Norway’s domestic carrier Widerøe, best-known for serving the country’s small airports with short runways, announced major cuts in passenger and cargo service on Monday. It acknowledged that “crucial public transport” in outlying areas would be grounded, because of its high costs. “We’re unfortunately forced to cut completely necessary public transport in District Norway,” Widerøe’s chief […]
Scandal envelopes Eurovision run-up
February 16, 2020
Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) named a winner Saturday night to represent Norway at the Eurovision Song Contest this spring, but her victory was bittersweet. A “scandalous” breakdown of NRK’s system for voting by the public meant that a back-up jury of just 30 people chose Norway’s four finalists, and voting for them was only available through […]
Norway is ‘not as rich as it thinks’
February 14, 2020
Norway’s central bank chief made some economically sobering remarks in his closely watched annual address to the country’s elite Thursday evening. Even though the Norwegian economy remains strong, he stressed that trade deficits are rising, the country’s krone is historically weak, and politicians are leaning too heavily on Norway’s so-called Oil Fund meant to fund […]
Norway on edge over its own ‘ice edge’
February 13, 2020
NEWS ANALYSIS: Norway is caught in the midst of battle over its so-called Arctic “ice edge,” which experts claim really isn’t an edge at all. It’s rather meant to define a particularly sensitive area of the Arctic under Norway’s control, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it will be protected from oil and gas activity despite […]
Fur farmers win more compensation
February 12, 2020
Norway’s newly minority government headed off another challenge this week when it agreed to pay out far more compensation to fur farmers who must phase out their operations. No one knows, however, how much Norway’s forced shutdown of fur farming after myriad cases of animal abuse will now cost taxpayers. The fur farmers’ lobby had […]
‘Sell off Equinor’s foreign operations’
February 11, 2020
Investment funds and analysts aren’t the only ones questioning the long-term value of Norway’s state oil company Equinor. Now a member of the Norwegian Parliament is renewing calls to spin off and sell Equinor’s international operations, claiming they present both political and financial risk and often don’t adhere to Norway’s climate goals. “I see few […]
Ferry fare uproar pits locals vs state
February 10, 2020
Ferries, an integral part of transportion along Norway’s vast coastline, are suddenly at the center of a new nationwide uproar. It surged when ferry fares spiked after New Year, and now several large counties have banded together to mount the latest major challenge to the country’s conservative government coalition. The ferry uproar has been compared […]
‘Russia and China threaten defense’
February 10, 2020
Norway’s recently embattled military intelligence agency is pointing once again to Russia and China as posing the biggest defense threats. Both continue to move in a more authoritative direction, according to the agency whose chief, Morten Haga Lunde, is especially worried about Russia’s new long-distance missiles. “The factors that, to the greatest degree, influence the […]
Storm batters coast and disrupts traffic
February 9, 2020
Strong winds battered Norway from north to south on Sunday, accompanied by rain that turned snow to treacherous ice. Damage reports were streaming in, while most mountain passes were closed and ferries cancelled. “It’s just terrible weather today,” state meteorologist Geir Ottar Fagerlid told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) as the strong winds that began during the […]
Svalbard worth more than ever
February 7, 2020
Nearly a million Norwegians have been sitting through hours of more “slow TV” this week on a daily basis, apparently mesmerized by the beauty and history of Svalbard. Sunday marks 100 years since a post-World War I treaty gave Norway sovereignty over the wild and scenic archipelago, where new underwater discoveries may make the area […]
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