Sunday, November 9, 2025
Defence

U.S. STRATEGIC BOMBER MISSON CONTINUES IN HIGH NORTH

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

OERLAND, Norway – United States Air Force B-2 bombers currently deployed to Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, launched on August 29, 2023, to conduct integration training with Royal Norwegian Air Force F-35s and perform hot-pit refueling at Oerland Air Base. 

“Hot-pit refueling emerges as a transformative tactic in bomber operations, promising heightened versatility”

The occasion marked the first time that the B-2 has landed in Norway, signaling the shared commitment between the U.S. and Norway to deter threats and strengthen the NATO Alliance. Three B-2 bombers are currently forward deployed from Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., to Keflavik Air Base, Iceland, in support of Bomber Task Force Europe 23-4.

Hot pit refueling within NATO countries allows for the B-2 to expand its fuel range and minimize its time on the ground. By exercising the ability to conduct hot pit refueling in strategic locations, the U.S. and our Allies are able to increase combat airpower throughout the European theatre.

“Hot-pit refueling emerges as a transformative tactic in bomber operations, promising heightened versatility,” said General James Hecker, commander of U.S. Air Forces in Europe & Africa and NATO Allied Air Command. “This clever technique extends our reach, establishing temporary operational hubs at strategically chosen and even unpredictable locations. These adaptive capabilities are the core of modern airpower projection,” General Hecker added.

“The long-range, penetrating strike the B-2 provides is a truly unique capability in the world; but long range requires a lot of gas. Honing our ability to interoperate with our allies and utilize partner-nation equipment and infrastructure to refuel can significantly reduce what we often call our ‘tanker bill;’ in some cases it could be the difference between mission success and failure,” said U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Kousgaard, 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron commander.

Combining U.S. strategic assets’ capabilities with other Allies modern aircraft – like the Norwegian F-35s – demonstrates commitment to Alliance cohesion, interoperability and deterrence. At the same time the conduct of hot-pit refueling enhanced expeditionary skills of deployed and host nations.

Story by Allied Air Command Public Affairs Office based on information provided by 393rd Expeditionary Bomb Squadron

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Asia and Norway

Reforms bring new political culture in Kazakhstan

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written by

On 30 August, Kazakhstan marks Constitution Day. This year it is celebrated for the first time after the amendments to the Сonstitution following a nationwide referendum last year.

Credit: ©SHARAFMAKSUMOV – STOCK.ADOBE

At the time of our Constitution’s initial signing in 1995, we were a young nation facing the many challenges encountered by the newly independent country. Building a strong liberal economy was the priority. Meanwhile, 2022 reform granted more powers and influence to parliament and the local government. Presidential powers have been limited. In line with the updated Constitution, the President of Kazakhstan is now elected for only a single seven-year term, without the right to re-election, which is completely unique for our region.

Kazakhstan has established and further strengthened mechanisms that protect human rights by enhancing the role and status of the Ombudsperson for Human Rights, the Ombudsperson for children’s rights, and the Ombudsperson for protecting people with disabilities.

We have also reestablished the Constitutional Court. Kazakhstan’s citizens, including the Prosecutor General and the Ombudsperson, can now directly apply to the Constitutional Court to declare unlawful norms that, in their view, contradict the principles of the Constitution.

The impact of the constitutional amendments was particularly visible during the parliamentary and local elections that were held in March this year. Simplifying the process for registering political parties resulted in new parties that took part in the elections. These elections are considered by many domestic and international political experts to have been the most competitive in Kazakhstan’s modern history. In line with the constitutional changes, which also include direct election of rural mayors, a proportional-majoritarian model was used in the parliamentary election for the first time since 2004. This enabled numerous self-nominated candidates to participate in single-mandate districts along with party candidates. Six parties managed to pass the five percent threshold needed to get into parliament.

Ultimately, thanks to reforms, a new civic and political culture has taken shape in Kazakhstan’s society. Of course, our path to overhaul the existing system in our country is far from over. Transformations and reforms, including social and economic, are a constant work in progress to ensure that the country keeps up with global changes, trends, and challenges that continuously spring up.

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Economics

Cross-Border Trade To NOK 4.5bn In First Half

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Cross-border trade in Norway amounted to NOK 4.5 billion (€390 million) between January and June this year, with shoppers making around 2.3 million day trips, according to the latest data from Statistics Norway.

Out of this total, shoppers spent NOK 2 billion (€170 million) on food and groceries, while the average shopping per trip amounted to NOK 1,970, data showed.

Kristin Aasestad, senior adviser at Statistics Norway, added, “This [food and groceries] is the product group where clearly the most money was spent. This corresponded to 44% of all cross-border trade in the first half of the year.”

The cross-border trade statistics cover travels and trade that takes place on trips without overnight accommodation.

