo's Tøyen district, and complained once again about what they claim was a lack of speedy and sympathetic response from the city's ambulance service. Controversy has raged over the case, since it took more than 20 minutes for the ambulance to arrive and then its personnel called police because they felt threatened by angry family members. Tapes of the family's calls for help have been aired by TV2, and many listeners feel the ambulance switchboard personnel didn't take them seriously and also exhibited hostile behaviour to the family on the phone. By the time police arrived at the scene, relatives had to be physically restrained from assaulting both health care personnel and police. The family has filed a formal complaint about the treatment they received. It's not the first time ambulance staff has been accused of prejudice in situations involving immigrants. The case is under investigation.
(Written January 18, 2010)
Truce declared over Bjørvika development
Oslo politicians and Norway's new director general of Riksantikvaren (the national Directorate for Cultural Heritage) have reached agreement on a new, possibly less-high-rise-oriented plan for the ongoing redevelopment of Oslo's eastern waterfront at Bjørvika. Riksantikvar Jørn Holme, the head of Oslo's city government Stian Berger Røsland and two other top politicians agreed to cooperate on a "re-think" of the dimensions and placement of a new Munch Museum and a now-dense commercial complex on the waterfront called Kongsbakken. Holme has been concerned the buildings will cut off the city's Middle Ages Park, obstruct views to Ekeberg and hem in the new Opera House. Results of new meetings are expected by early summer. Construction of the new museum itself is expected to move forward, housing both the city's Munch collection and the contents of the current Stenersen Museum downtown. Newspaper Aftenposten has reported that the Stenersen name won't be used in the name of the new Munch Museum, but city officials insist it will still have a "stronger profile" and a much better location than it has now, under the steps of the Oslo Concert House. The new museum is supposed to be finished by 2014, when Norway celebrates its bicentennial.
(Written January 18, 2010)
Oslo politicians and Norway's new director general of Riksantikvaren (the national Directorate for Cultural Heritage) have reached agreement on a new, possibly less-high-rise-oriented plan for the ongoing redevelopment of Oslo's eastern waterfront at Bjørvika. Riksantikvar Jørn Holme, the head of Oslo's city government Stian Berger Røsland and two other top politicians agreed to cooperate on a "re-think" of the dimensions and placement of a new Munch Museum and a now-dense commercial complex on the waterfront called Kongsbakken. Holme has been concerned the buildings will cut off the city's Middle Ages Park, obstruct views to Ekeberg and hem in the new Opera House. Results of new meetings are expected by early summer. Construction of the new museum itself is expected to move forward, housing both the city's Munch collection and the contents of the current Stenersen Museum downtown. Newspaper Aftenposten has reported that the Stenersen name won't be used in the name of the new Munch Museum, but city officials insist it will still have a "stronger profile" and a much better location than it has now, under the steps of the Oslo Concert House. The new museum is supposed to be finished by 2014, when Norway celebrates its bicentennial.
(Written January 18, 2010)
Norway sends more aid to Haiti
The Norwegian government boosted its emergency aid to Haiti by another NOK 60 million, as the situation in the impoverished country turned chaotic following last week's devastating earthquake. Foreign aid minister Erik Solheim said the money would be channeled through UN- and aid organizations already working in Haiti. The Norwegian government sent emergency aid of NOK 40 million on Thursday, while health care workers traveled with a flight carrying a Norwegian Red Cross field hospital. The hospital didn't become operable, though, until Sunday because of problems at the airport in Port-au-Prince. Solheim urged more donations from Norwegians as Haiti faced a humanitarian catastrophe and massive rebuilding needs.
(Written January 18, 2010)
The Norwegian government boosted its emergency aid to Haiti by another NOK 60 million, as the situation in the impoverished country turned chaotic following last week's devastating earthquake. Foreign aid minister Erik Solheim said the money would be channeled through UN- and aid organizations already working in Haiti. The Norwegian government sent emergency aid of NOK 40 million on Thursday, while health care workers traveled with a flight carrying a Norwegian Red Cross field hospital. The hospital didn't become operable, though, until Sunday because of problems at the airport in Port-au-Prince. Solheim urged more donations from Norwegians as Haiti faced a humanitarian catastrophe and massive rebuilding needs.
(Written January 18, 2010)
Domestic violence on the rise
Norwegian police are reporting an increase in the number of cases involving domestic violence, which Justice Minister Knut Storberget equated to "daily terror" endured by victims of spousal abuse. A young mother of three was killed last week in the Telemark city of Skien, and police were holding her estranged husband in custody. Storberget said the number of police reports filed by victims of family violence rose 50 percent during the past year but he said he's glad more Norwegians are seeking police help. "This is a type of crime that creates the worst type of insecurity among some of the most vulnerable people in Norway," he said. "It's daily terror that women, children and also men are enduring." The government has tried to address domestic violence through a variety of measures since 2007, including evaluation of police response to reports of violence, new "safe houses" for children in six Norwegian cities, distribution of more alarms to victims of violence that can summon police quickly, and tougher punishment for those convicted of domestic violence.
(Written January 18, 2010)
Norwegian police are reporting an increase in the number of cases involving domestic violence, which Justice Minister Knut Storberget equated to "daily terror" endured by victims of spousal abuse. A young mother of three was killed last week in the Telemark city of Skien, and police were holding her estranged husband in custody. Storberget said the number of police reports filed by victims of family violence rose 50 percent during the past year but he said he's glad more Norwegians are seeking police help. "This is a type of crime that creates the worst type of insecurity among some of the most vulnerable people in Norway," he said. "It's daily terror that women, children and also men are enduring." The government has tried to address domestic violence through a variety of measures since 2007, including evaluation of police response to reports of violence, new "safe houses" for children in six Norwegian cities, distribution of more alarms to victims of violence that can summon police quickly, and tougher punishment for those convicted of domestic violence.
(Written January 18, 2010)
Rental car restrictions likely to be relaxed
For years, Norwegian authorities have been trying to protect and preserve Norway's high fees and taxes placed on automobiles, in part by making it illegal for residents of Norway to drive foreign-registered rental cars on Norwegian roads. Officials have feared that Norwegians will rent cars in Sweden, where rates are much cheaper than in Norway, and thereby avoid the high local costs. European authorities concerned with free movement of goods and services, however, attacked the protectionist Norwegian rules, and even though Norway isn't a member of the EU, it must abide by its rules to preserve its own trade pact with the EU. Newspaper Aftenposten reports that local customs and tax authorities therefore have conceded that the Norwegian rules "should be changed," and have proposed that Norwegian residents be allowed to drive a rental car in Norway for around 40 days every year, provided they register for the usage on the customs service's web site before driving the car over the border. They may impose new control posts, however, to monitor rental car usage, especially in communities near the border. Advertised rates show that a Volkswagen Golf rented for two weeks from Avis at Stockholm's main airport at Arlanda costs the equivalent of NOK 5,800, as opposed to NOK 10,621 at Oslo's main airport at Gardermoen.
(Written January 18, 2010)
For years, Norwegian authorities have been trying to protect and preserve Norway's high fees and taxes placed on automobiles, in part by making it illegal for residents of Norway to drive foreign-registered rental cars on Norwegian roads. Officials have feared that Norwegians will rent cars in Sweden, where rates are much cheaper than in Norway, and thereby avoid the high local costs. European authorities concerned with free movement of goods and services, however, attacked the protectionist Norwegian rules, and even though Norway isn't a member of the EU, it must abide by its rules to preserve its own trade pact with the EU. Newspaper Aftenposten reports that local customs and tax authorities therefore have conceded that the Norwegian rules "should be changed," and have proposed that Norwegian residents be allowed to drive a rental car in Norway for around 40 days every year, provided they register for the usage on the customs service's web site before driving the car over the border. They may impose new control posts, however, to monitor rental car usage, especially in communities near the border. Advertised rates show that a Volkswagen Golf rented for two weeks from Avis at Stockholm's main airport at Arlanda costs the equivalent of NOK 5,800, as opposed to NOK 10,621 at Oslo's main airport at Gardermoen.
(Written January 18, 2010)
Norwegian flag burned in Pakistan
Demonstrators in Lahore yelled slogans and set fire to a Norwegian flag on Friday, reportedly to protest the publication of illustrations depicting the prophet Mohammed by Oslo-based newspaper Aftenposten. The newspaper printed the illustrations by Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard after a Danish-Somalian intruder broke into Westergaard's home and threatened him with an axe earlier this month. Aftenposten's editor said it was important to show what the conflict was about. The Oslo paper has since had several threats lodged against it, but Aftenposten officials defend their right to freedom of expression. French news bureau AFP distributed photos of the flag-burning in Lahore and a Foreign Ministry spokesman said state officials had registered the protest, but had no further comment.
(Written January 16, 2010)
Demonstrators in Lahore yelled slogans and set fire to a Norwegian flag on Friday, reportedly to protest the publication of illustrations depicting the prophet Mohammed by Oslo-based newspaper Aftenposten. The newspaper printed the illustrations by Danish cartoonist Kurt Westergaard after a Danish-Somalian intruder broke into Westergaard's home and threatened him with an axe earlier this month. Aftenposten's editor said it was important to show what the conflict was about. The Oslo paper has since had several threats lodged against it, but Aftenposten officials defend their right to freedom of expression. French news bureau AFP distributed photos of the flag-burning in Lahore and a Foreign Ministry spokesman said state officials had registered the protest, but had no further comment.
(Written January 16, 2010)
'Too much American TV in Norway'
Some long-time cultural officials and celebrities in Norway are mounting a protest against what they claim is a "predominance" of American-produced films and TV shows on Norwegian television. "We Norwegians are swallowing American culture with no sense of criticism," Ingeborg Moræus Hanssen, the former head of Oslo cinemas, told newspaper Aftenposten. Her group is sending a letter to officials at state broadcaster NRK demanding fewer American programs and more non-English-speaking films and shows. "I think NRK could broadcast more Spanish, German and French television productions," Moræus Hanssen said. Aftenposten reported that in 2008, NRK's TV channels broadcast 378 films from the US and other English-speaking countries, but only 85 films from other countries. Of them, 13 were French, 10 German and five Spanish.
(Written January 16, 2010)
Some long-time cultural officials and celebrities in Norway are mounting a protest against what they claim is a "predominance" of American-produced films and TV shows on Norwegian television. "We Norwegians are swallowing American culture with no sense of criticism," Ingeborg Moræus Hanssen, the former head of Oslo cinemas, told newspaper Aftenposten. Her group is sending a letter to officials at state broadcaster NRK demanding fewer American programs and more non-English-speaking films and shows. "I think NRK could broadcast more Spanish, German and French television productions," Moræus Hanssen said. Aftenposten reported that in 2008, NRK's TV channels broadcast 378 films from the US and other English-speaking countries, but only 85 films from other countries. Of them, 13 were French, 10 German and five Spanish.
(Written January 16, 2010)
No conclusions after hearing on welfare agency's reform crisis
Two former government ministers, the current minister in charge of labour and welfare services and a long list of public and private officials all had their say at a parliamentary hearing on Friday. The subject was the unsuccessful effort to make Norway's welfare services more efficient by merging several agencies into one "super agency" that's now called NAV. The result has been chaotic, and politicians want to find out who's responsible and what's being done to fix NAV's ongoing problems. They involve long delays in payments of everything from unemployment compensation to pension and sick leave benefits, and even longer delays in getting new cases or questions addressed. Several political parties had a hand in creating NAV and some politicians have admitted things could have been done better. Few will admit they've created a monster, though, with highly criticized former minister Bjarne Håkon Hanssen saying he's sure NAV will be a success someday, and his successor Hanne Bjurstrøm refusing to believe NAV's problems can't be solved. The agency already has received extra funding for more case workers, and more support is earmarked.
(Written January 15, 2010)
Two former government ministers, the current minister in charge of labour and welfare services and a long list of public and private officials all had their say at a parliamentary hearing on Friday. The subject was the unsuccessful effort to make Norway's welfare services more efficient by merging several agencies into one "super agency" that's now called NAV. The result has been chaotic, and politicians want to find out who's responsible and what's being done to fix NAV's ongoing problems. They involve long delays in payments of everything from unemployment compensation to pension and sick leave benefits, and even longer delays in getting new cases or questions addressed. Several political parties had a hand in creating NAV and some politicians have admitted things could have been done better. Few will admit they've created a monster, though, with highly criticized former minister Bjarne Håkon Hanssen saying he's sure NAV will be a success someday, and his successor Hanne Bjurstrøm refusing to believe NAV's problems can't be solved. The agency already has received extra funding for more case workers, and more support is earmarked.
