Obama banner stolen

US President Barack Obama is a popular man in Norway, but the Nobel Peace Center wishes his fans would stop stealing its banners carrying his image. For the second time, a banner hung outside the center to promote an Obama exhibition inside has disappeared. Newspaper Aften reports that the latest Obama image was stolen some time [...]

Obama costs under budget

Security arrangements tied to US President Barack Obama’s visit in December weren’t as high as state police had feared. When news broke that Obama would be traveling to Oslo to accept the Nobel Peace Prize for 2010, concerns rose that his visit would be expensive for Norwegian taxpayers. The Oslo Police District mounted a budget [...]

Michelle Obama gives Oleana a boost

Norwegian clothing firm Oleana is enjoying a boost in demand for its sweaters and other apparel, after word got out that US First Lady Michelle Obama took no less than four Oleana sweaters home with her after being in Oslo to see her husband win the Nobel Peace Prize. Michelle Obama has become a fashion [...]

Historic Nobel visit comes to an end

New Nobel Laureate Barack Obama and US First Lady Michelle Obama left Oslo Friday morning after just a brief exchange of farewells with the leaders of the Nobel Institute outside Air Force One. The city was returning to normal after the biggest security operation the Norwegian capital had ever seen. Work crews were already dismantling [...]

Nobel Banquet: 'Dinner for sponsors'

Some senior members of the Norwegian Parliament were more than a little miffed on Thursday, after failing to get invitations to the annual Nobel Banquet at the Grand Hotel honoring the Peace Prize winner. Several felt they lost their spots to commercial sponsors of the Nobel Peace Center. “I have registered that this banquet has [...]

Obama tackles Peace Prize critics

US President Barack Obama met his critics head-on while accepting his Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo on Thursday, acknowledging the controversy surrounding the award before delivering a compelling analysis of the prospects for peace in the world. His speech sparked a long and loud standing ovation, led by members of Norway’s Royal Family. Obama is [...]

Stoltenberg defends Obama's prize

Norwegian Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg firmly defended the Norwegian Nobel Committee’s decision to award this year’s Nobel Peace Prize to US President Barack Obama. While Obama himself said others may be more deserving than himself, Stoltenberg claimed the prize was “well-deserved” indeed. “In my opinion, (Obama’s) Nobel Peace Prize is very well-deserved,” Stoltenberg told reporters [...]

Obama 'slips' into town

Despite their best efforts it was difficult for gawkers to even catch a glimpse of US President Barack Obama as he arrived in Oslo for a hectic day of Nobel Peace Prize festivities. His massive motorcade headed quickly into town where he was driven up to the back entrance of the Nobel Institute, all but [...]

'Fortress Oslo' ready for Obama

Security fences and barricades are in place, foreign journalists are wandering around and thousands of police officers are in Oslo as Norway’s capital welcomed Nobel Peace Prize winner and US President Barack Obama on Thursday. The mood, despite all the uniforms and blocked streets, was surprisingly peaceful. Curious Norwegians joined tourists and visiting press corps [...]

Bhatti held during Obama's visit

Arfan Bhatti, charged but later acquitted of allegedly planning terrorist attacks on the US and Israeli embassies in Oslo, was back in police custody on Wednesday. He and an accomplice were arrested on alleged weapons violations and can be held for 72 hours, until after US President Barack Obama leaves town. Bhatti’s defense attorney, John [...]

Jens gets 35 minutes with Obama

And Norway’s prime minister has been seeking advice about how to make the most of his precious half-hour with the most powerful man in the world. The climate and Afghanistan are likely topics, but Jens Stoltenberg and Norwegian politicians have several other things on their minds as well. Stoltenberg has been allotted a short meeting [...]

Demonstrators to greet Obama

Air Force One is now due to land at Oslo’s main airport at Gardermoen at the end of the morning rush hour on Thursday. US President Barack Obama, heading for Oslo to collect his Nobel Peace Prize, may take a helicopter into town, where a busy program awaits along with demonstrators from around the world. [...]

Oslo battens down the hatches

Security preparations are in full swing as Oslo police and US Secret Service personnel get ready to protect US President Barack Obama. He’ll arrive next week to accept the Nobel Peace Prize for 2009, and crews are already busy removing all garbage cans downtown, sealing manhole covers in the streets and screening travelers from abroad. [...]

Ambassador in place to greet Obama

The new US ambassador to Norway made the ceremonial trip up to the Royal Palace in Oslo on Thursday, to formally be received by King Harald V. Barry B White has arrived in Oslo just in time to see the president who nominated him receive the Nobel Peace Prize. Massive preparations are underway for what’s [...]

Royal 'overnatting' for Obama

Norway’s King Harald has invited US President Barack Obama to spend the night, or two, at the Royal Palace in Oslo when Obama comes to accept his Nobel Peace Prize in December. Prize winners usually stay at Oslo’s Grand Hotel, but Obama’s overnight stay ( overnatting , in Norwegian) presents extraordinary security challenges.The Norwegian Nobel [...]

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