Alcohol accounted for 10% of the shopping basket, of which 5% comprised of wine and spirits and 5% comprised of alcoholic beer and sides.

Moreover, shoppers spent 8% on snuff and 6% on cigarettes and tobacco.

Other popular products include soft drinks, mineral water, chocolate and sweets.

“In addition to shopping, many people also make time for a visit to a cafe, or restaurant, or a hairdressing appointment. Norwegians spent NOK 462 million on café and restaurant visits and other services, and most of this was spent on catering establishments when they were on day trips abroad,” Aasestad added.

Quarterly Growth

Cross-border trade increased to NOK 2.6 billion in the second quarter of 2023 from NOK 2.2 billion (€190 million) in the corresponding period last year. It also witnessed ‘sharp growth’ from NOK 1.9 billion (€160 million) in the first quarter of 2023.

Petter Haas Brubakk, CEO of NHO Mat og Drikke, said, “We know that the main reason for cross-border trade is the tax differences between Sweden and Norway.

“This is where measures must be put in place, as Denmark harmonises the tax levels on the goods most exposed to cross-border trade with the level in Germany.”

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Russia and Norway

Russian MiG-29 intercepts Norwegian P-8A Poseidon

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Russian Defense Ministry claims to have intercepted a Norwegian Air Force R-8A Poseidon over the waters of the Barents Sea.  

According to the Ministry, on August 23, 2023, a Boeing P-8A Poseidon multi-mission maritime patrol aircraft was detected by airspace control systems approaching the border of Russia. 

A MiG-29 fighter jet from the Northern Fleet was scrambled to identify the aircraft.  

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Norwegian P-8A Poseidon subsequently made a U-turn away from Russian airspace without infringing on the border.  

“The Russian fighter jet made the flight in strict compliance with international rules on the use of airspace over international waters without crossing air routes or coming dangerously close to an aircraft of a foreign State,” the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement.  

On August 14, 2023, two Danish F-16s intercepted two Russian Tupolev Tu-95 ‘Bear’ bombers flying towards the Netherlands airspace. 

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Defence

Norwegian military promotes penguin to rank of Major General

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Norwegian military has promoted a king penguin residing in a UK zoo to the rank of Major General in its military.

The penguin, who lives at Edinburgh Zoo in the Scottish capital and goes by the name of Sir Nils Olav III, was promoted to the third-highest rank in Norway’s armed forces on August 21 as part of a tradition that goes back to the mid-20th Century.

Coinciding with the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, soldiers from the Third Guards Company of the Norwegian King’s Guards visited the zoo in order to confer the rank on the Sir Nils, who had previously been instated as a Brigadier.

The penguin was then allowed to inspect the Norwegian troops officially under his command as a military band played in honour of the Sphenisciforme, as the order that penguins belong to is called.

It is believed that Sir Nils is the highest-ranking penguin in the world, and his knighthood was conferred by the Norwegian king.

He also holds the title of Baron of the Bouvet Islands and boasts two bronze statues, one of which is in Edinburgh Zoo while the other resides in the King’s Guard compound in Oslo.

The king penguin did not manage to earn all of these honours in a single lifetime, with the bird having inherited the titles held by Sir Nils Olav II when that penguin died in 2016.

The trend of conferring titles on a penguin began in 1972 after the Norwegian King’s Guards adopted a bird from the zoo as a mascot, naming it Nils Olav.

Although a strange military tradition, Third Guards Company Sergeant Fredrik Kim Gresseth explained that it served as a vehicle for positive foreign relations for Norway.

“Norway has for a long time had close ties with Scotland, also in connection with the resistance struggle during the Second World War,” he said.

“This is a very honourable way to show that you are important allies. There is a friendship behind having a mascot in another country,” he added.

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Russia and Norway

Russia’s goal is to end war in Ukraine — Putin

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Russia’s special military operation pursues the goal of ending the war in Ukraine unleashed by a number of Western countries and their satellites, Russian President Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of BRICS leaders.

“Russia has decided to support the people who are fighting for their culture, for their traditions, for their language and for their future. Our actions in Ukraine have only one reason – to put an end to the war that was unleashed by the West and their satellites in Ukraine against the people living in Donbass,” Putin said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin © Mikhail Klimentyev/Russian Presidential Press and Information Office/TASS

He stressed that it was the wish of a number of Western countries to preserve their hegemony in the world that “has led to the grave crisis in Ukraine.”

Putin recalled that “first, with the help of the Western countries, an unconstitutional coup d’etat was carried out in that country, and then a war was unleashed against those people who did not agree with that coup.”

“This brutal war, a war of extermination, had lasted for eight years,” Putin emphasized.