(Written January 15, 2010)
Money pours in for quake victims
Norwegian aid organizations reported record support from donors keen to help victims of the earthquake that hit Haiti earlier this week. Norway's chapter of "Save the Children" (Redd Barna) raised a half-million kroner in just a few hours, reports Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK), and thousands called in donations to Norwegian Church Aid (Kirkens Nødhjelp). "We're seeing an enormous response from private donors," Tove Hauge of Redd Barna told NRK. The Norwegian government sent emergency aid of NOK 40 million on Thursday, while surgeons, nurses, midwives and psychologists traveled with a flight carrying a Norwegian Red Cross field hospital. They were delayed in getting aid to victims, though, because of problems at the airport in Port-au-Prince.
(Written January 15, 2010)
Norwegian aid organizations reported record support from donors keen to help victims of the earthquake that hit Haiti earlier this week. Norway's chapter of "Save the Children" (Redd Barna) raised a half-million kroner in just a few hours, reports Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK), and thousands called in donations to Norwegian Church Aid (Kirkens Nødhjelp). "We're seeing an enormous response from private donors," Tove Hauge of Redd Barna told NRK. The Norwegian government sent emergency aid of NOK 40 million on Thursday, while surgeons, nurses, midwives and psychologists traveled with a flight carrying a Norwegian Red Cross field hospital. They were delayed in getting aid to victims, though, because of problems at the airport in Port-au-Prince.
(Written January 15, 2010)
Lottery firm under investigation
The company that runs Norway's state lottery, Norsk Tipping, is caught up in new charges tied to an earlier scandal linked to previous administration at the Hamar-based organization. It wasn't too long ago that its top executive resigned in a cloud of allegations involving questionable expense accounts and his practice of charging Norsk Tipping for gardening services at his home. Now the state auditor (Riksrevisjon) has released a report suggesting that NOK 6 million may have been misused during the former top executive's tenure, and the auditors criticize transactions between lottery employees and suppliers. In some cases there allegedly have been close personal ties between the employees and suppliers, including former executives. Norsk Tipping announced a comprehensive internal investigation, while its new chief executive and its new board chairman (former politician Lars Sponheim) reported the auditors' findings to police. Norsk Tipping is formally owned by Norway's Ministry of Culture, which also has questioned Norsk Tipping's management. Another top executive resigned this week, and officials worried that a culture of misappropriation had permeated the ranks of Norsk Tipping over the years. Sponheim vowed a quick clean-up. Lottery funds are raised to support athletic and various cultural programs.
(Written January 15, 2010)
The company that runs Norway's state lottery, Norsk Tipping, is caught up in new charges tied to an earlier scandal linked to previous administration at the Hamar-based organization. It wasn't too long ago that its top executive resigned in a cloud of allegations involving questionable expense accounts and his practice of charging Norsk Tipping for gardening services at his home. Now the state auditor (Riksrevisjon) has released a report suggesting that NOK 6 million may have been misused during the former top executive's tenure, and the auditors criticize transactions between lottery employees and suppliers. In some cases there allegedly have been close personal ties between the employees and suppliers, including former executives. Norsk Tipping announced a comprehensive internal investigation, while its new chief executive and its new board chairman (former politician Lars Sponheim) reported the auditors' findings to police. Norsk Tipping is formally owned by Norway's Ministry of Culture, which also has questioned Norsk Tipping's management. Another top executive resigned this week, and officials worried that a culture of misappropriation had permeated the ranks of Norsk Tipping over the years. Sponheim vowed a quick clean-up. Lottery funds are raised to support athletic and various cultural programs.
(Written January 15, 2010)
Vast majority of Norwegians happy with government services
Several recent international surveys have ranked Norway high as a being a great place to live and a country admired by others. Now a new survey of Norwegians themselves indicates that the vast majority agree. Fully 94 percent of Norwegians questioned in a wide-ranging, government-sponsored "Citizen Survey" responded that they were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with living in Norway. Around 70 percent were happy with social services and less than 10 percent were dissatisfied. The survey, conducted by research firm Synovate for the ministry in charge of government administration and renewal and the agency charged with public management, questioned around 15,000 Norwegians and is the largest national survey ever carried out. An English version of survey results prepared by the Ministry of Government Administration can be found here. (external link)
(Written January 14, 2010)
Several recent international surveys have ranked Norway high as a being a great place to live and a country admired by others. Now a new survey of Norwegians themselves indicates that the vast majority agree. Fully 94 percent of Norwegians questioned in a wide-ranging, government-sponsored "Citizen Survey" responded that they were "satisfied" or "very satisfied" with living in Norway. Around 70 percent were happy with social services and less than 10 percent were dissatisfied. The survey, conducted by research firm Synovate for the ministry in charge of government administration and renewal and the agency charged with public management, questioned around 15,000 Norwegians and is the largest national survey ever carried out. An English version of survey results prepared by the Ministry of Government Administration can be found here. (external link)
(Written January 14, 2010)
Christian Democrats lose more ground
They once ranked as a solid force in Norwegian politics but now the Christian Democrats' party (Kristelig Folkeparti, KrF) seems to be just a shadow of its former self. The conservative but now centrist party logged its worst election ever last fall and a new public opinion poll shows it currently has just 4.4 percent of voter support, sinking dangerously close to the 4 percent level needed for representation in Parliament. The poll, conducted by research firm Norstat for Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK), showed solid gains for the conservative Progress Party (Frp) and the Conservative Party (Høyre), with 26 percent and 20.5 percent of the vote respectively, meaning that if an election were held in Norway today, the country's current left-center government would lose to a non-socialist coalition. The Christian Democrats are seriously worried and making efforts to portray themselves as more modern and open. It's widely believed the party has lost voters to both Frp and Høyre. Labour, meanwhile, remains the largest party in the country, according to the Norstat poll figures, with 30.7 percent of the vote, down several points from election results in September.
(Written January 14, 2010)
They once ranked as a solid force in Norwegian politics but now the Christian Democrats' party (Kristelig Folkeparti, KrF) seems to be just a shadow of its former self. The conservative but now centrist party logged its worst election ever last fall and a new public opinion poll shows it currently has just 4.4 percent of voter support, sinking dangerously close to the 4 percent level needed for representation in Parliament. The poll, conducted by research firm Norstat for Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK), showed solid gains for the conservative Progress Party (Frp) and the Conservative Party (Høyre), with 26 percent and 20.5 percent of the vote respectively, meaning that if an election were held in Norway today, the country's current left-center government would lose to a non-socialist coalition. The Christian Democrats are seriously worried and making efforts to portray themselves as more modern and open. It's widely believed the party has lost voters to both Frp and Høyre. Labour, meanwhile, remains the largest party in the country, according to the Norstat poll figures, with 30.7 percent of the vote, down several points from election results in September.
(Written January 14, 2010)
Norway wants more top representation at UN, despite asylum flak
Norwegian diplomats have been complaining for months that they're underrepresented at the United Nations, given the amount of money Norway pays into the UN. Norway is one of the biggest contributors to the UN's international operations, sending nearly NOK 7 billion in 2008, and newspaper Aftenposten reports once again that the Norwegian government wants to see more Norwegians in high positions at the UN. When Norwegian diplomat Kai Eide steps down as special envoy to Afghanistan this spring, Norway will lose the most prominent spot it has at the UN. Hilde Frafjord, a former government minister in Norway who now has a top spot at UNICEF, is a candidate for a top post in Sudan, while Olav Kjørven is assistant secretary general of the UN Development Program. The Norwegian lobbying campaign coincides with reports of harsh criticism from the UN this week over Norway's asylum policies. UN officials were not not pleased when Norway forcibly sent 30 men from Iraq back home late last year. Total refugee arrivals in Norway last year, meanwhile, did not set the records the politicians had feared. Even though asylum applications rose 18 percent from 2008, the 17,173 asylum seekers arriving in 2009 were less than the number of arrivals in 2002, reported Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK), when 17,480 refugees landed in Norway. More than 4,000 persons who lacked residence permission in Norway were sent out of the country in 2009.
(Written January 13, 2010)
Norwegian diplomats have been complaining for months that they're underrepresented at the United Nations, given the amount of money Norway pays into the UN. Norway is one of the biggest contributors to the UN's international operations, sending nearly NOK 7 billion in 2008, and newspaper Aftenposten reports once again that the Norwegian government wants to see more Norwegians in high positions at the UN. When Norwegian diplomat Kai Eide steps down as special envoy to Afghanistan this spring, Norway will lose the most prominent spot it has at the UN. Hilde Frafjord, a former government minister in Norway who now has a top spot at UNICEF, is a candidate for a top post in Sudan, while Olav Kjørven is assistant secretary general of the UN Development Program. The Norwegian lobbying campaign coincides with reports of harsh criticism from the UN this week over Norway's asylum policies. UN officials were not not pleased when Norway forcibly sent 30 men from Iraq back home late last year. Total refugee arrivals in Norway last year, meanwhile, did not set the records the politicians had feared. Even though asylum applications rose 18 percent from 2008, the 17,173 asylum seekers arriving in 2009 were less than the number of arrivals in 2002, reported Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK), when 17,480 refugees landed in Norway. More than 4,000 persons who lacked residence permission in Norway were sent out of the country in 2009.
(Written January 13, 2010)
Norway sends emergency aid to Haiti
The Norwegian government has authorized sending NOK 40 million (nearly USD 7 million) in immediate emergency funding to Haiti after the country was hit by a devastating earthquake earlier this week. The damage and suffering in Haiti has been characterized as "indescribable." UN officials said the death toll likely would hit 50,000. Norwegian aid organizations also scrambled to send emergency help to Haiti, with aid workers and supplies flying out on Thursday. The Norwegian Red Cross sent a field hospital and health care workers, while Norwegian Church Aid (Kirkens Nødhjelp) and CARE already had workers in Port-au-Prince and were sending reinforcements from Oslo and regional operations overseas. A Norwegian man traveling in Haiti was reported missing on Thursday. Norwegian Church Aid also set up an account to help raise relief funds, and said contributions could be sent to account number 1602-40-26535 or by calling a donor phone line at 820 44 004, which would automatically charge the donor for NOK 200.
(Written January 13, updated January 14, 2010)
The Norwegian government has authorized sending NOK 40 million (nearly USD 7 million) in immediate emergency funding to Haiti after the country was hit by a devastating earthquake earlier this week. The damage and suffering in Haiti has been characterized as "indescribable." UN officials said the death toll likely would hit 50,000. Norwegian aid organizations also scrambled to send emergency help to Haiti, with aid workers and supplies flying out on Thursday. The Norwegian Red Cross sent a field hospital and health care workers, while Norwegian Church Aid (Kirkens Nødhjelp) and CARE already had workers in Port-au-Prince and were sending reinforcements from Oslo and regional operations overseas. A Norwegian man traveling in Haiti was reported missing on Thursday. Norwegian Church Aid also set up an account to help raise relief funds, and said contributions could be sent to account number 1602-40-26535 or by calling a donor phone line at 820 44 004, which would automatically charge the donor for NOK 200.
(Written January 13, updated January 14, 2010)
Scores of war criminals may be hiding out in Norway
Police have the names of 144 persons living in Norway who are suspected of possible war crimes, reports newspaper Aftenposten. Only 29 of the cases are under investigation and that's sparked criticism. Prosecutors blame difficult and lengthy processes involved to issue orders to probe the backgrounds of the suspects, and say it takes much too long to get a legal case underway. The cases that are under investigation are being handled by a special unit of national crime division Kripos. Around 20 of the suspects are tied to possible war crimes in Rwanda, while others involve offenses in the former Jugoslavia, Somalia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Iraq, Congo, Eritrea and Sri Lanka. The persons involved are accused of crimes ranging to torture, systematic rape and genocide but came to Norway as refugees.
(Written January 11, 2010)
Police have the names of 144 persons living in Norway who are suspected of possible war crimes, reports newspaper Aftenposten. Only 29 of the cases are under investigation and that's sparked criticism. Prosecutors blame difficult and lengthy processes involved to issue orders to probe the backgrounds of the suspects, and say it takes much too long to get a legal case underway. The cases that are under investigation are being handled by a special unit of national crime division Kripos. Around 20 of the suspects are tied to possible war crimes in Rwanda, while others involve offenses in the former Jugoslavia, Somalia, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Iraq, Congo, Eritrea and Sri Lanka. The persons involved are accused of crimes ranging to torture, systematic rape and genocide but came to Norway as refugees.
