Geir Lippestad is best-known as the defense attorney for some highly controversial clients. He’s also been active in the Labour Party in Oslo, though, and is now moving on to the national scene by leading a brand new party that aims to grab new voters in the upcoming national election. Lippestad surprised everyone last fall […]
Lots more vaccine doses on the way
February 12, 2021
Health Minister Bent Høie finally had some good news to report heading into the weekend: Norway is due to get more than 2 million extra vaccine doses beginning in April. Høie could announce that the EU, through which Norway is allocated vaccine, and Pfizer/Biontech have agreed on the acquisition of 200 million more doses with […]
More drama for Telenor in Myanmar
February 6, 2021
UPDATED: Norwegian telecoms firm Telenor is caught squarely in the middle of this week’s military coup in Myanmar, where it’s one of the the country’s largest mobile phone operators. On Saturday it was once again ordered to shut down its communications network, in what Telenor CEO Sigve Brekke has called a “step backward” in the […]
‘Arrogant’ oil chiefs face more grilling
February 4, 2021
Some of Norway’s most powerful oil chiefs, both past and present, have been called in to a new disciplinary hearing in Parliament this month. Top officials at state controlled oil company Equinor and the government oil ministry face more grilling after the state Auditor General referred to them as both “arrogant” and “egotistical.” The unflattering […]
Thumbs down for curfew in Norway
February 3, 2021
Justice Minister Monica Mæland confirmed on Wednesday that the government won’t resort to curfews to control Corona virus infection, at least not now. She defended the government’s need to explore the option, however, after that decision alone was met with widespread criticism during a hearing round that just ended. Mæland said at a press conference […]
Oslo to ‘carefully’ open up again
February 1, 2021
Elementary and junior high schools, restaurants, free-standing stores, libraries and some sports facilities can reopen in the Norwegian capital from Wednesday (February 3). Private social gatherings will still be limited, though, and neither bars nor restaurants can serve alcohol. “There’s now some room to begin a gradual and controlled re-opening of Oslo,” city government leader […]
Norway condemns Laureate’s arrest
February 1, 2021
Norway, the country where Myanmar’s democratically elected leader Aung San Suu Kyi won her Nobel Peace Prize, was quick to condemn her arrest during the night. The Nobel Laureate’s arrest came, ironically enough, just as nominations closed for this year’s Peace Prize, putting it back in the news, too. The Norwegian Nobel Committee is independent […]
Most anti-infection rules extended
January 30, 2021
Norway’s strict Corona virus containment measures will remain in force at the national level until at least the middle of February, the government announced on Saturday. Entry rules will tighten further, but there will be some “careful” easing of the shutdown in the Oslo metropolitan area, beginning on Wednesday. Health Minister Bent Høie confirmed at […]
Oil Fund tapped for more crisis aid
January 29, 2021
Norway’s government is once again dipping into the country’s huge sovereign wealth fund to cover billions worth of more financial aid for Corona crisis-hit businesses, local governments and individuals. Opposition politicians are keen to dip even deeper, to preserve jobs and ward off bankruptcies. “We are lucky in Norway, very, very lucky,” Finance Jan Tore […]
Norway closing to most non-residents
January 27, 2021
The Norwegian government closed the country’s borders from midnight Thursday to nearly everyone who doesn’t live in the country. The goal is to ward off imported Corona virus infection, especially the new British strain that’s out of control over much of Europe. “In practice this means that the borders will be closed to all who […]
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