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Media Freedom

Meta asks Norway court to halt privacy fine 

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Meta Platforms will ask a court in Norway to stop a fine the country’s data regulator has imposed on the owner of Facebook and Instagram for breaching users’ privacy, in a case that could have wider European implications.

Since August 14, Meta Platforms has been fined 1 million crowns ($147,087) per day for harvesting users’ data and using it to target advertising at them, called behavioural advertising, a business model common to Big Tech.

Meta Platforms is asking for a temporary injunction against the order, which imposes a daily fine through to November 3.

Meta said on August 1 it intended to ask consent from users in the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA), the European single market, before allowing behavioural advertising.

“We have already announced our intention to transition to the legal basis of Consent for personalised advertising for people in the EU and EEA,” Meta said in an emailed statement to Reuters.

Regulator, Datatilsynet, will defend the fine in court.

The hearing at the Oslo district court will last two days.

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Diplomatic relations

Norway to Monitor US-Israeli Trial Scheme for Palestinian Americans

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway has expressed its concern over the unequal treatment of its citizens with a Palestinian background by Israel, and has vowed to monitor the outcome of a new trial scheme that grants visa-free travel to Palestinian Americans.

The Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Anniken Huitfeldt, said that Norway expects Israel to respect the agreement on mutual visa freedom that the two countries have had since 1966, and to treat all Norwegian citizens equally, regardless of their origin.

Huitfeldt made these remarks in response to a question from Ingrid Fiskaa, an activist and politician for the Socialist Left Party, who asked whether Norway would seek a similar arrangement to that of the US, which recently reached an agreement with Israel on a trial of visa-free travel for US citizens with Palestinian backgrounds.

The trial scheme, which is set to last six weeks, allows American Palestinians to travel easily and without a visa to both the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, something that has been difficult for them in the past due to Israel’s strict entry policies.

Huitfeldt called the challenges that Norwegian Palestinians face when visiting Israel and Palestine “unacceptable”, and said that the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs addresses the issue regularly in dialogue with the Israeli authorities. She also said that the embassy in Tel Aviv assists Norwegian citizens when entering Israel on a regular basis.

However, she added that if it turns out that American Palestinians receive better treatment than Norwegian Palestinians under the trial scheme, Norway will raise the issue with Israel and with the EU and other closely related countries.

The US-Israeli agreement on visa-free travel for Palestinian Americans comes after decades of negotiations between the two allies, which had been stalled by the US’s demand for equal treatment for all its citizens. The agreement is seen as a step towards securing visa-free entry for Israeli citizens to the US, which is one of Israel’s long-standing goals.

Shortlink for this post: https://daysofpalestine.ps/?p=47380

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China and Norway

Chinese Ambassador to Norway Hou Yue Visits NIO House in Oslo

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

On August 15,  Ambassador Hou Yue visited the NIO House in Oslo. She discussed with Mr. Zhang Hui, the European Vice President of NIO, and Mr. Marius Hayler, the General Manager of NIO Norway, and exchanged views on the development of China-Norway economic and trade cooperation, NIO’s business development in Europe and Norway. 

Ambassador Hou  encouraged NIO to deepen the Norwegian market development and provide Norwegian users with high-quality renewable energy products and services. Ambassador Hou also visited NIO’s electric vehicle swap station to see the progress of the network construction. Commercial Counselor Chen Wenlin accompanied the visit.

As a Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer, NIO is established in 2014 and entered the Norwegian market in 2021. In recent years, NIO, Hongqi, Dongfeng, MG, Yutong, BYD, Xpeng and other Chinese electric vehicle brands have vigorously expanded overseas markets, and achieved good results in Norway and was widely accepted by the Norwegian market and users.

(Photos and News From Chinese Embassy in Norway）

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Economics

Norway’s central bank raises rate to 4%

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway’s central bank raised its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points (bps) to 4% today to curb inflation, as widely expected, and said it would likely hike again in September.

Today’s hike had been expected by all 31 economists polled by Reuters, and a majority of poll participants predicted the rate would hit a peak of 4.25% by the end of the third quarter, in line with the central bank’s projection.

Norges Bank Governor Ida Wolden Bache

“If the economy evolves as currently anticipated, the policy rate will be raised further in September,” Norges Bank Governor Ida Wolden Bache said in a statement.

Norway’s annual core inflation, which excludes energy costs, stood at 6.4% in July, down from a record 7% in June.

It has remained above the bank’s 2% target since February last year.

“It has turned out more or less as Norges Bank predicted – inflation has been a bit higher which could have encouraged a slightly more aggressive rate increase but then the crown has strengthened a bit,” Nordea economist Kjetil Olsen told broadcaster TV2.

If the currency proves to be weaker than projected or pressures in the economy persist, the policy rate may have to rise to more than 4.25%, Norges Bank said.