(Written January 11, 2010)
Two little bear cubs, one of which was born a rare albino at the Polar Zoo in Bardu, Nord-Troms, are poised for national star status. A documentary about the unusual siblings, who emerged with their mother after her hibernation last winter, is being prepared for Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) and set for broadcast next year. The bears, named "Salt" and "Pepper," already have attracted record visitors to the zoo and now local newspaper Nye Troms has reported that Harstad firm Relation 04 has followed their first year of life on tape. The documentary will show both the bear cubs' public life and how they're cared for behind the scenes.
PHOTO: Kjell Solbakken/Harstad Tidende (Written January 11, 2010)
Cold weather brings out ski-lift monitors
Many young Norwegians apparently would rather be fashionable than warm, and that's prompted at least one ski resort to keep an eye on whether those riding their chairlifts are adequately dressed. Newspaper Bergens Tidende reports that when the thermometer falls below minus-20C, officials at the Røldal ski center monitor passengers on their lifts. "Those who aren't properly dressed aren't allowed to ride up," Oddvar Bratteteig of Røldal told the paper. "We're doing this out of consideration for the safety of our own guests." He said girls aged 13-14 are "the worst, and last weekend we had to turn away some of them. It seems they only wanted the wear the least amount of clothes possible."
(Written January 11, 2010)
Many young Norwegians apparently would rather be fashionable than warm, and that's prompted at least one ski resort to keep an eye on whether those riding their chairlifts are adequately dressed. Newspaper Bergens Tidende reports that when the thermometer falls below minus-20C, officials at the Røldal ski center monitor passengers on their lifts. "Those who aren't properly dressed aren't allowed to ride up," Oddvar Bratteteig of Røldal told the paper. "We're doing this out of consideration for the safety of our own guests." He said girls aged 13-14 are "the worst, and last weekend we had to turn away some of them. It seems they only wanted the wear the least amount of clothes possible."
(Written January 11, 2010)
Liv Ullmann's theater success got little attention at home in Norway
Actress-director Liv Ullmann seems to be another example of a successful Norwegian who gets more attention and rave reviews outside her home country that in it. Ullmann drew packed houses and applause from critics with her direction of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, starring Cate Blanchett. Critics for the Washington Post and New York Times called Ullmann's work "the performance of the year," and one of the best of the whole decade, but Ullmann said she was disappointed no Norwegian theater critics reviewed the productions. "I am after all Norwegian," the 71-year-old international star told Oslo-based newspaper Aftenposten over the weekend. She said one Norwegian magazine wrote about the performance, "and there I got bad reviews." The production got rave reviews in Blanchett's native Australia as well as in the US, so Ullmann nonetheless felt that "it couldn't be any better." She said "everything" about the production was like a fairy tale. "For a Norwegian director to set up one of America's greatest playwright's most well-known plays in Australia, and then take it on tour to the USA, is so risky," she told Aftenposten. Tickets sold for up to USD 4,000 on the black market, though. Plans are afoot for a taped "documentary" of a performance now that the show has closed. "That would be fantastic," Ullmann said.
(Written January 11, 2010)
Actress-director Liv Ullmann seems to be another example of a successful Norwegian who gets more attention and rave reviews outside her home country that in it. Ullmann drew packed houses and applause from critics with her direction of Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire, starring Cate Blanchett. Critics for the Washington Post and New York Times called Ullmann's work "the performance of the year," and one of the best of the whole decade, but Ullmann said she was disappointed no Norwegian theater critics reviewed the productions. "I am after all Norwegian," the 71-year-old international star told Oslo-based newspaper Aftenposten over the weekend. She said one Norwegian magazine wrote about the performance, "and there I got bad reviews." The production got rave reviews in Blanchett's native Australia as well as in the US, so Ullmann nonetheless felt that "it couldn't be any better." She said "everything" about the production was like a fairy tale. "For a Norwegian director to set up one of America's greatest playwright's most well-known plays in Australia, and then take it on tour to the USA, is so risky," she told Aftenposten. Tickets sold for up to USD 4,000 on the black market, though. Plans are afoot for a taped "documentary" of a performance now that the show has closed. "That would be fantastic," Ullmann said.
(Written January 11, 2010)
Threat emptied school in Tromsø
Police in the northern city of Tromsø didn't take any chances on Friday after a journalist for web site Aftenposten.no spotted a threat against a local high school on the Internet. Aftenposten contacted school officials, who conferred with police, who ultimately evacuated Kongsbakken High School Friday morning. The Internet posting showed a photo of the school and weapons under a headline "school massacre," along with a map showing the island where the city is located. The school is located in downtown Tromsø and has 650 students. National crime unit Kripos was called in to investigate.
(Written January 8, 2010)
Police in the northern city of Tromsø didn't take any chances on Friday after a journalist for web site Aftenposten.no spotted a threat against a local high school on the Internet. Aftenposten contacted school officials, who conferred with police, who ultimately evacuated Kongsbakken High School Friday morning. The Internet posting showed a photo of the school and weapons under a headline "school massacre," along with a map showing the island where the city is located. The school is located in downtown Tromsø and has 650 students. National crime unit Kripos was called in to investigate.
(Written January 8, 2010)
Drug seizures set another record
Norwegian customs officials seized nearly 2 tons of narcotics last year, more than five times the amount confiscated in 2000. The seizures included 96 kilos of heroin, compared to the 51 kilos halted at the border in 2008. Never before have Norwegian officials seized so much heroin, fully 34 times the amount just two years earlier. The value of narcotics seized set records along with the quantities, hitting an estimated half-billion kroner last year. In addition to heroin, customs officials seized 1,513 kilos of hash, 246 kilos of amphethamines and 58 kilos of cocaine. Police and customs officials have been trying to crack down on drugs entering Norway, using specially trained dogs, new methods to focus on where the drugs are coming from and new means of transport. One woman was recently stopped with drugs stashed into a wig she was wearing, while others have been found to have ingested drugs. Officials also point to better cooperation between customs and the police.
(Written January 8, 2010)
Norwegian customs officials seized nearly 2 tons of narcotics last year, more than five times the amount confiscated in 2000. The seizures included 96 kilos of heroin, compared to the 51 kilos halted at the border in 2008. Never before have Norwegian officials seized so much heroin, fully 34 times the amount just two years earlier. The value of narcotics seized set records along with the quantities, hitting an estimated half-billion kroner last year. In addition to heroin, customs officials seized 1,513 kilos of hash, 246 kilos of amphethamines and 58 kilos of cocaine. Police and customs officials have been trying to crack down on drugs entering Norway, using specially trained dogs, new methods to focus on where the drugs are coming from and new means of transport. One woman was recently stopped with drugs stashed into a wig she was wearing, while others have been found to have ingested drugs. Officials also point to better cooperation between customs and the police.
(Written January 8, 2010)
New visa rules call for bank guarantee
Norwegians expecting visits from abroad can be asked to post a bank guaranty of NOK 50,000, to ensure that the foreign visitors don't wind up as a burden on Norwegian taxpayers. New rules that went into effect January 1 allow permanent residents of Norway to welcome visitors from abroad, by putting up a bank guaranty, in cases where embassy officials are faced with "difficult" cases, reports newspaper Aften. Every year, thousands of visa applications from friends or family of Norwegian residents are rejected, because Norwegian authorities fear the visitors in question may try to stay in Norway or run out of money while in the country. Now, those hoping to welcome visitors can put NOK 50,000 into a blocked account for the duration of the visitor's stay. When the visitor has left, the host will regain access to his or her money. Immigration officials claim the bank guaranty will allow "more liberal" handling of many visa applications, but critics say it can mount a "class divide" between Norwegian residents who can afford the guaranty and those who can't.
(Written January 8, 2010)
Norwegians expecting visits from abroad can be asked to post a bank guaranty of NOK 50,000, to ensure that the foreign visitors don't wind up as a burden on Norwegian taxpayers. New rules that went into effect January 1 allow permanent residents of Norway to welcome visitors from abroad, by putting up a bank guaranty, in cases where embassy officials are faced with "difficult" cases, reports newspaper Aften. Every year, thousands of visa applications from friends or family of Norwegian residents are rejected, because Norwegian authorities fear the visitors in question may try to stay in Norway or run out of money while in the country. Now, those hoping to welcome visitors can put NOK 50,000 into a blocked account for the duration of the visitor's stay. When the visitor has left, the host will regain access to his or her money. Immigration officials claim the bank guaranty will allow "more liberal" handling of many visa applications, but critics say it can mount a "class divide" between Norwegian residents who can afford the guaranty and those who can't.
(Written January 8, 2010)
Police officer behind new children's TV show
A police officer in Bergen sold a car and put up his house as collateral to finance creation of a new television show for children that's now been sold to 30 other countries. The show, called Vennebyen (The friends city) in Norwegian, is due to premiere Sunday on TV2 and police officer Carl Christian Hamre is pleased with his success so far, reports newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN). "It's mostly private funds and investors that are behind this," he told DN. "Revenues will come in later." The show marks the most expensive animation series ever made in Norway, with a budget of more than NOK 20 million (about USD 3.2 million) for 26 episodes. Another 52 episodes are in the planning stages and the creative cop has even received inquiries from a company in China that wants to build an amusement park based on Vennebyen characters. "That would be fun, but we'll see how things develop," he said. Hamre has no intention of quitting his police job. "I'm a cop, and have no desire to stop being one," he said.
(Written January 7, 2010)
A police officer in Bergen sold a car and put up his house as collateral to finance creation of a new television show for children that's now been sold to 30 other countries. The show, called Vennebyen (The friends city) in Norwegian, is due to premiere Sunday on TV2 and police officer Carl Christian Hamre is pleased with his success so far, reports newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN). "It's mostly private funds and investors that are behind this," he told DN. "Revenues will come in later." The show marks the most expensive animation series ever made in Norway, with a budget of more than NOK 20 million (about USD 3.2 million) for 26 episodes. Another 52 episodes are in the planning stages and the creative cop has even received inquiries from a company in China that wants to build an amusement park based on Vennebyen characters. "That would be fun, but we'll see how things develop," he said. Hamre has no intention of quitting his police job. "I'm a cop, and have no desire to stop being one," he said.
(Written January 7, 2010)
Norway's royal family could look forward to some major royal parties in the coming year, some of them involving overseas trips. One of the biggest events of the year will be the wedding of Sweden's heir to the throne, Crown Princess Victoria, in Stockholm in June. Royals from around the world are invited, including King Harald and Queen Sonja (photo) and Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit. The king's sister, Princess Ragnhild, also turns 80 in June, and news bureau NTB reported that her party will likely be held in Oslo even though she lives in Brazil with her husband, Erling Lorentzen. Queen Margrethe of Denmark, a good friend of the Norwegian royal couple, celebrates her 70th birthday on April 16, meaning the Norwegian royals will be heading south for the event. They'll also travel to Vancouver for the Winter Olympics next month, while Princess Martha Louise will represent the family at the Paralympics. Haakon and Mette-Marit plan a state visit to Malaysia in March, leading a business delegation, and the crown prince will also attend the Expo in Shanghai. The Norwegian royals will be hosts at home as well, with Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands reportedly planning a state visit to Norway in June and French President Nicolas Sarkozy expressing interest in an official visit.
(Written January 7, 2010)
Ousted politician sets sights on being county administrator
Lars Sponheim, the former head of the Liberal Party (Venstre) who lost his seat in Parliament in the last election, may wind up in a new, public-sector top job like many other retired or ousted politicians. Newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) reported this week that Sponheim has applied to be fylkesmann (county administrator) for Hordaland in western Norway. Sponheim runs a small sheep ranch in the mountains of Hordaland and recently was tapped to be chairman of lottery firm Norsk Tipping, but he says he wants to put his political background to use. "I think I'm highly qualified for the post," Sponheim told DN. The 52-year-old is a former government minister who kept a loud and high profile in national politics even though the party he led is small. Voters gave it so little support at the national elections in September that Sponheim himself lost his seat and felt forced to resign as party leader.
