New fare hike ‘shamelessly’ high
February 1, 2012
New public transit fares were taking effect in Oslo on Wednesday, and already have been been dubbed as “shamelessly” high. It now costs NOK 50 for a single-ride, full-fare ticket, the equivalent of nearly nine US dollars.
“This is just way too expensive,” Gunnar Larssen, leader of the Norwegian capital’s merchants’ association Oslo Handelsstands Forening, …
British couple blasts Norwegian laws
January 27, 2012
A British couple’s dream of buying a farm in the Norwegian mountains turned into a nightmare, and now they’re blasting Norway’s strict agricultural real estate regulations and comparing them to those in Zimbabwe.
Paul and Andrea Hodgkinson have launched a media campaign back home in England and appealed to, among others, Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg,Crown …
Talks continued in child welfare case
January 26, 2012
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 …
High-speed trains ‘may be profitable’
January 25, 2012
Pressure is growing in favour of building new high-speed train lines around Norway, and a long-awaited report released Wednesday didn’t put the brakes on support. The report concluded a high-speed network could be profitable, at least from an operational standpoint.
That would only happen, though, if debt is forgiven, and the investment needed to build …
Royal representation in Davos
January 24, 2012
Norway will be royally represented, both literally and figuratively, at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland that started this week and lasts through Sunday. Crown Princess Mette-Marit will be joining her husband this year at the high-power gathering of international movers and shakers.
Crown Prince Haakon has been attending the World Economic Forum …
Butter said to be back ‘soon’
January 24, 2012
It’s taken Norway’s dairy cooperative Tine (pronounced “Tee-nah”) longer than expected to produce enough butter to satisfy retail demand, but Tine officials claim it will be back on grocery shelves soon. Supplies, though, may be erratic for months.
A Tine spokesman told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) Monday night that butter would be shipped to wholesalers and …
Støre involved in child welfare case
January 24, 2012
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 …
Broke immigrants told to go home
January 23, 2012
Labour Minister Hanne Bjurstrøm had a message over the weekend for hopeful immigrants from southern Europe who’ve been arriving in Norway in search of jobs: “Go home.” Bjurstrøm worries they won’t find jobs, and won’t be eligible for any help, either.
“If there’s no work for them, then there is no work,” Bjurstrøm told both …
New immigration rules may be eased
January 23, 2012
Justice Ministry officials are promising to at least “adjust” tough new immigration rules that have made it increasingly difficult for foreign spouses of Norwegian citizens to obtain residence and working permission in Norway. Even immigration agency UDI (Utlendingsdirektoratet) thinks the new rules are too strict, and has recommended changes.
“We have received UDI’s reports on …
Labour soars in latest poll
January 22, 2012
Another public opinion poll has shown Norway’s Labour Party (Arbeiderpartiet, Ap) jumping way beyond its biggest rival at present, the Conservative Party (Høyre), and dwarfing all the other small parties that now seem to be simply hanging on to win representation in Parliament.
Labour’s gain is also coming at the expense of its government coalition …
Farmers’ lobby loses members
January 22, 2012
One of Norway’s most traditionally powerful lobbying organizations, the farmers’ group Norges Bondelag, has reported a decline in membership for the first time in several years. That hasn’t hindered record turnout at an international exposition in Germany, however.
Bondelaget, best known for pressing the government for huge subsidies and policies to protect Norwegian agriculture, had …
Little political support for forced municipal mergers
January 22, 2012
In the midst of all the publicity around the recent annual conference of employers’ organization NHO, the powerful business lobbying group’s main message almost got lost and then got politically squashed: Neither the government nor many opposition parties in Parliament support NHO’s call to force municipalities (kommuner) around Norway to merge.
Companies argue it will …
Sverdrup’s name ‘taken in vain’
January 21, 2012
Johan Sverdrup, often viewed as the “father” of Norway’s parliamentary system and even its democracy, has now had an oil field named for him, but not everyone is pleased about that. Some claim his name is being used in vain, or even abused, by being associated with the oil industry.
Norway’s bullish Oil & Energy …
Top politician forced to be a pedestrian
January 21, 2012
One of Norway’s most high-profile, veteran politicians, Carl I Hagen, won’t be allowed to drive for the next six months. Police seized his driver’s license after Hagen hit two pedestrians in a crosswalk three weeks ago, and they’ve decided to hang onto it.
That means Hagen must be a pedestrian himself, as part of his …
Hate-video maker held in custody
January 20, 2012
A local court in Telemark County went along with prosecutors who asked to keep a 21-year-old man in custody for at least two more weeks, with media and personal communication prohibited. The young man has admitted producing and publishing a video that threatened Norway’s crown prince, prime minister and foreign minister.
Prosecutors intend to keep …