“If there is a more pronounced slowdown in the Norwegian economy or inflation declines more rapidly, the policy rate may be lower than envisaged,” the central bank added.

The Norwegian currency, which strengthened against the euro during the early parts of summer, has weakened following the release of milder July inflation data.

The European Central Bank last month raised its key policy rate to 3.75%, but a narrow majority of economists polled by Reuters expect the ECB to temporarily pause its rate-hiking campaign at its September meeting.

Meanwhile, Norway’s central bank governor said interest rates are nearing a peak after today’s hike to 4%. 

“We know that many people are now wondering whether the current monetary policy tightening cycle is nearing the end,” Norges Bank Governor Ida Wolden Bache told a press conference. 

“The answer is that we have come a long way, but we believe that a somewhat higher policy rate will be needed to bring down inflation towards the target within a reasonable horizon,” she said.

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Economics

Norway wealth fund posts $143B profit as AI surge lifts tech

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norway – Norway’s wealth fund, the world’s largest single stock market investor, posted a profit of 1,501 billion crowns ($143 billion) in the first half of the year, driven by strong equity markets and a weak crown currency, the fund said on Tuesday.

“The fund’s equity investments had a strong first half after a weak 2022. Equity investments returned 13.7% for the period,” the fund said in a report.

Technology companies delivered the period’s strongest return of 38.6% after a poor year in 2022, it added.

“The sector benefited from strong demand for new artificial intelligence solutions from the biggest internet and software companies and their semiconductor suppliers,” the fund said.

The fund’s overall return, however, was 0.23 percentage point less than the return on the benchmark index.

The $1.4 trillion fund, which invests the Norwegian state’s revenues from oil and gas production, owns on average 1.5% of all listed stocks worldwide. It also invests in bonds, unlisted real estate and renewable energy projects. ($1 = 10.5224 Norwegian crowns) — Reuters

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Spy War

Shutdown of e-mail solution following cyberattack

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

A new e-mail solution is being deployed for employees at 12 ministries today and the old e-mail solution is being shut down. This is an important and necessary security measure following a cyberattack on the ICT system for the 12 ministries.

“The central government is taking the situation very seriously. Following recommendations from the country’s leading security professionals, we are now taking the necessary steps to secure vital services for operations and accessibility in the ministries,” says Sigbjørn Gjelsvik, Minister of Local Government and Rural Affairs.

“The ministries have excellent procedures and systems in place to ensure that the work of the central government can continue as normal. This is also the case in this situation. The changes that are now being implemented affect only e-mail and calendar services,” Gjelsvik says.

If an unknown threat actor has gained access to e-mail services, the clear advice from the Norwegian National Security Authority (NSM) is that the old e-mail solution must be shut down.

“Zero-day vulnerabilities were exploited in this case, which is evidence of an advanced and resourceful threat actor that it is difficult to protect against. The best defence is to follow the established standards for cybersecurity, such as NSM’s fundamental principles. This will increase the likelihood of detecting incidents and contribute to damage limitation,” says Geir Arild Engh-Hellesvik, Department Director at the Norwegian National Security Authority.

The cyberattack is still under investigation by the police, while the Norwegian Government Security and Service Organisation (DSS) is also carrying out related inquiries. Due to the ongoing investigations, it is too early to provide detailed information regarding the nature and scope of the cyberattack.

On 24 July, the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Affairs, DSS and NSM announced that there had been a cyberattack against a shared ICT platform used by 12 ministries.

“We announced that e-mail synchronisation had been disabled for mobile devices. We also announced that new security measures could be implemented,” Gjelsvik says.

The investigations carried out by DSS and its security services suppliers identified previously unknown security vulnerabilities, known as zero-day vulnerabilities, in the Ivanti Endpoint Manager mobile software. These security vulnerabilities provided the gateway for the attack and have now been closed.

The ministries and DSS are now working to secure the data contained on the ICT platform, while also ensuring that employees are given a new e-mail solution. Anyone who contacts the ministries after the old e-mail accounts have been disabled can rest assured that their message will reach the new e-mail accounts.

(Gov)

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Asia and Norway

Election 2023. Vote from abroad. Foreigners may vote in Norway.