(Written January 7, 2010)
Lars Sponheim, the former head of the Liberal Party (Venstre) who lost his seat in Parliament in the last election, may wind up in a new, public-sector top job like many other retired or ousted politicians. Newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) reported this week that Sponheim has applied to be fylkesmann (county administrator) for Hordaland in western Norway. Sponheim runs a small sheep ranch in the mountains of Hordaland and recently was tapped to be chairman of lottery firm Norsk Tipping, but he says he wants to put his political background to use. "I think I'm highly qualified for the post," Sponheim told DN. The 52-year-old is a former government minister who kept a loud and high profile in national politics even though the party he led is small. Voters gave it so little support at the national elections in September that Sponheim himself lost his seat and felt forced to resign as party leader.
(Written January 7, 2010)
Literary officials worried over Ibsen Center move
Plans are afoot to move a center devoted to the study of works by Norwegian literary giant Henrik Ibsen from its own building near the National Library to the campus of the University of Oslo. Researchers and Ibsen experts fear the move will split up the collection of Ibsen material and make research more difficult, especially for visiting foreign researchers who can benefit from having everything in one place. The center is currently housed in the university's old observatory in Oslo's Vika district, and has been been able to offer up to nearly 20 short- and longer-term posts for researchers using its Ibsen library, with the National Library just a block away and the Ibsen Museum (and the author's last home) down the street. Now the center employees must move to the University of Oslo across town at Blindern. The head of the center told newspaper Aftenposten that opposition to the move is coming too late. Professor Vigdis Ystad and center researcher Astrid Sæther were among those hoping state authorities would overrule the university faculty's decision to move the center, and thus keep the Ibsen collection intact.
(Written January 7, 2010)
Plans are afoot to move a center devoted to the study of works by Norwegian literary giant Henrik Ibsen from its own building near the National Library to the campus of the University of Oslo. Researchers and Ibsen experts fear the move will split up the collection of Ibsen material and make research more difficult, especially for visiting foreign researchers who can benefit from having everything in one place. The center is currently housed in the university's old observatory in Oslo's Vika district, and has been been able to offer up to nearly 20 short- and longer-term posts for researchers using its Ibsen library, with the National Library just a block away and the Ibsen Museum (and the author's last home) down the street. Now the center employees must move to the University of Oslo across town at Blindern. The head of the center told newspaper Aftenposten that opposition to the move is coming too late. Professor Vigdis Ystad and center researcher Astrid Sæther were among those hoping state authorities would overrule the university faculty's decision to move the center, and thus keep the Ibsen collection intact.
(Written January 7, 2010)
Official at Iranian Embassy quits in protest
Details remained sketchy, but Norwegian media was reporting this week that a consul at the Iranian Embassy in Oslo had resigned his post in protest. He told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) that he no longer could represent his country, after its government reacted so harshly against protesters last week. The consul had worked at the embassy in Oslo for the past three years. He reportedly remains in the capital but hadn't reported to Norwegian authorities. Other Iranians claimed his life may now be in danger from a regime that tolerates little criticism. He told NRK he was considering asking Norwegian officials for help, possibly asylum.
(Written January 6, 2010)
Details remained sketchy, but Norwegian media was reporting this week that a consul at the Iranian Embassy in Oslo had resigned his post in protest. He told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) that he no longer could represent his country, after its government reacted so harshly against protesters last week. The consul had worked at the embassy in Oslo for the past three years. He reportedly remains in the capital but hadn't reported to Norwegian authorities. Other Iranians claimed his life may now be in danger from a regime that tolerates little criticism. He told NRK he was considering asking Norwegian officials for help, possibly asylum.
(Written January 6, 2010)
Bergen dialect irritates the most Norwegians
Foreigners in Norway apparently aren't the only ones challenged, if not utterly baffled, by the wide array of Norwegian dialects. A new study indicates that Norwegians themselves find some dialects downright irritating, with "Bergenese" the most most irritating of all. One of five Norwegians finds the Bergen dialect troublesome, while Norwegians living on the west coast (where Bergen is located) are most irritated by the dialects spoken in Trøndelag. The study, interestingly enough, was carried out by a group whose mission is to promote Norwegian dialects (PurDialekt) and "take care" of dialects from Lindesnes in the south to the far north, reports news bureau ANB. "Personally, I don't have anything against the Bergen dialect," said Torstein Wollner of PurDialekt. "And I don't think the results of the study will bother patriotic Bergenese." The next two most irritating dialects were those spoken in Nordland and in Stavanger, according to the study.
(Written January 6, 2010)
Foreigners in Norway apparently aren't the only ones challenged, if not utterly baffled, by the wide array of Norwegian dialects. A new study indicates that Norwegians themselves find some dialects downright irritating, with "Bergenese" the most most irritating of all. One of five Norwegians finds the Bergen dialect troublesome, while Norwegians living on the west coast (where Bergen is located) are most irritated by the dialects spoken in Trøndelag. The study, interestingly enough, was carried out by a group whose mission is to promote Norwegian dialects (PurDialekt) and "take care" of dialects from Lindesnes in the south to the far north, reports news bureau ANB. "Personally, I don't have anything against the Bergen dialect," said Torstein Wollner of PurDialekt. "And I don't think the results of the study will bother patriotic Bergenese." The next two most irritating dialects were those spoken in Nordland and in Stavanger, according to the study.
(Written January 6, 2010)
While southern Norway freezes, it's warmer up north
All weather stations north of the Norwegian mainland are reporting abnormally warm temperatures, while the rest of the country and much of Europe is experiencing an unusual cold snap. Temperatures were on average nearly 8 degrees higher than normal in Longyearbyen on Svalbard in December, reports newspaper Aftenposten. The average December temperature is minus-13.4C, but it was only minus-5.5C on average last month. Bjørnøya reported temperatures 5.6 degrees than normal, while at Hopen it was 9 degrees warmer than normal. Vidar Eng of the state meteorological institute said November was warmer than normal as well, not least because of less ice. "The lack of ice must be the most important reason that air temperatures are so high," he told Aftenposten.
(Written January 5, 2010)
All weather stations north of the Norwegian mainland are reporting abnormally warm temperatures, while the rest of the country and much of Europe is experiencing an unusual cold snap. Temperatures were on average nearly 8 degrees higher than normal in Longyearbyen on Svalbard in December, reports newspaper Aftenposten. The average December temperature is minus-13.4C, but it was only minus-5.5C on average last month. Bjørnøya reported temperatures 5.6 degrees than normal, while at Hopen it was 9 degrees warmer than normal. Vidar Eng of the state meteorological institute said November was warmer than normal as well, not least because of less ice. "The lack of ice must be the most important reason that air temperatures are so high," he told Aftenposten.
(Written January 5, 2010)
Kjell Grandhagen (photo) says the northern areas are the most important for Norwegian military intelligence experts as he assumes command. The high-ranking officer (generalløytnant) has been tapped to take over the military intelligence unit (Forsvarets etterretningstjeneste) after serving as the military's chief spokesman. He'll be going from a holding a highly vocal position to one that's considered "hush-hush" since the so-called "E-tjeneste" unit is the most secretive in the country. "That's an important challenge for the service, because it creates a lot of mystery," Grandhagen told newspaper Aftenposten. "It's easy to make claims about us, or about things we can never respond to." Grandhagen says he wants the public "to understand E-tjenesten ... but I can't be much more open." Grandhagen, age 55, has held several top military positions including leadership roles in NATO's peace-keeping forces in Bosnia-Hercegovina.
(Written January 5, 2010)
Township imposes absolute smoking ban, and fires up anger
Norway has had strict laws against smoking for years, but now a township just north of Oslo has cracked down so hard that some local residents think authorities have gone too far. The new restrictions, which went into effect from January 1, prevent all employees of Sørum township from smoking either outside or inside when they're at work. The rule applies whether they're on township property or not, with no smoking allowed at all during work hours. "This is ridiculous," said one local resident interviewed by Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK). "I think this is a bordering on nazi-style," said another. "I can understand that people shouldn't smoke inside, but this is all about too much control over other peoples' lives." Ingvild Syvertsen, leader of the township committee that made the new rule, told NRK that the goal was to lower sick leave and reduce the number of smokers among the township's roughly 1,000 employees by 60 percent. They thought the strict new rule would help township employees kick the habit. Committee member Wenche Mjønerud said employees were invited to come up with other ideas to improve health and welfare, but none were submitted. Seven out of 10 committee members therefore voted to impose the ban, overruling three who wanted it delayed for a year to let employees get used to the idea. Smoking isn't allowed during lunch breaks, either, "because we have paid breaks in Sørum township," said Syvertsen. She admitted the new rule "can seem strict, but for some, it can be just what's needed to get them to quit. I'm absolutely sure that Sørum won't be the last township to approve a rule like this."
(Written January 4, 2010)
Norway has had strict laws against smoking for years, but now a township just north of Oslo has cracked down so hard that some local residents think authorities have gone too far. The new restrictions, which went into effect from January 1, prevent all employees of Sørum township from smoking either outside or inside when they're at work. The rule applies whether they're on township property or not, with no smoking allowed at all during work hours. "This is ridiculous," said one local resident interviewed by Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK). "I think this is a bordering on nazi-style," said another. "I can understand that people shouldn't smoke inside, but this is all about too much control over other peoples' lives." Ingvild Syvertsen, leader of the township committee that made the new rule, told NRK that the goal was to lower sick leave and reduce the number of smokers among the township's roughly 1,000 employees by 60 percent. They thought the strict new rule would help township employees kick the habit. Committee member Wenche Mjønerud said employees were invited to come up with other ideas to improve health and welfare, but none were submitted. Seven out of 10 committee members therefore voted to impose the ban, overruling three who wanted it delayed for a year to let employees get used to the idea. Smoking isn't allowed during lunch breaks, either, "because we have paid breaks in Sørum township," said Syvertsen. She admitted the new rule "can seem strict, but for some, it can be just what's needed to get them to quit. I'm absolutely sure that Sørum won't be the last township to approve a rule like this."
(Written January 4, 2010)
Arrests made after shots fired at police car
Police in Drammen had 12 suspects in custody Monday morning and were still searching for at least one more accomplice, after shots were fired Sunday at a patrol car in the small nearby community of Nedre Eiker, Buskerud County. Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported that two of the 12 arrested have been charged in the actual shooting, while the others were accomplices. All of those arrested are men in their 20s from the Eiker area. Police were fired at on Sunday when they tried to stop a car that was spotted driving with no license plates between Solbergelva and Krokstadelva. Instead of stopping, the driver of the car pulled out a weapon and fired three or four shots at the police, before driving off at high speed. Police followed in pursuit, and reported that more shots were fired by one of the passengers in the car. They lost sight of the car in the town of Hokksund, after a roughly six-kilometer chase. A search went on all night, with arrests made early Monday morning. Police also found the car from which the shots were fired, in Drammen.
(Written January 4, 2010)
Police in Drammen had 12 suspects in custody Monday morning and were still searching for at least one more accomplice, after shots were fired Sunday at a patrol car in the small nearby community of Nedre Eiker, Buskerud County. Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported that two of the 12 arrested have been charged in the actual shooting, while the others were accomplices. All of those arrested are men in their 20s from the Eiker area. Police were fired at on Sunday when they tried to stop a car that was spotted driving with no license plates between Solbergelva and Krokstadelva. Instead of stopping, the driver of the car pulled out a weapon and fired three or four shots at the police, before driving off at high speed. Police followed in pursuit, and reported that more shots were fired by one of the passengers in the car. They lost sight of the car in the town of Hokksund, after a roughly six-kilometer chase. A search went on all night, with arrests made early Monday morning. Police also found the car from which the shots were fired, in Drammen.
(Written January 4, 2010)
Fire ravages community center in northern Norway
A town hall, the local community center, its nearby swim hall and the club house for an athletics organization burned to the ground in Balsfjord, Troms County, during the night. The fire started just before 10pm and continued to burn out of control around midnight, not least after temperatures as low as minus-15C clogged fire-fighters' hoses. Around 60 local residents living near the blaze were evacuated because of smoke and potentially poisonous gases emitting from the fire. There were no injuries, however. Police said it was too early to say what caused the fire in the small town with a population of about 1,000 about 90 kilometers south of Tromsø. The community center was the main meeting place for town residents, and the sports club house had been built by volunteers. "This was our main hall," Bjørn Strand of the Storsteinnes Club told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) as he viewed the damage. Balsfjord Mayor Gunda Johansen said the fire made a "deep impression on me and many others in the township."
