Talks continued in child welfare case

Norwegian authorities confirmed that negotiations were continuing to find a solution in a child welfare case that’s sparked international media attention, but said no agreement had been reached or affirmed by the court involved. The case involves two small children, both citizens of India, who were taken from their parents’ home in Stavanger and placed [...]

Støre involved in child welfare case

Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre has taken the unusual move of involving himself in a child welfare case involving a family from India, after it sparked international media coverage over the weekend and allegations of cultural prejudice. Both Støre and officials at Noway’s child protection agency Barnevernet insist no prejudice or misunderstandings are involved. The [...]

Locals react to embassy’s crime warning

A warning about recent violent assaults in Oslo that was sent out this week by the US Embassy to resident American citizens hasn’t been particularly well-received by local Norwegians. Several claim the embassy has over-reacted, and that crime in Oslo is no worse than in most American cities and towns. The warning, called a “Personal [...]

Children’s book upsets ambassador

Israel’s ambassador to Norway is so upset over the content of a Norwegian children’s book, and its pending distribution in state libraries, that he’s warned the Norwegian government it could affect future cooperation between the two countries. Newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) reported over the weekend that Ambassador Michael Eligal sent a letter to Norway’s government [...]

Embassy warns of demonstration

The US Embassy in Oslo was warning US citizens to stay away from certain areas in the Frogner area of the Norwegian capital on Saturday, because of a planned demonstration in the early afternoon. Embassy officials, in what they called an “emergency message to American Citizens” sent to those registered with the embassy, said they’d [...]

Bhatti thrown out of terror trial

Arfan Bhatti, the first Norwegian to be indicted but later acquitted of terrorist charges, showed up on Friday in the Oslo courtroom where three other men are defending themselves against similar charges. The judge evicted Bhatti, who then allegedly threatened a TV2 photographer. Now TV2 may file charges against Bhatti. Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) reported that [...]

State visit ended with diplomatic spat

A recent state visit to Norway ended on a sour note, when South Africa’s foreign minister refused to submit to routine security controls at Oslo’s main airport at Gardermoen. After a loud verbal quarrel with airport security personnel, she ended up chartering a private jet, which allowed her to avoid having her purse examined. Maite [...]

Embassy avoided trouble on 9/11

Norway’s latest round of elections coincided Sunday with local and international memorials marking the 10-year anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the US. As politicians urged voters to preserve democracy also after the July 22 attacks on Norway, a planned demonstration against Islam  in front of the US Embassy in Oslo all but fizzled out. [...]

US hindered surveillance probe

Police have confirmed that the US Embassy in Oslo hindered a Norwegian government-ordered investigation into its surveillance practices in the capital. Police involved in the investigation have admitted to newspaper Dagens Næringsliv (DN) that their lack of access to information collected by the Americans made their probe difficult to complete. State prosecutor Jørn Maurud announced [...]

Norway drops US surveillance case

Public outcry last fall over allegedly illegal surveillance of Norwegian citizens by the US Embassy in Oslo has ended with silent acceptance of the embassy’s activities by Norwegian authorities. They’ve decided against filing any charges against the US and its embassy personnel in Oslo, claiming they lacked evidence that any laws had in fact been [...]

Police interview US al-Qaida suspects

Three members of al-Qaida are being questioned by Norwegian police in the USA as part of the case against an alleged Norwegian terrorist cell. The three men – Zarein Ahmedzay, Bryant Neal Vinas and Najubullah Zazi – are American citizens charged for the planning of a suicide bombing attack on the New York Metro system [...]

Ambassador’s food blog boils over

Norway’s ambassador to Afghanistan stirred up a storm of controversy this week when he wrote about his passion for good food and wine, and how he had to train his cook in Kabul, on the Foreign Ministry’s blog site for diplomats. Hattrem’s blog was viewed by many as being not only undiplomatic, but also in [...]

Ivory Coast embassy to close

Top Norwegian government officials have been urging the world not to forget the Ivory Coast, but they’re in the process of closing Norway’s own embassy in the embattled country. All embassy personnel are due to be moved out of the Ivory Coast by June 15. Erik Solheim, the government minister in charge of foreign aid, [...]

Sri Lanka upset over asylum cases

Norway’s ambassador to Sri Lanka has been called in for an apparent scolding by Sri Lankan authorities in Colombo, after Norwegian officials helped 12 persons leave the country and start new lives in Norway. Opposition politicians in Norway are upset as well. The latest diplomatic conflict between Norway and Sri Lanka arose after newspaper Aftenposten [...]

US Embassy resumes its surveillance

The US Embassy in Oslo, which has been at the center of several controversies in recent years, plans to resume its surveillance activities but promises to abide by Norwegian laws this time. The embassy got into trouble with local officials and politicians last fall after TV2 reported that it had a secret surveillance unit that [...]

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