by Geir Yeh Fotland
written by Geir Yeh Fotland

Text and photos: Geir Yeh Fotland, formosa1951@gmail.com

Norwegian language has two forms of writing: Bokmål and Nynorsk

Local elections to the municipal council, the county councils as well as to the local congregation board of the Church of Norway are held every four years in September. The last local election was held in 2019, the next will be on September 11, 2023. National parliamentary elections are also every four year, the next will be in September 2025. For national elections, only Norwegian citizens can vote.
Even those who can’t attend the polling station on election day, may vote up to 3 months ahead from anywhere in the world! The voter must have turned 18 by the end of the election year. It is a prerequisite that the voter is listed in the population register as residing in Norway within the municipal or the congregation. But for the local elections, if you are not a Norwegian Citizen, you may have the right to vote at the Municipal Council and County Council elections:
• if you are a citizen of Denmark, Finland, Iceland or Sweden and have turned 18 by the end of 2023 and are registered in the population register as residing in Norway no later than 30 June 2023.
• if you are not a citizen of any of the countries mentioned above and has turned 18 by the end of 2023 and has been registered in the national register as resident in Norway for the last three years before election day.
If you have not been a registered resident in Norway during the last 10 years, you must apply for inclusion in the census. This is done by signing that you want to apply for inclusion in the head count on the election cover envelope. Necessary materials such as voting slips and envelopes are available and can be collected at any Norwegian embassy or consulate within September 1st. In Taiwan voting materials may be picked up or ordered from The Trade Council of Denmark or from the office of Norway News.

This ballot contains the names of the centrally registered political parties. Not all parties stand for election in all municipalities. Oslo has 21 parties on the list, other municipals have less. You are only allowed to tick one lot.
The advanced vote must be posted in sufficient time for the vote to reach the electoral board by 5 pm the day after election day. Advance votes received later than this will be rejected. It is not possible to vote more than once.
All members of the Church of Norway who turn 15 or more in 2023 have the right to vote for board members. Between August 10th and September 6th church members may vote digitally via the internet as many times as they like. The last digital vote cast will count. After voting digitally, voting after September 6th is not allowed. https://www.kirken.no/valg.
Information about postal political voting: https://www.valg.no/en/?404;http://www.valg.no:80/en/for-voters/municipal-and-county-councilelections-2023/voting-from-another-country/postal-voting/


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Defence

Norwegian wins defence contract over SAS

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Norwegian Airlines has won a four-year contract for providing flight services to the defence sector in Norway and the Nordic region. The agreement, valued at about one billion Norwegian kroner (approximately 100 million euros), involves approximately 250,000 yearly trips for Defence, Ministry of Defence, and Defence Material employees. Norwegian was selected due to its flexible flight schedules, competitive pricing, and commitment to sustainability.

This defence contract, one of the largest in Norway, designates Norwegian as the flight provider for the Defence Logistics Organisation (FLO) for the next four years. Norwegian plans to reintroduce direct routes from Oslo to Bardufoss with 17 weekly flights and from Oslo to Lakselv with two weekly flights. The company will also offer a year-round direct route from Oslo to Kirkenes.

Magnus Maursund, Norwegian’s Commercial Director, expressed excitement about expanding services in Northern Norway, enhancing flexibility for passengers and offering seamless connections to Europe.

Environmental considerations played a significant role in the selection process. Norwegian’s efforts to use fossil-free aviation fuel, along with their fleet renewal programme, contributed to their selection. Throughout the agreement, Norwegian will replace a significant portion of conventional fuel with fossil-free aviation fuel, potentially reducing CO2 emissions by around 10,000 tonnes over four years.

Norwegian’s Commercial Director, Magnus Maursund, expressed pride in being chosen to provide fossil-free fuel for defence sector flights, emphasising the Defence sector’s leadership in setting environmental standards.

The contract will be effective from the first quarter of 2024 and will last for four years. It covers Norwegian’s network in Norway and the Nordic region and is estimated to be worth about one billion Norwegian kroner. The contract encompasses the Ministry of Defence (FD), Defence establishments, Defence Material establishments (FMA), and the National Security Authority (NSM), all of which will benefit from this framework agreement.

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Media Freedom

Meta challenges Norway DPA’s targeted advertising decision

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Meta requested an Oslo district court judge suspend a decision by Norway’s data protection authority, Datatilsynet, to impose a NOK1 million per day fine for continuing to use Norwegians’ personal data for targeted advertising, the Norwegian Broadcasting Company reports.

Datatilsynet Head of International Tobias Judin said, while the agency anticipated a legal challenge, he believes Meta “has no grounds for requesting a temporary injunction.”
Full story

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Russia and Norway

Russian Seeks $4.6 Mln from Norway Over Reindeer Damages

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Authorities in northern Russia are seeking millions of dollars in damages from neighboring Norway after a herd of reindeer crossed over the border and damaged a protected nature reserve last winter, The Barents Observer reported. 

Natalya Polikarpova, director of the Murmansk region’s Pasvik nature reserve, said the animals ate away moss and shrubs and trampled ground vegetation between December 2022 and January 2023, leading to soil erosion and plant life degradation.

A reindeer on the Salen lookout in Hammerfest, Norway.Simo Räsänen (CC BY-SA 4.0)

The nature reserve, which was established in 1992, stretches for 44 kilometers along the border of Russia and Norway. It provides a habitat for over 3,000 species, including five endangered species on the IUCN Red List.