(Written January 4, 2010)
A town hall, the local community center, its nearby swim hall and the club house for an athletics organization burned to the ground in Balsfjord, Troms County, during the night. The fire started just before 10pm and continued to burn out of control around midnight, not least after temperatures as low as minus-15C clogged fire-fighters' hoses. Around 60 local residents living near the blaze were evacuated because of smoke and potentially poisonous gases emitting from the fire. There were no injuries, however. Police said it was too early to say what caused the fire in the small town with a population of about 1,000 about 90 kilometers south of Tromsø. The community center was the main meeting place for town residents, and the sports club house had been built by volunteers. "This was our main hall," Bjørn Strand of the Storsteinnes Club told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) as he viewed the damage. Balsfjord Mayor Gunda Johansen said the fire made a "deep impression on me and many others in the township."
(Written January 4, 2010)
Norwegian government criticized for not helping Vanunu
Young politicians from within the Norwegian government's own parties have complained of "deafening silence" from the government after Israeli scientist Mordechai Vanunuwas was jailed once again last week for allegedly violating the terms of his parole by having contact with a Norwegian girlfriend. Vanunu served a lengthy jail term for revealing Israel's atomic weapons program and continues to be prohibited from leaving the country. He's also banned from having contact with foreigners. Norway has offered Vanunu a guest professorship at the University of Tromsø and promised work- and residence permission if he's allowed to move to Norway, but Israel won't let him leave the country. The head of the Labour Party's youth division, Martin Henriksen, said the Norwegian government "must protest the horrible treatment of Mordechai Vanunu, there must be an end to this deafening silence" from the government. Cabinet Minister Kristin Halvorsen of the Socialist Left said she has discussed Vanunu's situation with Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, but that it won't help to give Vanunu an emergency Norwegian passport. Supporters of Vanunu have long argued that Norway has a "special responsibility" to help him, because Norway once supplied the heavy water to Israel that it later allegedly used to make nuclear weapons. The Israeli government considers Vanunu a traitor and spy.
(Written January 3, 2010)
Young politicians from within the Norwegian government's own parties have complained of "deafening silence" from the government after Israeli scientist Mordechai Vanunuwas was jailed once again last week for allegedly violating the terms of his parole by having contact with a Norwegian girlfriend. Vanunu served a lengthy jail term for revealing Israel's atomic weapons program and continues to be prohibited from leaving the country. He's also banned from having contact with foreigners. Norway has offered Vanunu a guest professorship at the University of Tromsø and promised work- and residence permission if he's allowed to move to Norway, but Israel won't let him leave the country. The head of the Labour Party's youth division, Martin Henriksen, said the Norwegian government "must protest the horrible treatment of Mordechai Vanunu, there must be an end to this deafening silence" from the government. Cabinet Minister Kristin Halvorsen of the Socialist Left said she has discussed Vanunu's situation with Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, but that it won't help to give Vanunu an emergency Norwegian passport. Supporters of Vanunu have long argued that Norway has a "special responsibility" to help him, because Norway once supplied the heavy water to Israel that it later allegedly used to make nuclear weapons. The Israeli government considers Vanunu a traitor and spy.
(Written January 3, 2010)
to tag reindeer with reflectors
It would be one of those "only in Norway" stories, if it wasn't actually rooted in Finland: Norwegian highway authorities are seriously considering trying to tag reindeer that roam around the vast open spaces of Finnmark in northern Norway with reflectors, in the hopes of preventing both motorists and the animals from colliding with one another. A total of 16 reindeer were hit by cars in Finnmark just during the Christmas weekend, and authorities say hundreds fall victim to motorists every year. The state highway department (Statens Vegvesen) wants to try out a program used in Finland that literally would equip the reindeer with reflectors. "We're very curious about the experience they've had with the program," Knut Busk of Statens Vegsen Region Nord told news bureau NTB. They've already invested in clearing brush away from roads in areas where the reindeer roam, and think the small strips known as refleks in Norway will help make the animals more visible to motorists. Refleks is already used by humans all over the country, young and old alike, to reduce the number of accidents on dark roads and streets in the fall and winter.
PHOTO: visitnorway.com
(Written December 29, 2009)
Young asylum seekers wait for homes
Never before have so many children and youth arrived in Norway alone to seek asylum. Around 450 are now temporarily housed in asylum centers around the country, waiting for local townships to offer them a home. "These are children who have fled from war and won residence permission in Norway," Ohene Aboagye of the state integration directorate (Integrerings- og mangfoldsdirektoratet, IMDi) told newspaper Dagsavisen. "We have asked the townships to find homes for them. It's their responsibility to arrange solutions." Around 400 of the young refugees already have been provided accommodation, but no one expected demand would be so strong. Immigration authorities are bracing for even more young asylum seekers to arrive in Norway next year.
(Written December 29, 2009)
Never before have so many children and youth arrived in Norway alone to seek asylum. Around 450 are now temporarily housed in asylum centers around the country, waiting for local townships to offer them a home. "These are children who have fled from war and won residence permission in Norway," Ohene Aboagye of the state integration directorate (Integrerings- og mangfoldsdirektoratet, IMDi) told newspaper Dagsavisen. "We have asked the townships to find homes for them. It's their responsibility to arrange solutions." Around 400 of the young refugees already have been provided accommodation, but no one expected demand would be so strong. Immigration authorities are bracing for even more young asylum seekers to arrive in Norway next year.
(Written December 29, 2009)
Swine flu expected to flare up again
State health officials think waves of swine flu infection will continue to flare up in years to come, and have no hopes that the virus died out after the autumn epidemic. "We have to be prepared that it can come back in coming winters," Bjørn-Inge Larsen of the Health Directorate told newspaper Dagsavisen. He thinks vaccinations now offered to the public at large will be effective for around two years, but a second dose may be necessary. The disease first broke out in Norway last spring and peaked during the autumn. Health authorities think swine flu will break out again in January and February. A third wave may not be as dramatic, though, Larsen said. "Many people have already been sick, and a large portion of the population has been vaccinated," he said. "We may avoid a major new outbreak this winter."
(Written December 29, 2009)
State health officials think waves of swine flu infection will continue to flare up in years to come, and have no hopes that the virus died out after the autumn epidemic. "We have to be prepared that it can come back in coming winters," Bjørn-Inge Larsen of the Health Directorate told newspaper Dagsavisen. He thinks vaccinations now offered to the public at large will be effective for around two years, but a second dose may be necessary. The disease first broke out in Norway last spring and peaked during the autumn. Health authorities think swine flu will break out again in January and February. A third wave may not be as dramatic, though, Larsen said. "Many people have already been sick, and a large portion of the population has been vaccinated," he said. "We may avoid a major new outbreak this winter."
(Written December 29, 2009)
Tsunami victims remembered
Eighty-four candles were lit at an outdoor, waterfront memorial service on Oslo's Bygdøy peninsula on Saturday, to mark the fifth anniversary of the tsunami that devastated large areas of Southeast and South Asia. Each candle was lit in memory of the 84 Norwegians killed in the catastrophe, most of whom were vacationing on the west coast of Thailand when the killer wave hit. Saturday's low-key ceremony was also aimed at boosting the fellowship that's built up among survivors in Norway. Some of those who gathered also lit their own candles as the sun set in mid-afternoon, laid down red and white roses and drew symbols and messages in the newly fallen snow that blanketed the beach area at Bygdøy's Paradisbukta (Paradise Bay). A monument at the site was unveiled by King Harald two years ago, as a place for survivors to seek comfort and gather together.
(Written December 28, 2009)
Eighty-four candles were lit at an outdoor, waterfront memorial service on Oslo's Bygdøy peninsula on Saturday, to mark the fifth anniversary of the tsunami that devastated large areas of Southeast and South Asia. Each candle was lit in memory of the 84 Norwegians killed in the catastrophe, most of whom were vacationing on the west coast of Thailand when the killer wave hit. Saturday's low-key ceremony was also aimed at boosting the fellowship that's built up among survivors in Norway. Some of those who gathered also lit their own candles as the sun set in mid-afternoon, laid down red and white roses and drew symbols and messages in the newly fallen snow that blanketed the beach area at Bygdøy's Paradisbukta (Paradise Bay). A monument at the site was unveiled by King Harald two years ago, as a place for survivors to seek comfort and gather together.
(Written December 28, 2009)
Airport security raised along with terror threat
Extraordinary security measures were put into place at Oslo's main airport at Gardermoen over the weekend, after a Nigerian man tried to light explosives on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. Passengers on flights from Oslo to the US were undergoing security checks both at the main control station and at the terminal area serving flights outside the European passport cooperation area. "We have been asked to carry out more comprehensive security controls of all passengers who are flying directly to the USA," an airport spokeperson told TV2. There are only a few flights non-stop from Oslo to New York, and their passengers were also being asked to present their carry-on luggage at the gate and be prepared for additional security checks.
(Written December 28, 2009)
Extraordinary security measures were put into place at Oslo's main airport at Gardermoen over the weekend, after a Nigerian man tried to light explosives on a flight from Amsterdam to Detroit. Passengers on flights from Oslo to the US were undergoing security checks both at the main control station and at the terminal area serving flights outside the European passport cooperation area. "We have been asked to carry out more comprehensive security controls of all passengers who are flying directly to the USA," an airport spokeperson told TV2. There are only a few flights non-stop from Oslo to New York, and their passengers were also being asked to present their carry-on luggage at the gate and be prepared for additional security checks.
(Written December 28, 2009)
Holiday stress sparked record number of fender-benders
Insurance companies in Norway once again recorded a record number of accident claim reports, from motorists who collided with one another during the last few days before the Christmas holidays began. Collisions climaxed on December 22, when insurers reported receipt of an accident claim every minute. "It looks like December 22 was the busiest day of the year for us, just like in 2008," a spokesman for If Skadeforsikring told news bureau NTB. The total of 235 claims was 25 percent higher than on a normal day.
(Written December 27, 2009)
Insurance companies in Norway once again recorded a record number of accident claim reports, from motorists who collided with one another during the last few days before the Christmas holidays began. Collisions climaxed on December 22, when insurers reported receipt of an accident claim every minute. "It looks like December 22 was the busiest day of the year for us, just like in 2008," a spokesman for If Skadeforsikring told news bureau NTB. The total of 235 claims was 25 percent higher than on a normal day.
(Written December 27, 2009)
This one (photo at left) didn't suit the tastes of city officials, who had ordered the statue from sculptor Knut Steen but weren't happy with the results. Many thought it resembled a fallen statue of Saddam Hussein, and it's since found a home at Skjerehamn in Gulen, western Norway. Now Oslo officials have announced a new competition among sculptors to build what they call "a monument to His Magesty King Olav V," who died in 1991. Kristian Blystad, Nico Widerberg and Marit Wicklund have been invited, along with some Norwegian artists living overseas, to submit proposals for a new statue that would be placed just west of City Hall. Their deadline is March 26.
(Written December 22, 2009)
The hotel that recently hosted US President Barack Obama had to be evacuated after what police called "a little fire" broke out in a dryer in the hotel's basement. Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported Tuesday that around 150 guests and staff were sent out into the cold, while firefighters contained the spread of smoke. Those evacuated had to brave subzero temperatures until they were allowed back into their rooms. The Grand Hotel (photo) traditionally hosts the winners of the Nobel Peace Prize. Obama and a large delegation of US officials therefore stayed at the Grand when he was awarded the Peace Prize December 10.
(Written December 22, 2009)
Needy families in Norway, too
Not all Norwegians were happily heading into the Christmas holidays (juledager) this week. Even though Norway is constantly referred to as a wealthy country because of its oil and gas revenues, thousands aren't reaping the benefits, and local Salvation Army chapters report record numbers of calls for help. News bureau NTB reports that more families than ever before have asked the Salvation Army for food for Christmas meals, according to a survey of Salvation Army operations in all major Norwegian cities. Around 3,700 appeals for help were in hand the week before Christmas. "We're seeing a depressing number of families who are struggling," Captain Tone Lund Georgsen in Oslo told newpaper Dagbladet. She said that many applicants try to hide the fact that they're struggling, but had no choice but to seek help. She said the Salvation Army also had received calls for help from elderly Norwegians "isolated and lonely in old apartment buildings with no elevator, and it's difficult not to be moved." Food distribution charity Fattig Huset was also reporting strong demand for Christmas meals.
(Written December 21, 2009)
Not all Norwegians were happily heading into the Christmas holidays (juledager) this week. Even though Norway is constantly referred to as a wealthy country because of its oil and gas revenues, thousands aren't reaping the benefits, and local Salvation Army chapters report record numbers of calls for help. News bureau NTB reports that more families than ever before have asked the Salvation Army for food for Christmas meals, according to a survey of Salvation Army operations in all major Norwegian cities. Around 3,700 appeals for help were in hand the week before Christmas. "We're seeing a depressing number of families who are struggling," Captain Tone Lund Georgsen in Oslo told newpaper Dagbladet. She said that many applicants try to hide the fact that they're struggling, but had no choice but to seek help. She said the Salvation Army also had received calls for help from elderly Norwegians "isolated and lonely in old apartment buildings with no elevator, and it's difficult not to be moved." Food distribution charity Fattig Huset was also reporting strong demand for Christmas meals.
(Written December 21, 2009)
Iraqi foreign minister's visit failed to expedite Krekar's deportation
Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari of Iraq visited Norwegian government officials late last week, but there was no progress in Norway's desire to deport Mullah Krekar, the former guerrilla leader who's been deemed a threat to Norway's national security. Zebari met with Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Krekar's status was on the agenda, but Støre couldn't extract guarantees Krekar wouldn't be sentenced to death if sent back to Iraq. Zebari told newspaper Dagbladet he didn't understand why Krekar continues to attract so much interest and attention in Norway. "In Iraq, almost nobody knows who he is," Zebari told Dagbladet. "You're turning him into a hero by putting so much focus on him." He said he understood, however, that Krekar is a "headache" for the Norwegian authorities and "a challenge" for the Iraqi authorities. Støre said he understood Zebari's view as well, noting that Iraq has "thousands of persons like Mullah Krekar ... and they live with an entirely different threat situation than we do." Zebari opposes the death penalty, but it still exists on Iraq's books and could be imposed on Krekar because of his guerrilla activities there in earlier years. Krekar continues to live in Oslo, where he came as a refugee in the early 1990s.
(Written December 21, 2009)
Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari of Iraq visited Norwegian government officials late last week, but there was no progress in Norway's desire to deport Mullah Krekar, the former guerrilla leader who's been deemed a threat to Norway's national security. Zebari met with Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and Krekar's status was on the agenda, but Støre couldn't extract guarantees Krekar wouldn't be sentenced to death if sent back to Iraq. Zebari told newspaper Dagbladet he didn't understand why Krekar continues to attract so much interest and attention in Norway. "In Iraq, almost nobody knows who he is," Zebari told Dagbladet. "You're turning him into a hero by putting so much focus on him." He said he understood, however, that Krekar is a "headache" for the Norwegian authorities and "a challenge" for the Iraqi authorities. Støre said he understood Zebari's view as well, noting that Iraq has "thousands of persons like Mullah Krekar ... and they live with an entirely different threat situation than we do." Zebari opposes the death penalty, but it still exists on Iraq's books and could be imposed on Krekar because of his guerrilla activities there in earlier years. Krekar continues to live in Oslo, where he came as a refugee in the early 1990s.
(Written December 21, 2009)
Maritime museum plans many changes
The Norwegian Maritime Museum in Oslo will get a new name and expand its activities next year, says director Petter Omtvedt. New bureau NTB reports that the museum's name in Norwegian will change from Norsk Sjøfartsmuseum to Norsk Maritimt Museum from January 1, to reflect the museum's embrace of all sorts of maritime activity and business. It's already been called the "Maritime Museum" in English for years, and will remain in the building on the Bygdøy Peninsula that's been its home since 1971. It's undergoing renovation, though, with an expanded library, and all exhibits will be renewed within the next four years. In March a new permanent exhibition will open, showing more than 2,000 years of shipbuilding.
(Written December 21, 2009)
The Norwegian Maritime Museum in Oslo will get a new name and expand its activities next year, says director Petter Omtvedt. New bureau NTB reports that the museum's name in Norwegian will change from Norsk Sjøfartsmuseum to Norsk Maritimt Museum from January 1, to reflect the museum's embrace of all sorts of maritime activity and business. It's already been called the "Maritime Museum" in English for years, and will remain in the building on the Bygdøy Peninsula that's been its home since 1971. It's undergoing renovation, though, with an expanded library, and all exhibits will be renewed within the next four years. In March a new permanent exhibition will open, showing more than 2,000 years of shipbuilding.
(Written December 21, 2009)
Soon there will be 5 million Norwegians
The population of Norway continues to grow. After decades of conventional wisdom decreeing that there were around 4 million Norwegians, the official figure now stands at 4,854,000, according to state statistics bureau SSB. The population has increased by 55,000 during the past year, reports SSB, or around 1.1 percent. Around 36 percent of the growth is linked to births that outnumbered deaths, while 64 percent of the increase is attributed to those moving to Norway from foreign countries. In the mid-1990s, around 70 percent of the increase in Norway's population was caused by births outnumbering deaths (fødselsoverskudd). The new numbers thus show the role immigration is playing in Norway's growth. Oslo's population has grown by 11,300 persons and Bergen's by 4,500 while Trondheim could report 2,700 more residents in 2009.
(Written December 18, 2009)
The population of Norway continues to grow. After decades of conventional wisdom decreeing that there were around 4 million Norwegians, the official figure now stands at 4,854,000, according to state statistics bureau SSB. The population has increased by 55,000 during the past year, reports SSB, or around 1.1 percent. Around 36 percent of the growth is linked to births that outnumbered deaths, while 64 percent of the increase is attributed to those moving to Norway from foreign countries. In the mid-1990s, around 70 percent of the increase in Norway's population was caused by births outnumbering deaths (fødselsoverskudd). The new numbers thus show the role immigration is playing in Norway's growth. Oslo's population has grown by 11,300 persons and Bergen's by 4,500 while Trondheim could report 2,700 more residents in 2009.
(Written December 18, 2009)
Norwegians not so keen on minarets, either
One in three Norwegians would also like to forbid construction of minarets at mosques calling their faithful to prayer. They don't object to church bells, but are skeptical to the muslim way of calling to prayer, according to a new survey conducted by research group Respons for newspaper Aftenposten. The survey resulted in 31 percent of those questioned saying they would like to see a prohibition of minarets similar to that recently passed by voters in Switzerland. Fully 44 percent, however, objected to any prohibition on construction of minarets, while 17 percent were undecided and 8 percent wouldn't answer the question. The survey showed that 40 percent also objected to the idea of holding a referendum on the issue, while 24 percent were positive to a chance for Norwegians to have their say. Fully 35 percent were undecided. The survey was done as construction nears completion on what will be Oslo's newest mosque, which already has become a landmark along the E6 highway north of downtown in Furuset. It has cost around NOK 80 million and been totally financed by its users, receiving no state support. It's imam, Shahid Mahmood Kahloon, said he was pleased a majority of those questioned objected any prohibition against minarets.
(Written December 18, 2009)
One in three Norwegians would also like to forbid construction of minarets at mosques calling their faithful to prayer. They don't object to church bells, but are skeptical to the muslim way of calling to prayer, according to a new survey conducted by research group Respons for newspaper Aftenposten. The survey resulted in 31 percent of those questioned saying they would like to see a prohibition of minarets similar to that recently passed by voters in Switzerland. Fully 44 percent, however, objected to any prohibition on construction of minarets, while 17 percent were undecided and 8 percent wouldn't answer the question. The survey showed that 40 percent also objected to the idea of holding a referendum on the issue, while 24 percent were positive to a chance for Norwegians to have their say. Fully 35 percent were undecided. The survey was done as construction nears completion on what will be Oslo's newest mosque, which already has become a landmark along the E6 highway north of downtown in Furuset. It has cost around NOK 80 million and been totally financed by its users, receiving no state support. It's imam, Shahid Mahmood Kahloon, said he was pleased a majority of those questioned objected any prohibition against minarets.
(Written December 18, 2009)
Embassy damaged by Kabul blast
Norway's embassy in Afghanistan was among buildings damaged when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the Heetal Plaza Hotel in Kabul Tuesday morning. The Norwegian embassy is located about 250 meters from the site of this latest terrorist attack to hit the troubled capital. "There is major damage to the embassy, windows and doors have been blown out," Kåre R Aas, Norway's ambassador to Afghanistan, told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK). He said no embassy staffers were injured but their residences were, and many will need to arrange new accommodation. Eight persons were reported killed in the bombing and around 40 were reported injured as of midday Tuesday. The hotel where the blast occurred caters to foreign visitors. Hamid Karzai, the newly re-elected president of Afghanistan, called the bombing "brutal and inhumane."
(Written December 16, 2009)
Norway's embassy in Afghanistan was among buildings damaged when a suicide bomber blew himself up outside the Heetal Plaza Hotel in Kabul Tuesday morning. The Norwegian embassy is located about 250 meters from the site of this latest terrorist attack to hit the troubled capital. "There is major damage to the embassy, windows and doors have been blown out," Kåre R Aas, Norway's ambassador to Afghanistan, told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK). He said no embassy staffers were injured but their residences were, and many will need to arrange new accommodation. Eight persons were reported killed in the bombing and around 40 were reported injured as of midday Tuesday. The hotel where the blast occurred caters to foreign visitors. Hamid Karzai, the newly re-elected president of Afghanistan, called the bombing "brutal and inhumane."
(Written December 16, 2009)
Odd Nerdrum exhibit draws little interest
It wasn't too many years ago that an exhibit by contemporary Norwegian artist Odd Nerdrum would draw huge crowds, lots of newspaper headlines and high prices. Nerdrum's art was also sought after abroad, not least in New York. Times change. An exhibit of 22 Nerdrum paintings, 19 of which had never been shown before, closed over the weekend in the mountain town of Notodden in Telemark and not a single major newspaper even reviewed it. While a Nerdrum exhibit in Oslo attracted 845,000 visitors in 1998, the exhibit in Notodden attracted around 4,000. Organizers at Telemarksgalleriet claim they're satisfied, but disappointed by the lack of media interest. They think it's "strange," also that no purchasing agents for state collections turned up or showed interest. Audun Eckhoff, new director of the National Museum in Oslo, couldn't say whether the museum is considering buying any of Nerdrum's new paintings. It has five now, none painted after 1994. Nerdrum, who moved from Norway to Iceland several years ago and refuses to be interviewed by Norwegian journalists, has himself classified his art as "kitsch," and the Notodden exhibit was called "Kitsch - More than art."
(Written December 15, 2009)
It wasn't too many years ago that an exhibit by contemporary Norwegian artist Odd Nerdrum would draw huge crowds, lots of newspaper headlines and high prices. Nerdrum's art was also sought after abroad, not least in New York. Times change. An exhibit of 22 Nerdrum paintings, 19 of which had never been shown before, closed over the weekend in the mountain town of Notodden in Telemark and not a single major newspaper even reviewed it. While a Nerdrum exhibit in Oslo attracted 845,000 visitors in 1998, the exhibit in Notodden attracted around 4,000. Organizers at Telemarksgalleriet claim they're satisfied, but disappointed by the lack of media interest. They think it's "strange," also that no purchasing agents for state collections turned up or showed interest. Audun Eckhoff, new director of the National Museum in Oslo, couldn't say whether the museum is considering buying any of Nerdrum's new paintings. It has five now, none painted after 1994. Nerdrum, who moved from Norway to Iceland several years ago and refuses to be interviewed by Norwegian journalists, has himself classified his art as "kitsch," and the Notodden exhibit was called "Kitsch - More than art."
(Written December 15, 2009)
Police setting up more speedtraps
Norwegian police have tripled the amount of laser guns they have to monitor motorists' speed, and they intend to use them. Newspaper Aftenposten reports that speedtraps are due to increase dramatically, as police continue boosting their efforts to enforce speed limits. They've never seized as many drivers' licenses as they have this year, nearly 6,000 by the end of October, more than double the amount five years ago. "We're standing here to weed out those who are a danger to themselves and to others," police officer Terje Axeksen told Aftenposten as he kept a laser gun pointed at the E18 highway near Stokke. "We know we're saving lives." The vast majority of fatal car accidents in Norway occur when speedsters attempt to pass on two-lane roads, prompting head-on collisions.
(Written December 15, 2009)
Norwegian police have tripled the amount of laser guns they have to monitor motorists' speed, and they intend to use them. Newspaper Aftenposten reports that speedtraps are due to increase dramatically, as police continue boosting their efforts to enforce speed limits. They've never seized as many drivers' licenses as they have this year, nearly 6,000 by the end of October, more than double the amount five years ago. "We're standing here to weed out those who are a danger to themselves and to others," police officer Terje Axeksen told Aftenposten as he kept a laser gun pointed at the E18 highway near Stokke. "We know we're saving lives." The vast majority of fatal car accidents in Norway occur when speedsters attempt to pass on two-lane roads, prompting head-on collisions.