Polikarpova says the damage caused by the reindeer amounts to 47 million Norwegian kroner ($4.6 million).

“A detailed calculation was presented to the Norwegian side with the given formula and documents on the basis of which the calculations were made,” Polikarpova told local media last month.

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Africa and Norway

US, Norway condemn ongoing violence in Sudan

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The US, UK and Norway, also known as the Troika, on Friday condemned in “the strongest terms” the ongoing violence in Darfur, Sudan.

The three countries especially condemned “reports of killings based on ethnicity and widespread sexual violence by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and allied militias,” according to a joint statement.

“We call on all parties to immediately cease attacks and prevent the further spread of fighting. Those responsible must be held to account,” said the statement.

“Full access to conflict-affected areas must be granted so that abuses can be properly investigated and so that life-saving humanitarian aid can reach survivors who urgently need it,” it said.

“We are gravely concerned about reports of a military buildup near Al Fashir, North Darfur, and Nyala, South Darfur, where further violence will put more civilians at risk,” it added.

Reminding the parties to the conflict of their obligations under international humanitarian law, the joint statement urged them to “enable humanitarian access in Darfur and throughout the country.”

“The SAF (Sudanese Armed Forces) and the RSF must silence their guns and find a negotiated exit from the conflict they started. The security forces must relinquish their hold on power to a civilian transitional government that fulfills the Sudanese people’s aspirations for freedom, peace and justice,” it said.

Sudan’s army and the RSF shared power after removing longtime ruler Omar al-Bashir in 2019, but fell out over a plan to integrate their forces during a transition to democracy, sparking hostilities on April 15.

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Diplomatic relations

Finland MFA to Norway and Denmark

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Elina Valtonen will visit Oslo in Norway and Copenhagen in Denmark on 11 August. The Minister visits the two countries for the first time.

Minister Valtonen will meet Norway’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Anniken Huitfeldt in Oslo and Denmark’s Minister of Foreign Affairs Lars Løkke Rasmussen in Copenhagen. In Oslo, Valtonen will also meet Ine Marie Eriksen Søreide, the Chair of the Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs and Defence of the Norwegian Parliament.

“It is useful to exchange views on current international and security policy questions with Norway and Denmark. The Nordic countries are Finland’s closest partners,” Minister Valtonen says.

The topics of the meetings will include Russia’s aggression against Ukraine as well as regional cooperation and bilateral relations.

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Asia and NorwayTaiwan and Norway

Norwegian Waffle event in Taipei by Taiwanese actress and youtuber.

by Geir Yeh Fotland
written by Geir Yeh Fotland

Tekst by Geir Yeh Fotland, formosa1951@gmail.com                                    Illustration by Yilin Tsai.

Norwegian heart-shaped waffles are widely available and universally celebrated in Norway and by Norwegian Church Abroad as one of the most Norwegian things ever, but they do not actually originate from Norway. Waffle irons were used in middle Europe as early as the 14th century. American and Belgian waffle irons are sold in Taiwan, the waffles are rectangular and a little thicker than the Norwegian ones, often served with syrup. Norwegian waffles are typically thin and soft with a light vanilla aroma and served with brown goat cheese, jam or sour cream. Norwegian waffles are eaten by hand like a taco.

Yilin Tsai (30) from Chiayi county, Taiwan, worked in the theater and movie industry doing acting, casting and costume.  During a work trip in Oslo, she met her becoming boyfriend and moved to Oslo in July last year. He took her to a cafè at Grünerløkka in Oslo. There she fell in love with the combination of brown cheese, sour cream and jam on Norwegian waffles. On Sunday she wants to let people in Taiwan have the same experience.

– I am curious and eager, she says, – to explore more about Norway, learning the language and culture. I got a chance to join the theatre environment in Norway by joining “Teater Exit”, a theater group for people from multicultural background who share a desire to create performing arts. In June we played AN ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE about power struggles, corruption, freedom of the press. It is highly topical, more than 140 years after it was written by the world famous Norwegian author Henrik Ibsen. I did both the costume and acting, playing the editor of the newspaper. (https://www.facebook.com/events/558507063118911/?ref=newsfeed)

 In Norway I also love making and exploring different foods. I may gather some friends form Norway and Taiwan to introduce traditional Taiwanese food, Yilin Tsai tells. –I love to share my life in Norway through video, photos and articles. My YouTube channel “Kos Kos Norge” has different themes, including language, food, culture differences and outdoor activities. The channel lets Taiwanese learn about Norwegian culture and promotes Taiwan for Norwegians, Yilin Tsai adds.

Her Norwegian partner arrived Taiwan this Thursday afternoon for his first visit, met by the windy typhoon Khanun. Will he fall in love with Taiwan?

– On Sunday August 6th we will both bring classic Norwegian waffles to the pop-up event in Taipei to introduce this tasty dish to those who show up. All handmade and all from Norway. These heart-shaped delights are more than just a scrumptious snack; they’re a symbol of “kos” (= togetherness), and Norwegian culture at its finest.

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Russia and Norway

Russian cabinet adds Norway to list of unfriendly countries

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Russian government has included Norway in the list of foreign countries committing unfriendly actions against Russian diplomatic and consular missions abroad, the Russian government’s press service reported.

Norwegian Embassy in Moscow
© Sergey Bobylev/TASS

“We adopted the Russian presidential decree ‘On the application of measures against the unfriendly actions of foreign states.’ The decree stipulates restrictions, up to a complete ban, on the ability of unfriendly countries to hire staff for their embassies, consulates, representative offices of state bodies and state institutions from among persons resident in Russia,” the statement said.

In addition to the names of the relevant unfriendly countries, the Russian government-approved list indicates the specific number of Russian residents that the diplomatic missions of unfriendly countries are entitled to hire. “So, according to the new order, Norway is assigned a limit of 27 employees,” the cabinet pointed out.

The government recalled that, in May 2021, restrictions were imposed on the diplomatic missions of the US and the Czech Republic, and in July 2022 the diplomatic missions of Greece, Denmark, Slovenia, Croatia and Slovakia were sanctioned.

“The list approved by the government is not definitive and may be expanded, taking into account the ongoing hostile actions by foreign countries against Russian missions abroad,” the Russian cabinet stressed.

In addition to this list, which concerns the work of diplomatic missions, Russia maintains another list of unfriendly countries, which was compiled in March 2022 to implement the decree on the temporary procedure for the fulfillment of obligations to foreign creditors. It includes the US and Canada, EU countries, the UK and its overseas territories, Ukraine, a number of other European countries, Japan, South Korea, Australia and other states and territories that supported anti-Russian sanctions.

Norway’s reaction

The Norwegian Foreign Ministry has not yet received any official information on the Russian government’s inclusion of Norway in the list of foreign countries committing unfriendly actions against Russian diplomatic and consular missions abroad. However, this did not come as a surprise, the country’s Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said.

“There is no reason to say that Norway behaves unfriendly towards Russia,” the NRK TV channel quoted the top diplomat as saying. According to her, the current situation is due to the Ukrainian conflict.

In addition, the top diplomat pointed out that both countries, as neighboring states, are interested in the functioning of diplomatic relations and channels of contact, “not least in difficult times.”

As the Norwegian Foreign Ministry has not received any official information from the Russian authorities, it has not yet made any further comments.

(TASS)

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Defence

Norway agrees extra funds to European Peace Facility for ammunition and spares for Leopard tanks 

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The EU and the Kingdom of Norway yesterday signed a transfer agreement for Norway’s voluntary financial contribution to the assistance measure under the European Peace Facility (EPF) for supplying military equipment to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Responding to Ukrainian needs, Norway dedicated the amount specifically to deliveries of ammunition and spare parts for Leopard II tanks.

Kay Nietfeld/dpa via Reuters Connect

“The EU and Norway’s combined efforts in providing military assistance to Ukraine is an model example of how synergies can have a multiplying effect on our support to Ukraine as they are fighting against the Russian aggression,” said EU High Representative Josep Borrell.

On 14 February, the Norwegian government announced its decision to support the assistance measure for Ukraine through the European Peace Facility with a voluntary financial contribution of NOK 250 million (approximately €22 million). Today’s signature formalises this decision and ensures that the agreement can enter into force and Norway can effectively contribute to the supply of military equipment for Ukraine.

This is the second time that Norway makes a financial contribution to the European Peace Facility, increasing its total contribution to NOK 400 million (approximately €36.5 million).

The European Peace Facility was established in March 2021 to finance all Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) actions in the areas of military and defence, with the aim of preventing conflict, preserving peace and strengthening international security and stability. 

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Asia and Norway

Norwegian Embassy in Colombo closes from today

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Norwegian Embassy in Colombo permanently closed down today as part of Norway’s decision to make structural changes in its network of diplomatic missions abroad.

The Embassy announced earlier that from August 1, the Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi will be responsible for Norway’s bilateral relationships with Sri Lanka and the Maldives. 

The embassy said in a Facebook post on Monday July 24 that the mission’s Facebook page will also be closed on July 31.

“We invite you to follow the page of the Norwegian Embassy in New Delhi for more updates on our ongoing cooperation with India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives,” it said.
It further said that the embassy in New Delhi will now be the mission responsible for Norway in India, Bhutan, Sri Lanka and the Maldives, headed by the Norwegian Ambassador to India.

In September, 2022, the embassy said that Government of Norway has decided to make structural changes in its network of diplomatic missions abroad.