(Written December 15, 2009)
Military security agency FOST cleared of snooping charges
The military agency responsible for securing government data communication lines has been cleared of charges that its staff had illegally read e-mail sent from both the Royal Palace and the Justice Ministry. Officials at the agency (Forsvarets sikkerhetstjeneste, FOST) have been under investigation since June and were relieved that investigators from state police crime unit Kripos hadn't found any wrongdoing. Prosecutor Petter Mandt said there was nothing to indicate that anyone in FOST had shown interest in the content of e-mail sent either by palace staff or by ministry employees. FOST attorney Mette Yvonne Larsen claims FOST staffers were simply doing their jobs and deserve an apology from the Defense Ministry that ordered the investigation.
(Written December 13, 2009)
Eide denies he was forced out as UN envoy to Afghanistan
Kai Eide, the Norwegian diplomat who's been serving as the UN's special envoy in Kabul since March 2008, says he has voluntarily decided not to seek a third year in the post and denies he was pressured into stepping down next spring. Eide has been the target of criticism for failing to crack down on alleged corruption tied to autumn elections that ushered President Hamid Karzai back into office. Some critics, including his former deputy Peter Galbraith, have claimed Eide's relationship with Karzai was too close, which Eide denies. Others claimed the opposite, that Eide had lost effectiveness because Karzai blamed Eide for waning international support for Afghanistan. "No one has pressured me to leave, this comes at my own initiative," Eide told newspaper Dagsavisen and several other media outlets. He also has claimed he had strong support from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and had hoped the UN boss would be able to discreetly search for Eide's replacement over the next few months. Researcher Arne Strand of the Christian Michelsen Institute in Norway said Eide's pending departure could be a case of "good timing" for all involved. Eide, he said, can leave with his honor intact and the UN can avoid leaving the impression that it's replacing Eide to placate Karzai. Strand said Eide had made progress in Afghanistan and maintained dialogue with all groups in the troubled country.
(Written December 13, 2009)
Bhatti released from custody
As expected, former terror suspect Arfan Bhatti was released from police custody late last week. Bhatti had been arrested earlier in the week before US President Barack Obama arrived in Oslo to accept his Nobel Peace Prize. His defense attorney has claimed Bhatti's arrest was illegal and a result of "hysteria" surrounding security arrangements for Obama. Special police unit PST, however, had charged Bhatti with weapons violations after tapping his phone lines. PST reported on Friday, however, that it had carried out "necessary questioning" and no longer had reason to ask a court to keep Bhatti in custody. Bhatti has a long list of convictions and became the first Norwegian citizen charged with terrorist activity after he was arrested for threatening both the US and Israeli embassies. He was later acquitted but convicted on other charges. He was released from prison last summer.
(Written December 12, 2009)
Norwegians' drug smuggling trial postponed in Bolivia
Two of three young Norwegian women charged with trying to smuggle cocaine out of Bolivia face several more months in their Bolivian prison, after their trial was postponed. The women and some family members were in the courtroom in Cochabama, Bolivia on Friday, and several of them broke out in tears when their trial was indefinitely postponed because some witnesses reportedly were unprepared. "We just want to get this started," the father of one of the defendants from Lillesand on Norway's south coast, Hallgeir Øygarden, told newspaper Aftenposten. His 19-year-old daughter and two friends were stopped at the airport in Cochabamba in May 2008, and police found 22 kilos of cocaine in their suitcases. The young women were on their way home after an alleged holiday in Bolivia and two have been in prison ever since. Øygarden's daughter was released from prison in October but still faces charges. The cocaine would have had a street value in Norway of around NOK 20 million. The women have claimed they didn't know how the drugs got into their suitcases. A man police believe was behind the smuggling attempt was arrested in Cochabamba late last week and also was in the courtroom when the trial was postponed, possibly until next spring.
(Written December 12, 2009)
The military agency responsible for securing government data communication lines has been cleared of charges that its staff had illegally read e-mail sent from both the Royal Palace and the Justice Ministry. Officials at the agency (Forsvarets sikkerhetstjeneste, FOST) have been under investigation since June and were relieved that investigators from state police crime unit Kripos hadn't found any wrongdoing. Prosecutor Petter Mandt said there was nothing to indicate that anyone in FOST had shown interest in the content of e-mail sent either by palace staff or by ministry employees. FOST attorney Mette Yvonne Larsen claims FOST staffers were simply doing their jobs and deserve an apology from the Defense Ministry that ordered the investigation.
(Written December 13, 2009)
Eide denies he was forced out as UN envoy to Afghanistan
Kai Eide, the Norwegian diplomat who's been serving as the UN's special envoy in Kabul since March 2008, says he has voluntarily decided not to seek a third year in the post and denies he was pressured into stepping down next spring. Eide has been the target of criticism for failing to crack down on alleged corruption tied to autumn elections that ushered President Hamid Karzai back into office. Some critics, including his former deputy Peter Galbraith, have claimed Eide's relationship with Karzai was too close, which Eide denies. Others claimed the opposite, that Eide had lost effectiveness because Karzai blamed Eide for waning international support for Afghanistan. "No one has pressured me to leave, this comes at my own initiative," Eide told newspaper Dagsavisen and several other media outlets. He also has claimed he had strong support from UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and had hoped the UN boss would be able to discreetly search for Eide's replacement over the next few months. Researcher Arne Strand of the Christian Michelsen Institute in Norway said Eide's pending departure could be a case of "good timing" for all involved. Eide, he said, can leave with his honor intact and the UN can avoid leaving the impression that it's replacing Eide to placate Karzai. Strand said Eide had made progress in Afghanistan and maintained dialogue with all groups in the troubled country.
(Written December 13, 2009)
Bhatti released from custody
As expected, former terror suspect Arfan Bhatti was released from police custody late last week. Bhatti had been arrested earlier in the week before US President Barack Obama arrived in Oslo to accept his Nobel Peace Prize. His defense attorney has claimed Bhatti's arrest was illegal and a result of "hysteria" surrounding security arrangements for Obama. Special police unit PST, however, had charged Bhatti with weapons violations after tapping his phone lines. PST reported on Friday, however, that it had carried out "necessary questioning" and no longer had reason to ask a court to keep Bhatti in custody. Bhatti has a long list of convictions and became the first Norwegian citizen charged with terrorist activity after he was arrested for threatening both the US and Israeli embassies. He was later acquitted but convicted on other charges. He was released from prison last summer.
(Written December 12, 2009)
Norwegians' drug smuggling trial postponed in Bolivia
Two of three young Norwegian women charged with trying to smuggle cocaine out of Bolivia face several more months in their Bolivian prison, after their trial was postponed. The women and some family members were in the courtroom in Cochabama, Bolivia on Friday, and several of them broke out in tears when their trial was indefinitely postponed because some witnesses reportedly were unprepared. "We just want to get this started," the father of one of the defendants from Lillesand on Norway's south coast, Hallgeir Øygarden, told newspaper Aftenposten. His 19-year-old daughter and two friends were stopped at the airport in Cochabamba in May 2008, and police found 22 kilos of cocaine in their suitcases. The young women were on their way home after an alleged holiday in Bolivia and two have been in prison ever since. Øygarden's daughter was released from prison in October but still faces charges. The cocaine would have had a street value in Norway of around NOK 20 million. The women have claimed they didn't know how the drugs got into their suitcases. A man police believe was behind the smuggling attempt was arrested in Cochabamba late last week and also was in the courtroom when the trial was postponed, possibly until next spring.
(Written December 12, 2009)
Threatened hospital closure pits city against rural districts
An unusually unified city government in Oslo is battling against state politicians who think they can close an Oslo hospital, and thereby defy their own government platform, because it's not located in protected, rural Norway. Controversy has been raging for more than a week after news broke that urban hospital Aker Sykehus in Oslo's Groruddalen may be shut down, even though the Labour-led left-center government coalition had promised that not a single local hospital in Norway would be closed. Now, says the rural-oriented Center Party, the platform's promise only applied to hospitals located in outlying areas, not those in urban areas. Oslo politicians are furious and have the support of their opposition colleagues in such government parties as Labour. "The Center Party doesn't seem to have understood that the government's main duty in health care policy is to break down social differences in health care delivery," said Jan Bøhler of Labour, offering rare support to Oslo's top health care politician Sylvi Listhaug of the Progress Party. "That's why Groruddalen, east Oslo and Aker should be areas where we devote more resources, not cut them." A formal announcement on state-owned Aker Sykehus' fate is expected in February, and Listhaug, Bøhler and all city politicians intend to fight to keep it open.
(Written December 7, 2009)
An unusually unified city government in Oslo is battling against state politicians who think they can close an Oslo hospital, and thereby defy their own government platform, because it's not located in protected, rural Norway. Controversy has been raging for more than a week after news broke that urban hospital Aker Sykehus in Oslo's Groruddalen may be shut down, even though the Labour-led left-center government coalition had promised that not a single local hospital in Norway would be closed. Now, says the rural-oriented Center Party, the platform's promise only applied to hospitals located in outlying areas, not those in urban areas. Oslo politicians are furious and have the support of their opposition colleagues in such government parties as Labour. "The Center Party doesn't seem to have understood that the government's main duty in health care policy is to break down social differences in health care delivery," said Jan Bøhler of Labour, offering rare support to Oslo's top health care politician Sylvi Listhaug of the Progress Party. "That's why Groruddalen, east Oslo and Aker should be areas where we devote more resources, not cut them." A formal announcement on state-owned Aker Sykehus' fate is expected in February, and Listhaug, Bøhler and all city politicians intend to fight to keep it open.
(Written December 7, 2009)
Suddenly, a new possibility for sending Krekar out of Norway
Norway long ago declared the former head of guerrilla group Ansar al-Islam, Mullah Krekar, as a threat to national security and politicians have been wanting to deport him for years, hindered only by the fact they can't guarantee he'd avoid the death penalty in his native Iraq. Now a new deportation possibility has arisen, reports newspaper Aftenposten. The Australian journalists' union MEAA, reports Aftenposten, wants Krekar extradited to face murder charges in Australia. The journalists claim Krekar was behind the murder of Australian cameraman Paul Moran, who was killed by a suicide bomber who allegedly was on a mission for Ansar al-Islam, which Krekar headed from 2001, after he'd secured asylum status in Norway. Australian journalists claim Krekar bragged that he had set up the suicide bomb squadron that killed Moran in Kurdistan, northern Iraq, in 2003, even though he had resigned as leader of Ansar al-Islam in 2002. The Australian journalists' union has asked state prosecutors and police to seek an extradition order for Krekar. Norwegian authorities have said they haven't been able to send Krekar back to Iraq because he may face the death penalty there. There is, however, no death penalty in Australia.
(Written December 7, 2009)
Norway long ago declared the former head of guerrilla group Ansar al-Islam, Mullah Krekar, as a threat to national security and politicians have been wanting to deport him for years, hindered only by the fact they can't guarantee he'd avoid the death penalty in his native Iraq. Now a new deportation possibility has arisen, reports newspaper Aftenposten. The Australian journalists' union MEAA, reports Aftenposten, wants Krekar extradited to face murder charges in Australia. The journalists claim Krekar was behind the murder of Australian cameraman Paul Moran, who was killed by a suicide bomber who allegedly was on a mission for Ansar al-Islam, which Krekar headed from 2001, after he'd secured asylum status in Norway. Australian journalists claim Krekar bragged that he had set up the suicide bomb squadron that killed Moran in Kurdistan, northern Iraq, in 2003, even though he had resigned as leader of Ansar al-Islam in 2002. The Australian journalists' union has asked state prosecutors and police to seek an extradition order for Krekar. Norwegian authorities have said they haven't been able to send Krekar back to Iraq because he may face the death penalty there. There is, however, no death penalty in Australia.
(Written December 7, 2009)
'Bookseller' author can defend herself in Norway
Åsne Seierstad, the Norwegian journalist who sprang to international fame when she wrote a book about a bookseller in Kabul, has since been fending off legal complaints from the bookseller himself and, not least, his second wife, who claims the book humiliated and defamed their family. The second wife, Suraia Rais, has sued Seierstad and wanted the case heard in Afghanistan, but Norway's highest court has ruled that the case must be heard in Norway, since both Seierstad and Rais now live in Norway and because the book was first published in Norway. That was a victory for Seierstad, and the case is now due to come up in an Oslo city court next year.