“As part of these reforms, it has also been decided to permanently close five Norwegian diplomatic missions abroad, including the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo, by the end of July 2023.”

The decision to close the Embassy in Colombo does not have any bearing on the bilateral relationship between Norway and Sri Lanka, the earlier statement added.

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Media Freedom

Norway Introduces Tuition Fees for International Students

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Norwegian Parliament, Storting, has decided to introduce tuition fees for all new-coming international students from countries outside the European Economic Area and Switzerland.

The decision was established after a proposal introduced by the government in October 2022 to scrap tuition-free university enrollment for third-country citizenswas presented to the Parliament on Friday, March 24.

Commenting on the decision, the Norwegian Minister of Research and Higher Education, Ola Borten Moe, said that up until now Norway has been one of the very few world countries to offer free higher education to international students, while Norwegian students have to pay for tuition fees in most other countries.

“As far as we know, there are now no other European countries that do not require payment from students from outside the EU, apart from some German states. There is no reason why it should be any different in Norway,” the Minister said.

The decision means that starting from the autumn semester of this year, state universities and colleges will require international students to pay fees in order to enroll. The amount of fees will be set by each individual institution and must at least cover the institution’s costs for the education, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

Regarding private universities and colleges that receive state subsidies, from now on, the same should refrain from using the subsidies to cover operating costs for education for international students.

In addition, the country has decided to exempt several groups of foreign students from paying the fees, including here refugees, people displaced from Ukraine, exchange students, doctoral candidates, etc.

On March 24, the government also put forward proposals for a completely new education law, which amongst others will give everyone the right to upper secondary education until they have actually completed school.

It also includes extended rights for training for adults in order to make it easier for them to build up new skills or complete something they have started but interrupted earlier.

According to Education Minister Tonje Brenna, this new law would make more young people ready for working life and labour market.

“We are now proposing major and important extensions of the students’ rights. It is important for the individual who gets more opportunities to qualify for working life or further studies,” the Minister said.

According to data by the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) there were 3,943 university and college students in Norway with a residence permit in 2022, while 293 post-doctorate students were in the country on a residence permit.

Amongst the university students, 300 were from the United States, 354 from China, 281 from Iran, and 258 from Bangladesh.

In the same year, there were registered a total of 5,187 students from the EEA countries, 1,556 of which from Germany, 911 from France, 614 from Italy, 503 from Spain, and 485 from the Netherlands.

The total number of students in the country is 242,606, 100,465 of whom are men, and another 142,141 are women.

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Defence

USA approves $1 bln sale of MH-60R to Norway

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

The Pentagon said Wednesday that the State Department had approved the sale of six MH-60R multi-mission helicopters and other equipment to Norway for an estimated cost of $1 billion.

The Government of Norway had requested to buy six of the helicopters, 15 T700-GE-401C engines, nine Link 16 Multifunctional Information Distribution Systems Joint Tactical Radio Systems (MIDS JTRS), 18 Embedded Global Positioning System/Precise Positioning Service (GPS/PPS)/Inertial Navigation Systems (EGI) with Selective Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM); and six Airborne Low Frequency Sonars (ALFS).

“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO Ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” the Pentagon said in a statement.

The proposed sale will improve Norway’s capability to perform Coast Guard missions along with the ability to perform secondary missions, including vertical replenishment and communications relay, the statement. “Norway will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense. Norway will have no difficulty absorbing these helicopters and support into its armed forces.”

The Pentagon also announced that the Biden administration approved the sale of sustainment and services for C-130J aircraft to Norway for an estimated cost of $166 million.

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Russia and Norway

Norway Expels 15 – Russia Expels 10

by Nadarajah Sethurupan
written by Nadarajah Sethurupan

Russia has declared 10 workers of the Norwegian embassy in Moscow and the staff of the defence attache unwelcome on its territory after Norway expelled 15 workers of the Russian embassy in Oslo and the staff of the defence attache unwelcome on its territory.

According to the statement of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia, on April 26, the Ambassador of Norway Robert Kvile was summoned to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Russia. They expressed a “strong protest” to him since Oslo had expelled 15 diplomats from the Russian embassy in Norway and employees of the military attache’s office.

“This hostile step further aggravated the situation in our bilateral relations, which are already at a critically low level,” the Russian ministry said.

Kvile was handed a note declaring ‘persona non grata’ 10 representatives of the Norwegian embassy in Moscow and the defence attache’s office.

The Norwegian ambassador was also informed about the introduction of restrictions on hiring personnel from among Russian citizens by Norwegian diplomatic missions.

On April 13, Norway announced that 15 employees of the Russian Embassy in Norway, de facto engaged in espionage under diplomatic cover, were undesirable persons (Ukr).

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