(Written December 7, 2009)
Åsne Seierstad, the Norwegian journalist who sprang to international fame when she wrote a book about a bookseller in Kabul, has since been fending off legal complaints from the bookseller himself and, not least, his second wife, who claims the book humiliated and defamed their family. The second wife, Suraia Rais, has sued Seierstad and wanted the case heard in Afghanistan, but Norway's highest court has ruled that the case must be heard in Norway, since both Seierstad and Rais now live in Norway and because the book was first published in Norway. That was a victory for Seierstad, and the case is now due to come up in an Oslo city court next year.
(Written December 7, 2009)
'Wolf' spotted in Oslo
Passengers waiting at a railway station in Oslo's Grorud district got quite a surprise on Thursday when it looked like a wolf suddenly wandered up to the platform before heading north along the tracks. "There weren't many of us on the platform, and everyone was staring in amazement," Per Gunnar Daleng told newspaper VG. He managed to snap a photo of the animal, which was seemingly confirmed as "the real thing" by various experts. "The profile, the way it holds its head, everything is right," said Professor Jon Arnemoe from the College of Hedmark, where wolves are more common. The Grorud station isn't far from the local forest known as Lillomarka, and that's where the wolf was believed to have come from. Environmentalists were pleased, but didn't think the sighting signaled any large wolf population in the capital. Mayor Fabian Stang wasn't as pleased by the prospect of wolves in urban forests. "Grorud has many fine attractions, but wolves aren't supposed to be among them," he told VG. Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) later reported that Stang could relax. The "wolf" is now believed to have been a dog that's part-husky, which briefly escaped from its master during the same time frame.
(Written December 4, 2009)
Passengers waiting at a railway station in Oslo's Grorud district got quite a surprise on Thursday when it looked like a wolf suddenly wandered up to the platform before heading north along the tracks. "There weren't many of us on the platform, and everyone was staring in amazement," Per Gunnar Daleng told newspaper VG. He managed to snap a photo of the animal, which was seemingly confirmed as "the real thing" by various experts. "The profile, the way it holds its head, everything is right," said Professor Jon Arnemoe from the College of Hedmark, where wolves are more common. The Grorud station isn't far from the local forest known as Lillomarka, and that's where the wolf was believed to have come from. Environmentalists were pleased, but didn't think the sighting signaled any large wolf population in the capital. Mayor Fabian Stang wasn't as pleased by the prospect of wolves in urban forests. "Grorud has many fine attractions, but wolves aren't supposed to be among them," he told VG. Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) later reported that Stang could relax. The "wolf" is now believed to have been a dog that's part-husky, which briefly escaped from its master during the same time frame.
(Written December 4, 2009)
Rockslide forces 19 from their homes
Rocks the size of cars rolled down steep slopes in the mountain town of Årdal during the night, crashing into at least one home and forcing the evacuation of five others. Police went from door to door, evacuating a total of 19 people who may not be able to return to their homes until sometime next week. Geologists had to wait for daylight before they could determine the extent of the rockslide, and had few daylight hours in which to work. Dag Øyen of the Sogn og Fjordane Police District said as many as 15 large rocks were scattered around the Årdal neighborhood, which was cordoned off after residents were sent to a nearby hotel. One resident told Aftenposten.no that he heard a thunderous noise, looked out the window and saw huge clouds of dust and trees through the darkness. Several residents ran into the street, to avoid being trapped in their homes. No injuries were reported.
(Written December 3, 2009)
Rocks the size of cars rolled down steep slopes in the mountain town of Årdal during the night, crashing into at least one home and forcing the evacuation of five others. Police went from door to door, evacuating a total of 19 people who may not be able to return to their homes until sometime next week. Geologists had to wait for daylight before they could determine the extent of the rockslide, and had few daylight hours in which to work. Dag Øyen of the Sogn og Fjordane Police District said as many as 15 large rocks were scattered around the Årdal neighborhood, which was cordoned off after residents were sent to a nearby hotel. One resident told Aftenposten.no that he heard a thunderous noise, looked out the window and saw huge clouds of dust and trees through the darkness. Several residents ran into the street, to avoid being trapped in their homes. No injuries were reported.
(Written December 3, 2009)
Foreign Minister survives grilling by UN colleagues
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre had prepared for months and claims he was nervous before facing hundreds of UN delegates in Geneva this week. It was Norway's turn to be questioned about how it carries out its duties related to human rights, and Støre started his own preliminary remarks in French before moving over to English, reports newspaper Aftenposten. He began by talking about the rights of the native Sami people in northern Norway, about the country's efforts to hinder human trafficking and family violence. In English, he talked about how Norway is trying to accommodate handicapped residents, young asylum seekers and children in prison. He also addressed criticism about Norway's practice of holding crime suspects in remand custody. He faced questions from 54 countries, including Belgium, Egypt, Canada and Belarus. France wanted clarification of Støre's own admission that the number of rapes in Norway has risen by 34 percent in the past five years. Iran questioned Støre about recent cases where foreign students (from Iran) were sent home when their studies allegedly could be used against western interests. Støre was relieved when it was all over. "Now we just have to concentrate on the work ahead," he said. "The most important is what happens when we come home."
(Written December 3, 2009)
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre had prepared for months and claims he was nervous before facing hundreds of UN delegates in Geneva this week. It was Norway's turn to be questioned about how it carries out its duties related to human rights, and Støre started his own preliminary remarks in French before moving over to English, reports newspaper Aftenposten. He began by talking about the rights of the native Sami people in northern Norway, about the country's efforts to hinder human trafficking and family violence. In English, he talked about how Norway is trying to accommodate handicapped residents, young asylum seekers and children in prison. He also addressed criticism about Norway's practice of holding crime suspects in remand custody. He faced questions from 54 countries, including Belgium, Egypt, Canada and Belarus. France wanted clarification of Støre's own admission that the number of rapes in Norway has risen by 34 percent in the past five years. Iran questioned Støre about recent cases where foreign students (from Iran) were sent home when their studies allegedly could be used against western interests. Støre was relieved when it was all over. "Now we just have to concentrate on the work ahead," he said. "The most important is what happens when we come home."
(Written December 3, 2009)
Nordic countries more concerned about climate change
Danes and Swedes think climate change is the third-most frightening issue facing the world at present, while residents of Finland rank it fourth and Norwegians fifth. Americans, by comparison, rank climate change as only the 10th most frightening issue, reports newspaper Aftenposten, citing a survey conducted by YouGov for weekly newspaper Mandag Morgen. The survey questioned 10,688 persons from November 2-16, a month before the UN's climate talks get underway in Copenhagen. Erik Solheim, Norway's government minister in charge of environmental issues, said he wasn't surprised that people weren't more afraid of climate change, which ranked behind other issues like international terrorism, conflicts between the Muslim and western worlds and the global finance crisis. "The huge problems created by climate change aren't visible on a day-by-day basis," Solheim told Aftenposten. "They're sneaking up on us, and below the surface." He said Thursday that he now worries the Copenhagen talks may turn into a "fiasco," because the world's biggest polluters like China and the US won't agree on emissions cuts.
(Written December 3, 2009)
Danes and Swedes think climate change is the third-most frightening issue facing the world at present, while residents of Finland rank it fourth and Norwegians fifth. Americans, by comparison, rank climate change as only the 10th most frightening issue, reports newspaper Aftenposten, citing a survey conducted by YouGov for weekly newspaper Mandag Morgen. The survey questioned 10,688 persons from November 2-16, a month before the UN's climate talks get underway in Copenhagen. Erik Solheim, Norway's government minister in charge of environmental issues, said he wasn't surprised that people weren't more afraid of climate change, which ranked behind other issues like international terrorism, conflicts between the Muslim and western worlds and the global finance crisis. "The huge problems created by climate change aren't visible on a day-by-day basis," Solheim told Aftenposten. "They're sneaking up on us, and below the surface." He said Thursday that he now worries the Copenhagen talks may turn into a "fiasco," because the world's biggest polluters like China and the US won't agree on emissions cuts.
(Written December 3, 2009)
Health officials tackle 'national outbreak' of E-coli infections
Norway's public health institute has identified six separate cases of bacterial infection around the country that derive from the same strain of E-coli 0 103 bacteria. The infections have occurred in various places around the country, so health officials said Tuesday that they are viewing the situation as a "national outbreak" of E-coli. The current infections, however, are not from the same strain of bacteria that caused several fatalities three years ago. Line Vold of the health institute (Folkehelseinstituttet) said the current outbreak stems from bacteria that's less aggressive and not as serious as the bacteria that made many ill in 2006. Those ill at present include several children under the age of 10 and one woman in her 60s. None has so far developed any kidney ailments. Local doctors and food safety authorities were trying to determine the source of the E-coli infection, but had few firm leads.
(Written December 1, 2009)
Norway's public health institute has identified six separate cases of bacterial infection around the country that derive from the same strain of E-coli 0 103 bacteria. The infections have occurred in various places around the country, so health officials said Tuesday that they are viewing the situation as a "national outbreak" of E-coli. The current infections, however, are not from the same strain of bacteria that caused several fatalities three years ago. Line Vold of the health institute (Folkehelseinstituttet) said the current outbreak stems from bacteria that's less aggressive and not as serious as the bacteria that made many ill in 2006. Those ill at present include several children under the age of 10 and one woman in her 60s. None has so far developed any kidney ailments. Local doctors and food safety authorities were trying to determine the source of the E-coli infection, but had few firm leads.
(Written December 1, 2009)
Obama to arrive 'late evening' on December 9
The Norwegian Nobel Committee could announce on Tuesday that they finally know roughly when US President Barack Obama will arrive in Oslo to receive his Nobel Peace Prize: "Late evening" on Wednesday the 9th of December. Air Force One will land at Oslo's main airport at Gardermoen, north of the city, after flying up from Copenhagen, where Obama will attend the UN climate talks being held in the Danish capital. Norwegian police have been practicing how they intend to protect the world's most famous person, and showed off some of their skills for the press on Monday. Norwegian Justice Minister Knut Storberget earlier allocated at least NOK 80 million (USD 14 million) to the Oslo Police District, to help defer costs of protecting Obama. Another NOK 40 million may be granted if needed, depending on how long Obama will stay in the Norwegian capital. His schedule remains unclear. The only things certain, said a spokesman for the Norwegian Nobel Committee, are that he will attend the prize ceremony on December 10 and the Nobel Banquet that evening. His wife Michelle will accompany him, but not their two daughters. "It's our duty to ensure that security is what it's supposed to be," said Storberget. Around 2,600 police officers will be on duty along with military back-up. He will have 34 guests with him, plus hundreds of staffers. The Nobel Committee thinks Obama will leave Oslo during the day on Thursday the 11th. That would allow for a meeting with Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, but Obama won't be attending the traditional Nobel Concert on the evening of the 11th.
(Written November 27, updated December 1, 2009)
The Norwegian Nobel Committee could announce on Tuesday that they finally know roughly when US President Barack Obama will arrive in Oslo to receive his Nobel Peace Prize: "Late evening" on Wednesday the 9th of December. Air Force One will land at Oslo's main airport at Gardermoen, north of the city, after flying up from Copenhagen, where Obama will attend the UN climate talks being held in the Danish capital. Norwegian police have been practicing how they intend to protect the world's most famous person, and showed off some of their skills for the press on Monday. Norwegian Justice Minister Knut Storberget earlier allocated at least NOK 80 million (USD 14 million) to the Oslo Police District, to help defer costs of protecting Obama. Another NOK 40 million may be granted if needed, depending on how long Obama will stay in the Norwegian capital. His schedule remains unclear. The only things certain, said a spokesman for the Norwegian Nobel Committee, are that he will attend the prize ceremony on December 10 and the Nobel Banquet that evening. His wife Michelle will accompany him, but not their two daughters. "It's our duty to ensure that security is what it's supposed to be," said Storberget. Around 2,600 police officers will be on duty along with military back-up. He will have 34 guests with him, plus hundreds of staffers. The Nobel Committee thinks Obama will leave Oslo during the day on Thursday the 11th. That would allow for a meeting with Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg, but Obama won't be attending the traditional Nobel Concert on the evening of the 11th.
(Written November 27, updated December 1, 2009)
